Thanks Cathy, that was very interesting - perhaps you've missed your vocation as a history teacher. Alex

Dear Knibbses, I shared the following information with Don and he thought I should share it with the list -- very interesting. Cathy ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: Don Knibbs Sent: Monday, April 01, 2002 8:11 PM Subject: Fw: [sime_family] Fwd: Fw: Renaissance England Don -- a family member shared this with me -- Have you heard these stories before? Is it just legend? Cathy Here are some facts about England in the 1500s: Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor.Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water.The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children-last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it-hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water." Houses had thatched roofs -- thick straw -- piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the dogs, cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof-hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs." There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could really mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence. The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt, hence the saying "dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on the floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they kept adding more thresh until when you opened the door it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway -- hence, a "thresh hold." In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot.They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes the stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while-hence the rhyme, "peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old." Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man "could bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat." Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with a high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning and death this happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous. Most people did not have pewter plates, but had trenchers, a piece of wood with the middle scooped out like a bowl. Often trenchers were made from stale bread, which was so old and hard that they could be used for quite some time. Trenchers were never washed and a lot of times worms and mold got into the wood and old bread. After eating off wormy, moldy trenchers, one would get "trench mouth." Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or "upper crust." Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would some times knock them out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up-hence the custom of holding a "wake." England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a "bone-house" and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they thought they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard! all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be "saved by the bell" or was considered a "dead ringer." And that's the truth ... and whoever said that History was boring? Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Alan, You are a true romantic. What a sweet surprise. I can't imagine the pure joy that was in store for Michelle. Someday I hope to bring my one-and-only-for-nearly-30-years to visit. Cathy ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2002 3:54 PM Subject: Re: [K/NIBB/S] A very Good Friday > Marsha > > > I'll bite - I'm intrigued. Details? > > > > > Sorry, I should have sent you one direct. > > First the plot. > > I wanted to mark our 23rd wedding anniversary (my lucky and ubiquitous > number) in a special way and also to spring a surprise on Michele. > > Despite the fact that a clockmaker connection has not been established, her > mother (nee KNIBB) has always rued the fact that nobody in the family has a > KNIBB clock. And at the prices a decent KNIBB clock would fetch nowadays > that's hardly surprising. So I wondered whether I could find someone to make > a miniature version and called in at a clockmakers in Knaresborough whom we > had come across when out for a walk a while back. > > I was amazed to find in his showroom examples of modern full sized longcase > clocks that he had made and was greatly impressed by his obvious expertise as > a cabinet maker. He has made more than one for a local resident who has > given them to his grandchildren - yes, their very own grandfather clock! Bit > by bit we put together a proposal which has now borne fruit. But how to tell > Michele? It didn't seem right just to have it delivered out of the blue and > for us to have to instantly agree upon where it should reside in our house. > > > The sting > > At Christmas-time we visited the house of a choir friend of hers who himself > has a longcase clock (though in pieces!). Unbeknown to Michele, he was happy > to play a part in my scam, as was the clockmaker. I prepared on the computer > a select invitation card to an Easter Exhibition of Clocks at the firm's > showroom in Knaresborough, offering a glass of champagne to all who attended. > I arranged for it to be posted to Michele with a letter saying that he was > unable to attend but for us to go along in his place. 'Enjoy the champagne' > is how the letter ended. > > In this way I thought there was a chance of Michele not guessing that I was > up to something, as she surely would have been if the invitation had come > direct to us from Knaresborough. > > I knew that Michele's mother would be staying here for Easter so had made the > invitation 'To admit 3 persons'. We all duly attended the 'Exhibition' on > Maunday Thursday. > > Imagine the surprise when amongst the clocks on view there was one that > looked distinctly like the one that graces the K/NIBB/S One Name Study > website! Opening the case door, I invited Michele to read the script on the > brass plate commemorating our 23rd! Much jubilation! > > > The finshed product. > > The clock is absolutely magnificent and you are cordially invited to view it > here in Leeds from Easter Saturday onwards. The woodworking is remarkable - > for example those barley twists on either side of the hood have been hand > carved and then quarter cut to fit into the uprights, just as the original. > > The movement has been made by a craftsman in Derbyshire. Befitting a KNIBB > style clock, although the website one doesn't have this feature, it has been > made with the exceedingly rare Roman Striking mechanism. In other words, > there's a ding for one and a dong for five - see the website for full details > of this KNIBB invention. It affords winding just once per month, in contrast > to the more usual eight day clock. > > The dial is all hand engraved by another craftsman in Leicestershire and is > faithfully true to the original, except that the traditional clock figure > IIII appears as IV, which Joseph KNIBB himself used with his Roman Striking > clocks. > > All in all, it is a wondrous work of art. I've not divulged to Michele how > much it cost but believe me it's only a fraction of an original KNIBB > timepiece. Nevertheless, I guess some people would find a high priced market > for it which is why I'm telling you in confidence. You will appreciate that > I don't know everyone on the mailing list and as the website has my address, > I don't want to take any risks in this day and age of sophisticated crime. > So Mum's the word but do come and visit. If not this year next! Meanwhile I > shall try to make available a digital photograph of it. > > While you're here, I can show you the rest of my KNIBB memorabilia and, of > course, we can spend as long as you like poring over the database. > > bfn > > Alan > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

Michele is one very lucky lady Alan!!! I hope you both have a wonderful Easter :D Rob. ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, 30 March, 2002 4:59 pm Subject: [K/NIBB/S] Reply to sender! Well that's blown my cover! Many thanx for all the good wishes received. And Happy Easter to all! bfn Alan ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.332 / Virus Database: 186 - Release Date: 3.6.02

Well that's blown my cover! Many thanx for all the good wishes received. And Happy Easter to all! bfn Alan

Marsha > I'll bite - I'm intrigued. Details? > > Sorry, I should have sent you one direct. First the plot. I wanted to mark our 23rd wedding anniversary (my lucky and ubiquitous number) in a special way and also to spring a surprise on Michele. Despite the fact that a clockmaker connection has not been established, her mother (nee KNIBB) has always rued the fact that nobody in the family has a KNIBB clock. And at the prices a decent KNIBB clock would fetch nowadays that's hardly surprising. So I wondered whether I could find someone to make a miniature version and called in at a clockmakers in Knaresborough whom we had come across when out for a walk a while back. I was amazed to find in his showroom examples of modern full sized longcase clocks that he had made and was greatly impressed by his obvious expertise as a cabinet maker. He has made more than one for a local resident who has given them to his grandchildren - yes, their very own grandfather clock! Bit by bit we put together a proposal which has now borne fruit. But how to tell Michele? It didn't seem right just to have it delivered out of the blue and for us to have to instantly agree upon where it should reside in our house. The sting At Christmas-time we visited the house of a choir friend of hers who himself has a longcase clock (though in pieces!). Unbeknown to Michele, he was happy to play a part in my scam, as was the clockmaker. I prepared on the computer a select invitation card to an Easter Exhibition of Clocks at the firm's showroom in Knaresborough, offering a glass of champagne to all who attended. I arranged for it to be posted to Michele with a letter saying that he was unable to attend but for us to go along in his place. 'Enjoy the champagne' is how the letter ended. In this way I thought there was a chance of Michele not guessing that I was up to something, as she surely would have been if the invitation had come direct to us from Knaresborough. I knew that Michele's mother would be staying here for Easter so had made the invitation 'To admit 3 persons'. We all duly attended the 'Exhibition' on Maunday Thursday. Imagine the surprise when amongst the clocks on view there was one that looked distinctly like the one that graces the K/NIBB/S One Name Study website! Opening the case door, I invited Michele to read the script on the brass plate commemorating our 23rd! Much jubilation! The finshed product. The clock is absolutely magnificent and you are cordially invited to view it here in Leeds from Easter Saturday onwards. The woodworking is remarkable - for example those barley twists on either side of the hood have been hand carved and then quarter cut to fit into the uprights, just as the original. The movement has been made by a craftsman in Derbyshire. Befitting a KNIBB style clock, although the website one doesn't have this feature, it has been made with the exceedingly rare Roman Striking mechanism. In other words, there's a ding for one and a dong for five - see the website for full details of this KNIBB invention. It affords winding just once per month, in contrast to the more usual eight day clock. The dial is all hand engraved by another craftsman in Leicestershire and is faithfully true to the original, except that the traditional clock figure IIII appears as IV, which Joseph KNIBB himself used with his Roman Striking clocks. All in all, it is a wondrous work of art. I've not divulged to Michele how much it cost but believe me it's only a fraction of an original KNIBB timepiece. Nevertheless, I guess some people would find a high priced market for it which is why I'm telling you in confidence. You will appreciate that I don't know everyone on the mailing list and as the website has my address, I don't want to take any risks in this day and age of sophisticated crime. So Mum's the word but do come and visit. If not this year next! Meanwhile I shall try to make available a digital photograph of it. While you're here, I can show you the rest of my KNIBB memorabilia and, of course, we can spend as long as you like poring over the database. bfn Alan

I'll bite - I'm intrigued. Details? [email protected] wrote: >Friends > >The FreeBMD website looks as if it could be a real godsend.  As well as >thanking Joyce for alerting us to its much enhanced features, we should thank >Natascha (and all her colleagues) for transcribing these millions of records. > >Perhaps if you find on that website any previously un-named spouses who >married K/NIBB/S within your own tree, you could report them to me to save >duplication of effort.  I've already found 23 in moments without any >systematic checking. > >Now those of you who know me well enough might query that figure but I can >truthfully tell you that it is our 23rd Wedding Anniversary on Sunday - yes >Easter Day and what follows is not an April Fool's joke.  Clearly 23 is more >important to me than any old silver wedding anniversary and so it has had to >be marked by something pretty special.  So special that I'm not broadcasting >it to the list but am keen to tell any of you individually who might enquire. > So if intrigued, just drop me a line direct to [email protected] and all will be >revealed in confidence.  I think you will understand the reason for my >secrecy when I reply. > >bfn > >Alan > > > >============================== >To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > -- *Marsha L. Ensminger __________________________________________________________________ Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift ideas. Experience the convenience of buying online with [email protected]! http://shopnow.netscape.com/ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/

yes please best to you both audrey

Not that I knew about it before but here's a note I've just downloaded from Ancestry.com. On a quick look there is a KNIBB and a NIBBS in California and KNIBBS in Illinois. bfn Alan The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), General Land Office (GLO) Records Automation Web site is back up and running after a court order shut down Department of Interior sites back in early December. The site contains two million Federal land title records for Eastern Public Land States, issued between 1820 and 1908 (with images of the patents available). Additional records issued between 1908 and the mid-1960s are also being added. Information contained in these records can be used to order more extensive records from the National Archives. The BLM site is online at: http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/

Alan I made an oops. Bertha Annie is not the dau of my George & Lucy. She was only bap in 1897 now that I look at my records. Maybe this will help someone anyway. bfn Joyce [email protected] wrote: > Friends > > The FreeBMD website looks as if it could be a real godsend. As well as > thanking Joyce for alerting us to its much enhanced features, we should thank > Natascha (and all her colleagues) for transcribing these millions of records. > > Perhaps if you find on that website any previously un-named spouses who > married K/NIBB/S within your own tree, you could report them to me to save > duplication of effort. I've already found 23 in moments without any > systematic checking. > > Now those of you who know me well enough might query that figure but I can > truthfully tell you that it is our 23rd Wedding Anniversary on Sunday - yes > Easter Day and what follows is not an April Fool's joke. Clearly 23 is more > important to me than any old silver wedding anniversary and so it has had to > be marked by something pretty special. So special that I'm not broadcasting > it to the list but am keen to tell any of you individually who might enquire. > So if intrigued, just drop me a line direct to [email protected] and all will be > revealed in confidence. I think you will understand the reason for my > secrecy when I reply. > > bfn > > Alan > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Alan I found a few un-named spouses from my tree. They are as follows: Bertha Annie Knibbs dau of George & Lucy Knibbs married George Steele in Bicester 4th Q 1898. Frederick James Knibbs married Sarah Tompkins 2nd Q 1890 in Buckingham Frederick James Knibbs married Mary Floyd 3rd Q 1898 Not sure if the next one is part of my tree or not as I have not checked: Sarah Ann Knibbs married Albert Ernest Lawrance 4th Q 1887 I was at the LDS this morning and looked up the above as well. Happy Easter to everyone Alan I would like to congratulate you and Michele on your 23rd wedding anniversary. bfn Joyce [email protected] wrote: > Friends > > The FreeBMD website looks as if it could be a real godsend. As well as > thanking Joyce for alerting us to its much enhanced features, we should thank > Natascha (and all her colleagues) for transcribing these millions of records. > > Perhaps if you find on that website any previously un-named spouses who > married K/NIBB/S within your own tree, you could report them to me to save > duplication of effort. I've already found 23 in moments without any > systematic checking. > > Now those of you who know me well enough might query that figure but I can > truthfully tell you that it is our 23rd Wedding Anniversary on Sunday - yes > Easter Day and what follows is not an April Fool's joke. Clearly 23 is more > important to me than any old silver wedding anniversary and so it has had to > be marked by something pretty special. So special that I'm not broadcasting > it to the list but am keen to tell any of you individually who might enquire. > So if intrigued, just drop me a line direct to [email protected] and all will be > revealed in confidence. I think you will understand the reason for my > secrecy when I reply. > > bfn > > Alan > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Friends The FreeBMD website looks as if it could be a real godsend. As well as thanking Joyce for alerting us to its much enhanced features, we should thank Natascha (and all her colleagues) for transcribing these millions of records. Perhaps if you find on that website any previously un-named spouses who married K/NIBB/S within your own tree, you could report them to me to save duplication of effort. I've already found 23 in moments without any systematic checking. Now those of you who know me well enough might query that figure but I can truthfully tell you that it is our 23rd Wedding Anniversary on Sunday - yes Easter Day and what follows is not an April Fool's joke. Clearly 23 is more important to me than any old silver wedding anniversary and so it has had to be marked by something pretty special. So special that I'm not broadcasting it to the list but am keen to tell any of you individually who might enquire. So if intrigued, just drop me a line direct to [email protected] and all will be revealed in confidence. I think you will understand the reason for my secrecy when I reply. bfn Alan

Alan and Don: My sincere thanks for making the link between Charles Knibbs and Don's, My Knibbs Family. Also, my sincere thanks to Don for all the effort he must have gone through to produce his web page. Ritchie

We are just starting to transcribe births for 1902. I have seen that on some graphs like 1913 or 1924 there are a few entries (less than 1000), but the index for the graphs goes right up to 1998. I guess this is the final aim. Our sindicate has only been busy with transcriptions for selected years between 1891 and 1901. We're going as fast as we can! Natascha Hartlett

Natascha > We are just starting to transcribe births for 1902. I have seen that on > some graphs like 1913 or 1924 there are a few entries (less than 1000), but > the index for the graphs goes right up to 1998. I guess this is the final > aim. Our sindicate has only been busy with transcriptions for selected > years between 1891 and 1901. We're going as fast as we can! > > I had wondered if there had been a decision to limit the project to 1900 for eg 'confidentiality' reasons. From what you say, not the case. Well done you for contributing! bfn Alan

1. Joyce > As you know I am a member of the Buckinghamshire Family History Society > and I receive a quarterly magazine called Origins. Well today I > received my first one for 2002. In it I found a very interesting > webpage. It is called [email protected] > > Just had a look at this site which has improved tremendously since it first started out. Pity it doesn't go beyond 1900. The ability to look for possible spouses is FANTASTIC. I will explore more later as it's a crime to stay indoors today. Spring has arrived in Leeds! bfn Alan 2. Joyce My garden looks completely different after today's blitz! A direct link to the FreeBMD site is as follows http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/ Re Frederick James, I think his Sarah died 04qtr1897 aged 38 also in the Brackley District - not yet transcribed I see. The 01 qtr 1895 one is Sarah ALLEN ho a descendant had told me died on 6th February of that year. Mary FLOYD it must be but I don't think Mary Ann born Berkhamsted. That's a long way from Tingewick as given in the 1901 census. I think we should wait a few more months to see if one appears. I have conjectured her death as 04qtr 1947 North Bucks which would tie in with her age on the census as born c1860. It too is given as plain Mary rather than Mary Ann but the matching date leaves the issue open to question. The fact that one can track back to births as well as finding marriages makes this a truly excellent website and all listers will be huely grateful to you. Many thanx. bfn Alan > I found Frederick James Knibbs marriage 2nd Q of 1890. Another name > that comes up with him is Sarah Tompkins. Could this be the 1st wife of > Fred? There is a death should in 1895 for a Sarah Knibbs aged 34. Also > I found Fredericks second marriage sep 1898. There is a Mary Ann Floyd > that comes up with him and a couple other names but no Mary. Could this > be Fred's second wife? Sarah Tompkins birth states 1860-61. and Mary > Ann Floyd birth is Jun 1861 Berkhamstead. > > This web page is still being updated. I sure would like to hear what > you think about the webpage. The names of Fred's wives are just too > coinsidental don't you think? >

Alan I see from your last email that you have put together 13 children for George & Lucy (Billing) Knibbs. Eric had told me there were 13 however I only had 11. As you know I am a member of the Buckinghamshire Family History Society and I receive a quarterly magazine called Origins. Well today I received my first one for 2002. In it I found a very interesting webpage. It is called [email protected] I decided to take a look and I found some very intersting data. This is why I am putting this message on the list. I found Frederick James Knibbs marriage 2nd Q of 1890. Another name that comes up with him is Sarah Tompkins. Could this be the 1st wife of Fred? There is a death should in 1895 for a Sarah Knibbs aged 34. Also I found Fredericks second marriage sep 1898. There is a Mary Ann Floyd that comes up with him and a couple other names but no Mary. Could this be Fred's second wife? Sarah Tompkins birth states 1860-61. and Mary Ann Floyd birth is Jun 1861 Berkhamstead. This web page is still being updated. I sure would like to hear what you think about the webpage. The names of Fred's wives are just too coinsidental don't you think? I await your comments bfn Joyce

Ritchie, If you go to http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~knibbs/fam053.html, that's the family page for the John KNIBBS you mentioned. Don

Alan. Thank you. I will look in Don's website for John Knibbs. Ritchie

Ritchie > Ancestry.com has a John Knibbs born in Deddington, Aug. 1723, whose > father was also John Knibbs and mother was Jane Scorsbock. Do you know if > these people in my tree? Well in so far as my conjectures re the link to Oxfordshire is accepted, yes they are in your tree. Perhaps best to pick up via Don's website. Jane is variously described in records as SCA/ORESBE/OCK and numerous other permutations. bfn Alan