Art, I started this yesterday, but had to leave it. However, I have now finished. I suspect that you will have had several replies before mine. All the best Martyn 1. This byll of Acquyttanc[e] made the xijth Day of Apryll 2. in the xxiiijth ye[a]re of the Reigne of ow[e]r sov[erai]gne lady 3. Elyzabeth by the grayc[e] of god of Inglande fraunc[e] ande 4. Ireland Que[e]ne Defender of the Fathe &c 1581 5. Witnesseth that I Will[el]m[u]s Dowghtye of harygg 6. w[i]thin holme colt[ra]m & w[i]thin the Countie of Cumberland 7. yeoman have Receyved & had before & at the making 8. h[e]rof the some & last part of payment of sexe 9. pound[es] thrittene shilling[es] & fower penc[e] of lawfull 10. Inglishe mon[a]y in full & holl satistfaction co[m]pensac[i]on 11. And payment of all debt[es] demand[es] trespasses actions 12. debat[es] suit[es] & travyses depending had moved or 13. styrred betwixt Thom[a]s langcake of Newton arlosh 14. and the said will[ia]m Dowghtye frome the begineng 15. of the wordle unto the present day of the daite ----- Original Message ---- From: Art Lengkeek <[email protected]> To: Rootsweb Old English Mailing List <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, 3 November, 2006 11:34:23 PM Subject: [OEL] 1581 Court Document, Doughty v. Langcake, Cumberland Hi everybody: Last April I was so fortunate to be able to spend some time in Carlisle at the County Records Office, where I found a lot of old records, relating to my Langcake ancestors and their relatives. Some look great, some not so good. I am 74 years old and need all the help I can get with the transcription. Judith was so good to allow me space to post a "difficult to read one". I need your HELP. Please look it up and click on http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ Thanks very much, Art Lengkeek ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

The will is a good idea but it might be a good idea to also write down your wishes and give copies to the people who will be taking care of your effects. The will might not be read immediately where as someone with good intentions could be clearing out all of your research during the funeral or other service. You read of horror stories like this quite often where the husband or wife dies and the children clear out the clothing, etc. so the survivor won't have to be "reminded" of the loss when they come home. With an entire room maybe a notice on the door, too? Bob Newton Near Los Angeles ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Talbot" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 7:22 AM Subject: [OEL] researches > the em's regards those archives of John Overholt are reflected more > often > than not. I have been a researcher for 40 years and have probably the > largest database for transcribed Manor court rolls for > Newcastle-under-Lyme > in the world from 1350 to 1922. This is in addition to much other > material > gathered over the same period. In fact I have a room set apart at > home for > all this material. > > On so many occasions I come across problems when the answer is 'well > when > they died I put them in a bin-liner'. Sadly this is too often for > comfort. > I have published some of my material, but I have made sure in my will > that > all my material is given to the city archives when I die. Perhaps > this > consideration should be taken seriously by fellow historians and > researchers. > > Richard Talbot. > Stoke-on-Trent. > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Hi everyone: I received this response from "Petra" on the Cumberland Mailing List, to my request to look at the "Bill of Acquittance" Court document. She happened to know where Hayrigg (modern spelling) is located near Silloth in present day Cumbria. Place names can be hard to read and figure out, so it helped to give a link to the OEL on the Rootsweb Cumberland List. They gave me several good responses, mostly on-list. Art. This is the best one: 1. This byll of Acquyttance..... 5. Witnesseth that I Willm Donoghtye of Harygg [?] 6. whin Holme coltm & wthin the Countie of Cumberland 7. yeoman have Receyved & had before & at the making 8. herof the sume & last part of payment of sexe 9. pounds therittene shillings & fower pence of lawfull 10. Inglishe money in full & holl satisfaction to_____ 11. And payment of all Debts Demands trespasses actions 12. debats suits & travy_es depending had moved or 13. styrred betwixt Thomas Langcake of newton arlosh 14. and the said Willm Donoghty from the begineng 15. of the wordle [sic] unto the present day of the daite Petra PS: With reference to the last word on line 5: There is a place called Hayrigg within the Parish of Holm Cultram, so I think she is absolutely right about that. Art.

Richard Talbot wrote: > the em's regards those archives of John Overholt are reflected more often > than not. I have been a researcher for 40 years and have probably the > largest database for transcribed Manor court rolls for Newcastle-under-Lyme > in the world from 1350 to 1922. This is in addition to much other material > gathered over the same period. In fact I have a room set apart at home for > all this material. > > On so many occasions I come across problems when the answer is 'well when > they died I put them in a bin-liner'. Sadly this is too often for comfort. > I have published some of my material, but I have made sure in my will that > all my material is given to the city archives when I die. Perhaps this > consideration should be taken seriously by fellow historians and > researchers. > > Richard Talbot. > Stoke-on-Trent. > Very good, but have you checked with the archives that they have the room and are willing to accept them. Many archives are refusing such material due to space considerations. Cheers Guy -- Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. http://freespace.virgin.net/guy.etchells The site that gives you facts not promises! http://anguline.co.uk/ Anguline Research Archives

Hello Audrey, Many thanks for your comments. Would you rule out completely the possibility that one of the appraisers was the son of the deceased? Regards, Don ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norman Lee" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, November 03, 2006 9:03 PM Subject: Re: [OEL] 16TH CENTURY SERVANTS ETC. > Dear Don > > The "plus others" is possibly because the appraisers may feel the need to > call in someone with special knowledge of the estate. It doesn't mean that > there would be large numbers of them. I've looked at a lot of inventories > and have found that there are virtually never more than four although I > don't believe there were such hard and fast rules as to disallow it. > Generally speaking, the chief executor as long as he doesn't benefit from > the will plus someone who is familiar with the > estate and/or occupation of the deceased and perhaps a neighbour or friend > of the deceased too seems to be the practice. One decedent whose inventory I > saw was a physican and another physican from London was called in to assess > the value of the man's stock of medicines and medical equipment. > > I hope this helps. > > Audrey > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Donald Tomkinson" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Cc: "OLD ENGLISH MESSAGE" <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 7:05 PM > Subject: Re: [OEL] 16TH CENTURY SERVANTS ETC. > > > >I appreciate the comments regarding the servants and appraisers. > > > > I was hoping that sometimes the rule that appraisers should not > > benefit from a will was broken, as it would have explained a missing > > relationship. There were actually two other appraisers to the > > inventory "Plus others", which seems to imply there were more than > > four. > > > > Kind regards, > > Don > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Eve McLaughlin" <[email protected]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Cc: "OLD ENGLISH MESSAGE" <[email protected]> > > Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2006 4:49 PM > > Subject: Re: [OEL] 16TH CENTURY SERVANTS > > > > > >> In message <[email protected]>, Donald Tomkinson > >> <[email protected]> writes > >> >In his will of 1569 Henry Tomkinson bequeaths a coat to his servant > >> >Richard Tomkinson. I understand that in those times it was common > > to > >> >employ a young relative as a personal servant. Can anyone comment > > on > >> >this practice and know how young the boys could be? > >> > >> It was common to farm out your teenagers into the households of > > (better > >> off) relatives - very convenient if your son was an orphan and > > needed > >> male input. They could start quite young, though on the whole, if > > they > >> were to be useful, 12 was about the lower limit. And if the lad was > >> inheriting (uncle)'s garments, he was probably somewhere close in > > size. > >> > >> -- > >> Eve McLaughlin > >> > >> Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians > >> Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society > >> > >> > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > > > -- > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.13.27/517 - Release Date: > > 03/11/2006 > > > > > > >

the em's regards those archives of John Overholt are reflected more often than not. I have been a researcher for 40 years and have probably the largest database for transcribed Manor court rolls for Newcastle-under-Lyme in the world from 1350 to 1922. This is in addition to much other material gathered over the same period. In fact I have a room set apart at home for all this material. On so many occasions I come across problems when the answer is 'well when they died I put them in a bin-liner'. Sadly this is too often for comfort. I have published some of my material, but I have made sure in my will that all my material is given to the city archives when I die. Perhaps this consideration should be taken seriously by fellow historians and researchers. Richard Talbot. Stoke-on-Trent.

Dear Debbie I do know what you mean about leaving things too late. A well respected man that I knew whose expertise was vernacular architecture and who gave a great deal to others in the subject never, himself, published. Others who were not so scrupulous would take his ideas and put them forward as their own but, if he had published, he could have claimed copyright. A great deal of his work was quite possibly lost as a lot was in his private files and on his own slides. As far as John's daughters are concerned, they may just get the bug when they are going through his papers. Surely they will not get rid of them without considering the records office or the like! However, I have known of others who have come along to a more remote relative and literally burnt all his effects upon his death without looking at what they were doing. Old photographs and various other bits and pieces were lost that way. I would think that John would not have daughters like that as they would think of their father when going through his things. He did leave his site with me and I looked at it quite a while ago. I shall now have to revisit it to refresh my memory. Audrey ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, November 03, 2006 11:26 PM Subject: Re: [OEL] John Overholt > > Audrey > > As you say it is a tragic loss. I hadn't realised that John was still > relatively young. He has always been a very knowledgeable and helpful > friend to me, > and we've exchanged numerous e-mails on a wide variety of subjects. The > Bluetts and the Cruwyses both had a very similar history, both being very > old > Devon families with substantial landholdings, though the Bluetts in their > heyday > had much greater wealth than my family. Holcombe Court has been described > as > the finest Tudor House in Devon: > > _http://www.britannia.com/history/chouses/bluett.html_ > (http://www.britannia.com/history/chouses/bluett.html) > > One of John's great-grandparents was the last of the Bluett line to live > at > Holcombe Court. > > John was rather hoping that his daughters might continue his research but > sadly neither of them has so far shown much of an inclination. > Unfortunately > John's research is now all completely inaccessible. The family tree is > written > out on a large sheet of wallpaper and the Bluett family papers (mostly > from > the 15th to 18C) are neatly filed away in carefully labelled archival > envelopes. I can only hope that his family will eventually be in a > position to > continue the research or, if not, that they will consider depositing his > papers in > the Devon Record Office so that they will be available to other > researchers. > A lesson for us all perhaps not to leave things too late. > > Debbie > > In a message dated 03/11/2006 21:06:07 GMT Standard Time, > [email protected] writes: > > Dear Debbie > > Thank you very much indeed for sending this. I too am so sorry to hear > the > news of John's death. As you say, he was an avid and interested > researcher > into his family as well as being a very knowledgeable one too. I do hope > that his family will take up his cause and carry it on. 72 seems a young > age > at which to die and I am sure that he will be sadly missed by many. > > Audrey > > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.13.27/517 - Release Date: > 03/11/2006 > >

This is what I can make out of Art's document at http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/unsolved42.html Additions and corrections welcome. 1. Thys byll of Acquyttanc[e] maide the xijth Day of Apryll 2. in the xxiiijth ye[a]re of the Reigne of our sov[e]r[ei]gne lady 3. Elizabeth By the grayc[e] of god of Ingland fraunce and 4. Ireland Quene Defender of the Fathe &c 1581[?] 5. Witnessethe that I Will[ia]m Dowghtye of h__gy 6. w[i]ithin Holme Colt[ra]m & w[i]thin the Countie of Cumberland 7. yeoman have Receyved & had before & at the making 8. h[e]r[e]of the ___ & last part of payment of sexe 9. poundes thrittene shillinges & fower pence of lawfull 10. Inglishe mon[e]y in full & holl satisfaction to ________ 11. And payment of all debtes demandes trespasses actions 12. debates suites & _____ depending _____ moved or 13. styrred betwixt Thom[a]s langcake of newton arlosh 14. And the said will[ia]m Doughtye frome the begining 15. of the worlde vnto the present day of the Da___ ... Judith Werner Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Administrator, OLD-ENGLISH http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/

Debbie, thanks for letting us know about John Overholt and including the obituary. John was a charter subscriber to this list and we've missed his contributions since he unsubscribed over a year ago. Judith Werner Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Administrator, OLD-ENGLISH http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ | I was saddened to read in "The Times" yesterday of the death of John | Overholt. Many of you will remember him as an active contributor to this list in the | past. He had been ill for some time but always maintained an active interest | in the BLUETT family history. John's mother was descended from the BLUETTS | of Holcombe Rogus, Devon. He developed an interest in his family history when | his mother died and he inherited a large collection of BLUETT family papers | including a manuscript history of the BLUETT family. | The obituary in "The Times" reads as follows: | OVERHOLT After a long illness, John Arthur Mostyn died peacefully at home on | 26th October, aged 72. Loving husband and father to Sheila, Louise and | Caroline, John was a very proud Papa to Tiggy, Scarlett and Archie and good friend | to many. The funeral is on Friday November 3rd at 12.20 at Putney Vale | Crematorium. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to the Princess | Alice Hospice, Esher, c/o Garner's, 1 & 2 Wolverton House, Wolverton Avenue, | Kingston, KT2 7QE. | Debbie Kennett

Audrey As far as I am aware John never had a website and he never published any of his research so if you do have an old URL for something he published I would be very interested to receive it. Even if the site is no longer there it should still be possible to retrieve it on the Internet Archive. I've heard many sad stories of people's research being completely destroyed after their descendants took no notice whatsoever. I did try my best to persuade John to publish something but sadly his health defeated him. I just hope that one of his daughters will eventually take up the reins. Debbie In a message dated 04/11/2006 10:43:07 GMT Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Dear Debbie I do know what you mean about leaving things too late. A well respected man that I knew whose expertise was vernacular architecture and who gave a great deal to others in the subject never, himself, published. Others who were not so scrupulous would take his ideas and put them forward as their own but, if he had published, he could have claimed copyright. A great deal of his work was quite possibly lost as a lot was in his private files and on his own slides. As far as John's daughters are concerned, they may just get the bug when they are going through his papers. Surely they will not get rid of them without considering the records office or the like! However, I have known of others who have come along to a more remote relative and literally burnt all his effects upon his death without looking at what they were doing. Old photographs and various other bits and pieces were lost that way. I would think that John would not have daughters like that as they would think of their father when going through his things. He did leave his site with me and I looked at it quite a while ago. I shall now have to revisit it to refresh my memory. Audrey

Dear Don The "plus others" is possibly because the appraisers may feel the need to call in someone with special knowledge of the estate. It doesn't mean that there would be large numbers of them. I've looked at a lot of inventories and have found that there are virtually never more than four although I don't believe there were such hard and fast rules as to disallow it. Generally speaking, the chief executor as long as he doesn't benefit from the will plus someone who is familiar with the estate and/or occupation of the deceased and perhaps a neighbour or friend of the deceased too seems to be the practice. One decedent whose inventory I saw was a physican and another physican from London was called in to assess the value of the man's stock of medicines and medical equipment. I hope this helps. Audrey ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donald Tomkinson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Cc: "OLD ENGLISH MESSAGE" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 7:05 PM Subject: Re: [OEL] 16TH CENTURY SERVANTS ETC. >I appreciate the comments regarding the servants and appraisers. > > I was hoping that sometimes the rule that appraisers should not > benefit from a will was broken, as it would have explained a missing > relationship. There were actually two other appraisers to the > inventory "Plus others", which seems to imply there were more than > four. > > Kind regards, > Don > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Eve McLaughlin" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Cc: "OLD ENGLISH MESSAGE" <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2006 4:49 PM > Subject: Re: [OEL] 16TH CENTURY SERVANTS > > >> In message <[email protected]>, Donald Tomkinson >> <[email protected]> writes >> >In his will of 1569 Henry Tomkinson bequeaths a coat to his servant >> >Richard Tomkinson. I understand that in those times it was common > to >> >employ a young relative as a personal servant. Can anyone comment > on >> >this practice and know how young the boys could be? >> >> It was common to farm out your teenagers into the households of > (better >> off) relatives - very convenient if your son was an orphan and > needed >> male input. They could start quite young, though on the whole, if > they >> were to be useful, 12 was about the lower limit. And if the lad was >> inheriting (uncle)'s garments, he was probably somewhere close in > size. >> >> -- >> Eve McLaughlin >> >> Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians >> Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society >> >> > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.13.27/517 - Release Date: > 03/11/2006 > >

Dear Debbie Thank you very much indeed for sending this. I too am so sorry to hear the news of John's death. As you say, he was an avid and interested researcher into his family as well as being a very knowledgeable one too. I do hope that his family will take up his cause and carry it on. 72 seems a young age at which to die and I am sure that he will be sadly missed by many. Audrey ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 6:43 PM Subject: [OEL] John Overholt > > I was saddened to read in "The Times" yesterday of the death of John > Overholt. Many of you will remember him as an active contributor to this > list in the > past. He had been ill for some time but always maintained an active > interest > in the BLUETT family history. John's mother was descended from the > BLUETTS > of Holcombe Rogus, Devon. He developed an interest in his family history > when > his mother died and he inherited a large collection of BLUETT family > papers > including a manuscript history of the BLUETT family. > The obituary in "The Times" reads as follows: > OVERHOLT After a long illness, John Arthur Mostyn died peacefully at home > on > 26th October, aged 72. Loving husband and father to Sheila, Louise and > Caroline, John was a very proud Papa to Tiggy, Scarlett and Archie and > good friend > to many. The funeral is on Friday November 3rd at 12.20 at Putney Vale > Crematorium. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to the > Princess > Alice Hospice, Esher, c/o Garner's, 1 & 2 Wolverton House, Wolverton > Avenue, > Kingston, KT2 7QE. > Debbie Kennett > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.13.27/517 - Release Date: > 03/11/2006 > >

Audrey As you say it is a tragic loss. I hadn't realised that John was still relatively young. He has always been a very knowledgeable and helpful friend to me, and we've exchanged numerous e-mails on a wide variety of subjects. The Bluetts and the Cruwyses both had a very similar history, both being very old Devon families with substantial landholdings, though the Bluetts in their heyday had much greater wealth than my family. Holcombe Court has been described as the finest Tudor House in Devon: _http://www.britannia.com/history/chouses/bluett.html_ (http://www.britannia.com/history/chouses/bluett.html) One of John's great-grandparents was the last of the Bluett line to live at Holcombe Court. John was rather hoping that his daughters might continue his research but sadly neither of them has so far shown much of an inclination. Unfortunately John's research is now all completely inaccessible. The family tree is written out on a large sheet of wallpaper and the Bluett family papers (mostly from the 15th to 18C) are neatly filed away in carefully labelled archival envelopes. I can only hope that his family will eventually be in a position to continue the research or, if not, that they will consider depositing his papers in the Devon Record Office so that they will be available to other researchers. A lesson for us all perhaps not to leave things too late. Debbie In a message dated 03/11/2006 21:06:07 GMT Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Dear Debbie Thank you very much indeed for sending this. I too am so sorry to hear the news of John's death. As you say, he was an avid and interested researcher into his family as well as being a very knowledgeable one too. I do hope that his family will take up his cause and carry it on. 72 seems a young age at which to die and I am sure that he will be sadly missed by many. Audrey

Looks like Art means what he says about needing help. The correct address for the document is http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/unsolved42.html ;-) Judith Werner Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Administrator, OLD-ENGLISH http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ | Hi everybody: Last April I was so fortunate to be able to spend some time in | Carlisle at the County Records Office, where I found a lot of old records, | relating to my Langcake ancestors and their relatives. Some look great, some | not so good. I am 74 years old and need all the help I can get with the | transcription. Judith was so good to allow me space to post a "difficult to | read one". I need your HELP. Please look it up and click on | http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ | | Thanks very much, Art Lengkeek

Hi everybody: Last April I was so fortunate to be able to spend some time in Carlisle at the County Records Office, where I found a lot of old records, relating to my Langcake ancestors and their relatives. Some look great, some not so good. I am 74 years old and need all the help I can get with the transcription. Judith was so good to allow me space to post a "difficult to read one". I need your HELP. Please look it up and click on http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ Thanks very much, Art Lengkeek

Dear Debbie - I am very grateful for telling us about John. When I first enrolled to our group, John and I corresponded several times on computer matters. I had no idea that he was at all ill although I suspected that all was not well, but said nothing. My Kind Regards and again my grateful thanks! Roy LD Cox Family Historian Member of SA&NHS Member No. 1066 (And all That!) Web Site: www.coxresearcher.com/index.htm I also use www.archivecdbooks.com and www.localhistory.co.uk/ambra for my research -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 6:43 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [OEL] John Overholt I was saddened to read in "The Times" yesterday of the death of John Overholt. Many of you will remember him as an active contributor to this list in the past. He had been ill for some time but always maintained an active interest in the BLUETT family history. John's mother was descended from the BLUETTS of Holcombe Rogus, Devon. He developed an interest in his family history when his mother died and he inherited a large collection of BLUETT family papers including a manuscript history of the BLUETT family. The obituary in "The Times" reads as follows: OVERHOLT After a long illness, John Arthur Mostyn died peacefully at home on 26th October, aged 72. Loving husband and father to Sheila, Louise and Caroline, John was a very proud Papa to Tiggy, Scarlett and Archie and good friend to many. The funeral is on Friday November 3rd at 12.20 at Putney Vale Crematorium. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to the Princess Alice Hospice, Esher, c/o Garner's, 1 & 2 Wolverton House, Wolverton Avenue, Kingston, KT2 7QE. Debbie Kennett ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.13.21/510 - Release Date: 01/11/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.13.21/510 - Release Date: 01/11/2006

I was saddened to read in "The Times" yesterday of the death of John Overholt. Many of you will remember him as an active contributor to this list in the past. He had been ill for some time but always maintained an active interest in the BLUETT family history. John's mother was descended from the BLUETTS of Holcombe Rogus, Devon. He developed an interest in his family history when his mother died and he inherited a large collection of BLUETT family papers including a manuscript history of the BLUETT family. The obituary in "The Times" reads as follows: OVERHOLT After a long illness, John Arthur Mostyn died peacefully at home on 26th October, aged 72. Loving husband and father to Sheila, Louise and Caroline, John was a very proud Papa to Tiggy, Scarlett and Archie and good friend to many. The funeral is on Friday November 3rd at 12.20 at Putney Vale Crematorium. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to the Princess Alice Hospice, Esher, c/o Garner's, 1 & 2 Wolverton House, Wolverton Avenue, Kingston, KT2 7QE. Debbie Kennett

I appreciate the comments regarding the servants and appraisers. I was hoping that sometimes the rule that appraisers should not benefit from a will was broken, as it would have explained a missing relationship. There were actually two other appraisers to the inventory "Plus others", which seems to imply there were more than four. Kind regards, Don ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eve McLaughlin" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Cc: "OLD ENGLISH MESSAGE" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2006 4:49 PM Subject: Re: [OEL] 16TH CENTURY SERVANTS > In message <[email protected]>, Donald Tomkinson > <[email protected]> writes > >In his will of 1569 Henry Tomkinson bequeaths a coat to his servant > >Richard Tomkinson. I understand that in those times it was common to > >employ a young relative as a personal servant. Can anyone comment on > >this practice and know how young the boys could be? > > It was common to farm out your teenagers into the households of (better > off) relatives - very convenient if your son was an orphan and needed > male input. They could start quite young, though on the whole, if they > were to be useful, 12 was about the lower limit. And if the lad was > inheriting (uncle)'s garments, he was probably somewhere close in size. > > -- > Eve McLaughlin > > Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians > Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society > >

Thought there could be somewhere from two to four appraisers? Agree about the indifference though. Audrey ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eve McLaughlin" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Cc: "OLD ENGLISH MESSAGE" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2006 6:11 PM Subject: Re: [OEL] 16TH CENTURY APPRAISERS > In message <[email protected]>, Donald Tomkinson > <[email protected]> writes >>Is it possible that a son acted as an appraiser with others to his >>father's will in 1556, although it was probably incorrect? I have >>certainly found nephews acting in that capacity. > It would be a bit unusual, because he had a vested interest in the > result and appraisers were supposed to be 'two indifferent men'. Is it > possible that there was an uncle (or cousin) of the same name? > > -- > Eve McLaughlin > > Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians > Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.11/493 - Release Date: > 23/10/2006 > >

In message <[email protected]>, Donald Tomkinson <[email protected]> writes >Is it possible that a son acted as an appraiser with others to his >father's will in 1556, although it was probably incorrect? I have >certainly found nephews acting in that capacity. It would be a bit unusual, because he had a vested interest in the result and appraisers were supposed to be 'two indifferent men'. Is it possible that there was an uncle (or cousin) of the same name? -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society