Hi everyone, I'm trying to transcribe a will and am stuck with a name. It is a daughter, and it appears to be "xpan". I have a scan of the section of the will if needed (if so, where do I send it to? Regards Jenny

Many thanks to Jenny for help with deciphering a name in an old will for me. I have posted the message below to the Middlesex list but thought there may be someone on this list who might give me some answers to my puzzle. Thank you Jenny Robin in West Oz ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robin Ellis" <grellis30@bigpond.com> To: <Middlesex_County_UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 6:51 PM Subject: REYNOLDS; HOLMES; FELDWICK; MAYO Puzzle? > In the will of George Reynolds Chichester, he writes: > "to my daughter Ann (now Mrs Feldwick) > Looking up the Free BMD on the page is listed:- > Frank FELDWICK > Mary HOLMES > Apollonia Ann REYNOLDS > John Horsley MAYO > All listed for Sept. 1883 at Pancras. > Apollonia Ann Reynolds as Ann MAYO and John Horsley MAYO boarded the "Indus" > for Australia arriving at Albany WA where a child was born, December 1883 > the certificate stating father unknown. The child was left in Albany in > care. and the Mayo's returned to UK living at Gower Street until his death > when she Ann went to live in Malta. No further contact was made with the > child. > Now whom do I believe, the will of George REYNOLDS, Ann or John MAYO and > what about poor Frank FELDWICK. ???? > Any suggestions to arrive at the proof of the puzzle? > Anyone researching any of these families? > Robin in West Oz >

I'm not a Renaissance woman but I am sure I can recall sewing thread sold under the colour name "merde d'oie" (goose turd) ! SANDRA LOVEGROVE Researching LOVEGROVEs in all places and at all times. Please do visit the LOVEGROVE Information Centre on http://www.lovegrove.org.uk ----- Original Message ----- From: "norman.lee1" <norman.lee1@virgin.net> To: <OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: 08 June 2004 17:26 Subject: colours > I was just having a look at the Renaissance Colours on the web site and was amused to see some of the more descriptive ones such as 'goose turd'; puke and rat. One thing that occurred to me was that the 'milk-and-water' and the 'wash-coloured' which were both blueish white were most likely to be named after lime wash, used on cottage and barn walls. This was a very pale blue or blueish white. Until recently, there was a ruined cottage not far from where I live that still showed signs of this lime wash. > > Audrey > > ______________________________

Very likely to be "Christian", which we have picked up as a female name (in southwest Berkshire) from the 16th century early to as late as 1816. SANDRA LOVEGROVE Researching LOVEGROVEs in all places and at all times. Please do visit the LOVEGROVE Information Centre on http://www.lovegrove.org.uk ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jenny Joyce" <Jenny.Joyce@Sun.COM> To: <OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: 10 June 2004 02:21 Subject: Help with name > Hi everyone, > > I'm trying to transcribe a will and am stuck with a name. It is a > daughter, and it appears to be "xpan". I have a scan of the section of > the will if needed (if so, where do I send it to? > > Regards > Jenny > > ______________________________

Here's my go. Ann dropped the Apollonia bit quite quickly as anyone would. She married Frank Feldwick. Had relations with John Horsley Mayo of some sort and perhaps at the same time as living with Frank Feldwick as his wife. Found she was pregnant but was not sure which man was the father. The marriage wasn't going too well so she and John Mayo decided to run away to Australia. She gave birth but was not sure who the father was so gave both the benefit of the doubt by putting father unknown. It would also make the child easier to disown. After a reasonable time and being assured that Frank Feldwick wouldn't make any trouble, the pair returned to England to live together as man and wife. The child was an encumbrance and so was left behind in Australia to fend for itself (poor little thing). As she never married John Mayo, she was still technically the wife of Frank Feldwick. Her father never recognised any other relationship. Malta was a haven away from gossiping tongues and afforded a good life. It could be that, without a child around of the union between Ann and John, she could pretend, for the purposes of probate, that she was still properly Frank Feldwick's wife and so benefit from her father's will. After all, if she never married John Mayo, officially she would have still been Mrs. Feldwick. Don't believe the census because they didn't look into what people were called officially, taking only what they were told by the people concerned. These things happened. With me it was my great grandfather who was the villain of the piece. Audrey ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robin Ellis" <grellis30@bigpond.com> To: <OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2004 3:44 AM Subject: [OEL] Fw: REYNOLDS; HOLMES; FELDWICK; MAYO Puzzle? > Many thanks to Jenny for help with deciphering a name in an old will for me. > I have posted the message below to the Middlesex list but thought there may > be someone on this list who might give me some answers to my puzzle. > Thank you Jenny > Robin in West Oz > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Robin Ellis" <grellis30@bigpond.com> > To: <Middlesex_County_UK-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 6:51 PM > Subject: REYNOLDS; HOLMES; FELDWICK; MAYO Puzzle? > > > > In the will of George Reynolds Chichester, he writes: > > "to my daughter Ann (now Mrs Feldwick) > > Looking up the Free BMD on the page is listed:- > > Frank FELDWICK > > Mary HOLMES > > Apollonia Ann REYNOLDS > > John Horsley MAYO > > All listed for Sept. 1883 at Pancras. > > Apollonia Ann Reynolds as Ann MAYO and John Horsley MAYO boarded the > "Indus" > > for Australia arriving at Albany WA where a child was born, December 1883 > > the certificate stating father unknown. The child was left in Albany in > > care. and the Mayo's returned to UK living at Gower Street until his death > > when she Ann went to live in Malta. No further contact was made with the > > child. > > Now whom do I believe, the will of George REYNOLDS, Ann or John MAYO and > > what about poor Frank FELDWICK. ???? > > Any suggestions to arrive at the proof of the puzzle? > > Anyone researching any of these families? > > Robin in West Oz > > > > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > OLD-ENGLISH Web Page > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ >

James / Jenny: The letters that look like "Xp" are not our letters "X" and "p" but the Greek letters chi and rho. These are the first two letters of the word "Christ" in Greek, so "Xp" is often found in early manuscripts as an abbreviation for Christ, usually as part of a longer word - eg Christian, Christiana, Christopher, etc which would be written Xpian, Xpiana, Xpopher, etc. Best wishes Paul Prescott ----- Original Message ----- From: <JEH7698@aol.com> To: <OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2004 2:43 AM Subject: Re: [OEL] Help with name > > In a message dated 6/9/2004 6:21:19 PM Pacific Standard Time, > Jenny.Joyce@sun.com writes: > > Hi everyone, > > I'm trying to transcribe a will and am stuck with a name. It is a > daughter, and it appears to be "xpan". I have a scan of the section of > the will if needed (if so, where do I send it to? > > Regards > Jenny > > > > Hi Jenny, > > "X" usually stands for Christ, as in Christopher, so it might be Christian, > which was used for both male and female years ago in England as well as in > Colonial America. > > Sincerely, > James E. Hargraves > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > SEARCHABLE archives for OLD-ENGLISH: > http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=OLD-ENGLISH > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.693 / Virus Database: 454 - Release Date: 01-06-2004

Hi Robin > Any suggestions to arrive at the proof of the puzzle? Well I would suggest obtaining the marriage certificates first of all. This might show that the names were aliases for the same people.... I am going to London on the 21st June and would be happy to order them for you (and any others anyone wants!) and can accept payment in $$AUS. Contact me for further details if I can help. Kind regards Polly

Hello Jenny This is a shorthand way of writing Christiana. The first part are the Greek letters for Christ and then you have ian to end up with Christian. Most women had an a added to make the name feminine so you could just have a man here called Christian but if you are sure it is a woman then it's Christiana. Audrey ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jenny Joyce" <Jenny.Joyce@Sun.COM> To: <OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2004 2:21 AM Subject: [OEL] Help with name > Hi everyone, > > I'm trying to transcribe a will and am stuck with a name. It is a > daughter, and it appears to be "xpan". I have a scan of the section of > the will if needed (if so, where do I send it to? > > Regards > Jenny > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > OLD-ENGLISH Web Page > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ > >

In a message dated 6/9/2004 6:21:19 PM Pacific Standard Time, Jenny.Joyce@sun.com writes: Hi everyone, I'm trying to transcribe a will and am stuck with a name. It is a daughter, and it appears to be "xpan". I have a scan of the section of the will if needed (if so, where do I send it to? Regards Jenny Hi Jenny, "X" usually stands for Christ, as in Christopher, so it might be Christian, which was used for both male and female years ago in England as well as in Colonial America. Sincerely, James E. Hargraves

I was just having a look at the Renaissance Colours on the web site and was amused to see some of the more descriptive ones such as 'goose turd'; puke and rat. One thing that occurred to me was that the 'milk-and-water' and the 'wash-coloured' which were both blueish white were most likely to be named after lime wash, used on cottage and barn walls. This was a very pale blue or blueish white. Until recently, there was a ruined cottage not far from where I live that still showed signs of this lime wash. Audrey

Well that certainly puts the coffe[e] pots back in contention!! :-) Liz Quoting Byron Pershouse <byro@tpg.com.au>: > Hello All > > Thanks to everyone who answered, I must apologise profusely for > providing some incorrect information. In typing the date of the > inventory I transposed the digits in the date so the actual date of the > inventory is 1706 instead of 1607. My one fingered typing skills leave > much to be desired! > snip

Hello All Thanks to everyone who answered, I must apologise profusely for providing some incorrect information. In typing the date of the inventory I transposed the digits in the date so the actual date of the inventory is 1706 instead of 1607. My one fingered typing skills leave much to be desired! I have placed the four lines of the inventory at the following address if anyone wishes to have a look at them. http://users.tpg.com.au/byro/oldenglish/invent2.jpg My transcription of the four lines is as follows: 1. Item One bacon rack, one dresser with drawers, two 2. tables, two tin coffe pots and wax candle box 01 00 00 3. Item Four iron candlesticks, five seggni chairs one 4. cheese toaster, one iron shoe and dozen of iron stands 00 06 00 Thanks again to everyone for your very welcome suggestions Regards Byron Pershouse Bundaberg, Queensland

Following on from my mention of a couple of very early documents in Rymer's Foedera that pertained to Jews in England, several people wrote me for further information on the history of English Jewry. I'm not Jewish and have no especial knowledge of the subject (apart from general knowledge gleaned from reading history and one slim volume on the subject) so was unable to impart much background on a somewhat complex issue. For those who are interested today's Times (8 June) has a largish article on the first Jewish wedding to have taken place in Lincoln in hundreds of years and gives a "potted" history. Lincoln was of course one, of several, towns where persecution was particularly virulent John ---------------------------------------- My Inbox is protected by SPAMfighter 1147 spam mails have been blocked so far. Download free www.spamfighter.com today!

In message <000701c44c79$ce106030$d68ff8d4@Buckley>, Ian Buckley <Ianbuckley@uko2.co.uk> writes >A suggestion re your 'seggni' chairs, that the word might be an adjectival >form of 'sedge' (usually 'sedgen'), which has been a common material through >the centuries for chair seats. good thinking -seggen for rushen chairs, found in many areas - where is this will based? -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society

In message <1086592490.40c415ea5a91a@webmail.hotkey.net.au>, emagar@hotkey.net.au writes >Hi Byron, > >I can't offer a suggestion yet re the seggni chair I feel this is a misreading, but haven't worked out what it would be. Of the chairs usualluy found wooden, armed, carved, rush/rushen, tapestry, olde, are the most usual terms. >, but can offer a little >re the coffe pots. > >According to the OED, 1607 is very early for the word coffe (as in coffee) It would be really remarkable in a private household of that date. Even in an eating house, the mid 1600s is the usual starting point. Are you quite sure it is not brasse pott? Or a cookin(g) pott? >offee grew rapidly after the Restoration, >courtesy of the East India Company. first founded 1601, so this would be VERY early > But it would originally have been for >the well-to-do classes. > Is there an image to study? -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society

Any chance of a scan? Audrey ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lyn Boothman" <annys@boothman27.fsnet.co.uk> To: <OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 9:16 PM Subject: RE: [OEL] Words in inventory > Bryon, what about copper pots, beginning of the 17th century is miles too > early for coffee pots. > Lyn B > > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > OLD-ENGLISH Web Page > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ > >

Bryon, withdraw that last suggestion as I've just read your email again and realised the word tin is there ... So tin copper pots are not exactly likely. Teach me to respond too quickly! Lyn

Bryon, what about copper pots, beginning of the 17th century is miles too early for coffee pots. Lyn B

-----Original Message----- From: Roy Louis D Cox [mailto:roy.cox@btinternet.com] Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 1:25 PM To: 'Byron Pershouse' Subject: RE: [OEL] Words in inventory Good Afternoon - Another thought for "SEGGNI" ? The Latin word 'SEGNIS' signifies in essence, Slow-Lingering-Sluggish Etc,. Whilst I do not have any further grammar on this, seggni may be a derivative thus indicating a special chair of rest like an arm chair for instance? I think I could go along with coffers idea for the "Two tin coffe pots" although a coffer was usually made of sterner stuff than tin, unless the person were like my grand-parents who kept their little bit of money in an old cocoa tin! Kind Regards June & Roy (SANHS Member No 1066) http://www.btinternet.com/~roy.cox/index.htm -----Original Message----- From: Byron Pershouse [mailto:byro@tpg.com.au] Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 7:04 AM To: OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [OEL] Words in inventory Hello all I have obtained an inventory compiled in 1607 which contains some items about which I hope someone will be able to to provide some information Item 1 four iron candlesticks, five seggni chairs, one cheese toaster, one iron shoe and dozen of iron stands Item 2 One bacon rack, one dresser with drawers, two tables, two tin coffe pots and wax candle box In Item 1. What is a seggni chair? In Item 2. Was "coffee" a common beverage in 1607 or could the transcription be incorrect? Regards Byron Bundaberg, Australia ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== OLD-ENGLISH Web Page http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/

Hi Byron, I can't offer a suggestion yet re the seggni chair, but can offer a little re the coffe pots. According to the OED, 1607 is very early for the word coffe (as in coffee) to be in the English language. The OED gives various citations under three headings: 1. Foreign forms [such as kahve and kauhi] - earliest citation 1598, with Turkish connections 2. Coffa caffe, capha - earliest citation 1603 3. Cauphe, cophie, cophee, coffe, coffee, etc. - earliest citation 1601. The first citation for coffee pot is 1705. So coffee can't have been all that common in 1607. Did the owner have Turkish or "East Indian" connections? The availability and popularity of coffee grew rapidly after the Restoration, courtesy of the East India Company. But it would originally have been for the well-to-do classes. I hope that helps. Cheers, Liz in Melbourne Quoting Byron Pershouse <byro@tpg.com.au>: > Hello all > I have obtained an inventory compiled in 1607 which contains some items > about which I hope someone will be able to to provide some information > > Item 1 four iron candlesticks, five seggni chairs, one cheese toaster, > one iron shoe and dozen of iron stands > > Item 2 One bacon rack, one dresser with drawers, two tables, two tin > coffe pots and wax candle box > > In Item 1. What is a seggni chair? > In Item 2. Was "coffee" a common beverage in 1607 or could the > transcription be incorrect? > > > Regards > Byron > Bundaberg, Australia > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > OLD-ENGLISH Web Page > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ > >