Audrey Now that you've mentioned Jane Austen, did you know that her childhood friends were the Digweeds of Steventon Manor, perhaps you did? Charles -----Original Message----- From: norman.lee1 [mailto:norman.lee1@virgin.net] Sent: 28 May 2004 08:49 To: OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [OEL] DIGWEED Hello All Remember your Jane Austen and other contemporary writers. Women tended to refer to their husbands by their surnames in and around the 18th century e.g. Mrs. Bennet referred to Mr. Bennet and addressed him while in their own home as Mr. Bennet. It was very common to leave out the christian name when referring to relatives and, if they did not have a title, just the surname would be used. (Mr. or Master was considered a title and was not conferred on one and all as it is now, denoting in those days a member of the minor gentry or similar status.) It could be expected at that date that the spelling of a name could vary within a document but not indicate any change in the relationship or the name of the person. Audrey ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Bartlett" <woodcom@ihug.co.nz> To: <OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 7:13 AM Subject: [OEL] DIGWEED > Hello All > > It was actually the surname. I don't know why a first name was not used > in the will but "Digwed" is the husband of "Alice Digweed" > > There were several in the area but if the IGI is anything to go by the > name was more prominent in Berkshire > > regards > Chris Bartlett > > > > > > "....by Digwed her husband twelve pence ....." (not two pence) > > Thank you, I did see this > > > > > What a lovely name for a husband! My guess is that the modern development > > of the name is David - following a g-y shift in some local dialect. Any > > other offers? > > > > Gordon Barlow > > > > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > > To contact the list administrator: > > OLD-ENGLISH-admin@rootsweb.com > > > > > > > > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > Going away for a while? > Don't forget to UNSUBSCRIBE! > OLD-ENGLISH-L-request@rootsweb.com > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== Going away for a while? Don't forget to UNSUBSCRIBE! OLD-ENGLISH-L-request@rootsweb.com