Hi Carole It does sound like a cock and bull story doesn't it He would have to be 18 and serve seven years minimum to get a pension, unless he was debilitated in service So if born 1854 he would have to serve for seven years from 1872 to 1879, so its possible he could do it between the census years of 1871 & 1881 However, in the census most men gave their occupation as Army Pensioner or XXXX & Army Pensioner He does not appear in the Chelsea Pension records as far as I can see neither does he show in the Navy service records on the National Archives Thats not to say he was not a pensioner, only that it does not look like it at face value £8 seems a lot of money for the time, I am unsure how pensions were paid then, monthly, yearly or ?? or where from Pensions would certainly be forfeit if convicted of a crime Where are you finding the information about the case? I don't see an obvious entry in the criminal registers Not sure what you mean by the Salvation Army though, they would have nothing to do with pensions of any sort Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 26/06/2012 13:28, Carole Skidmore wrote: > Hello - any help with the following will be greatly appreciated! > > GEORGE HENRY ANDREWS was a Marston man and much of his wretched life there > was addled with court convictions, mostly for drunken & riotous behaviour. > An exception was when he was 27 years old and charged with the theft of a > purse & 8 sovereigns from my husband's 3xGt-Grandma. I have more than a > passing interest in Geo Hry as he's in the same bloodline as 3xGt-Granddad. > > In his initial plea of innocence, Geo Hry claimed the sovereigns were his > pension which he'd collected from the Barracks. It is this pension I would > like to know more about. If he'd collected it from Cowley Barracks, can it > be assumed that he'd served with an Oxfordshire regiment? Or, could he have > served in any regiment or even have been a sailor and, so, would have gone > to Cowley Barracks as that was his nearest pension-payment office? > > I can't, though, see when Geo Hry could have served in the military or > completed enough years to qualify for a pension. What seems certain is that > he was born in 1854, orphaned from the age of 12 and lodging with our > 3xGt-Grandparents from the age of 17/18 through the next 10 years to his > court appearance. He was entered in the 1871 census as a Farm Labourer; > and in the 1881 as a Labourer. Could a man enlist and accrue service > towards a pension and yet live (and work?!) in civvy street in the 1860s to > 1880s? > > There is another curious thing - Geo Hry stated that, should he be > convicted, he would lose his pension. Were military pensions withheld or > withdrawn for bad behaviour or was it the case that, should a man be in > prison and therefore unable to collect it, he would forfeit his payments for > the duration? > > Or, could this have been some entirely different pension which he could go > and collect, say, from a Salvation Army Barracks? > > No scorn or surpise was expressed at Geo Hry's claim to being a pensioner - > or to a supposed entitlement of 8 gold sovereigns - but do you think this is > really just a (particularly well-pickled) red herring? > > With best wishes, > Carole > (in Devon, UK)

Hello - any help with the following will be greatly appreciated! GEORGE HENRY ANDREWS was a Marston man and much of his wretched life there was addled with court convictions, mostly for drunken & riotous behaviour. An exception was when he was 27 years old and charged with the theft of a purse & 8 sovereigns from my husband's 3xGt-Grandma. I have more than a passing interest in Geo Hry as he's in the same bloodline as 3xGt-Granddad. In his initial plea of innocence, Geo Hry claimed the sovereigns were his pension which he'd collected from the Barracks. It is this pension I would like to know more about. If he'd collected it from Cowley Barracks, can it be assumed that he'd served with an Oxfordshire regiment? Or, could he have served in any regiment or even have been a sailor and, so, would have gone to Cowley Barracks as that was his nearest pension-payment office? I can't, though, see when Geo Hry could have served in the military or completed enough years to qualify for a pension. What seems certain is that he was born in 1854, orphaned from the age of 12 and lodging with our 3xGt-Grandparents from the age of 17/18 through the next 10 years to his court appearance. He was entered in the 1871 census as a Farm Labourer; and in the 1881 as a Labourer. Could a man enlist and accrue service towards a pension and yet live (and work?!) in civvy street in the 1860s to 1880s? There is another curious thing - Geo Hry stated that, should he be convicted, he would lose his pension. Were military pensions withheld or withdrawn for bad behaviour or was it the case that, should a man be in prison and therefore unable to collect it, he would forfeit his payments for the duration? Or, could this have been some entirely different pension which he could go and collect, say, from a Salvation Army Barracks? No scorn or surpise was expressed at Geo Hry's claim to being a pensioner - or to a supposed entitlement of 8 gold sovereigns - but do you think this is really just a (particularly well-pickled) red herring? With best wishes, Carole (in Devon, UK)

Even though he was described as a lodged doesn't necessarily preclude him from service at the same time. His lodgings could have been kept open during the period he was serving and used on leave etc. The National Archives has a research guide on tracing army pension records. The Salvation Army is a religious organization and so would not have had any role in military or government dealings. On Jun 26, 2012 9:55 AM, "Nivard Ovington" <ovington1@sky.com> wrote: > Hi again > > I must have missed the part where you said he was a lodger for the ten > years prior to the conviction, clearly he could not have served in the > Army or Navy and still lived as a lodger for ten years > > So as far as I can see he could not have received a pension from the > Army or Navy at least > > Coupled with the fact that he admitted to the theft and had the ladies > purse on him, so as far as I can see he was trying to cover his trail > and made the story up about the pension > > In the newspaper report she states that he had been a lodger with her > for about ten years, so he could not have served in either service > > To the best of my knowledge there were no other pensions available in > the period unless he had been left provision in a will perhaps and > called it a pension, but why say he collected it from the barracks? > > Given the amount of times he is in the papers being found drunk and > disorderly it sounds as if he was a consummate liar > > The Salvation Army had nothing at all to do with the Army itself > > Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > > > On 26/06/2012 16:08, Mrs Carole Skidmore wrote: > > Hello Nivard, > > Many thanks for your speedy reply and all your interest and help. That's > > good to know that military service might still be a possibility but, like > > you, I haven't found any records through the ancestry-site I subscribe > to. > > > > I found the case reported in 'Jackson's Oxford Journal' (Issue 6727) and > > also the 'Oxford Times', both dated 18 Feb 1882. > > > > 3xGt-Grandma was Amy (not, as reported, Emily) Cummins who said Geo Hry > > ANDREWS had been her lodger for the previous 9/10 years - which is why > > military service and pension seemed so unlikely to me. It's at Amy's > > address where Geo Hry was also found in the 1871 & 1881 censuses. > > > > I mentioned the Salvation Army as it was the only other sort of barracks > > that came to mind! I even wondered if the Sally Ann had been the > forerunner > > to the Post Office counter for paying out pensions - military ones or > > otherwise! > > > > That is very interesting that military pensions could be forfeited. I > think > > that this court-case was Geo Hry's 3rd, 4th or 5th - so was there a > maximum > > number of times that you could be convicted before you lost your pension > > and, then, was it lost forever? By the time Geo Hry was in his mid-30s > he'd > > been convicted 16 times. > > > > Do you know of any online sites which explains military pensions for > > post-1870? > > > > Again, many thanks, > > Best wishes, > > Carole > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Oxfordshire FHS "wills library" is at http://wills.oxfordshirefhs.org.uk/, > with references to 47,347 people and 3,980 testators. Can you offer a will? > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > OXFORDSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

All The next meeting of the Oxfordshire Family History Society will take place on Monday 25 June 2012 at the usual venue at Exeter Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1AB. Doors open at 7.15pm for coffee, help with both genealogy and computers, and the bookstall, exchange journals and the library. After a brief AGM at 8.00pm, the subject of the talk is "11626, Private Ernest Edward Fitchett". This will be presented by Alex McGahey. Our speaker Alex McGahey is well-known in OFHS circles as a current member of the computer group panel, and also as a recent Membership Secretary of the society. Alex has been researching his own family history since 1995 and has been conducting a "One-Name Study" of Beckingham, his maternal grandfather's name, since 2001 - although his research did actually commence with his maternal grandmother's name, Fitchett. Alex has an interest in the 1st World War, partly prompted by receipt of letters written home from the trenches by his Great Uncle Ernie who sadly did not survive 1915. His talk next Monday will be based on these letters and subsequent research. All members, potential members and their guests are welcome. For directions as to how to get to the Exeter Hall, please see :- http://www.ofhs.org.uk/ExeterHall.html For a list of future OFHS meetings, please see :- http://www.ofhs.org.uk/meetings.html Any queries, please contact me. Paul Gaskell Publicity Officer Oxfordshire Family History Society Web : http://www.ofhs.org.uk

This page discusses ownership <http://chestofbooks.com/real-estate/Real-Property-Interests-Law/Sec-359-Pews-and-burial-rights.html> I did see them in very old CofE church in Amsterdam I was allowed to sit on them Ron Lankshear -Sydney NSW (from London-Shepherds Bush/Chiswick) try my links http://freepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lankshear/ On 2012-06-21 2:49 AM, David Beames wrote: > Pews were rented by "upper-class" families for their exclusive use, but I've also transcribed a number of wills where those pews were bequeathed down the generations, sometimes with great care, as though they were a valuable property. > > Is it possible that the permanent use of a pew could have been bought, perhaps for a large lump sum? > > Or could the local Squire (or the owner of the benefice) have his own private pew built and installed? > I can't believe that (for instance) the Lovells would have rented a pew at Minster Lovell:-) > > DaveB

Thank you everyone for your information on owning and renting of pews. I had also wondered at the shortage of seating but it makes sense now. regards Chris Bartlett

Even here in Victoria Australia such things are still, rarely, to be seen. St James Old Cathedral by Flagstaff Gardens in central Melbourne still has gated pews. And little, very little, old Talbot up near Marybourough on the Ballarat road, has paupers pews in the Anglican church (C of E in England) - at the back. A sort of grandstand arrangement - benches going up the wall. No steps - climb like a mountain goat. Wooden. Not at all comfortable looking. They were for those who could not afford to pay for a pew, well, rent it, I believe - it was one way revenue was raised to support the upkeep etc etc. I presume there was a collection too just as there is today. At the English churches like you visited those higher or hidden sort of pews would have been for the gentry methinks - they were not to be seen by the common folk! And apparently, very comfortable they were - not like the rest of those attending church. Hot food, drinks, could sleep if they wished... Dawn (Melbourne Australia) -----Original Message----- From: oxfordshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:oxfordshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of eve@varneys.org.uk Sent: Wednesday, 20 June 2012 10:58 PM To: woodcom@ihug.co.nz; oxfordshire@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [OXF] Shorthampton church When I visited Shorthampton Church where our Bartletts were baptised and married I was surprised to see gates on the pews. There were 3 higher pews that you could not easily look into and on the other side a number of lower pews. What was the purpose of the gates? To keep out the common people who might otherwise have decided seats were for sitting on. Most pews were paid for by renting and this ensured that no casual invaded. Older pews might be allocated to the current inhabitants of Xfarm or Y house. there were generally a few common pews at the back - or people just stood around. EVE author of The McLaughlin Guides for Family Historians Secretary, Bucks Genealogical Society ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oxfordshire FHS "wills library" is at http://wills.oxfordshirefhs.org.uk/ , with references to 47,347 people and 3,980 testators. Can you offer a will? ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to OXFORDSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 7234 (20120620) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 7234 (20120620) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com

There is a lovely film adaptation of Thomas Hardy's "Under the Greenwood Tree" where the wealthiest citizen of the village (a striving farmer) sits very much by himself in what almost looks like an enlarged Roman Catholic confessional box, complete with sliding screen, while the rest of the congregation sits together in the pews. The box is used as a symbol of this character's absurdly amusing and pitiable pomposity and appears several times during the very enjoyable story. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465653/ On 6/20/2012 1:00 PM, Ron Lankshear wrote: > This page discusses ownership > > <http://chestofbooks.com/real-estate/Real-Property-Interests-Law/Sec-359-Pews-and-burial-rights.html> > > I did see them in very old CofE church in Amsterdam > I was allowed to sit on them > > Ron Lankshear -Sydney NSW (from London-Shepherds > Bush/Chiswick) > try my links > http://freepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lankshear/ > > > On 2012-06-21 2:49 AM, David Beames wrote: >> Pews were rented by "upper-class" families for their exclusive use, but I've also transcribed a number of wills where those pews were bequeathed down the generations, sometimes with great care, as though they were a valuable property. >> >> Is it possible that the permanent use of a pew could have been bought, perhaps for a large lump sum? >> >> Or could the local Squire (or the owner of the benefice) have his own private pew built and installed? >> I can't believe that (for instance) the Lovells would have rented a pew at Minster Lovell:-) >> >> DaveB > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Oxfordshire FHS "wills library" is at http://wills.oxfordshirefhs.org.uk/ , > with references to 47,347 people and 3,980 testators. Can you offer a will? > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to OXFORDSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >

Pews were rented by "upper-class" families for their exclusive use, but I've also transcribed a number of wills where those pews were bequeathed down the generations, sometimes with great care, as though they were a valuable property. Is it possible that the permanent use of a pew could have been bought, perhaps for a large lump sum? Or could the local Squire (or the owner of the benefice) have his own private pew built and installed? I can't believe that (for instance) the Lovells would have rented a pew at Minster Lovell :-) DaveB

Hi, I don't know Shorthampton Church, but as has already been suggested the issue is likely to revolve around the practice of charging "pew rents" which were part of a church's income and would have allowed families to ensure that they were able to sit in "their family's pew" at the Sunday Services. The higher pews are likely to have been for the "higher class" members of the community i.e. the landed gentry, whereas the lower ones were for their various servants. It is a manifestation of the so called upper and lower class system. When I was a student 40+ years ago we used to visit Roxton Congregational Church in Bedfordshire (see photo at http://www.panoramio.com/photo/63112496) which not only has a thatched roof and my memory tells me probably had gated pews; at the back of that church was a sort of "royal box" which was reserved for and still being used by the Lord of the Manor and his family at that time. Historically, it was not unknown for the Lord of the Manor to remonstrate with the Minister taking the service and make known his displeasure with some things which were uttered from the pulpit without waiting for the end of the service - or even the next hymn! I never had experience of the presence of the Lord of the Manor and was never told if he ever concurred vocally with some things which were said. The comment made about "keeping dogs out" may not be wide of the mark either. I have certainly heard of a Sunday Service in another country church being interrupted by two dogs fighting part way through a service. Regards, Kenneth Fear -----Original Message----- From: oxfordshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:oxfordshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Dawn Webb Sent: 20 June 2012 14:09 To: eve@varneys.org.uk; oxfordshire@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [OXF] Shorthampton church Even here in Victoria Australia such things are still, rarely, to be seen. St James Old Cathedral by Flagstaff Gardens in central Melbourne still has gated pews. And little, very little, old Talbot up near Marybourough on the Ballarat road, has paupers pews in the Anglican church (C of E in England) - at the back. A sort of grandstand arrangement - benches going up the wall. No steps - climb like a mountain goat. Wooden. Not at all comfortable looking. They were for those who could not afford to pay for a pew, well, rent it, I believe - it was one way revenue was raised to support the upkeep etc etc. I presume there was a collection too just as there is today. At the English churches like you visited those higher or hidden sort of pews would have been for the gentry methinks - they were not to be seen by the common folk! And apparently, very comfortable they were - not like the rest of those attending church. Hot food, drinks, could sleep if they wished... Dawn (Melbourne Australia) -----Original Message----- From: oxfordshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:oxfordshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of eve@varneys.org.uk Sent: Wednesday, 20 June 2012 10:58 PM To: woodcom@ihug.co.nz; oxfordshire@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [OXF] Shorthampton church When I visited Shorthampton Church where our Bartletts were baptised and married I was surprised to see gates on the pews. There were 3 higher pews that you could not easily look into and on the other side a number of lower pews. What was the purpose of the gates? To keep out the common people who might otherwise have decided seats were for sitting on. Most pews were paid for by renting and this ensured that no casual invaded. Older pews might be allocated to the current inhabitants of Xfarm or Y house. there were generally a few common pews at the back - or people just stood around. EVE author of The McLaughlin Guides for Family Historians Secretary, Bucks Genealogical Society ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oxfordshire FHS "wills library" is at http://wills.oxfordshirefhs.org.uk/ , with references to 47,347 people and 3,980 testators. Can you offer a will? ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to OXFORDSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 7234 (20120620) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 7234 (20120620) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oxfordshire FHS "wills library" is at http://wills.oxfordshirefhs.org.uk/ , with references to 47,347 people and 3,980 testators. Can you offer a will? ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to OXFORDSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

When I visited Shorthampton Church where our Bartletts were baptised and married I was surprised to see gates on the pews. There were 3 higher pews that you could not easily look into and on the other side a number of lower pews. What was the purpose of the gates? To keep out the common people who might otherwise have decided seats were for sitting on. Most pews were paid for by renting and this ensured that no casual invaded. Older pews might be allocated to the current inhabitants of Xfarm or Y house. there were generally a few common pews at the back - or people just stood around. EVE author of The McLaughlin Guides for Family Historians Secretary, Bucks Genealogical Society

Dear Chris, Keep the dogs out. Roy ----- Original Message ----- From: <woodcom@ihug.co.nz> To: <oxfordshire@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2012 5:46 AM Subject: [OXF] Shorthampton church > > > At last in Oxfordshire enjoying the beauty of the villages and > countryside > > When I visited Shorthampton Church where our Bartletts > were baptised and married I was surprised to see gates on the pews. > There were 3 higher pews that you could not easily look into and on the > other side a number of lower pews. > > What was the purpose of the gates? > > > regards > > Chris Bartlett > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Oxfordshire FHS "wills library" is at http://wills.oxfordshirefhs.org.uk/ > , > with references to 47,347 people and 3,980 testators. Can you offer a > will? > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > OXFORDSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Another 40-odd wills have been added, plus a few amendments. Testator surnames included are: ABERY BAKER BEALE BILLING CLINKARD COLLINS COX CROCKFORD FLEXNEY FOSTER FOWLER FOX FREWIN HANSON HARRIS HEWETT HIGGS JONES KENT LICHFIELD LINGEY LUSH PEARMAN SHEPHERD SIMMONS TILSON TOBY WARD WAYMAN WEBB WEST WHEELER WILLIS WOODWARD WRIGHT Dave Beames, coordinator

At last in Oxfordshire enjoying the beauty of the villages and countryside When I visited Shorthampton Church where our Bartletts were baptised and married I was surprised to see gates on the pews. There were 3 higher pews that you could not easily look into and on the other side a number of lower pews. What was the purpose of the gates? regards Chris Bartlett

>From Jackson's Oxford Journal, Saturday, February 1, 1800; Issue 2440.   WITNEY, January 31, 1800. SHEEP STEALERS.  ONE HUNDRED POUNDS REWARD. We, whose Names ate underwritten, all residing in or near the Town of Witney, having each of us had one or more Sheep stolen from our respective Premises, within the last few Weeks, do hereby offer a Reward of 100Pounds to any Person or Persons who will give such Information as may end in the Conviction of one or more of the Offenders. An Accomplice impeaching his Associate or Associates will, on his or their Conviction, be entitled to the same Reward, and every Endeavour used to procure him a free Pardon. E. STAFFORD .   J. GRAY . SAMUEL DRUCE .  JOHN BUSH .  JOHN NUTT . JOHN BROWN . The above Reward of 100Pounds does away whatever may have been offered by any of the Subscribers individually.

>From Jackson's Oxford Journal, Saturday, February 1, 1800; Issue 2440.   OXFORD, February 1. On Wednesday last was committed to our Castle Gaol by Sir Clement Cottrell DORMER , Knt.,  John LOVELL , on suspicion of having received in his boat on the Oxford Canal, an iron bar, a spade, etc., knowing the same to have been feloniously stolen. And yesterday were committed by the Honourable and Reverend Francis KNOLLES and Henry GABELL , Clerks,   William BURSER , Edward BURSER , and Mary BURSER , charged with having feloniously stolen a flitch of bacon, three loaves, four cheeses, and other goods, the property of J. GOMM , of Milton.

>From Jackson's Oxford Journal, Saturday, February 1, 1800; Issue 2440.   OXFORD, February 1. On Thursday last an inquisition was taken by Mr. BUCKLAND , one of his Majesty's Coroners for this county, on view of the body of Thos. DRUCE , of Cassington, Butcher, who on the preceding Tuesday, whilst assisting to fix a calf upon a horse in the farm yard of Mr. SANDERS , at Cassington, suddenly fell, and almost instantly expired. Verdict, " Died by the Visitation of God. "

Many thanks to you all, especially you Eve. My Glossary of words found in our village wills [Kingston Bagpuize] wasn't quite as descriptive, but now is. ;-)) Kind regards, Jill http://www.kingston-bagpuize.com - an online history of Kingston Bagpuize & area. -----Original Message----- From: oxfordshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:oxfordshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of eve@varneys.org.uk Sent: 14 June 2012 13:12 To: Paul Irving; oxfordshire@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [OXF] Request: advice on terms used in a will Yard-Land Yard-Land a quantity of land, containing in some countries 20, in others 24, 30 and 40 acres; but at Wimbleton in Surry, no more than 15 Definition taken from The Universal Etymological Dictionary, edited by Nathan Bailey (1736). Found online. Or - Yardland From - the Harmsworth Encyclopedia c.1910 >A yardland or virgate was an old English measure of land, varying from >10 to 30 or 40 acres. It was the normal holding of a tenant of arable >land, and the variation probably arises from the fact that in early > times land was measured more by quality than by extent. This generally works - it is the quality of the land which counts, so lush grassland is better than thin upland acreage. However, be wary of the fact that the term 'yardland' is also used as equiavalent to a half acre strip. The context will usually tell you, since if a man leaves 'four acres in the common fields of X' and then itemises them as an acre here, an acre there and a yardland there, it is likely that he is using the 'half acre' definition. >he writer was a yeoman (at least that was what he called himself) yeoman in the last C17 probable did mean a freeholder. Later the term was extended to lessees or tenant of very large farms. EVE Author of The McLaughlin Guides for Family Historians Secretary, Bucks Genealogical Society

You Broke the Code' Bill Churchill -----Original Message----- From: SBrainstev@aol.com [mailto:SBrainstev@aol.com] Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 5:04 AM To: oxfordshire@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [OXF] Yardland (was advice on terms used in a will ) Thanks for replies received about the term 'yardland' Would "half yard land" be half the standard acreage of 'yardland'? - just musing! And in which case I wonder if 'two yard land' might be double the standard acreage ??? Steve

Yard-Land Yard-Land a quantity of land, containing in some countries 20, in others 24, 30 and 40 acres; but at Wimbleton in Surry, no more than 15 Definition taken from The Universal Etymological Dictionary, edited by Nathan Bailey (1736). Found online. Or - Yardland From - the Harmsworth Encyclopedia c.1910 >A yardland or virgate was an old English measure of land, varying from >10 to 30 or 40 acres. It was the normal holding of a tenant of arable >land, and the variation probably arises from the fact that in early > times land was measured more by quality than by extent. This generally works - it is the quality of the land which counts, so lush grassland is better than thin upland acreage. However, be wary of the fact that the term 'yardland' is also used as equiavalent to a half acre strip. The context will usually tell you, since if a man leaves 'four acres in the common fields of X' and then itemises them as an acre here, an acre there and a yardland there, it is likely that he is using the 'half acre' definition. >he writer was a yeoman (at least that was what he called himself) yeoman in the last C17 probable did mean a freeholder. Later the term was extended to lessees or tenant of very large farms. EVE Author of The McLaughlin Guides for Family Historians Secretary, Bucks Genealogical Society