General Chat

You're welcome :-)

Sorry, Ann, not to have replied. When exactly was it, do you know? and did they have relatives there?

Hi Ann of Green Gables,

my greatgreatgrandmother went to South Wales too, as a single woman without other members of her family, as far as I know.

She was from Somerset. It was possible to get a boat from Watchet to South Wales at that time (c1847).

Your ancestors were probably able to find work along the way, or could at least find some food in the hedgerows etc.

I have been surprised at how much some of the Ag Labs did travel.

Of course, by 1847 ish, there were a lot of trains too. Another good place of employment, either helping to build the lines or helping to keep the trains going.
How long ago was this?

What year - look at the trains!

Ag Labs are always worth bringing forward :-)

Thanks Joy-I never realised that ag.labs did all those things.Mostly they tend to be put down.I'm proud that I have Scottish and English ag.labs in my tree!

Thanks for posting this article!

Given the high mortality rates and levels of sickness and the conditions these people lived in, I am amazed really that so many of them survived and had well us!

I think they were made of hardier stock...nowdays we like central heating, airconditioning, electricity etc etc!

I agree that it is a shame that most people don't really know their neighbours...

Yes ,nearly all my early rellies worked the land as a living ,and there was no such thing as the dole for out of work people.
I noticed as i traced my early family ,that is was the the norm of the day to travel over three or four counties looking for work,some of my lot walked from Bucks to Wiltshire and even to Wales to find work ,dragging the spouse and kids with them.
When you look at it ,we today are spoilt rotten in comparison,we can all be very proud of our ancesters and their way of grasping the nettle of life,Fred

Salt of the Earth :-)

:-)

its only in my lifetime that much of this has changed. Townies brought electricity needs with them when evacuated. I had never seen an earth closet until I cam into the country.
yes, I can now hand milk a cow or goat. round up sheep, make butter, but hopeless at cheese. All our veg came from the garden, and me and my 5yr old brother walked 2 miles in all weathers to the school bus for the eight mile journey, and the same back again, uphill! At 72, he still walks everywhere. The knowledge you pick up through life is never wasted.

This hasn't had an airing for quite a while :)

Hiya Joy,
here`s a transcript of an old newspaper clip concerning one of my rellies they started working on the land at pretty young age back then.

Nottinghamshire Guardian Nottinghamshire, England
21 Dec 1854
... Costock ...
FATAL ACCIDENT.---- An inquest was held at he Red
Lion, before Mr.Coroner Swann, onthe body of John
Foster Newman,ten years old. On monday the 11th inst.
the deceased,who was employed by Mr Forteath. of
Bunny, was leading manure in a cart drawn by two horses,
and while so engaged he was caught by one of the wheels
and crushed against a gatepost, and his bladder was ruptured.
He lingered until Sunday morning, and then died.
Verdict:--- "Died from injuries which he received by being
accidentally crushed between a cart wheel and a gate post.

No health and safety officers in those days.
Makes you weep doesn`t it, a 10yr old being in total agony for 5 whole days before death.

A very interesting read Joy.

I am pleased you have given it another airing. I missed it before.

Ten years old saw!

I don't remember seeing this before so thanks for nudging it up Joy, it's a very interesting read. My goodness it was a hard life way back when.

I wonder if Ann O GG ever got her answer regarding her rellies making the move from Berks to Wales.

Karen

:-) Like

Hi Joy, I also missed this first time round. All my ancestors were ag.labs, then drifting away from the land to the Durham coalfields and some to the shipyards and Merchant Navy. Yes, we have a lot to thank them for. I wonder what they would make of us now???

:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

Hi Joy, I also missed this first time round. All my ancestors were ag.labs, then drifting away from the land to the Durham coalfields and some to the shipyards and Merchant Navy. Yes, we have a lot to thank them for. I wonder what they would make of us now???

:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

Worth another read :)

Definitely! My paternal side were Ag. Labs but became Carpenters, Stone Masons etc etc

Lizx