General Chat

Thanks Susan, something else for me to read.
But I think this one sounds like a MUST READ.
Loaded with helpful advice and information I hope.
Deanna X

Thank you for the nudges Somersetman and Elizabeth:-). I take it you have downloaded the book.

I would be interested in any comments when anyone has the time to glance at it.....It answers a lot of questions we may have in the course of our research.

n

Thank you for more useful info as always Susan.
Have downloaded to read properly later.

Linda :o)

You're welcome Maz

I have just spent quite a while reading it and it is a must for all who are serious about their genealogy. The information is fascinating and well written, some may even find their ancestors mentioned. :-)

One chapter tells of foundlings who were given the surnames of the parish they were born which lead to many with the same Surname but totally unrelated.

It wasn't uncommon in the 17th century to name all the children with the same forename according to this book.

There are stories of children being baptised with the wrong gender...even by a Father.

There are also tales of 'whippings to women and children who were sent back to the Parish of their births but had to travel through other Parishes and receive whippings from there too. I expect they were lucky to be alive if their native parishes were a long way off.

It can be downloaded to the PC to read at a later date

I don't think I would have liked to have lived in the good old days :-)

The Foreword gives an insight into Parish registers and the loss and negligence/abuses....we may not all be who we think we are in the tree of life lol

thanks for that Susan, looks very interesting. have put it in my faves and will have a read when I get some spare time!
Maz. XX

Please nudge this thread.

Helpful information for all.

Thank you.

If you wonder why you can’t find that elusive BMD, reading this book will give you an idea as to some of the reasons.

(downloadable in PDF or text)


OLD ENGLISH SOCIAL LIFE

AS TOLD BY THE

PARISH REGISTERS.

BY
T. F. THISELTON-DYER

1898


http://www.archive.org/details/oldsociallife00dyeruoft

The loss of some of them caused a great deal of concern, particulary to the gentry who needed them to prove a birth or marriage in order to claim an inheritence.


CONTENTS.


INTRODUCTION

PARISH LIFE

PARSON AND PEOPLE

SUPERSTITIONS AND STRANGE BELIEFS

EPIDEMICS

PARISH SCANDALS AND PUNISHMENT

BIRTH AND BAPTISM

MARRIAGE

DEATH AND THE GRAVE

SOCIAL USAGES

PARISH CUSTOMS

SOME CHURCH CUSTOMS

STRANGE NATURAL PHENOMENA


STRANGE SIGHTS

LOCAL EVENTS