Monthly Archives: January 2011

PROTESTATION RETURNS

Somerset Protestation Returns Transcribed by A.J.Howard Originally Published by T.L.Stoate The Protestation Returns owe their origin to the troubled times preceding the Civil War. In May 1641 members of both Houses of Parliament took an oath protesting their loyalty to … Continue reading

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SOME PAST EVENTS IN SOMERSET

1894 Great Floods at Langport 1850 Sarah Biffen, artist, born at East Quontoxhead in 1784, died at Liverpool. She painted with her mouth, being born without arms and legs. Her height was only 37 inches. 1800 Wheat sold in Somerset … Continue reading

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WEST COUNTRY PLACE NAMES

Continuing with the origins of West Country place names this week I have extracted the following. Crowcombe (Somerset)“Valley frequented by crows” Old English = crāwe + cumb Broadwindsor ( Dorset) “River bank with a windlass” Old English = windels + … Continue reading

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MY SURNAME IS…..

When I am running a family history course or carrying out a series of lectures one of the biggest obstacles that my students have problems overcoming is the spelling of the surname. The same is true for a lot of … Continue reading

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WEST COUNTRY HISTORY NEWSLETTER

Newsletter Well, the first newsletter went out last week and I would like to thank everybody for the positive feedback that I have had. One thing that has become very obvious is that the due to the different types and … Continue reading

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WEST COUNTRY FAMILY HISTORY

West Country Family History Most people who start studying their family history will at some time join their local Family History Society, be it the one where their family originated or possibly someone in the area that they themselves live. … Continue reading

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ENGLISH PLACE NAMES

English Place Names This week I was browsing through the Oxford Dictionary of English Place Names and thought that it might be an idea to choose three or four towns or villages and give, what this book says is the … Continue reading

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Somerset Paupers

This week I had intended to something completely different but I was fortunate enough to be able to buy five copies of the book Somerset Paupers, by Thelma Munckton and have given review of this on another page (look for … Continue reading

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