Category Archives: Dorset
James Jacob of Waterloo
(1790-1856) Research by Clive Barnes Veteran of Waterloo The returning soldier was a common theme in early 19C literature. This illustration is taken from an 1803 collection by Whatcombe-born poet William Holloway. James Jacob was the third son of carpenter … Continue reading
Posted in Dorset, local history
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St Catherine’s Chapel – medieval tiles
The Milton Abbas Local History Group have been recording all the medieval tiles in the Chapel. We have photographed them at high resolution. The tiles were moved from the Abbey Church during its Victorian restoration. They show the results of … Continue reading
Posted in Dorset, Milton Abbey, St Catherine's Chapel
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Milton Abbas Lake
Our member Clive Barnes gave a presentation summarising his excellent research on the design and building of the dam and lake by Lord Milton to our history group on 1 June. This presentation with maps ‘Lord Milton and the Lake’ … Continue reading
Posted in Damer, document, Dorset, landscape, local history, transcription
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Jack Hargreaves: ‘Why 79 Dorset Villages vanished’
Thanks to Jill Arnold who runs the Arnold Family Facebook page who for reminding me of Jack Hargreaves. I used to watch his series of ‘Out of Town’ every week. Jack lived in Belchawell, just 5 miles from Milton Abbas. … Continue reading
Posted in Anglo-Saxon, Dorset, landscape, local history, Medieval history
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What a treasure!
Overseers of the Poor Account Books It is six years ago when I was in Chris Fookes’ shed that I first saw three original Overseers of the Poor Books. They had somehow been saved by the Fookes family of Milton … Continue reading
Posted in Dorset, history, local history, Overseers of the Poor, transcription
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Combination Acts 1799 and 1800
The Combination Act of 1799 was an extraordinarily oppressive piece of legislation. After the French revolution it is extraordinary that the Houses of Commons and Lords would risk such an unjust act. There had been acts before against workers in … Continue reading
Posted in Dorset, family history, history, local history, Milton Abbas, social history
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Grist
Every parish had its Overseers of the Poor who were responsible for raising the ‘poor rates’ and for the payments to the poor. The agricultural labourers (ag labs) in Dorset at this time were some of the poorest in the … Continue reading
Dorchester Gaol
In the Dorset History Centre and available on Ancestry is the Criminal process register. 1782-1808, Catalogue Reference NG-PR/1/D/1/1. This gives much information, such as the prisoner’s name, the magistrate who committed them, their place of residence, their description, age, date … Continue reading
Stopford Sackville Family
This is a real long-shot: in an article by Alan J Miller in Dorset Life, Apr 2003 “Heartless Landlord and Devoted Husband”, there is an image of a young Joseph Damer, by permission of LG Stopford Sackville. I understand that … Continue reading
Posted in Dorset, family history, history, local history, Milton Abbas, records
Tagged Joseph Damer, Lord Milton
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Milton Abbas Local History Group Meeting
Our first meeting of the new season was well attended and 34 of us enjoyed a talk by Chris Fookes on the old roads and tracks of Milton Abbas, illustrated with maps from 1652 to today. We had two visitors … Continue reading
Posted in Dorset, family history, history, local history, Milton Abbas
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Milton Abbas Local History Group, Dorset, UK 