Category Archives: Dorset

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Overseers of the Poor Book 1782

Carol Sastradipradja has just transcribed page 104 and come across this interesting piece of information. It reads: “Memorandum. Sunday Jan 13 Several Labouring People having complained to the Officers of the Parish that They Wanted Houses. In consequence of their … Continue reading

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The Liberty and Manor of Milton Abbas

An original document in Dorset History Centre was brought to our attention by Debbie Winter. Catalogue reference D-1168/1. This is the only manorial court record which is in existence, and is of great interest. This one was held 13 May … Continue reading

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“Ile of Jesus”

This phrase occurs in the will of Richard Arnold of Bagber, 1595 as the place he wanted to be buried in the Parish Church of Milton, the building now known as the Abbey Church of Milton Abbas. “Ile” clearly indicates … Continue reading

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Exhibition 16 – 17 Sep 2017

Phew! Well we met so many people. Over 100 visitors came along. Thank you to all those who were stewards, those who supplied the cakes, and especially those visitors who came along and shared their family history research with us. … Continue reading

Posted in Anglo-Saxon, archaeology, Domesday, Dorset, family history, history, local, local history, Milton Abbas, Milton Abbey, Overseers of the Poor, Parish Registers, records | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment