Category Archives: history
HMS Victory and the Battle of Trafalgar
We have just found some exciting news – John Welstead, aged 38, from Milton Abbas was on-board the Victory at Trafalgar on 21 Oct 1805. He was bosun’s mate. We now need to carry out more research on this man … Continue reading
Location, location, location
In order to locate the key points on the Woodward 1770 survey and map, the Milton Abbas Local History Group have purchased a hand held sat nav – We can now find on the ground, on the site of the … Continue reading
In These Times, Jenny Uglow
Living in Britain through Napoleon’s Wars 1793 – 1815. To quote the dust-jacket ” we know the thrilling, terrible stories of the battles of the Napoleonic wars – but what of those left behind? The people on a Norfolk farm, … Continue reading
18th Century weather
In order to understand our Overseers of the Poor records we would like to know what the weather was like in Dorset say 1770 – 1830. In particular winter temperatures because these may be the cause of the expenditure on … Continue reading
Overseers of the Poor 1778
This entry is mystifying us. It seems to say “Paid the Expences of Crovining and Buring Burgundeys Child she had by John Hobbes £0 16s 7d” There is no such word as “Crovining” in the full Oxford English Dictionary. If … Continue reading
Lord Milton’s Ad quod Damnum 1763
This is a small part of this document which is the first in Quarter Sessions Order Book in the Dorset History Centre to show Lord Milton closing some of the roads. Some of the places named are well known to … 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
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
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
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