Category Archives: history
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
Nicholas Turbeville
One of our members with Milton Abbas ancestors going back the 16th century has discovered that his family were connected to the Turbeville, Horsey, Tregonwell and other high status families. Peter Arnold writes about Nicholas Turbeville: “.. lived at Winterborne … Continue reading
The Role of the Overseers of the Poor
Following two brilliant presentations to the Milton Abbas Local History Group by members Clive Barnes and John O’Quinn, a number of questions were asked about the Overseers of the Poor of Milton Abbas. The presentations are available on the Members … Continue reading
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
Vestry Minute Book
One of our amazing transcribers, Shirley Chick, has just completed the Milton Abbas Vestry Minute Book 1863 – 1924. The original book is in our possession. The resulting 65 page document is now available for our members to research. The … Continue reading
Walking in History’s Footsteps
Our members, Clive Barnes and Sheila and Peter Arnold have been walking the old roads and tracks of Milton Abbas and compared maps of the 18th century when Joseph Damer, Lord Milton moved the roads to build his landscape.
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