Tag Archives: BBHG

Historical Pot Pourri

by thehistoryinterpreter

As promised, we are back to the history. Another Hangout on Air for the Society for One-Place Studies. This time I was guiding people through choosing your ‘one place’. If you are thinking about taking on this kind of research do listen in. I was just thinking I was getting the idea of all this hanging out when, half way through, I realised I had my printer plugged in instead of my snazzy headphones. It seems you can still hear me though.

Whilst delving into the delights of YouTube, take a look at this amazing video of Buckland Brewer thanks to Burn the Curtain Theatre Company. I can’t believe I am lucky enough to live somewhere so beautiful. The History Group is thriving, with some exciting new projects in the wings. We have had two requests for assistance just this week.

I have been following up on the descendants of those who lost their lives in the Clovelly fishing fleet in 1838. I have managed to find two more with Braund connections. Philip Cowel of Hartland led me a bit of a dance, until I discovered that he was also called Curtis. His daughter married a Braund. James Kelly of Appledore had a son James Kelly Cook who married a Braund – they just get everywhere.

Two talks for Mistress Agnes this week and a lovely time with the ladies of Christchurch, Barnstaple and the history society in Chulmleigh, although Mistress Agnes was very wary in the latter as she heard that the Parliamentarian army was passing through.

At last, a publication date for Family Historians’ Enquire Within January I’m afraid so too late for Santa this year but always an option for spending your Christmas money! Ok, ok, I know I said it would be ready for Christmas but be fair, I didn’t say which Christmas. The typeset proofs for Putting Your Ancestors in their Place have arrived, which is very exciting but not looking forward to spending Christmas indexing.

For those who have brains to tax and minutes to fill over the holiday season do try the charity Christmas Puzzle. I have managed page one with Martha’s help – now for the rest.

In at the Outset – Society for One-Place Studies, Soldiers’ Wills and other matters

by thehistoryinterpreter

Hurrah! After all the hints of the past few months I can confirm that the Society for One-Place Studies is born. I seem to have ended up as Vice Chairman. Do look, do join if you too are researching the history of a place. This is going to be a good way to exchange ideas and encourage each other. Yes, this does mean that I have been instrumental in the launching of two societies in a month – so much for a quiet life.

The Buckland Brewer History Group website is developing nicely and we have had a great deal of interest from near and far.

Spent some time this week searching for the Braund Society journal, which had in theory been delivered to an outbuilding near me. Outbuildings duly searched and no sign. Eventually the parcel was tracked down. The relief delivery driver used his sat nav (always a bad idea if you are trying to find my house) and then dumped the parcel in the nearest shed, which just happened to be that of a neighbour who was on holiday. The regular driver, refreshed from his break, after consultations with his colleague and identifying sheds on Google Earth, retrieved it.

Had a new one in the seventeenth century this week. I had enlisted a willing (well probably not so willing) victim volunteer, to pose as a cavalry officer. I was about to place a Monmouth cap (knitted beany hat affair) on his head, which was somewhat follicly challenged, when he tells me he is allergic to wool! So straight to the helmet then – one has to suffer for one’s art – or at least he did.

Some TV ties ins now. Disappointed to find that Celebrity Masterchef’s ‘Wars of the Roses’ menu included orange carrots. Thanks to Martha for picking that one up – to say nothing of the not very historic plastic stock pots. Impressed though by Nick Hewer’s apparent fluency in reading seventeenth century documents during his episode of Who Do You Think You Are? Was there really a nicely transcribed copy nearby? I rather think there may have been.

Finally I must mention the heavily hyped Soldiers’ Wills site. Great resource but the site leaves a lot to be desired. They need to include a proper explanation of the class of records. It also needs the facility to search a range of dates, currently it is one year at a time. The full date span on the advanced search is 1850-1986. It seems the only dates in use at present are 1914-1921 but if it tells you that, it isn’t anywhere very prominent. Just glad I didn’t search 1850-1986 a year at a time for all the Braunds! This is really only set up for an individual family historian looking for a single will at present. What about us One Place Studiers? I’d also like to have been able to tell them all this but my and several others’, feedback emails bounced! Second attempt at feeding back was more successful and the wills arrived on my computer within two days – shame one was mis-indexed though.