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My maternal Grandmothers family come from a long ling of Horsemen and Ag Labs, again they lived longer than my East End side, Nan used to tell me that when she was 8 years old she had to walk 3 miles to school, She was up at 5 to do her chores on the farm they worked on. walked half way to school and did chores on another farm. then continued to school. She did the same on the way home. the other farm paid her a pittence but doing it ment she and her younger sisters could have boots and a coat to go to school in the winter. She was born in 1900 Suffolk. Could you see a child of today doing that.
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6 x great grandad described as Yeoman Farmer on his licence to marry, 1731, sons some Farmers some Ag Labs.
Come 1833, Farmers sons shifted ,my 2xgreat grandad shoemaker, his brothers wheelwright, wood sawyer. Ag Lab's
When I saw the lovely village they left, I wished I could have lived there.
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Janet
thanks for nudging this up for me. I am amazed at how much information other GR members have found on their Ag Labs.
I would love to find out what life was like for the many Shepherds I have in my tree (from Norfolk). I have visited the villages they were born in..such small communities, I have stood in the churches where they were baptised/married or buried. It was lovely.
Would anyone know where to look for any further information I can research on the Shepherds. for example; who were the landowners, are there any employment records to see, when the families moved into the villages etc etc. I just do not know where to start looking. I know there was an agricultural depression around 1880-1890 when (I am told) many ag labs and shepherds moved north from Norfolk to work either in the cotton mills or steel industries. My great grandfather (a shepherd) moved to a tiny village near Beverley, East Yorkshire to raise his family. I've been trying to find records of his employment on the land there, but to no avail. I do know he passed his skills to my grandfather whos career was based around gardening, gamekeeping, and then as a cobler! But what of my gt grandfathers' brothers and cousins? some moved to fulham - how do I find out what could have attracted them there??
Any advice as to where to look, would be appreciated from you long term GR geneologists on here!
Thanks to all those who have contributed on this thread and given me an insight into their research.
Dee
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Certainly is food for thought! My husbands ancestors bought up 10 kids in a tiny cottage, the women must have been tough. Although they had more family support and support from neighbours, which many of us who've moved away dont have. Hadnt thought before about ag labs being knowledgable on stars positions; but of course that makes sense.
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Dee
Norfolk County Record Office should really be your first port of call. It was a Shepherd found in the Northants 1766 Militia List that found all my ancestors back to 1600's in a small village about 5 miles from the hamlet I was first interested in. So Militia Lists are invaluable as are the original registers for births and marriages. Burials rather than deaths were recorded pre 1837 but back to the 1600's many were buried in wool so you can look for the affidavits for those. Google search for "Buried in wool" to find out more about this act. Many people married by licence so you should look for any there might be for your family. Any illegitimate children will have to be maintained by a putative father, or on the parish so worth looking for those. Where did they work? Many of mine worked for landed gentry as so many did and you will find references on A2A for these folk when you know who they are. Google search your village +history or Genealogy to find out more. The same squires owners of manors etc will pop up! I know there is a lot of info for Norfolk so try googling for starters.
When I get to a CRO I am the first there and the last to leave, still writing as I am shooed out of the door!!
If your folk moved from village to village as some of them would have done, being shepherds, then you will possibly find Settlement Certs.
Join Norfolk Family History Society, cost £10 a year appox. You may be able to purchase CD's through them of various sorts. Northants does Cd's on Gamekeepers Indexes amognst other things, So much info out there.
Take holiday near to the Record Office for a few days and see what pops up for you!
Janet North London Borders
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Clive really knew his stuff didnt he Sue, God bless him.
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Janet
Thanks for the info. I have spent two full weeks at NRO going through the parish records....most of my names found there!
My ancestors were from a small village called Snetterton and like you, I was first in last out every day to get as much info as possible (wish I lived in Norfolk). The staff there were helpful, but couldn't suggest anything more than what I was doing. My 3xgt grandfather (according to IGI - based on a comment in a family diary) was from the village, as were his parents. I have been lucky enough to view the original register (the master fiche copies had been sent away to have more copies made) There were no references to my family prior to the baptism of their first daughter Elizabeth (presumably named after her grandmother which the diary refers to). Since my visit, I have traced another child of my 3xgt grandfather on a census, claiming he was born in Snetterton 1806 (before Elizabeth) and suprisingly - named after my 4xgt grandfather William (from same diary).
I have recently discovered that there are some arch deacon transcripts for the period in this parish, so when I can get back to the records offices, I can take a look to find them. All of my 3xgt grandfather's sons were shepherds as were most of their sons! Some have moved to other villages in Norfolk.
I will certainly ask them for advice on landowners for the village and see what I can find there....when I can get back there, that is!
Thankyou for your invaluable advice
Dee
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