Genealogy Chat

Will get back as soon as poss but I have red alert trip wire situation merry.

''red alert trip wire situation'' Heather , what are you up to now - the mind boggles!

Could Hubby be coming down the front path ?????

I've got a family of 5 boys - all auctioneers at some time in their lives. Would you like me to organise them into auctioning off some of the Ag Labs (and believe me, I have plenty of them as well). Tina

before I started the family tree, my dad told me our ancestors from Swaledale (pre 1841) were farmers. From what I've found out since, I believe it was far more likely they were lead miners. Somehow ''farmers'' sounded better to my dad (he could be a real snob!) During the 1830s they left the green fields of Swaledale for the delights of the Northumberland coal fields. I'd gladly swap half a dozen miners for a couple of ag labs, since I'm claustrophic & they could help out with the gardening.

I am feeling really left here out, haven't got 1 ag lab yet! could I swap my pianist for a few?

I have plenty of ag labs as well, but with some chimney sweeps, cabinet makers, shoemakers, a blacksmith, a surgeon and a wine merchant thrown in for good measure. One ggg grandfather was a parish clerk and sexton for over 50 years and has a special grave alongside the vicar that he served, so he must of been very well thought of. Just wish I had some skeletons in the cupboards lurking around! Julia

I have ample supplies of ag labs and spirit dealers (Scottish). My favourite is a gentleman from my husband's family, and I'm not trading him for anything: 'Edward, known by the family as 'the Scamp' was short tempered, sadistic, weak and a compulsive gambler. He became involved with an unscrupulous but clever young relative called John Dunning, who was a brilliant and ambitious lawyer and a far better card player than Edward. Edward became involved in a murder charge; he had been gambling and had as usual lost heavily. Later that evening he rode off, dressed as a highwayman, held up his gambling partner and shot him. There was a witness who claimed it was moonlight and that he saw 'the Scamp's' face after he had shot his victim. John Dunning defended Edward and won the case, claiming that the witness could not have identified Edward as it was not moonlight. He produced a calendar that he had made himself claiming there was no moon that night! John Dunning succeeded in getting Edward acquitted. The trial had been very expensive and he owed Dunning huge amounts of money that he paid back in land leaving him penniless and he died a few years later.' Beverley from Perth

Jess Tut tut - Cordwainers are far posher than common old shoemakers. But you can't have mine, he's the only one I've got. I've also got loads of ag labs (who usually gussie themselves up for their weddings, when they appear as farmers. However, I am generously prepared to swap with anyone who is prepared to take on my most embarrassing ancestor, John Whittaker the Beaver Blower. God only knows how he died, but I can probably hazard a guess or two. Or would you like the first drunk driver in the world? He drove his horse and cart into a post in 1863, throwing out his passenger, Mrs Doings and 'a woman' (LOL). Mrs Doodah died at the scene (dont know what happened to 'the woman') but before she finally perished she was taken into the newly-refurbished hotel, appointed to the highest standards of luxury and refinement, by Messrs Bloggs and Sons - reasonable terms. He got away with it, on account of his father being a big smell in the area. And it was me who found the woman drowned in a cart of feathers - but she wasn't my rellie. Olde Crone

Mine are nearly as boring as yours Jess, either Ag Labs or miners, although 1 did go to prison for housebreaking and stealing £57 - in 1850 so loads of money then!! Jayne x

Hi Jess !! I have a shoemaker, lol but I also have loads of ag labs, a couple of farm bailiffs (I think they were quite posh, or maybe not!) loads of Innkeepers/wine merchants (ehm - I am tee total - almost! lol) & my favourite one is a confectioner, a man after my own heart !! Pmsl Olde Crone, love your reply lol ! :0) Joan xx

''Red alert trip wire situation'' ........... refers to Heather's old man coming home.....she has a trip wire up the drive which rings an alarm bell next to her computer......the trouble is, she still doesn't get off the machine in time and so usually he catches her RED-HANDED!!! She says it's because I bought the trip-wire at Argos, but I did get the deluxe model...........(some people are never satisfied!!) Merry

Hi yer guys, got my allotted 10 minutes on here - yes thats right Merry HE arrived home. Ive enjoyed reading everyones stories and thats right Old Crone had my favourite, the drunk suffocating in the cart load of feathers - I want that one if no one claims them!

pleas Crone, NOT the beaver blower, that one very nearly got the flippin site closed down!! I'm sitting here stupidly grinning just thinking about that thread.......

Noooooo...... I love my ag labs!!! PS that thread is still............. :-)

Boring as it really is can I have 4 points for a bone maker? It sounds good.

My gran always claimed to come from a farming family. Her dad's occupation is actually consistent on the censuses as 'horse slaughterer & manure manufacturer.' Anyone want to swap him? (I've been vegetarian for 16 years lol)

silly quetio time but.. pippa- what did a bone maker do? corset bones or something? Noooooooooo the beaver blower is long gone, good job too, arrests were about to be made!

Fertiliser my Dad told me. My Dad was an Ag Lab up to 1974. He worked on 3 different farms at the same time at one point. Will have to check now.

Jessie I have hardly any ag labs so I need a few to make sure mine get fed. I could offer coal weighers, coal hewers, coal hauliers, and even a few coal merchants. I want to keep my mallsters, innkeepers, and wine merchants.