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Bits and Bobs
This is where you will find all the other 'bits and bobs' which don't fit in anywhere else.
Hopefully you will find something that interests you, maybe even amuses you, but it will definitely inform you.
Scroll down till you find something you fancy - got anything to add? Just let us know and we'll add it here.
Did You Know?
If you have travelled well back in your family research and are struggling with early handwriting and documents written in Latin there is help on the web?
An excellent tutorial, covering handwriting between 1500 and 1800 can be found on the website of the National Archives (you can access it directly by clicking here).
Cambridge University runs a free on-line course in English handwriting 1500-1700 (you can access this site by clicking here).
For help with Scottish documents the website of the Scottish Archive Network is most helpful (access this site here)
From the Annals of Yorkshire:
8th October 1830 - an immense sensation was caused in Leeds by the apprehension, on a charge of bigamy, of John Stanley of Crimbles Lodge, Camp Road - a most respectable wool merchant and broker.
On 16th June 1829, at Knaresborough, Mr Stanley was married to Ann Daniel, governess to Mr William Gott's children.
On 7th October 1830 a bustling, good looking female, attended by her son aged 22 years, arrived in Leeds from Cumberwell near London.
She brought a letter to a respectable resident and immediately introduced herself as the wife of Mr Stanley, whom she married in 1806.
She stated that she had bore him 11 children, six of who still lived and the eldest of whom accompanied her.
In support of these and other allegations, she produced a regular marriage certificate.
Mr Sowery, the constable, had charge of the prisoner at Crimbles House where Mr Gott and Mr Barr were taking the usual information in such cases.
By some means or other the prisoner was suffered to escape and was not heard of afterwards.
Did You Know?
Until 1974 when county boundaries were re-organised Harrogate and district were in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
This can lead to some difficulties when researching original documents as some are still kept in the West Yorkshire Archives.
Kirkby Malzeard for instance, close to our area, is a large parish and was once in the West Riding.
A useful book which will help you to find out what is kept where is: 'Basic Facts about Family History in Yorkshire' by Pauline Litton - a copy of which is held in the Society's library.
A Family Mystery: - by David Strover
6th October 1910 - Sandy, Bedfordshire
Sandy's village doctor was sat in his surgery at a large roll-top desk checking through his morning calls.
He was a dapper little man - rosy cheeks, goatee beard, wing collar, pin-stripe suit and patent leather boots complete with spats.
He was about to depart on his morning calls around the village in his pony and trap but, at that moment, his telephone rang. The local constabulary required his presence in a nearby wood to examine a body which had been found by a dog walker that morning.
The body had apparently been lying there for some considerable time and was in a terrible state. The doctor was unable to identify the body and enquiries were then set on foot.
It transpired that the body was that of Dr Walter Strover, physician and surgeon, aged 55 years of Hoxton, North London, missing since 21st September. It came as a great shock to my grandfather Dr Herbert Strover, that his brother who he had not seen for 15 years had travelled from his home in London to take his life in a wood not far from his brother's surgery.
The details of Dr Walter Strover's death appeared in the Biggleswade Chronicle dated 14th October 1910. The Article revealed a lot of questions which, to date, remain unanswered and leave a family mystery unresolved.
Notice to Staff:
Seen at Sandsend, near Whitby
Will ladies please rinse out teapots, then stand upside down in the sink.
ON NO ACCOUNT must hot bottoms be placed on the worktops.
Is this why members are reluctant to volunteer for refreshment duties?
