History/Sources/Suffolk/Transcriptions

Grass widows in Stoke-by-Nayland

Posted on by Helen Barrell
An etching by Jacques Callot of a beggar woman and her children, 1622. The Wellcome Collection.

I’m currently transcribing Stoke-by-Nayland’s parish registers, and I was rather confused by a marriage that took place on 23rd July 1622 between:

Amye Wright Grasse widow and Nathaniel Ratcatcher.

First of all, the entry is very unusual, giving the bride’s name before the groom’s. Secondly, it looks like Amy has two surnames, and that the groom’s surname has been missed off, giving his occupation instead.

So what were their names? Amy Wright, or Amy Grasse? Nathaniel Wright, or Nathaniel Grasse?

I carried on transcribing and met another, on 12th May 1633:

John Gallant widd. to Susan Clarke grease widd.

I realised then that “grease” or “grasse” wasn’t a surname, and the expression “grass widow” came to mind.

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Essex/Transcriptions

Alresford records

Posted on by Helen Barrell

I’ve started to transcribe Alresford’s parish registers, which survive from the 1740s. I’ve discovered burials 1679-1740s in two vestry minutes books, which were recorded thanks to the Burials in Woollen Acts. I’m transcribing these too, and I’m also going to extract names from the vestry minutes books which help to give names to the inhabitants of the village, who otherwise would be forgotten.

Suffolk

Memorial photos – coming soon!

Posted on by Helen Barrell
Mary Revers’ memorial at Chattisham

Back in August, I went on a daytrip around several churches in Suffolk: Boxford, Groton, Edwardstone, Chattisham and East Bergholt. I took lots of photos of brasses, plaques, and grave stones, and you’ll see them popping up in galleries soon. There’s some wonderful memorials, so I’ll blog about some of the more unusual ones.