Not much to do in those days!! Astwood, Wright, Cooke, Payne, Horton

[flateric999]

Not much to be gained from marraige certificate then. It seems pretty likely he is who we think.

Now another question, I will pose this on the Bedford board too, what does Thomas mean by 'crows butcher' and Jesse when he remarks "old savage of Cranfield"

[johnP-bedford]

Beds Archives online database has an entry dated 7 June 1832; Removed to Wootton; Mary Wright, wife of Abraham, and daughter, Mary, aged 15 with keyword Marston Moretaine.
The Beds FHS Poor Law Papers index has corresponding entry in 1832 for Mary, Abra & Mary being removal from Marston Moretaine to Wootton.

As well as Abraham & Mary having son Abraham baptised at Astwood 1812 they have daughter Mary born c 1817 but where. In 1832 they were moved from Marston back to to Wootton. perhaps that's where they married?. We know that in 1830/31 Abraham's brother Thomas was living in Marston when he stole the cheeses. 

[johnP-bedford]

Now another question, what does Thomas mean by 'Crows butcher' and Jesse when he remarks "old Savage of Cranfield"

These were said with regard to the dead/rotten sheep they had bought from Mr Pettit that they were carrying (as well as the cheeses) where they went down the Closes to avoid being seen 'as we had no cloth on it' so they would not be called Crow butchers or old Savage of Cranfield.

OK my thoughts (1) Mr Pettit could well be John Pettit, farmer of Astwood Bury born 1815 and (2) old Savage could be William Savage, butcher of Cranfield born 1806 and (3) crow butchers could be a derogatory term for scavengers.
   

[suey]

Now another question, what does Thomas mean by 'Crows butcher' and Jesse when he remarks "old Savage of Cranfield"

These were said with regard to the dead/rotten sheep they had bought from Mr Pettit that they were carrying (as well as the cheeses) where they went down the Closes to avoid being seen 'as we had no cloth on it' so they would not be called Crow butchers or old Savage of Cranfield.

OK my thoughts (1) Mr Pettit could well be John Pettit, farmer of Astwood Bury born 1815 and (2) old Savage could be William Savage, butcher of Cranfield born 1806 and (3) crow butchers could be a derogatory term for scavengers.
 

Bit off the main topic - 
Some of our ancestors did have some odd occupations!  I can see that they might have made some money from the bones of the sheep but what else could they have gained from the rotten carcase ?

Suey

[flateric999]

"We know that in 1830/31 Abraham's brother Thomas was living in Marston when he stole the cheeses. "[/quote]

But do we know that? His home is not identified here, and we know his children, the first being William in 1834, are all born in Astwood. The events in discussion took place in Astwood, and Thomas hadd time to take, and hide the spoils while also carrying a dead sheep.

Marston, as you know is a fair old walk from Astwood and Marston is not mentioned at any point except on sentencing later. Is there any other reason why the two may be listed as being from Marston?

[flateric999]

Bit off the main topic - 
Some of our ancestors did have some odd occupations!  I can see that they might have made some money from the bones of the sheep but what else could they have gained from the rotten carcase ?

Suey
[/quote]
Gross though it sounds, i reckon they where planning on eating it!! When they say rotten sheep, it may mean its simply not fit for market, maybe it died in the fields? These guys where poor so any free or cheap meat would  have been worth the effort.