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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: littlefacey on Wednesday 20 March 19 21:26 GMT (UK)
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Hello!
So in the far right column on the 1871 i have the word 'Changeling' which according to Google means Fairy!!?
Do you think they meant to say challenging? or was this little boy really a fairy!? :D
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How odd. Can you give us a name or the census reference?
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Of course!
First Name William
Last Name Stockwell
Birth Year 1823
Age 48
Birth Place England
Birth Town Leeds
Birth County Yorkshire
Gender Male
Relationship To Head of Household Head
Occupation
Archive Reference RG10
Folio 82
Page 13
Piece Number 4563
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In 1881 he is classified as ‘Imbecile’.
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1891 - Imbecile from childhood.
1901 - Feeble Minded.
JJ
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** a child believed to have been exchanged by fairies for the parents' true child
** an idiot
archaic : imbecile
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From the OED
Changeling An extremely stupid or foolish person; an idiot, an imbecile. Now historic.
Probably with reference to the idea that children with undesirable physical or mental characteristics were changelings in sense A. 1a.
A 1a A child secretly substituted for another in infancy; a child supposedly left by fairies in exchange for one stolen. Often used to refer to a child who is considered undesirable, or who does not resemble his or her family.
Stan
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How sad -
xin
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I have a letter written by my mother to her mother in 1963 in which she says she thinks my brother must be a changeling because his behaviour was so different to mine. (Polishes her halo :))
So not too archaic a term.
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That's the first time I have seen that. It is sad but the name is preferable to imbecile.
Carol
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I've been wracking my brain trying to recall why I knew what a changeling was.
It's just dawned on me that my first knowledge was at school.
There was a Changeling in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream":
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In rural New South Wales the term was used up until very recently. I was born 1947, and my best friend from infants school has many siblings. Her youngest brother has Downs. Their mum always attributed this to her age ... she used the expression ... 'change of life' . In her 1997 will she referred to him as 'my beloved changeling' ... after he was born she had refused to let the medicos commit him and he was raised within the family, on their farm. I wonder if changeling indicates Downs or is it broader ...
JM
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Hannah Kent has written an amazing book, "The Good People" set in 1820's Ireland, and based upon a true story.
Such children were treated cruelly and subjected to all sorts of "spells" and "cures' and community rituals to appease the fairies who made the substitution.
A grim but gripping narrative.
Sue
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Libraries are fantastic ... they even still have real books available. :D
JM
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Re a child being called a changeling ,jokingly ,when they were not like most members of the family,
I can remember ordinary children who differed physically or in behaviour especially if a bit naughty,being described as being found in the back street after the dustbin lorry had done its rounds!
Alternatively the rag bone man had not collected them.
My sister was found in s rose,I in a cabbage!
Life was hard and mothers harder! ;D ;D ;D
Viktoria.
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Re a child being called a changeling ,jokingly ,when they were not like most members of the family,
I can remember ordinary children who differed physically or in behaviour especially if a bit naughty,being described as being found in the back street after the dustbin lorry had done its rounds!
Alternatively the rag bone man had not collected them.
My sister was found in s rose,I in a cabbage!
Life was hard and mothers harder! ;D ;D ;D
Viktoria.
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I never knew the term was used for real people I've only ever read it in old Irish myths. One that comes to mind the changeling turns into a very old woman when exposed to sun light. My grand mother used to talk about protection infants from the fairies at Halloween in case they were taken and a changeling left in their place.
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just ordered that book :) 2.75 on ebay
xin
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I wonder if the use of changeling was defensive,given the superstition which in days gone by attached to anyone different in any way from the perceived norm.The parents said their real normal baby had been substituted so it was not their fault that the so called substitute had a condition which would bring down scorn and ridicule on itself and the family.
That was the parents’ story.
( I read the original post and modified it as it did not read well.)
People thought things like ,hare lip and cleft palate came about because
an expectant mother was startled by a hare or rabbit .
Life was cruel and any one different would be ridiculed and persecuted.
Remember The Elephant Man,his mother claimed she was frightened by an elephant hence his severe condition.
It was a strongly held belief even into the sixties that an expectant mother
ought not to visit zoos ::) ::) ::) ::) or look at people with physical difficulties .
Honestly!
Viktoria.
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my aunt was born with only one hand.... her Mother (my Nan) was convinced it was due to her (my Nan) being shut in the cellar when she was pregnant.
xin
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Superstition about changelings was another reason for babies being baptised as soon after birth as possible. Unbaptised babies were believed to be most at risk of substitution.
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Yes,they were considered an unclaimed soul,so as well as going into limbo,
seemingly they could also be claimed by old Nick!
I am not wishing to offend anyone who does ,but just to say I personally cannot believe ithings like that.
How hard it must have been when so little was understood about various conditions and superstition was so prevalent as a result.
We are in rather more enlightened times but still a long way to go.
Viktoria.
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I remember there was a film called "The Changeling" in the 80s I think, it was a psychological thriller.
Carol