RootsChat.Com

There is a magnificent website at http://www.wimpole.uk.com with transcripts of many registers and inscriptions going back to the 16th century.
I couldn't see any mention of it on Rootschat so thought I had better mention it here.

If someone was a haybinder in 1850s England would he have used machinery to do the job or just muscle. Was it a skilled job?
If he made hay while the sun shone what did he do the rest of the time?

I came across these two marriages in Harwich in the Essex transcripts at Essex Record office ref: T/R 203/49 pages 3036-3116:
1804 Jun 10 GRISLEY John Abraham of HM Ship Pegasus m. PACKWORTH Martha widow of HM Ship Pegasus
1809 Mar 28 ENSLIE Robert 76th Regt. of Foot widower (signs EMSLIE) m. GREASLY Sarah of 76th Regt. of Foot. Licence.
I had heard of women being allowed on ships in Napoleonic times or earlier. And I believe every army has had its camp-followers. But these entries conjured up an image in my mind of equal opportunities existing far earlier than I had been told.
It also brought home to me how difficult research must be for anyone who has ancestors who were soldiers or sailors before, say, 1850 particularly if they are unaware of the fact. If there is no website already providing for this purpose, what do you think about a portion of this website being used solely to (a) list known marriages involving soldiers or sailors before 1850 (say) and (b) list known births of children of soldiers or sailors before 1850 (say). Anyone who doesn't mind spending a few minutes noting a few of such events as they do their own research could be a big help to others. I have no personal axe to grind here, honestly....
 

Hi Sandra
WIX
1811 Sep 30 COLE William married DOUBLE Amelia
LITTLE BROMLEY
1760 Oct 14 DOUBLE William married HAYWARD Mary
1798 Dec 11 PRATT Robert of Dedham married DOUBLE Ann widow
1813 Dec 1 DUBLE Thomas married ALLEN Abigail
These details were taken from Essex marriage register transcripts at Essex Record Office (T/R 203 etc) Good luck Clincher