Author Topic: Book - 'A Drunken Worthless Creature' - East Ilsley people in 1831  (Read 4345 times)

Offline Sloe Gin

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Book - 'A Drunken Worthless Creature' - East Ilsley people in 1831
« on: Wednesday 02 June 10 18:45 BST (UK) »

“A Drunken Worthless Creature” – Notes on Parishioners 1831


In 1831, the curate of East Ilsley drew up a document for the benefit of the new Rector.  He produced what amounts to a census of the village, including a map showing every dwelling with a numbered key to the inhabitants, and also listing the owners.  He also included comments about individual parishioners.  These remarks give his candid opinions on the people of East Ilsley in 1831 and are sometimes rather derogatory!  :-X

Miraculously this document survived, and has been transcribed by the East Ilsley Local History Society.  It has also been annotated with extracts from the parish registers to give more detail about the people mentioned.  More than 150 people are named in the original document.  Not all of them were born in the village.

Some examples of the comments – could one of these be in your family tree?

Collar maker, journeyman saddler to Butler. Once possessed 600£, spent all. Wife rather above situation. Sometimes at Church.

Lately a widower (not a parishioner). Trainer of racehorses, respectable & quiet, seldom at Church, mostly engaged.  Pays Poor Rates.

Gardener, aged 50. (1 boy at home turned out of school, mischievous) Inclined to D(rink),  lost his leg, weak in character.

3 children, 1 at school. Not very industrious, rather a pilferer, wife an invalid, both at Church.



Now available as a 32-page booklet, price £2.50 (inc UK postage) from  East Ilsley Local History Society through

www.sigmabooks.co.uk







UK census content is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk  Transcriptions are my own.