David Fferne, the short man.

[Top-of-the-hill]

   I have just come across a burial record in the register of St Paul's Church, Canterbury, of a man who seems to have come from Ross-shire, and thought it might be of interest. I presume that was not his real surname, perhaps a stage name? The burial date was 26th October 1737.

[DonM]

I see David S Fernie which is a fairly common surname but matters not he is on the small side.

Don

[Skoosh]

The parish of Fearn & surname ditto, there were cases when a child was the responsibility of a parish and given its name for want of another. According to Black, "Fern of that Ilk" was a follower of the earls of Ross and the name is recorded elsewhere on the east coast.

Bests,
Skoosh.

[GR2]

Definitely David Ferne, with the ff form of the capital F. Ferne/Fearn is a surname with a long pedigree, but as he is from Fearn, I thought I'd look to see if he was mentioned in the session records. Unfortunately they don't start until 1771.

[Top-of-the-hill]

  I suppose it was partly because I have recently researched a Kent family, who had a son of restricted growth who became an entertainer, that I thought about the same being the case for this man. Also the fact that he died a very long way from home.