In my experience of parish registers 1500-1640, anyone who was not a member of that parish was liable to be described as a 'stranger'. There are less people described explicitly as 'travellers', though a few 'Egyptians' (gypsies). Where a foreign nationality was known, it was usually mentioned, be it 'Irish', 'French', Spanish' 'Portugall' or 'Moor'... Peoples of African origin could be variously described as 'moors', 'negroes', 'negars', 'ethiopes', etc... People from India were 'east indians', but also 'negers' or 'moors', Native Americans were 'virginians' or 'of guyana' or whatever was appropriate (?). One Mary Becke who died just outside Plymouth in the early 17th c. was confusingly described as 'an Indian or blackmoore'- which leaves me somewhat baffled as to her actual origin!
Best,
Miranda x
In message <44A33C38955E418FA4D0C15F668B95CE@acera07ead0d35> The Black and Asian Studies Association <[log in to unmask]> writes:
> Melsia,
>
> Does 'travellers' mean people who are going from (a) to (b) or as in
> gypsies?
>
> Most likely to be the former in which case all people of African heritage
> coming from the Americas and the West Indies to Britain in the 18thC and
> early 19th C can be described as 'travellers'. Might 'travellers' who died
> while staying in a parish be described in the burial registers as
> 'strangers'?
>
> Perhaps Kathy Chater and Miranda Kaufman can tell us from their deep
> researches into parish records?
>
> Of the question of 'fresh' we have to use the meanings of the period.
>
> Some older people still have young looking skin. If this was the case then
> this might have been noticed.
>
> The reference to 'captain' might be to an army or a navy captain, so it is
> posisble that he had served in the British army or navy to be eligible for a
> pension. But why would he need a certificate from a captain? Surely his
> official records would have been sufficient to prove his eligibility? Is it
> possible that he served in the West Indies and had not been to Britian
> before, and that therefore there was no copy of his service record in
> Britian?
>
> Perhaps John Ellis can throw light on this aspect.
>
> Sean
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Melsia Tomlin-Kraftner" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 2:47 PM
> Subject: Re: complexion - fresh?
>
>
> Thinking back to those records on Saturday, healthy yes, but youthful did
> not come to mind as the father who had 'black, fresh, black hair' next to
> his name, stated they were in the area 'to see the captain for a pension
> certifcate'. I will wait until the actual records arrive to make sense of it
> all.
>
> Anyone come across Jamaican travellers? Or any travellers of colour during
> the 1800s?
>
> Melsia
>
> ________________________________________
> From: The Black and Asian Studies Association [[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Banton, Mandy [[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 06 October 2008 10:00
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: complexion - fresh?
>
> The Oxford English Dictionary says 'blooming, looking healthy or youthful'.
>
> Mandy Banton
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Black and Asian Studies Association
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Melsia Tomlin-Kraftner
> Sent: 05 October 2008 23:23
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: complexion - fresh?
>
>
> Thanks Ruth,
>
> Sounds logical!!
>
> Melsia
> ________________________________
> From: The Black and Asian Studies Association [[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Ruth Paley [[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 05 October 2008 12:55
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: complexion - fresh?
>
>
> 'fresh' complexion is a standard term used in descriptions of individuals -
> it appears in everything from gaol calendars to service records. I've never
> been quite sure what it means but an obvious possibility is youthful or
> unlined.
> Regards
> Ruth
>
>
>
> > Message Received: Oct 04 2008, 08:53 PM
> > From: "Melsia Tomlin-Kraftner"
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Cc:
> > Subject: complexion - fresh?
> >
> >
> > Someone shared some records with me today from the 'Overseer's Register of
> > Poor Travellers' 1819-1820 for Blandford in Dorset. There was a Jamaican
> > family of travellers mentioned (from Jamaica!) but under their complexion
> > black, brown etc., there was 'fresh'. Has anyone come across such
> > description and know what is 'fresh'?
> >
> > Has anyone else come across Jamaican travellers during this period earlier
> > or later?
> >
> > Just in case, It was not 'flesh' and definitely a 'r'.
> >
> > Thank you
> >
> > Melsia Tomlin-Kräftner
> > PhD Caribbean Studies, Warwick University
> >
> >
> > Associate Marketing Lecturer,
> > Chartered Marketer
> > Southampton Solent University
> >
> >
>
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