My research has recently found a connection between the families of FROOD and VOSPER, confirmed in a document describing the relationship between Thomas Vosper (b. 1825), the youngest son of George Vosper and Mary Menhennick and the Frood family. Thomas married his second cousin Amelia Frood, who was the eldest daughter of James Frood and Elizabeth Sargeant Vopser. Thomas was located in Lewannick, Egloskerry and Calstock, in Cornwall - the Launceston area.
Thomas was a successful businessman, however his wife is described as some one who was involved in matters of the church to the detriment of her social responsibilities. 'They did not have a happy marriage'. They both died in Hackney, she in 1881. They did not have any children.
Amelia is shown in the census of 1841, at the age of 16, to be staying with her grandparents Jams and Constance FROOD in 1, Hay Moor, in the parish of MADRON.
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Thursday, 13 January 2011
BLUSTERY NIGHTS ON DUTY
JAMES FROOD OF MADRON 1771-1849
It isn't difficult to imagine - a cold windswept cliff top in 1790 - a man and his horse battered by the unrelenting and icy waters of the white sea waves as he searches the shoreline, through half closed eyes, for miscreants and chancers trying to avoid the payment of duties due to the Crown.
A grey horse rearing in the face of the gales blowing through Kilnquay Wood and across Trefusis Point, a red cape, a three cornered black hat, a ruddy face covered by a silk scarfe, a small firearm and a leather saddle bag create the imagery of the superannuated excise officer - JAMES FROOD of MADRON, Cornwall.
He would ride an area that one man on horseback could cover to perform his duties ( 'a ride') of assessing and collecting Duty. Excise duty was levied on many products and the list of products changed with time. The necessities of life - meat, salt, leather, beer, clothes were all affected and the Excise Officer had wide powers of entry and search. Duty on brewing and distilling were the major part of the role. James was an Excise Officer during the era of the very unpopular candle tax, (taxed at 1d a pound). We know from the Minutes that he had to be present at two stages of the candle making process.
As far as brewers and brewing are concerned, the duties of the Excise Officer have changed very little over the centuries since James was working. He would have to visit the brewery on two occasions during the brewing of a particular brew of beer. When the brewing and fermenting process was completed, James would test the beer for its alcoholic content and quantity. Duty was levied on these figures.
James would have to keep a journal detailing his assessment of duty due and amounts. It is clear that in order to perform his duties, he would have had to have been both able to read and write well and possess a good grasp of arithmetic for the calculations involved. This at a time when many would sign their name on documents with their mark; a simple cross.
James Frood married Constance who was living in Jamaica Place, Heamoor, St Ives when she was elderly- they had a son named James, who had a son named Charles Trefusis Frood, who also had a son named Charles Trefusis, who had a brother called Herbert, and another named Alfred. The family dispersed and travelled to Devon, Northampton (Towcester), London (St Pancras), Yorkshire (Doncaster) and Lancashire (Manchester).
A grey horse rearing in the face of the gales blowing through Kilnquay Wood and across Trefusis Point, a red cape, a three cornered black hat, a ruddy face covered by a silk scarfe, a small firearm and a leather saddle bag create the imagery of the superannuated excise officer - JAMES FROOD of MADRON, Cornwall.
He would ride an area that one man on horseback could cover to perform his duties ( 'a ride') of assessing and collecting Duty. Excise duty was levied on many products and the list of products changed with time. The necessities of life - meat, salt, leather, beer, clothes were all affected and the Excise Officer had wide powers of entry and search. Duty on brewing and distilling were the major part of the role. James was an Excise Officer during the era of the very unpopular candle tax, (taxed at 1d a pound). We know from the Minutes that he had to be present at two stages of the candle making process.
As far as brewers and brewing are concerned, the duties of the Excise Officer have changed very little over the centuries since James was working. He would have to visit the brewery on two occasions during the brewing of a particular brew of beer. When the brewing and fermenting process was completed, James would test the beer for its alcoholic content and quantity. Duty was levied on these figures.
James would have to keep a journal detailing his assessment of duty due and amounts. It is clear that in order to perform his duties, he would have had to have been both able to read and write well and possess a good grasp of arithmetic for the calculations involved. This at a time when many would sign their name on documents with their mark; a simple cross.
The signature of Constance - 1832. Constance lived 80+ years.
Over time the intention of this site will be to explore all the connections of the FROOD family, the fate of Nellie and her artist husband Harry deGrey Firth, her father the Sewing Machine Company Manager, Alfred Diggory, as well as the life of Arabella Frood the Teacher and Governess who retired to Ilkley with her sister Eliza Phillips Cowgill (nee Frood), a chemist and druggist from Burnley. We shall explore their overseas adventures to America, Australia and New Zealand and share the experiences of a journey that has taken me from Madron in Cornwall to Doncaster, Manchester and Lincoln.
We shall explore deserted women, life in the work house and how people travelled between Burnley, London, Halifax, Hull and Northampton and try to picture the social history which shaped their lives and the decisions they made.
Next Time: JAMES FROOD to CHARLES TREFUSIS FROOD
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