Category Archives: NRO Research Bloggers

The ‘eccentric female explorer’

Posted on November 24, 2020 by cbolsterNRO

 “Only ignorant fools think that because one likes sugar, one cannot like salt” Marianne North, Recollections of a Happy Life. For much of the population in 2020, travel restrictions have been a common source of discontent, despite the understandable unavoidability … Continue reading →

Posted in NRO Research Bloggers | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Generous Gift Compromised by Events? The will of Alice Spratt, widow, of Eccles against the Sea

Posted on November 16, 2020 by cbolsterNRO

The will of Alice Spratt [1] dated January 11th 1558/1559 [2] clearly shows counter-Reformation tendencies despite the fact that Catholic Queen Mary had died in the previous November and her younger sister Elizabeth now sat on the throne. Alice bequeaths … Continue reading →

Posted in NRO Research Bloggers | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

John Fenn – A Dereham Man: The Diaries of Sir John Fenn, 1786-1794

Posted on November 9, 2020 by cbolsterNRO

Taken from documents held at the Norfolk Record Office, NRO, MC 525/1 Sir John Fenn was a man most notably known for his publication of the Paston Letters.  But his eight engagement diaries, spanning 1786 to 1794 tell us so … Continue reading →

Posted in NRO Research Bloggers | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Examining Marriage Licence Bonds

Posted on November 2, 2020 by cbolsterNRO

Marriage licence bonds for the Archdeaconry of Norfolk, 1704-1886, and for the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Norwich Cathedral, 1705-1860, have recently been indexed by a group of dedicated Norfolk Record Office volunteers. In a few cases, the … Continue reading →

Posted in NRO Research Bloggers | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Allan Glaisyer Minns: The First Black Mayor of a British Town

Posted on October 20, 2020 by cbolsterNRO

October is Black History month: how many people know that the first ever black mayor of any British town was in Norfolk? Allan Glaisyer Minns was one of ten children of John and Ophelia Minns (nee Bunch) of Inagua in … Continue reading →

Posted in NRO Research Bloggers | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Unusual Burial Request of Stephen Kendall, singleman of Hempstead cum Eccles, Norfolk

Posted on October 16, 2020 by cbolsterNRO

Introduction The wills of 16th and 17th century testators can provide researchers with some remarkable insights into the lives of ordinary people by telling us their actual thoughts and beliefs, albeit in a stylised form, as opposed to what written … Continue reading →

Posted in NRO Research Bloggers | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Defending the Nation, Looking after the Poor and Preventing Coastal Erosion: the Varied Expenses found within Churchwardens Accounts

Posted on October 3, 2020 by cbolsterNRO

The churchwardens accounts give more than just details of how the parish ran its own affairs. They can be invaluable in understanding what was happening in surrounding parishes, other counties and nationwide. Looking into the accounts for Loddon has drawn … Continue reading →

Posted in NRO Research Bloggers | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Religion in Norfolk at the Time of the Mayflower

Posted on September 16, 2020 by victoriadraper24

This month marks the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower setting sail on a voyage that led to the foundation of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Of the 102 passengers on board we know that at least seven came from Norfolk. So what was … Continue reading →

Posted in NRO Research Bloggers, Snapshots from the Archive | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment