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Actual accounts of the wedding may include descriptions of the flowers and clothing, the bride’s dress getting detailed attention. <br> | Actual accounts of the wedding may include descriptions of the flowers and clothing, the bride’s dress getting detailed attention. <br> | ||
{{Block indent|''The bride was daintily attired in a gown of lilac georgette, with white accessories and madonna hat. She was attended by Mrs George harris, who wore an attractive swagger suit. ('''Medicine Hat News, '''11 October 1935)''}} <br>}} | |||
The unusual vocabulary (‘daintily attired’) is again in use. Some of the words—georgette, swagger suit—might require use of a thirties fashion dictionary. Extensive reading of weddings from the past reveals that many brides did not wear the huge white dresses which are universal today, but chose something more affordable, or which might be used again. The fabrics vary from time to time also, with satin popular in the 1930s, peau-de-soie everywhere in the 1960s and new man-made textiles appearing now. <br> | The unusual vocabulary (‘daintily attired’) is again in use. Some of the words—georgette, swagger suit—might require use of a thirties fashion dictionary. Extensive reading of weddings from the past reveals that many brides did not wear the huge white dresses which are universal today, but chose something more affordable, or which might be used again. The fabrics vary from time to time also, with satin popular in the 1930s, peau-de-soie everywhere in the 1960s and new man-made textiles appearing now. <br> | ||
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The one-line death notice which is a familiar part of most early newspapers looks like this: | The one-line death notice which is a familiar part of most early newspapers looks like this: | ||
{{Block indent|''At Perth on Sat. the 4th inst., Maria, wife of William Bell Jr., aged 28 years. At Perth on the 11th inst., William Hawley, infant son of William Bell Jr. ('''Brockville Recorder''', 16 March 1837)''<br>}} | |||
These two deaths, which took place a week apart, were published in the same weekly newspaper as consecutive announcements. They tell a common story of the time, of a young wife’s death in childbed, followed by the death of the baby shortly after. We learn the date and place of death and a family connection from these announcements, and that is all. Occasionally a birthplace or occupation will be mentioned. | These two deaths, which took place a week apart, were published in the same weekly newspaper as consecutive announcements. They tell a common story of the time, of a young wife’s death in childbed, followed by the death of the baby shortly after. We learn the date and place of death and a family connection from these announcements, and that is all. Occasionally a birthplace or occupation will be mentioned. | ||
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The researcher has an interesting sentence to add to the family history, and can consult a medical expert about what might be meant by ‘an illness the same as cholera’. Causes of death were of great interest to the Victorians (and to us, as well) and were often included in death notices.<ref>The Keotsch notice appeared 9 June 1870. The Jahn notice was published 30 August 1866. Translated from the German by Patricia J. Kauk (manuscript index at the Kitchener Public Library).</ref> | The researcher has an interesting sentence to add to the family history, and can consult a medical expert about what might be meant by ‘an illness the same as cholera’. Causes of death were of great interest to the Victorians (and to us, as well) and were often included in death notices.<ref>The Keotsch notice appeared 9 June 1870. The Jahn notice was published 30 August 1866. Translated from the German by Patricia J. Kauk (manuscript index at the Kitchener Public Library).</ref> | ||
{{Block indent|''In Edwardsburgh, on Friday the 9th instant, Mrs. Bass, aged upwards of 80 years. ('''Brockville Gazette''', 16 April 1830)''<br>}} | |||
Here we face the old problem of vagueness, both about the dead woman’s name (which Mrs. Bass is it who died?) and her age. | Here we face the old problem of vagueness, both about the dead woman’s name (which Mrs. Bass is it who died?) and her age. | ||
{{Block indent|''At Nicolet on Sunday afternoon, the 3rd inst., after a few days of very severe sickness, Thomas Anderson Squire, Wincasles, son of S. M. Cresse, aged 3 years, 6 months and 18 days. ('''Bytown Gazette''', 16 April 1840)''<br>}} | |||
To those unfamiliar with the family, the name of the dead boy is uncertain—is his family name Squire or Cresse? However, a researcher searching for the family will know and will be glad of the detail, including the fact he died after a short illness in the afternoon. | To those unfamiliar with the family, the name of the dead boy is uncertain—is his family name Squire or Cresse? However, a researcher searching for the family will know and will be glad of the detail, including the fact he died after a short illness in the afternoon. | ||
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His exact age, in years, months and days, is in a form often given in death notices of this century. We may think that calculating his birthdate from this clear information would be easy, but the irregular number of days in months makes this difficult. There are formulae for making the calculation, which were often published in genealogical newsletters in pre-computer days. Now, it is easier to let your software make the calculation for you. | His exact age, in years, months and days, is in a form often given in death notices of this century. We may think that calculating his birthdate from this clear information would be easy, but the irregular number of days in months makes this difficult. There are formulae for making the calculation, which were often published in genealogical newsletters in pre-computer days. Now, it is easier to let your software make the calculation for you. | ||
{{Block indent|''At Bytown, on the 1st inst., Mrs. E. B. Wilson, relict of the late Capt. Andrew Wilson, R.N., aged 67. ('''Bytown Gazette''', 7 December 1843)'' <br>}} | |||
This early 19th century death notice still gives Mrs. Wilson her own name, not her husband’s as would be common later, although in the form of initials. This is included to point out that the form ‘Mrs. Andrew Wilson’ was not universal or historical as some pre-feminists would wish, although we did see a use of that form from 1829 in the Beach birth announcement, above. The term ‘relict’ is one all genealogists should know, and means ‘widow’. It comes from the Latin and means literally ‘one left behind’. | This early 19th century death notice still gives Mrs. Wilson her own name, not her husband’s as would be common later, although in the form of initials. This is included to point out that the form ‘Mrs. Andrew Wilson’ was not universal or historical as some pre-feminists would wish, although we did see a use of that form from 1829 in the Beach birth announcement, above. The term ‘relict’ is one all genealogists should know, and means ‘widow’. It comes from the Latin and means literally ‘one left behind’. | ||
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