MythicalMarian
18-02-2009, 7:51 PM
I don't know if this is the right Forum to post this little thing in, but I just wanted to share a comical reference.
Now that our Geoffers has taught me how to use the National Archives website, and I have applied his lessons to the Lancashire Record Office website too, I was idly searching last night when I came upon this little gem. The father and son in question are among my wills collected through the years to sort out Siddall families, although they are definitely not my direct family.
In the Manchester Quarter Sessions for Midsummer 1684, we find:
Gorton -- maintenance by Thomas Siddall of Benjamin his son, who has been distracted for 8 years.
Any old terminology experts out there who know what exactly this means? I should add, that both Benjamin's Dad and widowed Mum make later bequests to him in their wills, and he did manage to marry (he was the youngest child of this family). Did he get better? :) I do know he died young, though. Poor soul - does 'distracted' mean he wasn't quite a full shilling?
Can our experts shed any light, or share their thoughts on this odd reference - just for interest?
Now that our Geoffers has taught me how to use the National Archives website, and I have applied his lessons to the Lancashire Record Office website too, I was idly searching last night when I came upon this little gem. The father and son in question are among my wills collected through the years to sort out Siddall families, although they are definitely not my direct family.
In the Manchester Quarter Sessions for Midsummer 1684, we find:
Gorton -- maintenance by Thomas Siddall of Benjamin his son, who has been distracted for 8 years.
Any old terminology experts out there who know what exactly this means? I should add, that both Benjamin's Dad and widowed Mum make later bequests to him in their wills, and he did manage to marry (he was the youngest child of this family). Did he get better? :) I do know he died young, though. Poor soul - does 'distracted' mean he wasn't quite a full shilling?
Can our experts shed any light, or share their thoughts on this odd reference - just for interest?