Happy Families

Remember the game ‘Happy Families’? Well, here’s a selection of historically true names culled from the archidiaconal probate documents of Berkshire by Frank Denzey:-

Mr Acres the Husbandman

Mr Brown the Baker

Mr Chambers the Potter

Mr Coggeswelle the Miller

Mrs Faithful the Widow

Mr Farmer the Yeoman

Mr Field the Husbandman

Mr Fisher the Fisherman

Mr Gripp the Joiner

Mr Haycroft the Husbandman

Mr Hide the Tanner

Mrs Hope the Widow

Mr Horner the Trumpeter

Mr Howse the Mason

Mr Knife the Surgeon

Mr Loader the Carrier

Mr Mason the Bricklayer

Mr Meales the Baker

Mr Merryman the Tapster

Mrs Pretty the Widow

Mr Styles the Tailor

Mr Tassell the Milliner

Miss Waite the Spinster

Miss Webb the Spinster

Mr Wells the Siever

Mr Wheater the Husbandman

Mr Wheeler the Wheelwright

Mr Whetstone the Wheeler

Mr Yieldall the Keeper

And versions of this one pop up from time to time.  It’s far too good to be true, which means that it probably isn’t!

Sir William Boyden married La Contessa Francesca Zapretti, both from long established noble families. When their first child, Hugh, was born they hyphenated their surnames – so their young son became Hugh Zapretti-Boyden. In later life Hugh became a parrot breeder......             

  
If anyone else has anything unusual to pass on, then send it to me at micksouthwick@blueyonder.co.uk .