Many thanks for all the replies re. Thomas James and his forebears. Pleased to find what I am (at least for the moment) assuming to be his father's will - John James, 1829. A son Thomas is much mentioned.

John is described as being of 'Old Furnace' in the Hundred of Briavels. Googling around, I can find mentions of 'Old Furnace Bottom', and various other Old Furnaces; but does anyone know where this was ?

Also mention of the Brew House, (presumably pub) as though it was obvious which was meant. Is its whereabouts known ?

The will is at http://www.forest-of-dean.net/downloads/Wills/JAMES_Will_of_John_James_1829.pdf , if anyone is interested in having a look.

There's also mention of 'Partridge Patch Gate'. Again, is anyone familiar with it ?

I know nothing of the general standard of living in the FOD in the early 19thC, but he seems to have been pretty affluent. Is that the impression anyone else gets ?

Thanks in advance !

Many thanks for all the replies re. Thomas James and his forebears. Pleased to find what I am (at least for the moment) assuming to be his father's will - John James, 1829. A son Thomas is much mentioned.

John is described as being of 'Old Furnace' in the Hundred of Briavels. Googling around, I can find mentions of 'Old Furnace Bottom', and various other Old Furnaces; but does anyone know where this was ?

Also mention of the Brew House, (presumably pub) as though it was obvious which was meant. Is its whereabouts known ?

The will is at http://www.forest-of-dean.net/downloads/Wills/JAMES_Will_of_John_James_1829.pdf , if anyone is interested in having a look.

There's also mention of 'Partridge Patch Gate'. Again, is anyone familiar with it ?

I know nothing of the general standard of living in the FOD in the early 19thC, but he seems to have been pretty affluent. Is that the impression anyone else gets ?

Thanks in advance !

old furnace bottom still in Blakeney at the foot of Blakeney Hill
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=26679

In Old Furnace bottom there were three inns near the new Blakeney-Parkend road in 1851; they included the Tump House (fn. 33) which remained open until 1969.

From: 'Forest of Dean: Social life', A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 5: Bledisloe Hundred, St. Briavels Hundred, The Forest of Dean (1996), pp. 381-389. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=23270 Date accessed: 25 July 2013.

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Many thanks, s/hands. Plenty there to help. The thread also pins down Blakeney Hill, mentioned in the will.

.... and having looked at the whole article, "In 1841 the Yorkley area contained seven beerhouses on Crown land, one each at Old Furnace bottom, Viney Hill, Yorkley, and Pillowell," presumably pins down the brew house; more later, but only one at that time. So thanks again !

If you go to Blakeney photographs - there is a postcard which I sent in, of Furnace Valley Blakeney, where my x grandfather, (whose x Grandmother was Elizabeth JAMES) lived early 1900's.

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In the Will of Henry STEPHENS of Lydney 7 February 1793 - (married Elizabeth JAMES 21 May 1750 at Newent, both of Newland) mentions a Denton JAMES - not sure where he fits in) - the only time I can see the name DENTON again - is the baptism of Thomas Denton JAMES - 15 April 1798 at Lydney.