Morris Dancing in The Forest of Dean (General)

by ijriddell @, Cinderford, Monday, November 07, 2011, 15:34 (4768 days ago)

Does anyone have any information on Morris Dancing, Mumming etc. in The Forest of Dean? As a member of The Forest of Dean Morris Men I would be interested to hear of any reminiscences.

There was an incident on The Plump near Mitcheldean where, in 1884, there was a skirmish between Morris dancing sides from Ruardean and Mitcheldean at the Point Inn. The dancing ground was disputed and a fight erupted which culminated in a dancer being killed. Does anyone know any more about this?

Thanks

Morris Dancing in The Forest of Dean

by Jefff @, West London, Middlesex, Monday, November 07, 2011, 21:16 (4768 days ago) @ ijriddell

Hi, I'm not a dancer but trawling the internet gives a little more detail, which you're probably aware of, namely

"Cecil Sharp had visited the Forest of Dean after meeting the fiddler Henry Allen at Stratford upon Avon on 27 August 1909. Allen, whose age Sharp gives as 90 (probably a rounded up figure as the 1871 Census puts his age at 48) was then living in Mere Street and working the pleasure boats on the River Avon. Henry Allen told Sharp that he had played the fiddle for a set of morris dancers at Ruardean until about 1870, when a man was killed during a fight between rival sets of dancers on Plump Hill (on the road between Mitcheldean and Cinderford)."

http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/baldwin.htm

Surely such an incident would have been reported in the local newspapers, suggest researching the Dean Forest Mercury archives in Cinderford Library if you can.


ps living in West London as I do and having a keen interest in all things music and history, I've enjoyed a few good days out at the delightfull Cecil Sharpe House in Camden in the past, an area renowned for Irish folk music etc. Cecil was an iumportant figure particularly regarding English folk music.

Morris Dancing in The Forest of Dean

by ijriddell @, Cinderford, Tuesday, November 08, 2011, 09:05 (4768 days ago) @ Jefff

Thanks for that Jefff.

Looks like I'll have to get myself around to Cinderford Library!

Researching Forest Newspaper Archives, Mercury

by Jefff @, West London, Middlesex, Tuesday, November 08, 2011, 15:10 (4767 days ago) @ ijriddell

You're very welcome kind sir. I wasn't sure whether you were in the Forest (power of tinternet etc) but if you are in the area then I suspect it's your best bet. I certainly super-Googled this rather interesting subject last night to little avail...

Re the Mercury archives pls see my recent post

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=34114

If you search the Forum you'll find other similar posts.

Happy hunting !

Researching Forest Newspaper Archives, Mercury

by mrsbruso @, Wednesday, November 09, 2011, 01:04 (4767 days ago) @ Jefff

If you do discover additional information, could you post it here? My curiousity is piqued.

Thanks!

James Brewer Moore

by ijriddell @, Cinderford, Wednesday, November 09, 2011, 15:31 (4766 days ago) @ ijriddell

Just grabbing at straws here, but does anyone have information about the death of James Brewer MOORE. The Inquests Section has his inquest at The Nelson Arms Inn, Drybrook, on 27th September 1883. He died "Drowned in a well". He is the only contender I have found to date in the Inquests.

I have found that he was a grocer/draper born in Suffolk (abt. 1828) married to Emma (CLEGG) from Coleford. In 1861 they ran the grocers shop in Grosmont.

At least this may give me a clue as to where to look in the local papers

Thanks

James Brewer MOORE/Emma BLANCH

by m p griffiths @, Wednesday, November 09, 2011, 19:18 (4766 days ago) @ ijriddell

Ancestry - Probate Records

James Brewer MOORE

died 24 September 1883

Probate date: 31 October 1883

Personal Estate £400. 4s

The Will of James Brewer MOORE of Morse, Drybrook, Ruardean in the County of Gloucester who died 24 September 1883 at Morse was proved at Gloucester by Emma M00RE of the Morse, Widow, The Relict the Sole Executrix.


1881 Census. Ruardean, The MORSE

MOORE

James 53, Grocer & Draper, born Kelsall, Suffolk
Emma - 42 born Glos. Coleford
Ada S - daughter - 22, Governefs - children born Mon. Grosmont
Charlotte - 11
Leonard - 9
Mabel - 8
Esther BLANCH, mother-in-law (Widow) - 72, born Glos. Coleford


The census details do not give EMMA's maiden name as CLEGG -

FreeBDM

Marriage : Monmouth District J/A/S Qtr 1857

James Brewer MOORE/Emma BLANCH

1841 Census, Ruardean

BLANCH

Cornelius - 35 - Quarryman, all born in County
Esther - 30
Tom - 6
Prisilea - 1
Joseph B - 25


then the next house is MORSE

---


1851 Census, Ruardean

BLANCH

Cornelius - 45 - Quarryman, born Ruardean
Hester - 40 - born Coleford
Thomas - 16 - Collier
Emma - 13 - Scholar
Priscilla - 11
Eliza W FREEMAN - Visitor, 20 -- born Newland
Louisa A - 44? born Newland

next door

Joseph BLANCH - 60 Grocer. born Ruardean
Mary BLANCH - 53 - born Mitchel Dean

James Brewer MOORE - Probate Records on FOD Website

by admin ⌂, Forest of Dean, Wednesday, November 09, 2011, 19:56 (4766 days ago) @ m p griffiths

Details taken from information available on our website

Forest of Dean Wills & Administrations Index 1858-1941
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/?Wills_Index

Details of Will
Surname MOORE
First Name James Brewer
Abode The Morse Drybrook
Occupation
Year Proved 1883
Page Number 463
Year of Death 1883
Month of Death Sep
Day of Death 24
Value Under £401
Document Will
Notes
Will Number Will_01832

Beneficiaries and Others
Surname: Forename: Role: Relationship: Will Name:
PRICE William Witness MOORE James Brewer: The Morse Drybrook
BRADSTOCK J T Probate Extract MOORE James Brewer: The Morse Drybrook
MOORE Emma Beneficiary Executrix Wife MOORE James Brewer: The Morse Drybrook
PRICE Rosa Blanche Witness MOORE James Brewer: The Morse Drybrook

James Brewer MOORE

by ijriddell @, Cinderford, Thursday, November 10, 2011, 10:10 (4766 days ago) @ admin

Thanks for the above replies. I have done a search through this site and a quick look at ancestry. I was wondering if someone had any more information on his death (a long shot I know!). I have him dying at around the correct date for our Morris Dancer and that he drowned in a well, so purely circumstantial evidence! I think that I need a trip to the library while they are still there!

James Brewer MOORE/Emma BLANCH

by ijriddell @, Cinderford, Thursday, November 10, 2011, 11:01 (4766 days ago) @ m p griffiths

Sorry about that, I don't know where CLEGG came from! I think that I must have been thinking of another family when I typed it. She was Emma BLANCH as you say.

James Brewer Moore

by ijriddell @, Cinderford, Sunday, November 13, 2011, 13:10 (4762 days ago) @ ijriddell

I have looked in The Mercury at Cinderford library. It appears that James went out one evening saying that he had a pain in his stomach and that "God will soon see us all" and was found later down a well. So, the poor bloke is not my dead Morris Dancer.

I'll have to keep on looking!

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