Genealogy Chat

Do the large family estates of the past keep records of who worked for them . I have family members who worked in the kitchens of the Horner family . It would be interesting to know how much they were paid etc . Does anyone know if this information is available anywhere .
Thank you
Rachel

Not sure which Horner family you refer to but have you tried the local archives? Often manorial & family papers are deposited there. Have you searched the National Archives?

Whether the info you want is available will depend on whether they bothered to keep it.

Ozi.

Ozi
Thank you for repling .
THe Horner family owned the village of Mells in Somerset I am not sure where the money was from but they seemed to be very very well connected with the best of society of the day . I have not searched the national records . I was thinking of writing straight to the Mells estate but didn t know how it would be received .
Rachel

32 LITTLE JACK HORNER,
The story, which gained popularity last century, is that Richard Whiting the last Abbot of Glastonbury, at the time of dissolution hoping to appease Henry VIII sent his steward Jack Horner to London with a Christmas gift, a pie, hidden in the pie were deeds of twelve manors, on the journey, Jack opened the pie and removed the deeds of Mells Manor, in the village of Mells 15 miles N.E of Glastonbury in Somerset, True or not, Thomas Horner took up residence at the manor shortly after dissolution and one of his descendants was still living there in 1975. The Homer family claims that Mells Manor was bought along with various other Manors and nearby farms for the sum of £1,831,9s,3d 3farthings and that the rhyme has nothing to do with their ancestor, also their ancestors name was Thomas not Jack. This story of Jack Horner was printed in book form in 1764, and sold in Aldermary Churchyard, Bow Lane, London, where it was describes as 'being pleafant for winter evenings'. The book is now kept in the British Museum. It also describes the witty pranks he played all his life. The story that deeds were hidden under a pie crust is not so preposterous as it may first seem. Highway men were common and travelers would hide their gold, jewels and other valubles, ie. sewn in the folds of Ladies underware, in cakes and under pie crusts. And it is true that Horners name was Thomas but even nowadays anyone may be called Jack if he is a knave or know as a bit of a lad.

MELLS, a parish in the hundred of Frome, county Somerset, 3½ miles N.W. of Frome, its railway' station and post town, and 14 from Bath. The village, which is large, is situated in a valley, and on a stream which takes its rise in Emborrow pond, on Mendip, and joins the river Frome. There are traces of several camps in the neighbourhood. The yield of coal is very productive on the western part of the parish, and is worked on a large scale by the Vobster Coal Company. Brick-making and lime-burning are carried on. There are manufactories for agricultural edge-tools of a first-class quality. The soil is various. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £600. The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Bath and Wells, value £630. The parish church, dedicated to St. Andrew, is an ancient stone structure, with an embattled tower, surmounted by four crocketed pinnacles, and containing eight bells, with a set of chimes. The church is adorned with numerous painted windows on various Scripture subjects. There is a district church at Vobster, the living of which is a perpetual curacy* with the curacy of Leigh-upon-Mendip annexed, value £60. The register dates from Queen Elizabeth's time. The parochial charities produce about £70 per annum, which goes to the repair of the church. There are two Church schools for both sexes, and a Sunday-school, held at the boys' school. The Wesleyans have a place of worship. Mells Park is the principal residence, situated in a finely-wooded park. It is the seat of the ancient family of the Horners. The Rev. J. S. H. Horner is lord of the manor and principal landowner." From The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) Transcribed by Colin Hinson © 2003

You could try the records office closest to the village - ask if they have the manorial records there.

I was pleased to see a diary entry for Sir John Boileau who owned the estate where one of mine was the Bailiff - mentioning him by name as travelling together to a Agricultural show in the early 19th century. Makes them real people doesnt it.

1280-1866: Somerset (Mells, Cloford, etc) deeds, manorial records and estate papers

Repository: Collection held privately: enquiries to The National Archives, National Advisory Services
NRA catalogue reference: NRA 28618 Horner


Looks like the family may still have them but enquiries go to National Archives.