Genealogy Chat

Hi everyone...Someone posted a thread on here maybe a few months ago. It was sort of an 'ode' to a Agricultural Labourer and how they can tell the time by looking at the skies, what herbs to choose etc...If anyone has got a copy of it, could you please let me have one? I wanted to copy and paste it at the time but did'nt know how to do it! Lol thanks ever so much. Kim x UPDATE; See below......

Nudge cos I really hope someone has this! Kim x

I printed out a copy of this but sadly didn't save it on my computer so I can send you a scanned copy if no-one can find the original.

Oh thanks so much Ness That would be brilliant! Will send you a message with details on. Kim x

Cheers. Tony Oz. (from a long line of Ag,labs also ) Ps. I never posted this origionally, but i did save it. Ag Labs. Salt of the Earth! Found in Liverpool Family Historian June 02 Food For Thought- He must have been an Ag Lab "Ask yourselves whether you know the gestation period for a sheep or a cow, and you can't read or write to make a note of it. The ag lab knew when the animal would calve by observing the position of the stars and work it out from that, or from the particular religious festivals being celebrated in church at the appropriate times. Reading and writing is one thing, but it wasn't necessary, numeracy however or a limited knowledge of it was essential so as to count his or his masters livestock and his own money and to tell the time. It was no good thinking that 7 o'clock came immediately after three bells had just struck on the church clock! There was no electricity, the lanes were bad and there was no health service. The Ag lab knew how to make his own rush lights to light his home, the shortest and driest route between 2 places and which herbs to pick as remedies for his families ailments. He knew his neighbours far better than we know ours. We isolate ourselves in our cars and in front of our television sets. He relied on neighbours with different skills from his, to help him out when the need arose. He was thrifty where we borrow on bits of plastic he and his family had to make ends meet regardless or with great shame go on the parish. Yes he could even forecast his local weatherby watching the reactions of wildlife and plants to changing conditions. He was far better at it than any of us from our centrally heated homes and offices. He knew how to thatch and how to get straight straw for thatching whereas we send for experts to fix a cracked slate. He was tough. He could walk for days behind a plough, pulled by a team of horses, and still walkmiles to church each sunday. A 20 mile walk laden with produce or purchases to and from market each week was also the norm for some. No fancily equipped gymnasium for him, yet he was fitter than today's health freaks who maybe should take a lesson or two from his ancestors. Can you use a sickle or scythe from dawn to dusk, in all weathers? Can you snare a rabbit for dinner or cut beanpoles from a hedge in a manner that will promote further growth? Can you mix your own whitewash, or train a dog to hunt or round up sheep for you? Come to that can you milk a cow or slaughter and butcher a sheep or pig? So called ag labs were no fools. they survived and very few of us would be here to read this if they hadn't! Leave your car at home and walk to work tomorrow, even if it is five miles, your ancestor did!"

Brilliant, Tony! Thank you. Must remember to look again at home later and save it. Would you nudge it in a few hours to remind me, please? Thanks. Joy (with many ag lab ancestors in Suffolk and Buckinghamshire)

That's the one Tony. I did post this originally a little while ago on someone else's thread so it may not be found easily. This piece is with my own Ag Lab Section, a great piece of work in appreciation of our Ag Labs. Let none of us forget! Janet

Yes, it's a beautiful peice of reading in Appreciation for our Ag'Labs. When i first read it, it left a lump in my throat. Every now and then we hear folk say, " O'h mine were just Ag,Labs" I personally feel they were the backbone of our Countries. But thats just my opinion. Thanks ever so much for origionally posting it Janet. Tony Oz xx :>)) ps. I will bump it up Joy. Unless someone beats me to it.lol

Yes, thanks to Janet, and to Kim, and to Tony! Don't know what time it is in Australia - it is 10.30am here now. When I first knew about my family being ag labs, I used to think huh another ag lab, but now, especially having been to Suffolk, looking round the fields, the museum in Woodbridge in Suffolk, reading books, imagining what it was like ... I AM proud of them!! :) Joy

It's 10:00 pm here Joy Well, thats on the East Coast of Oz. It's probably only about 7:00 pm on the West Coast in Oz.? This daylight savings mucks me around a bit.LOL Tony Oz :>))

Just gone 11am here now, Tony! Thanks for putting it on the general board too. Should find it later okay. :) Joy

This is the one!!! Thanks ever so much, Nell and Tony. I've copied, saved and printed it out already!! Lol I'll keep bumping it up for others to see. Sure there are plenty more who'd love it. Also thanks to Janet who originally put it on the boards :o) Kim x

I've copied it now too, missed it first time Ann Glos

Thanks, Tony. Seen at home now and saved it! :) Joy

Thanks for that Tony, never saw the original but I have also saved it. Irene

Thanks to everyone for bumping this articule up because it meant that I got to read it too! Coming from a long line of Ag Labs from Essex, I found it wonderful too and I no longer feel sad that they had to sign their name with an "x" on official documents.

That was lovely - have got a few Ag Labs in hubby's tree It does make you think how lucky we are now - just to be stuck in a traffic jam instead of having to survive the elements, the clearances etc etc.

nudge for Jeanette