For example, by visiting the East Sussex Record Office at Lewes, a veritable goldmine of information awaits any searcher interested in Brightling, records which it is extremely doubtful will ever find their way onto the Web. In one instance alone, the Brightling Miscellaneous Records contained in the 'Parish Chest' include a ledger kept by the Reverend J B Hayley in the mid 19C period called 'Parish Business.' One section lists those in the parish who had received beef and bread at Christmastime. The Relf families featured much in this, several branches residing in the village at that time. Indeed, there were so many Thomases and Johns, that each one had their own nickname!

On examining the Thomas Relfs in the 1850 list, the first one noted was known as 'Squat.' (By correlating this list with the 1851 census, it is most likely that this was my 3xgt-grandfather, born in 1774.) He and his wife received 4lb of beef and 1 loaf of bread. The second Thomas shown was described as 'Smother.' He had a wife and 1 child and received 5lb of beef and 1 loaf of bread; the third Thomas, known as 'Lame' had a wife and 3 children; his portion was 7lb of beef and 1 loaf of bread. Thomas - 'Keeper' had a wife and 6 children and they received 10lb of beef and 2 loaves of bread. There was even a Thomas with the nickname 'Bully'. He, his wife and 6 children, received 10lb beef and 2 loaves.

The final Thomas – 'Brick' with a wife and 2 children received 6lb of beef but no bread! (It is apparent that this particular Thomas Relf is the same Thomas given in Mark Relf's most interesting article [Wolfpack, April 2004, pp 14 – 18], ie, the Brick and Tile Manufacturer in the 1861 census, b 1779, d 1880, whose memorial on his gravestone at Brightling bears the unusual comment, 'Erected by one who knew his true value.' In this particular census, John Dann, possibly John Relf of Liverpool, (born1846), is there shown as aged 14, nephew, tilemaker, plus an Elizabeth Nightingale . Perhaps John Dann was Thomas Relf's nephew by marriage, since Thomas's first wife was a Frances Dann, though she herself was a widow at the time of her marriage to Thomas Relf. In the 1851 census, both Elizabeth Nightingale and John Dann are shown, who we presume must be the two children given in the Beef and Bread List for 1850. However, I digress).

Hayley's list is preceded by the following unctuous preamble – which to us today smacks of condescension of the highest order!

“With his usual liberality, our much esteemed Esquire, A E Fuller, MP, has this season had a fine young ox fatted at Rose Hill ready for Xmas. Under the able management of Mr Brotherstone, the ox turned out famously weighing no less than 172 stone. On Xmas Eve, the munificent present was distributed by the Parish Officers among our poor people, together with a good supply of bread raised by subscription. Many of our large families and aged poor have been liberally fortified against this severe weather by a liberal supply of warm clothing from the kind ladies at Rose Hill. Many a joyous Xmas and Happy New Year to such generous benefactors from our poor parishioners.”

Following the list of recipients, the Rev Hayley had entered a note, 'list of tradesmen which are struck off the dole list to whom beef will be given if any is left.” Among this short list is shown William Church, shoemaker, the father-in-law of my great-grandfather, John Relf, b 1832. It is not known whether anyone on this list were eventually allowed to receive any of this 'munificent present.'

One of course, has to bear in mind that the poor at that time, almost 160 years ago, would have starved to death without help from those who were very much better off although it is certain that those who lived in the villages were naturally less deprived than those in the towns since they were enabled to grow a few vegetables even on the meanest of plots.

The lists of beef and bread allocations continued every Christmas for a number of years and in their way, constitute virtually an annual census of the Brightling village population.

By keeping these valuable records relating to his Brightling flock, the Rev J B Hayley rendered truly amazing service to future Brightling family historians, so why not avail yourselves of this vast and virtually untapped source to put 'flesh on the bones'?

Rhoda Windiate-Blackmore, #006.

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Page last revised July 2006.