NEN Gallery

A marriage document from parish records for 1840. Abraham Barham, the son of Isaac Barham, is marrying Martha Furck; they are both from Nevenden. Neither of them can write their own name, and have to put a cross next to “Abraham Barham his mark” and “Martha Furck her mark”. But two people in Abraham’s family can write, because they sign their names as witnesses to the marriage. Both Abraham and his father were brickmakers, while Martha’s father was a sawyer, employed in sawing wood.

Discussion opportunity
Which of these people would have needed to read and write at that time: A baker, a priest, a farm labourer, a soldier, a lawyer, a nurse?