reading

I have finally finished David Downes' "Ash: An East Kent Village". This is a actually a thin book, 150 pages, with some pictures, but it was not a quick read. It is basically a collection of public records put into paragraphs. So the early chapters are really general with a few facts. ("A village was settled here, a fortification was built there"). Then we get into a period when most of the "history" is wills and any large legal findings. That part was dry as three day old toast in the Sahara. Hearing that so and so left his son two shirts valued 6s, every itemized out, was no fun. It got more fun as we got into the Victorian era and more material was available, got to start getting details on businesses and some personal story. Then from WWI on it had lots of material to work with and the stories got more fun.

Oh, why did I have this book? My mom bought this book because on page 41 there is a mention of one of my ancestors leaving Ash for America. Which is probably the reason most people buy this book? I don't think anyone ever buys this book to read it cover to cover. At least I hope they don't.

31. David Downes "Ash: An East Kent Village"