Back in the mists of time, well, end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th centuries, a chap by the name of Robert MINDUM carved bone shoehorns for people. A friend of mine collects some of these and is fascinated by finding out more about the people for whom they were made. Below, is a list of the folk in whom he is interested, their location and the date on the shoehorn. They are all based around the Ely, Cambridgeshire area. If anyone is able to throw any light on them, my friend will be most grateful. He is particularly interested in their occupations as Robert MINDUM states that he didn't make them for the wealthy. Oh yes - spelling will be fluid, probably... 1593 Jane AYRES Witchford 1595 Robert GOTOBED Landbe(a)ch & Stretham 1595 Richard CRAB Little Thetford 1597 John GIBSON Soham 1598 Ambrose BUCKLE Ely 1600 Francis HINSON Fordham 1603 Benjamin GIBSON Ely 1605 Bridget DEARSLEY Soham 1612 Thomas DRAPER Cambridge Many thanks.
Another burial Robert Gotobed 24/4/1605 at Stretham St Mary Just 10 years use for his This might be his baptism - 30/9/1578 at Lanbeach s/o Henry the Younger
On 21/3/1592 at Ely Holy Trinity, Benjamin Gybson was baptised, s/o Benjamin, so unless it was a baptism gift, the shoehorn must have belonged to the father.
Richard CRABB may have married an Elizabeth JACKSON on 10 November 1599 at Little Thetford (Cambs Marriage Index & Ancestry). No other details unfortunately, but a son Richard was baptised 1 May 1609 and buried 4 May 1609 at Little Thetford. Janet
Cambridgeshire FHS Marriage Index shows a marriage at Fordham in 1601 of a Frannces HINSON. No other details so don't know whether Frannces is male or female. Janet
Perhaps relevant? Baptism at Cambridge Holy Trinity on 10 May 1612 for William son of Thomas & Dorate DRAPER. Boyds Marriage Index shows a marriage at Barton, Cambridgeshire in 1600 between a Thomas DRAPER & a Dorothy PATMAN. Janet
What an interesting hobby! I have never heard of bone shoehorn, although I wonder if there were any in hubby's family as he has shoemakers from Manchester in his background.
