Sunday, July 03, 2005


tim and timmy, memorial day 2004 Posted by Picasa
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Anonymous said...

ORIGIN OF THE SURNAME BAILEY
In the center of a medieval town was a large, open-air space used as a daily market where fruits and vegetables and other kinds of merchandise were sold.
The town streets were narrow and crooked. Most houses were required by law to have a stone foundation as a means of fire prevention. All craft workers had their shops at ground level and they lived in rooms above the shops.
The market square was the town center of activities. Here stood the town hall and the town cathedral. Festival and religious plays occurred in the town market place.
A Middle Ages town usually had high, thick walls (at least four feet thick) with a high gate which was opened at sunrise and closed at sunset. These thick, high walls and gates were protection against robber gangs and packs of wild animals that appeared after nightfall.
"Bailey" identified the ancestor who had a special legal responsibility. In Scotland he was the chief judge (Bailie) in a district. In English regions he served as deputy sheriff (Bailey) for several districts; or as the chief lawman for a very large manor. In Norman-French times, the "bailey" was in charge of a castle's outer wall. His task was to keep this wall difficult to penetrate by attack.
Root: Old French balie (bailey).

From now on, call me Chief Judge Walter, and my son is Sheriff Wally. Now Sheriff, go fix the fence in the back yard...

11:03 AM

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