Page 20 - Jigsaw November 2020

Glance at the past........................................................................................
Thrapston Oddfellows? Eric Franklin needs your help...
A couple of years ago I was contacted for any information I had on the Thrapston Oddfellows. At the time I knew nothing but have subsequently discovered a bit about them. The Oddfellows were an organisation set up to protect and care for their members and communities at a time when there was no welfare state, trade unions or National Health Service. The aim was (and still is) to provide help to members and communities when they need it. There were numerous Oddfellow organisations in England in the 1700’s when convivial meetings were held with much revelry and, often as not, the calling of the local watchmen to restore order.
The earliest record I have currently found for there being a Thrapston branch of the Oddfellows is mentioned in 1942 when the 100th balance sheet of the Loyal Nelson Lodge Thrapston of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows showed local assets of £5362. At the annual meeting, it was noted that
on the opening night of the Lodge in 1842, contributions amounted to £13.
This postcard of an unnamed group of local men is postmarked Thrapston 30th November 1907. They all appear to be wearing the same badge, which I cannot recognise. It was posted to Lance Corporal H. Ireland, Royal Engineers Regiment, Aldershot. Could they be Oddfellows? Any information would be appreciated.
In 1902 the death of Thomas Horn in Islip aged 92 was recorded, one of the oldest members of the Nelson Lodge. A stonemason, he worked on the Drayton Estate for over 50 years.
At Band Sunday in 1917, which was a fundraising event for the Town Band, the Oddfellows were one of the groups forming parades to the churches for services, raising a total of £19 2s 11d.
On 8th July 1921 the Oddfellows received sanction from the Ministry of Health for ten payments of the following additional benefits to be paid out to members: sickness, 4s per week; disablement, 2s per week; maternity benefit, 8s.
Not everything went smoothly for the
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