Background Information

Q

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Qu	Ref 1-2963

A half-farthing

Quaker dates

Ref 1-1899

In writing dates, the Quakers record the year in the conventional manner, but they use numbers instead of names for the days of the week (Sunday was the first day) and for the months, since these names were derived from those of pagan gods.

Until the Calendar reform of 1752 in which Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar, the first month was March. Thus:

5 6 1678

represents the 5th day of August, 1678, and

1st Month 29th 1856

represents the 29th of January 1856.

They might also use an expression such as:

the month commonly called August

See Gravestones at Friends Meeting House

Quaker names

Ref 1-2035

Quakers and Nonconformists often used Hebrew or Old Testament Biblical names – such as

Abimelech Abraham Allon Aminadab Arphaxad Boaz Ehud Eli / Ely Eliezer

Elijah Elkanah Elnathan Enoch Esau Ezekiel Hagar Hananiah Hezekiah

Ishmael Issachar Japheth Job Joel Joshua Jubal Kerenhappuch Levi

Manasseh Merab Obadiah Reuben Shedeur Zillah Zimri

The Quakers, notably those who had moved to the US, invented other names – such as

Ashes Charity Comfort Content Delight Desire

Dust Faint-not Fear Hate-evil Hope Humanity

Love Lowly Mercy Mindwell Obedience Oceanus (who was born at sea)

Patience Silence Thankful What-God-Will Wrestling

Quakers

Ref 1-Q3

Quarenten

Ref 1-Q6

A unit of length equivalent to a furlong or a rood, or a measure of area containing forty poles, that is, 1210 square yards

Quart

Ref 1-1707

A unit of capacity and volume equal to 2 pints = 1·1365 litres

Quarter

Ref 1-1915

A unit of weight equal to 2 stones = 28 pounds = 12·7 kg

Quarter

Ref 1-2367

A unit of capacity and volume equal to 64 gallons = 8 bushels = 290·949 litres

Quarter Clock

Ref 1-Q4

A clock which strikes every 15 minutes

Quarter days

Ref 1-Q2

Four days on which dues, payments, tenancies and other terms are renewed: Lady Day, Midsummer Day, Michaelmas, and Christmas Day.

In Scotland, they are Candlemas, Whit Sunday, Lammas, Martinmas

Quarter sessions

Ref 1-1837

A quarterly court held by justices of the peace, and the main judicial and administrative bodies of the English counties. These were held from the 14th century, but records exist from the 16th century.

Halifax was granted the right to hold its own Quarter Sessions on 3rd November 1923. The first Quarter Sessions were held on 16th January 1924.

In 1972, Quarter Sessions were replaced by Crown Courts.

See Assize Courts, Willoughby Jardine, Magistrates' Court and Petty sessions

In 1889, the Local Government Act [1888] transferred many of their functions to County Councils, and in 1972, they were abolished and replaced by Crown Courts

Quartern

Ref 1-1684

Aka Wortern. A measure of yarn. A quartern of wool was about 24 pounds

Quartern pudding

Ref 1-Q1

A pudding weighing 4 pounds

Quassia

Ref 1-2530

A plant – Quassia amara – from South America. The bark has a bitter taste and was used, like grains of paradise, for the adulteration of beer in the 19th century

Queen Anne's Bounty

Ref 1-341

In 1704, an Act was passed

to make more effectual her Majesty's gracious intentions for the augmentation of the maintenance of the poor Clergy, by enabling her Majesty to grant in perpetuity the revenue of the first fruits and tenths, and also for enabling any other persons to make grants for the same purpose

Many local churches benefited from the bounty.

Wealthy benefactors gave money to the Bounty

Queen's South Africa Medal

Ref 1-1231

Awarded to those who served in the Second Boer War in South Africa [1899-1902].

See King's South Africa Medal

Querent

Ref 1-1193

A term used in mediæval documents meaning the plaintiff, the purchaser

This & associated entries use material contributed by Joanne Backhouse

Quintal

Ref 1-Q5

A unit of weight equal to 100 pounds

Quitclaim

Ref 1-1855

A formal legal document discharging / releasing property, or transferring / relinquishing the seller's claim / interest in a property

Page Ref: B113_Q

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