COUPLES : TEA : HUSBAND & WIFE : BEARDS
Tea anyone? In Australia tea is the evening meal, dinner; it is also a beverage.
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| 1888 'Advertising', Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 21 November, p. 1. , viewed 10 Feb 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88557014 (note W.Ebbott is the son of John Ebbott) |
Members of the Independent Order of Rechabites(I.O.R.) signed a pledge not to drink alcohol, so tea (of the liquid variety) becomes an important beverage option at functions.
John Ebbott married Margaret Thomas 12 Nov 1868 in the Forest St Wesleyan Church, Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia.[i]
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| Photographer unknown, The Family of John & Margaret Ebbott, circa 1892 possibly in Chewton, Victoria Australia; Ebbott family. From the left : Back Row Alfred “Alf” Ebbott 1875; Elizabeth Ebbott 1872, John Ebbott 1868; William Ebbott 1870, Percy Frederick Ebbott; Middle Row Gertrude Emma Ebbott, Margaret Ebbott nee Thomas, Beatrice Alma Ebbott, ; John Ebbott 1840, Eveline Mary Ebbott; Front Row; Gilbert Henry Ebbott 1890, .Edgar Stanley Ebbott 1888-1968; Ada Helena Ebbott 1884 [Ebb019] |
John was an active member of the Independent Order of Rechabites(I.O.R.). His children all followed in his footsteps and the entire family were staunch members of Methodist church and the temperance movement.
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| Edited excerpts from Mount Alexander Mail in 1916 from 'CHEWTON RECHABITE TENT', 13 July, p. 2. , viewed 10 Feb 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119635310 |
Events hosted by Rechabites were often described as interesting, “code” for alcohol-free. So when John remarries in 1908 we know from the newspapers that the reception was alcohol-free:-
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| 1908 'ITEMS OF NEWS.', Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), 28 April, p. 2. , viewed 10 Feb 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199807199 |
Afternoon tea with scones jam & tea (or coffee) is known as a Devonshire tea in modern day Australia. Delicious!
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| Photo by Alysa Tarrant on Unsplash (cropped) |
This post is part of SEPIA SATURDAY 405 : Saturday 10 February 2018
[i] Marriage certificate of John Ebbott and Margaret Thomas married 12 November 1868, Registrary of Births, Deaths & Marriages. 3927/ 1868
It is interesting to use the word "interesting" to mean alcohol-free.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea what "interesting" meant until an older relative explained the meaning to me
DeleteI wonder if that was true here too. I have seen many dinner events described as interesting. Quite a good size family there.
ReplyDeleteWe all speak english but I'm always surprised about the different means are given to the same words in other English speaking countries.
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ReplyDeleteHow interesting! My parents'wedding in Christchurch NZ in 1950 was alcohol free, because the parents on both sides were good Presbyterian teetotallers, although the couple themselves were not. A substantial amount of non-alcoholic punch was prepared by the reception proprietor and no doubt lots of cups of tea were also served.
DeleteIt's wonderful that you have all those details. Knowing the details of the celebrations is a nice touch in any family history story.
DeleteRechabites...new to me. I'm sure many events were more interesting without alcohol. The Ebbots were a large, good looking family.
ReplyDeletei thought it was a Fraternal order but after doing some research I discovered that there were also some female chapters and according the newpaper story I read it sounds like the Ebbott girls also joined.
DeleteI'd never heard of Rechabites, so am glad to add to vocab. Love the whole family photo! Lots of people there, and the kids are sitting still!
ReplyDeleteThe Rechabites started in England I'm not sure if it was a world wide organisation in 1900s it may have been heavily associated with certain groups such as the Methodist - I can see I need to more reading!
DeleteTea and scones. Yum. I've enjoyed High Tea a few times. At one place they didn't have clotted cream, so used a combination of slightly mashed large curd cottage cheese and Cool Whip. Worked rather well, actually. :)
ReplyDeleteI have never thought of tea & scones as high tea just afternoon tea. High tea to me always means lots of little dainties "petit fours" which sometimes also also includes scones.
DeleteInteresting article, and although they didn't drink alcohol they certainly knew how to party -- throwing a Monster Tea and a festive rail-station reception! Wonderful photo of the Ebbots. Love the collars on the girls' dresses.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I understand there was no alcohol but there was plenty of singing.
DeleteFascinating post. I looked up Rechabites and learned they were a biblical tribe associated with the Israelites who followed abstinence just as Muslims do.
ReplyDeleteHowever, though I like a good Devonshire Tea, I prefer dull weddings. The duller the better.
I will never use the word interesting in the same way again. Like Mike, I prefer a dull wedding.
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