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Hi, If you are interested in Samuel Dove of Debenham, probably linked to your family, he kept a diary, a copy which is on sale on Amazon for £8-99. His house is adjacent to the church and is now used as a meeting centre /exhibition hall for the villagers. Kettleburger.

Hi Smoug,  The mill stood almost opposite the village hall. When you get a look at the photograph you can see the old school house in the back ground. The village has a coffee morning, open to all, on Sat Sept 19th at 10-30am, or, the third Saturday every month, so you will be very welcome to come and photograph it. Regards, Kettleburger.

Hi, Did you have any luck getting a photo of Folly farm, Monewden? I have one taken C 1880 showing the house with the then residents, the Pulham family outside. I also have a small photo, probably early 20th cent, on which is written "Sunny Peck and family" depicting a couple with two daughters.Any help? Kettleburgher.

Hi, Kettleburger again. I have just dug out my copy of the diaries (published by the Suffolk Records Society and edited by Anne Fiske) and there are dozens of entries mentioning mainly a John Orbell who appears to have been a Councillor in Bury St Edmunds and there seem to have been very strong connections between the two families. Good hunting. Kettleburger.

hi Dumork, I'm afraid my study was confined to Suffolk so I have no records for Norfolk. On more general points the fencible cavalry regiments were formed to be a deterrent to the local poor in case they followed the French example and revolted there being no organised police force as we know it. They appear to be from what we would now refer to as middle class, as to join in Suffolk you had to have a horse. There were exceptions and some well trusted lower class men had a horse provided by someone like the local vicar. Like the militia they were not classed as regular soldiers although they were encouraged to train and attend big parades with the regular units. After the first few months of hostilities, the funds raised by the public ran out and most units served in an unpaid capacity. Regarding pregnant women, they got on with it with the help of other women. All these women were classed as "camp followers" and a few were prostitutes but the majority were wives. When a battallion moved, six wives were officially allowed transport and they belonged to senior N.C.Os. In reality women who were in difficulty managed to "hitch" rides with the baggage train. There were no Scottish regiments stationed in the Ipswich/Woodbridge area 1n 1805/6. As there was no censorship in those days, it is likely that regiment movements would be mentioned in the Norwich local news paper, which might well be your best bet of linking Alexander to a regiment. Sorry I can't be of more help, regards, Kettleburger.