The day was planned, organised and hosted by members of Canterbury Branch which was apt as the first meeting of the Society 50 years ago was held in Canterbury and for the first 9 years of Kent FHS Canterbury branch was the only branch of the Society. David Wood, Chairman of Canterbury Branch (who is also Vice President of the Society) was Master of Ceremonies for the day
We started with Coffee/Tea and Danish pastries as we greeted old friends, faces we only usually see via Zoom and introduced to new friends. Members had travelled from all over the country and our Vice Chairman Patricia Bruhn from her home in Connecticut USA.
Talk: by Charlotte Cornell - 'Aphra Behn: the foremost 17th century female playwright'.
Charlotte is an enthusiastic speaker especially about the subject of her talk taken from her research for a Phd about Aphra Behn.
Charlotte started by saying that Aphra has been vastly overlooked amongst writers of the 17th century.
Aphra Behn was born Aphra Johnson to a ‘fallen’ member of the gentry Elizabeth Durham, a wet nurse, and an imprudent barber Bart Johnson of Harbledown. Although, until quite recently Aphra’s birth had been wrongly attributed to another Aphra Johnson of Wye who died a few weeks after birth. As Charlotte imparted that part of her story there was a general nodding of heads as with so many experienced genealogists in the room, we all know to look further through registers to rule out an early death of a child. Heads were sagely nodding again as Charlotte said that Aphra, a popular name in East Kent in the 17th century, had various spelling which had led people astray by them not looking at possible alternatives of the forename Aphra.
Charlotte’s interesting and intriguing story of Aphra continued to hold the audience as she talked about Aphra’s family and how she became well educated despite her parents place in society. Charlotte suggested her education could have come about because her mother Elizabeth was a wet nurse to the children of the Culpepper family and Aphra may have been educated alongside the daughter of the household. The Culpeper's lived in Milner Court Sturry, the building now houses Junior Kings School. Sturry is another place where Aphra was said to been from.
Aphra's father was for many years trying to become a Freeman of Canterbury but the barber's guild did not want him to join them. They did not recognise that Bart Johnson had ever served an apprenticeship but he was working as a barber in the city which was prohibited as he was not a Freeman. He was also undercutting the prices set by the barber's guild. Eventually after a number of years of applications to the city council he become a Freeman, not as a barber, but as a publican. Johnson had to pay a fee to become a Freeman and an exorbitant amount was levied; more than he could earn in a year, probably in the hopes he would give up applying. He borrowed the money but when the time came to repay the debt he could not. In the 17th century to be a debtor was a moral and contemptible crime punishable by imprisonment until the debt was cleared. But if Bart was imprisoned he would not have been able to earn to repay the amount he owed. This is undoubtedly why Bart Johnson suddenly upped and moved his family from Canterbury to London.
Aphra lived an incredible life for a 17th century female. She spent time abroad in Suriname and Holland and is thought to have been a not very good spy. The one time in Holland that she gets her intelligence right it was dismissed. When returning from Suriname she is first known as Aphra Behn supposedly a widow. However, there is no evidence to suggest that she was she ever married!
Charlotte continued to explore why we have heard so little of Behn when the extent and popularity of her works once outstripped those of Thackery and Johnson. Her drama Orinoco was performed professionally on the London stage for so many decades that it’s known as the Mousetrap of its era. Aphra earned her own money writing 17 plays during her lifetime plus poems and other literary works. Her plays included 'The Fore'd Marriage' and 'the Rover' which tackle the disreputable side of male female relationships. But, Charlotte said, Behn was thought to be far too racy for a female novelist and was compared to a prostitute because she used her own name and took money for her writings, in an era when ‘nice’ ladies didn’t. When the very prudish 18th and 19th centuries arrived her works were considered pornographic and even those who had previously liked them changed their attitudes and her works faded into insignificance.
Nowadays Behn’s works have become a standard taught to students of English literature and she is heralded amongst the literary greats as the first English novelist, male or female.
When Aphra died in 1680 she was buried in Westminster Abbey. But not in 'poets corner' with other major writers but under the aisle leading to the Abbey shop.
A statue to Aphra will be unveiled outside Canterbury’s Beaney Library on 27th February 2025.
The AGM: View AGM 2024 Reports (members only)
Voting had previously taken place via the website during the first two weeks in October, allowing out of county and overseas members to vote. Viv Carter, KFHS Chairman read out the results of the vote, all points were accepted. Details of the voting figures will be printed in the Journal. She said she would not bore everyone by reading the reports out, as they have been available in the September Journal and on the website, but she asked for any updates from members who had given a report. She then reported on recent difficulties when the new website went live. Apologising to members for the initial chaos she said its currently being ironed out. She named several members who had gone the extra mile to help get things back on an even keel and in particular KFHS Treasurer Jean Skilling. Jean took over the role when the Membership Secretary was incapacitated following an accident. Jean outlined the difficulties she has had with the members database. By way of thanks for her magnificent efforts over the past months, despite her own personal difficulties, Viv presented Jean with a basket of flowers, arranged by Heather Bethall.
Another presentation of a gift token was made to Sheila Harris, Journal Editor who has had to stand down due to personal circumstances. Sheila said she was amazed that within 12 hours of her appeal for someone to replace her a member with editorial experience had volunteered and over the next couple of days two more members had come forward to offer help.
Following the AGM delegates had a buffet lunch in the Kentish Barn on the floor above the Auditorium.
After Lunch
Delegates were led through the city streets by members of Canterbury branch to either the Institute of Heraldry and Genealogical Sciences in Northgate or The Freemasons Museum & Library opposite Westgate. At these places they were given a talk and shown what these organisations hold that might be of use to members when researching their ancestors. Other delegates wandered in The Cathedral Precincts, chatted with others and checked out the book sale on the Society’s bookstall which is being disbanded.
Delegates returned from their afternoon tours as the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr. Jean Butcher and Lady Mayoress of Canterbury Di Baldock arrived to cut the celebration cake. Looking on were Peter Ewart, KFHS President and David Wood, KFHS Vice President.
The cake was made and iced by, Viv Carter KFHS Chairman.
The final talk: “In Conversation: the past 50 years” was a most interesting and enlightening conversation between Peter and David. Our two President and Vice President reminisced about Kent Family History Society from its conception, how we once researched, interesting happenings and changes over the years ending with their thoughts on the future of genealogy and the Society. Then it was “Farewell, safe journey home”.
A booklet entitled 'The Annals of Kent Family History Society' compiled by Tricia Baxter, Canterbury Branch Hon President, was on sale for £3. The booklet covers the history of the Society in its first 50 years and will be on sale, in due course, via the online shop.
16:00 Close of 50th AGM
The 51st AGM will be held online on 25th October 2025.
Report by Tricia Baxter - Canterbury Branch Hon. Secretary