Q & A

• What are Cadets of Temperance?

  Juvenile (under 16 years) members of the Sons of Temperance were known as Cadets of Temperance. Local meetings, known as Cadet Sections, promoted citizenship and temperance education through competitions and other activities. Click here for history.
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• Sons and Daughters?

  When originally formed, the Sons of Temperance admitted only men. A parallel, but independent, organization for women was called the Daughters of Temperance. Subsequently, the Sons of Temperance allowed the admission of women members. The Daughters of Temperance was later merged.
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• Was my ancestor a Member?

  Records of most members would have been limited. Some records of local branches may have been deposited in archives or record offices.
  Local newspapers frequently reported on the meetings and activities of Sons of Temperance divisions. Reference libraries or archives usually have historic local newspapers on microfilm.
  If your ancestor was a prominent member he may have been referred to in the Son of Temperance which was a monthly paper published by the Sons of Temperance during several time periods. The British Library Newspaper Collections at Colindale, North London, may hold copies of these as well as its extensive holdings of national and local newspapers.
  Click here for more.
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• Why Teetotal?

  The word ‘teetotal’ was coined, inadvertantly, by Dicky Turner (one of the ‘seven men of Preston’) who stuttered when saying that he would be a total abstainer.
  His tombstone bears this inscription: “Beneath this stone are deposited the remains of Richard Turner, author of the word Teetotal as applied to abstinence from all intoxicating liquors, who departed this life on the 27th day of October 1846, aged 56 years.”
  Hence teetotaler, teetotalism, or teetotaller.
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• What are Friendly Societies?

  Basically, friendly societies are mutual savings societies whose members pay into common funds from which they are entitled to claim for sickness, funeral costs, etc. Click here for a fuller description.
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