Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2019 December 23

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December 23

British consul of Tahiti sent to Raiatea

Who is this British consul mentioned here? I am trying to piece together the history of the French annexation of Leeward Islands (Society Islands). A little context this would have been a rebellion led by Raiatea rebel chief Teraupo'o which ended in 1897. KAVEBEAR (talk) 05:41, 23 December 2019 (UTC)

Robert Simons according to this blog, will try and find something better.—eric 17:11, 23 December 2019 (UTC)

SIMONS, Robert T....était consul anglais à Tahiti..." O'Reilly, Patrick (1967). Bibliographie de Tahiti et de la Polynesie francʹaise. and snippet view at Google Books was all i could find.—eric 19:56, 23 December 2019 (UTC)

It seems to be Robert Teesdale Simons but rarely little about the Raiatea incident except Rape of Tahiti. KAVEBEAR (talk) 02:05, 24 December 2019 (UTC)

May not be much help but "Foreign Office, September 27, 1894. THE Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint Robert Teesdale Simons, Esq., to be Her Majesty's Consul for the Society Islands, to reside at Tahiti". From The London Gazette, dated October 2, 1894. Alansplodge (talk) 16:23, 26 December 2019 (UTC)

This article says that Simons remained in post until 1908. Alansplodge (talk) 16:25, 26 December 2019 (UTC)

Why is there no such article on English Wikipedia?

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A4%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5_%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%8B - Why is there no this article on English Wikipedia? --Vyacheslav84 (talk) 15:19, 23 December 2019 (UTC)

ru:Фрументарные законы. No Lex frumentaria, but Cura Annonae with "History of the grain dole", most closely related i see but mentions no laws.—eric 16:32, 23 December 2019 (UTC)

Hopefully someone knowledgeable will comment on that article, looks like the thing started as grain supply to the city of Rome and grew into Cura Annonae which doesn't look right.—eric 19:19, 23 December 2019 (UTC)

@EricR: No article yet because no one has written it or translated it. Why not give it a go yourself? See WP:YFA and WP:TRANSLATE to get started. RudolfRed (talk) 21:13, 23 December 2019 (UTC)

Replied to wrong user. Sorry. @Vyacheslav84: please do consider creating the article if you think it fits. RudolfRed (talk) 23:30, 23 December 2019 (UTC)

I'll try. --Vyacheslav84 (talk) 05:34, 24 December 2019 (UTC)

There are the Frumentarii (apparently a rather sinister group)... AnonMoos (talk) 00:11, 24 December 2019 (UTC)

Just FYI "Fractional laws (lat. Leges frumentariae, letters. "Bread laws") - the conditional name of the collection of ancient Roman laws that governed the state policy of providing the population of the city of Rome with bread (frustration) - both by selling it to Roman citizens at reduced prices, and by way of free giveaways. The meaning of the bread laws has changed over time. If in the era of the republic distributions were perceived as the realisation of the right of every Roman citizen to state property, in the era of emperors they turned into a sign of personal mercy and dependence of the people on handouts of emperors." Anton 81.131.40.58 (talk) 08:57, 24 December 2019 (UTC)

General Robert Manners was, apparently, godfather to the illegitimate child of General Charles Asgill - by Manners' mistress

This is almost certainly not the right day to be asking a question here...but perhaps it can languish until people have finished their seasonal celebrations?

I have been told that Robert Manners was godfather to the illegitimate son of Sir Charles Asgill (=Charles Childs). The latter was born to Asgill and Mary Ann Mansel in 1816. Manners and Mary Ann had 6 children together and Asgill and Mary Ann just the one. I have always imagined that Manners would not have been very happy regarding the 1816 birth of Charles Childs. However, had he agreed to be godfather, that assumption may not be right. Incidentally, in his will, Charles Asgill left his black mare and saddle to the youngest living child of General Manners (=Herbert Mansel). Asgill left nothing to his own child though. Could anyone help me find the truth of whether, or not, Manners was the godfather of Charles Childs? I've searched Google but nothing comes up. Where should I look to find this godfather record? Any help gratefully received. Arbil44 (talk) 23:01, 23 December 2019 (UTC)

I should add that while the baptism entry might be the obvious place to look, this document has not been found - Charles Childs was "in danger of death" when he was born and so was baptised urgently, and privately, at home. I have no idea where else to look (26 Catholic Archives have been searched to no avail). Arbil44 (talk) 00:27, 26 December 2019 (UTC)