"Cousin Jacks" origin

[Nonfatman]

Intending to find something suitable as an avatar for one of our members here, who goes by Cousin Jack, I stumbled upon the origin of the name of that pub (?) visited by the common working man and the yellow-fingered smoky girl.

It is apparently a reference to British emigrants from Cornwall, who migrated to other countries, including the U.S. They were comprised of mechants, farmers, but mostly miners of precious metals, who were skilled in locating and excavating copper, gold and silver from veins deep under the ground.

There are various theories as to how the term "Cousin Jack" arose. Some think it was because these Cornish miners were known to ask for jobs for their "cousin, Jack" back at home, while others believe that the name comes from the way they always addressed each other, informally, by the name "cousin" and the fact that Jack was the most common Christian name in Cornwall.

For additional information, visit:

www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/immig_emig/england/cornwall/article_1.shtml
www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/stories/tommyknockers.htm
www.historichwy49.com/miniweb/cousin/cousin.html

Jeff

P.S. I did find something, CJ, and if we can do it, we will!

[TM]

Thanks for the info Cousin Jeff.

[Cousin Jack]

I always thought Cousin Jack was a person but then what glasses was he referrign to?

thanks for the avater I take it that's gold

[Nonfatman]

Apr 25, 2010 2:12:05 GMT -5 Cousin Jack said:

I always thought Cousin Jack was a person but then what glasses was he referrign to?

thanks for the avater I take it that's gold

Glad you like the avatar, CJ, and yes, I believe that is gold. It is in keeping with the mining origin of the name, which I was totally unfamiliar with before yesterday. It goes to show, you learn something new about Tull all the time!

Pat and I once discussed this song on a prior thread, and it turns out we were both partially right. I always felt that Cousin Jacks had to be a bar or a pub, rather than a person, because it was upper case C and J, and because of the reference to putting the bottles back. I think that that would have to be the case, especially knowing now that the name had a specific historical origin. Although I suppose it could be the nickname of the proprietor rather than the name of the establishment. So maybe it is a person after all.

However, I always thought the reference to "mends his glasses that I cracked" referred to drinking glasses. Pat on the other hand felt that it referred to spectacles. He was right.

I just looked this up on Cup of Wonder for the first time a moment ago. The "glasses that I cracked" refers to a bar brawl where the protagonist of the song punches "Cousin Jack" in the face and breaks his glasses!

Jeff

[JinxCat]

So I was just having dinner with family. When we were almost done, I happened to look across the room. Hanging from the ceiling I saw this:



Naturally I had to go over and get a picture. Sure says 'miner' to me!


(Place was Bill Johnson's Big Apple in Phoenix)

[Nonfatman]

May 8, 2010 21:55:59 GMT -5 JinxCat said:

So I was just having dinner with family. When we were almost done, I happened to look across the room. Hanging from the ceiling I saw this:



Naturally I had to go over and get a picture. Sure says 'miner' to me!


(Place was Bill Johnson's Big Apple in Phoenix)

Great pic, thanks Wendy. Funny coincidence since we were just talking about it. Always a little strange when stuff like that happens.

Jeff

[Cousin Jack]

Now who pinched that and took it all the way over there?

[Cousin Jack]

Used to go on holiday to Cornwall as a lad great memories of the place saw this on the other forum great place no wonder Ian mentioned it in song
jethrotull.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=other&action=display&thread=325&page=7

[wembley]

Queen drummer Roger Taylor had a band called The Cousin Jacks when he was at school