{"id":23899,"date":"2017-07-19T11:27:23","date_gmt":"2017-07-19T15:27:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=23899"},"modified":"2017-07-21T11:15:00","modified_gmt":"2017-07-21T15:15:00","slug":"our-ancestors-riddles-and-jokes-of-the-1840s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/our-ancestors-riddles-and-jokes-of-the-1840s.html","title":{"rendered":"Our Ancestors\u2019 Riddles and Jokes of the 1840s"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak searches old newspapers to find jokes, riddles and \u201cconundrums\u201d our ancestors enjoyed in the 1840s. Mary is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background.<\/em><\/p>\n

I recently wrote an article about conundrums of the 1830s (see: Our Ancestors\u2019 Riddles and Jokes of the 1830s<\/a>). If you\u2019re not familiar with the term \u201cconundrum,\u201d it\u2019s a type of word play puzzle often starting with \u201cwhy is\u201d or \u201cwhat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Flag of Our Union (Boston, Massachusetts), 12 May 1849, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This type of humor really didn\u2019t change much in the 1840s from the preceding decade. If anything, its popularity increased. Some ancestors entered contests or attended \u201cpunsters\u2019 parties,\u201d like the one described below which offered some grand prizes for correct answers to the three conundrums posed to the audience: a piano-forte, a gold watch, and a shawl.<\/p>\n

\"Riddles,<\/a>
Boston Daily Bee (Boston, Massachusetts), 21 February 1848, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The same jokes were often printed in newspapers around the country. If you go look for them in GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a>, you\u2019ll be sure to find them.<\/p>\n

Want a fun activity for your next family gathering, genealogy meeting or family reunion? If so, download and print this joke quiz. Even the cleverest among us will find this challenging \u2013 and it could be amusing to read quips and responses. You\u2019ll find the answer key at the end of this article.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

Here are a few more conundrums for you to ponder.<\/p>\n

\"Riddles,<\/a>
New-Hampshire Gazette (Portsmouth, New Hampshire), 19 May 1840, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The answer key follows!<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

Hope you enjoyed solving these clever conundrums from the 1840s!<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s one last one.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Southern Patriot (Charleston, South Carolina), 10 February 1848, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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