The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE ORIGIN OF THE SANDWICH

DID YOU KNOW THAT WHAT WE CALL A SANDWICH TODAY IS NOT REALLY A
SANDWICH? IT'S A SHREWSBURY} I'M SURE YOU HEARD THE STORY ABOUT
THE EARL OF SANDWICH INVENTING THAT DELICACY,
BUT THAT STORY IS FALSE, IT WAS INVENTED BY THE DUKE OF SHREWSBURY,
TO CELEBRATE HIS INVENTION, THE DUKE INVITED ALL OF THE NOBILITY
FROM FAR AND NEAR TO A BANQUET, WHERE HE WAS GOING TO INTRODUCE
THE SHREWSBURY. HE HAPPENED TO INVITE THE EARL OF SANDWICH.
THE EARL RECOGNIZED WHAT A GOOD THING THIS WAS, SO HE INVITED
THE DUKE OVER TO HIS CASTLE THE NEXT DAY.
WHEN THE EARL SAW THE DUKE ABOUT TO ENTER THE CASTLE, HE LIFTED UP
THE DRAWBRIDGE, AND THE DUKE FELL IN THE MOAT. HE THEN PULLED THE
PLUG AND THAT WAS THE LAST ANYONE SAW OF THE DUKE. THE EARL OF
SANDWICH TOOK THE INVENTION AND MADE IT POPULAR AND THAT IS WHY WE
CALL IT A SANDWICH.

Submitter comment:

THE INFORMANT HEARD THE STORY FROM SOMEONE AT WESTERN MICHIGAN
UNIVERSITY, WHERE HE IS A STUDENT. HE WAS NOT SURE OF THE FELLOW'S
NAME, BUT HE KNEW THAT HE WAS FROM MASSACHUSETTS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): FOOD ; Invention ; NAME ; Origin ; Sandwich

Date learned: 04-10-1965