Eyam

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The History and Antiquities of Eyam
By William Wood (1842, 1845 & 1860)

Note: The History & Antiquities of Eyam is now available in reprint from Country Books of Little Longstone.
(ISBN 1-901214-34-6)  See also this Review by Julie Bunting.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

William Wood of Eyam was born on December 6th 1804, at Lydgate House, in Eyam, and died June 28th 1865. The History and Antiquities of Eyam was his second book, first published by subscription in 1842; enlarged in 1845, and reprinted in 1860.

The following portions have been transcribed by Andrew McCann during April and May 1999 from the eighth edition (illustrated), which was printed and published by L and A Wilkinson in Sheffield in 1903. William was married to Sarah PURSGLOVE, Andrew's great-great-grandmother Jane Pursglove's sister.

The Illustrations from the book may be viewed separately.

The Plague

• Introduction
• September 1665 - June 1666
• July 1666 - August 1666
• August 1666 - October 1666

Traditions of the Plague

• Various Personages:-
  Rowland and Emmot (SYDALL), also Margaret BLACKWELL, UNWIN, of the Townhead,
  MERRIL, of Hollins-House, MORTINS, of Shepherds' Flat,
  An Adventure during the Plague (the woman from Orchard Bank), and The Bubnell Carter.
• The Talbots and Hancocks of Riley; and Riley Graves

Memorials of the Plague, Past and Present

• Memorials of the Plague: Past
  DARBY, HADFIELD, HALL, HAWKSWORTH, HEALD, KEMPE, MERRIL, MOMPESSON, MORTIN, RAGG(E), TALBOT, TEYLOR, TOWNSEND, WHITELEY.
  Also includes mention of BLACKWELL, FURNESS, RIPPON and SLINN.
• Memorals of the Plague: Present
  Mentions BAXTER, BENSON, BRADLEY, BRADSHAW, BRITTLEBANK, CHAPMAN, DOOLEY, MORTIN, ROWBOTHAM, SHELDON, TIMPERLEY, UNWIN, VICARS and WYATT burials during the 18th Century.

Daily Life

• Customs and Observances
  Fascinating! Applies not just to Eyam, but elsewhere - do check this one out!

Men and Women of Eyam

• The Rectors
  Lists Rectors of Eyam from 1481 - 1891, plus commentary on ADAMS, STANLEY and HUNT.
• Minstrels and Poets
  Anna SEWARD, Richard and John FURNESS, Marmaduke MIDDLETON and William NEWTON.
• Bradshaw Hall
  
• Families of Distinction
  Mainly the STAFFORDs, but also includes mention of:- BRADSHAW, CHAPMAN, DEANE, EYRE, FURNESS, HALL, HAWKSWORTH, JEFFRIES, MIDDLETON, MOREWOOD, MORTEYNE, NEALOR, NEEDHAM, PILLINGE, ROWLAND, SAVAGE and WILSON.

Eyam and its surrounds

• Descriptive Characteristics
  
• The Church
  
• The Churchyard
  Includes transcriptions of several Memorial Inscriptions in the Churchyard, some of which may now be lost.
  Surnames:- BROOMHEAD, BRUSHFIELD, FENTEM, FROGGATT, FURNESS, GREGORY, LAUGHER, MERRILL, MOMPESSON, SELLARS, SHELDON, TALBOT, WHITE, WOOD.
• The Lead Mines
  "...there is every reason to believe that the High Peak of Derbyshire was a penal settlement during the Heptarchy; that is, persons convicted of certain crimes in any of the seven kingdoms were doomed to be sent to the High Peak of Derbyshire and there work in the lead mines..."
• Geology
  
• Scenery of the Locality
  "Before the present century, the villagers of Eyam exhibited all the characteristics so observable in the inhabitants of mountainous districts. Even now a notion prevails of keeping themselves distinct by inter-marriages. They are exceedingly tenacious of the preservation of their genealogies..."
• Archaeological Remains
  
• Manor of Eyam
  

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The above sections above have been listed in the order it is expected will be of most interest to the genealogist. The order of chapters in the original volume is as follows:-

• Descriptive Characteristics
• Geology
• Scenery of the Locality
• Archaeological Remains
• Customs and Observances
• Manor of Eyam

• Plague including.....
  • Its Nature and Origin
  • Its Communication to Eyam
  • Death of the First Victim
  • Mompesson's Children Sent Away
  • The Cordon Sanitaire
  • Cucklett Church
  • Death of Mrs. Mompesson
  • Mompesson's Letter To His Children/ Sir George Saville/J. Beilby

• Traditions of the Plague
• Riley Graves
• The Church
• The Churchyard
• The Rectors
• The Lead Mines
• Minstrels and Poets
• Families of Distinction
• Bradshaw Hall

[This information has been very kindly contributed by Andrew McCann.
See Derbyshire GENUKI Service Providers for contact details]

© Copyright Andrew McCann, GENUKI and Contributors 1999-2006, &c.
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