Transcript

of

Manuscripts of the late Robert Dymond

Devon & Cornwall Notes and Queries vol. VI, (January 1910 to October 1911), p.191.

by

H. Tapley-Soper

Prepared by Michael Steer

Robert Dymond, a local historian and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, was born in Exeter in 1821, the son of an Estate Agent. He bought Dunstone and Blackslade Manor in 1869 and lived in Blackslade Manor House on Dartmoor until his death in 1888. He was a respected member of Exeter’s community joining numerous local societies. More details on Robert Dymond and his family can be found in Stephen Wood’s book ‘Widecombe-in-the-Moor - A Pictorial History of a Dartmoor Village.’ The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Note 183. MANUSCRIPTS OF THE LATE ROBERT DYMOND. - Mrs. Dymond, widow of the late Mr. Robert Dymond, of Exeter, lately presented to the Exeter Public Library thirteen volumes of manuscript notes by this well known antiquary. The series originally consisted of fifteen volumes, one of which is still in the possession of the Dymond family. The whereabouts of the other volume is at present unknown. It is supposed that it was sold with other books on the death of the author. Can any reader inform me who now has possession of this volume? The series are uniform in size, measuring 12|ins. x 8 ins. The paper is ruled foolscap. They were bound in stiff covers, with a strip of cloth or basil down the back. The indexes which accompanied the gift include references to the missing volume, which was numbered either three or five inside the front cover. The volumes contain extracts from Parish Registers, Churchwardens' Accounts, Manor Rolls, Newspapers, Exeter Guildhall and Chapter Archives, Pedigrees of Devon families and various notes, etc., used in the compilation of Mr. Dymond's books and other publications.         H. T.-S.