Derbyshire Family History Society

As the article says ' some traditions are best left confined to the pages of history books'

The dark past of animal traditions and customs of old Derbyshire Richard Bradley explores a popular pastime which, thankfully, has been largely consigned to history

The history of c**k fighting goes back centuries. It was a spectator sport and often involved gambling. It was banned outright in England and Wales in The Cruelty to Animals 1835.

It's thought that this market cross has stood at the centre of Bonsall in Derbyshire for 600 years.
Dating to the late 14th or early 15th century, it's constructed on a steep road and stands atop 13 circular stone steps.
The Methodist cleric and theologian John Wesley preached from the top of the steps in the 18th century.
This photograph shows the cross in 1885.
https://www.facebook.com/HistoricEngland

Matthew Hopkinson, a Quaker, died in 1748 and is buried at The Toadhole Furnace Burial Ground. He left detailed instructions for his wake:-
Firstly my _ is that _
Secondly I desire that Steven Wooding may make garth cakes so many as may be thought enough for all the people to have a pees _ or twelve ounces in wight
Thirdly I desire that all may have a pees of bread and a draught of could ale, and then a glass of wine, next every one a pees of cake, and another glass of wine, and so conclude
I desire that my body may be put in a good plain coffin and that I may be taken to the toad hole furnace and be laid by the stairs that goes up onto the outer wall, as near as can be and not lett them down, and that a little stone be set at my head, with a M and a H and the year of our Lord under which I die in
And I desire that such and such may be the undertaker at my funeral, to witt
And that they may be well rewarded for there trouble
Richard Rodgers, John Kirke, Daniel Latham but if anyone is incapaciated, or his no mind to it I desire the other two will be willing to take the whole concern up on them
_ do give directions who I would have invited to my burial. First I desire that either Joseph fletcher or Jonathan fletcher may send to Henry Bowman and let him know that it was my desire even before I died that he might come to my burial, and i desire his charges may be born. Next I will mention who else I would have invited
Abraham Balbey?
Richard parson and his wife
Daniel Latham
John Kirk and antt
John Rodgers and brother
Steven Wooding
Robert Radford
William Hobson
Cusson John Hopkinson and wife and cusson William Hopkinson
And Joseph Hurt and wife
Widow ffidler
John Godber _
Joseph ffletcher and wife and there man Benjamin
Jonathan ffletcher and wife and John Williamson
William Draycod and wife and son William
Joseph ffrith butcher in Chesterfield
And I desire that son in law Burgess and grandchildren may be sent for and I desire him to see that _ the charges be discharged and every one well satisfied for there trouble about my burial
And I desire that servers may be such as are invited to my burial
https://www.crichparish.co.uk/webpages/quakerburials.html

One of the many gems of our county where there is evidence of the people who have lived here from the remote past to the present. https://www.facebook.com/peakdistrict.org

Have your ancestors been in Derbyshire for centuries or did they migrate here during a difficult period in their lives?

www.englandsimmigrants.com

Three things to avoid if you want to be a successful genealogist (1) dishes (2) making dinner (3) laundry

Put on trial for his sanity … Royal writ of Queen Elizabeth dated 44 Elizabeth I - five good and lawful men of our aforesaid county of Derby to establish an inquiry into the lunacy of William Bonsall of Heathcote, Hartington, Derbys https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_dss=range&_sd=1600&_ed=1620&_q=william+and+bonsall+and+heathcote

John Bullicke Esq …ffeodari*Com’ n(ost)ri Darby
Francis Fitzherbert Esq
Edward Berisforde Esq Escheator** of the aforesaid County
Laurence Wright Esq
Nicholas Alexander Gent

both within the liberties and without, by whom the truth of the matter may be better known, whether William Bonsall yeoman is a lunatic or enjoys lucid intervals. And if the same William existing in the same state alienated*** any manors and messuages, goods and chattells and lands or tenements or not and if so which lands and which tenements, to whom, where, when and in what manner such lands were alienated; and what lands remain to William etc

*https://thelawdictionary.org/feodary/

**royal official appointed to uphold the King’s rights

*** to transfer the absolute ownership and legal rights of a property from one person to another

The true origins of well dressing are lost in the mists of time. Writing from Derbyshire in 1758 Nicholas Hardinge, MA, clerk to the House of Commons says that 'at Tissington, Fitzherbert's village, we saw the spring adorned with garlands; in one of these was a tablet inscribed with rhymes, composed by the schoolmaster, in honour of these fountains'. Long may the tradition continue https://welldressing.com/extra.php