30/11/2006 - Dead funny - Archives Service

A centuries old manuscript unearthed in Cumbria’s Archives paints a picture of murder, mayhem and misadventure in one 17th century parish.

Deadly duels fought with frying pans and pitchforks and drunken brawls waged with bar stools and beer jugs claimed lives in the West Cumbrian parish of Lamplugh between 1656 and 1663.

Parish burial records uncovered by staff at the Cumbria Record Office and Local Studies Library, Whitehaven as part of this year’s national Archive Awareness Campaign, also show death by gluttony at a house warming party and a fatal reaction to the squire’s wife’s cordial water.

In those days, superstition played an important role in people’s lives and deaths. Lamplugh’s records show how three women were drowned as witched, four people were scared to death by fairies and another parishioner was led to a watery grave by a will of the wisp.

Other peculiar deaths listed in the document include:

• Crossed in love

• Took cold sleeping at Church

• Attacked by the Parson’s bull 

• Choked from eating barley

• A frying pan and pitchforks duel

But not all residents suffered such surprising ends – 57 residents died of traditional old age. 

Anne Rowe, County Archivist of Cumbria Archive Service, said, “It’s great to unearth a document like this in our collection and gives people a chance to discover a more quirky side to history. I’m not sure whether to attribute this list to our ancestors’ superstitions or just their sense of humour! 

"These were insecure social times and many folk in the 17th century would have been scared of fairies and ‘will o’the wisps’ with many a natural death being put down to the ‘evil witchcraft’ of a harmless old widow. 

"The document is also revealing in its historical details, such as drunken brawls being fought with humble frying pans and pitchforks!”

The list shows archives can be both entertaining and revealing about our history. Throughout autumn there are hundreds of events talking place in archives across the UK that will uncover further treasures in our nation’s collections. To find out what is going on in your local archive visit www.archiveawareness.com.

ENDS

Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337

Notes for Editors

1. On the left the jpeg is a copy of the original record Lamplugh burial record from 1656 to 1663 and a translation of the document

2. The Archive Awareness Campaign is an ongoing campaign aiming to reveal the treasures of the 2000 archives across the UK and Ireland. It is supported by the National Council on Archives, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and The National Archives.

3. For more information on Cumbria Archive Service please visit http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/archives/