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The Diaries Of James
Emmott.
What started off as a guestbook post on Cowlingweb
turned into new leads for both Dinnington History
Society and Cowling History Group Moonrakers!
Roy Newman who is the Chairman of the Dinnington History
Society posted the very interesting message on the
guestbook below on the 20th March 2008.
We are in the process of converting the diarys of Emmett
(from 1873---)to DVD. These are a fascinating insight of
a farming life in days long past. They give many details
of the farming community from these times and the hard
life they lived. It also mentions many of the local
people including their passing as he was also the grave
digger as well as a local farmer. Many of the local
towns and villages are also mentioned. Anyone interested
in the local field names would also be interested.
Finding the post very interesting Cowlingweb emailed Roy
to get some more background information about the
diaries and how they came to be in Dinnington?
The diaries were purchased by Roy at an auction over 20
years ago in Retford. Roy at the time could see the
historical information that the diaries contained.
Moonraker Member Eric Emmott and his cousin David Emmott
have been researching their family history for many
years and were able to trace James Emmott who wrote the
diaries as being their Great, Great, Grandfather and
were fascinated to view and discuss the diaries with Roy
and Pam.
After a few emails back and forth between Cowlingweb,
Roy and Pam Cook who is the Dinnington History Society
Secretary, Pam and Roy decided to take a trip up the
motorway to meet with the Cowling History Group
Moonrakers and have a look at the area that the diaries
describe.
A meeting was arranged for the 12th April at 12pm at
Cowling Hill Baptist Chapel.
The Chapel was kindly opened by Mrs Binns so that Roy
and Pam could see inside the Chapel that played a large
part in James life not only as a member of the
congregation but James was also the grave digger which
he refers in the diaries. Eric also showed Roy and Pam
the family graves in the Cowling Hill Graveyard and
explained the relationships between them all. Roy and
Pam were both really pleased to be able to view the
grave of James and his wife Hannah having become so
familiar with them both through studying the diaries.
The group also visited Beckfoot farm which is the farm
that James and his family farmed at the time the diaries
were written. Eric also gave some really interesting
background information about the family explaining that
James and Hannah had 14 children and that James took
over the running of the farm from his Father David
Emmott in 1841 and at the time the farm was called Lower
Stone Head which changed it's name some time in the
1860s to Beckfoot.
There are six diaries in total and cover the years 1873,
1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879.
When the Dinnington History Society have finished
converting the diaries to DVD they will be made
available to the public.
Cowling Moonrakers would like to Thank the Dinnington
History Society for all the work that they are doing and
really look forward to viewing the DVD when it is
available. |
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