Death, 17th Century Style

17thcenturymanuscript
Originally uploaded by Randuwa.

I enjoy genealogical research and personal histories. Here's a snippet from an article on the BBC that I found particularly interesting.

A manuscript unearthed in Cumbria's archives has painted a vivid picture of murder, mayhem and misadventure in one 17th Century parish.

Deadly duels fought with frying pans, and drunken brawls waged with beer jugs claimed lives in the west county parish of Lamplugh between 1656 and 1663.

The record was uncovered by staff at the Cumbria Record Office and Local Studies Library, in Whitehaven.

It is being used to promote the national Archive Awareness Campaign.

The record also reveals how three women were drowned after being accused of being witches, and four people were scared to death by fairies.

Other peculiar deaths listed in the document include death by gluttony at a party and being attacked by the parson's bull.

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