NOTTINGHAMSHIRE FACTS AND FICTIONS. PART V. ECCENTRICS AND ECCENTRICITIES, &c. 66 GOODY RYLEY." MAR ARY RYLEY, who was known as "Goody Ryley," was, during the last years of her life, a pauper of St. Mary's Workhouse, Nottingham; and when she was not pleased with her usage there she would every now and then ramble on foot to London. where she had some children, and if they gave her the least offence she would as readily trot back to Nottingham. Her eccentricity is not much to be wondered at when we consider that “Goody” died a short time after these occurrences at the age of one hundred years. Has Mr. Thoms investigated this, with other reported cases of centenarianism ? "Goody Ryley" died about 1741. VINCENT EYRE. Nottingham has ever been famed for its lively interest in politics and elections: but we question whether in the nineteenth century the good old town can produce a more fervent electioneer than Vincent Eyre, who flourished at the latter part of the seventeenth and the commencement of the eighteenth century. "He was a patriot, and yet a good son; an electioneering agent, and still never accepted a bribe; the ruler of a mob, yet not a mercenary hireling; a stocking needlemaker, and a poor man, yet a stern and unyielding Tory." The election of 1728 was the cause of his death. He had exerted himself in an extraordinary manner for his candidate, and when he saw him at the head of the poll, and chaired, he fell down and expired. He was interred in St. Peter's Churchyard. His epitaph will be found in Part VI. MRS. WATERHILL, THE ECCENTRIC WIDOW. This eccentric person was a lady of independent means, and resided for some time on the High Pavement. She died at the age She was very of seventy-nine, on the first of February, 1775. peculiar in her observance of the Sabbath day. Israelitish brethren, contended that the Sabbath should be observed on Saturday, and consequently, attired in her best apparel, regularly attended St. Mary's Church, Nottingham, on that day, and firmly refused to transact any business on it. Being desirous of conforming to some extent with the custom of her country people, she attended church regularly on Sundays, but wore her ordinary dress, and occupied the remainder of the day in sewing and other household employments. DAVID LOVE. Though not of Nottingham birth, being a native of Torriburn, in Scotland, yet David Love may be classed amongst the wellknown characters of Nottingham by long-continued residence. He was brought up as a miner, but subsequently enlisted in the South Fencibles. Afterwards he assumed the "pack," and traversed Great Britain with stationery and books. By stringing rhymes of the topics of the hour, of which David Love had a knack, he gained a livelihood for some years. These he sold in the streets. In one of his rhymes, descriptive of his marriage to his second wife, at Nottingham, he says: "When first to Nottingham I came, I found it was a town of fame; His "Child's Dream," it is said, is a poem of great beauty. His recitation of this piece in the streets of Nottingham was, it is stated, exceedingly affecting, and many a passer-by who lingered to hear the uncouth minstrel went away with a tear-dimmed eye. His own "Life, Adventures, and Experience," went through five editions, any of which are now rarely met with. Benjamin Mayo, also 66 THE OLD GENERAL." called "General Monk," was born about 1779, in Nottingham. He was a harmless idiot, and resided with his mother until her death, when he was placed in the workhouse of this town. He was very round shouldered, and his stature was not more than four feet nine in this position. His eyes were dark grey; his forehead very prominent. His head was very scantily covered with hair, clipped short, which hung over his forehead. His usual habiliments were those of the parish. He wore his shirt unbuttoned, displaying his copper-coloured breast. His dress was generally clean and tidy. During the greater portion of his time he never wore a covering for his head. When he had arrived at about the age of sixty he donned a military cap. "The General" was a regular attendant at a place of worship, favouring the church by his presence, at which he was most attentive. He was a staunch supporter of the powers that were. On the King's birthday, &c., Ben was sure to be found with the blue ribbon on his coat. Ben, like all men attired in military uniform, was a great favourite with the ladies. He would promise all his lady friends in turn that he would marry them 'next Sunday morning,' cautioning them not to be later than half-past seven, for fear somebody else should get him. The "Old General's" usual occupation was that of a "flying stationer," he vending "last dying speeches," and other matters of an equally edifying class. He would start off in great haste in the morning, and would not stop to sell anything until he was fairly exhausted. But the "Old General was better known as the "General" of several hundred school lads, for whom he secured a holiday on Mickleton Monday, by means quite familiar to most. Many anecdotes of Ben are still current in Nottingham. One day the "General" might have been seen running excitedly through the town shouting "Here's the grand and noble speech as the Duke o' York made yesterday." One purchaser, on coming to read the speech of the Duke, who just then was attracting public attention, found that the "Old General" had "done" him by supplying a blank sheet of paper. His excuse was, "The Duke said nowt!" Another story is also related of him. Ben, one day (as the old stories commence), found a sixpenny piece, which was claimed. "Had your sixpence a hole in it?" asked Ben. The prompt reply was "Yes." "This hasn't, so its not yourn," was his equally ready reply; when Ben walked off a happier and a richer being. Whilst in Nottingham workhouse as an inmate, several useless attempts were made to get the "Old General” (an “old soldier") to work, two of which we give. The overseers set him to work to turn a wheel for a person who ground knives, &c.; but when he had turned it one way for about half-an-hour he determined to turn it the other way, or give over, and no means could be devised to alter this determination. On another occasion he was set to weed a flower bed in a garden, but when left to himself he plucked up all the flowers and left the weeds. There is another anecdote respecting this innocent imbecile. In his "day and generation," which was in the infancy of lucifer matches, matches were sold in small bundles-the matches being six or seven inches in length. The "Old General" sold these from house to house. The price of provisions having at one time advanced, the "Old General" must of course advance his price for matches, or lessen the number of matches sold per penny. But the "Old General," in his simplicity, stated that as the price of everything had increased, he should be compelled to increase the number of matches sold for a penny. He died in the workhouse, January 12th, 1843, aged 64. A mural tablet was erected to his memory in the General Cemetery by his admirers. DARKER, THE MISER. This parsimonious wretch resided in the court of his name in Broad Marsh. Of course he was a bachelor. Though possessed of ample means for the comforts of this life, he secluded himself as much as possible from society, living for forty years in a wretched room, most resolutely forbidding admission to any person, under any pretence whatever. On one occasion his brother managed to gain admittance, but he was peremptorily ordered to retire. He performed all his household duties. and got in his sfores between eleven and twelve at night. It is computed that his household expenses did not exceed a couple of shillings a week. Fire was a luxury which he rarely indulged in, and in severe weather he only obtained warmth by lying in bed, or rubbing and beating his hands. His dress was as bad as any beggar's. Whenever anyone had business to transact with Tommy they were compelled to keep out of his room, Tommy standing at the door with his head out, or he would hold the necessary conversation on the stairs. He died in the Lunatic Asylum on the twelfth of February, 1847, in a state of violent madness, caused by the strong excitement brought about by a magistrate's order compelling him to securely cover the mouth of an old well, which was very dangerous. A considerable amount of gold and valuable securities was discovered in his den. SHELFORD TOMMY." JAMES O' BURNS, OR BURNES, OR Amongst the remarkable characters in humble life at the close of last century was "Shelford Tommy." He was a native of the "old country," but being married and settled at Shelford, this and other circumstances connected with his new localization obtained for him the above sobriquet. He was a ventriloquist; and although "a bird of passage," he always considered his head quarters to be Nottingham. His ventriloquial capabilities were to a considerable extent the means of gaining his livelihood. We will give a few of the many pranks which this character indulged in. During fair days, race days, and market days, Tommy always carried with him an ill-shaped doll, with a broad face, which he exhibited at public-houses as giving utterance to his own childish jargon. Tommy got himself into hot water through a display of his extraordinary powers. Standing near the Weekday Cross, one Wednesday, was a country girl with butter for sale, looking extremely innocent. Tommy, in a frolicsome moment, was determined to have some fun with her. Cries similar to those made by an infant in distress seemed to proceed from under the girl's feet: she jumped and screamed-the supposed cries of the infant increased considerably-the poor girl was seized with fits of an alarming character, amidst which the market was thrown into great confusion. Our squeaking hero, for this exercise of his talent, was conducted to the house of correction, where he remained a short time an unwilling lodger. Ever ready for a good practical joke, Tommy, whilst on his way home from Nottingham, hit upon one, which was however of a less serious matter to the subject of his joke, and to himself, than the one which we have just related. Following a carrier's waggon, he imitated the crying of a child so effectually that the carrier stopped on the road several times to examine his conveyance, conceiving that the cries proceeded from it, but of course nothing could be discovered. The waggoner, with the wily ventriloquist at his side, trudged along until the waggon entered the next village, when Tommy again repeated the cries so well that the driver, fearing he might be accessory to the death of an infant, determined to unload, which he did with the assistance of the excited villagers. No child, living or dead, was of course found. Tommy, who doubtless secretly enjoyed the joke, assisted in the fruitless search; after which he walked away, no one for a moment believing that he had any hand in the matter. "Shelford Tommy" died in 1776. |