Colchester People, Vol. 1 (pbk)

Eighteenth-century Colchester in Essex is historically interesting because it was de-industrialising in an era of accelerating industrial growth, was near the cultural and social magnet of the giant metropolis yet was itself substantial enough to have its own cultural and political identity. Colchester People is not only a mine of information for those researching particular individuals and families, it builds up a picture of social connectedness -- between families, individuals, neighbourhoods and other kinds of networks and therefore has something to say about English provincial urban society in the age of early modernity. This biographical dictionary is compiled from the researches of John Bensusan Butt. His collection of primary source material identifies over 1,000 individuals of the Colchester middling sort and town gentry. This alphabetical volume covers those with surnames from A to L. Volume 2 (forthcoming) will deal with surnames M-Y.