The Villagers
There are a number of key characters involved in the story of Eyam during the plague. Read below to see how the plague affected their lives:
- Alexander Hadfield -
Alexander Hadfield was married to Mary (below). He owned a tailor's business in the village of Eyam. It was Alexander who ordered the fabric containing the deadly plague fleas. Alexander lost his son a few days after the box was opened, as well as George, his only employee.
- Mary Hadfield -
Mary was newly married to Alexander, she had two sons and she lived in the plague cottage with her family. Although Mary survived the plague, she lost 19 relatives including her two sons (Jonathan, 12 and Edward, 4) She lost her husband on 3rd August 1666.
- George Viccars -
The first victim of the plague was George. Some believe it was his fault that the plague spread to Eyam. It was George who decided to dry the cloth on an open fire which caused the fleas to spread. George had no idea what he'd done. George died on 7th September 1665.
- Andrew Merrill -
What can be said? The man loves his cockrell! Andrew decided to hide in a field once the plague broke out in Eyam, as he believed the plague could not affect him if he lived outside the village. He lived with his precious cockrell. As the story goes, one day Andrew's cockrell returned home to his house in Eyam. Andrew saw this as a sign! Andrew realised the plague was over and it was safe to return home!
- William Mompesson -
William was the village vicar, he was married to Catherine and was famous for joining with Thomas Stanley ( the rector) to quarantine the village and prevent the plague from spreading further! It was his idea to allow people to leave food and medicine at Mompesson's Well to avoid the plague spreading outside the village.
- Catherine Mompesson -
Catherine made the decision to send her children to Yorkshire with friends, she knew that her husband had to stay in Eyam and she decided to risk death and stay with him. One day whilst walking with William, Catherine showed a fatal sign of the plague, expressed her pleasure in how sweet the air smelt , and died soon after. She is buried in Eyam's graveyard.
- Thomas Stanley -
Thomas Stanley was the village's former rector. He had refused to take the Oath of Uniformity and was not able to continue as rector. William Mompesson replaced him as vicar but Thomas remained very respected in the community. He united with William to try to stop others entering or leaving the village! Together the two-strong team came up with many brilliant ideas,such as carrying on with regular church services in Eyam's delf where there was a safe distance between them and the villagers of Eyam. This slowed down the spread of the plague!
- Mrs Handcock -
A significant character in this story, she showed courage and determination by burying six of her children and her husband. She had to drag the corpses unassisted at night to avoid spreading the plague. After the plague had killed her family, she left Eyam and went to live with her last surviving son in Sheffield.
- Marshall Howe -
He was the local gravedigger! Marshall used to loot the graves when he buried his victims. This heartless act was his own downfall as he stole clothes from the graves too! The fleas carried on these clothes led to the his death and that of his wife and son.
- Unwin -
Not much information here! Unwin was a local drunkard who simply drank a bit too much and was mistaken for a plague victim! When he was about to be buried by the local grave digger (Marshall Howe), he suddenly arose from his hangover and gave Marshall the shock of his life!
- Emmott -
One of Eyam's saddest stories. She was 22 and was about to marry her lover Rowland until the plague broke out. She made a plan with Rowland to travel down to Eyam's stream every day at a planned time and look across at her lover, unfortunately they could not talk. Sadly Emmott died from plague symptoms in her family home.
- Rowland -
Eyam's very own "Romeo," When Emmott didn't show up at the stream on a number of consecutive days, he decided to run into the deadly village and search for his lover. Sadly he found the body of Emmott with her family in her home.
Alexander Hadfield was married to Mary (below). He owned a tailor's business in the village of Eyam. It was Alexander who ordered the fabric containing the deadly plague fleas. Alexander lost his son a few days after the box was opened, as well as George, his only employee.
- Mary Hadfield -
Mary was newly married to Alexander, she had two sons and she lived in the plague cottage with her family. Although Mary survived the plague, she lost 19 relatives including her two sons (Jonathan, 12 and Edward, 4) She lost her husband on 3rd August 1666.
- George Viccars -
The first victim of the plague was George. Some believe it was his fault that the plague spread to Eyam. It was George who decided to dry the cloth on an open fire which caused the fleas to spread. George had no idea what he'd done. George died on 7th September 1665.
- Andrew Merrill -
What can be said? The man loves his cockrell! Andrew decided to hide in a field once the plague broke out in Eyam, as he believed the plague could not affect him if he lived outside the village. He lived with his precious cockrell. As the story goes, one day Andrew's cockrell returned home to his house in Eyam. Andrew saw this as a sign! Andrew realised the plague was over and it was safe to return home!
- William Mompesson -
William was the village vicar, he was married to Catherine and was famous for joining with Thomas Stanley ( the rector) to quarantine the village and prevent the plague from spreading further! It was his idea to allow people to leave food and medicine at Mompesson's Well to avoid the plague spreading outside the village.
- Catherine Mompesson -
Catherine made the decision to send her children to Yorkshire with friends, she knew that her husband had to stay in Eyam and she decided to risk death and stay with him. One day whilst walking with William, Catherine showed a fatal sign of the plague, expressed her pleasure in how sweet the air smelt , and died soon after. She is buried in Eyam's graveyard.
- Thomas Stanley -
Thomas Stanley was the village's former rector. He had refused to take the Oath of Uniformity and was not able to continue as rector. William Mompesson replaced him as vicar but Thomas remained very respected in the community. He united with William to try to stop others entering or leaving the village! Together the two-strong team came up with many brilliant ideas,such as carrying on with regular church services in Eyam's delf where there was a safe distance between them and the villagers of Eyam. This slowed down the spread of the plague!
- Mrs Handcock -
A significant character in this story, she showed courage and determination by burying six of her children and her husband. She had to drag the corpses unassisted at night to avoid spreading the plague. After the plague had killed her family, she left Eyam and went to live with her last surviving son in Sheffield.
- Marshall Howe -
He was the local gravedigger! Marshall used to loot the graves when he buried his victims. This heartless act was his own downfall as he stole clothes from the graves too! The fleas carried on these clothes led to the his death and that of his wife and son.
- Unwin -
Not much information here! Unwin was a local drunkard who simply drank a bit too much and was mistaken for a plague victim! When he was about to be buried by the local grave digger (Marshall Howe), he suddenly arose from his hangover and gave Marshall the shock of his life!
- Emmott -
One of Eyam's saddest stories. She was 22 and was about to marry her lover Rowland until the plague broke out. She made a plan with Rowland to travel down to Eyam's stream every day at a planned time and look across at her lover, unfortunately they could not talk. Sadly Emmott died from plague symptoms in her family home.
- Rowland -
Eyam's very own "Romeo," When Emmott didn't show up at the stream on a number of consecutive days, he decided to run into the deadly village and search for his lover. Sadly he found the body of Emmott with her family in her home.
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