I'm very proud of the friends I have. One in particular, Mark, unwittingly helped me through a rough patch this summer. We worked at Nottingham Castle together a few years ago, and for the last 2 years he's been studying at Bournemouth university. He popped up to see me on my birthday in June and asked me to research his family tree. Little did I know that I'd find so much in so little time - within a week I had traced his line back to 1650.
I met up with Mark again yesterday to show him what I'd uncovered. Most of his immediate ancestry is based around Mansfield, but further back he has lots of Derbyshire roots. Just days before, I discovered Mark had an interesting relative from Matlock called Phoebe Bown (1771-1854). She was an eccentric woman and something of a tourist attraction in her day. The reason she's relevant here is because of why she was considered eccentric.
It would have been difficult to know if she was a man or woman when you met her. She pursued very few feminine interests and instead was often seen doing carpentry and masonry (she hand-built an extension on her own house). She was also keen on horses and seems to have been a much sought-after horse-whisperer and horse-breaker. Her only remotely feminine interest was musical - she played the flute and cello (both badly). Phoebe's clothes were often a mixture of a man's and a woman's, men's clothing being easier for her to do her carpentry and masonry work.
Phoebe's sexuality has never been discussed, but her reputation echoes that of several other women from that period who chose the romantic company of other women - Anne Lister of Yorkshire and the "Ladies of Llangollen" spring to mind.
Even though Phoebe has no geographical connection with the heritage of Nottinghamshire her reputation spread into this county, especially among the aristocracy.
Stop Press: Just this evening I found another female spinster related to Mark. I haven't even told him yet because I'm sending him the details tomorrow. But, if you're reading this Mark, we've something in common - we've both got relatives who have featured on £10 notes!!!
To return to Nottinghamshire's Rainbow Heritage click on www.nottsrainbowheritage.org.uk
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