Duncombe Family commonplace book

Single Item

Shelfmark: MS. Mus. e. 83

Commonplace book of the Duncombe family, comprising mostly leaves of musical notation (melody lines of popular tunes and folk dance melodies). Lists of family births and deaths, etc., acrostics, epitaphs, song lyrics and other texts occupy the final section.

Although the majority of entries appear to be from the 1780s, including the trial and transportation of John Duncombe, the family details have been updated up to 1833. 'Verses on Margaret Nicholson (Desmoniac) Lunatic' concern the attempted assassination of King George III in 1786, inspiration for Shelley's The posthumous fragments of Margaret Nicholson (1810).

Leaves numbered in red crayon (final leaf numbered 82). Leaves 1-3, 62-65 and 73 have been removed.

Dates

Creation: c.1780-1833

Extent

1 volume

Language of Materials

English
No linguistic content; Not applicable

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Mus. e. 83, fols. 22-29].

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Shelfmark:

MS. Mus. e. 83

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 15804

Additional Description

Abstract

Duncombe Family commonplace book. A manuscript book of tunes, poems and other texts compiled by members of a family called Duncombe.

Biographical / Historical

It is not clear to which Duncombe family this item is related, although family members listed include a Benjamin Duncombe (b.1759) who married Charlotte Jones Hudson (b.1763) in 1783, Charlotte Hudson Duncombe (b.1774 - died the same year), Elizabeth Duncombe, Ann Duncombe (b.1785) and Benjamin Duncombe (b.1786). Details are also give of a John Duncombe who was tried for robbery in Sep 1787 and sentenced to transportation.