An unexpected call last week from a Leslie Rutherford of Consett, County Durham, led to him visiting and donating to us farming diaries kept in 1855 and 1871 by William Laws, a farmer in Martham. We also received copy books and an arithmetic book belonging to his daughter, Mary Ann, which she completed in Martham School in 1867 and 1868. Book-keeping exercise books completed by her son in 1901 were also received, although these may have been completed in County Durham.
The donor has already undertaken some research into the family, the results of which he has also donated.
We are delighted to have received such interesting and perhaps valuable documents. We will be consulting with specialists regarding their value and safekeeping, as well as discussing how we can make them accessible to the general public, especially in Martham.
It was through our website that Mr Rutherford, who had owned the books since the death of Mary Ann’s grand daughter in 1995, was able to find their origin.