Human Cost at Eyam

The human cost at Eyam

The Hawksworth Family

Peter was married to Jane, and the couple had an 18-month old son, Humphrey. Jane was pregnant with a second child too. Peter was the third victim of the plague, followed by the death of Jane's mother. Soon, Jane's brother and his wife passed away and Humphrey then, three weeks after is father, died. Jane lost 25 members of her extended family over the next few months and her second child died soon after birth.

The Thorpe Family

All nine people in the household died as a result of the plague. William Thorpe had left a will but none of the immediate family survived to inherit it.

The Blackwell Family

Ms Blackwell was the only one to survive in her family after the plague in 1666. Ms Blackwell caught the disease but managed to pull through and live long.

The Hancock Family

The first child died on the 3 August, while the father and the remaining five children all died by the 10 August. Only the mother survived.

The Morten Family

The Morten's were farmers who lived on the edge of the village. During the birth of Ms Morten's third child nobody could come to help with the delivery and the plague spread to her and her three children. Mr Morten was the only one to survive.

The Talbot Family

Close to all of the Talbot Family died as a result of the plague. Between July and August, thirteen members of the Talbot family died of the plague. The only survivor of the Talbot family, George, was working away from Eyam the time the plague ravaged the town.

The Mompesson Family

Mr Mompesson sent his two children away in June 1666 and wanted his wife to go also. His wife refused to go and wished to tend to the sick in the village. She soon contracted the disease and was the 200th person to die in the village. Mr Mompesson lived through the plague until 1708.