An Account of an Humane Skeleton of an Extraordinary Size, Found in a Repository at Repton in Derby-Shire, Together with Some Examples of Long Life, Communicated by Simon Degg, M. D. & F. R. S.

IX. An Account of an Humane Skeleton of an extraordinary Size, found in a Repository at Repton in Derbyshire, together with some Examples of long Life, communicated by Simon Degg, M.D. & F.R.S. Extract from my Journal, Friday July the 15th, 1726. The Day favouring us, we set forward from Derby for Repton, alias Repingdon, and in One Hour and Two Thirds we arrived at Repton, a Town in the Trent famous for the Burial of the Mercian Kings, whose chief Seat was at Tamworth in Staffordshire. This Town is likewise remarkable for its Free-school, and its antient Abbey. Having view'd the Ruins in this Town, and enquiring for Antiquities, the Inhabitants brought us Thomas Walker, a Labourer, aged Eighty Eight Years, who gave the following Account. About Forty Years since cutting Hillocks, near the Surface he met with an old Stone Wall, when clearing farther he found it to be a square Enclosure of Fifteen Foot: It had been covered, but the Top was decayed and fallen in, being only supported by wooden Joyces. In this he found a Stone Coffin, and with Difficulty removing the Cover, saw a Skeleton of a Humane Body Nine Foot long, and round it lay One Hundred Humane Skeletons, with their Feet pointing to the Stone Coffin. They seem'd to be of the ordinary Size. The Head of the great Skeleton he gave to Mr. Bowers, Master of the Free-school. I enquired of his Son, One of the present Masters, concerning it, but it is lost; yet he says, that he remembers the Skull in his Father's Closet, and that he had often heard his Father mention this Gigantick Corps, and thinks this Skull was in Proportion to a Body of that Stature. The Bottom of this Dormitory was pav'd with broad flat Stones, and in the Wall was a Door-case, with Steps to go down to it, whose Entrance was Forty Yards off, nearer the Church and River. The Steps are Stone, and much worn: 'Tis in a Close, on the North Side of the Church, and over this Repository grows a Sycamore, planted by the old Man when he filled in the Earth. The present Owner will not suffer it to be open'd, the Lady of the Mannor having forbidden it. This was attested to us by several old People, who had likewise seen and measured the Skeleton. Examples of Long Life. At Uttoxeter, in the Moorlands of Staffordshire, were buried the following Number of People at the following Ages, in the Year 1702. In 14 Days were buried Three Women, the First 103, the Second 126, and One of 87; and the same Year Two Sisters and a Brother in and of that Parish, the Brother 92, the youngest Sister 95, the eldest Sister 98. And in the same Parish this present Year 1726, were buried in 22 Days, the following aged People. August the 7th One Woman aged 94, and One Man aged 81. August the 4th One Man, aged - - - - 68 August the 19th One Man, aged - - - - 87 August August the 22d One Man, aged - - - - 82 August the 23d One Man, aged - - - - 83 Men 4 Women 2 In 1726, at Gravely in Hertfordshire, 31 Miles from London, almost every Sixth Soul is upwards of Sixty. Inhabitants 187. aged above Sixty, 29. X. A farther Account of the Bills of Mortality, &c. of several considerable Towns in Europe, for the Years 1722 and 1723, extracted from the Acta Breslaviensia, by Sir Conrad Spengell, R. S. S. & Col. Reg. Medic. Lond. Lic. A List of those that were born and buried, &c. in Breslaw, &c. in the Year 1722. From the 25th of Dec. Buried Christened to the 31st, 1721. 35 Males - - - - 665 Females - - - - 670 1335 January, 1722. - - - 100 Married 424 Pair. February, - - - 94 Among the Dead were March, - - - 129 Married Men - - 231 April, - - - 121 Married Women - - 149 May, - - - 122 Widows and June, - - - 182 Widowers - - 150 July, - - - 185 Batchelors - - 57 August, - - - 203 Maidens - - 52 September, - - - 167 Children to 10 Years of Age October, - - - 173 Boys 570 November, - - - 190 Girls 499 December, 'till the 24th 90 Still-born Boys 53 Girls 30 1791