Page:White - The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne.djvu/34



We abound with poor; many of whom are sober and industrious, and live comfortably in good stone or brick cottages, which are glazed, and have chambers above stairs: mud buildings we have none. Besides the employment from husbandry the men work in hop gardens, of which we have many; and fell and bark timber. In the spring and summer the women weed the corn; and enjoy a second harvest in September by hop-picking. Formerly, in the dead months they availed themselves greatly by spinning wool, for making of barragons, a genteel corded stuff, much in vogue at that time for summer wear; and chiefly manufactured at Alton, a neighbouring town, by some of the people called Quakers: but from circumstances this trade is at an end.** The inhabitants enjoy a good share of health and longevity: and the parish swarms with children.

(* A state of the parish of Selborne, taken October 4, 1783.

The number of tenements or families, 136. The number of inhabitants in the street is ... 313 In the rest of the parish ... 363 Total, 676; near five inhabitants to each tenement.

In the time of the Rev. Gilbert White, vicar, who died in 1727-8, the number of inhabitants was computed at about 500.)

(** Since the passage above was written, I am happy in being able to say that the spinning employment is a little revived, to the no small comfort of the industrious housewife.)

- -- Average of baptisms for 60 years.

From 1720 to 1729, both years inclusive    Males   6,9     Females 6,0    12,9 From 1730 to 1739, both years inclusive     Males   8,2     Females 7,1    15,3 From 1740 to 1749, inclusive     Males   9,2     Females   6,6     15,8 From 1750 to 1759, inclusive    Males   7,6     Females   8,1     15,7 From 1760 to 1769, inclusive    Males   9,1     Females   8,9     18,0 From 1770 to 1779, inclusive    Males   10,5     Females   9,8     20 3

Total baptisms of Males    515 Females    465     980 Total of baptisms from 1720 to 1779, both inclusive, 60 years 980.

Average of burials for 60 years.

From 1720 to 1729, both years inclusive    Males   4,8     Females 5,1    9,9 From 1730 to 1739, both years inclusive     Males   4,8     Females 5,8    10,6 From 1740 to 1749, inclusive     Males   4,6     Females   3,8     8,4 From 1750 to 1759, inclusive    Males   4,9     Females   5,1     10,0 From 1760 to 1769, inclusive    Males   6,9     Females   6,5     13,4 From 1770 to 1779, inclusive    Males   5,5     Females   6,2     11,7

Total of burials of Males  315 Females  325     640

Total of burials from 1720 to 1779 both inclusive, 60 years  640. - -- Baptisms exceed burials by more them one-third.

Baptisms of Males exceed Females by one-tenth, or one in ten.

Burials of Females exceed Males by one m thirty.

It appears that a child, born Ed bred m this parish, has Em equal chance to live above forty years.

Twins thirteen times, many of whom dying young have lessened the chance for life.

Chances for life in men and women appear to be equal. - -- A TABLE of the Baptisms, Burials, and Marriages, from January 2, 1761, to December 25, 1780, in the Parish of Selborne.

Baptisms.

1761    Males   8     Females   10     Total   18 1762    7     8      15 1763     8     10     18 1764     11     9     20 1765     12     6     18 1766     9     13     22 1767     14     5     19 1768     7     6     13 1769     9     14     23 1770     10     13     23 1771     10     6     16 1772     11     10     21 1773     8     5     13 1774     6     13     19 1775     20     7     27 1776     11     10     21 1777     8     13     21 1778     7     13     20 1779     14     8      22 1780     8     9     17        198     188     386

Burials.

1761    Males   2     Females   4     Total     6 1762    10    10     20 1763     3     4     7 1764     10     8     18 1765     9     7     16 1766     10     6     16 1767     6      5      11 1768     2     5     7 1769     6     5     11 1770     4     7     11 1771     3     4     7 1772     6     10     16 1773     7     5     12 1774     2     8      10 1775     13     8     21 1776     4     6      10 1777     7     2      9 1778     3     9      12 1779     5     6     11 1780     11     4      15        123     123     246

Marriages.

1761    3 1762     6 1763     7 1764     6 1765     6 1766     4 1767     2 1768     6 1769     2 1770     3 1771     4 1772     3 1773     3 1774     1 1775     6 1776     6 1777     4 1778     5 1779     0 1780     3            83

During this period of twenty years the births of Males exceeded those of Females    10.

The burials of each sex were equal.

And the births exceeded the deaths    140.

Letter VI To Thomas Pennant, Esquire

Should I omit to describe with some exactness the forest of Wolmer, of which three-fifths perhaps lie in this parish, my account of Selborne would be very imperfect, as it is a district abounding with many curious productions, both animal and vegetable; and has often afforded me much entertainment both as a sportsman and as a