John Joseph Briggs
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Briggs naturalist and topographer, was born in the village of Kings Newton
(or King's Newton), Derbyshire
on 6 March 1819. His father, John Briggs, who married his cousin, Mary Briggs, was born and resided for 88 years on the same farm, at Kings Newton, which had been the freehold of his ancestors for three centuries.
, the historian of Charnwood Forest
at Wymeswold
in Leicestershire
, and in 1833 to the Rev. Solomon Saxon, of Darley Dale
. He was apprenticed to Mr. Bemrose, the head of the printing firm of William Bemrose & Sons, Derby
, but ill-health compelled him to give up his indoor occupation, and continue his ancestors' occupation of farming at Elms Farm in Kings Newton.
He utilised his notes regularly in the magazine The Field
, in which as early as 1855 he had originated "The Naturalists" column,' and entered into correspondence with the leading naturalists of the time. In 1863 he was in correspondence with Charles Darwin
concerning the regrowth of fishes' fins. His notes in the Zoologist, Critic, Reliquary, Sun, Derby Reporter, and Leicestershire Guardian (edited by his old schoolmaster, Mr. Potter), were full of picturesque descriptions of nature and sketches of places and objects in the Midland counties of archaeological and antiquarian interest. His History of Melbourne included references to Robin Hood
, John Wesley
's early journeys and how the Duke of Bourbon
was imprisoned in the reigns of Henry V and Henry VI.
, and a member of the British Archaeological Association
.
. Shortly before his death he had retired upon an ample competency, but his health failed, and he died at the place of his birth on 23 March 1876, leaving a widow, a son, and three daughters.
Besides these works and the unpublished observations on natural history, Briggs had been for many years collecting materials for a book to be entitled The Worthies of Derbyshire, for which we believe he had notes for at least 700 memoirs. This work was not published in his lifetime.
Kings Newton
Kings Newton is a village in South Derbyshire. The Holy well was constructed around 1660, but has been refurbished at the end of the twentieth century.-History:...
(or King's Newton), Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
on 6 March 1819. His father, John Briggs, who married his cousin, Mary Briggs, was born and resided for 88 years on the same farm, at Kings Newton, which had been the freehold of his ancestors for three centuries.
Education
In 1828, John went to the boarding school of Thomas Rossell PotterThomas Rossell Potter
Thomas Rossell Potter was a British antiquary. He started a school in Leicestershire, but he is known for his publications about the history and geology of Leicestershire...
, the historian of Charnwood Forest
Charnwood Forest
Charnwood Forest is an upland tract in north-western Leicestershire, England, bounded by Leicester, Loughborough, and Coalville. The area is undulating, rocky and picturesque, with barren areas. It also has some extensive tracts of woodland; its elevation is generally 600 ft and upwards, the area...
at Wymeswold
Wymeswold
Wymeswold is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. It is in the north of Leicestershire, and north-east of Loughborough. It has a population of about 1,000...
in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, and in 1833 to the Rev. Solomon Saxon, of Darley Dale
Darley Dale
Darley Dale, also known simply as Darley, is a town in Derbyshire, England, with a population of around 6,000 people. It lies north of Matlock, on the River Derwent and the A6 road.- History :...
. He was apprenticed to Mr. Bemrose, the head of the printing firm of William Bemrose & Sons, Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, but ill-health compelled him to give up his indoor occupation, and continue his ancestors' occupation of farming at Elms Farm in Kings Newton.
Chronicler
He became the faithful chronicler of the seasons, and recorded all the facts and occurrences coming within his observation during at least thirty years. He kept these notes carefully bound in manuscript volumes, and shortly before his death they were announced as ready for publication.He utilised his notes regularly in the magazine The Field
The Field (magazine)
The Field is the world's oldest country and field sports magazine, having been published continuously since 1853.The famous sportsman Robert Smith Surtees, the creator of Jorrocks, was the driving force behind the initial publication...
, in which as early as 1855 he had originated "The Naturalists" column,' and entered into correspondence with the leading naturalists of the time. In 1863 he was in correspondence with Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
concerning the regrowth of fishes' fins. His notes in the Zoologist, Critic, Reliquary, Sun, Derby Reporter, and Leicestershire Guardian (edited by his old schoolmaster, Mr. Potter), were full of picturesque descriptions of nature and sketches of places and objects in the Midland counties of archaeological and antiquarian interest. His History of Melbourne included references to Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
, John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
's early journeys and how the Duke of Bourbon
Duke of Bourbon
Duke of Bourbon is a title in the peerage of France. It was created in the first half of the 14th century for the eldest son of Robert of France, Count of Clermont and Beatrice of Burgundy, heiress of the lordship of Bourbon...
was imprisoned in the reigns of Henry V and Henry VI.
Memberships
He became a fellow of the Royal Society of LiteratureRoyal Society of Literature
The Royal Society of Literature is the "senior literary organisation in Britain". It was founded in 1820 by George IV, in order to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". The Society's first president was Thomas Burgess, who later became the Bishop of Salisbury...
, and a member of the British Archaeological Association
British Archaeological Association
The British Archaeological Association was founded in 1843; it was established by Charles Roach Smith. It is aimed at the promotion of the studies of archaeology, art and architecture and the preservation of antiquities. After disagreements arose, it was split into two organizations, the newer one...
.
Family
In 1869 he married Hannah Soar of ChellastonChellaston
Chellaston is a suburb of the City of Derby, which is in the East Midlands in England in the United Kingdom. It is on a natural hill, and has recently expanded due to several new housing estates....
. Shortly before his death he had retired upon an ample competency, but his health failed, and he died at the place of his birth on 23 March 1876, leaving a widow, a son, and three daughters.
Major works
- MelbourneMelbourne, DerbyshireMelbourne is a Georgian market town in South Derbyshire, England. It is about 8 miles south of Derby and 2 miles from the River Trent. In 1837 a then tiny settlement in Australia was named after William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, Queen Victoria's first Prime Minister, and thus indirectly takes...
, a Sketch of its History and Antiquity, 1839 - History of Melbourne, including Biographical Notices, with plates and woodcutWoodcutWoodcut—occasionally known as xylography—is a relief printing artistic technique in printmaking in which an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood, with the printing parts remaining level with the surface while the non-printing parts are removed, typically with gouges...
s, Derby, 1852 - The TrentRiver TrentThe River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...
and other Poems, Derby, 1857, (with additions, Derby, 1859) - The Peacock at RowsleyRowsleyRowsley is a village on the A6 road in the English county of Derbyshire.It is at the point where the River Wye flows into the River Derwent and prospered from mills on both.-Overview:...
,' London, 1869, 8vo, a gossiping book about fishing and country life with a descriptive of a well-known resort of anglers at the junction of the WyeRiver WyeThe River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
and River DerwentRiver Derwent, DerbyshireThe Derwent is a river in the county of Derbyshire, England. It is 66 miles long and is a tributary of the River Trent which it joins south of Derby. For half its course, the river flows through the Peak District....
. - Guide to Melbourne and King's Newton, Derby, 1870.
- History and Antiquities of RemingtonRemington- People :* Eliphalet Remington , American firearms designer* Philo Remington , American firearms and typewriter manufacturer, son of Eliphalet Remington* Frederic Remington , American painter and sculptor...
, LeicestershireLeicestershireLeicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, twelve copies, privately printed, with coloured lithographs and woodcuts, London, 1873.
Besides these works and the unpublished observations on natural history, Briggs had been for many years collecting materials for a book to be entitled The Worthies of Derbyshire, for which we believe he had notes for at least 700 memoirs. This work was not published in his lifetime.
Further reading
- Melbourne 1820-1875: A Diary by John Joseph Briggs, edited by Philip Heath, ISBN 0 903463 78 4 was published in 2005 by Derbyshire County Council in conjunction with Melbourne History Society
- Derbyshire Record Office archives, Papers of John Joseph Briggs