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A rare 18th-century handwritten manuscript census titled A List of Papists or reputed Papists in the Township of Sheffield AD. 1780. The document provides a meticulous record of the Roman Catholic population in the Sheffield area, including the Liberty of Attercliffe and Darnall. The manuscript is executed in a clear copperplate hand in ink on laid paper, comprising multiple pages with one primary sheet tipped onto a larger paper support. Compiled during a period of significant religious unrest marked by the Gordon Riots, the entries offer detailed social and economic data. Notable individuals recorded include Mr Vincent Eyre, Steward to the Earl of Surrey; John Lodge, described as a reputed Priest; and Widow Parker and Son, who maintained a school for both Catholic and Protestant children. The census documents various local trades such as cutlers, blacksmiths, tailors, and victuallers, while recording household compositions including wives, children, and servants. This manuscript serves as a primary genealogical and historical resource for the study of recusancy in South Yorkshire.
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