Mabel Peacock

Mabel Geraldine Woodruffe Peacock (9 May 1856– 17 July 1920)^[1] was an English folklorist.

Peacock was the daughter of Lucy and Edward Peacock F.S.A. of Bottesford Manor, Brigg, Lincolnshire, and later of Kirton-in-Lindsey. She made collections of folklore in this region and published them in journals and her books.^[2]

She retired to Norfolk in 1918 and died of tuberculosis in 1920. Mabel Peacock is buried in Grayingham, Lincolnshire churchyard. ^[3]

Peacock is among the favorite authors of Sir George Bailey in A. S. Byatt's novel, Possession.^[4]

Bibliography

Her works include:

• An Index of Royalists whose estates were confiscated during the Commonwealth. 1879.
• Tales and Rhymes in the Lindsey Folk-speech, 1886, with Max Peacock (anonymously)
• Tales fra Linkishire, 1889. She also edited a reprint of John Bunyan's Holy War and Heavenly Footman, 1892, with full introduction and notes;
• Lincolnshire Tales, 1897.
• Lincolnshire Rhymes, 1907.
• Lincolnshire County Folklore, 1908, with Eliza Gutch.
• Many contributions to Folk-Lore and a collection of notes and manuscript.

References

1. Death Notice, Norfolk Chronicle, 15 December 1920
2. Crooke, William, ed. (December 1920).  Obituary of Miss Mabel Peacock. 31. Wikisource. p. 338.   [scan]
3. Death Notice, Norfolk Chronicle, 15 December 1920
4. Byatt, AS. Possession 1991