The Publications of the Surtees Society, Band 221

"The correspondence printed in this volume forms part of the Woodman Collection consisting of tracts, deeds, pedigrees, newspaper clippings, court rolls, original letters and other manuscripts, relating in some measure to the County of Northumberland but principally to the Borough of Morpeth. The collection includes eleven bound volumes labeled 'Morpeth Collectanea;' and two volumes of manuscripts concerning Morpeth Grammar School. The collection was made by William Woodman (1806-95), a solicitor, who served as Town Clerk of Morpeth 1835-60. He was keenly interested in local history and his researches played a vital role in a suit between the grammar school and the Trevelyan family over certain lands claimed by the school. After a protracted suit in chancery a compromise was reached in 1870 whereby the school received £15,000. Woodman bequeathed his collection to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle and it is now housed with the Northumberland archives at Woodburn." -- From preface.