Leonard Wheatcroft – Ashover's Famous Writer

Short Biography of the 17th Century Black Poet from Derbyshire

Aug 25, 2009

Poet, parish clerk, gardener, writer and traveler, Leonard Wheatcroft's poems, letters and autobiography give a fascinating glimpse of life in 17th Century England.

Leonard Wheatcroft was born in Ashover, Derbyshire and was a bit of a jack of all trades rather than the master of one. He was a tailor, parish clerk, orchard planter, reluctant soldier in the Civil War, furniture maker, school teacher and brewer of beer. He also traveled extensively for pleasure and business. He was imprisoned three times for debt but he is most famous for being a prolific poet.

Leonard Wheatcroft’s Early Years

According to Wheatcroft’s A History of my birth parantage and pilgramage… he was born on May Day 1627, the eldest of nine children of John Wheatcroft and Mary Daine. John was a tailor living in Ashover and died at the early age of 40 from a fever. Leonard was only 20 at the time and, as the eldest son, ended up with the responsibility for caring for his mother, five brothers and three sisters.

He trained four of his brothers to be tailors and was appointed parish clerk of the church in Ashover in 1653. He spent some time running up and down the countryside, trying to avoid being called up as a soldier in the unsettling times of the English Civil War. But he eventually ended up serving for eight years, probably as a part time soldier, in the Derbyshire militia.

Wheatcroft’s Marriage to Elizabeth Hawley of Winster

In 1655, he “went awooing to my wife.” His courtship of the young Elizabeth Hawley of Winster took two years but his patience was rewarded when they married on May 20th,1657. They partied for several days after the wedding, along with upwards of 220 guests. Included in the Wheatcroft manuscripts held by Derbyshire Record Office is one referenced as “Love lessons, how to win the heart of the coyest damsel in the world.”

Wheatcroft’s marriage to Elizabeth seems to have been a happy one, only ending when she died in 1688. They had five boys and four girls. His third son, David, born in 1668, died at the age of 20 in the same year as his mother. David had scrofula, also known as “king’s evil” and traveled to London to be touched by King James II in the vain, but unsuccessful, hope of affecting a cure.

Leonard Wheatcroft Becomes the Black Poet

Wheatcroft had a rival, another local poet called Oldham, who had written against him. They were sitting in a pub one day discussing the nine muses. Oldham couldn’t name them or say what they did. Wheatcroft was able to and did so to in front of everyone else in the pub. Whereupon the audience laid laurel leaves on his head and Wheatcroft was henceforth known as the Black Poet.

Leonard Wheatcroft died on New Years day, 1706 (1707 after the calendar changed) and is buried at Ashover churchyard. His autobiographical manuscript was continued by his son Titus who maintained it until 1749. Titus also became parish clerk and school teacher, just like his father. The nation is fortunate that the manuscript with such interesting historical detail, has survived the centuries for all to read today.

The copyright of the article Leonard Wheatcroft – Ashover's Famous Writer in Great Writers is owned by Elaine Findlay. Permission to republish Leonard Wheatcroft – Ashover's Famous Writer in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.