THE OWNERS OF SHALLCROSS. 1 25 



of the Rev. Francis Gisbome,* a great benefactor of the county, 

 will interest, as they were written at Shallcross Hall when 

 visiting her brother. They are addressed to Dorothy Gisbome, 

 her own and her husband's niece, of Derby. Both extracts are 

 from the originals at Ford Hall : — 



My Verses were bad, I very well know it, And am confident I shall ne'er 



make a good Poet, 

 But if any pleasure to my Cousins they gave. My end it is answer'd, and 



now I must crave 

 Acceptance of thanks foB your kind pritty Letter, And your Poetry too, 



for which I'm your debter ; 

 I did not recieve it till last Sunday morning As I for the Church t myself 



w-as adorning. 

 Your lines gave me joy that is felt but by few, Nay, by none but by those 



that can Love as I do. 

 The' I don't hear so oft as I am apt to expect. Yet I never impute it to 



Slight, or Neglect, 

 That from any of you, I expect not to find, ^\'^lo, to oblige me seem 



always inclin'd ; 

 Which makes me so ready to grant your request In that sort of writing 



I've judgement the least. 

 'Tis time to my Nonsense I shou'd put an end, So only will add, I am. 



Dear Dolly, your Friend. 



Margaret, the eldest daughter of John Shallcross, was 

 born in 1690, and married, February 13th, i7i|^, Richard, son 

 of John FitzHerbert, | of Somersall Herbert {gu. three lions ramp, 

 or., FitzHerbert modem). He was buried at Somersall October 

 3rd, 1746, and his wife May 30th, 1772. They had issue, 



I. — Richard FitzHerbert, of Somersal, bom in 1727, 

 High Sheriff, county Derby, 1754, who was grandson and 

 nearest in blood tO' John Shallcross, and entitled to quarter his 

 shield. His portrait is at Somersal Hall. Some portraits of 

 this family are in a farm-house in the village, and amongst 

 them is one of " The Squire " as a young man, full length, 



* He and his brothers and sisters were cousins of the Rev. Simon 

 Jacson, who married 1749. Their mother, the writer, was born 1693, 

 and died 1769. 



t Taxal. 



X Her father's cousin, John Beresford, married Frances, daughter of 

 John Fitzherbert, of Somersall. 



