

100 COUNT RUMFOKD. 



ours fell thick upon him, Eumford was made a Count 

 of the Holy Eoman Empire. He chose for "his title 

 Count Rumford, in memory of his early association with 

 Concord. 



' When Benjamin Thompson went to Concord as a 

 teacher, he was in the glory of his youth, not having 

 yet reached manhood. His friend Baldwin describes 

 him as of a fine manly make and figure, nearly six feet 

 in height, of handsome features, "bright "blue eyes, and 

 dark auburn hair. He had the manners and polish of a 

 gentleman, with fascinating ways and an ability to 



interesting paper upon Count Rumford. My apology for so doing is 

 that I am a Romford man, and that I think you may care for the 

 mere crumb of information I possess bearing upon the spelling and 

 pronunciation of the name of my native place. 



'Romford is always pronounced Rwmford by Essex folk. When 

 I was a boy it was swelled almost indifferently, Romford and Rum- 

 ford. I remember that the post-mark in my school-days (some forty 

 years ago) was Rwmford. Norden's map of Essex (1599) has Rum- 

 forde; and on Bowen's map (1775) the spelling is the same Rum- 

 ford. The registers in the vestry book, from 1665 until some fifty 

 years ago, give Rumford. So that I think it safe to say that the 

 traditional spelling and pronunciation with the Essex settlers at 

 Concord must have been Rumford. I must, however, add but I 

 fear I am hardly justified in troubling you with so long a note 

 that the o occurs in two Latin entries in the Register: 



" 1564, Baptizata fuit Anna Baylie filia Hugonis Cissor, Romford." 

 ' And in the same year there is an entry of a burial with " Rom- 

 fordiae." I believe it was the Latinising of Rumford that modified 

 the vowel, the alteration being prompted by the mistaken notion that 

 the etymology of the place was Roman-ford. That the Rum is Eng- 

 lish ( = broad) is, 1 think, hardly open to question. The nearest ford 

 town is llford, with which the roomy ford contrasts. Of late the 

 sluggish little river has come to be called the river Rom. This is 

 quite a novel " notion," and is quite local. 



* Thanking you for the pleasure and profit I have derived from 

 reading your article, 



* I remain, dear Sir, 



' Yours very faithfully, 



'HENRY ATTWBLL. 

 Professor Tyndall, F.R.S., &c., &c., &c.' 



