Robert Nantes, John Slade of Sherborne, Maltster and Bankrupt: A Case Study of Financial Ruin in Early Nineteenth-Century Dorset, 2nd edn (Sherborne, 2017)
There was nothing exceptional about a brewer or maltster becoming a bankrupt in England in the long eighteenth century. However, what is exceptional about the case of John Slade is that it seems to be the only Dorset bankruptcy in the aforementioned period for which moderately comprehensive records survive. Thanks to John Slade's servants' testimony we get useful insight into a provincial tradesman's personal experience of bankruptcy in 1830.
The story of John Slade started out as script for a local history talk. When the offer of turning the script into a publication was made, it was readily accepted. As the publication and sale of the booklet were intended to raise funds, an eye-catching image for the front cover was required and what is obviously a recent creation was the result. The illustration has been adapted from a watercolour by Thomas Rowlandson and shows part of a sequence of events as it was related in the historical record.
Rather shamelessly I am promoting my own publication. However, all proceeds from sales of this booklet (40 pages) go to help fund Sherborne Museum.
The booklet is obtainable directly from Sherborne Museum at a cost of £3.50 (+ p&p). Contact: Sherborne Museum: info@sherbornemuseum.co.uk
