Searching for more information about Hannah PURSGLOVE born Goatcliff (1851 and 1861 Census) who married William COTTON in 1808 in Baslow and had 8 children by him in Ashover between 1811 and 1832. William died pre 1841. Hannah's occupation in the Censuses is given as 'School Mistress'. I understand that there was an endowed free-school for poor children, founded 1605, and '3 small schools' in Ashover at this time - according to 'Parochial Returns made to the Select Committee appointed to inquire into The Education of the Poor: 1818' in House of Commons Papers pub by Google Books. I've found in another volume (The English Cyclopedia: Geography, pub 1854) that a second school was built in Ashover by the Rector in 1846 for the education of girls. These school buildings could still be in existence. However, Hannah COTTON's name does not appear in Trade Directories or Gazeteers although the Headteacher in the endowed school is. Please, can anyone shed any light on education in Ashover in the mid 19thC? Is it likely that Hannah was teaching in her own 'Dames School'? I believe that Hannah COTTON may well have been buried in Ashover. She died in the JAS qr 1868. Have MIs been published on the web re Ashover? If she has a gravestone I might find a little more about her there. I have not found an obituary for her on The British Library newspaper website. I would welcome any further pointers. Ruth