Agnes Wheeler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Agnes Wheeler
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| Born | Agnes Cowherd/Coward bap. 1734 Lancashire |
| Died | 1804 Beetham |
| Pen name | "A.W." |
| Nationality | British |
Agnes Wheeler (born around 1734, died 1804) was a British writer. She is well-known for her book about the Cumbrian dialect. This is a special way of speaking in the Cumbria region of England. Her book helped record how people talked there a long time ago.
Contents
Agnes Wheeler: A Writer of Local Dialect
Agnes Wheeler, also known as Ann Coward, was an important British writer. She lived from about 1734 to 1804. Her main work was a book published in 1790. This book focused on the unique way people spoke in the Westmorland area.
Her Famous Book
Her book was called The Westmorland Dialect, in three familiar Dialogues: in which an Attempt is made to illustrate the provincial Idiom. It was one of the first books to write down a local dialect. This helped people understand and remember how the language sounded.
- The book was so popular that it was printed four times.
- Later, parts of her work were used in another book. This was Specimens of the Westmorland Dialect by Revd Thomas Clarke in 1887.
What the Book Was About
Agnes Wheeler's book was written as a series of conversations. These conversations were in the local dialect. The first edition had three dialogues. Later editions added a fourth dialogue.
The characters in the book talked about many everyday things. These included:
- A trip to London.
- The death of King George III.
- Family events like christenings and deaths.
- Local activities such as cockfights.
- Even topics like hairstyles and fashion of the time.
It is said that the very first edition of her book is extremely rare. Even the British Library does not have a copy of it.
Agnes Wheeler's Life Story
Agnes Wheeler was born near a place called Cartmel in Lancashire. When she was younger, she moved to London. She lived there for 18 years.
- In London, she married a man who was a Captain.
- She also worked as a housekeeper during her time there.
- After her husband passed away, she returned to Cumbria as a widow.
When she came back to Cumbria, she started writing for local newspapers. She wrote these articles in clear, simple English. However, her most famous work, the dialect book, was written in the local Westmorland language.
Her Final Years
Agnes Wheeler spent her last years living in Beetham. She lived there with her brother, William. Their home was the old medieval Arnside Tower. She passed away in 1804. She was buried on November 4, 1804.
