John Bigg (hermit) facts for kids
John Bigg (born 22 April 1629 – died 4 April 1696) was a unique English man from the 1600s. He was known as The Dinton Hermit because he chose to live a very quiet life away from most people. A hermit is someone who lives alone and avoids others.
Who Was John Bigg?
Not much is known about John Bigg's early life. He was born in 1629. Records show he was a very smart person. He worked as a clerk for a man named Simon Mayne. A clerk helps with writing and keeping records.
Simon Mayne was an important person in England's government. He was part of the Long Parliament, which was a special meeting of lawmakers. Mayne also served as a judge during the trial of King Charles I. This was a very important time in English history.
A Life of Seclusion
After King Charles I's trial, big changes happened in England. The king was no longer in power. Later, the English monarchy was brought back. This event is called the Restoration.
Because of these big changes, John Bigg's employer, Simon Mayne, faced serious consequences. After this, John Bigg decided to live a very private life. He moved into a cave in a place called Dinton, Buckinghamshire. He lived there for many years, away from towns and people.
His Unique Appearance
John Bigg did not ask for much. Local people kindly gave him food and drinks like meat, milk, and ale. But he only ever asked for gifts of leather. He used the leather to patch his boots and clothes.
Over time, his clothing became a patchwork of many leather pieces. His boots were especially famous. They were huge because of all the layers of leather he had added over decades. Today, you can still see his unique boots on display at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
John Bigg passed away in 1696. He was buried in Dinton, the same village where he had lived his quiet life.
