Kirkby Malzeard Parish

RAMSGILL

RAMSGILL, in the township of Lower Stonebeck, and parish of Kirkby Malzeard, lower-division of Claro; 5 miles NW. of Pateley Bridge, 10 from Masham, 12 from Ripon.

Here was born, in 1704, Eugene Aram, who was tried and convicted at York, in 1759, for the murder of Daniel Clarke. On his trial he delivered a written defence, so admirable for its ingenuity, and so replete with erudition and antiquarian knowledge, that it astonished the whole court. Though he derived but little advantage from education, yet from the acuteness of his understanding, and his intensely studious disposition, he had acquired considerable knowledge of the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Celtic and other languages, and had, besides, made great progress in the higher branches of mathematics, Heraldry, Antiquities, &c.