Tune Manuscripts List

This is a list of what are often referred to as Fiddler's Tunebooks, though they were sometimes evidently written by flute players or other instrumentalists. As well as dance tunes, they often contain psalms, hymns, songs and militia tunes. Though many of these MSS may be inaccessible to the general reader, their presence on the list will give some flavour of what was once out there. Some minor MSS have been omitted as being based on uncertain information, or containing too few dance tunes. Most of the items are 18th/19thC, though a historically significant 20thC MS may occasionally merit inclusion. It is based on the database of historical dance tune manuscripts compiled for the Village Music Project. It represents the majority of the significant manuscripts containing a useful number of dance tunes on record as existing somewhere, but it is admittedly at this time weighted towards English manuscripts (even when the MS presently resides elsewhere). We hope to see more lines added. Feel free to add information, links, etc.

Chris Partington

Some of these collections have been transcribed into ABC notation.

Some of these collections are available as facsimiles, as indicated.

VWML is the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library website, where you will find facsimiles of some of the collections.

VWML "With ABC Transcriptions" indicates the ABC transcription will display and play next to the scanned facsimiles by following the vwml link.

VMP indicates that a Village Music Project ABC transcription of the collection is available by following the link.

EDS (erstwhile English Dance & Song) refers to the magazine of the English Folk Dance & Song Society.

FMJ is The Folk Music Journal, the annual academic publication of the EFDSS.

FARNE - "The FARNE - Folk Archive Resource North East was an exciting and innovative project tasked with bringing Northumbrian music to people's homes across the world. Supported by the New Opportunities Fund in 2001-2003, FARNE gathered unique material from a range of museums, libraries and archives across North East England to create a folk music archive on the Internet. Material including song lyrics, tunes, sound recordings and photographs are all available online from the Archive at FARNE Archive" - taken from Gateshead Council website. There are some manuscripts referenced below with links to their hugely useful website, but it has changed location several times and the links sometimes don't work, or behave strangely depending on which browser you use. It is still out there but may be difficult to find. Try to find it via the Gateshead Council website

EASMES is Early American Secular Music and its European Sources. Most of the EASMES mss referred to are late eighteenth century or early nineteenth and contain much/mostly British material, often with a leavening of Yankee Doodle and Revolutionary War marches.

North American music manuscripts have very recently been the beneficiaries of a large amount of funding, resulting in a very significant digitisation project, which I have yet to incorporate into this list as it's not the simple matter it should be, but which can be found at Digital Collections from the American Antiquarian Society and the Center for Popular Music. Be prepared to spend a significant amount of time if you want to browse this, as it's a little tiresome to do. To access the list of collections you must use "manuscript" as the search term.

• ADAMS,William MS, 1795, USA, Lib.Congress, cited in Litton
• ALEXANDER,James MS 1730, USA New York, New York Historical Soc.
• ALLEN,Jacob MS, 1792, USA Walpole Ma., Uni.of New Hampshire, Special Coll. of CDSS(photo)
• ALLEN,Joel MS, 1800, USA Southington CT, CT Hist.Soc. Hertford CT
• ALLEN,Robert Clough MS, no date, UK Northumberland, Chantry Bagpipe Mus. Morpeth
• ALLEN,Wilkes MS, 1790, USA, Lib.Congress
• ALLEN,Wm MS, early 19thC, UK Cornwall, Courtney Lib. Royal Institution of Cornwall, pub by M.O'Connor as "Dons an Garrow" 2005. [1]
• ANDREWS,Wm MS, late19thC, UK Sheepstor Devon, Sabine Baring Gould coll. Plymouth City Lib., part published by Wren Trust as "The William Andrews Tunebook"
• ANON MS(Alston), UK Alston Cumbria, Beamish Museum, cited in "The Lads Like Beer"
• ANON MS(BL34204), 1700, UK, Brit.Lib. Add.34204, French,English and Scots Dance tunes for one or two flutes
• ANON MS(c95), 1710, UK, Bodleian Lib. MusSchMS.c95, info from P.Holman "Division Recorder"
• ANON MS(RCM2095), c1800, UK, Royal Coll. of Music, ref. MS2095
• ANON MS(Rival Knights), c1810, UK, Private Collection, 80 tunes with basses, many Scots.PDF at Internet Archive
• ANON MS(Staffs), 1820, UK Staffordshire, Private collection, , vmpABCs
• ANON MS(WC/mu39), 19thC, UK Northumberland, Chantry Bagpipe Museum, Morpeth,W.CocksColl, Farne website, vmpABCs
• ANON MS(WC/193), 19thC, UK Northumberland, Chantry Bagpipe Museum, Morpeth,W.CocksColl, info from M.Seattle "Morpeth Rant", Farne website, vmpABCs
• ANON MS(WC/Mu187), 19thC, UK Northumberland, Chantry Bagpipe Museum, Morpeth,W.CocksColl, info from M.Seattle "Morpeth Rant"
• ANON MS(WC/?Mu), 19thC, UK Northumberland, Chantry Bagpipe Museum, Morpeth,W.CocksColl, info from M.Seattle "Morpeth Rant"
• ARMSTRONG,G.C. MS, no date, UK Northumberland, Chantry Bagpipe Museum, Morpeth,W.CocksColl, info from M.Seattle "N'brian Pipers Pocket Book, Yellow" (NPPBY)
• ARMSTRONG,Jack MS, 20thC, UK N'land Carrick Elsdon, Border Library,Hexham, info from M.Seattle "NPPBY"
• ARMITAGE MSS, early 19thC, UK West Yorks Calderdale, Private collection
• ASHOVER MS, see Harrison & Wall MS
• ASTON-ON-CARRANT MS, UK Aston-on Carrant,Glos., identical with, and see Berkely, Rowland MS
• ATKINSON,Henry MS, 1694, UK N'land Morpeth, Newcastle Society of Antiquarians, vmpABCs Wiki Article, Farne website
• AUSTEN,Jane & Family MSS, UK, Chawton, Hampshire. Resources digitised by the Library Digitisation Unit, University of Southampton, Eighteen printed and manuscript music books owned by members of the Austen family, including the writer Jane Austen, Online at Internet Archive
• AYLMORE,William MS, 1796, UK W.Wittering,Sussex, Lib.Sussex Archeo.Soc, Lewes, part pub. 'SussexTB'
• BARLOW,James MS, 1845, UK Lancashire Helmshore, Private collection, File:BarlowMS.PDF, PDFs at Internet Archive
• BARNES,Joseph MS, 1762, UK Carlisle,Cumbria, Cumbria RO, Carlisle,DX74/2, Film# 866, vmpABCs
• BARNSLEY,Alice & J.Hall MS, c1790, UK Derbys Peak Forest, Private collection
• BATY,John MS, 1840-60, UK N'land Bethel, Chantry Bagpipe Museum, Morpeth, Farne website, vmpABCs
• BEACH,John MS, 1801, USA Gloucester MA, Uni.of Kansas, Spencer Lib. KS.MS.E23, info from EASMES website
• BECK,Henry MS, 1785, USA Lib.Congress, Facs.M63.B4.Case, a MS cited in Litton
• BEEMER,Peter MS, 1860s, USA IdahoDance Music Collected in the Gold Mining Camp of Warren's Diggins, Idaho in the 1860's. website
• BELKNAP,Elisha MS, 1784, USA Framlington Mass, Harvard Uni. MS MUS.124, info from EASMES website
• BELL,Jane MS, 1866, Tarn Hows, Cumbria See Dobson MS below
• BELL,John MS, no date, UK N'land, Newc Soc of Ants, NSA/Mu33, info from M.Seattle "NPPBY" and "Master Piper", a large miscellaneous collection Farne website
• BENNETT,George Wilkins, MS 1860 UK Chedzoy, Somerset, England. Huronia Museum, Midland, Ontario. See Becky Dellow's Blog [2]
• BENNET,Thomas MS, 1718, UK, VWML QM 7404, vmpABCs
• BERKELEY,Rowland MS, 1770, UK Aston-on-Carrant,Glos, Private Collection, published in Mentieth & Burgess "Coleford Jig"
• BEST,Miss MS, c1850, UK, VWML, info from B.Callaghan
• BETHAM,Matthew MS, 1838, UK Cumbria Newby Head, VWML, QM P7415or9721, aka(erroneously)Docker vmpABCs
• BEWICK,Robert Elliot MS, 19thC, UK N'land, Gateshead Public Library, info M.Seattle "Morpeth Rant"
• BIGGINS,James MS, 1779, UK W.Yorks. Leeds, Leeds Central Library, Yorks vmpABCs
• BLACKSHAW,James MS, 1837, UK Shropshire, Private coll, vmpABCs Article in EDS Autumn 2007 pp12-14
• BOTTLE,RT MS, 1781, UK Kent, Harrietsham, Centre for Kentish Studies, Maidstone, Kent. Pub.as Lenham Camp, Faversham Papers #10, Faversham Soc. 2010, pub as facsimile
• BOYNTON,Elias MS, 1799, USA Pepperell MA, Private collection, info from EASMES website
• BRIDGES,Kitty MS, see MS Anon(8084), GithubABCs
• BRITTON,Thomas MS, 1697, UK, Brit.Lib. Add.MS.22098, info from P.Holman "Division Recorder"
• BROOKE, Arthur , early 19thC. I have rumour of a MS belonging to this gent, possibly the one who in his youth was a fan of the harp and the flageolet. Perhaps in the library of the Great Oakley family seat.
• BROWN,Jeremiah MS, 1782, USA Seabrook NH, Eames D181, Am.Ant.Soc., info from EASMES website, C'place book 234 melodies
• BROWN,William MS, 1797, UK Romford Essex, USA Sutro Lib.,San Francisco, info from EASMES website
• BROWNE Family MSS (4), various dates, UK Troutbeck Cumbria, Armitt Lib, Ambleside, Cumbria, vmpABCs
• BURKS,John MS, 1821, UK N.England, Private Collection, current owner and whereabouts unknown Images at Internet Archive vmpABCs
• BURNETT,Joshua MS, early 19thC, UK Worsborough,S.Yorks, VWML, part published in PP.Davenport "South Riding Tunebook", vmpABCs, Links to images of the manuscript on this page
• BUTTREY,John MS, UK Lincolnshire, early 19th century. A very large interesting manuscript currently in private ownership by his descendants in Canada. Work is in progress by a team of Village Music Project transcribers to make available an ABC file. Images of the MS and a history of it are on the Buttrey website
• CALVERT,William MS, 1812, UK N.Yorks. Leyburn, private collection PDF at Internet Archive vmpABCs
• CANFIELD MS, 1823, USA Hartford, Connecticut, Hartford Library? info from EASMES website
• CARLISLE MS, 1810, UK Carlisle,Cumbria, VWML part of QM9732, vmpABCs
• CARTER, John MS, 1792, UK, Brit.Lib, GM.MS A.22, info from EASMES website
• CARY,Eleazer MS, 1797, USA Mansfield CT, Conn.Hist.Soc. Hertford C.T., MS.74251(Storrs,A1797), info from EASMES website
• CATT,George MS, 1790, UK, VWML one of F.Kidson's MSS MS-22, AGG transcription?, Folk Music Journal IV#1 p20
• CLARE,John MS, c1820, UK Helpstone Northants, Northampton R.O or pub.lib. publ. in 'John Clare & the Folk Tradition', vmpABCs
• CLARK,William Southern MS, mid-19thC, Nat. Lib. Wales, NLW MS 20067A
• CLARKE,Wm(of Feltwell,Norfolk) MS, 1858, UK Norfolk Feltwell, Private collection, Article in EDS Summer 2006 pp20/21, Article and ABCs etc. on Mary Humphreys' website
• CLARKE,Wm(of Lincoln) MS, 1770, UK Lincolnshire, Private collection? vmpABCs. Follow internal link to PDFs. Also PDF at Internet Archive Petrucci
• CLEWS,John MS, 1832, UK Shropshire,Stoke on Tern, Private collection, vmpABCs
• CLOUGH,Tom Collection of MSS various dates, UK N'land, Clough Family private coll. Farne website
• CLUTTERBUCK, see TILL
• COCKS,W.Collection of MSS various dates, UK N'land, Chantry Bagpipe Museum, Morpeth, see Farne website
• COCKS Anon MS#1, early 19th C, in Cocks' Collection, vmpABCs
• COCKS Anon MS#2, early 19th C, in Cocks' Collection, vmpABCs
• COLLINGE,Wm MS, 1881, UK Lancs. Bacup, Private collection, cited in FMJ 1986
• COLLINGWOOD MS, no date, UK N'land, Beamish Museum, info M.Seattle "The Lads Like Beer"
• COOKE,Benjamin MS, c1770, UK Leeds,W.Yorks, Kidson coll, Mitchell Lib, Glasgow vmpABCs
• COOPER/COWPER,Thomas MS, c1770 (various dates and spellings given, probably originally Cowper) Cumbria (Westmorland), perhaps Appleby Dufton, Private collection. Accounts, prayers, hymns and psalms and some dance tunes. File:TCooper.PDF, Photos , vmpABCs
• CRAWFORD,Elizabeth MS, 1794, USA, Howard Uni. TheatreCol.MSThr.286, info from EASMES website
• CRAWHALL,Joseph MS, 1872, UK Northumberland, Beamish Museum, Farne website
• CROMPTON,Samuel[3] MS, c1770, UK Lancs.,Bury, Old Hall Museum Bury Lancs
• CROTCH,JB MS, 19thC, UK, Brit.Lib. Add.30272
• CUMMINGS,Patrick MS, 1723?, UK Scotland, ex-Kidson MS-G, sold to Edin,Uni,Lib.NLS MS1667, info FMJvol4#1p15
• DALTON,Robert C. MS, 1841, UK Sheffield Attercliffe. Private Coll, via Geoff Woolfe
• DARLING,William MS, 1808, UK Bamburgh, Private Collection, on loan to Grace Darling Museum, Bamburgh, EDS Spring 2012 p14
• DAVIDSON,Jack"Kielder Jock" MS, early 20thC, UK N'land Bellingham, copy in Chantry Bagpipe Mus. Morpeth
• DAVOLL,FW MS, 19thC, UK perhaps Staffordshire? Private coll. published in Mentieth & Burgess "Coleford Jig"
• DICKENSON,Silas MS, 1800, USA Amherst.MA, New York Pub.Lib., Perf.Arts.MNZ.Mus.Res, info from EASMES website
• DIXON,(2) MS, 1811, unidentified MS from the Dixon Family Papers in Lincolnshire Archives, vmpABCs, ABCs at Internet Archive
• DIXON,Thomas John MS, 1798 Holton-le-Moor, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Archives Dixon 21/1/1 and 21/1/2 vmpABCs
• DIXON,Wm MS, 1733, UK N'land Morpeth, Perth Lib, Scotland, pub. M.Seattle "The Master Piper - 9 Notes That Shook The World" Wiki article
• Dobson/Bell MS, 1850s, Brampton, Cumbria. Dobson at one end, Jane Bell at the other. Not sure of whereabouts.
• DOCKER, see BETHAM
• DOEY,Jean MS, early19thC, UK, Part of FK collection MS-21, VWML part of QM9733
• DOVASTON,JohnFM MS, early 19thC, UK Shropshire Oswestry, Brit.Lib. Add.63512
• DURHAM,anon MS, no date, UK N'land, Private collection? pub. P.Davenport "South Riding Tunebook"
• EELLS,Cushing MS, 1789, USA Norwich CT, Connecticut Hist.Soc. Hertford CT, info from EASMES website
• FARRON,James Edmond,MSS, 1834 UK, Private collection, MS#6 PDF MS#8, PDF
• FENWICK,James William MS Late 19thC, UK, North Shields, Private Collection [4]
• FIFE,John MS, c1780, UK Perth, Scotland, Nat.Lib. of Canada
• FISHER,Ruben MS, late18thC, USA Richland County Ohio,
• FORDE,William MS, c1845, Ireland, cited in Joyce(1908)Old Irish Folk Music & Songs
• FORSTER,A MS, UK Wallridge Fell Northumberland, Beamish Museum
• FOX,Charles James MS, 1830, UK Beverley East Yorks, Kidson coll, Mitchell Lib, Glasgow vmpABCs
• FRENCH,Richard MSS, early 19thC, UK Widecombe Dorset, Private collection, cited in English Dance and Song Winter 2009 p18
• FROBISHER,CR MS, 1793, exUK Canada Montreal, Ottawa Pub.Lib?x
• GAIRDYN MS, 1710-35,An important early Scottish collection of songs, marches, minuets, sarabands, country dances, etc.. Glen Collection of Printed Music, National Library of Scotland, PDF
• GAYLORD,Major John MS, 1816,USA CT, Trinity College CT, Watkinson Lib. AshenMS MusicBooks, info from EASMES website
• GIBBONS,Joshua MS, 1823, UK Tealby Market Rasen Lincolnshire, N.E.Lincs Archives published as 'Lincolnshire Colls,vol1' vmpABCs
• GIBBS,Giles MS, 1777, USA East Windsor CT, Hertford CT Conn.Hist.Soc. MS79249, info from EASMES website
• GIDDY,John MS, c1740, UK Cornwall Kea, Cornwall RO Truro, pub by M.O'Connor as "Memories of Old Kea" 2001. [5]
• GILES,William Henry MS, 1839, UK Oxon Bampton,VWML 2286 vmpABCs
• GLASS,J. MS, 1835, UK Devon Devizes, Private collection, cited in FMJ 1986
• GREEN,William Thomas MS, 1831, UK N'land, W.Cocks Coll. Chantry Hse. Morpeth, Farne website, vmpABCs
• GREENFIELDS C'place MS, 1811, USA, Litchfield Hist.Soc. CT, info from EASMES website
• GREENWOOD,John MS, 1785, USA, New York Hist.Soc.,MS Music BU SEC, info from EASMES website, 80 tunes, songs and marches, PDF at New York Historical Soc. Lib.(go to the search box and ask for "Music Book")
• GREET MS, early19thC, UK Winchcombe Glos., Private collection, pub. in Mentieth & Burgess "Coleford Jig"
• GREGORY,Tom MS, 1825, UK Cornwall Padstow, Courtney Lib., info from Mike O'Connor
• GRESLEY MS, circa1500, UK. The Gresley Manuscript was discovered in 1984. It contains very early descriptions of music and dance in England, and was made sometime between 1480 and 1520.
• HALL,John(1) MS, 1833, UK N'land, Private collection, Farne website, vmpABCs
• HALL,John(2) MS, late 19thC. UK Northumberland, Spittal, nr Berwick. info here
• HAMMERSLEY,Thos. MS, 1790, UK London, Brit.Lib. ADD.29371
• HAMPTON, Thomas (1844-96), MS, UK Hereford. See Becky Dellow's Blog [6]
• HARDY,Thos. MS, early19thC, UK Dorset, Dorsetshire Mus.Lock-Hardy papers, part published in 'The Musical Heritage of..', Article in EDS Summer 2007 pp10/11
• HARRISON & WALL MS, c1770, UK Derbyshire Ashover, Derby Pub. Lib.? current whereabouts uncertain, vmpABCs File:AshoverMS.PDF, PDFs at Internet Archive, Petrucci
• HARRISON,Rev. Robt. MS, 1820, UK Cumbria Brampton, Private collection, since donated to VWML, vmpABCs, PDFs at VWML with ABC Transcriptions
• HASLINGDEN,James MS, 1827, UK Midlands or South, VWML QM9728
• HAWKINS,Micah MS, 1794, USA NY, New York Pub.Lib. Perf.Arts.AmericanaJOC72-11, info from EASMES website
• HAYNES FAMILY MS, mid 19thC, USA, Oregon. A manuscript of tunes hand written by musicians from this family who played for dancing in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, in Pioneer times. website
• HENRITSON,Francis MS, 1791, UK North Yorkshire Middlesborough (perhaps), Private Collection, 33pp Psalms, 11pp dance tunes, PDF at Internet Archive
• HEPPLE,George MS, mid 20thC, UK Cumbria Haltwhistle, info M'Seattle "The Lads Like Beer"
• HEPPLE,Thomas MS, 1855, UK N'land, Mainly songs, Newc Soc of Ants, Farne website
• HERNE,Annie MS, early 19thC, UK Dorset Widecombe, Private collection, cited in EDS Winter 2009 p18
• HIGGOTT,Wm MS, c1800, UK Cumbria, VWML QM4606
• HOFFJohn MS, 1797, USA Lancaster PA, Lancaster County Hist.Soc., PA, info from EASMES website
• HOLMES,Edward MS, 1820?, UK E.Yorks Beverley, East Yorks. Records Office, vmpABCs
• HOLMES,Mathew and others MSS, early 17thC various lute MSS Digital copies
• HOOVES,Joseph MS, 1817, USA New Ipswich MA,Dedham Hist.Soc. MA, info from EASMES website
• HORN,Francis MS, 1864, UK Bucks. Aylesbury, Aylesbury Mus, ref.223.72/2,in store
• HOSMER,James MS, 1798, USA East Hartford CT, Conn Hist.Soc. Hertford Conn, info from EASMES website
• HUBBARD,Matthew MS, 1794, UK Lincolnshire Louth, Private collection
• HUGHES,AlbertJ MS, early 19thC, UK Shropshire Whitchurch, Private collection, vmpABCs Article in EDS Autumn 2007 pp12-14
• HUGHES,Edward MS, 1811, UK Wiltshire Westbury, Bristol Record Office Ref#40358 (clarinet secundo part only)
• HUGHES,Richard MS, 1823, UK Shropshire Whitchurch, Private collection, vmpABCs Article in EDS Autumn 2007 pp12-14
• HUNTLEA,Henry MS, 1884, UK Cambridge, VWML 5233 PDFs at VWML
• IRWIN,William MS, 1838, UK Cumbria Langdale, VWML, part of QM9732, vmpABCs
• IRWIN,William, Folio MS, early 19thC, UK Cumbria Langdale, VWML part of QM9731, vmpABCs
• JACKSON,HSJ.MS, 1823, UK Lancashire Wyresdale, Private collection, vmpABCs, Published in The Winders of Wyresdale [7]
• JACKSON,Isaac MS, 1822, UK Lancs. Wyresdale, missing, last seen 1960 with the Edward Winder MS
• JACKSON,Joshua MS, 1798,UK N.Yorks Harrogate, Private collection, publ. in 'Tunes,Songs & Dances From..'etc
• JACKSON,M MS, 1790, UK, Brit.Lib. Add.25073-78
• JENKINS,John and Henry MS UK West Sussex, ref
• JOHNSON,Seth MS, 1807, USA Woburn MA, Mid Tennessee State Uni. Centre For Popular Music, info from EASMES website
• JONES,John MS, 1801, UK Shropshire Whitchurch, Private collection, vmpABCs Article in EDS Autumn 2007 pp12-14
• JULIAN,Arthur MS, late 19thC, UK Cornwall, M.O'Connor suspects MS exists
• KERSHAW,Joseph MS, 1820, UK E.Lancs Oldham, VWML, pub. by INWAC "The Joseph Kershaw MS"
• KIDSON,Frank (Hornpipes MS), c1900, UK W.Yorks Leeds, KidsonKidson coll. Mitchell Lib. Glasgow M18055, Kidson's own compilation, using spare pages in empty Huddeswell MS vmpABCs
• KIDSON,Frank (Yorkshire Dance Music MS), 20thC, UK Yorkshire VWML part of QM9723, pub. Ashton&Dyson "Yorkshire Dance Tunes", Kidson's own compilation, using spare pages in QM9723 MS PDFs at VWML
• KILLEY,William MS, 1825, Isle of Man, "William Killey's Flutebook", missing since 1957 but ABC and PDF of transcriptions from photocopy available on the mannincloud website
• KNOWLES,Ellis MS, 1847, UK Lancs. Manchester Radcliffe, Greater Manchester RO(1980), part pub by PlainBrownWrapperBand,Index
• LAMBERT,Thomas MS, c1860, UK Yorks. Ferrybridge, VWML, part of QM9733,
• LEADLEY,Laurence MSS, early19thC, UK N.Yorks Thirsk, Private collection, part published in 'The Fiddler of Helperby'. ms#4 vmpABCs
• LIDDELL, Christopher (Kit) MS, 19thC, UK N'land, Private collection, info M.Seattle "NPPBY"
• LIGHTFOOT,R MS, no date, UK N'land Harlow Hill, Beamish Museum Lockey Collection
• LISHMAN MS, part of and see Browne family MS, early 19thC, UK Cumbria
• LISTER,William Hall MS, mid19thC, UK Newcastle East Boldon, Lockey Coll, Beamish Museum, Farne website, vmpABCs
• LITTEN, William MS, 1800-1802, USA, Dukes County Historical Society, Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Mass, pub. as "W.Litten's Fiddle Tunes" by Gale Huntington, Hines Point Publishers. vmpABCs
• LIVINGSTON,Henry MS, c1780, USA New York, Private collection, Owner's website
• LLEWELIN,Thomas David MS, mid 19thC, UK Wales Aberdar, Nat.Lib.Wales NLW MSS 329-337 pub.by R.H.Bowen as "Llewelin Alaw"
• LOCKEY Collection of MSS, UK N'land, Beamish Museum Lockey Collection
• MALCHAIR,Jean Baptiste MS, c1780, UK Oxford, VWML 3619, cited in FMJ IV#4 PDFs at VWML
• MALECOT, George MS, 1776, UK Cumbria Whitehaven, USA New Hampshire Uni, Ralph Page Coll.
• MAUNSELL MS. an anonymous 18th C MS from Thorpe Manor, Northamptonshire. N'shire Record Office. as "One Long Whitson Holyday" 1991.
• MATTHEWS,George MS, 1839, UK Leighland/Leyland?, Private collection
• MILLER,John MS, 1799, UK Scotland Perth, Bell Library Perth, vmpABCs
• MITTELL,Wm MS, 1799, UK Kent New Romney, Private collection (Private collection, copy in VWML), part publ. in D.Roberts "William Mittell His Book", vmpABCs
• MOORE,John(Tyneside) MS, 1841, UK Tyneside, Private collection, vmpABCs
• MOORE,John MS(Shropshire), 1820, UK Shropshire Ironbridge, VWML, acc.4494, published by G.Ashman "The Ironbridge Hornpipe" PDFs at VWML Three books are listed, David Jacobs transcribing Book1,2 ,& 3 as of Feb 2016, The last four tunes in book 1 are in a different hand, the original hand however is back at the start of book 2.
• Morris,Wm MS, 1776, USA Hunterdon County New Jersey, militiaman's tunebook, c70pp, PDF at New York Historical Soc. Lib.(go to the search box and ask for "Music Book")
• MORVAL MSS, c1770, UK Cornwall Looe, Antony House Lib. Cornwall. BC/27/41, pub by M.O'Connor "Petticoats Tight, Petticoats Loose" 2006. [8]
• MOUNT,Wm Sidney MS, mid 19thC, USA Long Island Setauket, Long Island Mus. of Art, info from Fiddlers Companion
• MS Anon, UK, various anonymous MSS in the AGG bequest, VWML
• MS Anon, UK, various MSS from Frank Kidson in the AGG bequest, VWML
• MS Anon(7408)(Flwrs of Ed), c1850, PDFs at VWML
• MS Anon#2(3049)(called VWMLa in VMP), late 18thC, 175pp, UK, unknown origin, perhaps Yorkshire or Lincolnshire, VWML, (presented by Mr.D.N.Kennedy, ex libris Yarborough (Lincs) Anderson, died 1917) PDFs at VWML, vmpABCs, GithubABCs
• MS Anon(5218), ca1820, 24pp, UK, unknown origin(presented by Miss Hannah Mawson) PDFs at VWML
• MS Anon(8084), (recently has aquired the name Kitty Bridges), 1745, 21pp, UK, unknown origin, donated by Major C. L. King in 1976, English Dance & Song;Summer2009, Vol. 71 Issue 2, p16, PDFs at VWML, JPGs at VWML with ABC Transcriptions, JC's ABCs, Published By Bob Shatwell as Kitty Bridges Rides Again:A Select Collection of Country Dances, GithubABCs
• MS Anon(8198), ca1800, 10pp, UK, unknown origin PDFs at VWML
• MS Anon(9723)('Old Reels & Dance Tunes'), early 19thC, unknown origin, numbered 37, MS in two hands, small number of well-known tunes, FK uses spare pages at the back for YDT PDFs at VWML
• MS Anon(9725), mid 19thC, 51pp, UK, Mostly Scottish,Strathspeys + Polkas, unknown origin PDFs at VWML
• MS INGLIS 12,NLS MS.3327Book of Scottish...Anon. late 18th century. 104pp, much of interest, PDF at Int Arch.
• MURPHY,Edward MS, 1790, USA Newport RI, Lib.Congress, MT356C62MF music3060
• MUNDY,Stephen MS, 1789 - 1862, Kennington Farm, OXON. Berks Records Office (acc. 7976) (http://ww2.berkshirenclosure.org.uk/calmview/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=DEX2020&pos=1) Contents listed at http://ww2.berkshirenclosure.org.uk/calmview/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=DEX2020%2f12&pos=2
• NEAL,John, 1732, Dublin, published colls. uncertain whereabouts
• New Harmony MS, 1795?, USA New Harmony Ind., Uni.of Illinois, poss. the RDOwen MS?, info from EASMES website
• NICHOL,John MS, 1840-1900, UK Northumberland, Chantry Bagpipe Museum, Morpeth, Farne website, vmpABCs
• Nicholson,J, see Carlisle MS
• NIXON,T,&LONG,J. MS, no date, USA Danbury CT, Framingham Hist.Soc.,MA, info from EASMES website. Info and images are available at the museum website
• NORTHCLIFFE MS, UK, poss. Kidson coll. Mitchell Lib. Glasgow,not found yet, mentioned by FK
• NOSWORTHY,Tom MSS, early 19thC, UK Dorset Widecombe, Private collection, cited EDS Winter 2009 p18
• NUTTALL,James MS, 1830, UK E.Lancs Rossendale, Rossendale Museum, vmpABCs
• NUTTALL,John MS, 1795-1814, UK E.LancsRossendale, Rawtenstall Lib.
• OLD,John MS, 1808, UK Cornwall Par, Private collection, pub. by M.O'Connor "No Song No Supper" 2002. [9]
• OLDFIELD,Isaac MS, 1808, UK Derbyshire Belper, Private collection
• OWEN,Rodert Dale MS, 1826, UK Scotland New Lanark, Uni.of Illinois, see New Harmony MSS,
• Parry,John MS, mid 18thC, UK Wales Rhiwabon Maelor, Nat.Lib.Wales, various MSS pub.by Robin Huw Bowen, 1991
• PATTEN,William MS, 1800, USA Philadelphia PA, Ivorytown C.T.,Company of Fifers&Drummers, info from EASMES website
• PEARSALL,John MS, 1726, UK Bristol Willsbridge, Brit.Lib. Add.39549
• PERKINS,Whittier MS, 1790, USA Mass., Columbia Uni,Rare Book & MS Coll. X780.973C68, info from EASMES website, circa 150 dance tunes, mostly British, some American (Yankee Doodle etc)
• PICKERING,Thomas MS, UK, poss. Kidson coll. Mitchell Lib. Glasgow,not found yet, mentioned by FK
• Pigot,John E. MS, c1845, Ireland, pub in Joyce Old Irish Music & Songs, info from Ceolas website
• PITT,William MS, 1722, UK, Brit.Lib. Add.47446
• PRIDEAUX,Francis MS, 1788, UK Cornwall Padstow, Private collection, pub. by Mike O'Connor as "Pride of Place" 2007. [10]
• PYLE,Richard MS, 1822, UK Hants. Nether Wallop, Hampshire R.O. Winchester 210M87/1, part published in "Hampshire Dance Tunes", Article in EDS Autumn 2006 p14-16
• QUINNEY,Tom MS, late19thC, UK N'land, Private collection, pub. in P.Davenport "South Riding Tunebook"
• RAINSTORP,Walter MS, 1747, UK London Cheapside, Yale Uni. Beineke Lib. Osborne Coll. MS.12 Yale Uni, Beineke Lib., info from EASMES website Family website
• RAMSAY,Alan MS, no date, UK, VWML AGGb transcript from FK numbered series, cited in FMJ VII#4, AGGa copy from FK #series
• REDDISH,John MS, 1780-1805, UK East Bridgford, Nottinghamshire. A family manuscript containing accounts, songs, marches, country dances, miscellany. A PDF facsimile plus a PDF transcription, and an academic investigation forming a MPhil thesis by Anne Cockburn, deposited at Nottingham University
• REEVE,Thos,& G.SORESBY MS, 1800, UK Derbys Brailsford, Private collection
• RENSELLAER,Eliz van MS, 1782, USA Boston MA, Trinity College CT, Watkinson Lib, Music Books,Allen MSS, info from EASMES website
• RICHARDS,Mary MS, early 19thC, UK Wales Darowen, Nat.Lib.Wales, various MSS, pub.by R.H.Bowen, 1991
• RIDGLEY,HenryM MS, 1799, USA, Dover State Archives, Ridgely Paper box257 DSA, info from EASMES website
• RILEY,Thomas MS, 1841, UK Durham W.Aukland, VWML?,cited in EDS.Winter '04.p.20
• ROBSON,John MS 1874, UK N'land Spithope, Alnwick Pipers Soc. Farne website
• ROOK,John MS, 1840, UK Cumbria Waverton Nr.Carlisle, Private collection, Copy in School of Scottish Studies, online PDFs, Wikipedia article
• ROOSE,John MS, early 19thC,UK Manchester, Private collection, cited in FMJ VI#3. vmpABCs
• ROSE,Benjamin MS, 1820, UK Dorset Belchalwell, Private collection, published as Benjamin's Book; Thompson,Colin & Tim Laycock; Shoreham-by-Sea, Article EDS Winter 2010 p18
• ROWLAND,John MS, 1696, UK, Brit.Lib. Add.38189
• RUSSELL,Edward MS, 1812, UK Wales Monmouth, Nat. Army Museum, Cat 6207
• SAILES,James MS, c1830, UK, Lincolnshire Scotter, Lincs. Museum Scunthorpe, Ethel Rudkin papers. vmpABCs
• SANDERS,George MS, 1758, UK N'land Ryton, Beamish Museum,copy
• SANDS,Thomas MS, 1810, UK Lincolnshire, Donated to VWML, File:SandsMS.PDF, vmpABCs
• SENHOUSE MSS large collection various dates, UK Cumbria Maryport, Senhouse Fam. Papers, Cumbria R.O. Carlisle, vmpABCs
• SHAACK,Puan MS, 1820, USA Kinderhook NY, Sturbridge MA, Old Sturb.Vil.1965.35BV, info from EASMES website
• SHARMAN,William MS, 1839-41, UK, Northamptonshire, Country Dance Tunes. Signed by William Sharman and dated in front (1839) and in back (1841). The back also includes his address and age (23 years). Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, (not yet catalogued Dec 2024)
• SHATTUCK,Abel MS, 1801, USA Colrain MA, Lib.Congress, M63.S5 Case
• SHERMAN,Marianne MS,1806, UK Harpenden, Herts. England. Article in Harpenden History
• SHEPHERD,John MS, 1787, UK, Nat.Army Mus, London, Cat 7809-48, info from EASMES website
• SHEPLEY,Nancy MS, 1794, USA Pepperell MA, Worcester MA, American Antiquarian Soc, MS Coll., info from EASMES website
• SHOOSMITH,Thomas MS, early19thC, UK Sussex Arlington, Lib.Sussex Archeo.Soc, Lewes, part pub. Gammon 'SussexTB'
• SKENE,John MS, early ca1630, UK Scotland Aberdeenshire, VWML QM7206,VWML QM7205, Frank Kidson's Transcriptions from 'Ancient Scottish Melodies (1838), PDFs at VWML
• SKENES Tunebook 1; Frank Kidson's Transcriptions from 'Ancient Scottish Melodies (1838); JPGs at VWML
• SKENES Tunebook 2; Frank Kidson's Transcriptions from 'Ancient Scottish Melodies (1838);JPGs at VWML
• SMITH MS, 1829, UK, Private collection, cited in FMJvol4#1p1
• SMITH,John MS, c1840, UK Northumberland Cresswell, Indexed only: orig in possession of NPS. Smith was a stonemason by day and probably a fiddler. He lived on the Cresswell estate, landlords Cresswell-Baker, although himself born in N. Tyne valley
• SNOWS HILL MANOR MS, no date, UK Glos. Snowshill Manor NT Coll
• SPENCER,George MS, 1831, UK Leeds, Kidson coll, Mitchell Lib. Glasgow, vmpABCs
• STABLES,Henry MS, 1881, UK Cumbria Walthwaite,VWML QM7406, vmpABCs
• STANWAY,Joshua MS, 1702, UK Brit.Lib. MS Mus.135
• STOREY,George MS, 20thC, UK N'land, cited in "Charlton Memorial Tunebook"
• STRAFFEN,John MS, 1848, UK Northumberland Angerton . Fiddle MS from a family of estate gardeners. Abc in progress: orig in possession of NPS, arrived with the Forster Charlton collection of archives, (my notes say Beamish Museum)
• SUMNER,M MS, 1836, UK Surrey, Private collection
• SURTEES,CJ MS, 1819, UK N'land, W.Cocks Coll Chantry Mus Morpeth, Farne website, vmpABCs
• SWALLOW MS, 1818, Leeds FUK, Kidson coll. MS-H Mitchell Lib. Glasgow, not found yet, mentioned by FK
• SWINDELLS,Ralph MS, 1856, UK Derbys. Tideswell, Private collection
• SYKES-LYMAN,Elisha MS, 1821, Canada Montreal, Benjamin Wales Lib, Carillon, Quebec
• TAYLOR,James MS, early19thC, UK Lancashire Bury Tottington, Bury Archive,CNR/17/1
• TENNYSON,Eliza MS, 1822, UK Lincolnshire. Tennyson Research Centre, Lincoln Central Reference Library, vmpABCs vmpABCs at Internet Archive
• THOMAS,John MS, 1752, UK Wales, Images at Nat.Lib.Wales, NLW.J.Lloyd Williams MS39, pub. Cass Meurig "Alawon John Thomas" Nat.Lib.Wales 2004
• THOMPSON,Aaron MS, 1777, USA N.J., Yale Uni, Sterling Lib, Misc.MSS72,MF44, info from EASMES website
• THORNE,Havilak Jane MS, 1830, Canada Nova Scotia, whereabouts unknown to me
• THURSTON,John & Mary MS, 1736, UK Glos. Thornbury, Private collection, pub. as John & Mary Thurston Music Book,The; Challen,Christopher; Thornbury; Vox Humana Press; 2007; Facsimile of 1736 Cotswolds tunebook; also media at Glostrad}/John+and+Mary+Thurston+Music+Book.html
• TILL,George MS,aka Clutterbuck, 1866, UK Glos. Stone, Gloucester R.O., pub Mentieth & Burgess in "Coleford Jig". Media at Glostrad. See also Becky Dellow's Blog. [11]
• TILLER MS, unknown date or place of origin, cited by B.Callaghan in "Hardcore English", MS not traced
• TITLEY,William MS, 19thC, UK Shropshire Newport, Private collection, cited by J.Kirkpatrick on Brass Monkey album cover. This MS is currently (Feb 2016) being transcribed into ABC.
• TOWNSEND,J.MS, 1821, UK Manchester, Manchester Central Lib., cited in Knowles "Northern Lass"
• TREAT,John MS, 1779, UK Durham, Mid Tennessee State Uni, Center For Popular Mus, info from EASMES website
• TUBBS,Robert MS, 1752, UK London, Brit Lib. Add.56487, flute inc. songs
• TURNER,John MS, 1788, USA Norwich CT, Hertford Conn, Conn.Hist.Soc, X.SheererMF MS79656, info from EASMES website
• TURNER,Michael MS, 1842-52, UK Sussex Warnham, West Sussex R.O, Chichester, part published in Gammon "Sussex Tunebook"
• TYLDESLEY,William MS, c1860, UK Lancs. Swinton, Swinton Pub.Lib, vmpABCs
• VICKERS,William MS, 1770, UK N'land, Newcastle Soc. of Antiquarians, Farne website, pub. M.Seattle "The Great Northern Tune Book"
• VOICE,Wm MS, early19thC, UK Sussex Handcross, Lib.Sussex Archeo.Soc. Lewes, part published in Gammon "Sussex Tunebook"
• WALLACE,Geo. MS, 1849, UK Cumbria Alston, Beamish Museum (info from Northumbrian Piper's Green Pocket Book)
• WATSON,George Henry MS, 1850-80, UK Norfolk Swanton Abbott, Private collection, vmpABCs
• WATTS,Thomas MS, late18thC, UK Derbyshire Peak Forest, Private collection
• WEDDEL,Henry MS, late18thC, UK, VWML part of QM9733
• WEEKS,Clement MS, 1783, USA Greenland NHamps, American Antiquarian Soc. Worcester MA,, MS Coll., info from EASMES website
• WELCH Family MSs, 1800+, UK Sussex Bosham,Lib.Sussex Archeo.Soc, Lewes, part published in Gammon "Sussex Tunebook"
• West Midlands MS,Anon, mid19thC, UK W.Midlands, Private collection, part pub. P.Davenport "South Riding Tunebook"
• W.G. MS, n.d. early 19thC, UK, VWML 2222, PDF at VWML With ABC Transcriptions. vmpABCs, GithubABCs
• WHITE,George MS, 1790, USA Cherry Valley NY, Valatie,New York, Ray Hauley Coll., info from EASMES website
• WIDECOMBE MSS; aka and see Richard French and Tom Nosworthy MSS
• WILKINSON, George MSS, no date, UK Glos.?, VWML?, info from P.Roberts, piping mag Said to be 2 MSs, one from 19thC, Alderley,Westun under Edge, Glouc.
• WILLCOX,Asa MS, 1793, USA New Hartford CT, Chicago Ill, Newberry Lib., info from EASMES website
• WILLIAMS,Elisabeth MS, 1798, UK, VWML QM11749
• WILLIAMS,Jno MS, 1799, USA Salem NY, Worcester MA, American Antiquarian Soc, MS Coll., info from EASMES website
• WILLIAMS,William MS, 1775, USA Pautuxit RI, Brown Uni, John Hay Lib, P76WA863p2HarrisWaterman, info from EASMES website
• WILLIAMSON,Elisabeth MS, 1790 unknown place of origin VWML, QM11749
• WILSON,Andrew MS, 1782, USA, Lib.Congress, AIM Case,(H98237?) aka Ed&John, info from EASMES website
• WINDER,Edward MS(not James), 1834, UK Lancs. Wyresdale, Private collection, microfilm in Liverpool Uni.Library, Pub as Data CD by Cock Robin Music, c.h.poll@btinternet.com, Chris Pollington. There is a website and a book about the Winder family tunebook collection here.
• WINDER,James MS(not Edward), 1835, UK Lancs, Wyresdale, Private collection, vmpABCs. There is a website and a book about the Winder family tunebook collection here.
• WINDER,John MS, 1789, UK Lancs, Wyresdale, Private collection, vmpABCs, There is a website and a book about the Winder family tunebook collection here.
• WINNINGTON,Ann MS, c1815, UK+New York USA, Private collection, PDF at Internet Archive
• WINSHIP,Lionel, MS, 1833 Wark,Northumberland Beamish Museum Farne website, vmpABCs
• WINTER,J MS, 1833, UK Glos. Stanton, Morris Ring?, cited by B.Callaghan in "Hardcore English"
• WINTER,William MS, 19thC, UK Somerset West Bagborough, Margaret Grant Lib. Halsway Manor Halsway Manor Added by --Geoff woolfe 12:19, 8 June 2009 (BST), see EDS,spring2006,p38, pub G.Woolfe, see also EDS Winter 2007 pp14-16
• WINTERTON MSS, early 19thC, UK Lincolnshire, Winterton Parish Church
• WOLSNOUME MS, c1798, UK Lancashire, VWML part of QM9733
• WOODRUFF,Morris MS, 1803, USA?, Litchfield CT, Litchfield Hist.Soc., info from EASMES website
• YARKER MS, 1797, UK, Cumbria, VWML 5234, 125pp ABC file as txt here PDF at VWML VWML(ABC), vmpABCs
• YOUNG,David MS, 1734 or 1740?, UK Scotland Perthshire Creiff, Bodleian Library, 'This has the most fashionable dances of that year in Edinburgh, with tunes and detailed dance instructions'. Jack Campin's ABCs of the tunes and dance instructions.