Transport in 1600 was appalling despite dedicated "wainways". The primitive collieries closed in winter; coal could be won but not transported to users. Something new was desperately needed. The innovatory breakthrough during James 1's reign can be placed, with provenance, to Nottinghamshire and the twelve-months ending on 30th September 1604.

Thomas (later Sir Thomas) and Francis and also probably two or three sisters, Katherine (& Catherine?) and Margery.

We have also established that the famous Francis Beaumont, the Playwright and Poet contemporary with Shakespeare, was related through the family (possibly as close as a cousin) but was neither Francis Huntingdon's brother nor Francis his own son.

Huntingdon was born circa 1560 and it is known he died in Nottingham Gaol in March 1624 (date adjusted for the calendar change). He was married with a wife Joan. He had three children for certain at the time of his death. It is known that these three children, all sons, were called Nicholas, Francis and Huntingdon. It is believed this third son is the same Huntingdon Beaumont who is recorded as a witness on a surviving will document, dated with provenance to 1650. As the father's name was usually applied to the first born son it is also plausible that a fourth, and his eldest, son died in infancy.

It was also believed he was godfather to Huntingdon Smithson, the grandson of Robert Smythson who built Wollaton Hall, and the architect of Bolsover Castle. Wollaton was a common factor and probably where Huntingdon Beaumont and the Smythsons' met. Undoubtedly successful as an innovator Beaumont was extremely unsuccessful in business.

All his children were probably born before 1618 as in 1618 he was imprisoned in Nottingham Gaol due to debt, from where he was not released, and he finally died there as a bankrupt in March 1624.
A highly significant person in the development of mining in Nottinghamshire and through his waggonway on a worldwide basis there is much work still to do to establish his background details, those of Joan, who became his wife, and of his sons. If anyone has these details, or can point us at a book or internet site that has them, we will be extremely grateful.

*NB - The valued assistance of Keith Hunt and Graham Crisp in preparing this feature is gratefully acknowledged. This article is a synopsis of much wider, joint, avenues of research currently being undertaken into C17 Nottinghamshire and other early waggonway developments.