A feast for family historians and those whose relatives belonged to notable families of Derbyshire in the 19th century is the description given to a new book of memoirs of Elizabeth Anne Galton, edited by Andrew Moilliet.

Elizabeth Anne Galton, aged 35, from a painting by Easton

A list of Elizabeth Anne Galton’s friends, relations and acquaintances reads like a scientific, financial and commercial Who’s Who of the 19th century.

She was the daughter of an influential Birmingham banker who managed the city’s affairs as High Bailiff – today’s equivalent of mayor.

Through him, she was related to many families of importance including the Barclays, Frys, Gurneys, Hoares, Bevans, Buxtons, Trittons, Hanburys and Lloyds, in addition to those like the Wedgwoods, whose forebears were so deeply involved in the Industrial Revolution.

Her cousin, Mr Chandos Pole was High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1850 and she describes, in her memoirs, the lavish ceremony which involved “bringing in the judges” for the assizes, with 40 javelin men carrying staves and dressed in the Chandos Pole livery.

Elizabeth, like Charles Darwin, was a grandchild of Dr Erasmus Darwin , who was the moving spirit in the famous group of scientists, the Lunar Society of Birmingham.

She was extremely proud of her grandfather and suggests that he “originated all the ideas that Charles Darwin had the time and talents to work out”.

Shortly before he died, Erasmus and his second wife moved from their Derby home to Breadsall Priory, a place Elizabeth and her siblings loved to visit.

There are numerous accounts of their visits to their much-loved Grandmother Darwin.

“We called it ‘Happiness Hall’,” she wrote. “It was a very pretty place with two pools and a stream running down.”

The memoirs contain many references to Derbyshire families and areas, including Radbourne, Ashbourne (where Elizabeth’s mother was educated at a school set up by the two “natural” daughters of Erasmus, together with “most of the young girls in Derbyshire”), Osmaston Hall, Cromptons Bank, Derby Music Meeting, Mr Hadley (principal surgeon in Derby), the Granvilles and Miss Strutt, inventor of night lights.

Elizabeth was a devout philanthropic woman, much influenced by her Quaker relations, but her strong principles were leavened by a great sense of fun.

Her mind was as sharp and enquiring in her 90s, when Edward VII was King, as it had been in her youth.

Her long life (1808-1906) fitted almost exactly the 19th century and she chronicled its changes with an observant eye in reminiscences which were dictated to her daughter in her old age.

The family was always interested in public affairs and had the means and contacts to follow them closely.

In 1838, Elizabeth attended Queen Victoria’s Coronation at Westminster Abbey, which she described at the time as the happiest day of her life.

And, in 1897, as a spritely 89-year-old, she watched Victoria’s (“very long”) Diamond Jubilee celebration procession as it passed through London.

She had also been in the capital for the Duke of Wellington’s funeral in 1852.

There are historical gems of all kinds on every page of her memoirs, including the defeat of Napoleon, highwaymen, the first trains, life at a regency spa, her season as a debutante, the death of George III, a lavish dinner for the Duke of Wellington and the blissful arrival of elastic shoulder-straps for stiffly-corseted dresses.

It is not surprising, in view of her family connections and of the times in which she lived, that Elizabeth was keenly interested in matters of family and genealogy.

She even records being upset when her Aunt Sophia married her grandfather’s steward and when a cousin eloped with a private soldier.

Her own very happy marriage, to a husband of “good family” but limited means, meant that, with the passage of time, she came less and less in contact with prominent people.

This, and the fact that she felt no need to record events after her children were grown, probably explains why her story tails off during the 1860s.

Andrew Moilliet, a retired chartered accountant with a lifetime’s fascination with family history, is a descendant of Elizabeth’s sister, Lucy.

He said: “The task of editing these reminiscences has not been easy and was initially undertaken in conjunction with my late father, J L Moilliet.

“The memoirs were recorded in chronological order, without any attempts at arranging their contents, and contain a great deal of trivial matter.

“Embedded in these trivia, however, are many amusing anecdotes and other items which give us a picture of life in the early 19th century. ”

Elizabeth Anne Galton (1808-1906) – A Well-connected Gentlewoman is available, priced £12.74 (p&p inc) from Andrew Moilliet at 27 Maple Road, Bramhall, Stockport SK7 2DH.

• Galton, Elizabeth Anne: A well-connected gentlewoman
• A well-connected gentlewoman

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