_Twenty-seven Children_ (Vol. v., p. 126.).--To E. D.'s Query, "whether
there is any well-authenticated instance of a woman having had more than
twenty-five children?" something like a reply will be found in the
following paragraph, which formed one of a series of "Curious Extracts,"
in the _Edinburgh Antiquarian Magazine_ (1848):--
"'_Extraordinary Number of Children._--The following
extraordinary, yet well-attested fact, is copied from Brand's
_History of Newcastle_, lately published. The fact is mentioned
and corroborated by a quotation from an Harleian MS. No. 980-87. A
weaver in Scotland had, by one wife, a Scotch woman, _sixty-two_
children, all living till they were baptized; of whom four
daughters only lived to be women, but forty-six sons attained to
man's estate. In 1630, Joseph Delavel, Esq., of Northumberland,
rode thirty miles beyond Edinburgh, to be satisfied of the truth
of this account, when he found the man and woman both living; but
at that time had no children abiding with them. Sir John Bowes and
three other gentlemen having, at different periods, taken each ten
in order to bring them up; the rest also being disposed of. Three
or four of them were at that period (1630) at
Newcastle.'--_European Magazine_, Dec. 1786."
But, of course, the question still arises, _can_ this wonderful instance
be recognised as "a well-attested fact?"