December 1582 was not a good month for the Houldie family

I found some errors in one of my articles so I went back today to the original transcription of the parish register on the web to cross-check things. I just came across the following list of entries:

In the year 1582.
Margaret Houldie, wife of Willielm Houldye, buried 4th day of December.
Robart Houldie, son of Willielm Houldie, buried 7th day of December.
Willielm Houldie, son of Willielm Houldie, buried 8th day of December.
Isable Houldie, daughter of Willielm Houldie, buried 10th day of December.
John Houldie, son of Willielm Houldie, buried 13th day of December.
Elizabeth Houldie, daughter of Willielm Houldye, buried 16th day of December.
Elizabeth Houldie, daughter of Willielm Houldie, buried 28th day of December.

Yikes. Strange thing is, only two other people were buried that month, so if it was some kind of contagious illness (which seems the only reasonable explanation), it didn't spread to the rest of the parish.

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