Addendum to Richard Sleigh’s A History of the Ancient Parish of Leek, in its 1862 edition:
“At Moorland House, Leek, on Christmas Day, 1888, died Mr. Abraham Kershaw Killmister, a gentleman of retired habits, and of manners indicative of nervousness. The world at large little suspected that in him was to be found an author of repute.
He was the well-known ‘Tom Oakleigh’ of literary sporting celebrity, author of the “Oakleigh Shooting Code”; of the article on Shooting in the “Encyclopaedia Britannica”; of the “Rod and the Gun” by Professor Wilson of Edinburgh, and ‘Tom Oakleigh’ of the “Dalesman”, a five-act play, and of various poems and literary articles, contributed to the “Mirror” and to the “Sportsman’s” and other magazines, principally between the years 1830 and 1845. In the “Mirror” and some other periodicals, he chiefly wrote under the signature of “Cymbeline.” For the article in the “Encyclopaedia” he received from the publishers Mess’rs. Black, one hundred guineas.
After his death a large unfinished work on Angling was found among his papers, and several manuscripts on astronomical subjects, astronomy having of late years occupied much of his attention (as he was indeed in all respects an humble seeker after truth); and he had at considerable expense erected an observatory and furnished it with a powerful refracting telescope, having an object glass, by Dollond, of near eight-inches diameter.
He often mentioned to me that his early sporting knowledge and tendencies had been much derived from the late Mr. Richard Sleigh, of Leek, a thorough sportsman of the old school, whole genial tales, and regular shooting and fishing habits, and favourite dogs, many here remember.”
