Thomas Tye 1713-1783

13th March 1764 Tuesday

2012-02-12T10:54:00.000-08:00

Mr Williamson married Miss Pope he 67 & she 20

(I don't think Thomas approves!)

March 19

The Bridge by the Lane was begun to be pulled down in order for a New one at the expense of the County

A book called "Old Nottingham: its streets, people & etc, by James Granger pub 1902 mentions this bridge

"In 1764-65 the old Leen Bridge was taken down, the county magistrates having met

and accepted a tender for its demolition and re-erection, when it was expected

to have three additional arches and also to be of much greater width, which was

much needed- A Mr. Thompson, of Lichfield, is understood to have been the

contractor. Whilst this important work was in hand advantage was taken of

it to straighten the northern end of the bridge by bringing it more 
eastwardly and nearer tne centre of the open space, once called "Bridge Foot"

or "Bridge End " (now styled Plumptre-square)."

23rd February 1764

2011-12-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

Mr Richard Lipptrot married Widow Collins - Thursday

Her name was Frances - I've found the marriage record. They were married in St Mary's
Nottingham

17th February 1764

2011-11-21T10:41:00.000-08:00

Paid Chare Hire to Carrey my Wife & her Sister to Reurn Their Brides Vissetts
8/-

Elizabeth's sister was Barbara. I haven't found anything about her marriage yet or was she single and just accompanying her sister?

There's lots about Sedan chairs here.

Sunday 5th Feb 1764

2011-10-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

Maid my appearence with my wife at St Peters Church. She had come to see heras Follows Mrs Young Miss Streley Mr Richard Mrs Evans Mrs Toopotts Miss Petterer Miss Grant Miss Leatham Mrs Abbey Mrs Cox Mrs Green Miss Mather Mrs Biggs by Mrs PlowmanMiss Jerom Mrs Burin Miss Bilby Mrs Partridge Miss Cant Mrs Truman Mrs Gibson Mrs Boot Miss Burditt The Revd Mr Chappell Mr Knowles Miss Bigsby Miss Mason Mrs Heathcoat Mrs Edge Miss Rosin &Mrs Tutin Mrs Bettison & Mrs Allison

It would seem that the first appearance in church of a married couple was quite an event.

Mr Chappell was newly married himself but his wife is not in the list.

The name "Toopotts" caught my eye - there are no google results for that and very few for Topotts.

1st February 1764

2011-10-15T05:19:00.000-07:00

The Revd. Mr Graham Chappell was married to Esqr. Warron's Widow of Stableford Wednesday

One of Thomas's marginal notes.

Unsurprisingly, Thomas's information is corroborated by other historical records - Graham Chappell of Orston, married Bridget Warren in Stapleford.

That would have taken place in St Helens

Bridget Warren was really slumming it marrying a clergyman! This is her son by her first marriage

Graham Chappell was curate at St Mary's Orston.

19th January 1764

2011-09-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

Thursday was Married with the Said Elizabeth Newton at St Peters Church in St Peters Parish in Nottingham betwixt the Hours of 8 & 9 O'Clock in the Morning by the Revd. Edward Chappell Rector of the Said Parish of St Peters in Nottingham
gave him for marring of us 10/6
gave the Clark 4/- Saxton 2/- Ringers 10/6
the Waites of the Town 5/-
Drumer 2/-
Gloves given away on the marriage 12 pair of Kidd Gloves 22/- per Dozn
Bride Cake 12 pounds Mr Topotts 12/-
8 Bottles Red and White Mountain 13/4
2 quarts of Rumm 5/-
8 Wine Glasses 4/6
1 Bottle French Brandy 2/6

8 am? Imagine the response if you sent out the invitations for that time today!

The "Saxton" should be "Sexton", effectively the church caretaker.

I've mostly drawn a blank about 18th century marriage customs but this family history site shows that there was a Topott family living in St Peter's Parish in the 18th century and that they were confectioners!

18th Jan 1764

2011-09-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

abt. 7 o'Clock at Night Bought Licence of the Revd. Mr Edward Chapell to be married with Miss Elizabeth Newton Daughter of Samuel & Elizabeth Newton Gunsmith in Nottingham and cost me £1.4s6d Her father went w me for the Licence.

At last! Thomas really doesn't seem to be in any hurry to get married, does he?

Edward Chappell was the Rector of St Peter's Nottingham from 1725 until his death in 1767. There is a monument to him in the church and you can see it on the church's website.

18th March 1763

2011-07-31T10:29:00.000-07:00

at 3 o'Clock in the morning Sett of in the Coach for Nottingham
Paid Coach Hire to Nottingham £1.8:0d

19th March 1763
Got to Nottingham abt. 7 o'Clock at Night and Cost me Expences in Coming Down to Nottingham 10/6
and Came to be at Mr Saml. Newtons

39 hours! In a coach! Suddenly our trains seem fast! (London to Nottingham is a little under two and a half hours today).

Samuel Newton is the father of Thomas's fianceé - are they finally going to get married?

17th March 1763

2011-07-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

Spent at the Swan with Two Necks in Lad Lane in Punch with some of my acquaintance 4s
& Lay their that Night Paid for my Bedd 12d

Paid Linen Washing 4/6 Newspapers 2/-

Newspapers were not for the ordinary man at that price, were they?

The Swan with Two Necks is long gone but here is what it looked like around 1800

The pub name 'The Swan with Two Necks' is a corruption of the phrase 'The Swan with Two Nicks' meaning a swan with the Swan-Mark of the Vintners Company. (source)

And the pub was mentioned in Pepys Diary on the 5th April 1664.

It was a major coaching inn during the 18th century, of 28 mail coaches which left London each night, half were horsed at this inn. (More information)

17th March 1763

2011-07-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

Paid Mr Benjm. Wigglesworth Two Pounds Eleven Shillings in full for six weeks Board and Lodgeing and Four Shillings for a Quarters Shaveing which is in full of all Demands.

Thomas is paying his bills!

16th March 1763

2011-07-13T12:24:00.000-07:00

Paid for a Box Hoard to pack my things in 2/2
Paid Carriage to Nottingham 3/6

That's all that shopping Thomas has been doing! Off to Nottingham. Do I hear Wedding Bells at last?

5th March 1763

2011-07-04T10:53:00.000-07:00

Went to see Adamses Curiositys spt. 9d

I can't find anything about this display!

EDIT: A mention to a friend about this told me that Sir John Soane's Museum has much of what Robert Adam himself referred to as his Curiosities. I have now spoken to the person at the museum who is working on the catalogue of these items. Much of the collection was drawings done by Robert Adam on his grand tour of Italy. They provided the inspiration for his architecture. There were other items besides the drawings but most are not in the museum collection. However, many of the drawings are shown online and you can see them just as Thomas did! Thomas saw them about 4 years after Robert Adam returned from Italy. Obviously anything later than 1763 was not there for Thomas to see on this visit.

23 February 1763

2011-05-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

Went to Covent Garden to See and Oritorio of Alexanders Feast With the Coronation Anthem Violin Mr Hays organ Mr Stanley the King and Queen & all the Royal Family was their and Cost me 5/-

Alexander's Feast is by Handel, of course. This data base shows that there was another performance on the 25th with the same performers. It also tell us that Thomas sat in the first gallery, presumably what would be called the Dress Circle today.

And here is a link to tell you about the Coronation Anthem including a chance to hear the music!
There is a picture of Covent Garden Theatre at the right sort of date here.

The Monarch remains George III, pictures of him & Queen Charlotte here.

9 November 1762

2011-05-23T10:25:00.000-07:00

Lord Mayor Show & went to see all the Companeys Barges & Lord Mayor & the State Coach.
Spt 6d Oysters & aples & pares 3

The Lord Mayor in 1762 was William Beckford. Thomas has mentioned him before, when he was elected to Parliament. Here is his portrait when he was Lord Mayor.

There is a statue of William Beckford in the Guildhall, London
The State Coach is in the Museum of London.

On a more personal level, Thomas is still shopping. He returned to the Triton for more porcelain and bought a Japan Tea chest (14/-) and his landlord, Mr Dale, has sold his business to Benjamin Wigglesworth, but I haven't found anything about either gentleman.

4th Oct 1762

2011-04-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

Bot. 2 Sugar Basons 2/- on Board the Triton Indiaman Deptford & 6 Blue & white Coffee Cups 3/-

Thomas is still preparing for married life but he doesn't seem to be in any hurry, does he?
The Triton is interesting. She was built for the French East India company and captured by Captain James Cook RN in May 1756. There is an account online of how it happened. This contains the sentence "It does not appear to have been taken into service by the Navy. " No, she was sold to the East India Company!

13th Went to Baggenigee Wells & Garden Spt 6d

The mineral springs in the garden of Baggenige House were discovered in 1760, after which it became a famous spa/pleasure garden see here for more.

The site of the house, now 63 Kings Cross Road, is marked by a plaque

17th September 1762

2011-03-06T12:15:00.000-08:00

Gave to see the Queen's African Ass which was made a present to her by one of our Captins. Its a most beautiful Creatur 6d

Thanks to a knowledgeable reader, I have found this "Creatur"!

It was a female zebra. Some sources claim it was a Quagga (now extinct) but there is a contemporary portrait of her.
This is a print held in the British Museum after a painting by Stubbs

The curator's notes say

"The zebra was kept at Buckingham House and caused great interest. For a contemporary account, see the London Magazine, July 1762; according to a note on an impression of the illustration in the magazine (1862,1011.556), when the animal died it was stuffed and displayed at the Leverian Museum, Blackfriars Road."

Other sources say she lived at Kew and yet more in St James's Park. Perhaps the zebra lived in different places at different times?

For comparison, here is a quagga

7th July 1762

2011-02-16T13:39:00.000-08:00

went to VauxHall to see the Cheroque King and Two Chieffs it was said their was above Six Thousand pople there spt 18

Originally allied with the British against the French in North America, the Cherokee nation fought a war which they called "war against those in red coats" from 1758-61. Henry Timberlake brought 3 of the chiefs to London in 1762 to show their goodwill. They were Ostenaco (the "King"), Standing Turkey & Wood Pigeon. They dined with George III, met many important people and sat for Joshua Reynolds. Their interpreter died on the journey to England so no-one is quite sure what they said!!!

Henry Timberlake left memoirs and is much better known in the US than in UK as far as I can see from Google.

28th June 1762

2011-01-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

Went to Woolidge & went on Board the Warwick Indiaman. Bout. a Silk Handkerchief 4/-
and See the Warren & all the Cannons morters Bum Shells & Cannon Balls came back through Hanging wood so to Charlton where Horne Fair is kept so to Greenwich Deptford & home spent their 12

Warwick was a Ship of course - belonging to the East India company. Read about such ships here. It would seem that the Warwick was not exactly new when Thomas went aboard on that June Monday. (Now he isn't at work, his trips out are not confined to Sundays as they were at the beginning of this blog). The ship is mentioned in the London Magazine for 1752.

The Warren is the old name for the Royal Arsenal

Hanging Wood - the remains and there is an interesting post abou it in the Greenwich Phantom's blog

The Horn Fair - this fair, suppressed in the 19th century has been revived

3 June 1762

2010-12-19T09:13:00.000-08:00

Went to Greenwich See the Chappell & Painted Hall the 4 Elements Fire Air Earth & Water 4 Seasons Spring Sumer Autumn & Winter 4 Quarter of the World Europe Asia Africa & America besides a Great many other Curious Paintings all of them are painted on the top of the Sealing 12d

Well.. that's easy, isn't it? Find a picture of the Old Royal Naval College Chapel. It is still there.
No, it is not easy! This is the chapel in 1779

The original design by Thomas Ripley was replaced and that is the interior you can visit today.

If anyone finds picture of the earlier chapel interior, please let me know, could you?

The Painted Hall is a magnificent place - almost every inch of wall and ceiling covered in paintings by Sir James Thornhill. To select one picture is almost impossible so here is a panoramic view.

However, I did say "almost" so here is where the painter included his own portrait in the mural

6th February 1762

2010-12-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

Went to see the Whale that was taken on the Goodwin Sands near dale and brout to Green Land Dock near Deptford
it measured 58 Futt Long it was thourgh their was above 100000 people went to See it
Dined at deptford Mr Hall we Spt 12d

This whale was reported in the London Magazine. The picture above is the illustration which accompanied the article

"dale" is Deal in Kent!

There are further details of the Whale here - the whole text of the London Magazine is available online so you can read the account for yourself. On p105 of the same magazine is an account of how the whale was killed.

There is more about Greenland dock & Whaling here.

24th October 1761

2010-11-28T10:38:00.000-08:00

Bought of Robert Dartnell Stationer St Martins Court
2 Quire post paper 2/3
2 Quire foolscap 20d
2 Quire Gilt paper 18d
2 Sticks Wax 10
Book for Acct. 2/3
Almanack 6d

16th October
2 Bottles British Oyle 2/-

British Oil seems to have been mineral oil and taken as a medicine - I can't think that it did anything but make people feel iller!

1st January 1762
Went with Mr Hall aboard an India man lying at Blackwall
Bout. 2 silk Handkerchiefs on board

4th Jan Warr proclaimed against Spain

This is very complicated - the 7 Years War had been going on for ages by this time

20th October 1761

2010-10-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

Spt 3d and Went to Covent Garden to See King Henry 5 with Corronation which was very Grand Severall Gentlmn & Ladys all agreed that it was grander than the real one was 2/-

There is no coronation scene in Henry V but it seems they stuck the one from Henry VIII into this production because it looked good! Mrs Bellamy was the Queen. She mentions this role and the fact that Rich produced the play in her memoirs.

I wonder what Thomas spent 3d on? It's unusual for him not to tell us (though I don't imagine he ever imagined that anyone else would read his account book).

9th November 1761

2010-10-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

Monday Lord Mayors Show the King & Queen Princesses Wales Duke Cumberland and all the Royal Family went to Dine with the Lord Mayor & Aldermen at Gild Hall & a great number of Quallity went I see the King & Queen & the rest of the Royal Family in a Bellconey at the Quaker's over against Bow Church to see the procession of Lord majoyr & all the Comanys of the City of London the Bellconey was fitted up at the Citys Expence Alderman Fludyer Esq was Lord Mayor. Spent 9

This was a well documented event. There is even an engraving which shows the Balcony where the Royal Family stayed to watch the procession.

Here is a, roughly contemporary, picture showing Bow Church on a less crowded day.

And I have found a further account of the event.

"Sir Samuel Fludyer, Lord Mayor of London in the year 1761, the year of the marriage of good King George III., appears to have done things with thoroughness. In a contemporary chronicle we find a very sprightly narrative of Sir Samuel's Lord Mayor's show, in which the king and queen, with "the rest of the royal family," participated—their Majesties, indeed, not getting home from the Guildhall ball until two in the morning. Our sight-seer was an early riser. He found the morning foggy, as is common to this day in London about the 9th of November, but soon the fog cleared away, and the day was brilliantly fine—an exception, he notes, to what had already, in his time, become proverbial that the Lord Mayor's day is almost invariably a bad one. He took boat on the Thames, that he might accompany the procession of state barges on their way to Westminster. He reports "the silent highway" as being quite covered with boats and gilded barges. The barge of the Skinners' Company was distinguished by the outlandish dresses of strange-spotted skins and painted hides worn by the rowers. The barge belonging to the Stationers' Company, after having passed through one of the narrow arches of Westminster Bridge, and tacked about to do honour to the Lord Mayor's landing, touched at Lambeth and took on board, from the archbishop's palace, a hamper of claret—the annual tribute of theology to learning. The tipple must have been good, for our chronicler tells us that it was "constantly reserved for the future regalement of the master, wardens, and court of assistants, and not suffered to be shared by the common crew of liverymen." He did not care to witness the familiar ceremony of swearing in the Lord Mayor in Westminster Hall, but made the best of his way to the Temple Stairs, where it was the custom of the Lord Mayor to land on the conclusion of the aquatic portion of the pageant. There he found some of the City companies already landed, and drawn up in order in Temple Lane, between two rows of the train-bands, "who kept excellent discipline." Other of the companies were wiser in their generation; they did not land prematurely to cool their heels in Temple Lane, while the royal procession was passing along the Strand, but remained on board their barges regaling themselves comfortably. The Lord Mayor encountered good Samaritans in the shape of the master and benchers of the Temple, who invited him to come on shore and lunch with them in the Temple Hall.

Every house from Temple Bar to Guildhall was crowded from top to bottom, and many had scaffoldings besides; carpets and rich hangings were hung out on the fronts all the way along; and our friend notes that the citizens were not mercenary, but "generously accommodated their friends and customers gratis, and entertained them in the most elegant manner, so that though their shops were shut, they might be said to have kept open house."

This is taken from Walter Thornbury's Book of Old and New London pub 1887 but still in print!

The account goes on to tell us that Thomas's "Quaker" was a Mr Barclay.

Samuel Fludyer seems to have been the 18th century equivalent of camera shy (I don't believe it. I'm sure there is a portrait somewhere). However the elaborate wig he wore for his Lord Mayor's Show is depicted in William Hogarth's Five Orders of Periwigs. It is the fancy one on the far right with all those "wings".

Sir Samuel would have travelled in the the same Lord Mayor's State Coach as is used today. It was made in 1757.

It is now in the Museum of London, when the Lord Mayor doesn't require it. You can visit it.

7th November 1761

2010-10-09T10:05:00.000-07:00

Bout. at Auction 9 Pictures & Don Quicksett 16d

I just love Thomas's spelling of Don Quixote! This, often credited with being the first modern novel, was published in 1605, with the first English translation of the first part appearing only 7 years later.

3rd November 1761 Tuesday

2010-10-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

The King went to the House to Order the Comans to Chuse a Speaker they chose Sir John Cust of Grantham membr for Grantham

Sir John Cust served as speaker for 9 years, until his death in 1770

28th October 1761

2010-10-04T13:04:00.000-07:00

St. Simon & St. Jude the Bishop of London was enthroned and installed Bishop of London at St Palls Cathedrill by Dr J Taylor LLD which Ceremony I see performed myself. his name is Dr Thos Hayter.

Dr Hayter was Bishop of Norwich before he moved to London, while he was there he started the project which became the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital. He seems to be the only Bishop of either London or Norwich who doesn't have a portrait on the web! I'll have to do some RL research

This is bit dull so here is a contemporary view of St Paul's.

24th September 1761

2010-09-26T09:03:00.000-07:00

Went to Drury Lane King Henry 8 with the Corronation Entertainment 2s

This play by Shakespeare is relatively unpopular today, but was loved by 18th & 19th century audiences for its spectacular pageantry.

The Coronation Entertainment was almost certainly the Ben Jonson play usually called the Coronation Triumph, though there is another tragicomedy by James Shirley, the Coronation, which might have been what Thomas saw.

Sadly, I can't find anything to illustrate this outing.

20th October 1761

2010-08-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

Bout. in Crooked Lane a Baggam Table wth. Men & Boxes & a pair of Second Hand Dyes 17/-
a Mother of Pearl Mustard Spoon 12d
Tea Tongs 9d
a Fishing Rod 4 Lengths 3/9
a Box & Lynes & Hooks 3/-

"Baggam" is Backgammon, which was very popular in the 18th century. History here.

This board, counters, dice & cups all date from the eighteenth century.

There is no date given for this spoon, but mother-of-pearl spoons seem to look much the same today as they did when Thomas bought his.

I haven't found a good picture of a contemporary fishing rod, but this page will tell you something about the subject. However, Crooked Lane was an interesting shopping place. This picture is a little later.

19th Oct 1761

2010-08-16T10:49:00.000-07:00

Sent a box to Nottingham Directed for me. Carriage 3/6 Box 2/-

Is Thomas finally getting ready to set up home with Elizabeth?

15th October 1761

2010-08-05T08:36:00.000-07:00

Went to Drury Lane to see a Wonder a Woman Keeps a Secrit Don Felix Garick Alissia Mrs Sibber wth Harliquin Ranger.
The King & Queen & the Royal family was their 2/3

The first play, by Susanna Centlivre, is still in print you can read the text here. This picture shows the author, who died in 1723.

This, somewhat later illustration shows Garrick playing opposite a different actress

Mrs Cibber was an actress & Singer who Thomas has mentioned before. Here she is playing opposite David Garrick in another play. This portrait is by Zoffany

He has also seen Harlequin Ranger before

Sadly, there do not appear to have been any suitable portraits of the King & Queen arriving at the theatre. Where were the paparazzi when I needed them?

12th Oct 1761

2010-07-26T13:15:00.000-07:00

Bout. on Board an Indiaman at Blackwall 12 Cupps & 12 Sasers 9/- spent going 9d

The British Library's website assures me that by the early 18th century the East India Company were trading regularly with China bringing back Silk, Tea & porcelain. A list of items ordered in Canton by the Company dated 1734 lists 586 chests of China Ware (sic).

It had never crossed my mind that the customer might go aboard ship to buy the items brought back from the East.

I wonder if Thomas's cups & saucers were blue & white?

An Indiaman was a ship owned by the East India Company - see images and read about these ships here.

22nd July 1761

2010-07-25T11:04:00.000-07:00

Tuesday the King and Queen was Crowned at Westminster Abbey. I mobbd it and got near the Abby door and see all the procession The King Had a Canopy of Gold Tishew yellow Ground supported over his Head by Six Gentlemen they Call Barrons of the Sink Ports with Silver Staves & the Queens was the same the Ladys was Drest on there heds with Dimonds & Looked very Grand
The Lords & Ladys Carried there Coronetts in there hands when they went & had them on when came Back Knights of the Bath had Crimson Robes wth white Hatts and very Larg white orstridge feathers in there the King and Queen went the last and came back again the Last it was 10 minutes 6 OClock when they came back and they all got into the abbey half an Hour past one oClock it was Quiet when they got to Westminster Hall so that many thousands that Had taken plases in pallis yard Could not see them wn Returnd a Genlm Threw the meddell amongst the Gentm & Ladys that Satt in the Booths & Balconeys as they went a Long quite from the Abbey Door to Westminster Hall & I see the Conduit run with wine.
I spent in Eating & drinking Day 2/6

George III in Coronation Robes painted by Allan Ramsay

Queen Charlotte in her Coronation robes, also by Allan Ramsay.

The Barons of the Cinque Ports were not Peers of the Realm but a special group of Freemen of those ports who had the right to carry the King's canopy at his coronation.

The Order of the Bath had been founded in 1725 by George I. Here you will find more about them and a picture of Prince Albert wearing the robe and carrying the hat. It hasn't changed much and is still worn by modern knights of the Bath.

The "Meddells" were silver versions of this, thrown by the Treasurer of the Royal Household among the Peers & Peeresses.

I have found another eye-witness account of this coronation on-line, here.

13th September 1761

2010-07-21T08:07:00.000-07:00

Dined at Mr Samuel Pettys gave maid 12d

I don't record every time Thomas dines out (he always tips the staff though), but this one is special because I have been able to find out something about Samuel Petty.

Kent's Directory of 1740 tells us that Samuel and William Petty were silk throwsters, conducting their business from premises in Redlyon-street, Goodman's fields.

A Throwster is someone who twists threads into a yarn and the trade continues to this day, though it is mostly highly mechanised now.

I think that Samuel Petty traded from Red Lion Alley off Minories and close to Goodman's fields. Its position is shown here. (scroll down to see the small map excerpt)

12th September 1761

2010-07-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

Went with Miss Nancy Tutin to the Temple Church Lincoln's Inn Chappell & Foundling Chappell See Mr Cutts spt 6d

I'm not sure that Thomas ought to be out with another woman! He is engaged after all, though he doesn't seem to be in any hurry to get married. Still, at least he didn't spend a lot of money on Nancy.

The Temple Church, the first stones of which were laid in the 12th century, is still there, one of very few medieval round churches in England (Northampton, Cambridge... hang on while I google .. yes, one more survives, Little Maplestead in Essex)

Lincoln's Inn Chapel - still there - this is a bit more modern, having been consecrated on Ascension Day, 1623.

The Foundling Hospital Chapel is the only one of today's buildings which is not there for us to visit. It was demolished in the 1920s when the children were moved to a healthier site in Surrey, then to Hertfordshire.

I have no idea who Mr Cutts was.

8th September 1761

2010-07-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

Tuesday the Queen arrived at St. James abt. 20 minutes past 3Oclock in the afternoon see her get out of the Coach & see the King hand her into the Drawing Room the Park was croed with people they was marri'd the same night at St. James in the Chappell the Town was iluminated particular the Earl of Northumberlands House & Chareing cross Spent 18

Here is a real gem. Joshua Reynolds did the 18th century equivalent of a Wedding photo for us. Now we can see the tapestry Thomas mentioned yesterday. Sadly there is no sign of the chairs or the looking glasses.

The new Queen, previously Duchess Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, had only arrived in England on the Sunday, met the King and his family on Monday and then the wedding was the next day! It took place at 8 p.m.

I suppose it is obvious that Thomas gets the day of the week right, but now and then I feel the need to check his information. Yes, 8th September 1761 was, indeed, a Tuesday.

Northumberland House, home of the Earl of Northumberland (later created Duke), was demolished in the late 19th century but this is the house Thomas saw. The painting, by Canaletto, was done in 1752. Northumberland House stood near enough where the building of the same name stands today, overlooking what is now Trafalgar Square.

There was no Cross (or railway station!) at Charing Cross, the Eleanor Cross having been demolished in 1647.

6th September 1761

2010-07-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

Went to see the Kings Chappell now fitted up for the marriage of the queen it was hung with Tapestry & Eight Looking Glass & 2 Large armed Chares covered with Crimson Velvet gave the men 6d

George III's wedding took place in the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace. The Chapel Royal is a department of the Royal Household. Wikipedia explains it here. A distinctive feature of Chapels Royal is that the choir wear red. Strictly speaking, no other Anglican Choir may do this, however, it tends to be honoured in the breach!

I'm guessing that the chairs probably looked much like this (which was from the Chapel of the now vanished Chandos mansion.

There are not many pictures of the inside (or the outside) of the chapel and, to confuse things, there were two Chapels Royal in St James's Palace at the time. Now one of them is the Queen's Chapel and is outside the modern boundaries of this palace.

This must be a later picture and the chapel was redecorated in 1836. Many Royal Weddings have taken place there including that of Queen Victoria in 1840.

Here is a modern photograph of the chapel

2010-07-04T08:02:00.000-07:00

13th July 1761 Monday Proclimation for the King's Coronation to be 22 Sept next Spent 6

A Royal Proclamation has legal force (did you know that? I didn't).

28th July Went to Blackwall to see a 64 Ship of Warr called the Affrican and spt. 12

Here comes the sort of detail which makes me love doing this blog - HMS Africa was a 64 gun 3rd rate ship of the line launched at Blackwall Yard on 31st January 1761.

"Third Rate" is not in any way a perjorative term. It refers to a ship mounting between 64 & 80 guns and typically with two decks. It represented a good compromise between firepower, cost and sailing ability. HMS Victory is the only surviving ship of the line. Here is a diagram showing a third rate ship of the line ("ships of the line" are for fighting set piece battles as opposed to unrated, more manoeuvrable ships such as frigates).

The whole rating system is explained here. HMS Victory is a first rate ship of the line. I can't find a picture of a third rater but if you have visited HMS Victory, still the flag ship of the Royal Navy you will know that it seems very small today.

2010-06-22T12:08:00.000-07:00

24 June 1761 Spt. at Dulwich Wells with Mr Hall 6d

The Green Man Inn was where people came to take the waters at Dulwich Wells Spa.
This was where Dulwich Common Road meets Lordship Lane today. A pub has stood on the site ever since. Currently it is part of the Harvester chain which would be a really alien idea to Thomas!

29th June Went to Mary Lebone Gardens with Mr Smith 12d

A famous pleasure garden

2010-06-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

23rd June 1761 Spt at White Conduit House Mr Willson 6d

This Pleasure Garden was named after a stone conduit which supplied Charter House. There is a picture of the place in 1749 and a short description from 1754 here.

It was in Islington and only disappeared in 1831. It seems that there was a pub on the site until much more recently. It's a Sushi bar right now.

There is a poem, written in 1760 about the White Conduit House quoted here. It is by William Woty (bap 1732 - died 1791) who, among other publications under at least two names, was a contributor to The New Foundling Hospital for Wit and the Shrubs of Parnassus which he published as J Copywell (a rather Dickensian surname!)

On a more personal note "Mr Willson" seems to have been a visitor from Retford.

2010-05-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

7th June 1761 Went wth Mr Hall to Kensington Gravel Pitts Holland house Fox's Esqr Shepards Bush Acton Little Eleing and went to the Earl of Warwicks House Branford Chiswick Devenshiers house and fine Gardens Crossd Kew Bridge to Kew Barn Elmes Rowhampton Putney Wansworth Battersey Nine Elms Lambeth so Home in all the places near 28 miles Spent 18d

Kensington Gravel Pits was famously healthy and clean - now approximately Notting Hill

This picture is a little later

It is by John Linnell and is in the Tate collection.

Holland House, sadly bomb damaged since Thomas's day, is in Holland Park. It is a Jacobean house, originally known as Cope's Castle but it passed into the Fox family and belong to Henry Fox when Thomas visited (almost certainly just the house and garden, tipping the housekeeper, not the owner whose portrait is shown below).

This is the nearest to a contemporary picture of Holland House that I can find.

It dates from 1812. And below here is one as it is today (thank you Steve Cadman for permission to use his photo - Steve has loads of great photographs of London on Flickr).

I can't find out where the Earl of Warwick's London house was. Thomas's punctuation is so vague that I am not sure whether it was in Brentford ("Branford") or not, but Chiswick House is still there and almost unchanged since Thomas saw it.

Devonshire House, like Chiswick House, designed by William Kent, was in Piccadilly.

The Duchess at the time was the famous Georgiana, subject of a recent film. This portrait is by Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Kew Bridge was only completed in 1759. The current bridge is the third on the site. To see the one Thomas crossed and to read more about the history of the bridge click here.

Barn Elms is North of Barnes Common, named after a Georgian house which once stood there. The famous Kit-Kat Club met there and there is more history and a picture of the house here.

And finally Thomas goes "home" but he doesn't tell us where that is, which is infuriating!

2010-05-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

3 June 1761 Went to Drury Lane to see Jane Shore. Mrs Yates Elisia Mrs Sibber Mr Shore Mr Havers Hastings Mr Garick Gloster Mr Davis wth Harlequin Ranger 2/3

I've found the text of the play here. It was written by Nicholas Rowe "in imitation of Shakespear's style", first performed at Drury Lane in 1714 and based on the life of a real woman, Jane Shore, a mistress of Edward IV.

Thomas saw Mrs Yates earlier in 1761 , has has heard Mrs Cibber sing as well as act...picture here.
Her part is properly "Alicia".

Mr Havers is difficult but I think this may be him

Harlequin Ranger is the short comic piece. It was written by Henry Woodward, a protege of Lun who was a famous Harlequin. Here is one of many portraits of him which survive.

2010-05-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

1st June 1761 went to to Drury Lane to See King Lear.. Lear Garick Cordelia Mrs Sibber The King, Princess of Wales and the Rest of the Royal Family 2/3

Thomas has seen Garrick's Lear before and Mrs Cibber in another production but this must have been a very special event.

The King was the new George III. He was not yet married and his mother, Princess Augusta, the widow of his father, Frederick Prince of Wales, is the Princess of Wales mentioned.

The earliest portrait I can find of George III is by the Scottish artist, Allan Ramsay.

Here is his mother

Several other Princes and Princesses might be included in "the Rest of the Royal Family" but, of course, I don't know who was there.

2010-05-02T04:50:00.000-07:00

29th May 1761 Bout of Mr Venables at the Sign of the Beaver Piccadilly a Fine Beaver Hatt 21/- A Hatt Turning ..18d
Paid him for it before young Wade of Retford his apprentice.

I've found mention of a Mr Venables of Piccadilly - he was a subscriber towards a 1795 edition of Pilgrim's Progress.

Beaver hats were made initially from European Beaver but by this time most seem to have been made from pelts imported from North America. More here.

This hat seems likely to have been a tricorn - Some eighteenth century men's fashion is displayed here.

Thomas seems almost always very concerned that it is clear that he has paid. I find it interesting that he buys from a hatter whose apprentice is from his own home town. So often we seem to think that people didn't move much in the past but Thomas has many contacts who are spread over the country.

2010-04-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

23 May 1761
Paid Mr Ward watchmaker in Abchurch Lane for a new Silver watch in Exchange for my Old Pinch Back Watch five pounds as by his Receipt the No. of it is No.6923

Thomas has upgraded his watch, having swapped from silver to pinchbeck once before.

Pinchbeck is an alloy of copper and zinc which was used to imitate gold.

Abchurch Lane is still there in the City of London, running between King William Street & Cannon Street.

I need to do some more research about Mr Ward, but he may have been the master of the Clockmakers' Company in 1795 - a bit about that here.

2010-04-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

18th May 1761
Went to see the paintings, modals, sculptures and drawings etc etc at the Society for Arts & Manufactures - Catalogue 6d

Thomas visited the second ever exhibition mounted by what is today called the RSA. It was founded as a result of a bright idea by William Shipley in 1754. There is more history here.

2010-03-24T13:54:00.000-07:00

5 May 1761
Went to See Mr John Payne at Merton in Surry. 10 miles from London
First Place Clapham Balam Tutin uper Tutin then Merton

I think Thomas must be living west of the City this time (he hasn't told us where he is, just the name of his landlord, Thomas Hall). If he walked this journey from the City it would be 15 miles. From Chelsea it is 11 miles. He has the route wrong as he would have reached Upper Tooting before Tooting.

Gentleman Seats at Tutin Scott Esqr Santiloes Esqr Salvidores Jews Hammon Esqr at Merton Alderman Chitty Esqr Medcalfs Esqr & the Abbey where they Print Cottons & Linnes and Bleach em after one man pays 1500 pounds a month Duty

I wish Thomas used more punctuation!

"Salvidores" should read "Salvador". The family were leaders in the Sephardic community in London and Francis Salvador was the first Jew elected to office in what is now the United States. After a crash in his family's fortunes, caused by the Lisbon earthquake (1755) and Francis left Europe to seek his fortune in South Carolina, where, in 1774, he was elected to the South Carolina Revolutionary Provincial Congress.

John Payne appears to have been buried in Merton Churchyard ... see here

Alderman Chitty was involved in the case of Elizabeth Canning, a famous 18th Century mystery

"The Abbey where they Print Cottons & Linne" is Merton Priory Calico Works. William Morris owned it for a time and Liberty & Co bought part of it in 1904 and the part owned by Morris in 1940.

A Concert with a Sermon

2010-03-10T11:42:00.000-08:00

27th April 1761 Went to St Andrews Church Holborn to hear the Musik 36 Musitioner 16 Vocal for the benifitt of the Small Pox Hospital
Sermon Preacht by the Bishop Oxford gave 2/-
Text 12 Hebrew 21 vs

St Andrew's Holborn has a history of charitable connections. It was intimately connected with the Coram Foundation and the Royal Free Hospital was founded because William Marsden found a woman dying on the church steps but that was in the 19th century.

St Andrew's is a Wren Church. It was not completely destroyed in the Great Fire but was modernised in the 17th century to Wren plans
Here it is today

And here is a picture showing it in the 18th century.

It seems to have lost a lot of churchyard!

The London Smallpox hospital was in Windmill Street, off Tottenham Court Road (not to be confused with Great Windmill Street famous for the Windmill Theatre). It was founded in 1746 and is claimed to be the first specialist smallpox hospital in Europe. More about this here. Sometime between then and 1769, it was moved to a new building at Battle Bridge, where King's Cross Station now stands. It was in fields, well away from the possibility of infecting neighbours. The building looked like this:-

The Bishop of Oxford was John Hume who was also Dean of St Paul's (Shades of Anthony Trollope!). He went on to be Bishop of Salisbury.

The text reads

"And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:"

This refers to Moses's direct encounter with God.

I have found nothing about the concert which is a shame. I'll keep looking.

Thomas goes for a Walk!

2010-02-22T11:22:00.000-08:00

26th April 1761 Sunday Went wth Mr Hall this day into four Countys Middlesex Surry Kent & Essex Greenwich Blackwall Bowbridge Bednell Green Hackney Lowlaton Epin Forrist and See the Earl of Finleys Gardens & House
Went Back by by Temple millns & Hackney Spt. 2/6

I don't know where Thomas and his friend started from as Thomas has not told us where he is living.

Greenwich - this part will have looked much the same to Thomas as to us today

Google wants him to go through the Rotherhithe Tunnel to get between Greenwich & Blackwall. But that wasn't open until 1908. I think he probably took a ferry from Greenwich to the Isle of Dogs. An 18th century map shows Horse Ferry House opposite Greenwich on the Isle of Dogs. This ferry is still commemorated in road names, East & West Ferry Roads and Ferry Street and a pub... The Ferry House

After Blackwall, Thomas went on to Bow Bridge which is over the River Lea, not the Thames.

From there on to what we call Bethnal Green, of course, but this it not an example of Thomas's often dodgy spelling - It was called Bednall Green and there was a large house which served as a lunatic asylum there in 1761... more about the history of the area and a picture of the house here.

Lowlaton is Leyton. Thomas has been there before.

Epping Forest stretched from Forest Gate to Epping so I think we can assume that Thomas touched the Forest in the South, nearer the former than the latter.

Temple millns must be Temple Mill Lane which is not far from Leyton tube station but I guess looked greener than it does today (google maps shows a bleak mostly concrete landscape).

I've drawn a complete blank on the Earl of Finlay & his house.

Shopping!

2010-02-14T11:14:00.000-08:00

22nd April 1761 Bout. Mr. Asycough a Glass to magnifi 4/-
a pair of Spectacles for my Dear Miss Bett Newton 8/-
a yard Rule 12 a glass for a watch 12d
a pair of Spectacles for my Self 2/6

Miss Newton must be important - her specs cost a lot more than Thomas's! There are examples of what the spectacles may have looked like at the British Optical Association's website here.

A magnifying glass of the right sort of age is illustrated here.

25th April 1761 Bout. a Cribidge Board 2/4 Comb Brush 6/-
Spice Box 16 2 Tortisshell Combs 3/6

I had no idea that Cribbage was such an old game, however, a quick google reveals, yet again, how much I have to learn. Click here to read a history of Cribbage. This is a cribbage board which is a little later than 1761 - it is thought to date from around 1775.

Here is a Georgian spice box. It will set you back around £400 today.

2010-02-06T10:56:00.000-08:00

5th April 1761
Went to Text 12 Eclias. 1vs spt 6d

In the King James this text is

¹Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

We've already met the archbishop.

10th ltt. E Newton 4 Oysters 3d

Good to see that Thomas is keeping in touch with Elizabeth.

11th Went to See Covent Garden Romeo & Juliet Ross Romeo Miss Macklin Juliet 2/3

"Miss Macklin" was Mary, the daughter of the famous Irish actor Charles Macklin. She doesn't seem to have left any portraits. I've found only mention of "Ross" as an actor at Covent Garden in the right era but nothing much more (except that he was not as much of a draw as Garrick at Drury Lane at the same time!).

2010-01-29T10:43:00.000-08:00

25th March 1761 Bout. 1 Spanish dollar five shillings

Here is a Spanish coin of the right sort of date. I hope Thomas's purchase was in better condition!

26th Came on Thursday the Election for the City of London for Members of Parliament. Ladbrook Glyn Beckford Fludyer & Harley. I got Drunk Bout this day a wedding Ring of Edward Salter in Cannon Street over against St Swithins Church for Elizabeth & Thos Tye to be married in .....8/-

The City returned 4 members. Thomas would have had a vote as a Freeman, as well as a vote as a landowner in Pinxton, though, with no postal voting, he could only really vote in one place in each election.

The MPs mentioned....

Sir Robert Ladbroke - a previous Lord Mayor of London who founded a bank, now part of RBS. He is commemorated with a memorial in Christ Church Spitalfields

Sir Richard Glyn

- a banker who married rather well but doesn't seem to have had a portrait painted (or, if he did, no-one has put it on the web!).

William Beckford became wealthy from plantations in Jamaica.

Sir Samuel Fludyer - He was MP for Chippenham so I'm a bit puzzled that Thomas should mention him. However, he was to be Lord Mayor of London for 1761.

Thomas Harley - the younger son of the Earl of Oxford

And politics has rather distracted me.. Thomas is engaged! This is his first mention of it. One wonders whether buying the ring and being drunk are in any way related! The Jeweller's shop was close to the St Swithin's church

This Wren church was destroyed in 1941.

I haven't found anything about Edward Salter.. yet!

2010-01-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

19th March 1761 This Day Thursday the Parliament was Disolved

Election campaigns were short in the 18th century. The actual election took place between 25th March and 5th May with different constituencies voting on different days. Lots more about this election can be found on wikipedia.

22 Went to see Mr Bladon at Tottenham High Cross went ay Hogsdon Newington Butts spt 9d

Tottenham High Cross was given a Gothic makeover in 1809 but the picture below shows it as Thomas would have seen it. Newington Butts was already built on by the time Thomas went there.. it is totally unromantic today (Use Google Maps to see the rather dull housing that is there now).

2010-01-19T10:46:00.000-08:00

2nd Sept 1761 Bout a pint Rum 15d 6th Bout a Spieing Glass 5/- 1 Vol Tattlersle a song book 3d

Here is a telescope of about the right date. I can't make any sense of the book he bought. Can you?

Went to Covent Garden Play House to See an oratorio of Samson Organ Mr Hanley Violin Signor Giardini the King & all the Royal Family was their 5/-

Giardini, pictured below, was an Italian violinist and composer who settled in England.

The King was the soon to be crowned George III

He was not married so there was no Queen (yet) but perhaps his mother, Augusta, Princess of Wales, accompanied him?

He also had brothers & sisters. He would, of course have had the usual quota of hangers on and flunkies!

The Archbishop Preaches

2010-01-16T10:15:00.000-08:00

1 March 1761 went to Hear the ArchBishop Canterbury Preach at Lambeth. Text 126 Luke 5 7 vs Spt 6

The Archbishop was Thomas Secker.

So far I can't be quite sure which church Thomas visited but it seems likely to be St Mary's Lambeth

It's now the Museum of Garden History (John Tradescant and his son who were famous plant collectors were buried in the churchyard which makes that appropriate).

The text is hardly clearly stated, but I think it must be Luke chapter 12 v5-7. What is certain is the version which will have been in use - the King James. So those verses in that translation read.

"But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."

Drury Lane again.

2010-01-15T12:05:00.000-08:00

26 February 1761 went to Drury Lane to see Jealous Wife. Mrs Pritchard, Garick Offley 2/-

The Jealous wife is another play by George Colman the Elder, based on the story of Tom Jones. Once again, you can read the whole play online here. Garrick Played Oakly and Mrs Pritchard was his wife, Mrs Oakly. It was a new play in 1761. The link to the text tells us not only the cast for the first production at Drury Lane but describes the costumes worn. Unfortunately, this production doesn't seem to have been recorded by any painter. The picture below shows Garrick and Hannah Pritchard playing opposite each other in an earlier play, the Suspicious Husband.

Offley? David Garrick was a pupil of Dr Johnson. One of the others was a Mr Offley. But the cast list doesn't include the name and it is quite clearly "Offley" and not "Oakley" that Thomas has written here.

Thomas settles in

2010-01-10T10:42:00.000-08:00

3 Feby 1761 Paid Mr Hall Two Pounds Eleven Shilings in full for six weeks Bord & Lodgeing Due ys Day

It's the thorn again - "ys" represents "this".

4 Paid Mr Hall for 6 Cups & 6 Sausers and Two China Basons 8/6

11 Went to Drury Lane to See much ador abt. Nothing with Edgar and Emmelia 2/-

Well, Much Ado needs no explanation but the second piece is an opera called Edgar and Emmeline composed by Michael Arne. The libretto is available here but to save you reading PAGES of impenetrable verse, I'll tell you that the hero is the Earl of Kent, disguised as a woman, the heroine is the daughter of the Earl of Northumberland, disguised as a man and most of the rest of the cast are fairies! Thomas was seeing this production early in its run as the premier was only on the 31st January.

Emmeline was played by Mary Ann Yates who was most famous as a tragedian (but nothing with a fairy called "Grotilla" in it can be a tragedy!). This is a portrait of Mrs Yates.

She played opposite a Mr O'Brien - I think this is him

Thomas Goes to Town

2010-01-09T09:21:00.000-08:00

23rd Dec 1760 got to London abt Eight at night cost in Expences 12s
24th Paid Mr Hall Portridge of my Box and Lettr 12d

No mention at all of Christmas. The huge celebration does seem to have been a Victorian invention!
And he did not leave Richard Dale with bad feeling because...

12 Jan 1761 Sent Three Barrills of Oysters to my three Friends E Newton, Geo. Ayscough Richd Dale.

19 Jan 1761 Went to Drury Lane playhouse to see the Miner with Polly HoneyComb 2/9

The main piece that evening was "The Minor" by Samuel Foote, a piece which sought to satirise the Methodist movement. The text is available here.

Polly Honeycomb is a one act play by George Colman and you can download the whole script here. The playwright is usually referred to as "the elder" to distinguish him from his son, also called George.

This portrait is by Sir Joshua Reynolds (while he was successful as a playwright, he was also independently wealthy which probably explains a portrait by such a fashionable artist).

Thomas gets a new Landlady and makes a Journey

2010-01-08T09:57:00.000-08:00

18th December 1760 Richd Dale was married to Miss Dolly Drury

This was at St Peter's Nottingham, which I found using the magic of the internet - this website. Of course, the bride's proper name is Dorothy.

But the situation didn't last

20th December Paid Mr Richd Dale for two months Board and Lodging and all Demands by his Receipt and left him on this Day £2.0.0

21st December Gave Mr Newtons maid 2/6 Stay at Mr Newtons 2 Nights

22nd December Sett Forward to London in Coach and paid Coach Hire to London £1.8s

A New Meeting House in Nottingham

2010-01-06T12:02:00.000-08:00

15 Aprill Tuesday
Dr Eatons son Layd the first Brick of New Meeting House in Mr Dales yard

Sunday 17 August
Dr Eatons New meeting House was opened for the first Time up Mr Richd Dales Yard

Richard Dale was a Councillor and a druggist and by 1784 he had died. He was also Thomas's landlord at this date. I'm trying to find something more about this, presumably Society of Friends Meeting house. I'll edit this when I do.

But isn't that quick work? 4 months for a whole new building!

The Lottery 18th Century Style

2009-12-27T11:10:00.000-08:00

In spite of having lost money on previous lottery tickets, Thomas has not quite given up hope

7 February 1759 Bout a Tickett of Mr Geo Ayscough before the lottery begun Drawing No 3m726 I gave for it £12:3:0 it come up Blank and I sold the Blank for £5:5:0 so I am out of Pockitt £6.18s

Why would anyone buy the blank? Can anyone enlighten me?

From the margins of the account book

2009-12-18T11:51:00.001-08:00

Now and then there are little comments in the margin. Some are about friends, others about national events. This is one of the latter

12 Jan 1759 Fryday the princes of oringe dyed & ye people went into mourning 28th Jan.

Thomas's spelling continues eclectic,though the "ye" has a thorn not a y and should be pronounced "the". The " Princes of Orange" was Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange, the eldest daughter of George II and wife of the Prince of Orange (it is through her that William & Mary ruled Britain). More about her here. Below is her portrait.

Thomas is not feeling well

2009-12-18T11:41:00.000-08:00

Thomas is back in Nottingham by September 1758 and there are a few entries in his account book which tell us that he was not feeling well

28th Sept 1758 - Bleeding 12d. 3 Doses Physick Mr. Dale 2/-

19th October a Bottle of Daffees Elixer 15d
Marshmallow Rootes for Gravell 3d

Daffy's has been mentioned in this blog before. Marshmallow Root tea was supposed to help the passing of kidney stones which Thomas so graphically refers to as "Gravell".

2009-07-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

8th June 1758 Went to our Tenants at Pinkston
10th Went to Alfreton and Dined with George Moorwood Esqr. Gave Man 12d Maid 12d

Presumably tradesmen are "Mr" and landowners "Esqr"? That's about a 3 mile walk for his meal (short for Thomas, though I haven't been mentioning his walking recently)

11th Dined at Mr Clayes at Higham gave maid 12d

That's 5 miles, assuming that Thomas is staying with his tenant, which he usually does in Pinxton. The cottage below is Elizabethan and still standing in Higham - Thomas must have seen it.

13th Supt. at John Lilliman's Esqr. at Brookwall 12d

I can't find where Brookwall is/was. Can anyone help?

Pinkston Church was new Builded and New Pewed. theirs two seats that belongs to mine and sisters Farme House one for the men and the other for ye Women one is of the Right Hand goeing in and the other is on the Left. they are the Third seats from the Chancell.

I had no idea that the sexes sat ever separately in Church of England Churches. I wonder if it was usual.

Gave our Tenants Daughter 2/6 and spent there from 2nd June to 14th June 2/6

2009-07-21T10:51:00.000-07:00

The first two are not very interesting unless you have the people mentioned in your family tree, but I'm posting them just on the off-chance that someone is searching for these events.

Monday 12th September 1757
Old Seagrave Town Clark Dyed 11 o'clock at night

Well, Thomas disagrees with the official history... according to J. Holland Walker, An itinerary of Nottingham, Transactions of the Thoroton Society, 29-35 (1925-1935), Mr Seagrave died in 1790.

I'd back Thomas as he was there and Mr Holland Walker was writing over 100 years later.

27th October
Thos Lamb was married to Miss Harborn of Northampton

Can't find anything more about that.

9 November
Bout of Mr Molton Cabinett Maker a Tikett for his Goods to be drawn by way of Lottery as he is going to London mine came up Blanck according to Costom. 19/6

Oh, dear,Thomas isn't very pleased about his lack of good fortune in this lottery. I assume that this was a clever sort of closing down sale? 19/6 is a huge amount of money for Thomas to hazard - he pays £1 per month board & lodging to put it in perspective.

2009-07-20T09:44:00.000-07:00

17th August 1757
Paid Brother Bright for his apprentice Fomenting my Legg 5 times 5/-

"Brother Bright" is Joseph Bright, an apothecary, who married Thomas's sister Dorothy.

Fomenting is placing hot flannels onto the affected part of the body. Thomas has not mentioned why he had this done.

However, either Fomenting was efficacious or Thomas had nothing much wrong with his leg as he paid his debts in Retford, including 24/- to his sisters for one month Board and Lodging (that's Ann & Mary) - and walked back to Nottingham on 19th August.

2009-07-17T11:02:00.000-07:00

6 August 1757
Spent at the White Hart with Messrs Moody & Hurst 4/-

Thomas is in Retford at the moment and this Inn is still in the main Square. It does seem to be the only pub in England which no-one has photographed and uploaded the picture to the web (If you spot one, let me know, please?)

Here is one taken in 1914 (!)

That's the White Hart on the Left.

9 August 1757
Tuesday Pegey Cox was married to Solomon Woodroofe of Stamford

Once again I can check this on FamilySearch.org and it tells me that this took place in Thomas's parish church, St Peter's. Of course, the parish registers call the bride by her given name of Margaret.

2009-07-14T08:38:00.000-07:00

24th May 1757
Tuesday Mr Mettam was married to Miss Frances Thompson Nottingham

IGI tells me that Mr Mettam's name was Thomas and they were married at St Mary's Church

20th June 1757
Monday Charles Drury was married to Miss Bettison Nottingham

Once again I must resort to IGI. The bride's name was Sarah and the wedding took place in St Nicholas Church

This story has a sad ending. Thomas has added later

News Came 26th December 1766 Chas. Drury was Drownded near Dublin Left a widow and 4 children and she bigg with child.

And, just to show you that Thomas continues with his meticulous record of spending...

1st July
Bout a bottle of Limical Drops for Scurvy. 3/6

(I've always said that Thomas doesn't eat enough fruit and veg!)

2009-07-07T11:32:00.000-07:00

3rd Jan 1757
Miss Drury married the Revd Mr Pennell Schoolmaster at Rotherham Yorkshire 3 Jan 1757

I need to sign up to one of the genealogy sites to find out more about this couple

9th Jan
Dined and Supt at Mr Ayscoughs and gave his maid and man as I give them nothin the year besides and am at his house almost everyday 5/-

Thomas usually tips the maid 1/- when he dines out so he has scarcely paid his debts!!! However, 1/- does seem a lot for the time.

Thomas has also left his landlord to live with Mr Richard Dale but I don't know why.

14th March
Admiral Bing was shot at Portsmouth for not fighting the French Fleet at Portmahon

This is just a note in the margin (Thomas is doing more of those). It refers to the famous incident which caused Voltaire comment in Candide "Dans ce pays-ci, il est bon de tuer de temps en temps un amiral pour encourager les autres". Here is a picture of Admiral Byng.

28th March
Gave our Tenant Warning to Leave our Farm at Pinkston Monday

Thomas means that the 28th March is a Monday, not that he gave him less than a week's notice.

Lawyers were expensive in 1756, too!

2009-07-05T11:45:00.000-07:00

2nd April 1756 Paid Mr Robt. Evans Attorney at Nottingham for pasing fine & Recovery Hilary Term 1756 for passing a fine and Recovery on my Late Brothers Estate Lyeing at Retford & Lands in the parish of Clarbrough all in the County of Nottingham £16.16s

Paid Agent for Signing of Deeds 6s8d

Carriage of Writings & Coach 2s 6d Deeds of Lease & Release to make a Tennant to the Precipe £1/15s6d

Paid Mr Evans before his wife Eighteen Guineas in full for the above and all Demands. Sir Thos Perkins of Bunney Bar. was high Sheariff for Nottinghamshire when the fine & Recovery was past.

Most of this is double dutch to me but "Precipe" is a variation on precept - a written order addressed to the clerk of the court requesting that a writ be issued and specifying its contents. "Bunney Bar" is not a place. Thomas means that Sir Thomas Perkins lived in Bunny, which is between Nottingham and Loughborough and that he was a Baronet!

It seems to be a while since I could find a picture to illustrate this blog so here is a picture of Sir Thomas's home, Bunny Hall

2009-06-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

4th November 1755
Went to Carlton Feast Spt 9d.

14th November
Christopher Cox Dyed 1755

For the first time Thomas mentions a death and I can't establish who he was. Thomas really is rather dull at this stage of his life.. Sorry!

2009-06-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

31 July 1755
Sent this Day as a present to Sister Bright a pound of Churchmans Chocolate 5/-
4yds printed Linen for her little Daughter 10/-

Here is an undated advert for Churchman's chocolate - it is a variety of drinking chocolate - a great delicacy in the eighteenth century. Many of the so-called coffee pots which survive from this time were actually for chocolate.

This piece does not have a date on it, but Walter Churchman made chocolate starting in about 1728. This business was carried on by Joseph Fry and there is more about him and the history of chocolate in England here. By 1776, a pound of Churchman's chocolate cost 7/6

Dorothy's daughter was also called Dorothy. She was about 3 years old when her uncle sent this fabric as a present. It is through her that Thomas's book has come to me.

2009-06-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

For nearly four pages, Thomas records the money he spends in pursuit of a court case against his sisters, Mary & Ann, spending a huge sum of money on lawyers and court fees. At the moment it doesn't make much sense to me but I will, sometime, acquire a copy of his brother John's will which is the cause of it all.

12 April 1755
a pair Dog Skin Pumps Barnett 6/6

UGH!

17 June
Paid Mr John Bright Attorney at Retford for Drawing Abstracts of the Writings that belongs to me & three Sisters Estate at Pinkston alias Pinxton in Derbyshire and his attendence at Sisters Tyes for a bout two Hours £5

27 June
Paid Sisters for 5 Weeks Board £1.10s

At the same time that Thomas is fighting with his sisters for control of various properties, he is staying with them. How odd is that?
John Bright is Thomas's sister Dorothy's brother-in-law.

28 June
Left Retford and Walked from their to Nottingham and Spent at Red Hill in Eating & Drinking 2/-

It is a long time since Thomas has recorded one of his long walks. This one is a total of 30miles with the stop at what is now called Redhill 10 miles from home.

2009-06-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

2nd October 1754
Spent with our Tenant & gave his Daughr. Ribin 12d and gave him for bringing rent 12d
4 October gave Miss Tutins Ribins fairing 3/9

It seems to me unlikely that a modern bachelor would buy such frivolous things for the daughters of business contacts. Even an uncle would be likely to hand over money rather than buying a gift.

5 October Letters from Madam Mawson & Mr Byfield 8d

Thomas hasn't mentioned London friends for some years!

13 October
Went to Willoughby Waterleys in LiecesterShire 7 miles from Leicester to see my Cousin Levetts & stayed their till 18 Oct. & Cost me their and Horse Hire 18s 10d

23 October Mr Lowther was married to my Cousin Barbra Nicols of East Retford.

A search on www.familysearch.org tells me that Mr Lowther's name was William.
The Nicols were related to Thomas through his maternal grandmother.
(the Levetts mentioned on the 13th, were related to his paternal grandmother).

2009-06-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

9 August 1754 Fryday
Judge Burchell Sett Patt Goodall at Liberty. About Rioting in the Election of Member of Parliament tho the Prebiterents was worse then they they took care that non of their side Gang was presicuted. The Grand Jury found no bill against Patt Goodall which mortified the Presbiterents greatly.

Thomas doesn't sound like a dispassionate observer of these riots, does he? Online I can find little about what happened except that a Dissenters' chapel was destroyed and, by way of retaliation, many church windows were broken and "only two men were killed." Thomas calls the Dissenters Presbyterians which is not necessarily an accurate description, but I don't think he approves of them one bit!

2009-05-30T03:49:00.000-07:00

4th August 1754
Bout. a bottle of Daffees Eliexir 15d

Google comes up trumps again! I put the name of the patent medicine into the search box and used Thomas's spelling of the name (not of Elixir, I can spell that!).

"Do you mean Daffy's Elixir?"

Well, of course I do! It was a very famous patent medicine created by the Rev. Thomas Daffy, Vicar of Redmile, which is between Nottingham and Grantham. The first date of marketing the cure-all, which seems to have been mostly a laxative for the cure of "stones and gravel", is not recorded but by 1673 it had a considerable reputation. The name went on to become a generic for quack medicines and was sold well into the 19th century with some sources suggesting that it was sold right up until the 1950s! Older Bottles bearing the name are worth £90-£140! This one is a design used from the late 18th century. Thomas's bottle may have looked like this.

You will find more about this nostrum and its creator here.

2009-05-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

2nd August 1754
Bout. a Brown Wigg of Mr Josh. Deverall over against the Blackamoors Head and Paid him for it as by his Receipt 18s

3rd August
Paid Mr Ellis next Door to the Windmill for a pair of new doe Leather Breeches in Exchange for a pair of old Doe Leather Breeches as by his Receipt 16s

2009-05-28T04:33:00.000-07:00

28th May 1754
Gave Miss Bett Newton a Concert Tickett 2/6

What concert, Thomas? Tell!!!

12 June Gave Miss Bett Newton a pr. Silk Muffetees 4/6

Would I comment on these presents to Miss Newton if I didn't know that they later married? I wonder.

20 June Dined and Supt. at Mr Newtons gave maid 12d

2009-05-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

Saturday 13th April 1754
Proclaimed to Choose the members for this Town on Thursday 18th of this Aprill 20 Aprill Saturday the Poole Ended . for Lord How 980 for Sir Willoughby Aston 924 for John Plumptree Esqr. 915

1 May Lord Robert Sutton & John Thornough was chared for members for Nottinghamshire
Dined on the Occaison with Bror. Bright and Several other Gentm. from Retford.

This was a General Election. Polling was not all on the same day throughout the country or even all on one day in each constituency. The Returning Officer decided the dates.

Sir Willoughby Aston was the 5th Baronet, born about 1715, died 1772

Lord Robert Sutton was a son of the Duke of Rutland - more about him here
Here he is in his military uniform painted by Joseph Wright of Derby.

2009-05-20T11:55:00.000-07:00

2nd February 1754
Bout. Mr Thos. Mettam & Paid him
2 Red & White Printed Handkerchiefs 3/10
2 Blue and White Printed Ditto 3/4
1 Silk Large Handkerchief 4/2

I think those are rather expensive for the time

23 February
Spent Mr Cripps at Gundimones 8d

Is it a place? a gambling game? I can't find anything and I've even tried the OED. The handwriting is quite clear and I can't work out any other possible spelling which makes any sense.

25 February
Sent Mr Pearce of London for two volumes Telimacus 4/-
Paradise Lost with Cutts 4/6

What did he do with the last copy of Telemachus? "Cutts" means woodcuts or other illustrations rather than censorship. I can't find any images which are old enough to possibly be from an edition which Thomas might have bought.

2009-05-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

23rd August 1753
Dined at Mr Newtons on Venison gave made 12d

Thomas has never mentioned what he ate while eating out before so venison must have been a treat.

In the same month Thomas spends a lot of money on searching various court records for fines levied on his brother John, for being a Catholic I assume. It cost him nearly £5 in the one month.

1 December 1753
bout of Mr Charles Redish half of a Irish Tickett n17812 paid him for it 21/2

Ireland was not an independent country in 1753. Perhaps "Irish Ticket" is a generic term for a lottery ticket. There was a lottery in Britain in 1753, to raise funds for the founding of the British Museum.

25th December
Gave Barbers Taylers Shooemakers Xmas Box 18d
26 Gave Mr Tutins Maid for Xmas Box 5/-

That is the extent of Thomas's Christmas celebrations. He does seem to be fairly generous with his tips. He is still lodging with Mr Tutin, paying him £12 per year, in half yearly instalments. Unlike Mr Gibson, Mr Tutin is scrupulous about giving Thomas receipts.

15 Febry Bout. of Mr Barnett a pair of new Boots and allowed me for a pair of old ones not half wore out but Rather too little in Exchange I paid him 14s 6d

2009-05-03T04:32:00.000-07:00

24th June 1753
Letter from Sister Ann 3d
to Lett me know that my Aunt Nichols my mothers sister Dyed at Retford 16 June between the hours of Twelve & one o'Clock Pray god Rest her soul thou She had used all of us very Ill shall say no more.

That entry raises more questions than answers!

Part Exchange in the 18th Century

2009-05-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

1 November 1752 Exchanged a Silver Watch with Mr John Colton in Turncalf Aley for a pinch Beack watch Double Gilt with Gold a new one he brote with him from London No.8990 makers name Kover London gave in Exchange as by his receipt for the same £3.0s 0d

I'm not sure I would have swapped a silver watch for a pinchbeck one. The alloy is an 18th century invention by Christopher Pinchbeck. It was copper and zinc and closely resembles gold. I have found online references to the watchmaker Kover. A watch made by him was stolen in 1761 and came to court, as described here. Should Thomas's watch have survived, we could identify it as we have the serial number. Another reference tells us that a watch by the same maker was sold at auction in 2005. Without an appropriate subscription, I can't tell you where, apart from the fact that it was in UK, or how much it fetched.

21 December
Paid Mr Robt. Evans Two Guineas for asking Mr Yardley Willmot Counclers Opinion of my great great Uncle Richd. Tyes Will & my Fathers John Tyes Will and my Bror. John Tyes Will all Deceased. £2.2s

I have a copy of John Tye senior's will. It is odd in one way in that it leaves nothing to his eldest child, who I believe to be his daughter Elizabeth. She died in 1726 not that long after her father (1719) so perhaps she was ill/disabled already by the time he made his will? When John Tye senior died none of his children were even teenagers. His eldest son, John, was to receive what his mother had as a life interest. Otherwise, all is left divided equally, held in trust until they are each 21 and "theirs equally share and share alike".

I will come back to this post and edit it if I find more about these wills.

2009-04-29T13:37:00.000-07:00

16th August 1752
Went to Colwick Wakes with Mrs Cox, Miss Tutin, Miss Blocksidge & Miss Newton 2/-

It really does say "Wakes" not "Lakes". It is true that there are lakes at Colwick but they are former gravel pits and would not have been there in 1752. Wakes were often celebrations of the anniversary of the founding of a church. Their latest survival was the Wakes Weeks of Lancashire towns. These have just become holiday weeks.

3rd September is the 14th the Style being altered this day by Act of Parliament.

Parliament had acted to bring Britain into line with the rest of Europe by moving from the Julian to the Gregorian Calendar. This caused riots, mostly remembered for the slogan "Give us back our Eleven Days!" Thomas does not seem to have misunderstood Parliament's intentions in this way. Read more about this in wikipedia.

2009-04-27T05:22:00.000-07:00

15th April 1752
His Hon. Rothwell Willoughby Dyed - Wednesday

Oh, don't unusual names make research easier? Rothwell Willoughby was an interesting person. The house he built in Nottingham is still called Willoughby House and is a store owned by the designer, Paul Smith who hails from Nottingham.

22nd April
Went to Mr Cripps of Ilkinston and this Day stud Godfather to his Daugher with Miss Jane Eccles of Tidsey in Darbyshire & Miss Cripps it being the first time I stud in my life.

A parish register entry for Ilkeston (click here if you are interested in buying the transcripts) tells me that the baby girl was Elizabeth and Mr & Mrs Cripps were Francis and Frances.

I haven't yet managed to find out where Thomas means by "Tidsey".

2009-04-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

10 Nov 1751
Ann Newton married Mr Hesketh Lord Wards Steward Summerhill Staffordshire

Family Search.com tells me that Ann married John Hesketh at St Peter's Nottingham. She was born around 1730 but I'm not at all sure where or who her parents were. I assume she is related to Elizabeth but I don't think they are sisters.

Lord Ward owned extensive estates around Kingswinford in Staffordshire.

23 December
My Bror. John Tye Dyed about 12 oClock on Monday night and maid his will about half an Hour before he dyed and had been Ill from October when he returned from London where he had been to Sell the Freehold Estate at Merton In Surry abt 9 miles from London to Mrs Mariam Payne of Merton for 620 pounds the Estate was lLett for 50 pounds a year was told he had not a Right to Sell it without I joined with him

30 December
Paid John Addsett Tayler in West Retford for makeing a mourning Coat & Breeches a WaistCoat I had when I went to Retford - 9/-

2009-04-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

17 June 1751
Went to Pinkston in Derbyshire to our Tenants and stayed to 27 June to give them order to Build a new necessary House & Pigg Stye with Brick they had done abt. half when I left him spent the time I was their 6/8 Gave Daughter 2/6

So they needed a new brick privy! I have found another example of this use of the word in the 18th Century. It is in the memoirs of a soldier, Corporal William Todd and you can find more details of the book here.

The Church in Pinxton (Pinxton is in Nottinghamshire now!) was rebuilt in 1790 but here is a picture dated 1733 - so this is how it looked when Thomas was there.

2009-04-19T11:37:00.000-07:00

18 January 1750/1
Paid Mr Cripps for 2 pound Shag Tobacco 2/3

Thomas can't be very addicted as this is his first purchase since May last year.

25 February
Went to Bobers Mill with Mr Tutin spent 4d

Bobbers Mill is now an area of Nottingham. The area is named after the mill on the River Leen which is first referred to in 1438. I can only find one picture of it and that dates from 1906.

4th March
Miss Bett. Newton Bout for me at Mr Philip Sterleys 9 yds of fine Irish 2/1 - 18s 9d
6 March
She Bout me at Mr Southwells 1 yds 5/8 of fine Cambrick - 13s
I gave her money to buy them

This entry is the first mention of Elizabeth, who Thomas marries later (we'll get there in time!).

21st March the Prince of Wales Died

Frederick, who had a hostile relationship with his parents, died, to their ill-concealed relief!

2009-04-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

28th September 1750
Went to See the Grand Turk Dance on the Wire and Rope 2/-

Well, Sultan Mehmet II was not visiting Nottingham in the 18th Century and the ship used in the Hornblower TV series can't dance. That said, I think this was probably a circus-type act, possibly an exotic foreigner but just as likely someone using the character to make his act more exciting.

7th November Lord Santery married Elizabeth Shore

Henry, the 4th(and last) Lord of Santry murdered a footman in 1738, was tried by his peers and found guilty. He was later reprieved from the death sentence and given a full pardon by the king, but his estates and possessions were forfeited. His marriage to Elizabeth Shore was shortlived as he died on 18th March 1750/1.
I don't know why Thomas mentions this.

3rd December
Left that Scoundrill Richard Gibson who gave me nothing for liveing with him and I did all his Buisness & pack't up all his paresells & keept His Books from 29 of May 1744 To the 3 of December 1750 when I went he did not as much as thank me tho the agreement was he would please me for the time I would stay with him he never gave me to the value of 30 shill all the time I was with him

Oh dear! Thomas is annoyed, isn't he?

Went to Mr Tutin's the Same day & went to Mr Cripps at Ilkiston the 18 December and stay'd their till the 3 Jan gave his maid & boy 4/- Spent their & at Mr Tutin's before I went 12/8

And, in the margin:

6 December Jane Newton was married to Mr William Tayler.

Jane's parents are not the same as Elizabeth who Thomas marries.

Thomas embarks on a Slippery Slope et al.

2009-04-16T09:58:00.000-07:00

26th April 1750
Rupert Brown's Wedding Comes out.

Did Mr Brown keep it a secret?

28th May 1750
Bout. a pound Shagg Tobacco 13d

This is the first time that Thomas records buying the evil weed!

12th June Bout. a Tea Canister Mr Pearson 9d
¼ fine Hison Tea Mr Butcher 4/-

Isn't Tea expensive? Hison or Hyson Tea is a Green Tea which definitely commands a premium even today.

10 September
My Brother was very Unhappy in some affair at Retford but don't know the truth.

(I will have a hunt through the box of family papers marked "Tye" and report back if I find anything)

2009-04-15T13:19:00.000-07:00

29th October 1749 Bout of Mr Robt. Graham Hamilton that Comes out of Scotland Twice a year 8 yds of Scotch Plod 2/- a yard 16s 25yds fine Scotch Holland at 3/10 a yd £4.15s10d

Isn't "Plod" wonderful? Do you think it represents Thomas's hearing of the Scot's accent? I can't see what he did with the Tartan, or the "Holland" for that matter.

12 Novr. Paid Miss Bett Newton for a pair of Leather Baggs which her Bror. Willm got made for me at Grantham & paid her for them at the time I took them away.
26 Paid Mr Saml Newton for making a lock without a Key for the Baggs and opens with Letters Tye Tho. 4/6

What an interesting thought! Do you think it had all 26 letters on it? Then Thomas returns to the general round of dining with friends. The only mention Christmas gets is the Xmas Boxes to tradesmen's boys. I should point out that he is dining more and more often at Mr Newton's house. The reason I have remarked on this will become obvious in due course. Then in March 1750 this entry.
P.S. I've found a picture of a nineteenth century combination padlock. Perhaps Thomas's looked a bit like this?

11 Went to see the Female Rhinocerous an Real Unicorn & a Live Crocodile gave 6d

And you thought the Unicorns didn't make it onto Noah's Ark!
Here is an illustration from 1712 of Unicorns.

Their horn was believed to have medicinal value. It seems likely that the twisted horn used to turn a horse into a unicorn came from a Narwhal

Family Matters

2009-04-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

I feel that I should precis the family comings and goings which I have left out of the last few posts. It doesn't seem worth typing where Thomas went for supper and how much he tipped the maid but you should know that his brother, John, has been on a trip to "France", visiting Ypres, Ghent, Bruges (which Thomas calls "Bridges") Dunkirk & Calais. Also Thomas has had supper with his newly married sister & her husband so, presumably, he has forgiven them for not inviting him to the wedding. Dorothy & her husband, Joseph, live in Retford where he is the local surgeon.

Thomas has also been rent collecting again, once more saving money by borrowing John Tye's horse.

However here is a fresh departure for Thomas:-

16 October 1749
Went to Bollam to Fish & spt. their 14d

This is Bolham, not far from Retford. It is obvious today from Google maps that Bolham Lane runs alongside the River Idle even today.

29 October
Sent three pair of Green Silk Muffetees for a present. Paid Mr Colton in Turn Calf Ally for them for my sisters. 10s 6d

Muffetees are wrist warmers or fingerless gloves. I rather think that in silk they were not exactly functional!

Turn Calf Alley was in Nottingham (I've had help to establish this) - It is no longer there but was close to the bridge across the Leen (London Road)

Another Trip out

2009-04-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

Thomas really likes visiting stately homes!

14th October 1749
Went to Mr Edward Willsons of Worksope & went to See the Duke of Norfolks House and Dined at Mr Willsons & Cost me 3/6

This visit was to Worksop Manor which had come into the possession of the Duke of Norfolk by marriage. It was a 16th century house and you & I cannot see any more of it than survives in this (and other) pictures. It was burned down in 1761 and the house which occupies the site now is a Victorian building.

2009-04-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

25 Aprill 1749
Paid Miss Dolley Newton for makeing 2 new Ruffled Shirts 5/-
and new Ruffling 3 old Shirts and new neck Bands and Rist Bands 3/6

Now that really is "Make do and mend"!

14May
White Sunday Sister Dolley Tye was married to Mr Joseph Bright Surgeon at East Retford. They neither gave me an Invitation to the weding nor sent me Gloves

Thomas wrote about this near to the front of the book(out of date order). He was clearly very annoyed. Gloves were a traditional gift for wedding guests right into the nineteenth century.

28 May
I went with Mr Tutin & his Son Mr Rupert Brown to see our Tenant at Pinkston and from thence to See Lord Byerons House and Gardens and Cost me 4/9

That was Newstead Abbey. The Lord Byron in question was the Great-uncle of the poet. I rather think that Thomas didn't make himself clear about the party which went to there. I think it should read, "Mr Tutin, his son and Mr Rupert Brown" but I could be wrong and can't ask Thomas for confirmation one way or the other.

2009-04-09T10:47:00.000-07:00

18th November Went to Rotherham in Yorkshire to Sell Mr Wm. Cryers goods up by Virtue of a Bill of Sail that the Said Wm Cryer gave Mr Gibson and stayed their till the 30 November and paid Mr Gibson in money & Bills for what Goods I sold the time I stayed but Mr Gibson gave me no receipt for the said moneys & Bills
Thos Tye (once again Thomas feels he needs to sign this entry).
Went to See Lord Moltons House and Gardens with Mr Cryer and cost me nothing as he was requested their
Cost me out of my own Pockett while I was their 4/6
Extraordinary.

It took a bit of detecting to find which house Thomas visited but eventually I found that it was Lord Malton's place, Wentworth Woodhouse. Lord Malton wasn't Lord Malton for long. Thomas Watson-Wentworth was created Baron Malton in 1734 and by the time Thomas visited he was already the Marquis of Rockingham. The house was pretty new when Thomas visited and parts of what is there today were not yet built. You and I, unless personal friends of the owner, are not able to follow in his footsteps as it is privately owned. The picture below shows part of the house which was completed when Thomas was there.

A Death in the Family

2009-04-08T13:47:00.000-07:00

11th October 1748
had a Letter from Brother to Informe me that my Uncle Willam Tye Dyed Tuesday 4 October 1748 I pray god Rest his Soul.

12 October
Bout of Mr John Hunt & paid for them
1½ Supr Black Cloth 18/9 - £1.7s
4 yds Black Shalloon 2/- - 8s
Fustion & 2 Skin to Line Breeches 2/4 - 3s
Buttons for Coat and Waist Coat & Breeches 2/9
Silk Twist and other Trimings 3/3
14 October
Paid Geo: Peat Tayler for makeing Black Cloth waist Coat Breeches and altering my Blue Coat in Lyning it with Black and puting Bla. Buttons on it & Binding the holes with Black 8/6

In addition to this expense for appropriate mourning clothes, Thomas also pays £1.5s towards his uncle's funeral expenses.

2009-04-07T11:10:00.000-07:00

16th May 1748
Bout. of John Hunt for a Blue Superfine Broad Cloth for a Frock and 2 Blue & white Ginghams for 2 Waistcoats & Shalloon and all other Trimings to them & gave me a Receipt for them £2.18s9d

4th June
Paid Geo. Peat for Makeing a Blue Frock and 2 Gingham Waistcoats 10s6d

Thomas was, of course, buying a Frock Coat not a dress!

A Wardrobe Makeover.

2009-04-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

8th February 1747/8
Bout of Mr Gibson as under & paid him for them

18 yds fine yd wide Irish Cloth at 2/2 yd £1.19s
11 yds Strong 7/8 width Colerain Linin at 16d 14s 8d
4½ yds Ell wide Musling 3/9 16s10d
2 ½ yds Diaper for Capps 15d 3s 1d
2 ¼ yds fine Camberick for Ruffles 8/- £1. 18s
Thread & Buttons & Tape 1s 6d

5th March
Paid Mrs Ann Hammons & Miss Bull for making the things as under as by their Receipts
5 Ruffled Shirts at 2/6 a piece 12s6d
3 Plain Night Shirts at 18d a piece 4s6d
9 Neck Cloths making 1s6d
6 night Capps making 1s

It is a while since I did sums in £sd, but that seems to be a total of £6 11s 7d on Thomas's wardrobe makeover!
Reading this blog, you may conclude that Thomas seldom bought clothes but I have left most of those events out as it would be rather dull to include them all.

Christmas Presents

2009-04-05T08:09:00.000-07:00

17th December 1747
Sent Bror John Tye a Rand of Sturgeon Pott and Carriage as a present 7s 4d
17 Sent Mr Edward Willson Attorney at Worksope a Rand of Sturgeon as a present pott & Carriage 8s 8d

The difference in price doesn't square with John Tye being in Retford, which is almost the same distance from Nottingham as Worksop is. Also, I have no idea what a Rand is. Have you?

25th December
gave Barbers Taylers & Shooemakers Boy Xmas Box 1s6d

Urequited Love!

2009-04-01T13:50:00.000-07:00

10 September 1747
Mr Philip Lander was married to miss Watson poor Gibson's Sweetheart and he was Greatly in the Dumps abt. it

I checked and IGI records that Mr Philip Launder married Miss Ursula Watson on the 10th September 1747 at St Peter's Nottingham but we knew the date was right because why would Thomas get it wrong? However, I am still slightly astonished when I find external confirmation of what Thomas tells us. Perhaps I don't really believe in the past?

IGI is the Family History Search resource of the Church of Latter Day saints.

Mr Launder was a native of Nottingham, having been christened in the same church on 23 November 1711. His parents were Philip and Mary. The parish register entry for his marriage at St Peter's tells us that he was a woollen draper. It seems that his father lived into his 80s as is recorded in a book published in 1751. Philip had a sister, Margaret, older than him, who was also baptised & married at St Peter's.

I think it is amazing that I can find so much about a man born in the eighteenth century from just his marriage date! Perhaps I should have concentrated on Gibson but, assuming that this is Richard Gibson, I need something more to pin him down.

I really would not have expected the expression "in the Dumps" to be so old, would you?

2009-04-01T12:46:00.000-07:00

6th April 1747
Went with Mr Rupert Brown to Southwell to see the Minster. went to Oxon & Lay at Mr Bulls all Night & walked home the Next Day 2/6

Southwell Minster would have looked pretty much like it does now, Rhenish caps and all. They were replaced in the 1880s and may be a little steeper than they were before that but the general design is medieval.

"Oxon" had me fooled until tried Google maps. When I entered "Oxon, Notts", clever old Google asked me , "do you mean Oxton?" which of course, Thomas must have done. This took 5 miles off the return journey saved Thomas the cost of an Inn overnight.

& went with Mr Tutin to see the Electrical Machine and ws Electrified and gave 12d

Yet another enigmatic post from Thomas! It wasn't a Van de Graaf generator (which, of course, needs no electrical power - can be run by winding the handle) as that was not invented. Benjamin Franklin was researching around this time but most of what we take for granted about electricity had not yet been discovered.

22 May
Went with Brother John Tye to Colwick and Mrs Chappell showed us the House and gardens and gave the maid 12d

It's Kedleston all over again! I can't show you Colwick Hall as Thomas saw it as it was rebuilt in 1776 and there don't seem to be any pictures of the old house.