The Lottery 18th Century Style

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?

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.

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