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.

A Wardrobe Makeover.

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.

Urequited Love!

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?

Thomas is in Nottingham

Thomas didn’t tell us where Mr Richard Gibson, who he is working for, lived but the posts below make it pretty obvious he is in Nottingham.

19th July 1744
Went to Clifton Gardens Mr Dancer spt 12d
26 Spt at Blackamoors Head Mr Fox London 12d

Clifton Gardens must have been the gardens of Clifton Hall

This picture is from 1676, but the next picture shows a remodelled house which dates from rather later than 1744.
More about Clifton Hall and the family who owned it can be found here.

The Blackamoor's Head must be the forerunner of the famous Black Boy which was in the centre of Nottingham. The building that was demolished was Victorian (but still should have been left!!) and Mr Fox must be a friend from London.

EDIT JULY 09 - I've just discovered that the Blackamore's Head was quite a different place - It was in Pelham Street.