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

To Hull by Sea

Thomas's sisters went home to Retford on the 17th August 1743

20th August
Paid Carriage of my Box to Retford 3/-

24th August
Paid Mr Woring in half Moon Court Cheap Side for a Grizel Wigg and gave me a Receipt. £1


I'm not sure that I have the name of the wigmaker correct - the writing is not clear - the wig is a grey one. Then Thomas does a lot more shopping which is all pretty routine, followed by this journey...

3rd September
Gave a man 2/3 to Take my Trunk on Board a Ship going to Hull & Spent this Day before I went on Board in punch, Bear & Fish 5/- (Thomas means beer)
Paid Lodgings & Washing in full 3/2
Sett forwards thisEvening and got to Hull the 9 September at 2 oClock in the afternoon and paid the Capt. for our passidge my Self & a Dutch Dog and my Trunk £1.1s
we was in a storme for 4 Days and was Drove near Hambourge I was sick for 3 Days and Could not Eat or Drink all that time.

(Poor Thomas! and what about the Dog? He doesn't mention buying it)

Left Hull & got to Barton the 12 September
Spent at Hull 6s

That must be Barton-upon-Humber. It's the other side of the Humber Estuary, but there is no mention of paying a Ferryman.

Wigs, Lodgings and Stuff

14 Feb 1738
Paid Mr Millner for Ten Weekes Lodging which is in full £1-0-0
Gave his maid for her Trouble 0-2-6
Paid Mr Adameson for shaveing me and dressing my widge 0-5-0
Paid Washerwoman for Washing and for mending my stockings 0-5-9
Letter from Brother & Grandmother 0-0-8


I’m a bit puzzled – Thomas says he is living with Mr Hinchcliffe but is paying someone else for lodgings. Does “living with” mean “working with” at this date? He would certainly seem to be an apprentice rather than an employee as his pay does not possibly pay his living costs!

“Widge” is wig (perhaps you saw that immediately but it took me a while).
Thomas probably wore a wig like this.


This portrait shows William Kirke (1715 –1773) who is about the same age as Thomas.

William’s son John Kirke (1752-1779) married Thomas Tye’s niece, Dorothy Tye Bright (1753-1826) (she was the daughter of Thomas's sister Dorothy)


And did you notice the huge cost of two letters? And Thomas had to pay it. Receiving a letter was an expensive business until Roland Hill's Penny Post in 1840.