From the margins of the account book

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

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".

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

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.

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.

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.

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!)