15th October 1765

Billey's Feast at Grantham

I can't find anything about this feast on the web.

Grantham had a Festival  - it still has but the current one doesn't seem to be a continuation of an old tradition.

29th August 1765

Cousin Levett was married to Rev. John Deacle

I've included this for family historians. Maybe it will be useful.  
A John Deacle was at Lincoln College Oxford at the right sort of date to be this man.

I've found him!

He's recorded as married to Elizabeth Levett which fits.

Thomas's grandmother was a Miss Levett.

17th July 1765

Two pounds of parmivity Candles half burnt 2/-

5 bottles of Kedleston Water 10d

How frugal of Thomas to buy part used candles.  He is really rather wealthy for such thrift! I've no idea what "parmivity" means or whether that is actually the word Thomas means.

Kedleston Water is mentioned in

The history of the county of Derby, Part 1

 By Stephen Glover, published in 1829

which has this to say about the stuff

"The most in repute of the sulphureous waters of Derbyshire rises in the park of Lord Scarsdale, at Kedleston. In a glass it looks very clear and transparent; but in the well, it appears of a blackish blue colour, tinged with purple; and any substance thrown into it, assumes the same appearance. That it is impregnated with sulphur, in some state or form, is not only evident from its strong taste and smell, but likewise from its changing silver to a dark copper colour : and in its passage from the well, a whitish sediment is deposited, which has the appearance of sulphur. That it is also impregnated with other substances, is proved by the experiments of Dr. Short, who observes, that eight pints evaporated, left two scruples of sediment, twenty-one grains of which were a dark brownish earth, and the rest salt : in these respects it appears similar to the water at Harrogate. Kedleston water is principally valued for its anti-scorbutic qualities. When taken inwardly, it acts as a diuretic, and has given relief to persons afflicted with the gravel. It has also been found efficacious, from external application, in various cutaneous diseases, but more especially in ulcerous complaints. In the summer it is frequently used by the inhabitants of Derby as a substitute for malt liquor, at their meals : the charge of car riage (one penny per quart) affording sustenance to a few poor people of the neighbourhood. The temperature of the spring is about forty-seven degrees. Several other sulphureous springs rise in different parts of the county, but have hitherto undergone very little examination."

"Anti-scorbutic" means that it cures/prevents scurvy.  I can't see how it would!

3rd June 1765

Monday.  Miss Biggsby was married to Mr Thos Smith Notts

Not a fascinating entry unless you are descended from Miss Biggsby & Mr Smith

I've put it in for that family historian who will find it with joy!

6th March 1765

A Quire of Paper 10d
2 Boxes Scotch Pills  which Mr William Newton Bot. me in London 2/-

A Quire has been totally overtaken by Continental paper sizing (foolscap was so much more romantic than a4!)

But it was somewhere around 24 sheets...

Scotch Pills are much more fun!

They were a "patent medicine"  - According to a paper published by the Reading university - Most such medicines were only secret, not actually patented and  Dr Patrick Anderson's Scotch Pills first appeared in the 1630s (don't click the link unless you want the whole 33 page pdf downloaded).

Everyone was not convinced of their efficacy. The Country Housewife's Family Companion  of 1750 contains the information
"Too much Physick does Harm.--A physician said, It washes off the mucus of the guts, and then the meat passes too quick through them, because they are deprived of their retentive quality. I am credibly informed, that a gentlewoman in Staffordshire took the Scotch pills so frequently, that they occasioned this misfortune and killed her."

And Thomas Rowlandson credited his dentist with selling Scotch Pills

the Poster on the wall reads 

"BARNABY FACTOTUM. Draws Teeth, Bleeds & Shaves. WIGS made here, also Sausages, Wash Balls, black Puddings, Scotch Pills, Powder for the Itch, Red Herrings, Breeches Balls, and small Beer by the maker. IN UTRUMQUE PARATUS."

5th December 1764

Went to see the Microcosmer Musical Clock 2/-


I had a bit of trouble deciphering this bit but Google told me it was "Microcosm"

and Wikipedia told me that the clock was made by Henry Bridges somewhere around 1733. That is the first year it was advertised for exhibition.  Bridges died in 1754 and the clock was sold. It continued to tour until it vanished in 1775. It reappeared in Paris in 1920 but the original case with a moving picture scene and organ was not with it.

Now the movement and dials are in the British Museum so it won't cost you 2/- to see it!!!

 

More about the clock here

19th September 1764 et seq.

19th Bought of Alleyne & Roe Mercers. Nottm.
5¼yds Blue Lambskin yd.wd. at 6/6 ....£1.14s1½d
1½ yds Blue Shalloon..................................2s6d
Fustion 10½ Glazed Linen 12 thread 3.........2s1½d
3/8 oz silk 10½ 3/8 oz silk twist 10½...........1s9d
3 doz Baskett Town made buttons 14...........3s6d
½ doz small baskitts 2d 3½ Tape 1d................4½d
Buckram & Canvas..........................................6d
½yds more Shalloon  .......................................10d


20th Paid Mr Samuel Nightingale Taylor for makeing a Strait Blue Great Coat as by his Receipt ...6s

You can be sure that Thomas was not cheated by Alleyne & Roe as his own trade was Mercer.

Alleyne & Roe were a high class establishment as the only other reference I can find is that they supplied Lord Middleton with everything a mercer might supply for a funeral (pall, shroud, gloves etc) in 1774 (the document is held by Nottingham University archive.

I wonder whether Baskett Buttons is another name for Dorset Wheel buttons?

Here is a great coat of the right sort of date. Thomas is unlikely to have been described as a Macaroni as he is distinctly middle-aged by now and lives in the provinces.

Lambskin must be the body of the coat, Shalloon is a fine worsted used as lining. 

In this case "Receipt" means "Design".