16th August 1752
Went to Colwick Wakes with Mrs Cox, Miss Tutin, Miss Blocksidge & Miss Newton 2/-

It really does say "Wakes" not "Lakes". It is true that there are lakes at Colwick but they are former gravel pits and would not have been there in 1752. Wakes were often celebrations of the anniversary of the founding of a church. Their latest survival was the Wakes Weeks of Lancashire towns. These have just become holiday weeks.

3rd September is the 14th the Style being altered this day by Act of Parliament.

Parliament had acted to bring Britain into line with the rest of Europe by moving from the Julian to the Gregorian Calendar. This caused riots, mostly remembered for the slogan "Give us back our Eleven Days!" Thomas does not seem to have misunderstood Parliament's intentions in this way. Read more about this in wikipedia.

15th April 1752
His Hon. Rothwell Willoughby Dyed - Wednesday

Oh, don't unusual names make research easier? Rothwell Willoughby was an interesting person. The house he built in Nottingham is still called Willoughby House and is a store owned by the designer, Paul Smith who hails from Nottingham.


22nd April
Went to Mr Cripps of Ilkinston and this Day stud Godfather to his Daugher with Miss Jane Eccles of Tidsey in Darbyshire & Miss Cripps it being the first time I stud in my life.

A parish register entry for Ilkeston (click here if you are interested in buying the transcripts) tells me that the baby girl was Elizabeth and Mr & Mrs Cripps were Francis and Frances.

I haven't yet managed to find out where Thomas means by "Tidsey".

10 Nov 1751
Ann Newton married Mr Hesketh Lord Wards Steward Summerhill Staffordshire

Family Search.com tells me that Ann married John Hesketh at St Peter's Nottingham. She was born around 1730 but I'm not at all sure where or who her parents were. I assume she is related to Elizabeth but I don't think they are sisters.

Lord Ward owned extensive estates around Kingswinford in Staffordshire.

23 December
My Bror. John Tye Dyed about 12 oClock on Monday night and maid his will about half an Hour before he dyed and had been Ill from October when he returned from London where he had been to Sell the Freehold Estate at Merton In Surry abt 9 miles from London to Mrs Mariam Payne of Merton for 620 pounds the Estate was lLett for 50 pounds a year was told he had not a Right to Sell it without I joined with him

30 December
Paid John Addsett Tayler in West Retford for makeing a mourning Coat & Breeches a WaistCoat I had when I went to Retford - 9/-

17 June 1751
Went to Pinkston in Derbyshire to our Tenants and stayed to 27 June to give them order to Build a new necessary House & Pigg Stye with Brick they had done abt. half when I left him spent the time I was their 6/8 Gave Daughter 2/6

So they needed a new brick privy! I have found another example of this use of the word in the 18th Century. It is in the memoirs of a soldier, Corporal William Todd and you can find more details of the book here.

The Church in Pinxton (Pinxton is in Nottinghamshire now!) was rebuilt in 1790 but here is a picture dated 1733 - so this is how it looked when Thomas was there.

18 January 1750/1
Paid Mr Cripps for 2 pound Shag Tobacco 2/3

Thomas can't be very addicted as this is his first purchase since May last year.

25 February
Went to Bobers Mill with Mr Tutin spent 4d

Bobbers Mill is now an area of Nottingham. The area is named after the mill on the River Leen which is first referred to in 1438. I can only find one picture of it and that dates from 1906.

4th March
Miss Bett. Newton Bout for me at Mr Philip Sterleys 9 yds of fine Irish 2/1 - 18s 9d
6 March
She Bout me at Mr Southwells 1 yds 5/8 of fine Cambrick - 13s
I gave her money to buy them

This entry is the first mention of Elizabeth, who Thomas marries later (we'll get there in time!).

21st March the Prince of Wales Died

Frederick, who had a hostile relationship with his parents, died, to their ill-concealed relief!

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.

Thomas embarks on a Slippery Slope et al.

26th April 1750
Rupert Brown's Wedding Comes out.

Did Mr Brown keep it a secret?

28th May 1750
Bout. a pound Shagg Tobacco 13d

This is the first time that Thomas records buying the evil weed!

12th June Bout. a Tea Canister Mr Pearson 9d
¼ fine Hison Tea Mr Butcher 4/-

Isn't Tea expensive? Hison or Hyson Tea is a Green Tea which definitely commands a premium even today.

10 September
My Brother was very Unhappy in some affair at Retford but don't know the truth.

(I will have a hunt through the box of family papers marked "Tye" and report back if I find anything)