Thursday 6th March 1766

Dorothy Oates Dyed 5 in y morning. my wife went the same day


9th Went to Miss Oates Funerall at Bingham in a Post Chaise and cost 5/- Staid at Mrs Oates until 13th March and spent 12d Gave the maid 2/-


Presumably Mrs Tye was a good friend of the late Dorothy?  

There - a picture of the church where the funeral took place not long afterwards.  There is a history of the church in the town of Bingham.

Google estimates that Thomas's journey would take 11 minutes today!

Dorothy Oates was expected to die because Thomas has a marginal note on the previous page

15 Feb Saturday Mrs Oates Daughter made her will & signed to Cutt of the Entail of their Estates at Crich in Derbyshire.

I can find a record of a Mr Oates of Crich being rich enough to be liable for "Ship Money" in the 17th century but otherwise I've drawn a blank

29th December 1765

Dyed Prince Frederick Wm 15 year of his age. Went into mourning 5 Jany.


Frederick William was the fifth son of the then Prince of Wales, Frederick Louis.  Frederick and his father, George II, were at (metaphorical) daggers drawn (I'm not sure that is relevant, but I know it, so I'm telling you anyway). 

This is the only portrait I can find of him - it is before he was breeched - Google doesn't like that spelling but it is to do with being put into breeches not being broken.

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."