ABRAHAM HARGREAVES’ DIARY FOR 1784

[Stanley]

ABRAHAM HARGREAVES’ DIARY FOR 1784 AND DOROTHY HARRISON’S PENDLE HERITAGE LECTURE ‘THE WORLD OF ABRAHAM HARGREAVES’

[Dorothy Harrison gave the lecture on Abraham Hargreaves' Diary in the early 1980s.  I will try to find out the precise date.  Biographical detail - she was former history teacher at Colne Grammar School and then Nelson & Colne College.]


1784. THE MOMENTOUS YEAR OF ABRAHAM HARGREAVES.
[THIS IS THE DOROTHY HARRISON LECTURE]

THE WORLD OF ABRAHAM HARGREAVES

In 1784 Colne was a little market town of 2,757 inhabitants with a few streets clustered round the Parish Church and a practically separate community at Waterside. There was no Nelson. Great Marsden had 993 inhabitants. Little Marsden 772. Barrowford had 1,006 people and Foulridge 615. It is noticeable, however, that even then Colne had 17 public houses. Barrowford had at least 3, the White Bear, the George and Dragon and the Fleece. It was a largely agricultural community which also practised hand-loom weaving. The Cloth Hall had been built in 1775. The present roads did not exist; trade went largely by pack-horse pony (the small, sturdy Galloways) carrying round the Pennine villages wool, cloth, lime and malt.

In 1784 Abraham Hargreaves of Heirs House kept a diary. He probably kept others which were thrown away. This, however, was the diary of his momentous year, when he turned the old corn mill at Barrowford over to cotton spinning by machine. He probably kept it as a souvenir, and we are lucky that he did, for here is the everyday life of the 18th Century as lived by a very complicated character. Abraham was landowner, farrier, merchant, millowner, churchwarden, devout Methodist, dutiful son, indulgent husband - with at least one mistress and probably more in the background.

The diary was certainly not intended for publication. Both style and content
prove that. It contains day to day scraps of information written in a sort
of conversational shorthand. Deductions can be made about his life and
character from what he says, and sometimes even more interesting deductions
from what he does not say.

The overall picture is one with which the 18th Century historian is familiar. All over the Pennines there are remains of what were once corn mills, turned into textile mills in the late 18th Century. Big new corn mills in towns were grinding corn far more cheaply than the old small village mills and corn millers found themselves redundant. They had their mills and their skills with water and they turned to textiles. It was no accident that some of the pioneers in Colne's textile industry, Nicholas England, Robert Shaw, and John Phillips began as corn millers. (In due time, as steam power came in and water power went out, the old mills were gradually deserted. Coal was so expensive and difficult to transport that it was cheaper to move the mill to the coal than the coal to the mill.)

Abraham differs somewhat from the other pioneers in that he acquired his corn mill to transform it and had to enlist outside help to help in its transformation. The inspiration for his venture was John Greenwood of Keighley, who crops up again and again in the diary as guide, philosopher and friend. It was a role that he was to play for other cotton spinners besides Abraham, and he may indeed already have played it for Abraham’s uncle John, already busy with cotton spinning at Roughlee.

Keighley had recently begun its textile career with cotton spinning, it
turned to worsteds slightly later and John Greenwood was one of its pioneers.
He started at North Brook Mill and before he finished was to be involved
with five mills in the Keighley district and one at Ripon. He enjoyed the
rather dubious distinction of being one of the first to use children in
cotton factories, importing young orphan girls from the Foundling Hospital in
London. On the credit side he was a leader of the improvement committee
that brought Keighley water and gas and he subscribed heavily to the founding
of the Keighley Mechanics Institute and maintained at his works a private fire
engine which could be borrowed for the town. The firm he founded is still
going strong, though it is now called "Emm Wools”.

We do not know how Abraham Hargreaves met John Greenwood. They may have always known each other for links in the Pennine community took no notice of county boundaries. They may have gone to school together, Bradford Grammar School, then, as now, taking boarders, attracted scholars from all over this district. They may have met through John Hargreaves of Roughlee. It is possible that they met through Abraham’s business activities. Malt was in great demand in the 18th Century when every household brewed its own beer. Keighley’s malt came from the Colne district, since the soil round Keighley is not suitable for barley. Abraham’s diary has frequent references to his sale of malt, and the deliveries he arranges for his men to make. By far the most obvious contact however is the Methodist movement. Colne was for a long time in the Haworth circuit at the time that Abraham was writing and at least one of the ministers he mentions, Mr. Costerdine, had served in the Haworth circuit before the division. The connections between Pennine Methodists were close, and the Hargreaves and Greenwood families were strong Methodists. Paul Greenwood, John’s father, was a Trustee, with John and Charles Wesley, and Grimshaw of Haworth, of the first Methodist meeting place at Padiham in 1758. James Hargreaves of Fir Trees, a close relative of Abraham, was one of its early members.

John Greenwood provided Abraham with the expert knowledge to start his venture. At this time Greenwoods were making their own machinery (a bit later they diversified and Richard Hattersley took over the machinery making section of North Brook Mill) The frames were sent to Colne - significantly on Wednesdays, the day the Keighley carrier came to Colne. Greenwood came himself to set them up and show Abraham how to work them. Later he took Abraham round the textile district to introduce him to cotton importers and possible customers.

THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM HARGREAVES.

Various documents help us to reconstruct the life of Abraham Hargreaves; Colne Parish Registers, the wills of the Hargreaves family in the County Records Office, the Methodist records, even the interminable pages of Mrs Shackleton’s diaries - though she died in 1781, three years before Abraham’s diary began. Mrs Shackleton saw quite a bit of Abraham, whose father James Hargreaves of the Laund she describes tartly as ''Mr Shackleton's pot companion". She is equal tart about Abraham, “idle and a wastrel", but she preened herself when he gallantly escorted her back from a dinner party at Roughlee. She expresses a gleeful disapproval of his scandalous love life, but one rather gets the impression that part of the disapproval was that he failed to slant it her way.

Abraham was born on May 14th 1744 which makes him 40 when he was writing his diary. In the diary itself he says of Sunday January 25th "Birthday, 38 years", one of the statements that lays a trap for unwary biographers. It may have been a reminder to himself not to forget his wife's birthday - or possibly that of his girl friend.

He married Margaret Whittham at Colne Parish Church on February 11th 1766. (The document says "Whittham" but she actually signed it "Whitwham"). The witnesses were Christopher Hargreaves and Richard Farrer the parish clerk who signed about 80% of the certificates. The officiating clergyman was Roger Wilson and this, in itself, is sufficiently revealing. The Rev Roger Wilson was that 18th Century phenomenon, a clerical pluralist. Fourth son of Sir Matthew Wilson of Eshton Hall, he held the living of Colne for 36 years, but usually resided elsewhere. (He died at Otley). It needed an important wedding for him to officiate in person.

Abraham’s WAS an important wedding. He was the third son and second surviving son of James Hargreaves of the Laund, a very considerable landowner. The wealth of the family is attested by James’ will, Abraham’s will and the assessment of the rateable value of Barrowford 1803. The witness, Christopher Hargreaves, may have been Abraham’s younger brother. If so, he fades from the story soon after the wedding. He went to Yorkshire to become a school master and, some time before 1784, the date of Abraham’s diary, he emigrated to America. Here he married and had three sons. After being deserted by his wife and children he eventually returned to England. He came into the story again after Abraham died, childless, in 1804 because the three sons had to take legal proceedings to prove their right to their uncle's estate and these proceedings give us valuable information about the family. The diary refers more than once to another Christopher Hargreaves who is obviously an uncle. There are death dates of two Christopher Hargreaves in the Colne Parish Register. The one who died in 1812 and left his estate to his daughter Margaret is obviously "Uncle Christopher" who brought his daughter Peggy to tea in 1784 and equally obviously Abraham’s sleeping partner in the mill.

On their marriage Abraham and Margaret took up residence at Heirs House. Here they lived the sort of life that might be expected, some visiting, some shooting, a great deal of farming, a prosperous business selling malt. The marriage remained childless. This must have upset Abraham, whose diary shows that he was fond of children. He had a farm manager. Until about 1783 this was Abraham Beanlands, judging from the Colne Baptismal Register. Then Abraham Beanlands address changes from Heirs' Rouse to Netherfield and the children of Richard Brotherton carry the Heirs' House address instead. It looks as if a farm on the estate has become vacant and Abraham Beanlands has taken it while Richard Brotherton replaces him as farm manager at Heirs' Rouse. Both were working for Abraham Hargreaves in 1784. though there is a difference. Abraham Beanlands and his wife Jane were on intimate visiting terms while Richard Brotherton was not. This, of course, is logical. Abraham Beanlands and his wife had worked for Abraham Hargreaves for years whereas the Brothertons were recent employees. Moreover the records of the Colne Methodist circuit show that the Beanlands, like the Hargreaves, were strong Methodists.

We must beware of seeing Abraham, or indeed most local worthies of the past, as typical village "squires", living on an entailed estate. This is the Pennines, not the South of England, and up here there was very little primogeniture, with the land going to the eldest son and the others having to look out for themselves. Not too far back in the past of most local gentry was a sturdy 17th Century yeoman who made his fortune by a shrewd mixture of farming, trade, textiles, often a judicious marriage and sometimes sheer luck. He divided his estates among his sons - sometimes his daughters also, though they often got their portion on marriage - and then it was up to the sons to follow his example. Abraham got Heirs House and a respectable share of his father's Barrowford lands, but he would have to pay rent to his father - indeed the diary records the payment.

Abraham probably made the judicious marriage. Margaret obviously had some property of her own; he speaks of Betty Brindle renting a house “off my wife", and the jewellery which he pledges for £600 later in the year was obviously Margaret’s.

Christopher, Abraham’s younger brother, did not get much out of his father's will, an annuity payable at Abraham’s discretion. Abraham passed over Christopher in his own will in favour of Christopher’s three sons. This unfavourable treatment was not because Christopher was a younger son; after all, so was Abraham. It arose probably because of some fault of character. He went far enough from home to become a school master, an occupation often taken up in the 18th Century when the man concerned had failed at everything else. He emigrated, again, often a case of last resort. He married and his wife left him, taking the children with her. He was obviously furious at being passed over in Abraham’s will; he refused to give the trustees any help in locating them.

We meet Abraham from time to time in Mrs Shackleton's diary, mainly at blameless social affairs. On March 12th 1779, however, she has this to say. “Amorous entanglement betwixt the Methodist tribe. Mr Abraham Hargreaves of Heirs' House and Mrs Whitaker of Netherheys, and much admired Mr Whitaker alias Tom o’ the Comb makers; this most unfortunate love betwixt the religious brother and sister has made Abraham give up attending the meeting, the fair one the same and poor Tom did no preaching”

This is not the same lady that we meet in the diary disguised as “M”. Presumably “M” is the lady’s initial, and the wife of Thomas Whitaker of the Combmakers (who died in 1801 aged 53) was named "Rose". Internal evidence supports this assumption, Mrs Whitaker was ashamed of herself. The lady of the diary can only be described as a shameless hussy.

THE SETTING UP OF THE MILL

In 1783 Abraham bought an old corn mill. It had belonged to Robert Bannister of Colne Hall, who died in 1780, and his trustees offered it for sale, hopefully, as a cloth or fulling mill. Abraham paid £233. Jesse Blakey, who knew it well, says in the "Annals of Barrowford” that the mill when bought by Barrowford Council in 1924 consisted of four easily identifiable parts, the oldest the Corn Mill, the second the spinning mill, the third a waterwheel house, and the latest an engine house built on the back. The engine house must have been added after 1824 when the firm leasing it was granted permission to build one. The spinning mill and the waterwheel house were Abraham’s contribution.

Christopher Hargreaves was named with Abraham as purchaser. This is obviously not his younger brother, who had already left the district. It is obviously his uncle Christopher, a sleeping partner in the business. Later the diary mentions an apprentice bound to Abraham and Christopher Hargreaves.

Two things emerge very clearly from the diary. The first is the speed with which the mill got going. It was, of course, only a small mill but even so it was a considerable undertaking. Much of the first month was taken up with the legalities of the transfer. (Jan 14th, "At Barrowford in Forenoon; after at Colne with John and Thomas Pollard, executing deeds for Barrowford Mill) By January 24th he was raising more money. (“At Barrowford in the fornoon. Mrs Swinglehurst received mortgage and signed.”) This, again, is typical 18th Century. Landowners had seldom any spare cash, like prudent farmers they invested all in farm improvements. The £233 that Abraham had already paid was probably his limit in ready money. Now he needed money to get the mill ready, and he did what all the early industrialists did; he utilised his credit among friends and neighbours.

Mrs Swinglehurst lived at Park hill (now Pendle Heritage Centre). She was a widow with control of her own fortune. There is no suggestion of her becoming a shareholder and probably would not have been even if she had been a man. There was no legal limit to liability. It would be foolish to become a shareholder when a mortgage was much safer.

The second striking factor is Abraham’s personal involvement. He was obviously a man who believed that a thing was done best if he did it himself. On 23 days out of 31 in January he was directly concerned with the mill, either supervising the work or buying for it. The occupation had its dangerous moments. On Saturday 17th he hurt his toe, on the 31st he broke his cart and lamed his horse.


He does not say how he treated his toe, but he treated his horse with turpentine.

On Monday February 2nd he rent to Keighley to see Mr Greenwood. He could have taken either of two ways from Colne to Keighley. The ''moss road'' was not built. He could have gone up Skipton Old Road past the Bluebell Inn and Two Laws. It is more likely, however, that he took "the Herders" road to Haworth since the North Brook mill was at Laycock.

Abraham was at the mill on twenty days in February, including February 25th. “At Barrowford in fornoon, after at Colne. Received our irons from Mr Greenwood, Keighley. This was Wednesday, the day the Keighley carrier came to Colne.

Twenty-three days in March were concerned with the mill, though he was also much occupied with the spring ploughing, harrowing and sowing. John Greenwood came with Mrs Greenwood on Monday 22nd, presumably to inspect the work. (Stayed in all fornoon. 10 Greenwood came with Mrs. Stayed dinner and drinking. Went to Barrowford to look at mill - house took of Mrs Swinglehurst”)

January and February were taken up with the mill fabric, the chimneys. carpentry, floor laying, the goit and the dam. Once John Greenwood had approved the mill, the machinery started coming. (Thursday 8th April. Went to Mr Greenwood's, Keighley, about frames for cotton mill. Got home by 9. See two frames for carding loaded.”)

Thursday 22nd April saw a new development. "Set off to Manchester with John Greenwood and John Hargreaves to buy cotton". (John Hargreaves was his uncle John, already in business with the mill at Roughlee).

On Monday 26th April. "Mr. Greenwood came to set up, etc.

For the rest of April and throughout May the frames kept coming and John Greenwood set them up. It did not take long for Abraham to accept a new challenge. Thursday 20th May. “At Barrowford, spinning, I tentered while uncle and John Greenwood went to Colne” He was now learning how to set up and maintain the new machines. On 18th July he reported triumphantly "Sent twist off to Blackburn.”

Shortly after this he had a well earned holiday with his wife and her friend Betty Brindle at Blackpool.

Back home, he began buying large quantities of candles. On Saturday 28th August we learn why. “At Barrowford in fornoon. After at home to dinner. After at Barrowford. Stayed till wages paid and nighters changed” He was now running a night shift.

Obviously feeling that he had mastered the technique of cotton spinning, Abraham now began to learn the commercial side of the business. We find him in September touring round the cotton district, visiting places like Manchester, Stalybridge, Blackburn and Darwen, buying cotton and trying to interest customers. On his first visit to Manchester he was guided by John Greenwood's father.

August 30th. “John Greenwood came to tell me to go with his father to Manchester. I set off at 11. Dinnered Bacup. At Manchester 7”

On Friday 14th September he was in contact with a far greater cotton spinner. Went to Blackburn to L. Whitaker's. Had an order of Hawkshed and Fielding. Called Mr. Peel’s. After home." (Mr Peel, later the first Sir Robert Peel, father of the future Prime Minister, and leader of the movement to protect children working in cotton factories)

Also in September Abraham. began to play an active part in mill finance. Since he already had a prosperous malt business, book keeping was no novelty to him. (Saturday 11th September. “At Barrowford till 3 O'clock, settling ledger for the first time and paying wages.")

He must by now have found a manager for the mill, but he was personally supervising the weighing of twist, its dispatch to his customers and the mill accounts. It took up a great deal of his time. (Thursday 23rd September. “At Barrowford all day. Packing twist. Bills of parcels, letters etc. Got home by half past 8 night.")

In October legal matters began to take up his attention again. Friday 1st October. “At Barrowford all day. Mr Greenwood came and I gave him notice of dissolving partnership." On Saturday he consulted his lawyers about the articles with Mr Greenwood. On Monday 11th he wrote that they had now begun for themselves and on Tuesday that they were “running off what we call the partnership cotton”. This sounds like a breach with John Greenwood. On the other hand John Greenwood came through to attend a formal meeting when Abraham made an arrangement with a Mr Oddie. The transaction was 0viously something to do with the need for more capital, which involved a rearrangement of the partnership. On 13th October Abraham borrowed £600 on the security of some jewellery and a week later he recorded “Hired of Grace Stutterd £60”

The business was obviously expanding. On 27th October Abraham took on two apprentices. “Richard Brotherton and Henry Forster were hired and indentured with Christopher Hargreaves and me.” (Richard Brotherton was obviously the son of his farm manager. Here we have an example of the paternalism characteristic of the early mills.)

On October 22nd a clock maker was installed in the mill after Abraham had “fettled up the top garret end" for him. (Clock makers, being skilled with machinery, often found new careers as mill engineers).

By now Abraham was moving all round the textile districts. On November 2nd he recorded “Set off to Halifax at 5 in morning. Got there by 9 clock. At Mr B Alland and Mr Emmott.”


Soon afterwards tumbling shafts [seems to have been the contemporary description for the shafting which carried the power to the machines. SCG.] arrived from Leeds. Typically Abraham took a hand in installing them. He was knocked down and hurt his face. Shortly after the wheels from the Halifax foundry arrived.

On December 30th he bought a pair of Dutch looms in Manchester. 1784 thus ends with the beginning of a new venture. He had set up and got going a successful spinning mill well within a year; now he was embarking on weaving.

ABRAHAM, THE FARMER

The mill was obviously first in Abraham’s thoughts in 1784 but the rateable value of his assets, and indeed his will, shows that it was not his major source of income. This came from land. Every entry in his diary begins with a statement about the weather and the prevailing direction of the wind - a matter of great importance to a farmer. In his position he could afford to take time off from farming. He had a very competent farm manager, and in any case, there were slack periods in the farming year. Farmers lower down the social scale did handloom weaving in those periods. Abraham maintained a general supervision, and there were certain times of the year when agricultural matters came first.

In March he diverted his attention from the mill to the ploughing, sowing and harrowing. In July came the really busy time of the Pennine farmer's year, the
hay harvest. He had several men helping to get in the hay and was himself out in the fields. He recorded ten days of fine dry weather, with a westerly wind and then on Wednesday the 7th a change “Came on at noon, lightning, thunder and rain catched with our hay." Fortunately it soon cleared up and by weekend they were out in the fields again. He dealt first with the Barrowford hay and then with his fields at Colne.

Pennine farmers seem to have been a friendly and co-operative lot. They helped one another in various ways. Abraham seems to have specialised in killing pigs; on February 17th he despatched three separate victims for various friends. He let Richard plough for Henry Hague in April, and later Henry repaid the debt by coming to help Abraham plough for potatoes.

The farm seems to have been largely pasture with a little arable land. (Heir's House itself, after extensive rebuilding by Nicholas England in the 1850s, has been demolished in living memory, but the farmhouse, which was the home of Richard Brotherton, still stands (though in a derelict state.) Sheep were the basis of the farming. There is little reference to them, because for most of the time sheep need little or no supervision. Shearing is mentioned in September. There were also some store cattle; arrangements are made for "twinters'' or two year olds. Sundry mentions of cows calving or being mated show that the Hargreaves had their own milk supply. Abraham seems to have relied on horse power, borrowing and lending with his neighbours. A reference to yoking gears on March 8th seems to indicate that his uncle was still old fashioned enough to use oxen. The Hargreave’s diet was supplemented by gooseberries, wild plums and nuts. and gathering the latter seems to have been a family recreation. He sent his parents a typical farmers present for New Year; wheat and a goose, (after a stern paternal reminder). It was supplemented by ''rum from Liverpool”.

ABRAHAM THE METHODIST

In his own way Abraham was a devout man. He lived at a time when it was possible to be both an Anglican and a Methodist and Sunday by Sunday he attended first the service in Colne Church, then the Methodist meeting. He was churchwarden for 1783 and 1784 according to parish records. The diary mentions churchwarden's meetings and vestry meetings.

Methodist meetings were carefully arranged to come after the Sunday morning service in the church. Sometimes there was an evening service as well as an afternoon one. Abraham recorded carefully the name of the preacher and the text of the sermon. He very rarely missed attendance. Once or twice he missed the church service, but went to the Methodist meeting later. Once, near the end of the year, he missed both Church and Methodist meeting but that was after he hurt himself fixing the tumbling shafts.

On April 18th he recorded that there was no meeting that day. Mr Wesley was preaching at Gisburn and obviously the Colne meeting was cancelled so that its members could attend at Gisburn. But Abraham did not go. This seems strange. “Mr Wesley” was the great John himself. Abraham had a great respect for John Wesley. He stayed in one afternoon reading Mr Wesley's journal and he owned “6 setts of Wesley’s magazine” according to the inventory taken at his death. Why did Abraham not go to Gisburn? It was a small journey in comparison to some he made during the year. The tea party was no excuse. The Beanlands family were Methodists also; he could have taken them along, as he took the Greenwood family a month later to Wheatley Lane Chapel.

There is a possible explanation of this reluctance on Abraham’s part. By 1784 John Wesley was approaching the half century of his missionary work and was a tremendous personality. His followers loved and venerated him but had a very healthy respect for his authority. (His enemies put it more simply, they called Wesley ‘Pope John’). One of Wesley's flock living in open adultery might well hesitate to come too near the great man.

A check through Wesley's Journal reinforces this idea. On Tuesday July 29th Wesley records, “I preached in Colne.'', where was Abraham? 'A fine day. W. at Barrowford in fornoon. After at Colne. Cunliffe paid me. Was with Oates Sagar at T B ½ hour. At home by ½ past 10.

Did Abraham know John Wesley? Almost certainly. John Wesley stayed with the Sagars at Southfield when he preached at Colne, and the Sagar family and the Hargreaves family were on friendly terms. Furthermore it would be quite out of character for John Wesley not to know the leaders of the various Methodist communities.

After John Wesley's death the church he founded split away from the Church of England, and his followers had to decide which they would support. There is no doubt in Abraham’s choice. In 1800 he gave £100, a large sum in those days, towards the building of Higherford Wesleyan Chapel.

When he died in 1804 Abraham, like his father before him, was buried in Colne Parish Church. This probably was because his executors found it convenient. They had the right to bury him there and grave space was valuable. Abraham’s last wishes could not be consulted. He died of “palsy fits", i.e. of a series of strokes, and for the last two years of his life was, in the harsh manner of the early 19th Century, “certified lunatic", though this probably means that he was totally paralysed.

It may be significant that there is no evidence of his wife being buried inside or outside Colne Parish Church. She is not mentioned in Colne Parish Registers. She was mentioned in Abraham’s will, dated 1799, but not in the codicil dated 1801, nor in any later Hargreaves will. It is to be assumed, therefore, that Margaret died sometime between 1799 and 1801 when Abraham was still in a position to make decisions on funeral arrangements and that he decided on a nonconformist burial.

Abraham went to Church when he was on holiday in Blackpool and took advantage of a weekend business trip to Manchester to go on the Sunday to the Methodist chapel. (Sunday 8th November. “A showery cold day set off for Manchester. Dined at Rochdale. After to Man by 6 Clock and went to Methodist meeting.")

The chapel Abraham frequented has been demolished in living memory. It was built in 1777 largely through the efforts of William Sagar of Southfield. It was opened by Wesley in June. Finished in a hurry, it could not stand the strain. The left gallery collapsed under the weight of people and almost 200 people were injured. Not surprisingly, even two years later, Wesley recorded that the people were in such a panic that few durst go into the left hand gallery." The chapel later had to be strengthened by having a house built at the side to hold it up.

One interesting thing about the diary is the lack of any celebration of religious festivals. There is no mention of Easter or Whitsuntide, and on December 25th, a Saturday, the mill continued spinning until noon. Abraham afterwards had his dinner at Bracewells and stayed until 10 at night, but there is no mention of fellow guests, or his wife going with him and he invariably recorded his wife’s presence and the guests when he went to a party. The only hint of present giving comes on the first day of the diary. He met his father and was "told off" after which he hastily sent Richard Brotherton to Laund with a goose and wheat, obviously the New Year's present he had forgotten.
It was not that Abraham was above such frivolities; he recorded three Colne Fairs (March, May and Michaelmas) and two local Rush bearings (Newchurch and Cross Gates). Obviously the great Christian festivals were not a matter of concern in the late 18th Century.

THE BRINDLE TRAGEDY.
An echo of an 18th Century tragedy comes to us through the pages of the diary. Thomas and Betty Brindle were close friends of Abraham and Margaret Hargreaves. They seem to have been around the same age, possibly even younger; their daughter Polly was 8 in 1784. When we first meet them Abraham is having his dinner with them on a Sunday between the Anglican service and the Methodist meeting. Then, very shortly after Abraham has reported that Polly is staying at Heirs House, comes the bald announcement Tuesday 13th January "Thomas Brindle died at 6 o’clock Evening” The following Sunday is one of the few times that Abraham did not record the church service and the Methodist meeting. Instead he went to Thomas’ funeral. He must have been a popular man; upwards of 80 people were present.

Thereafter the diary records the efforts of Abraham and his wife to comfort their stricken friend. punctuated by the remark “B B badly". She stayed whole days at Heir's House, often she was there for tea and often Margaret Hargreaves went to tea with her. Abraham’s comfort took a practical turn. He handled the disposal of her husband's goods; killed her pig and generally dealt with the things that a widow would find difficult. Fortunately she does not seem to have been left destitute. At the back of the diary are some accounts of bills that Abraham paid and received. Betty figures with substantial sums in both. After a brief spell in February, when he ate his Sunday dinner elsewhere, Abraham resumed in March spending his Sunday lunchtime with Betty. She obviously moved house; there is a reference to her taking a house which belonged to Margaret Hargreaves and in September Abraham began taking his Sunday dinner with Jude Hargreaves, the innkeeper at Colne Hall.

Perhaps it was to comfort Betty that Abraham and his wife took their trip to Blackpool in July. The ladies went together obviously in a coach. (Polly did not go. She was staying, perhaps with grandparents at Slaidburn). Abraham, who was on a commercial tour, joined them later.

All the comfort offered was obviously of no avail. The Colne Church register records that Mrs Elizabeth Brindle died in 1788, four years after her husband. Polly would be twelve. Presumably she lived to grow up because there is no record of her death. One thing is certain, she was neither friendless nor destitute. She would not, like an orphan lower down the social scale, be sent to the poorhouse until she could be apprenticed as a servant.

ABRAHAM’S LOVE AFFAIR.

So far everything recorded of Abraham has been good. Now comes the puzzling part. A devout churchgoer and an ardent Methodist - with a mistress? The lady figures in the diary as "M". Abraham paid her frequent visits; 8 in January; 11 in February; 9 in March; 8 in April; 9 in May; 12 in June, 10 in July (he was at Blackpool with his wife for part of this month); 8 in August (she was away for much of the month); 5 in September; 3 in October (he was travelling extensively for the firm); 3 in November; 1 visit on December 24th. The affair was obviously fading out at the end of the year.

The affair had its hilarious moments but not for the Hargreaves family. The lady lived in Colne, probably near the market place, since he could make use of his numerous shopping errands. She was probably a widow. On twelve occasions he stayed all night. This could hardly have been tolerated by a husband, and a spinster would probably not have had a house of her own. Also in the house was “Ellen” whose movements had to be taken into consideration by the lovers; this is more likely to have been a daughter than a maid. “M” also paid frequent visits to her father at "By", though Abraham unfortunately fails to make clear whether this was "Burnley" or "Bradley". Apart from the joys of Abraham’s company the lady does not seem to have got much out of it. The accounts at the back of the diary indicate that he lent her two guineas on September 2nd which implies that he expected to be paid back. On July 10th he sent her a basket before calling on her but by this time he was pretty sure that he had a rival and the meeting was not a success.

There are indications that his wife did not like it. He had “No leave to go out" on February 17th. There are also grounds for believing that the lady was not faithful to him. He refers darkly to the “Dans master" on February 26th. She obviously won him round again because this episode was followed by two all night sessions. By March 5th he is threatening to go elsewhere because he is “tired of M” On the 21st “M” is afraid of public opinion. “Did not see her at meeting. When I came back she told me people said she was badly because my wife was bitter. Wanted me not to stay.''

In April Nemesis for once caught up with Abraham. After a week in which he
has twice spent all night with M, he has occasion to visit his parents on
the 15th. “Went to Laund to see Mrs (his mother). Neither of them asked me
to my dinner.” Mrs Hargreaves senior obviously know her son’s weaknesses.
Abraham loved his dinner. He recorded meticulously where he had it and his dinnertime was noon. Standing about awkwardly, hungry and thirsty,
would certainly cut Casanova down to size.

This episode seems to have quietened Abraham for a time. He did not go near the lady for 6 days, and when he did recorded virtuously his early return home. Next came a visit from which he returned at 4 a.m. Perhaps this cooled his ardour; the next chance he had to see the lady he did not bother to go.

There were 9 fairly well scattered visits in May, with an announcement on the 31st that they had “differed” Wrath perhaps made him incoherent because the passage is far from clear but its meaning emerges distinctly. Perhaps for some reason connected with John Hanson he has been “called all names" and ends dramatically "Farewell".

M got him back on June 2nd and he visited her on the next two days. On June 5th he did not go. "Shod have gone M: did not, she wantd me to stay two nights away." He made up for his forced abstinence by staying all night on June 6th and again on June 10th. The flames of true love were flickering, however and by June 14th he was "thinking to make a final end, but settled other ways.”

Then came June 18th and discovery of the lady’s infidelity. "Slipt to M. Catched Hanson. She called to speak for me to come at nit. Ellen away. Told me she had or might have plenty beside me”. Friendly relations were resumed

on the 20th (“at nit M; home by ½ one") and on the 22nd (“M ½ 10 std till 3”) and on the 24th but on the 26th he found that he had another rival (“ To Colne for Hilson money etc., after M; slipt by in house Oats Sager etc”) On the 28th he tried to see M but failed. He made up for this by staying all night on the 30th.

On July 1st, possibly uplifted by attendance at a vestry meeting he “made a sort of an end with M”. On the 5th, however, visiting Colne to buy rakes he "std M afternoon”. He visited her again on the 9th. On the 10th he sent her a basket, but when he called at night Hanson called her up too. Differed with M about it." He saw her again on the 11th, the 12th, the 13th, the 16th, but on the 19th they “differed about Hanson. Cried etc." He hardened his heart.

He should have gone to see her on the 20th but virtuously stayed away. At this point he took his wife to Blackpool. He went to see M immediately he got back. He saw her on the 30th and the 31st and five nights running the next week. At this point there was more family interference. "Saturday August 7th. Uncles and Aunt had words with me. I offered to give up etc.'' What he offered to give up is not quite clear, it certainly was not the lady. He went to see her on the 9th and 10th and again on the 13th. Then follows a lull because M has gone away. Perhaps she was tactfully fading the affair out. The whole Hargreaves clan in full disapproval would be a daunting spectacle and Hanson may have been more attractive (or unmarried). Abraham, should have seen M on the night of September 10th but they “differed”. He saw her during the afternoon of the 11th and the early evening of the 12th but Hanson was with her when he called on the 15th. Significantly he recorded on the 16th “Not with M”. He called after eight days absence on the 14th but “stayed little”. There was then a five days absence until the 29th.

Abraham’s three visits in October are recorded without comment, but on the
17th he had an unusual experience. His wife told him off for coming home
late. (“Differed night about not coming home etc.) There were three
visits in November, with M making a visit to her father in the middle of
the month. He then went an entire month without seeing her. The last recorded visit, a short one, was on December 24th. The weather must have made illicit love making more difficult in winter months but presumably conditions were no worse in January and February than in November and December. The logical conclusion for the tapering off of visits is that Abraham’s ardour was waning.

What did Margaret Hargreaves think about it? Like a wise woman she seems to have ignored it, apart from two moments of exasperation. She had, of course, gone through it all at least once before in 1779 and probably more often. Had it not been for the religion of the family, the presence of a mistress
would be regarded as an 18th century commonplace, but Methodists did not have mistresses, even in the 18th Century. Margaret after all, was the woman in possession. She was the wife, the mistress of the establishment and she mattered a great deal to Abraham. He chronicled her visits, her visitors, her
tea parties as carefully as he did his own activities. The diary never actually
names her; she is always "my wife", a part of himself rather than a separate
individual. It is noticeable that on the one occasion when she did put her
foot down “No lieve to go out tonight, Abraham stayed in.

ABRAHAM’S LEISURE ACTIVITIES.

Apart from his mistress Abraham’s other leisure pursuits were blameless. There was no personal extravagance, not even in clothes. At the beginning of the year he took his waistcoat to be altered by James Driver and at the end of the year James was given the task of repairing his old clothes. Twice Abraham went shooting but there is no reference to hunting or other brutal sports like bull baiting.

On two occasions during the year Abraham was drunk. This comes as a surprise to avid readers of Mrs Shackleton's diaries from which we tend to get the impression that all Colne men were habitually drunk. It may be significant that on the second occasion he was in the company of the Shackleton's, father and son. From the publican's account preserved among others at the beginning of the diary for the month of June it would seem that his normal tipple was 3d of brandy and water, rarely exceeding one glass and not every day at that.

Abraham seems to have been much more interested in his dinner than in alcohol. He invariably recorded where he had his dinner. Sometimes he had it with his parents, with whom his relations seem to have been cordial apart from when he was “told off" on New Year’s Day and the argument on April 15th. His father often came to the mill to see how things were going, and Abraham often went out with his father. James Hargreaves must have married very young; Abraham had been married for years when James’ last child was born and he was still of an age to be a companion to Abraham. There is one interesting occasion when they called on Colonel Clayton at Carr Hall about Beating our Thos. but this is not further explained. James Greenwood stayed at Heirs House while his wife was visiting in Burnley. There were frequent visits, dinner and tea drinkings with other friends and relations.

Tea drinking seems normal enough to us but it was advanced for Colne in 1784. Tea was expensive and only the wealthy could afford it. Margaret was a trend setter, so, in his own way, was Abraham. He liked reading. When he had no outside engagements he would settle down with a newspaper or a book. The newspaper would have to be specially ordered from London, though this would be no problem for Abraham. Since 1770 the post had been delivered at the building recently converted from the Hargreaves Great House to the White Bear. He makes no comment on the national news though there was a lot going on in 1784. His reading matter was varied; Defoe's "The Life of Colonel Jack”, Wesley’s Journals, “Culpepper's English Physician", “Everyman his own lawyer''.

Abraham was in advance of his time in his Blackpool holiday. Seaside holidays became fashionable in England after George III’s trip to Weymouth in 1786, but Abraham and his wife went to Blackpool in July 1784. It was, on the whole, a quiet week, walking the sands, attending Poulton Church and on the Tuesday "the Pack House at Poulton”. Greatly daring he bathed on two days. The high light was a trip to “Rabit warrend” (ie Fleetwood) to see the ferrets. This may not have been his only trip to the seaside. There is a cryptic remark among the cash paid column headed March 3rd “Valuing the boat Lytham £2-8-0d.'' The diary records a letter sent to Lytham in March and one in April.

Judging by the amount of it he did, Abraham was addicted to travel. The inventory of his possessions included a volume of maps of the Lake District. There is no mention of any maps of districts nearer home. Presumably he did not need them. He seems to have had friends and relations in most of the textile towns of the Pennine region. There are several visits recorded to Manchester, Blackburn, Halifax, Keighley, one to Liverpool and one to Blackpool. Presumably his wife and Betty Brindle went by coach to Blackpool but Abraham himself went by horse. He recorded enthusiastically the stages of his journey, where he stopped for dinner and where he stayed overnight.

We leave Abraham at the end of the year by his own fireside, with a children’s party, his uncle’s children and those of Abraham Beanlands. One of those children, John Beanlands, was destined to become a very young Methodist lay preacher. Abraham would have approved. But what would he have thought if he could have known that young John was also destined to be the second person killed in Colne in a mill accident?

[End of D Harrison lecture. Transcribed by SCG; 06 October 2005]

The diary of Abraham Hargreaves. 1784.
Transcribed from the original diary by Carol Y Bentley 1965/66. The original diary was loaned by W M Spencer and is now deposited in the County Record office at Preston. This transcription from the typescript by Stanley Challenger Graham, 06 October 2005.


This diary to contained In the "The Yorkshire Memorandum Book; or ‘New Daily Journal For the Year of our Lord 1784'. The Diary also contains details of Town Fairs, Members of Parliament and several Acts of Parliament.

[SCG note. The capital letters on the entries refer to the wind direction. There are numbers in the text for which there is no apparent reason, I have omitted these for clarity. (xxx) denotes that a word has been marked over or obliterated in an obvious attempt to disguise it.]



JANUARY.

Thursday 1. a cold frosty Day S E.
at Colne in fornoon. Gave to Robt Hartley a bill to
have cash for wanted a week of due at (xxx) talked
2 G-R-being, told of to s a Duckwarth Sent Richard
Brotherton to Laund with wheat & a Goose, to come by
A Beanlands for rum from Liverpool. (M xxxx) till (xxxx)

Friday 21 a Snowey stormey day E S E
at Colne getting Chimbleys made for mill, (Mxxx) told
Sa (xxxxx) Ducwth and Mr Conniers
Papers etc. etc. In warehouse had horse and cart with
me & Brought chimbleys with me

Saturday 3. Still snowey & Stormey E S W snowing In afternoon
Hale & rain at Colne for wine for my wife and Getting
Chimley Bottoms made & wascoat altered at James Drivers
after M telling Gr & Mrs, bringing frocks back stayd with Shaw

Sunday 4. snow and rain S W
at Church in fornoon Dinnered Thos Brindles A Severnson
Jas McCall & Morfit at Meeetng. Mr Eastan Luke 13 c vesus 6 to 9 after at T.B. till 5 o’clock & home


Monday 5 A hard frost E
at Barrowford in morning with Ricd Brotherton took chimleys after shooting Got one snipe stayed in after with Dr Thompson (Un??) (xxx) (x) went (xxx)

Tuesday 6 a hard frost E
at Barrowford In fornoon after at Roughlee to Sa Dinner & tea got home by 8. Peggy Higson came to see my wife gave acct of John(?) and Robinson(?)

Wednesday 7 a Hard frost E
at shooting In fornoon got a lock, after at Colne recd of Robt Hartley £10 & of Adam Batison £1-1-0 –Pd Jos Nuttal £1.

Thursday 8. a Hard frost E
At Barrowford and Colne for Jno Higson to work at Barrowford stayd In afternoon Uncle & Aunt here and c

Friday 9. a Hard frost E
at Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne for door handles etc.
Was at home by 5 Jn Higson.
(xxxx) (xxx) (xxx)

Saturday 10, a hard frost E
at Barrowford in fornoon Stayed in afternoon Bad in my head J. Beanland and Polley Brindle here.

Sunday 11. Misty Morn N W
at church in fornoon Dinnerd T B after at meeting and home at 5 o’clock Meeting & home by 7 o’clock

Monday 12. a Thick mist and snowing W
at Barrowford In morning after at Colne mill getting malt ground and home. (Un ?) S a M all nit by 6

Tuesday 13. Mizzling and snowing S W
at Barrowford in fornoon & again in afternoon Thomas Brindle Died at 6 o’clock Evening

Wednesday 14 Mizzling Day. Windy S W
at Barrowford In fornoon after at Colne with Jno &
Thos Pollard executing deeds for Barrowford Mill.
at (xxx) half an hour

Thursday 15. fornoon wet after fair S West N W
at Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne abt jobs at David Spencer Hen Howarth Robin Atheson Geo Halstead (Drister?) at Bradley etc. M (xxx) 7 o’clock

Friday 16 a frost-snow-rain S S W
at Colne in fornoon for watch Id lost ars after to Barrowford & Laund af stayd dinner after to mill

Saturday 17 Snow & frost N
at Barrowford till 3 afternoon after at Colne (xxxx) after had my toe hurt

Sunday 18 a fresh snow N W
stayd in all fornoon after at Thos Brindle’s funeral at Shaws
upwards of' 80 people


Monday 19. Cold & frosty N E
at Colne fornoon M after with, Mr Moon and Jack Bannister at John Hiltons in evening at Barrowford

Tuesday 20. Cold & Frosty N E
at Barrowford all day took horses to sharpen etc. after at (xxx) (xxx) half (xxx),

Wednesday 21.Frost and snow N E
[up 2am gone… illegible sentence]
Shooting in fornoon got nought after at Colne Exchanged bill (xxxxxxxxxxx) value 10:16

Thursday 22. Snow and frost N E
At Colne Mr Shackleton & Rigby taking account of T Brindles goods Getting malt ground (xxx) E Sharples 3 packs & children & Uncle to dinner

Friday 23. a Cold frosty day. E
at Barrowford all day had Joiners at work and masons putting stairs up sent letter to Pawson for 12 packs malt today Paid mortgage (xxx) (xxx)

Saturday 24 a fine frosty day E
at Barrowford in fornoon Mrs Swinglehurst Recd mortgage and signed after at Colne for barrs etc. Was M 9 Clock

Sunday 25 at Church fine day E
& one Clock meeting Geo Walkdown after B & B and 5 Clock meeting Came with Geo Walkdown going to (xxx) (xxx) Burth Day 38 Years (entered in bottom margin)

Monday 26. a hard frost E
at Barrowford in morn & to Mr Shackleton’s Pasture,
Dinnered at Laund to Bradley Mill & Crawshaw hill for
half Pav Stones

Tuesday 27. Continues frosty E
at Colne In fornoon with M after at Mr Shackleton’s
with Parker Shaw & left at ½ ten went to M Gone to
bed after home 12 Clock (???) Bradshaw (????) (???)


Wed, 28 Still frosty E
at home In fornoon after at Colne recd. 10 guineas
& Thos. Whitaker 1 guinea Do. got home by 5 clock
(sentence heavily crossed out)


Thursday 29, Continues to freeze hard N
at Barrowford, & Bradley Mill In forenoon & home after
my wife & 1 went to Colne she drunk tea with
Brindle I at nt. With (XXX)

Friday 30 A fine sunny day SW
at Bradley Mill abt boards In fornoon afternoon
had John Hargreaves of Roughlee till bedtime
(xxxx) (xxx) (xxx) (xxx)

Saturday 31 a fine day & hard frost NE
At Bradley Mill drying boards and Dinnerd with A
Beanlands had cart broke and horse lamed I went to
Colne for terpentine for horse.

FEBRUARY
Sunday 1 a fine frosty night thow at night at church & meeting & to see Hy. Sagar call after home and with (xxx) night.

Monday 2 a very keen frost. NE
At Keighley Mr Greenwoods – called BB coming home (??) (??) little (M?) got home 8 clock.

Tuesday 3 a fine day N
At Colne in fornoon abt hay and gathering sacks BB weighing their pork after at Barrowford Sarh all night M

Wednesday 4a mizzling day WSW rain night
Stayd at home in fornoon carried Ellor planks into Barn after at Colne with father and Jack Bannister.

Thursday 5 a rain and sleet WNW
At Colne in fornoon Shackleton and Rigby prizing T Brindles goods after at Barrowford Epron call nit M

Friday 6 a fine day N
Buisey coming and waiving hair all fornoon after at Barrowford and Colne getting Malt ground for E Sharples Sa M nit

Saturday 7 a fine frosty day N
At Barrowford and Roughlee in fornoon after at Colne had Betty Brindle to dinner and tea & stay till after 7 at night

Sunday 8 a cold snowy blowing morn NE
At church in fornoon after ay meeting & with Oats Sagar at B Brindles Un? Sa 8 Clock nit home ½ 6

Monday 9 frost & snow Very cold NW
At Barrowford in fornoon at Mrs Swinglehursts about half an hour after at Colne Settling T Brindles (???) and livering malt a wild night wind and snow

Tuesday 10 a frosty day Great Snow NE
At Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne getting cart (rathes?) made after home by 6 clock after Sa M nit

Wednesday11a sharp frost NW
At Robert Dysons Blackah hill in fornoon afterwards at Colne getting bills for cash etc

Thursday 12 a snowey frosty day SE
Trauing (?) in fornoon after at dinner BB’s with Mr Claytons, Parker Cunliffe Hartleys etc. Stayd till 3 morn (…………..) paid this day in full for malt grinding

FEBRUARY
Friday 13 a snowy day E
At Barrowford in fornoon at Call after home & again in Barrowford at home by 5 clock

Saturday 14 frost and Snow E
At Colne in fornoon for money to B Hartley afterwards stayed at home not very well after Sa M nit a wild night snow wind drifting

Sunday 15 still snowing E
At Colne in fornoon Mr Eastam preached stayd till afternoon John Blakey and wife to tea shod gone M to wild {should have gone to visit M but it was too wild}

Monday 16 a snowey frosty day E
At Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne for screw nales etc. Stayd with John Blakey after (?) Sa nit M

Tuesday 17 a cold frosty day E
At Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne Killed pig at Jas. Farrars and John Hiltons and B.B. and ? no leave to go at nit home by 6 c

Wednesday18a snowey frosty day E
At Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne with Jack Shaw at William Foulds sent letter and bill to Powell home 6 c

Thursday 19 a fine day E
At Colne in fornoon receiving money of John Hilton after at Barrowford settling with carpenters Pd off after at Colne M nit

Friday 20 a very wild snowey day E
At Barrowford in fornoon after at home reading the life of Colonel Jack

Saturday 21 raining likely for a thaw SE
After at Colne for cash to law Redehalgh delivered two packs malt to A Cleg lad for Wm Roberts Marsden 2 ditto E Sharples 2 ditto BB of Pawsons thowing

Sunday 22 mizzling and windy SSE
At church in fornoon dinnerd with Lister Sagar at B Bbrins cmy ? and (B?) Differd at meeting 11 clock John Dean got home by 4

Monday 23 a strong thaw wind WSW
At Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne with Lister Sagar at BBB 10 clock when I got home John Shackleton and Richard Nutter here stayd till 1 clock

Tuesday 24 a showery day S by W
At Colne in fornoon to tell Law Redehalgh abt. Parkers London Richard Brotherton leading BB middling.

Wednesday25a very wet fornoon SSW
At Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne recd. Our irons from Mr Greenwood Keighley

Thursday 26 a warm day wet at nt S
At Barrowford and Laund in fornoon after at Colne with Gudgon {gudgeon=pivot} a Vestry meeting M with Dans master in (???) at home by ½ 7 Ricd half day

Friday 27 a very wet day SSW WNW
At Colne in morning after at Barrowford with Gugon after att Colne for carpenters Mrs Marth Willson M a burial

Saturday 28 a frosty morn fine day NE
At Barrowford in fornoon had Ricd. Brotherton Freighing waterhouse wall stayd in afternoon M Bradley Colne (7

Sunday 29 a Serene day cold Variable
At church in fornoon Mr Adamson Ezek. 33 6 vers at meeting Mr Coserdine Sol Song 1- 12 13 my wife and I drunk tea B Brindles

MARCH
Monday 1 a Serene day frost NE
At Barrowford soon in morning to get hands to open goit afternoon Colne and to Barrowford again to pay them M Sa all nit

Tuesday 2 a Hard frost Clear & Serene NE
At Colne in the morn for Peter (xxx) [rest of sentence partly marked over] (xxx) after at Barrowford stayd till 7 clock M Sa and in reading

Wednesday3 a fine serene day WS rain
At Barrowford till near noon after at Colne with Mr Shaw and T Pollard settling with them for writing for mill Sa M night

Thursday 4 a Wt day S&SW
Dressing corn in fornoon at Barrowford Paid Sutton blacksmith and Barrit at home by 9 clock sa M all nit

Friday 5 a wet day SSW
At Barrowford in fornoon bbuisey Pudling Mill Dam [puddling is the process of waterproofing the dam with clay] afternoon at home shod gone (xxx) as tiard of (xx)

Saturday 6 a warm day towards night rain SE
At Barrowford in fornoon Puddling Mill Dam after at Colne fair got home ½ past 6 Just supper with (xxx) stayd (xxx)

Sunday 7 a wet mizzling day S by W W
At church in fornoon after at meeting a young lad a stranger Preachd. Betty Brindley Badly

Monday 8 a Mizzling wet day S by W
At Barrowford in fornoon had 6 men pudling Mill Dam after at Colne getting yokeing gears ready for Uncle to (xxx) (x) (xxx)

Tuesday 9 a wet sleety snowey day E
At Barrowford in fornoon pudling Mill Dam afternoon at Colne getting shoes mended (xx) very badly Pd. Land Tax etc. for her to Thos. Whitaker

Wednesday10a frost but calm
Stayd in afore noon afterwards at Colne paid Pawson and recd. Of William Foulds 15 Bill Drunk stayed till 2 c

Thursday 11 frost and showers of snow E
Barrowford fornoon after at Colne [M Moon written over another name] very badly Jane Beanlands at tea

Friday 12 sleet & rain cold and windy W
At Barrowford in Fornoon after at Colne with my wife getting corn ground & (xxx) (xxx) NE

Saturday 13 frost & snow clear but cold E
Barrowford in fornoon afternoon selling Beans & Peas Chr. Hargreaves and Daughter Peggy B (?) at tea

Sunday 14 a strong frost E
At church in fornoon Dind. BB after at meeting Mr Warrick sat with Blk and others home 6 clock

Monday 15 a frost but clear E
Began to plow at Colne in morn for plow after at Barrowford and at Colne for planks stayd till 7 clock

Tuesday 16 frost & cold winds NE
Plowing and at Barrowford all day at smithy getting bolts for cistron [cistern?] Adkinson and Jas. Holt [?] helpg. To plow & Ricd. Brotherton

Wednesday17frost and strong wind SE
In fornoon at home settling accts. And Plowing after noon at Colne with Doctor Turner etc. Jack Shaw at Red lyon Call M still bdly

Thursday 18 a fine day windy cold NE
In fornoon at Barrowford afternoon at home Plowed att eveng. At Colne BB Badley / Oats Sagar (Cor) while I lamr (?)

Friday 19 Frost and snow Cold East wind
At Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne M sat by ourselves agreed to have our old hours [or house] her sister came

Saturday 20 Still frost and snow SSW
At Barrowford all day fixing Cistron and Clow pitt wheel with father our Horses and Richd. Powing [ploughing] for Hen Hage [Henry Hague] at Ing ----------

Sunday 21 a strong snow warm SW
At Church in fornoon Dind. BB did not see her at meetg. When I came back she told me people sd. She was badly because my wife was bitter wanted me not to stay went home to Barrowford & to Laund to tell about Parker was for coming abt. Road

Monday 22 snowing all fornoon S
Stayd in all fornoon Mr Greenwood came with Mrs Stayd dinner & Drinking went to Barrowford to look at Mill and house took off Mrs Swinglehurst

Tuesday 23 a fine day rather cold S by E
In fornoon at Barrowford, Laund and Mr Batty’s with letter to go to Lytham to Edmondsons afternoon Planting Plain trees in Lower Meadow after reading

Wednesday24Frosty and Snow Showers E
At Colne in morning with elm planks & to sell meal after at home for horse and to Colne again Brot him home to plow & to Colne is (?) Recd. Money of William Foulds and Pd. Smith for wood

Thursday 25 a Hard frost a little snow E cold
Dk sick all fornoon after at Colne BB Pd. Me bill and cash 16-19-4 at home by 6 clock stay in reading etc.

Friday 26 a windy frosty cold day E
At Barrowford in Morning after at Colne for Sclater and Glassner to waterhouse sold Bob stayd with Oats Sagar at J. B. till 6 clock turned back for hops and stayd till 9 clock M Back of Door Pr

Saturday 27 a Serene day frost Air SE
At Barrowford all day Brooksbank brot Horse to Heirs house I sent Ricd. to Thompsons in Colne with him the wod not let him stay--------

Sunday 28 a Very Cold Day snow and hale NE
At Church in fornoon Mr Adamson Preached from Vanity of Vanity etc. after meeting Mr Eason preachd. Got home by 5 clock

Monday 29 a Very Keen frost R
At Barrowford in fornoon making fires etc. after noon sewing and Harr. [harrowing] at Night reading after Sar M all nit rd. home 5 mor [after with lady friend M all night and returned home at five o’clock in the morning]

Tuesday 30 A Keen frost and snow E
Jobbing at home all day J Blakey went with our Cart to Coalpit for themselves less why {smaller heifer?] Bot of E Richardson calv’d at night reading nuse paper

Wednesday31A keen frost showery snow NE
Sent Ricd. to Coalpit for himself after harrowing after at Colne with young Hartley and Mich Hopwood and my wife at B Brindles

APRIL
Thursday 1 A very keen frost N
At Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne abt. buying manure [note at side: cow manure] BB my wife at Abe Beanlands

Friday 2 a Hazey warm day W
At Barrowford in fornoon wheel rights putting felks [fellows?] upon crown wheels stayd at home after noon Mrs Warrick etc. at tea M Sa was at home ten in Bd

Saturday 3 a Snow in Morn Warm E fine day
At Home jobbing and reading after at Barrowford wheel rights finished at noon we was fixing cistron head in dam

Sunday 4 a misty day W
At Church in fornoon after at meeting Joseph Waterhouse std. M after noon (xxx) Chr. 4 clock afternoon

Monday 5 a warm mizzling day SW
Sowing in fornoon and Harrowing all day Peter and B Brindle Horse afterwards at Barrowford had money of James Mitchell

Tuesday 6 a Droughty day W
At Barrowford in fornoon Cellers [Sellers?] wallg. Dam Finished Plowing etc. had BB Galloway [horse?] after M all nit

Wednesday7 after a Cold Day Dry SW WN
At Barrowford in fornoon Cellers setting chimney pipes upon Mill after at Colne with Mr Parker Shackleton and father

Thursday 8 a fine calm day NW var.
Went to Mr Greenwoods Keighley abt. Frames for Cotton Mill got home by 9 see two frames for Carding loaded.

Friday 9 a Dark day mizzl’d W
At Barrowford in morning recd. Two carding frames to Barrowford pudling dam masons setting chimleys up had masons Doing Garden Wall up

Saturday 10 Showers of Snow and Hale WNW
At Colne in fornoon after at Barrowford and to Claverhole to look at wood after drinking tea A Beanlands and Barford. M nit

Sunday 11 Frost and Snow W
At Church in fornoon after meeting but to late got home by 5 clock

Monday 12 Frost and Snow W
At Barrowford with Mr Greenwood Uncles flitting to Barrowford Mr Greenwood and J Hargreaves Dined and tea with us Church Wardens meeting

Tuesday 13 Frost Snow SW
At Barrowford in Morning After Leading Hay from Colne. Dinnrd (xxx) sent letter to Powell and Edmondson Litham (M all nit crossed over] and (??) came

Wednesday14Frost and Snow NW
At Barrowford and Roughlee with cart styd till noon at Barrowford after stayd at home not very well in bed after jobbing and settling Wm. Cellers etc.

Thursday 15 a Cold Gloomey day frost W
At Barrowford all fornoon after went to Laund to see Mrs neither of them asked me to bite sup or sit down got home by 1.2 past 5 & got my dinner

Friday 16 Gloomy day and little frosty NE
At Barrowford in fornoon helping to put Gugons in to tumbling shafts came home to dinner after to Barrowford helping up fits tumbling shaft (xxx) (xxx) [SCG consulted Chris Aspin about tumbling shafts and we agreed they are most likely to be the line-shafting from which the machinery was driven]

Saturday 17 a Springey day W
At Colne in the morning buying meet & (xxx) went to Burnley after I went to Barrowford stay’d till 1.2 past 9 Thos. Barritt finished we putting water troughs up

Sunday 18 a Draughty day W
At Church in fornoon after dinner came home no meeting Mr Wesley preached at Gisburn Abraham Beanlands and wife to tea

Monday 19 a showery Springey day W
At Barrowford in fornoon nailing casing troughs afternoon one carding frame came from Keighley and malt from Powel (xxx) (xxx) (xxx)

Tuesday 20 a Mizzling day W
Paull Greenwood came to Barrowford had him to dinner and tea at Barrowford By. Brindle to tea

Wednesday21A fine growey day wet W
At Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne vestry Meeting Master John Greenwood came and stayd all night M was at home by 7 clock

Thursday 22 A Wet morning and Showery after W
Set off to Manchester with John Greenwood and John Hargreaves to buy cotton Dinnerd at Bury Jo Fittons and supd while [White?] horse went to Flounders & Mrs Laws Copers Arn [or Arms?]

Friday 23 a Showery morning SW
This fornoon buying cotton of Dobson Bickerdike etc Dined with Ridley after came of for home stay at Ratnosdale all night

Saturday 24 a Snow and heavy showers ditto W
Came to Barrowford to Breakfast with John Greenwood & Dinnerd with us at Heirshouse

Sunday 25 a fine day but cold W
At Church and Meeting Mr Adamson and his Lady appeared at Church std little at M home by 6

Monday26 a fine Spring day W
At Barrowford Mr Greenwood came to set up etc. at Colne for chizls etc. and the Bar’ford again M nit 4m

Begun getting dinners with Uncle

Tuesday 27 a Springey Showery day SW
At Barrowford all day dined at uncles and Drunk tea busey preparing cards & turning the silenders Jas. Holt brot drawing frame etc.

Wednesday28frosty Morn W N
at Barrowford In forenoon Jobbing after at Colne with Shackletons etc, Oates Sagar stay’d till ½ past ten

Thursday 29 a frosty Morn NE
at Barrowford all day helping Mr Greenwood to nale cards on shod have gone M did not

Friday 30 a frosty morn NE
set of to help Mr Greenwood abt cards at five in morning to Barrowford stay all after with M nit oats & (xxx) (xxx)(xxx)

MAY
Saturday 1 cold Day with dropt NE
at Barrowford In fornoon after at Colne abt getting less Paper of Jack Tillotson got home before dark

Sunday 2 a cold but fine Day NE
at Church In fornoon after at Meeting James Sugden with M Bd ½ past two clock Drunk tea at J, Wilkinson a meeting again a

Monday 3 a fine Spring day W
Making malt Bills out and at Barrowford with James Driver in fornoon after at Colne Vestry Meeting at home by 9 Clock M nit night

Tuesday 4 a fine day Droughty W
went to Blackburn to visitation at Blackburn got to Barrowford by 6 clock rcd two Spinning and one roving frame from Mr Greenwood Scott bulld

Wednesday5 a fine warm Day W
at Barrowford in fornoon Mr Greenwood fixing Drawing, and roving frames after at Colne got home by 6 clock

Thursday 6 a fine day W
at Barrowford all Day fixing Drawing frame & setting it a going at home by 3 clock(xxx) why had of Ed. Richardson bulld

Friday 7 a fine warm Day W
at Barrowford Laund & Jno Hartleys abt. letting twinters (1) to summer after Barrowford Carding Drawing roving got home by ½ past 8 clock

Saturday 8 a wet fornoon & windy W
at Barrowford In fornoon setting up two of the first spinning frames Mr Greenwood not well a wet night at M night

Sunday 9 a wet fornoon after warm & dry W
at Church and meeting afternoon at Barrowford with my wife at Mill exceeding warm reading In the evening till nine night

Monday 10 exceeding warm & Springey W
at Barrowford In Morning setting Matt Sutcliffe to stop Dam etc. at Colne in fornoon after (xx) Henry Hague helped to plow for potatoes (xxx)

Tuesday 11 a wet morn but springy W
at Colne In fornoon for Pikes for bridge after at Barrowford Mr Greenwood & son came at noon to fix in two of the first frames up

Wednesday12a fine morn springey W
at Barrowford in Morn dinnerd at B(xx) after at Colne got bills for cash of Richd. Nutter Meet with Barritt wheel right.
1. Twinter, - a beast of two Winters (two years old)


Thursday13 a Droughty Day W
At Barrowford all fornoon after to Colne for hinges and Lock for bridge (xxx) M a wet night

Friday 14 a fine springey morn W
at Barrowford In fornoon after at Colne fair Bought a mahog.y Dressing Chest of Drawers home by 6

Saturday 15 a fine Day W
at Barrowford, & Colne in morning by 6 M just in bd. Oats Sagar & Pristmann all night after at Barrowford all day Mrs Greenwood & oats came

Sunday 16 a Very fine day W
Went with Bridges Mrs Greenwood & oats Paul & John Greenwood to Wheatley Chapl came with Mrs Dent to Clough the above came to tea as the retd home my Wife and I went to hear John Green at Barrowford at 7 at night

Monday 17 a fine hot day light wind W
at Barrowford all day in the Mill got home by 8 Clock (xxx) (xxx)

Tuesday 18 a fine hot Day Calm almost W
at Barrowford all Day in the Mill at home by 6 went to Colne to Buy boxes M par (xx)

Wednesday19a fine Day W
at Barrowford in fornoon afterwards at Colne Recd. In full of Ed Sharples at home by 8 clock

Thursday 20 a fine Day W
at Barrowford spinning I tented while Uncle & John Greenwood went to Colne M nit

Friday 21 a fine day W
at Barrowford with Mr Greenwood at howgill to see Elm Planks at Barrowford in evening Jas. Powel stay all night

Saturday 22 a fine day W
went to Colne in fornoon, with Powel recd for a pack of malt David Spencer after at Barrowford

Sunday 23 a hot day W S near calm
at 9 clock meeting Mr. Costerdine at Church John Greenwood with one meeting with me at one & church again Dinnerd BB M


Monday 24 a fine warm day S
at Barrowford in fornoon and after and after came home with Jas. Atkin near (xxx) after to Colne for candles for mill Begin to wane M nit

Tuesday 25 a fine warm day W
stayd at home badly till 5 clock after to Barrowford till nea eleven Jno Blakey flit

Wednesday26a Springey morn S rain Thunder
At Barrowford in for noon & stayd till 4 Clock after to Colne got home by 8 clock did not call anywhere

Thursday 27 a springey Morn W
at Barrowford in fornoon after to Colne gotd a tooth Drawn and a Church warden meeting after M

Friday 28 A fine day W
At Barrowford Mill and Laund dinnerd with them father look at mill stayed late had promise of 3 eller trees of father

Saturday 29 a fine Morn but after wet W
at Barrowford all day settled accounts with spinners etc. NS
got home by 10 at night

Sunday 30 a Springey day &, Showrey W
at Church & Meeting Jno Cattlow Preached Psa 103 & 1st at home by 5 rain

Monday 31 a mizzling wet Day SSE
at Barrowford all day Paul Greenwood came from Keighley at nit M Jno Hanson cor.r M Jno Hargraves Eln Wall pass diffd M

JUNE
Tuesday 1 a wet morn cleared up W
at Barrowford in fornoon after Drew B Brindles account out & Liverd it her gave up shop & shifted all out of it to pay 1 half of
her bill at Michaelmas & the other (xxx)

Wednesday2 a fine day E
At Barrowford In fornoon after at Colne with Jack Shaw at Davids after at bone again M nit Pleasant

Thursday 3 a dark Cold windy day E
At home in fornoon at Colne recd. rent of Thos. Turner after at M orderd to go to Mr Shackletons to give up & come by our house & take it M

Friday 4 a fine Droughty Day E
at home in fornoon in bed after at Barrowford and Colne B Brindle and Hianson went together to Burnley or Bradley Rob.n Atkinsons M

Saturday 5 a fine day & hot E
at Barrowford all day B Brindle at Mill Pasture and our house supt. shod have gone M did not she wtd. me to stay two nights away

Sunday 6 a fine day but rather cold
stay at home in fornoon Smiths came from Keighley I went to Colne with them at M in high (??) Chr till night after all nit M

Monday 7 gloomey morn & after rain E
at mill in fornoon after at Colne for candles etc with my wife BB badley wet night hard (???)

Tuesday 8 a fine day SW
at Barrowford & Dinnerd at Laund see Jno Blakey at his new house came Back to Barrowford stayd till ½ past 6 clock – wet night

Wednesday 9a wet morn and showrey SW
at Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne with Abr Beanland and Pawson at BB & pd in full want again at ½ 12 nigt gone bed did not call up

Thursday 10 a wet Day SE
at Barrowford Papering cillinders for carding Jas Holt gone to Kighley for two spinning frames M all nit very loving


Friday 11 a Wet Day SW
at Barrowford all day nailing cards on Dinnerd & Drinking at Uncles

Saturday 12 a Wet lay S SW
at Colne in fornoon M for files etc got back by noon after at Barrowford getting cards ready and two spinning frames forwards

Sunday 13 a Showrey Day SW
in fornoon at Church Paul Green’d and Jno Hargraves there Dinnerd BB Drunk tea at Mr Hargraves Bridgend a meeting afterwards

Monday 14 a droughty Day W by N
at Barrowford In fornoon, after at home looking farm over spoke Mr Adamn after M thinking to make a final end but settled other ways

Tuesday 15 a mizzling Day W
at Barrowford till noon after at Colne getting belt for Spinning and emery bot pulleys and hide of Jno Oddie at Barrowford again Betty Brindle took house of my wife

Wednesday 16a Wet day SW
at Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne with Jas Roberts Mr Blakey Thos Gott Thos Wilson & my father

Thursday 17 a Droughty Day W WNW
at Barrowford In fornoon after at Colne & Bridgend with my wife Vizing after M nit Ellen at weddg Jno Higson at home by 3 morn

Friday 18 a fine Day W Windy
stayd in this fornoon wet after at Mr Adamsons vizing slipt to M catchd Hanson she called to speak for me to come at nit Elin away, told she had or Might have Plenty beside me

Saturday 19 a windy showery day W
at Barrowford all day Paul Greend went home & two spinners wer had set fourth frame a Pally Pool and sister at tea and at Mill

Sunday 20 a Windy Morn W
Stayd in this fornoon Reading after at Colne meeting & to see Cockshut & Laws Mill at nit M home by ½ 1 M came from Mitton

Monday 21 a gloomey showery day W
at Barrowford all day none of Greenwoods family there I had to manage

Tuesday 22 a Gloomy Day W
at Barrowford till 4 in afternoon came home badley in my head & Back M ½ 10 std till 3

Wednesday23a Gloomy Day W
at Barrowford in fornoon after stayd at home Badly In my head & back

Thursday 24 a fine Day W
at Colne in fornoon after at Abm Beanlands & Mr Roberts Wm Sagar Mrs Warwick Mrs Eastin etc M at nit

Friday 25 a 'Dark Mizzling Day SW
went to Tickles Padiham and Dinnerd after to Blackburn and to Darwen to Mr Rickets Ainsworth Woods and after to Blackburn Mr Smalley Freckleton Turners etc

Saturday 26 a Wet Mizzling Day SSW
Set of for home call of hugh Roberts and Robert hargraves & at Laund after to at Colne for Hilson money etc after M slipt by in house Oates Sagar etc

Sunday 27 wet fornoon after fair ENE
at Church in fornoon Dind B Brindles after at Meeting & to Barrowford for men to repare dam after to henden about flaggs for mill floor

Monday 28 a fine Day W
at Barrowford all day at ½ 12 nit M cold not see M home at two

Tuesday 29 a fine day SW
at Mr Cunliffs and M till noon afterwards to Barrowford till night with M all nit

Wednesday 30a Dark but fine Day NW
at Barrowford all Day at night at Colne With my father Dr Turner Roper Jno Starkey & Rothwell

JULY
Thursday 1 a Dark but fine day SW
at Barrowford till noon after at vestry meeting and made a sort of end with M

Friday 2 a fine Day SW W
at Barrowford all day In Mill stayd till 7 night till nighters set to work sent 5 Shl . by Peter Hartley he brot it next morning

Saturday 3 a fine day W
begin mowing in meadows at Barrowford all day in mill had Peter Hartley mowing

Sunday 4 a fine Day W
a meeting In morning Mr Coserdine & Church after at Meeting BB and Miss Spencer called

Monday 5 a fine Day West
at Barrowford till noon after at Colne to buy rakes etc stayd M after noon sa.h till ½ 1 Buisey in hay

Tuesday 6 a fine day W
had 7 mowers at Barrowford in morning reparing Call came home after at Barford again & home

Wednesday 7a fine morn variable
At Barrowford & Colne in the morning Buying meet came on at noon lightening thunder and rain catch’d with our hay

Thursday 8 Thunder & Lightening, rain in morn gloomey
After at Barrowford & Laund to be a hay day had moast of our hay down & a large quantity of makers

Friday 9 a Gloomey day cleared up a fine afternoon
At Mill and Colne in Morning housed hay m nit a deal Com andy corted etc

Saturday 10 a fine Day W
at Barrowford Buisey at hay at Colne M sent basket first after M nit Hianson call her up 2 diffr with abt it

Sunday 11 a fine day W
at Church In fornoon after meeting & home to bed after walking on to hay field after to bed & to M till one got up at 3 to lead hay dinnerd Betty Brindles.

Monday 12 a dark morn turnd to rain SW
got up soon to lead(1) hay after at Colne for Peter & horse to lead muck finished hay out of meadows M 11

Tuesday 13 a fine day at night wet W
In fornoon Mowing hay & Leading Mainnor after to Barrowford Parker pulled gaps down at nit M Ellin Wha I suspected see me under In Chr. Compy

Wednesday14a fine day W
at Barrowford till noon after at Colne Cunliffe paid me was with Oates Sagar at TB ½ hour at home by ½ 10

Thursday 15 a fine hot day W
at Barrowford Mill all day had people leading muck BB came In evening to fix with my wife Blackpool

Friday 16 a fine Day Dark W
at Mill all day had mason wall Doors up sent twist to Blackburn M till 9

Saturday 17 a Showrey fornoon, after fair W
at Barrowford all day vent to Laund to Pay rent Betty Brindle had our horse to Slaidburn to see Palley

Sunday 18 a Dark Day W
at Church In fornoon after to meeting Mr Warwick Preached for last time Jas Wilson calld

Monday 19 a Showery Day W
At Colne In Morning M telld abt Hianson after at Barrowford till night after M SA Diffd abt Hianson Cride etc.

Tuesday 20 a wet Day S
at Barrowford all day went to A Beands for bills £50 BB Came to heirs house with bird & shod gone did not

Wednesday21a close wet day S
at Barrowford In fornoon, after to Colne had Joint £40 of Mankns Betty Brindle came at 11 clock M nit

Thursday 22 a wet morn W
Set of for Manchester 10 clock Dinnerd with Jo Fittons Bury came to Manchester 5 Meet Mr Greenwood Bot 10 Baggs cotton Mr Kirkham after with law (???)

Friday 23 a Warm Day W
Paid for Cotton & set of for Bolton at ½ past 10 & Dinnerd at Chorley after to Preston & (???) at Blackpool to my wife & B Brindle

Saturday 24 a wet fornoon S
stayd In afternoon walking the sands & going to see the fishers Draw

Sunday 25 a wet morn S
went to Poulton Church afternoon walking on the sands

(1) lead - to cart,


Monday 26 a fine day W
In fornoon at Minend with Lyon BB Mr and Mrs Richardson Miss Stur & Fawcit etc after went to drink tea E poor

Tuesday 27 a fine day W
rode out with BB to Joe Broad (???) etc. M bottom garden after noon to Poulton to Pack horse after bathed

Wednesday28a fine fornoon W after rain S
Drunk water badly rode to Rabit Warrand to see ferrits with Shaw Bradshaw Mrs Shaw and several others camp B Brindle etc

Thursday 29 a wet Morn NE
Bathed my wife & BB stayed in in fornoon after to Poulton with Marcer Kirkpatrick

Friday 30 a fine day but a heavy showr E
Came to Kirkham to breakfast dinnerd Preston drunk tea at Whalley got home by ½ aliven M sa

Saturday 31 a fine day hot W
Stayd home this fornoon looking fields etc after Barrowford till night ? at Colne till near 9 M sa


AUGUST
Sunday 1 a Fine DAY w
at Church In fornoon after stayd in at night went walking

Monday 2 a fine hot day W
at Barrowford In fornoon after at Colne about Iron and for Sugar hops etc BB at Colne all day M nit own house first

Tuesday 3 a very fine day W
at Barrowford and Mr Ellots seedill came back and dinnerd with uncle stayed at Mill till drinking time came home M nit

Wednesday4 a mizlling morn after fine W
at Barrowford in fornoon after making up twist afternoon at Colne with Jno Hianson & Nick Hopwood M

Thursday 5 a wet day S SxW
at Barrowford all fornoon after at Laund dinnerd there & back to Barrowford stay till night M nit

Friday 6 a Wet morn & cont all day SW
at Colne in fornoon & home after at Barrowford weighing twist etc stay till near 8 clock M

Saturday 7 a Cold showery day NW
at Barrowford all day BB went to fathers Uncles and Aunt had words with me I offered to give up etc Reckd for meat etc.

Sunday 8 a fine morn after noon wet W
a Meeting in fornoon & church after stayd in raining hard Newchurch Rushbearing

Monday 9 a far day but dark SW
at Barrowford till noon after at Colne sent letter to Powel & 8 sacks also 10 for ? M nit

Tuesday 10 a showry day SW
stayd in fornoon after went to Barrowford at home again 8 clock M came sitg M nit

Wednesday11a fine day W
at Barrowford abt talkg partnership etc with Uncle Wm. after noon M Colne all day with Abm Beanlands etc

Thursday 12 a Gloomy mizzling Day W
at Barrowford all fornoon after at Salterforth about a clock maker meet with Jo Morfit Getting our gooseberries today


Friday 13 a mizzling day wet W
at Barrowford in fornoon after my wife & I went to A Beanlands and I to Marsden Height for grind stones Mr Priestman and Jo Farrer call nit M

Saturday 14 a fine day W
at Barrowford & to Laund in fornoon after to Colne Wm Hartley call & got a little ale

Sunday 15 a fine day W
at Church & meeting had Mr Adkinson from Todmorden. uncle Wilkinson from Manchester all night

Monday 16 a fine day W
at home in fornoon with Jno Wilkinson from Manchester after at Barrowford till night Crossgates Rush (bearing?)

Tuesday 17 a showery Day NE
at Barrowford In fornoon after to Colne for candles after to Barrowford & home to tea

Wednesday18a fine day E
at Barrowford in fornoon righting bobings after at Colne with Chr Higgin A Beanland Jos Windle Jno Wilkinson of Manchester M stayd G Tillotson (?)

Thursday 19 a fine day Droy NE
at Jo Crookc to buy a pig after at Barrowford and with my wife & Jno Wilkinson at dinner A Beanlands

Friday 20 a dark cold day NE
went to Barrowford & to Abm Beanlands after with Jno Wilkinson & do to Whitworth doctor with my knee ??? ???? for Palley

Saturday 21 a fine day E
at Barrowford all day Paul Greenwood at. Barrowford set of with Jno Hargreaves to Keighley

Sunday 22 a fine day NE
at Church in fornoon at meeting at 1 clock dinnerd with Dr Turner & Thompson a Ed Sharples

Monday 23 a fine day E
this morning vent to Keighley and stayed all day Paul came with me back M came home

Tuesday 24 a dark day SW
Paul and I went to Keighley Blackburn and Harwood etc got home a little after 10

Wednesday25a fine day Cold E
at Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne with Jon Bins Bradford Father etc at Ed Sharples paid Dr Thompson

Thursday 26 a dark day WNNE
at Barrowford in fornoon packing and making bills of parcels for Blackburn after to Colne to poast

Friday 27 a fine day Dark W
at Barrowford in fornoon after at home reading in afternoon had Robt Hay paveing door

Saturday 28 a fine day night rain and thunder
at Barrowford in fornoon after at home to dinner after at Barrowford stayd till wages paid and nighters changed

Sunday 29 wet showrey day Cold W
at Church In fornoon dined at Jude Hagraves first time after at Meeting a new Preacher Solomon’s song 1C V3

Monday 30 a fine Morn E
at Barrowford in morning Jno Greenwood came to tell me to go with his father to Manchester I set of at 11 dinnerd at Bacup at Man 7

Tuesday 31 a wet fornoon E
buisey buying Cotton at night went with Jno Wilkinson to Ashton to see Thos and Betty Raner she was of age today

SEPTEMBER

Wednesday 1 A warm dark calm day
this Morning Went to Stella Bridge see cotton mill after to Egr Arlings see hot houses water works and gardens after took lieve and came home by 8 clock

Thursday 2 a Mizzling morn W
This morning set of to Barrowford & to Blackburn after to Darwen stayd all night at Duckworths

Friday 3 a fine day W
Went to Blackburn to L Whitakers had an order of Hawkshead and Fielding calld Mr Peels after home

Saturday 4 a Very fine day W
In fornoon Barrowford sent 3 Ps to Fieldings at home to dinner after to Barrowford with my wife afr I went to Colne for Cockles etc

Sunday 5 a fine day E
At Church in fornoon dined at Judes after to meeting cee Walkdown again at night Malloy Blakey Calld

Monday 6 a fine day W
At home in fornoon Cutting hedge and Chianing ? fir trees after to Colne and Barrowford

Tuesday 7 a dark but fine day N
This fornoon went under Bolsworth to look at (???) (???) after to Barrowford and Colne at night A Beanlands & wife at tea

Wednesday8 a hot day at night wet W
At Barrowford in fornoon afterwards at Colne got home by 8 sent cart 2 Burley Coalpit

Thursday 9 a hot day E
at Barrowford Buisey writing Bills of Parcels and settling (???) sending twist off Marcer called my wife and Betty Brindle came to Mill

Friday 10 a fine day W
at Barrowford all day mistake at home in fornoon but stayd till dark at Mill M nit did not Diff’d

Saturday 11 a fine day W
at Barrowford till 3 Clock settling ledger for the first time & Paying wages M Colne all fornoon Scotch men etc

Sunday 12 a Very fine warm day W
At Church and Meeting dinnerd Jude Hargraves M stayd till 7

Monday 13 a very hot day Calm SW
At Barrowford fornoon after at Colne to meet Jas Wilson & Driver went a setting but found none Susannah Sutcliffe & her daughter to tea

Tuesday 14 a fine day rather Gloomey E
In fornoon at Barrowford washing planks has Jas Crook Shearing (???) BB had Jas Mc call and y Stevenson

Wednesday15a fine day E
at Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne Recd William Foulds (balance?) with Hianson Higgin etc Jude Hargraves

Thursday 16 a fine day W
home in fornoon Jobbing had Crook shearing after at Barrowford packing twist of etc not with M*e

Friday 17 a fine Day W
at Barrowford after to Laund Dinner there Robt Crabtree Recd Varley after to Barrowford stayd rill 9 clock

Saturday 18 a fine day W
at Barrowford in fornoon came home to dinner went with familey nutting & to Barrowford stayd till 9 clock

Sunday19 a fine day W
at Colne Church in fornoon after stayd at home in afternoon reading Mr Wesley’s Jornal

Monday 20 a wet morn W
at Barrowford in. morning Bolding badly sent Richd Brotherton to Coalpit for himself afternoon Barrowford

Tuesday 21 a fine Day but Cold W
set of at ½ 6 for Keighley in morning and got rough draft of agreement between Mr Greenwood and us at home by 7 clock

Wednesday22a wet day S
At Blackburn all day seeking customers at Joe Edges etc Mr Callas etc at law a wet night got home by nine

Thursday 23 a wet Day W
at Barrowford all day packing Twist Bills of Parcels etc got home by ½ past 8 night

Friday 24 a dark gloomey day W
at Barrowford till 3 in afternoon & after went nutting M at Colne stay'd little

Saturday 25 a wet day W E
at Barrowford all day came home by 7 clock

Sunday 26 a fair day till night E
at church in fornoon dinnerd Jude Hargraves after at meeting at night went to Roughlee

Monday 27 a wet day NNW
at Barrowford all day till 8 nit sent Robert Robinson to Keighley was not come home when I left Rd

Tuesday 28 a wet day SE
at Barrowford till noon after at Mr Shaw about articles at Colne on Acct. of partnership

Wednesday 29a fine day cold E
At Barrowford till 3 clock afterwards Colne got home by 7 clock M there all day to buy

Thursday 30 a fine Day ESE
at Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne Chas wifes funeral after stayd with Father and Doctor

OCTOBER
Friday 1 a fine day E
at Barrowford all day Mr Greenwood came I gave him notice of dissolving partnership

Saturday 2 a fine dry day SE
At Barrowford all day till 4 after at Colne about Advizing with Mr Shaw and Moon abt articles with Mr Greenwood till 11 night

Sunday 3 a dark day & fair S
Stayd at home in fornoon after at Meeting & with Mr Moon again came home by four clock M by ½ 6

Monday 4 a dark morn S
6 clock set out for Manchester at 7 got there by 12 noon did not call anywhere bot (?) bags cotton and went of aftr to holingreen

Tuesday 5 a fine day E
Got to Liverpool by 12 Clock buisey looking after articles & Ind at Harrisons High Street

Wednesday 6 a fine day E
Bot what I wanted and set of for Prescot Dinner there after came to Manchester & with Geo Leeche’s

Thursday 7 a fine day E
Bot cotton vice screw nails etc set of for home 3 Clock and arrived at ½ past 8 M nit

Friday 8 a fine droughty day E
At Barrowford till near two clock after at Colne and sent young ? Rustron with notice to Keighley Mr Greenwood

Saturday 9 a dark day mizzling E
At Barrowford all day poasting books at Barrowford paying wages got home by ½ past 7

Sunday 10 a fine day E
Went to Laund in fornoon after to Meeting at one home to tea after to meeting at 6 Susanh & Betty Brindle stayd bed hom

Monday 11 a fine day but dark
Colne Michaelmas fair day at Barrowford all day got home ½ past 8 begun for ourselves

Tuesday 12 a dark day E
At Barrowford all day rouning (wondering? SCG) of what we call partnership Cotton got home 8 Mr Greenwood and Mr Oddie settled PartnP

Wednesday13a gloomey day E
At Barrowford in fornoon and at Colne settling releases etc Bond for 6 gd pounds stayd on Jewry

Thursday 14 a gloomey day W E
At Barrowford all day set up tables in middle room & shifted twist tallied counters & packing of etc

Friday 15 a dark mizzling day E
At Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne & Barrowford again at Colne for iron ordered iron and wood Mr Shaw Leeds

Saturday 16 a fine day calm frost E
At Barrowford paying wages & stayd till 1.2 past 8 clock Mrs Shaw at tea uncle went to Bollards abt money

Sunday 17 a fine day frost E
At Church in fornoon after at Meeting dinnerd Jude Hargraves M do & stayd till night with (???) (???) diffd night abt not coming home etc etc

Monday 18 a fine day frost E
At Barrowford all day Hired of Grace Stuttard £60 came home ½ past 8 clock

Tuesday 19 a fine day misty W
At Barrowford in morning after at Laund and back to Barrowford stayd till ½ past 8 M my wife at Abr Beanlands

Wednesday20a fine day W
At Barrowford all day at night at Colne for screws nales & took ( ) for hors

Thursday 21 a mizzling day W
Father came from Colne at Bracewells Buisey Packing Writing etc My wife came and stayd BB Pd rent

Friday 22 a wet morning after clear W
At Barrowford all day Fettling up top garret and for clock maker etc got home by 8 BB Brother came

Saturday 23 a wintry day frost snow N
At Barrowford all day at Mill settling books got home by 8 snowing Evening

Sunday 24 a cold day N
At Church and Meeting dinnerd at Jude Hargraves

Monday 25 a keen frost N
At Barrowford all day and got home by 1.2 past 8 clock

Tuesday 26 a keen frost NE
Set of for Keighley at ½ past 6 clock morn got there by 9 stayd dinner and got home by 6 night

Wednesday27frost NE
At Barrowford all day Ricd Brotherton and Henry Forster hired and indented with Christopher Hargraves and me

Thursday 28 a fine morn W
At Barrowford till 3 clock after at Langroad sale Henry Bolding indented

Friday 29 a fine day W
At Barrowford and Ricd Howorths dinnerd at Laund got Bullas Mother at Burnley I got home by 8 clock Colne at night

Saturday 30 a fine day W
At Barrowford all day had sawyers cutting Eller & got home by 8 clock

Sunday 31 a fine day towards night raining
At Colne in fornoon Mr Adamson badley dinnerd at Jude Hargraves a meeting one clock got home 4 c

NOVEMBER
Monday 1 a fine day W
At Barrowford & Laund for Hollin ? Crabtree Jno Fish and Mr Bartons man came for twist from Darwin

Tuesday 2 a fine day W
Set of to Halifax at 5 in morning got there by 9 clock At Mr Ballends & Mr Emmott dinner with Hartley Sorby Street

Wednesday3 a fine day W
At Barrowford till ? clock after went Colne about belts with Old & young Shackletons Diffd M Drunk

Thursday 4 a fine day E
At Barrowford making bills of Parcels & sending twist of to Blackburn got home by ½ past 7 clock

Friday 5 a fine day E
In Morning Barrowford and Laund for Hotting Father gave & Jane not Bleased ?

Saturday 6 a fine day
At Barrowford Abr Beanlands in fornoon after at Barrowford paying wages father came stay with us

Sunday 7 a Showrey cold day
Set of for Manchester Dined at Rochdale after to Man by 6 Clock went to Methodist meeting

Monday 8 a frost and fine day
Buisey Buying cotton of Mr Barlow Mr Fletcher & Mr Kirkham

Tuesday 9 a wt morn SW WNE
In morning breakfasted with Jo Leech and Bot Acct books etc set of for home after Dinnerd at Bacup home by 6 Clock M with Priestman at C
Wednesday10a wet day W
At Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne got home by 5 clock after reading etc

Thursday 11 a wild wet day SW
T Barrowford all day packing and sending of after cotton after Cotton come to Bard

Friday 12 a wet morn cleared fine day W
At New Bridge & Roughlee looking at Billcock Ellers after at Colne for wire vice belts etc after stayd at home

Saturday 13 a showrey day W
At Barrowford in fornoon & Roughlee after looking at Eller wood after at Colne for wire belts abt spindles

Sunday 14 a wet day SW W
At home in fornoon after at meeting home by 5 clock

Monday 15 Wet morning SW
At Barrowford in morning and to Colne in fornoon for malt etc after to Barrowford with cart M went home

Tuesday 16 a showrey day SW
At Barrowford all day M went fathers got home by 6 clock night

Wednesday17a showrey day SSW
At Barrowford till two clock Wm Marcer from Harwood Dinnerd with us and stay till night I went to Colne Recd rent of Thos Turner

Thursday 18 a fine day W NW N
At Abr Beanlands and Laund in fornoon Pd rent after to Barrowford packd twist of and got home by ½ 8

Friday 19 a hard frost NW
At Barrowford in morning after at Colne for skins card clothes and beans afternoon to Bfd Tumbling shafts came from Leeds

Saturday 20 a hard frost NE
At Barrowford all day came home at 5 even M came home had Jas Driver repairing my old close

Sunday 21 a hard frost E
At Church in fornoon at dinner with Abm Beanlands at Jude Hargraves after at meeting & home at meeting at 7 again

Monday 22 a fine morn W
At Barrowford all day at night went to Colne for planks of Elm and Deal got Jno Moore to come

Tuesday 23 a showrey day SW
At Barrowford all day at night at landlords sale

Wednesday24a warm close day
At Barrowford all day till noon after at Colne with father and Jude after Ned Sharples

Thursday 25 a wet day SSW
At Barrowford all day Buisey packing and making Bills of Parcels Mr Powell came to Mill

Friday 26 a fine Dark Day W
Mr Powell came to breakfast and I went with him to Colne M sent for after I went to Barrowford and to Colne at night ordor weight (???)

Saturday 27 a fair day W
At Barrowford and Laund in fornoon after at Barrowford in afternoon got home by 8 clock

Sunday 28 a wet day SSW
Bleeding B (?) in fornoon and stayd at home all day Ellen Whalley and I Frank Barbers wife & my wife at tea with BB Brindle

Monday 29 a fine day NE
Set of this morning for Kighley stayd till ½ past 7 clock after went to Halifax to the foundery

Tuesday 30 a frosty morning & cold W
At the foundry and looking about me in Halifax at Church and Cloth Hall set of for Sorby Street Dinner (???) got home by 6 clock

DECEMBER
Wednesday1 a fine day W
At Barrowford in fornoon after at Colne with Mr Maud from Leeds Lau Redehalgh etc

Thursday 2 a mizzling day SW
Recd planks from Ben Smith and had ? for one frame end Males ? from Kighley Packing and sending of

Friday 3 a very wet day S
At Barrowford Mill all day getting matters forwards below stairs stayd till after 8 clock night

Saturday 4 a snowey day SW to N
At Barrowford all day in roving room got many done and well stayd till after 8 clock night

Sunday 5 a snowey and dark NE
Stayd at home in fornoon after at meeting noon and stayd in afterwards

Monday 6 frost and snow E
At Barrowford all day John Holt came to work at mill stayd till 8

Tuesday 7 frost and snow E
At Barrowford all day in Carding room most of day stayd till after 8 Ellen Whal came

Wednesday8 frost and snow very cold E
At Barrowford by 7 in morn came home to dinner after at Colne at home by 8 night

Thursday 9 a hard frost and snowing E
At Barrowford all day at noon had second drum to take out and repair after at Colne Vestrey meeting etc

Friday 10 a hard frost and snow W
At Barrowford setting winding frames up after at dinner Laund & Mill house by 8

Saturday 11 a Hard frost E
At Barrowford all day at noon had Parkinson and another chap for twist

Sunday 12 a hard frost ENE
At Church in fornoon in afternoon getting ice of water wheel at Barrowford Ellin went to Jas Farrers

Monday 13 a very keen frost E
At Barrowford in fornoon after at home for a cart full of wood ? Eller planks at home by 6 night

Tuesday 14 windy rather (????) N
At Barrowford Wheel right came from Sutton to put bolt on came home half past 8 at night

Wednesday15a fine day NE
At Barrowford all day came home ½ past 8 at night

Thursday 16 a dark day snow showers W
At Barrowford and Dinner at Laund had father and Veevers at Mill home by ½ past 8

Friday 17 a mild day N
Had Barritt Putting shafts up and steaking (Staking is keying wheels on to shaft. SCG) wheels on Father come with money

Saturday 18 a thaw and rain N
Buisy with getting shafts up stayd late I was nocked down with shaft had a swelled face

Sunday 19 frost a little downfall N
Stayd at home all day nursing my face was at Barrowford in morning with wheel rights to get them to stay

Monday 20 A hard frost NE
At Barrowford all day had wheel rights they finished Father came to get Bracewell into mill got home by ½ past 8

Tuesday 21 a hard frost NE
At Barrowford all day differd about Todmorden (???) bring Short Wt got home by ½ 8 nite

Wednesday22a Keen frost with snow N
At Barrowford in fornoon afternoon at Colne wheels came from Mr Bolld & Mr Emmot Halifax

Thursday 23 frost continued N
At Laund in fornoon after at Langroyd about Elm planks after at Barrowford sent twist of BB went to Admr

Friday 24 frost continued NW
At Barrowford in fornoon after at Langroyd buying wood Elm after at Barrowford M stayd Colne ½ past 10

Saturday 25 Frost continued NE
At Barrowford spinning till noon had dinner at Bracewells stayd till 10 clock not?

Sunday 26 frost continued E
Stayd in the house toll noon after went to Betty Smithes abt her son he was not come from Manchester

Monday 27 a relaxation SE
Went to Barrowford and Laund Father went with me to Carr Hall abt Clayton beating our Thos and back Settld for going to Manchester after at Colne

Tuesday 28 a cold frosty day E
Went to Blackburn dinnerd there after to Grimshaw Park and Sough ? after to Bolton stayd at Naggs Head
Wednesday29a cold frosty day E
This morning went to George (??0 after to Manchester bot files screw nales in the evening at Mr Merriotts till ½ past 11 Mr Hadfields was burnt

Thursday 30 a wild snowing blowing day E
This morning bot a pare of Dutch looms and came of for home very bitter day arrived ½ past 3 afternoon
Friday 31 a windy dark day E
At Barrowford all day had uncles children and Abr Beanlands playing so ends the Year
**************
JIB

APPENDIX. ACCOUNTS.
FRONT COVER

Wm Jno & James Holgate sons of 21st Feb 1784 sold as under
Jno Holgate in 1742 To Ed Sharples 2 packs malt 4-6-0
Church Wardens To Betty Brindle 2 Do 4-8-0
Robert Hargraves Do Wm Roberts 2 Do 4-6-0
Wm Greenwood
24th March 1784 to Robt Smith
John Hartley Overseer Bill value 18-3-9

J Hadock
Thos Parker 1-1-0
135-3
161-3
1-9 1-7-6

The next two sides contain figures only.

Cash Received Cash Paid
7 Jan of Ad Batinson 1-1-0 1 Jan 1784 rest for cash
Do of Mrs Hartley 10-0-0 To Robert Hartley bill 14-19-0
19th of Mr Robt Hartley 10-10-0 Do to BB for 2 quts gin 3-6
19 Jan of Jas Farrar 1-14-0 Do Neck of Veal 10
21st of Ed Sharples bill 6-6-0 ----------
21st of Ed Sharples cash 6-10-0 Do to Jonas Nuttal 1-1-0
22nd Ed Sharples cash 6-10-0 14 Jan to Atoney Cryer
28th of Betty Hartley 10-10-0 for Wilks 12-10-0
Do of Thos Whitaker 1-1-0 To Colne miller 7-0
28th of B Brindles bill 10-16-0 16th Do to Father int 4-10-0
6th of Mrs Hartley 10-16-0 21 to batty Brindle a
14 of Mrs Hartley 3-3-0 Bill value 10-16-0
Do Jan Powel retd bill 15-0-0 27 Jan salt 2-0
Of BB Bill Value 18-3-0 4 Feb to Mr Spencer for 7 12-6
21st of BB cash 14-1-9 4th Poor cifs to J Tillon 3-3
Do by bill red back 10-0-0 17 Feb BB bill 18-3-0
23 do of Betty Hartley 5-6-0 do to do 10-0-0
18 to Jan Powel bill 18-3-0
19 to BB a bill 14-1-9
To Thos Bradley wife 5-0
[MARCH]
3 March Wm Correr bill18-2-9 3rd a bill lent to Mr Law
Do Stuttard & Tillotson 17-14-0 Ridehalgh 10-0-0
Do of Ellis Nutter to 3 do to Ellis Nutter cash 5-5-0
Have 2 times month 10-0-0 3rd do paid Mr Shaw Mill for
10 do of Wm Foulds bill15-0-0 the Mill Title Deeds 7-3-4
12 Do of Betty Brindle 12-0 8 do sent B Brindle change 12-0
17 of Jno Nutter a bill 10-0-0 10 to Mr J Shaws bill
24 W Foulds bill & cash 13-15-6 Valuing the boat at Lytham 2-8-0
25 Betty Brindle do 16-19-4 10 to Mr Pawson 24-16-6
26 of Brooksbank f horse5-18-6 17 to Ellis Nutter out for
31 of ? Nutter 4-4-0 his bill above 4-14-6
[indecipherable line on copy]
24 to Robert Smith ? ??????
? Nutter & John Roberts
2 load ? 3-4-0

APRIL
7 to Jas Smith for slate 9 June 1784 Pd Mr Pawson
Mullions covers etc 9-15-0 in full to this day 24-0-0
21st of Chr Hargraves
Bill value 40-0-0
28th of Law Ridehalgh 10-0-0
Do of Jno Roberts 3-4-0
5 May bill recd of
Betty Brindle 10-0-0
19 May Recd Bill of
Ball in full E Sharples 13-0-0
22 of David Spencer 2-3-6
24 Do of Jas Atkins 3-8-0
3 June 1784 of Turner 7-0-0
Delivered Adam Battinson
His bill ( July Amos to
2, 16, 6--------
16 July 1784
26 of Jno Hilton 3-3-0
7 July of Betty Brindle 10-10-0

26 Aug 1784 bill Recd 2 Sept Settle with C
of A Beanlands 12-10-0 Hargraves 41-14-0
of Chr Hargraves 41-14-0 15 Sept to A Beanlands 12-10-0
2nd Sept M lent cash 2-2-0
15 Do of Wm Foulds 10-16-6

En Mr Lomas Entwistle &Lomas
Sough over Darwen to be left
At Queens Head Blackburn
6 Bunches of Twist all to
be 21

To money advanced
2 Sept at Blackburn & Recd towards this settled 2-12-0
Darwen all night with cart 11 Dec 84 Lent cash to
Beside horse 8-8 Uncle Christopher 10-0-0
3 journeys to Manchester 1-10-0
9 Sept spent with Maria 6
22 Sept to Blackburn 5-11
2&3 Oct spent with Moon 3-3
Do with Shaw 6
4 Oct 4 Days Liverpool 1-4-9
To 5 Quire Lapping paper 2-8
1 Cloke 1-4
To Mr Shaw for staups etc 1-9-0
12 Oct do by cash 4-4-0
16 Do do cash 5-16-0
for tacks 2d for iron carry? 4
8 lbs waste & Dn Moiling 2-4
15-9-3
Recd towards above a letter from
Leeds & pr Ale ? 2-12-0
Settled this acct 12-17-3

3 Nov brt forward 12-17-91/2 Blackburn
Do Skinsoos’d leather 2-6 Mr Callas CB 2.19 2.20.21
1 Journey to Halifax 6-0 Backlane 22
3 days at Manchester 18-0 Mr Thos Tomlinson 12---- 20. 2
14-4-3 ½ Mr Jno Leach 12.19.20 2 for 22
1.3Queenstreet
14.3-0Mr J Edge Queenstreet 6-2-20-21-22
10 Nov settled this account Mr Wm Marsden Tockholes
with Wm Hargraves 6 Buniks 3-16 & 3-17
to be sent to the Anker Blackburn
12 Nov 1784 Mr Clayton ???
To ? 2 stamps 6-6 13-0
To Jude Hargraves for
Cutting bolts 4-1
For cords -------- 6
Carter and porterg 6
Settled
8 Nov left unsettled
with me what I pd at Manr
for cotton 4-12-0

26 Oct 1784
Dr to Mr Greenwood
To ? 1-7-6
To ? brass at 15d 6-10
To 48 spindles basket
& carriage 1-7 ½
3-7-0
a set of rowlers ?
roving and drawing 7-6
Spinning end bates o.3.21 19-8
4-11-2
13 Nov 1784 103-0-0
Rd Wm Hartley 107-11-2
1 cess 3 fold 3-3
1 Do for road 2-2
18 Oct 1785 Pd as follows
1 bill value 63-0-0
1 do 40-0-0
103-0-0
Allowed premium 12-0
102-12-0
By former bill thar remd 4-19-0
107-11-0
Recd by me £1 –19
Together with £102-12
104-11

Paul Greenwood

6 June 1784 Dr to EH to 3 glasses brandy water - - 9
7th Do 1 Do 3
9th Do 1 Do 3
Do at night with Oats Sagar 3
13 June Do 3
15th in morn 3
16th Do Wednesday 3
17th Do night 3
22nd Do morning 3
24th Do morning 3
28th Do 6
29th Do 9
1 July 3

Sent cash by Peter HarY 5-0

4 Oct Clegg Kirkham cotton 31-12-0
Do Unwins Hyde J Co 74-9-0
Do 19-16-0
Do Mr Greens bill 5-18-0
A Log of Legnovita 12-0
Vice files screw nales etc 4-0-0
136-17-0
139-9-0
136.17-01-3-0
12-6
1-15-6
139-9-0
1-4-6
1-15-8
136-17-0
138-12-6


11 Feb 1784 of C Brown
2 bills each ? 20-0-0
Do to Rd Foulds 14-1-9
2 Sept Dr Law Whitaker 2-11

Cash Paid
10 July 4 ½
11 Do 2
5 Do forget 2
12 Do 1 ½
Settled the before account
Expense to Blackburn 2 Sept turnpike 1
at Darwen horse etc 3-1
back at Blackburn 1-5
Turnpike back 1
To the carter from Manchester 6
2journeys to Manchester
9 Sept spent with Marcer 6
22 Sept Expences as pr bill 5-11
2&3 Oct spent with Mr Moon & his son3-3
Do spent with Mr Shaw 6
About Mr Greenwoods articles
4 Oct Manchester Liverpool 4 days 1-4-9

Cash Paid
Recd of Chr Hargraves
2 Oct 84 for cotton etc 1 bill value 18-13-0
1 Do 22-18-0
1 Do 12-3-0
By cash Do 35-15-0
139-9-0

To cash of my own 20-0-0

Cash received.
June 9th 1784 all accounts settled betwixt
Mr Hargraves and ? Pawson
Witness, Wm Maltby
An acct who had Mr Powels man
Mr Holgate 1
Mr Moon 1
B Brindle 1
Jude Hargraves 3
Mr Hartley 1
Jno Rigby 1
Home 1
Rbt Hargraves 1
Wm Roberts 1

[From back of book}
Mr Greenwood advanced Twist parcel 20-0-0
Secd Do 59-13-0
Third Do 27-2-0
106-15-0

Advanced 78-10-0
185-5-0
added 1-1-0
186-6-0

1---------- 98-10-0
2 --------- 60-14-0
3 --------- 27-2-0
186-6-0

777 @ 18%
1289 @ 18%
325? @ 20

To Jno Pickles for old May deal My 2:6
11-8-10
7-7-0
5-5-0
8-18-6
50-0-0
82-18-6
37-16-0
120-14-6
20-0-0
140-14-6
134-16-0
5-18-6

[on the inside back cover are a few other figures not transcribed]



ABSTRACT OF AN ACT RESPECTING BIRTHS, CHRISTENINGS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.

This Act enjoins that on the entry of every birth or Christening, marriage and burial in the register of any Parish, precinct or place in Great Britain a stamp duty of three pence shall be paid: And that every Parson, Vicar, Curate or any other person having authority to make such entries who after the 1st day of October 1783 make such entries before the register shall have been duly stamped (except in the case hereinafter mentioned) shall forfeit Five Pounds. And every person authorised as above to make such an entry is vested by this Act with full power to demand and receive from the undertaker or any person employed about the funeral of any person so to be buried; or from the parties married; or from the parents of the children whose birth or christening is to be registered or other person requiring the christening of such child – the sum of threepence and if the said parties refuse to pay they shall forfeit Five Pounds.

This Act requires the Churchwardens and Overseers of every Parish, or one of them, to provide one or more books, as a register of Births or christenings, marriages and burials, with such stamps for each entry to be made therein as the Act enjoins; and he or they shall pay for such books and the stamps contained therein; out of the rates under their management and this money shall be returned to them by the person authorised to receive the said duty, as from time to time he is in possession of it. –And in case of any extra-parochial places, such book with the stamps shall be provided by the person whose duty it is to make such entries of births, christenings and burials.

But of any Parson, Vicar etc do not chuse to send up a register book to be stamped, they may apply to the Head Distributor of their County or to any of his agents who have power to grant to them a licence enabling them to make the several entries of Births etc without stamps on condition of them giving a bond that they will account for their respective duties at all such times as the Head Distributor or his agent shall appoint. The license will be annual bit the bond will last the time of the life of the person giving it.

The registering of the burial of any person who shall be buried from any workhouse or hospital, or at the sole expense of any charity; and the registering of the birth or christening of any child whose parents shall receive at the time of the birth or christening of any child whose parents shall receive at the time of the birth or christening of such child; any Parish relief, need not be on stamps.

The Clergy are to be allowed ten per cent on the duties they receive.


[Transcribed by SCG from the original typescript transcript of the original diary by Carol Y Bentley 1965/1966. 17 November 2005]

[Stanley]

Bumped.