LONDON and ESSEX - Early 18th Century Manuscript Diary:
The manuscript diary of Thomas Prat (1686?-1756) the fourth son of Dr. Samuel Prat (1657-1723; Canon of Windsor and Dean of Rochester – for which see D.N.B.).
The diary opens on 21st
August, 1728 and concludes on the 18th September, 1731.
Thomas had inherited his father’s freehold estate in
Stratford, Essex, and his time is spent between Stratford and London
although later in the diary much of his time is spent at Chobham
where he farms. He is appointed as a
Justice of the Peace for Essex in 1729.
There appears to be some dispute regarding his father’s will which necessitates his being in London often, attempting to get it proved. He has an unpleasant younger brother, George (b. 1690), sisters, Ann (referred to affectionately by Thomas as “Nanny”) and Abigail (“Nabby”) and a most difficult sister-in-law, the widow of his brother Daniel (d. 1723) with whom he is in dispute regarding the care of his niece, Beckey.
There are no entries for the last two weeks of Sept, nor 13th Oct.– 30th Dec. 1729 accounted for by the entry: “Nanny continuing very ill I could not continue this diary regularly.” Otherwise the diary generally fully written up on 250-pages, small 4to (7¾ x 6½ inches). A most interesting and early diary.
The following quotes, apart from the last, are selected from the first two years of the diary and are representative of the diary as a whole; we have not fully read the final year but from a cursory inspection this appears very much concerned with the farm at Chobham, the planting, harvesting, construction of farm buildings, the production of “Golden Pipping Cyder and fine small beer”, concerns about the drought and the resultant damming of the river to flood the meadows, etc. But also much on his duties as Justice of the Peace, attending turnpike meetings, family and social visits and dinners. At the end of the volume are a further 7-pages of accounts showing purchases, e.g., “Bought of Mr. Unwyn out of a house in Dover Street a large jack w’th multiplying wheels vast leaden weight” and an inventory of his various parlours and the kitchen.
12/9/28:
Mr. Mathews & I dined
with Captain Robinson at Stratford.
We sett up a new Clubb at ye Swan, ye lecturer Mr. Finch, ye
vicar Mr. Wyat, S’r Philip Hall, Mr. Mathews, Capt. Robinson, Mr.
Halfhide & myself to be every Thursday night and Dr. Jebb we sat and
drank late.
17/9/28:
……dined with them at ye
Swan and supped with them at Grace Church Street – went to
Westminster and lay there – a new dirty Country Cook Wench.
3/10/28:
Staid all day at home
to prepare for Wickins trial – Will Prat walks in a silly affected
manner before ye door a long while, y’t some body might take notice
of him, a profligate vile rascal……..
18/10/28:
Carryed Beckey to Lord
Chancellours I was chose Guardian to her to defend her part of the
cause depending between Waring and Waring – sent ye child home w’th
Will and ye maid. To ye
Royal Exchange dined with Mr. Dilkes……dined on ye blade bone of an
ox – sad dinner – went to Stratford very ill all night w’th my sad
dinner.
29/10/28:
Will’s Father a Sot
returns to Windsor, ye son spend ye whole day at an alehouse at 7 in
ye evening he comes home fuddled – a sad Dogg.
2/12/28:
Poor Beckey goes to her
drunken mother to Slough in ye Windsor coach, footman with her.
We were forced to send her away for fear of a Lawsuit her
Mother threatened us w’th for detaining her.
We put her into new stays and new cloaths.
To ye Temple w’th Mr. Mathews about Thompsons affair.
We lay ye award before Serjeant Whitaker.
18/12/28:
Amey Cooks came here
being a witness to Father’s Will – she prevaricates & pretends to
forget some passages- makes me very jealous she has been tampered
with – I am very uneasy – very cold extreme hard frost.
17/1/29:
at ye Temple w’th Br.
John……at ye Tavern – As I walked home met w’th Dr. Coe – an
impertinent pretender to witt – he forced me to drink a pint of wine
w’th him………home in a chair a little before one………
21/1/29:
Up at six – Coach to ye
Temple – Extreme cold hard frost. Tryal came on at ye hall in
Serjeants Inn……allowed all just allowances w’ch was all I had
desired – Thank God so far things were well – Wickins and his
attorney very much disappointed
and not a little angry – Their Council Burnaby threw dirt at
me – but no harm – I got a violent cold – by sleeping in ye Coffee
house under ye window – din’d with Mr. Dilkes at ye Mitre Tavern –
went home very much fatigued……
24/1/29:
……very ill – in a
hackney coach to ye Turnpike meeting at Whitechapple, very much out
of order there – afterwards like a madman I went w’th Mr. Bonnet in
his open chaise to Stratford – very cold wind full East in my face
w’ch gave me a great toothache and a settled cold in my face.
3/5/29:
……to Westminster…Mrs.
James – Nanny not well having been frightened by rogues offering to
go in ye garden and to break open ye house for several nights past –
I stopped at Leaden hall market – bought roast beef 5s 6d, Shoulder
veal 3s, 4 tongues 6s, buttock beef 7s6d, a young duck 2s.
During May he is packing up
his goods at Westminster for removal to Stratford and notes that he;
“ took an inventory of
those books I designed to sell to Mr. Bonwick.”
20/5/29:
… … George supped and
lay here – George poor fellow always ye same Creature, Illnatured –
unmannerly – very ungratefull – I had much adoe notwithstanding my
presents and ye obliging kind treatment I gave him to hinder his
bullying of me and flying in my face, his carriage not much better
to Sister.
30/6/29:
……roasted ye Rascal
Jolly to ye Master and by himself a great rogue – went to
Westminster to se poor Nanny who continues yet very ill – rather
worse – I quarrelled her very much for indulging herself in ye
spleen – I had no patience to see how she was murthering herself – I
put her very much out of humour and myself too – lay there.
During the summer work continues on the house, upholsterers putting up bed hangings, the building of a Brewhouse, etc.
17/7/29:
Went to London.
Nanny ill……S’r Hans Sloane w’th her who gives me advice about
ye sourness in my stomach……I am appointed a Justice for ye County of
Essex – lay at Westminster.
5/8/29:
… … bespoke a dinner at
Pontacks for Thursday w’n I am to be sworn in a Justice of ye Peace
– bought Sturgeon – Salmon – Anchovys , Capers – fine salt –
Lobster……
30/12/29:
At ab’t Eleven in ye
morning my dear dearest Sister Nanny gave up ye Ghost, as above all
things she preferred peace, God in his infinite goodness gave her a
quiet end. She went
even w’th out a groan, or sigh while I stood weeping by her, not
even a struggle. This
excellent creature was a woman of ye greatest piety………twas observed
she never put ye merest trifle in her mouth without moving her eyes
& hands for a blessing. She was very beautifull, of a fine height – strong noble
features…fine limbs and vast majesty……she was clean to the greatest
nicety…… but a base and
ungratefull family, had made her latterly more melancholy , she took
ye Death of her honoured Parents much to heart……..she was a mistress
in Music, danced fine……
9/1/30:
Sett out w’th a hearse
6 horses dressed with escutcheons about 9 in ye morning with one
coach and six fine men on horseback.
Stopped at Hammersmith took up Cozen Anthony who had put
himself into new mourning for this excellent woman – ye roads very
full of water, great floods.
Got to Slough at 4 in ye afternoon dined there sett up ye
horses till seven then sett out, before we got to Eaton we were
forced to get into boats ye floods were so high – at Eaton we were
met by Mr. Cook and 24 flambeaux – where ye King’s Scholars stole ye
Escutcheons off ye hearse – At Eaton we took boat again till we came
to Windsor bridge………and so to
Church which was very handsomely lighted and vast crowns of people
attending. Mr. Derham
Canon of Windsor was pleased to pay my Sister ye last ceremony…… We
lay at Mrs. Nichols in Windsor.
10/1/30:
Sett out at nine in ye
same coach – were forced 3 times to get into boats….. to Stratford
with torches about 6 at night.
[Briefest of entries only for the period 11/1/ - 18/3, 1730]
20/3/30:
…a waggoner at
Brentwood gives me a sad account of ye cheats committed on ye Rum’d
Division [ the surveyor being]
a shuffling lying rascal…a
scandalous fellow.
25/3/30: Sister Ab. & I to London at ye general meeting at Whitechapple – great numbers. I there acquainted ye board w’th ye frauds & cheats committed by Ambrose, Pitman and Minors ye Surveyour, read… … affidavits – I had ye general thanks of ye board & committee ordered to inquire into w’t I had alledged ag’t those rascals.
15/7/30:
Sett out abt. 9 for
Chelmsford, a very great appearance of Justices, I was … … treated
with wine at night & entertained, S’r Henry Menard and abt. 8 more
wi’th a Supper & we drank pretty hard – ye high Sherriff & Judges
come to town at night.
17/7/30:
Lord Chief Justice
invited us to dine, a very handsome entertainment – but few at table
– was on ye bench most p’t of the day, begged off Maldin ye Coopers
Brother who was condemned for Burglary ordered for Transportation,
heard other prisoners – a very great ball at night ye most elegant
entertainment I ever saw with ye greatest order of Dressing – sta’d
with ye company till three in ye morning t’n to bed.
31/7/30:
Mr Town w’th several other
Gentlemen & I went and dragged Pockminster hole got out abt. 16 fine
carp, 4 very large eels, abt. 20 small tench. Invited to Supp. At
Mr. Martyns but while preparing supper his child dyed
… …
3/1030:
S’r John Blunt & his
Lady supped & plaid cards here till late – John ye Coachman at 11 at
night brought a fellow w’ch he called his Bro to lye here without
asking leave or acquainting anyone of the family, about 3 in ye
morning I waked both & turned t’m into ye street to seek another
lodging, turned ye coachman away… … sent for Joseph Owen to look
after ye horses till ye new coachman come, hired a Parish boy Thomas
Hall, a widows son at ye request of ye Churchwarden and, if I
please, may have him bound for any time I please … … …
31/12/30:
at night at Clubb.
Captain Woodward Steward- boyled Codd, Oysters, 2 boyled fowls, 2
roast hares, a Dish of Wildfowl, brawn – pickled oysters, chestnuts,
olives – very merry – staid till 2 in ye morning … … … … Every body
greatly pleased & very merry … … … for this week I hardly got to bed
by 4, a wicked life.
21/8/31: … .. I went to ye vestry – ye Poor rate books in ye most arbitrary manner by Mr Smith & his Bull Dogg Corket. I took care not to speak to Corket. I went there as a Justice on an appeal day of ye poor rate – to swear any Person – should offer to appeal off & accordingly called for a bible to swear by. Smith … without any provocation called me a Knave & he would petition Ld. Chancellour to turn me out because I was a knave, abused me in ye grossest manner w’th out ye least provocation … … said Mr Prat was a knave, a cheating knave several times, said … … Mr Prat was poor not able to pay his Debts, starved his servants, locked up ye bread and cheese and small beer from his servants, said y’t his Father was a Court Petitioner and y’t boggled damnably at taking Oaths to ye Government y’t it was but very lately he Mr Prat would swallow them … …
Price: £3,300.00