all the writings, etc. cousin Polly. 1721/2. Feb. 28th. [To N. If you would not think me vain, I would tell you what my father proposes, to induce me to go and live with him. He has been in the Commission of Peace for 'many years, but would never act, he has been once more pressed 'to act, but declined it as usual, but said that he had a son which 'would come down shortly, and if he would, he might. But no bait shall catch me, but my dearest lady-I'm all hers, heart, estate, etc.'

Cousin Tom's wife would have me have

1721/2. March 8th. Writt to father. Had received his kind letter, for which returned most hearty thanks. Most people say that even according to a Smithfeild bargain for 1,000l., she ought to have 1007. per annum joynture. As for the rest we shall decide when we meet, I shall be willing to submitt to any thing reasonable, and that can be expected. If I succeed I shall have the eldest daughter and brother the younger.

1721/2. March 9th. Writt to uncle last Sunday, that the duke had putt me of till Monday-am almost out of patience, but will try once more would have followed you, but fear the duke will be gone 'ere Wednesday,' etc.

1721/2. March 13th. Writt to Sir Christopher Musgrave―(relating to his recommendatory letter to the duke of Wharton-has had no success) I went often, but always found him abroad or busy, and desired I would come another time. The next day it was the 'same. 'Some of my freinds did not approve of it, because they say his grace has changed sides. But out of respect to you (sir) I was resolved to pursue it so far as that no blame should remain upon me. I had another motive, which I thought to have kept secret, but shall acquaint you with, and that was the ambition or desire of my mistress (for I have gott one south of

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· Cumberland) that I should wear a scarfe. I dare scarce presume 'to ask you, but if you would please to procure me that favour (I desire only verbal leave to wear one) from any nobleman, you 'would lay a lasting obligation upon sir, etc. My uncle thinks there is no necessity for my coming down upon this election, since I have no vote—but if I thought I could do you any service, nothing should hinder my journey.'

1721/2. March 17th.

I went to make enquiry about bishop of Durham's daughter, and uncle said, somewhat angrily, what, would you have any of that vile whig's daughters,' etc., so I proceeded no farther. . 1721/2. March 19th. Writt on 17th also to Mr. Fetherston:was glad he would admitt my excuse-he rightly called courtship a proper exercise for lent, and I wished it would end with that season. -I intended to be there to preach for Charles on April 1st, but could not make an absolute promise.

1721/2. March 22nd. Mr. Farrington said that Dr. Ellison's library was a collection of excellent books-my uncle's not to be

compared to it—he had all the modern books that ever came out almost, but Dr. Ellison's was ancient, etc.

1722. March 27th. Told Mrs. B. that [I] had proposals from the lady of London for a match with a relation, whose name she concealed, some guessed her daughter. I'm in great perplexity what answer to give; if your father would be so kind as answer mine, I 'should readily answer her-being a lady of distinction, must be civilly 'treated, and therefore would beg your father's answer or leave to ' come and talk over affairs with him-nothing can remove my affection 'for my dear lady, but if your father should reject me, and I also 'disoblige the bishop of London, what will come of me?' 1722. March 30. Writt to brother . . . —had received proposals for a match from the bishop of London's lady, which uncle thought so advantageous that I am in great perplexity about my lady at Amington.

1722. March 31st. Query whether I am not engaged to Mrs. A. Repington more than by inclination, i.e., because I like her bestI mean it is a query whether my words may not have engaged meI cannot well recollect-only the letter to Mr. Poynton, now in his hands, which she never saw. Uncle told bishop's lady that if his lordship would give me a living, for he wanted to see me setled, and he beleived I would make a good parish preist, he would give bond to oblige a freind of my lord's when his fell vacant, etc. The lady said his lordship had so many upon him for livings, that he knew not what to do his chaplain had gott nothing yet, etc. This lady's living is about 3 miles from Leicester, 3007. per annum, and she has 1,2007., and other sisters may die. 3007. per annum is equivalent to 9007. So that the lady of Amington is better fortune, if they have the estate, etc.

172... June 24th. Writt to Mr. Clennell. 'I beg pardon for not seeing you before I left London. . . I'm married,341 and go

next Monday in the North, your letter will find me at Mr. Proctor Robertson's, merchant in Carlisle, any time before the 14th of July, after that I'll be at Newcastle till the better end of July, and then at Braunston, near Leicester, where you shall be welcome,' etc.

172... July 12th. .

'I told

To Kitty from Mansfeild. 'brother that I might have Sir Jeffery Palmer's living, but I had almost promised uncle, that I would never take two,' etc.

172. July 24th. Father said brother could better afford to live high than me, when he had gott a better fortune than I—this, when I told him I was sure Mrs. Betty R. would expect to live higher than my wife-this is upbraiding, talked of Dr. Fleming's daughter, Told father that uncle, the doctor, said he would persuade you 'to settle Carrow on brother, and Mrs. Ann said we've had enough 'of that in our family, if there be an elder brother, it is his right, ' and pray lett us have nothing to do with it.'

etc.

341 The Diarist's bride was Catherine, daughter of James Winstanley of Braunston, Leicestershire, through which connection he obtained the rectory of Glenfield.

GYLL OF BARTON.*

THOMAS GYLL of Barton, was 34 years of age, 6th September, 1666.

=

Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Smithson of Barton.

*Based on a pedigree in Surtees, Durham, vol. iii. p. 338, with additions.

1631. Aug. 31. Mr. Thomas Gill (vulgo dicatus de Barton) buried. Registers of St. Mary le Bow, Durham,

THE DIARY OF THOMAS GYLL.

INTRODUCTION.

1

Thomas Gyll, the writer of the following diary, was the only son of Thomas Gyll, who possessed a patrimonial estate at Barton in the North Riding of Yorkshire. He was born at Barton in 1700, educated at Richmond School, and at Trinity Hall Cambridge, entered at Lincoln's Inn 24 January, 1718/9, called to the bar in 1725, where he practised with ability and integrity. He was appointed solicitorgeneral of the County Palatine of Durham in 1733, and recorder of the city of Durham in the year 1769. He is stated to have been tall and erect in person and to have had regular and handsome features. He devoted much of his leisure to history and archaeology, and had developed tastes for the fine arts. He died unmarried at Durham, where he had long resided, on Sunday, the 12 March, 1780, and was buried at Barton.2

'It is not known whether the original diary is in existence, but a transcript was made for the Society by the late Canon Raine, who added the few notes indicated by his name.

2Cf. Newcastle Courant, 18th March, 1780. Hutchinson, Durham, vol. i. p. 587. A pedigree of Gyll of Barton may be found in Dugdale's Visitation of Yorkshire, ed. Clay, vol. ii. p. 260.

THE DIARY.

1748. Friday, Feb. 24. The lady of George Bowes, esq., one of the knights of the shire for the county of Durham, was brought to bed of a daughter at his house in London. She was the only daughter of Thomas Gilbert, a merchant in London, and this was her first child after a marriage of six or seven years. [Married in 1767 to Lord Strathmore, afterwards to Andrew Robinson. ]3

1748. March 23. The wife of Robert Spearman of Oldacres, near Sedgefield, esq., who died the last week at his house in Old Elvet, having lingered of a palsy, was this day buried with great funeral pomp in Bow church in Durham.4

And the same day old Henry Pratt,5 the bell-ringer, was buried at St. Mary's, South Bailey, aged near 90. He had formerly been coachman to Dean Comber.

1748. May 9. Sir Ralph Milbank of Halnaby in Yorkshire, baronet, died at London in the 60th year of his age, and was some short time after buried with much funeral pomp in the family vault of Croft church. He left six sons by Ann, his wife, daughter of Edward Delaval of Dissington in Northumberland, esq.; and one daughter, Bridget, by his first wife, Elizabeth, sister to Robert, earl of Holderness, whose daughter was first married to Sir Butler Wentworth, baronet, and secondly to John Murray, esq., of the Isle of Man.6

1748. My aunt, Elizabeth Hunter, died in the bishop of Oxford's house in the College, Durham, in the 80th year of her age, on the 10th of May. She was a good woman. Buried at the west end of the Abbey-yard.7

3 An account of Lady Strathmore's unhappy life with her second husband, Andrew Stoney Robinson, may be found in Howitt, Visits to Remarkable Places, 2nd ser. pp. 198-230.

She was Mr. Robert Spearman's first wife, her maiden name was Mary Lewen and she died on the 18th March, 1748/9, aged 42, and was buried at St. Mary le Bow, Durham. Cf. Surtees, Durham, vol. i. p. 96.

23 March. 1748, Henry Pratt, aged 88, buried. Registers of St. Mary in the South Bailey, Durham.

"The Milbanks are first found in local history settled at Tynemouth and at North Shields. Cf. new History of Northumberland, vol. viii. pp. 326, 327.

1748. May 11. Mrs. Elizabeth Hunter, buried. Durham Cathedral Registers. Miss Hunter was the second daughter of Thomas Hunter of Medomsley by his first wife Elizabeth daughter of John Gyll of Haughton-leSkerne, and she was half-sister to Dr. Christopher Hunter, the antiquary. The following inscription on a tombstone, a conspicuous object at the west end of the cathedral graveyard, has recently been recut:-'Here lieth the body of Mrs. Elizabeth Hunter born at Medumsley, who dyed May 10 | 1748 in the 80th year of her age.' Her will, dated 9th June, 1746, was proved 1748.

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