DIARY OF JACOB BEE OF DURHAM. INTRODUCTION. Jacob Bee, whose diary is printed in the following pages, was a native of the city of Durham and was baptized in the church of St. Margaret, Crossgate, on the 19th of June, 1636, as son of Nicholas Bee, whose marriage with Margaret Ussie, widow, had taken place in the same church on the 15th of June, 1624. Bred a skinner and glover, there are suggestions in the diary that at one period of his life he may have kept an ale-house: at all events he did a little brewing, the 'grains' being sold by his wife after each brewing. He was possessed of a stable and loft which were let off to one William Drury. When about twenty-two years of age he married Elizabeth Rabbet, the banns of marriage being published in the market place at Durham on the 28 of January 1657/8. What is known of his family is set out in the accompanying pedigree. He did not prosper in business, and at the age of 65 he became an out-pensioner of the hospital of Sherburn-house. Dying in 1711, he was buried at St. Margaret's in Durham on the 11th of January of that year. It is not known whether the original diary exists, but happily a small edition consisting, it is said, of only twenty copies, was printed for private circulation by Sir Cuthbert Sharp. One of these copies is in the possession of the editor. It comprises only thirtythree octavo pages, issued in a plain paper cover. DIARY. 1681. 5 Sept. John Phillipson, taylor, and Katherin Rowell [married], with a lawles minister at Newcastle. 1682. 27 March. John Maddison's child Margaret went out of Durham to Newcastle for London to be toutcht for the evill. 1682. April. Two great floods of watter upon Wednesday and Thursday, being the 26th and 27th of April. The first day that men and women servants presented themselves to be hired in Durham markett was the 6th day of May, 1682. 1682. 31 May. Betwixt 11 and 12 at night, was a very fearfull thunder, with flalshes of fire, very tirrible. 1682. 28 July. Captain Thomas Featherston, of Stanhope hall, departed this life, being Friday, at night about 11 a clock.1 1682. 15 Aug. A blazing stare appeared. 1682. 6 Sept. Mr. William Witherington, one of the bead-men of Abby church [died].2 1682. 28 Sept. Sofly, sone to Richard Sofly, was borne, being Thursday: and Elizabeth Dobinson was her midwife and the first that ever she [had] laid.3 Anthony Fewster became not well the 1st of February, 1681/2 and was not well again the 23rd October, 1682. 1682. 20 Nov. blew one half of the 1682. 20 Nov. 1682/3. 5 Jan. Being Munday this yeare and a great wind which Mr. Wilson commonly called Judge Wilson The watch gave over in Cross-gate. A sad cruel murther comitted by a boy about years of age, nere Ferryhill, nere Durham, being 1682. 30 July. Thomas Fetherstonehalgh, esquire of Stanhop-hall, buried in linnen. Stanhope Registers. He was a knight of the shire for Durham, 1679 and 1680. 21682. 6 Sept. William Witherington of the Palace Greene, beadman, buried. Registers of St. Oswald's, Durham. 31682. 3 Oct. William son of Richard Softly baptized. Registers of St. Margaret's, Durham. 4 Cf. Longstaffe on 'The Stained Glass of Durham Cathedral.' Arch. Ael. 2 series, vol. vii. p. 125. 5 1682. 20 Nov. William Rose, bur. Registers of St. Margaret's, Durham. 1682/3. 7 Jan. Mr. George Wilson, attorney, buried. Registers of St. Oswald's, Durham. Thursday, at night. The maner is, by report:-When the parents were out of dores a young man, being sone to the house, and two daughters was kil'd by this boy with an axe, having knockt them in the head, afterwards cut ther throts: one of them being asleep in the bed, about ten or eleven yeares of age: the other daughter was to be married at Candlemas. After he had kil'd the sone and the eldest daughter, being above twenty yeares of age, a little lass, her sister, about the age of eleven yeares being in bed alone, he drag'd her out in bed and killed her alsoe. The same Andrew Millns alias Miles, was hang'd in irons upon a gybett nere Ferryhill upon the 15th day of August, being Wednesday, this year 1683.7 1682/3. 12 March. Mr. Anthony Smith, once a Member in Parliament, in Oliver's time [died].8 1683. 11 April. Francis Shaw,9 servant to Thomas Skinner [died] very suddenly, being very well the Munday before in my house. Jacob Bee. 1683. 6 June. Margaret Richardson, the midwife [died].10 William Fawcett, mow-maker [died] in the gaoll in Durham.11 1683. Two men fought a prize in the New Place, upon a stage— Swainston and Wood-but Wood wounded Swainston with back sword, although Swainston got the better. 1683. 21 July. William, Lord Russel beheaded in Lincolns Infeilds, being guilty of a conspring (sic), against the king, as was supposed.12 The day before was hang'd, drawne, and quartered Captain Walcott, Mr. Hone, and Mr. Rouse, being Friday. 1683. 3 Aug. The assisses begun, and such an inundation of watter that the judges was forcet to come down Gillygate, and come in about 8 at night, and read their commission. Judges names, Jones and Strut.13 71682/3. 26 Jan. John Brasse, Jane Brasse and Elizabeth Brasse, the son and daughters of John Brasse of Ferryhill, all three murdered in their father's house, by one Andrew Mills, and were all three buryed. Kirk Merrington Registers. 81682/3. 13 March. Mr. Anthony Smith, mercer, templo, buried. of St. Nicholas', Durham. Registers He was member of parliament for the City of Durham in the parliaments of 1654 and 1656. Cf. Hutchinson, Durham, vol. ii. p. 45. 1683. 12 April. Frances Shaw, buried. Registers of St. Margaret's, Durham. 10 1683. 7 June. Margaret, wife of George Richardson, cordwainer, buried. Registers of St. Nicholas', Durham. 111683. 7 June. William Fawswett, buried. Durham. Registers of St. Oswald's, 12 Cf. Macaulay, England, vol. i. p. 268. Trevelyan, England Under the Stuarts, pp. 423, 424. 13 Query, Chief Justice Jones, who was dismissed by James II. in 1686, and Baron Street, who truckled to the king in the same year on the question of the Dispensing Power. Cf. Macaulay, England, vol. ii. pp. 81, 84. 1683. 22 Aug. Jane Hutchinson, daughter to Richard Hutchinson (Trimdan Dick) [married] to one Kitchen. 14 1683. 9 Sept. A thanksgiven day was keep throughout England for the preserveing the king from a horrid plot by Presbiterians this year.15 1683. 15 Sept. There was a man, a glasier by traid, came from Gateshead and stood in the pillery in Durham about one hour and one half (his name was Simpson), for taking a brib from one a quaker. 1683. 18 Sept. Seven bouchers should have play'd at foot-ball with seven glovers, being Tuesday, this year above, and my man Christopher went without leave to play. [And stay'd out all night, the 16 day of March, 1683.116 1683. Sept. Mr. Robert Wilson of Cambridge is but 54 yeares of age, and Jacob Bee and Robert Wilson of Durham, singing man, did lay a wager of three quarts of ale that the said Robert Wilson is not 54 years of age. 1683. 14 Oct. Bett Thompson was churcht at Ryton church, her month was out the Sunday before. 1683. 18 Nov. by his wife. Duke Errington drunk 6d. and six pence owne : 1683. 11 Nov. Margret Kirkhouse, daughter to Henry Kirkhouse [married] to Henry Brittan, servant to the esquire of Newton. 1683/4. 8 Jan. Robert Hilton, esquire, justice of the peace in Westmorland, came to Durham and lived in the Coledge: he died very suddenly, having been abroad at supper the night before, and went very well to bed the night before.17 1683/4. 29 Feb. Richard Hutchinson, son to Richard Hutchinson, comonly called little Dick [died].18 1683/4. 2 March. Mr. Thomas Butterry, attorney at law [married] to Elizabeth Browne, Richard Browne's daughter, the sexton of Framwelgat church. 1684. 3 April. Old Mrs. Morland, Justice Morland's wife [died].19 14 See entries sub 29 Feb., 16834; 12 Feb., 16923; 9 March, 1698 9. 15 The Rye-house Plot. Cf. Trevelyan, England Under the Stuarts, p. 420. Christopher again misconducted himself on the 14th July, 1684. 16 17 1683/4. 9 Jan. Robert Hilton, esq., on Wednesday, buried. Durham Cathedral Registers. He was of Helton-Bacon and Murton, and married, 2nd Nov., 1647, Mary daughter of John Hilton, baron of Hilton in the Bishopric. Cf. Longstaffe, Darlington, Hilton Pedigree, No. II. 18 1683 4. 1 March. Richard Hutchinson, buried. garet's, Durham. · Registers of St. Mar She was baptized 8th Feb., 1623/4, at St Oswald's, as 'Thomazine, daughter of Mr. George Martyn, gent.,' her god parents being Mr. John Calverley, Mrs. Dorothy Craddocke and Mrs. Margaret Heethe; and was married at the same church 10th May, 1642, to Mr. John Morland.' She was buried 4th April, 1684, and her husband was laid beside her on the 27th January, 1687/8, being described in the register of burials as John Morland, Esq.' Registers of St. Oswald's, Durham. |