John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1873

John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1872

 No entries until February - and you can see why they were busy from the photograph below

John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1871

John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1870

John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1869

John Richard Stubbs' diaries for 1868

John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1867

John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1866

John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1865

John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1864

John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1863

Names & places mentioned by John Stubbs in his 1862 diary

 I post this in case it's of any use to readers, either to identify people mentioned in the diary or to look for particular names ... it's a bit scrappy, I'm afraid ...

Adelphi Theatre, London
Alice – his youngest sister [Boroughbridge]
Appleton, Sarah [Boroughbridge]
Appleton, the Misses  [Boroughbridge]
Archbishop of York
Argyle Rooms, London
Armstrong

Bains/Baines, Nellie [at Redcar]
Baldrey [Boroughbridge]
Baltic Tavern
Barracks, the
Barroby, Miss [Dishforth – relations of Stubbs]
Bath Terrace, Redcar (No. 4)
Beaumont, D  [Boroughbridge]
Beaumont, Miss, of Knaresborough 
Bell, Aunt – his mother's sister [Boroughbridge]

Transcription of John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1862

This transcription is the first result of the new transcription team.  In this case Ian Pearce did most of the work; I transcribed the Boroughbridge entries, deciphered some of John's more difficult handwriting and added more annotations.  I'm posting it now, before the team really starts work, because it's one of the most interesting diaries.  

On the one hand, it's full of significant names.  It's clear that during 1861, the year of the missing diary, John had met many of the men who would form Middlesbrough, that "Infant Hercules".  In fact he was present in 1862 when Gladstone famously used the phrase to describe the new town.

And on the other hand, there is his visit to London.  In 1860 John had enjoyed London life in the company of other students.  This time he is two years older, a professional man, and out on the town with ironmasters – young men who, like himself, had come to Middlesbrough to make their fortunes.  Prepare for the seamy side of Victorian London ...

At the time of the 1861 Census, John was lodging with bricklayer Thomas Johnston and his wife Emma at No. 31 Sussex Street, Middlesbrough.

Wednesday 1 January   
I rode Joe's mare to Heaton House for my pipe case which I had left there.  I only saw Charley.  I met Marianne and turned back with her.  Joe dined with us at the Bridge Foot.  I was about house in the afternoon.  I left by six o'clock train for Middlesbrough.  Met Jno Peacock and Griffin at Northallerton Station, we came home together.  I went with Muller to the Club and had a game at billiards.
[Charley – the son of Charles Francis George Clark of Heaton House, Ellinthorp.  Marianne was the daughter.  Muller – Charles Muller.  JRS acted for him in obtaining naturalisation]

Thursday 2 January   
At the office all day.  Had tea with Elgee then went to the Club, from there I went home with Dixon and had supper.  Stayed till about twelve then went home to bed.
[Mr J F Elgee was Manager of Backhouse's Bank.  "The Club" is assumed to mean The Cleveland Club.  In the C20 this was situated in Cleveland Street.   Raylton Dixon (1838-1901), future shipbuilding magnate, was the same age as John but from a very different background.  His Draft Bill of Costs ledger shows that John acted for Backhouse & Dixon in December 1861]

John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1862

 

John Richard Stubbs goes to Middlesbrough, February 1861

John Stubbs' Manifold Letter Writer contains the carbons of letters written between 1860 and 1871.  

He began in mid-August 1860 by looking for a post, writing in reply to various advertisements and placing an advertisement himself in the Law Times:

A Gentleman recently admitted wishes to pass a year or two in an office of Good General Practice either in Town or Country.  Improvement being more an object than remuneration. 

Address  J.R.S care of Messrs Waterlow & Sons Law Stationers 24 & 25 Birchin Lane London

No satisfactory job offers were forthcoming, and by early 1861 he had taken a bold decision.  He wrote on 14 February to a friend in London:

Boroughbridge
14 Feby 1861

My dear Sharpe
    I have been so strongly recommended to try Middlesbro’ that I have taken an Office there & am going next week.  I can only leave it if I find anything better turns up.  I have got an introduction to Mr Crosby the County Court Registrar at Stockton & to Mr Brewster the principal Solicitor in Middlesbro who received me in a very friendly way & I hope to get a few more introductions to some of the leading people in the neighbourhood.  If you can do me any good I shall feel greatly obliged & now I am going to give you a great deal of trouble but if you will undertake for me you will save me a journey to Town & that is to select a library for me  I enclose a List of Books which I shall want & if you can improve upon it please do so & I need not say let me have the latest editions.  Butterworths sent me a Circular in which they say they send books Carriage free & allow 10 per lb but I fancy it ought to be 20 pr lb discount.  If you will ascertain the cost of the books I will send you the Cash & I should not like the parcel to be sent off until next Wednesday or Thursday when it can be addressed to me at Middlesbro' as I hope to be there next Thursday.  Should you ever come my way I shall be exceedingly glad to see you.  I shall only be 6 miles from the Watering Place Redcar -
I am My dear Sharpe
Yours very truly
J R Stubbs

J A Sharpe Esqre

Luckily, the carbon for this letter is quite dark - some are very hard to read.  He attached a List of Books:

Some work on preparing Abstracts
Archbolds Landlord & Tenant
Chitty on Contracts
Brooms County Court Practise
Okes Magisterial Synopsis
Sugdens Vendors & Purchasers
Stephens Lush’s Common Law Practise
Stephens Com. Law Procedure Act 23 & 24 Vic c 126
Allnutts Wills
Hughes’ Conveyancing
Rouses Practical Man
Lawyers Companion for 1861 edited by H. Moore Esqre
Jarmans Precedents for Wills
Roscoes Nisi Prius
Addison on Torts
A Work on Solrs General Costs
Kains Cash Journal        Kains Ledger Journal  ruled for carrying out Kains System    
Law Journal Reports for 1860 unbound if you can get them as I have 5 yrs previously to 1860 unbound

Unfortunately, his diary for 1861 has not survived.  So disappointing for Middlesbrough historians!

Transcription of John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1860

3 ½ in x 6 in black notebook:  “Renshaw’s Diary and Almanac for 1860”

Sunday January 1
In the morning to Aldbro church  in the afternoon to Kirby Hill & In the eveng to BB church

Monday January 2
To office   At night Steele Sedgwick  Scholfield  E.C.Clark & I dined at Owens & a very pleasant evening we had   got home about 12.  At Noon walked to Langthorp  Miss Stamper left them today

Tuesday January 3
To office.  At night Lizzie & I dined at Dr Sedgwicks   Had a rubber  got home about ½ past 10

Wednesday January 4
To office.  At Night Read law at the office   attended a Meeting at the Newsroom  bought the Times for Mr Hirst at 22/-    Supped at Uncles

Thursday January 5
To office.  At night Read law at the office

Friday January 6
To office   At noon walked with Joe to Langthorpe   at night Drove Capes as far as Hazel Bank  he had tea with us

Saturday January 7
To office.  Capes went by noon train to York & was met at Cattal & from there he drove to Minskip   I drove the trap   Capes came from Knaresbro in to Minskip & we both had tea at Clarkes & attended a sale of township property     after the sale I went home with Capes to Knaresbro to stay till Monday

John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1860

Transcription of John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1859

Written in the same diary as 1858

Saturday January 1
To office.  At night walked with Steele to H.E. Clark’s to tea (the last time as a bachelor) as he is to be married on Wednesday.  Jacob Smith & Thos Lund were there    played cards.  Steele was called away   I got home a little before 12

Sunday January 2
Twice to BB Church   Joe spent the day with us   Sarah was in York.  He & I walked to Kirby Hill Church in the afternoon.  LW Sedgwicks child was christened in the evening

Monday January 3
To office.  A Noon Had a walk with Capes   At Night went with Miss Stott, Steele & EC Clark in Stotts phaeton to Clarks of Minskip to tea   Miss Calder   The Misses Appleton & Miss McCleod were there   Had a good dance   John Clark drove the Sedgwicks & Alice & Lizzy & me home   got home about 12

Tuesday January 4
To office   At Noon rode Joes mare to Sugar Hills near Givendale to see some coursing  Had some pretty fair sport   At Night was about home

Wednesday January 5
To office  At Night went to Capes’s   stayed supper

Thursday January 6
To office   Spent the evening at Joes

Friday January 7
To office   At Night went to supper at Mrs Parkers at Langthorp   played Bagatelle

John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1859

Transcription of John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1858

Cloth bound 3 ½ inch x 6 inch notebook “Renshaw’s Diary and Almanack for 1857”
 
In the flyleaf is written “JRS  Jany 1857    For 1858 & 1859”
 
The entries for 1858 and 1859 are written in the 1857 Diary by using it as a notebook with the printed dates and days deleted and ten plain pages stitched into the back.

Up to Saturday January 9th doing nothing but going to Office   Suffering from Carbuncle

Sunday January 10
Twice to BB Church.  Once to Aldbro

Monday January 11
To Office   Had breakfast at Uncles.  The Workmans left Uncles this morng   At Noon about home   At Night went to see Jane Capes   Went to Leonard Sedgwicks to sup   H.E. Clark   J.Smith  Wm Morley   Smallwood   Steele   Joe & I were there   played Cards   Got home about ½ past one

Tuesday January 12
To Office   At Noon working at the Office.  At Night went to Smallwoods & to Sedgwicks   Arranged to go with Leond & M. Sedgwick in the Cab to Starbeck

Wednesday January 13
Went with Leonard & Mary Sedgwick to Taitlands to Leonards Wedding   he paid my fare   Tom Sedgwick joined us at Leeds   Fanny Stubbs met us at Settle Station   Had a Fly to Taitlands  Had tea there    Tom Sedgwick   Wm Nixon & I went to sleep at Stackhouses    Leonard went to Richardsons
[Fanny Stubbs is Bp Stubbs’ sister Frances 1836-77]

Thursday January 14
Went to Taitlands to 1st breakfast & helped Uncle to arrange.  Went back to Stackhouse’s   got dressed   Took Leond to Church & they got wed.  Tom Sedgwick  I  Wm Stubbs  Wm Nixon & Hy Redmayne were Groomsmen    Miss Nixon   Mary Redmayne  Mary Sedgwick   Fanny Stubbs & Margaret Ingelby were bridesmaids.  Went to Taitlands   Sat down 30 to breakfast at ½ past 12 Bride & Groom started about 2.  We some of us walked to Stainforth Foss & on to the rock in front of Taitlands   went & had a 1st tea at Stackhouses    Went to Taitlands  we were above 50 of us  Had a splendid dance   Got to Stackhouses about ½ past 3   Went to bed about 5  Everything passed off firstrately
[John's friend Leonard is marrying John's friend Jane Redmayne.  He is a few days short of his 29th birthday; if baptised as a baby, she will soon be 24.  Her brother Henry was baptised in Dec 1841; he is possibly 16.  Her sister Mary may be about 14.  Mary Sedgwick is about the same age as John, that is 19, and Fanny Stubbs is 21. Wm Stubbs is the future Bishop, then aged 32]