Transcription of John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1856

Cloth bound 3 ½ inch x 6 inch notebook “Renshaw’s Diary and Almanac for 1856”

On the first memorandum page is written
“On Saturday the 10th of November I went to stay with Mr Barroby at Dishforth   stayed until the Saturday following”

Monday January 14
Went to Office   Sat with Aunt Hirst as all the rest were at Eagles Clairvoyant Entertainment   Read Blackstone

Tuesday January 15
Went to the Office   Mrs Workman  Mr Robert W  Mr Henlock & Mrs dined with us at 2 o’clock   I left the Office at 2  returned at 4   Went to the Doctors in the Evening   Danced   had supper & enjoyed ourselves extremely   A Family party  Leonard’s birthday
[JRS’ great-uncle George Henlock married Anne Clough and had children Ann, William, John and Margaret; Margaret married Mr Workman.  ‘The Doctors’ is Dr Sedgwick’s house; Leonard was one of the sons.  The 1834 Directory: Roger Sedgwick, surgeon in Borobridge]   

Wednesday January 16
Went to the Office   Cleaned Joe’s Gun   Henry Redmayne & I went to Aldbro on business   In the evening Joe  Henry R & I went & played cards at Henry Carrass’   Joe & I beat the two Henrys had only one rubber   Bessie went to ask Miss Eagle a Clairvoyant Lady at Mrs Morrells about Uncle Henlocks   She said Richard would return in 1857.  No trace of Giles

Appletons of Dishforth & Boroughbridge

I've just added an extra piece on the Misses Appleton, John Appleton and Mrs Appleton of Langthorpe to John Stubbs' diaries (1853-60): people A to B.

This information has come to me from Graham Appleton - thank you Graham!

1. A Boroughbridge Boyhood in the 1850s: Introducing John Stubbs

Saturday January 1st 1853
Stayed at home in the morning & helped to clip the pony & had a ride in the evening on the pony

John Richard Stubbs was fourteen years old when he made his first entry in his new diary.  He lived beside the River Ure in Boroughbridge, opposite the Crown, once a famous posting house.  His home was called the Bridge Foot, where his family had lived, kept their warehouse and run their business since his grandfather’s day – wine merchants, grocers and tea dealers since 1790. 

Monday January 3rd 1853
Rode the pony to Knaresboro to the Sessions dined at the Royal Oak & rode back at night & went to Uncle Hirst’s to supper

John’s eldest brother Joseph, now aged nearly twenty-four, would take over the firm.  He had learned his trade from his father and in London and was back at home working in the business.  Eighteen-year-old Thomas was away, apprenticed to a Master Vintner.  John was destined for the law.