Saturday, 13 September 2014

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]