t n t mmm €iie flfast THE DIARY OF JOHN ALLEN "\ f / 1^- ! 7" DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015 https://archive.org/details/leavesfrompast01alle All rights reserved Leaves from the Past \ v THE DIARY OF JOHN ALLEN Sometime Brewer of Wapping (1757— l8oS ) WRITTEN BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND JL'LV, IJ'JJ EDITED BY HIS GREAT-GRANDSON CLEMENT YOUXG STURGE. ALA Barfister-at-Law of the Inner Temple Bristol J. W. Arrowsmith, Quay Street London Simpkin. Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Company Limited 1905 "Cbc trivial rounc, tbe common task, ^oulo furnish all we oucjbt to ash/ 7 Keble. Christian Year, 1827. DEDICATED to all Students of History who love the Past and have hope m the Future, And herein especially To Mv Cousin, PERCY STAFFORD ALLEN, M.A of Corpus Christi College, Oxon., whose enthusiasm stirred me to this lifile effort. PREFACE. "What shadows we are, and what shadows we pursue," said Burke a century and more ago, and yet how alluring is sometimes the pursuit of shadows ! Turning over the yellow pages of some long -buried, time-worn human document of the past, we seem to tread the gravel of some ancient avenue of lime trees planted in some old- world college garden while yet Charles the First was king. A shadow here and a gloom there are flecked and chequered with little flickering squares and diamonds of golden light, so fleeting yet so vivid ! Such is this simple, unpretending story of one long lost to men, who lived his life, and took his narrow fill of love and pain and passion long ago, now reverently given for the first time to his children's children and their children after them. So trivial then, so commonplace, and yet so priceless now ! As we dispassionately turn the pages one by one, the past for a brief moment is re-peopled for us, and lives again. It is gone beyond recall. Yet we know that it once was, and that to the men and women who bore their little part in it, what we call the past was as real, as human, as palpitating and absorbing as the life of every one of us seems to us to-day. It is so difficult to realise our individual insignificance ; yet the PREFACE. dark shadow of eclipse is over us all, and we know that to the men and women of another age we ourselves shall appear just so many blurred and faded silhouettes as these good people of a century and more ago appear to us. It has been truly said that in all but the rarest cases no man survives as a living memory beyond the second generation. All knowledge of him perishes with those who knew the touch of his hand, the tone of his voice, the light in his eyes. He must have had a singularly potent personality, for good or ill, who in private life could hope to surmount this test. It is related of one of my paternal ancestors that he was a martyr to rheumatic gout, and was " a very peevish man," and of a good lady frequently mentioned in this diary, long since gone to her rest in very advanced old age — we will not pillory her by name now when her tongue has so long been silent in the grave — that she was " a regular old-fashioned scold.'" What a fate ! To go down to posterity simply as "a very peevish man"! His loves and hates, his good deeds and bad, his days of strenuous labour and disheartening struggle, his failures and successes, all forgotten in that one painful personal, ignominious trait ! All the greater, therefore, is our gratitude to those whose piety has preserved for us these few Sibylline leaves, dashed off almost at random, and left to flutter down the avenues of time where chance and the wind might carry them. They have lain so long forgotten and unnoted that all have passed away who, of their own knowledge or by immediate tradition, could have told us what we long so much to know about the origin and subsequent history of these young lives as they flit pleasantly and sportively before us. What, we ask in PREFACE. vain, became of the lively Constantia, Lavinia. Nesta, and Delia, who trip across the stage so lightly for a few- months, laughing and kissing their finger-tips las it were towards us as they pass? We do not even know their parentage, and their later history is a blank to us. What we know is that one William Allen came to London from an obscure village in Yorkshire to seek his fortune about 1750: that a young woman named Ann Birkhead handed to him in the Strand, outside the Savoy, a tract giving notice of a meeting of the Society of Friends, to be held at Devonshire House, in Bishopsgate : that he read the tract, went to the meeting, married the young woman, and became himself a ■"convinced Friend." The young wife died two years after she had become the mother of John Allen, the diarist, and eleven years later William Allen wedded, according to the Quaker rites, one Mary Kendall, the "'Mere'* or "Mother" of the diary. Were these lively girls her daughters by a former husband? The sug- gestion is only tenable on the assumption that Marx- Kendall had been previously married to a cousin of the same name. Kendall is known to have been her maiden name, and she is described by that name in the register of her marriage to William Allen in 1770, which is preserved at Devonshire House, though, strange to say. the entry contains no reference to the status of spinster or widow. More probably these young girls were the orphaned children of some near relative of Mary Kendall — a brother, perhaps — whom William Allen, with true Christian kindness, received as inmates of his house on the familiar footing of daughters or nieces. They would scarcely on any other supposition have been left alone at Wapping with a gay young spark xii PREFACE. of nineteen, albeit sobered with a spirit of Quakerly propriety, during the driving trip into Yorkshire to visit "father's aged parents." No wonder that kindly uncles looked in from time to time " to see how we fared." The diary, alas ! ends abruptly in the middle of July, and any remaining sheets there may have been must long since have found their way between the bars of Wapping fire-grates. Father and mother, for aught we know, may still be attending ghostly Quarterly Meetings at York, or resting with aged parents at Thorpe Salvin ; grandmother is drinking tea at her Cousin Satterthwaite's ; Delia is working samplers at her school at Godalming ; while as for her sisters — the charming but wayward Constantia (who had such a dislike to wetting her feet), the sedate Lavinia, and the shadowy Nesta — they have long since vanished into limbo, whence all our efforts and researches have failed to rescue them. Then what of the decora filia, " the agreeable M. S.," who so fascinated the young diarist as he peered from the gallery of Devonshire House meeting? Who was she ? Whence did she come ? There is a flattering tradition which connects the Staffords, fallen to very low estate in humble Whitechapel, with the Earls and Barons Stafford of an earlier day 5 with Shakespeare's "Duke of Buckingham" in Henry VIII. , and Margaret Plantagenet, Countess of Salisbury, the proud dame who refused to lay her head upon the block, "for so do traitors, and I am none." Be that as it may, these Staffords came of an ancient and honourable family, which had seen better days, and had embraced the principles of Friends. She was closely related to the "Aunt Allen" (Margaret Stafford) of the diary, was a frequent visitor at Uncle Job's at Spitalfields, the bosom PREFACE. xm friend of the winsome Constantia, and a welcome guest at good Friend William Allen's. What became of this " agreeable "' lady? We would give our eyes to know. Whv was she not John Allen's blushing bride some five years later when another took her place ? Did she, too, marry elsewhere, or did she waste her sweetness on the desert air of lasting spinsterhood ? It has been suggested that she died young, possibly of one of those "declines" which were so common in those days of closed windows, of "tent" beds, and unwholesome surroundings, before hockey and hygiene had been heard of. Certain it is that, in spite of the most diligent search, she never reappears. John Allen himself would seem to have been a little ashamed of his early passion in after years, to judge by the frequent erasures which accompany the mention of her name. Yet, what would we not give for a glimpse of her daintv figure in its shapely setting of pearl-grey Quaker silk as she trips to Meeting on a summer's First Day morning, and to be permitted to peep for a moment at the pretty face, "half concealed and half revealed" by the stiff edges of the severely simple, yet coquettish, Quaker bonnet ! One feels sure that the agreeable '''Patty,"' with all her quiet modest}-, knew very well how to take care of herself, and that she did not come off second best in that " chearful altercation with the two females*' about "the instrument of last night's diversion," mentioned at page 95 of the diarv. Like Charles Lamb's Hester — •• Her parents held the Quaker rule. Which doth the human feeling cool,'" but the love of wholesome fun and harmless gaiety breaks out in spite of it. xiv PREFACE. As with Hester, so too with Patty Stafford, it is not easy " To think upon the wormy bed And her together." She too " was train'd in Nature's school, Nature had blest her: A waking eye, a prying mind, A heart that stirs, is hard to bind ; A hawk's keen sight ye cannot blind, Ye could not Hester." And so she passes from the scene, and we know her no more. Did she, indeed, die young ? Did she live to be wrinkled, old and crabbed ? or did a husband praise her, and children "rise up and call her blessed"? We know not, and never shall know. Happy or hapless, fare thee well, Vcnusta nata ! John Allen, the youthful diarist, was born in 1757, and spent the whole of his life at Wapping, at that time an agreeable riverside suburb of London, within easy reach of the City, and separated by a strip of pleasant fields from rural Stepney. His "earthly calling" (to use a well-worn Quaker phrase) was that of a brewer, a trade into which his father, William Allen, had been successfully introduced by a member of the Wildsmith family. It was before the days of teetotal societies, and Quakers thought no scorn of earning an honest livelihood by the production of liquor. William Allen, in his long- life of nearly eighty years, accumulated a respectable fortune for those days. His son John, in spite of certain trials and difficulties, of which more particular mention will be found in the diary itself, was clearly an adept and industrious pupil. The "unreasonable father" — unreasonable (as his son hints) not always without just PREFACE. xv cause — who could only be appeased in 1777 by "the interposition of certain of y e family in my behalf," doubtless saw reason to modify the severity of his judg- ment in later years. The " unreasonable father," it is right to say, was a much esteemed Minister of the Society of Friends, of which he was a "convinced" member, and died full of years and honours a few months after the decease of his son in 1S08. A curious story, too long to set out here, which would now be thought worthy of engaging the attention of the Society of Psychical Research, the particulars of which are related in my mother's little book of "Family Records'' at pages 5 and 6, is told in con- nexion with his death. John Allen appears to have been a lively, impressionable youth, fond of his joke dike some of his descendants), yet withal a true practising Friend, who scruples to take his hat off in a " steeple- house," writes of "Paul's edifice"' and "James' Park" (without the "Saint"), a wholesome, honest, decent lad, and a careful and thorough workman, let the " unreason- able father" blame him never so harshly. In face, to judge by the only silhouette portrait which has come down to us. he appears to have been "'no great beauty," while in person he is described as small and insignificant. In one thing he was before his time : he was a lover of fresh air, and it is related of him that he would uncere- moniously open the windows of any Friend whose house he happened to enter. Disdaining the three inches of insufferable starched linen, considered de rigueur by some of his descendants in the third generation, he affected the Byronic collar, loose at the throat, some thirty or forty years before Byron and Shelley had made it fashionable. Perhaps, as the silhouette would seem to indicate, in place xvi PREFACE. of a collar he wore the limp, flowing scarf familiarly known among elderly Friends of some thirty years ago as a " waterfall." He seems to have been a fair scholar for those days, with some knowledge of Latin and mathematics ; and the diary itself shows that, apart from certain pardonable solecisms, though living in the very efflorescence of the Johnsonian age, he knew how to write pure pre-Johnsonian English. He was a reader of books, some of which, with his name inscribed in a large flowing hand, are still preserved ; amongst others an ancient folio medical work in Latin, " emptus parva Brittania" [sic], (bought in "Little Britain"). In this con- nexion one agreeable trait has been shrewdly pointed out by one of his great-granddaughters ; that is to say, the entire absence from the diary of anything in the nature of slang. The hideous jargon of the Stock Exchange and the sporting newspaper was unknown to the lively young London Quaker of 1777. It is quaint, by the way, to hear of his teaching little Cousin William to read " in my chamber" in the early hours before it is time to turn to at the vats and slings, and to reflect how far that little William Allen, in after years the distinguished scientist and philanthropist, the friend of Princes and Emperors, was destined to outstrip his master. John Allen died prematurely in the lifetime of his father, William Allen the elder, and with his wife and his elder son Charles rests in the now disused and little-known graveyard adjoining Ratcliff Meeting-house, in one of the poorest slums in the East End of London. There are many subsidiary points of interest. We should like much to know what were the " few particulars " which the inconstant-minded Constantia's friend at Newcastle requested her to purchase in Smith- PREFACE. xvii field — probably gloves and ribbons, — also what John Allen paid for the coach, which he took in Cheapside " to make more speed," when he was trying to overtake the sisters. We do not now buy oranges in Cornhill to take into the country, though Paternoster Row still holds its own as the headquarters of the book-selling trade. It is worthy of note that in those days of coaches and chaises even Friends had no scruple about starting on journeys on a Sunday. It was before the days of Wilberforce and the " Clapham Sect," and Father and Mother set out for distant Yorkshire, with a send-off from the whole family circle, on a "First Day" after- noon after duly attending Ratcliff Meeting in the morning. Many of the coaches left early on the Monday morning, and there are frequent entries of this or that boy and girl bound for school coming to town on Sunday, or going to sleep at friends' houses at convenient spots, in order to be in readiness. It is pleasant, too, to note the open-handed hospitality extended by William Allen to all and sundry whom they met at meeting, as when his son records, under date Sunday, May nth, 1777: a$L* 1777, 2 Mo. [February.] Th. 27. Fifth Day of Week. Rose at | after 6. Had an agreable walk in the evening to attend sisters & Cousin from a visit to Tho s Bowry & Wife. Going to Bed at J ante 11, which concludes this Day. F. 28. Rose at 7. A fine warm day for the time of Year. Nothing particular till the Afternoon, narrowiv escaped a very dangerous headlong fall from the top of a Barry Loft by my foot slip[p]ing from off the Beam I stood upon. An agreeable evening. Going to bed at 12. Thermometer in the morning 45. 3 Mo. [March.] S. 1. Rose 8. An easy Dav. Bought several Numbers. 2 of Josephus. Going to rest J after 11. 5. 2. First day of the Week. A fine day. Rose at j after 7. Father, Sisters & Cousin went to Chiswick. Had the agreeable Companv of G. L. & A. Wheeler to tea & sapper. Going to bed j after 10. M. 3. A pleasant Day. W m Andwill came to town about his Brother Tho 5 (being prest at Ports- mouth) for to obtain his Release. * The original has been closely followed in the matter of spelling, capitals, abbreviations, &c, punctuation being inserted, where necessary for clearness. 20 LEAVES FROM THE PAST. GRACECHURCH STREET MEETING As it appeared on a First day morning Meeting, over a hundred years ago, photographed from a painting, the probable date of which was 1770. " It was painted by a young artist who was in love with one of the young women Friends, and on her account he fre- quently attended the Meetings. As he was well able to paint from memory, these frequent visits enabled him to perfect his painting of the Meeting and its habitues. He sold the picture for £150 to Joseph Smith, the banker, of the firm of Smith, Wright, and Grey. It descended from him to the late Ann Hopkins Smith, of Olney, who died in 1851, aged 83, and from her to the late William Lucas, of Hitchin, who was one of her residuary legatees, and thence to his son, the present William Lucas, of Hitchin, in whose possession it now is. "The figure next to the women, in the raised seat under the Ministers' Gallery, is Joseph Smith. Under him, facing the Meeting, is Dr. Lettsom ; Dr. Fothergill is in the Ministers' Gallery. Of the rather conspicuous figures on the side seat, the one nearest the gallery is Samuel Hoare, the banker, whose wife, Grizell, is the woman Friend in the dark plain dress on the side seat; and below her, dressed alike, are their three daughters, the middle one being Grizell, who married a Birkbeck, and, subsequently, William Allen, becoming his third wife in 1827. O n the left of Grizell is her sister Sarah, who married a Bradshaw, and who died in 1783. " The Friend standing, preaching in the Ministers' Gallery, with his three-cornered hat hanging just above him, is Isaac Sharpies, who died in 1784. He was grandfather of the late Isaac Sharpies, of Hitchin. The little bent woman, just below Isaac Sharpies, is Ann Christy, or, as she was always called, Nanny Christy. She always wore, besides her white cast-over, a green apron and green mittens." Extracted from a paper by James Bonne, of Reading, in the Friends' Quarterly Examiner for 1876. LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 23 1777. 3 Mo. [March.] Tu. 4. Nothing particular. W. 5. W m Andwill sets off to Portsmouth with a Letter from the Admiralty concerning his Brother. Going to bed \ ante 11. Th. 6. Rose at 6. Hard morning, easier Day. Some Disc< at 11 Discord. An agreeable evening. Going to Bed F. 7. Rose 7. Easy Day. Nothing to record. Going to bed J ante 10. S. 8. Easy Day. Had a pleasant Walk in the After- noon to my Aunt's* at Lambeth. Came home at 8. Going to Bed J after n. S- 9. First of the week. This day we had the company of Tho s Bowry & Wife, Lydia Burgess, Jane Burnham, Eliz. Marsh, f Mary & Eliz. Belch, Debor h & Han h Weston, Mary Woodbridge, & my aunt Elizath. Allen to Tea, who came to take their leave of Sister Ann before she is married. It proved a wet afternoon, & an evening Meeting was held at Gracechurch Street^ at the Desire of Elizabeth Pryor (1731-1S21). f ? His future wife (1754-1S26). X Gracechurch Street, or (as it was commonly pronounced) " Gracious" Street, Meeting was built on a plot of land formerly occupied by the White Hart Inn, which had been cleared by the Great Fire, near the junction of Lombard and Gracechurch Streets. It was held on lease from the Fish- mongers' Company, the freeholders, which was renewed from time to time, and surrendered in 1S62. The meeting-house, enlarged and altered as occasion required, was completely destroyed by hre on Sunday, September gth, 1821, when many valuable early records and documents perished. The new building was completed in 1822, but as the number of residents in the City decreased, it was found to be unnecessary in such close proximity to Devonshire House. The last meeting for worship was held there during the Yearly Meeting of 1862, when J. I. Eddy, of America, and B. Seebohm, with LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 3 Mo. [March.] C. Robinson. Eight of the Young women with Aunt and self went in two Coaches to it. Two Weeks meeting* to Day. Attended Sister Ann in passing it lor the last time. Nothing particular. Fine morning. This day my younger sisterf was married to John Miller! of Ware. Had upwards of 30 in company. We dined at the George & Vulture in Tottenham. Returned home about 7 in the Evening which was wet. My Eldest sister [Priscilla§] having had intelli- gence from E. Cut worth || of her coming to London by sea, I went to S. Darby to enquire for her, but she was not come. * The "Two-Weeks" Meeting was the earliest form of meetings for business, founded civ, 1662, beiore London was mapped out by George Fox, into six Monthly Meetings in 1668, when its jurisdiction was limited to the City proper. From 1671 to 1789, when it was dissolved, it had the especial charge of marriages among Friends. Those about to marry had to appear twice before the Two-Weeks Meeting, in addition to obtaining the consent of their respective Monthly Meetings. — Vide London Friends' Meetings, infra, pp. 44, 70, 85-89, chap. viii. , and 350. f Ann (1755-1809). \ (1743-1808), previously married to Esther Lowe. § Married, 1782, William Knight, of Chelmsford. — Vide " Family Records," pp. 7-12. |.| ? Cudworth. other ministers, were "largely and powerfully engaged, closing thereby the use of that spot for Gospel service, which had continued nearly 200 years." George Fox, the founder of Quakerism, often preached in the old meeting- house, and died at rooms adjoining, as the result of a chill and seizure following one of these efforts, on Tuesday, January 13th, 1691. After lying in state in an informal manner for three days, the remains were removed for burial to Bunhill Fields, borne by relays of thirty-six Friends, six from each monthly meeting, and followed to the grave by 4,000 persons. William Allen and Elizabeth Fry were members of Gracechurch Street Meeting. — Vide London Friends' Meetings, by William Beck and Frederick Ball, pp. 144-157. M. 10. Tu. & W. 11, 12. Th. 1^. F. 14. LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 3 Mo. "March. ] S. 15. A Sorrowfull Dav to our family on Account of Sister's leaving us to go with her husband to Ware. Her sister attended her. & is to stay with her a tew Days. S. 16. First day of the Week. Nothing remarkable but a wet daw M. 17. Fine morning with Wind. Went with josiah Miller, Brother to John Miller, to see Paul's Edefice.* Called upon Uncle Job. M. Stafford went with us to see it, the sight of which did not turn out according to our expectation. \Yc then parted with Patty. Went to Aunt's at Lambeth to dinner, then crossed the Thames. Went to Parliament House, but could not get in. as business was only transacted by a Committee. & in rinding our way out wandered into the Star Chamber. t wherein the King is robed before he goes into the House. After a littie Time spent in viewing the Tapestry t with which it was adorned, we enquired our way out. crossed the street and went into the Abbey at Poets' Corner. We viewed the Monuments in the outer part for a considerable Time. Some was very magnificent, especially the new Ones, &, being obliged to take off our Hats or go out. we went into the Chappeil where they was performing worship, & the Organ played some time. From thence we went into the inner Chappies after paving 3 ; each, in which we had a guide to show & make an oration over the monuments of the more * St. Paul s Cathedral, t Destroyed in the fire of October 16th, 1834. 26 LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 3 Mo. [March.] Illustrious Dead such as Kings? Queens, Dukes &c, some of which was all of Brass, others of very fine marble with some granate [sic], some Effigies in Wax,* the Coronation Chairs &c. From these gloomy places we went to Berry Marshman'sf to Tea to meet with some of our family that was there on a visit, & Came home with them in the Evening, which concludes this curious Day or day of curiosities. Tu. 18. Working day. The above said Josiah at night went from here to his inn, he intending to return the next morning home to Alton early. W. ig. This day taken up in drying brown Malt. Th. 20. This day do. do. F. 21. This day a Release from the above Job. Went to enquire if E. Cutworth was arrived yet, but she was not. S. 22. This day taken mostly in drying brown Malt. £>. 23. First day of the week. Went to RatcliffJ meeting * The wax figures formerly borne at State funerals upon the bier of the deceased, representing them as nearly as possible "in their habit as they lived." These effigies are still to be seen in the small chamber over Abbot Islip's Chapel, off the North Choir aisle of Westminster Abbey. Cf. Machyn's Diary (temp. Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth), published by the Camden Society in 1848, p. 182, for the "pyctur of emages of Ouen Mary" borne at her funeral, "adorned with cremesun velvett & her crowne on her hed, her septer on her hand, & mony goodly rynges on her fyngers." t Related through John Allen's step-mother, Mary Kendall. — Vide p. 34. J Removed from Mile End Green, civ. 1667, to a site at the corner of School-house Lane and Brook Street, Ratcliff. Rebuilt 1797, and reopened for worship 1798. Still existing. The burial-ground continued to be used until 1857, when "intramural burials" were forbidden by Order in Council. (Vide London Friends' Meetings, ut supta, pp. 267-270.) John Allen and his elder son Charles both lie there. LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 29 1777. 3 Mo. [March.] in the Morning, but to Gracechurch in the after- noon to enquire of S. Darby if he had heard from Newcastle, but he had not. M. 24. A fine Day. In the afternoon had a message from the "Three Sisters/' a ship lying in the River just arrived from Newcastle, notifying E. C. was come in her. I accordingly went with messenger & conducted her to our house. She had a rough passage and was Ten Days coming. Tu. & W. Two remarkable hot days. Dryed brown Malt 25, 26. in both. Th. 27. This afternoon went in our Chaise to Ware, to brother and sister Miller, to bring Priscilla home from them, as she was the chief acquaintance E. C. had in our family. 'Twas a hot afternoon till evening, when it proved rather cold. I reached Ware about J after 7. Lay at Brother's at night. F. 28. A Cloudy cold day. Walked about Ware a small time. About Ten o'clock myself & two sisters & another young woman, Eliz. Stammers, went to Jn° Scot's * f at Amwell, & we were enter- tained with a sight of his large & very curious garden, which is laid out in a very pleasing Taste. We were then shown his Grotto, which was composed of many rooms and intricate passages, chiefly covered with shells, & disposed The well-known Quaker poet, a friend of Dr. Johnson, born 1730, died at his house at Ratclirf in 1783, and buried at the Friends' burial-ground there. — Vide Dictionary of National Biography, vol. li., p. 42. 30 LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 3 Mo. [March.] in a very curious Order, the sight of which strikes the Beholders with an agreable Admira- tion, & appeared very brilliant. His house is very noble & spacious, & several rooms have very pleasant prospects. When curiosity was satisfied we retired to our quarters, and after dinner Sister & myself set off about 2 o'clock towards London. In our way stopt at Jn° Burgesse's at Enfield & drank some tea ; then we rode home, which we reached before night, and had the company of G. Wheeler part of the evening, & so finished this day. S. 29. Dryed Brown Malt most of this Day. 5, 30. First day of the Week. Went to Ratcliff Meeting in y e morn, but to Devonshire house in the After- noon ; Two Women friends, Dorothy Wiggum* & Ann King, Who came with E. C. from Newcastle, being to be there, & they both appeared in publick Testimony at said meeting. After meeting I went with Sister & E. C. to drink Tea with a Cousin of E. C.'s, then came home to supper & so concluded this day. M. 31. Nothing remarkable. 4 Mo. [April.] Tu. 1. Taken up in drying brown Malt. W. 2. Brown Malt morning. Well worked in Brew- house till late at night. * Probably Wigham. MARGARET ALLEN, NEE STAFFORD. 1747— 183O. SUSANNA CLAYTON, NEE ALLEN. BORN I736 AT THORPE SALVIN. Daughter of John Allen of that place. DIED AT DUNMOW, lSzi . LEAVES FROM THE PAST 33 1777. 4 Mo. [April.] Th. 3. Bad morning. Went to Uncle's in the afternoon to post his books ; then went to meet my sister & E. C. coming from Park meeting,* which I did with several other friends, Some of Whose com- pany we had part of the way home. We had the company of D. W. & Ann King, the two women friends (who had been this morning to our weekday meeting), to dinner, who were attended hither by friend Darby of Thames Street. They set off after dinner to L. Warton's in Wapp g . F. 4. Brewd Ale this day & had a deal Work to do. S. 5. Drying Brown Malt all the Day, & is the last day of this Work for some time. First of the Week. Went in the morning to Ratcliff Meeting, which was visited by Hester Moxon & was very full. Aunt Allen t & Patty Stafford came to dinner & went with us in the Afternoon to Wapping Meeting.!" Hester Moxon * The Park Meeting was in Southwark. It was held first in 1658 in the house of Thomas Hackleton, " near the Ealcon in the upper ground" ; but in 1674 had outgrown its accommodation, and Friends took a piece of ground forming part of the Park, once attached to the Palace of the Bishops of Winchester. It was rented from one Ewer, who seems to have given his name to a street, as the old Park Meeting-house was in an "angle of Ewer Street." The old Park was superseded by the new Park Meeting-house in 1687, and a new building called the New Park Meeting-house was opened on the same spot in 1763, between Worcester Street and Redcross Street. This was finally sold to the Metropolitan Board of Works in i860, in consequence of the formation of New Southwark Street. — Vide London Friends' Meetings, ut supra, pp. 219-222. t Wife of Job Allen, nee Margaret Stafford. Probably Cousin of " M. S." % A sort of chapel-of-ease to Ratcliff Meeting. "Friends had become less numerous in this waterside locality, and in 1779, at the expiration of the lease, the property passed out of the hands of Friends, and no attempt has since been made to establish a meeting in the district/' — Vide London Friends' Meetings, ut supra, p. 270. 5. 6. 3 34 LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 4 Mo. [April.] was also there. Came home to Tea, where was Uncle Larcum* & Cousin Charles Whiting & W m Tomlinson. M. 7. London quarterly meet g held this day. All our Family was there. Some went to Uncle Job's to Tea. E. C. came not back with them, but went to a Cousin of hers in Cannon S*. Tu. 8. Mother,! her Mother, & Cousin Polly went to visit their Cousin Marshman at Newington, & took Sister [Priscilla] in their Coach with them as far as Cannon S 4 , where she was to call on E. C, & then proceeded] together to Aunt's I at Chiswick. A deal of work to Day, & Cleansed the Ale after ten at Night. W. 9. A windy day. Exercised the new horse in the Truck, but was much incommoded with the Wind & Dust. This Afternoon Grand Moth 1 ' § & Cousin vis[i]ted R. Clark & his Wife. Mother went with them, but as soon as they had arrived to their Friends she proceeded on to her Cousin Satterthwaite, intending to stay with her a few days, she having lately lost her husband. A day of fatigue. * Elder son of Moses and Ann Kendall, of Charlbury, born 1719, brother of John Allen's step-mother. t J. A.'s step-mother, Mary Kendall, daughter of Moses and Ann Kendall, late of Burford, Oxon. (1728-1788). Married to William Allen at the Park Meeting, in Southwark, May 2nd, 1770. X Susanna Clayton (1736-1821). § Ann Kendall, mother of John Allen's second wife, Mary Kendall, to whom were related, in some unexplained way, Constantia, Lavinia, Nesta, and Delia. LEAVES FROM THE PAST, 35 1777. 4 Mo. [April.] Th. io. This afternoon saddled the new horse & went to J no Peers at Lambeth about some business. Called at Aunt's to see if Lavinia & Constantia were there. Constantia was gone to Black's Fields to tea : the former I found there after I had put up the horse. I staid tea with Aunt & Lavinia. As soon as we had done, we set off, they to the Park Meet-, & I home; but having time & a pleasant afternoon I continued my Rout through Fenchurch Street on to Bow, turned up through Bromley & Poplar, & so home, being very much tired, the Horse being heavy & not an easy goer, where I was soon joined by Lavinia & Constantia. F. ii. Lavinia departed from us this morn g , going about her affairs, intends to lodge at her Cousin's. Mere returns home at Noon from her Cousin Satterthwaite. In the Even g Father tried the Horse in his Chaise after he had been worked in the Truck, & took Constantia & Delia with him, & proceeded as far as Eppin forest. They returned about 8. The Horse performed well, & they pleased with their ride. S. 12. A Wet Morning but fine afternoon, when Father & Mere set off to go to Ware to Brother Miller's, intend g to go to Hunsdon* Meet g the Day follow g , & had the new Horse with them. Lavinia returned this afternoon. 5. 13. First day of the Week. Went to Ratcliff Meet? * A few miles east of Hertford, about four miles from Ware. 36 LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. [4 Mo. April.] in the Morn g , but to Devonshire house* in the Afternoon to the funeral of Thomas Talvin.t The Meet g was appointed at 3 o'clock ; was there before 3, but could not get in, every place so crowded. 'Twas impossible to sit down except in the quarterly meeting Room at a great distance from the Public friends in the other Meeting. Dorothy Wiggum & Ann King was there with other London friends who spoke. The Body was buried at Whitechapple ground. After the Ceremony was over Uncle X & his two eldest sons came home with me & stayd a little time. M. 14. Brewing to-day ; had to conduct it myself, father being at Ware, but returned safe this Afternoon. Tu. 15. Brewing without & Ironing within doors ; not much peace for the Males. Had a pleasant ride to Jn°. Peers's before breakfast & back again this morn g . A fine Day & the work concluded soon. * After the destruction of the "Bull and Mouth" meeting in the Great Fire of 1666 Friends rented a part of the former mansion of the Earls of Devonshire, in Bishopsgate Street. Meetings were held in the old mansion until 1678, when a lease of part of the estate was acquired. Upon this site successive buildings were erected, until in 1793-4 the two existing meeting- houses were built for the accommodation of the Yearly Meeting, hitherto held at Gracechurch Street. {Vide London Friends' Meetings, ut supra, pp. 167-170.) It would seem from the diary that the Yearly Meeting had already begun to be held in part (cf. p. 50) at Devonshire House, where it still flourishes. Hood wrote that Quakers were to be met with " in Bishopsgate at Whitsuntide, and Stamford Hill at any tide." The Yearly Meeting, which by the rules of the Society is to begin its sittings "on the first Fourth Day after the third First Day in Fifth Month," frequently coincides with Whitsuntide. t ? Talwin, ob. April 6th, 1777, at. 70. X Job Allen (1734-1800), William Allen (then aged 7) and Samuel Allen ob. 1868, at. 97). SAMUEL ALLEN. Second Son of Job Allen and Margarei Stafford. Father of Stafford Allen. 1771 — -lS68. JOSEPH ALLEN, OF DUN MOW. Third Son of Job Allen and Margaret Stafford. 1774— 1849. PHEBE ALLEN, Wife of Samuel Allen. Daughter of William Lucas and mother of Stafford Allen. 1769 — 1856. LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 41 1777. 4 Mo. [April.] W. 1 6. Moderate Morn g . Walked to Mile End & was paid a Bill. Full employed in the Afternoon till night. Rose before 7, going to rest before n. Th. 17. Went to meet g in the morn-, walked to my Uncle's at Spittalfields & attended Mother & Delia home. Grand Mother goes to her Cousin Satterthwaite to stay a little Time. F. 18. Dorothy Wiggum & Ann King was to set sail to-day towards Newcastle in the " Mary," Capt. Chapman. Lavinia goes with them, & Constantia, being invited by her to Newcastle & having Consent of parties concerned, agrees to venture the seas in company with them. I attended them to Sam 1 Robinson's on the water side, & he conducted us in his Boat to the ship, except Constantia, who happened to take a false step getting into the Boat, & wetted her feet. She thereupon tarried with Sail) 7 Robinson to dry her Cloathing & we proceeded to the Ship. The public Friends got in just before us & John Dollin just after us, who was going likewise to Newcastle. We found the Callbin [sic] a very spacious & commodious one, but the Vessel did not sail so soon as was appointed. Lavinia then returned on shore with us to wait with Constantia till all things were ready for sailing. I returned home & acquainted our family they were still on shore, who all went & drank tea with them at the above Friend's ; it proved a dull even", & winds contrary, & about 8 o'clock they returned home with the rest of the Family, being previously informed the ship would not sail till next day at noon. 42 LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 4 Mo. [April.] S. 19. A fine Morning. Constantia, being discouraged at the proceedings of yesterday, gave over all Intentions of going with Lavinia to the North, & having just received a request from a friend at Newcastle to buy a few particulars for her, they accordingly departed as soon as breakfast was over to Smithfield to execute the Com- mission, thinking they should be returned before y e ship weighed Anchor. They had not left the House long before S. Robinson came to inform them the Ship was going down the River ; nothing now was left for me to do but to pursue after them as fast as I could, which I did, but did not overtake them till they had got to Smithfield & had bought what they wanted. They directly left the House, & I waited till the parcel was bundled up, & then pursued them back again, came up with them in Newgate S f , took coach in Cheapside to make more speed, which brought us to S. Robinson's. We then took boat, & only put Lavinia's Baggage in, as Constantia had determined not to go. After a little time we came up with the ship & all got in. The agreable Company & Commodiousness of the Cabbin caused Constantia again to Change her mind, & I being informed of it enquired of the Captian [sic~\ if it was possible I could again overtake them if I went back for her Baggage. He told me he thought I could with a pair of oars reach them again about Greenwich. I immediately went back in the same boat, hired Oars & a fresh boat, & followed with the said Baggage, & they was sailed very near as low as Greenwich before I LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 43 1777. 4 Mo. [April.] could board them again; so after I had delivered up all my Charges I left them in good spirits, & wishing them a safe passage & short one, about 2 o'clock in the afternoon returned home to Dinner, which was late. Being fatigued with the Hurry of the morning, I was not much inclined to work in the Afternoon ; however there was no great deal to do. 20. First day of the week. Wind at South East in the Morning, which I was glad to see, & more so when it continued about South all the Day, it being a fair wind for the friends that Sailed yesterday. Was a fine day. Went to Ratcliff Meet§ in the Morns, W m Knight of Barking was there, spoke some time in publick, & came to our house to dinner, as did O. Weston & M. Fifield,^ who are to be married next fifth dav. They invited Delia to attend them. Went to Wapp g Meet g in the afternoon & spent the even g at home. M. 21. Last night a windy Night. The Wind increases all the day. Talk much of the Friends in the " Mary." However 'tis in the Best corner, being S.W. or thereabouts. Grandmother returned this morning. Father, mother & she attend's O. W. & M. F. to the Two week's meet*t this afternoon for the last time. A cloudy evening & the Wind still more boisterous. Am in hopes the " Mary" is in Tinmouth harbour. Tu. 22. Took a ride this afternoon after work was done towards Rumford. The wind was high. * Owen Weston and Mary Fy field. f Vide note at p. 24. 4 4 LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 4 Mo. [April.] W. 23. The Antigallicans* walked to day [St. George's Day] to our Steeple House,! I with thousands more went to see their procession. Th. 24. This Morning the Marriage of O.W. with M. F. was celebrated at our Meet g ; it was favoured with the presence of E. Bevington, J. Townsend, C. Gay, & others ; the Meeting was full, the parties each made a simular [sic] & remarkable Mistake in saying the Ceremony ; he promised to make her a loving Wife & she to make him an affectionate Husband ; he recall'd his Mistake before he proceeded far, but she sat down without mending it, but presently after they stood up again & she spake over again to general satisfaction, but it so affected her she fainted away as soon as she came out. All our family except myself was there. Barbara Johnson & Barbara Nixon, being at the Meeting, came & dined with me, being the only one left at home. F. 25. Went this morning to Uncle Job's & found him lame, having lost much blood by scratching one * " It appears that ' the Laudable Association of Antigallicans ' had their headquarters at ' Lebeck's Head,' in the Strand, in April, 1757. The society was so called ' from the Endeavours of its Members to promote the British Manufacturies, to extend the Commerce of England, and discourage the introducing of French Modes and oppose the importation of French Com- modities.' " — Notes and Queries, Seventh Series, vol. iv., pp. 151, 152. It was, in fact, an Eighteenth-century Protectionist Association. The answer to the query ends with a quotation from the Annual Register for 1771, vol. xiv., p. 98 : — " April 23, 1771. Being St. George's Day, was held the anniversary feast of the laudable Society of Anti-Gallicans. They went in procession to Stepney Church, where the Rev. Mr. Evans, chaplain to the Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor, preached an excellent sermon, suitable to the occasion." At page 293 of the same volume of Notes and Queries is mentioned the fact that "in 1749 the Anti-Gallicans had their headquarters at Ratcliff Cross." A visit of the society to some notable parish church in the East of London would seem to have been an annual event. f St. George's-in-the-East , LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 45 1777. 4 Mo. [April.] of his legs. M. Stafford came this Afternoon and staid Tea. S. 2b. A fine Day. Received a letter from Constantia at Newcastle, informing us of her safe arrivall there with the rest of the friends last fourth day [Wednesday, April 23rd] in the afternoon.* Father & Delia rode out in the Chaise & returned in the Evening. £>. 27. First day of the Week. A Meeting was held this Day at Mims.f Father, Mother & M. Stafford went in the Chaise & I on the new Horse to it. Many friends attended both from London & other parts. We dined at the Cross Keys, but was not so comfortably entertained as we cou'd wish owing to the great Number of Friends in the House, as there was upwards of Forty in Company ; however we all had a share of what was to be had, & we returned with Cousin Tottle | to Tottenham & drank tea at her House, & then came home, being favoured throughout with a charming fine day. M. 28. Committee day. Left alone in the afternoone. I feel the Effects to-dav of yesterdav's ride. Tu. 29. Recover'd from the fatigue of Riding. Went this Morning to the British Museum in Com- pany with Delia, M. Stafford, & Sarah Lillwall. M. Stafford procured us the Tickets. We were * The journey by sea, with a favourable wind, took four days. t South Mims, near Chipping Barnet, often mentioned by George Fox in his journal, from 1677 onwards. Vide London Friends' Meetings, ut supra, p. 299. J ? Tothill. 46 LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 4 Mo. [April.] too late to see some of the Articles, yet we saw more than our Memories could retain. The number, Elegance & Antiquity of its Curiosities were very amazing. Came home to Dinner & spent the Afternoon in Care & Toil. W. 30. Nothing remarkable. 5 Mo. [May.] Th. 1. Brewing day & a deal to do. Brother Miller came to town & lodged with me. F. 2. Brew'd Ale to day an addittional Share for me, but we finished soon. Brother is gone home. S. 3. A fine Day. Nothing to record. £>. 4. First Day of the Week. A wet Morning. A Meeting to be held at Cheshunt * this day, beginning at Eleven. Was to be at it with Uncle Job & Wife, they in our Chaise & I on Horseback, but we had declined going, the morning being so rainy. However there was a little intermission at nine o'clock & the Sun peeped out, which then induced me to haste away, & being fitted out with all speed, I went off alone, but had not rode four Miles before I wished myself at Home, for a steady small rain came on, which seemed as though it would * Situated some two miles north of Waltham Abbey, and about three miles south of Broxbourne. Cheshunt meeting was probably the outcome of the small meeting at Flamstead End, held in a building hired from the Widow Cooke in 1672, of which no record exists after 1707. The meeting at Cheshunt is last mentioned in the Book of Meetings in 1820. George Fox often visited Friends at Cheshunt. — Vide London Friends' Meetings, ut supra, p. 298. 1 he meetings at Mims and Cheshunt had by this time come to be held occasionally, probably only in the summer. LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 47 1777. 5 Mo. [May.] continue for most of the Day, & meeting with no Company that I thought was bound to the same place I was going to. I thought there was not much Necessity to proceed, so I put up at the Georg [sic] & Vulture at Tottenham, determining to ride no further in the Rain. As soon as I had got under Shelter in the Inn. the Rain ceased & a couple of Friends past by on Horses : this gave me fresh Courage, & mounting again as soon as I could, pursued after them : it was now Ten when I left the Inn. but I got to meeting before many others. It was full, and visited by T. Letchworth & others, & here I met with Brother and Sister Miller from Ware ; they Came in a post Chaise & brought M. Stafford with them, who had been with them most of the Week on a Visit. We dined together at the Widow Moline's at Wormlev, took our pleasure in her Gardens. & staid till Tea. & then departed home. I returned to London in y e Company of In 0 Sparks Moline & a Cousin of theirs. We had a very pleasant Evening till we came to Tottenham, when a heavv Shower fell, & obliged us to wait under the weighing Engine at Stamford hill till it was most over ; then we retreated home, & I parted with my Companions at the end of Houndsditch in Bishopgate Street, & arrived at my post ante g very well pleased with my Journey. M. 5. A tine Day. Much to do. Tu. 6. More work to day than the preceeding, the Ale 48 LEAVES EROM THE PAST. 1777. 5 Mo. [May.] being cleansed to Night ; however I went before all the Small was Cask'd to Bishopgate Street to take places in the Ware Coach for Mere & Delia to go to Brother Miller's Tomoro' afternoon. Called at Uncle Job's to acquaint them of the proceedings of first day [Sunday, May 4]. From thence to Cornhill to buy Oranges to be carried to Ware, & then returned. W. 7. Fair Weather. An uncommon deal of Beer carried out to-day, which made the men late home & the cleansing & reckoning late, being very near Eleven before Father & I could come to supper ; twas lucky for us there was nobody to wait supper for us excepting the Servants, Nesta, Mere, & Delia having retired. From our Mansion this afternoon the first was going to the Widow Satterthwaite, Mere & Delia to take Coach in Bishop Gate Street to go to Ware, & I accompanied them to the Inn ; we all went in one Coach as far as Aldgate, then we left Nesta to proceed by herself & went to the Inn, where I saw them into the Coach & then returned home. Th. S. Fifth day of the Week. W r ent to our Meeting this Morning & staid at home all the Evening. F. 9. Went to Uncle Job's with a Load of Copper according to the Custom of every Week. Found him still indisposed with his Leg hurt ; not so much as to confine him from his Business. The rest of his Family tolerable well. Patty not yet returned from Ware. LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 49 1777. 5 Mo. [May.] S. io. A fine Day. Father goes to Ware in the Chaise to bring Mere & Delia home. 5. ii. First Day of the Week. Went to Ratcliff in the morning & to Devonshire house Meeting in the Afternoon. Quite alone, all our family being in the country except myself ; but there was a full board at dinner having the Company of 3 old Women and 4 Young men. The day was fine & I intended to be out in the Evening, but was disappointed by a storm of Hail which happened just after Meeting. M. 12. Chief Manager to Day, & things for the most part worked Kindly. All our Ramblers returned to day & we had the full Complement at supper. Tu. 13. Much to day, but concluded well & praised for Yesterday's performance. W. 14. The usual Share of Toil, going to rest post 10. Th. 15. Rose at 6. Went to our week day Meeting in the Morning ; tarried at home all the Evening. Fr. 16. Wet Morning. Went to Uncle Job's as usual. Called at the stationer's coming home & brought the Beauties of England with me, which I had given him to bind the week before. This After- noon William Alexander came to Town with Hollis.* They both lodged at our house Constantia returns to day from the North. Came by Land and reached home about ten this night ; she departed from Newcastle in the * Son of his Aunt Susanna Clayton (1766 — 1830). 4 50 LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 5 Mo. [May.] Coach about 2.0 o'clock on fourth day morning* [Wednesday, May 14]. S. 17. Went this Morning with cousin Hollis to see him into the Chiswick Coach t in the Strand, fine Day & rather at Liesure [sic] . S. 18. First Day of the Week & Yearly Meeting Week. Went this morning to our Meeting at Ratcliff, which was crowded, & visited by divers Country Friends, & many Testimonies was delivered. Came home without one Stranger to dinner except Aunt Eliza, | who came when we had partly ended. Went to same Meet" in Affter- noon, which was Silent ; returned home to Tea. After Supper accompanied my Aunt part of her way home. M. 19. Staid at home all this Day. Father went to Gracechurch Meeting this Afternoon where the Business is Transacted every year ; the Females to Devonshire house Meeting, which is their Synod. § They returned with the Addition of Ann Fleet & W m Alexander's Wife about eight o'Clock. Sister Miller came from Ware this Morning. Tu. 20. Rained hard for most of y e Night & still continues all this Morning without ceasing. Was permitted to go to Meet g this fore noon & was accompanied there with Friend Alexander. * The journey by coach, therefore, occupied nearly three days. f Returning to his home. \ Elizabeth Pryor. § Cf. p. 36. The Women's meeting only was then held at Devonshire House. The Men did not migrate from Gracechurch Street until civ. 1794. LEAVES FROM THE EAST 51 1777. 5 Mo. [May.] His great Coat was wet through, being but thin. The Meeting not crowded as is usual, the Chief business was reading the Answers to the Queries from the Several Counties & making remarks thereon. This Afternoon Cousin Thomas Wildsmith,* lately come from Doncaster to settle in London, coming to this part of the town to see his Sister Eliz th called at our house, from whence I went with him to find her, she having lately hired herself to one Cockfield a Ship Chandler in Wapping, where I left him, and crossed the Thames to Horsleydo\vn,t to which meeting I went, it being open this after- noon & was generally filled with Women, & most of the preaching came from that sex, the Men being generally at Meeting for Business. After the Meeting had a small Interview with a most agreable [word obliterated], after which I hurried to Whitehart Court J to the mens' Meeting, which was not concluded. I found it very full and extreemely hot, but most of what was done after I was there was adjourning it to 4 o'clock to morrow afternoon ; then I came home & was well wetted, for it rained from the conclusion of Horsleydown meeting till after I got home no small pace. * Related through Elizabeth Wildsmith, first wife of John Allin or Allen, of Thorpe Salvin ; possibly descended from Thomas Wildsmith and Elizabeth Allen. — Vide pedigree, Slip I. t Originally held in " Widow Webb's garden," in Fair Street, Southwark, about 1655. Built in 16C3, it was demolished by order of the Council, under circumstances of great cruelty, in 1670. Rebuilt in 1671 and again in 1739, it was sold in 1800. In 1869 it was " still used by Friends as a Temperance Hall, and for other purposes." — Vide London Friends' Meetings, lit supra, pp. 216-219. t The old name for Gracechurch Street Meeting. 52 LEAVES FROM THE PAST 1777. 5 Mo. [May.] W. 21. Went to Ratcliff Meeting this Morn g . Several Friends from Kent dined with us. Father goes to Meeting in the Afternoon, so I was obliged to handle the labouring Oar all the Evening till near io o'Clock, it being a busy Day & his absence made it more so. Th. 22. No Meeting this Morning except the Women's at Devonshire House, so of consequence tarried at home till the evening, when a Meet 8 for Worship was held at the same Place, to which I went ; it was very much crowded. Sat in the Gallery, there being no room below, opposite to a decora filia mentioned in the 20 th . Just passed a Complement with the same coming out of Meet g ; at the breaking up all the passage was remarkably filled ; it rained when we came out, so went for a Coach. Sisters & self, Ann Fleet & Cousin Tottle with her Daughter filled it. Cousin had her pocket picked of all the Money in it, which has been the case with numbers [of] other friends this Yearly Meeting, some of Whom lost their Watches also. F. 23 Gatton* Morning; stuck to that while Father went to Meeting. In the afternoon went out also at 6 o'clock to a Meet g at Wapp g ; was pretty well filled, divers publick friends preached, one rather singular, & held the Meet 8 long. S. 24. Attended the Meet g for Business this Morn g , * Appears to be either the name of some village where orders were received, or the name of some firm engaged in the brewing trade. It occurs regularly on Tuesdays and Eridays. LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 53 1777. 5 Mo. [May.] which was entirely finished, but held till 2 o'clock in the Afternoon ; came home & dined with Uncle Moses* & his Son after all the rest. Sister Miller took Coach for home as soon as we came in ; after dinner set my face towards Lambeth, accompanied Uncle & his Son to the Poultry, where he had some business ; as soon as he had concluded I obtained leave for Son to proceed on with me; we walked through the City observing everything curious in our Way till we came to Pall Mall, when we went to see the Royall Academy, having some time had an Inclination thereto. Here we saw such a Number of fine & pleasing Drawings our Eves never before beheld. When we had spent as much time as we could well spare, we walked out towards our Goal, but mistook the Way ; however with little disadvantage ; for, turning into James's Park, walked through part of it, which was very pleasant to me & from thence to Lambeth, which we reached about seven, & were treated by Aunt f with some slices of Ham & Beer. Cast up some accounts for her & rested ourselves in the interior, & then withdrew home to supper. Omitted to mention that William Alexander & Wife & Ann Fleet departed from our Mansion this Morn g with a design to return Home. 5. 25. First day of the Week. Went to Ratcliff in the Morning, which was visited by divers country Friends, particularly Joseph Proctor of Yorkshire, who with his daughter came in Company with * Moses Kendall, younger son of Moses and Ann Kendall, of Charlbury, born 1720. Cf. note, p. 34. t Elizabeth Pryor. 54 LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 5 Mo. [May.] Constantia from the North in the Coach. In the afternoon attended Devonshire House Meeting, which was crowded beyond expectation & very hot ; sat in the Gallery & had an agreable view of venesta* Nata whenever I chose. Walked round Spittalfields home, but was there before any of y e family that was gone to Meeting, part of whom went to Ratcliff, & part to Wapp g . W m Gunnf came & smoked a pipe in the evening, after whom came Thos Squire of Hemsted, who was my preceptor ; he staid Supper, & then I attended him with Lanthorn and Candle into Goodmansfield, & there left him, from thence came home & went to Bed. M. 26. Worked away in Morn-. Uncle & his Son departed home in the Afternoon. Cousin Marshman of Newington drop'd in at dinner time & dined with us. Attended the Brewhouse close this Afternoon, it being committee day. Tu. 27. A fine day with respect to Weather, but con- trarily so with me, being a laborious one mixed with Bitterness occasioned by the ill Temper of an unreasonable father ; loaded with vexation in the Day & much Grief at night, never to be forgot by me but perhaps [words obliterated, "for my good"] in the end. Conscious of no Guilt on my side. * Venusta. t William Gunn, of Ratcliff Highway, patten-maker, ob. 1828, at. 90, described as "retired tradesman." By his will, dated August 25th, 1813, he founded the still-existing "William Gunn's Trust" for distribution among poor Friends. WILLIAM ALLEN, OF THORPE SALVIN, WAPPING, AND WARE. I 729 l808. OF WAPPING. {The Diarist.) 1757 — 1808. LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 57 1777. 5 Mo. [May.] W. 28. Much moderated to day by the Interposition of certain of y e Family in my Behalf last night, therefore past this Day more tolerable. Th. 29. Deal work in the morn 8 ; father went to Meeting, but tarried at home all the Afternoon, an unpleasant time for me not being able to do hardly anything without incurring his Dis- pleasure, almost drove to Despair. F. 30. Fine Day. Took the Chaise horse in the Truck loaded with Beer, put the Cooper on also, & proceeded with him to Uncle's, left the Cooper there & came home with him not the nearest wav, leading him through those places in the Road that seemed the heaviest drawing, on purpose to exercise & make him sober, not haying been for some time employed on any Labour. When we came home we both swet [sic] very profusely, but he had much the Greatest share. After dinner cleaned the Horse with help, got the Chaise ready, set father, Delia, & Constantia off in it. Twas bv Con- stantia's Desire I had the trouble with him in the Morn-, she fearfull to trust herself with him till he had been tamed. They went to Green- wich, walked in the Park & brought home some of the May thorn. & had a very pleasant After- noon. The \York done at home, tho' backward at first, was soon done, the men working uncom- monly chearfull. A tolerable day with me. only a little taste of the spleen, we* being mostly separate. * His father and himself. 58 LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 5 Mo. [May.] S. 31. Rose ante 5. Tended Will m * at his Reading in my Chamber till post 6, then went to Work & cleaned, Greased, & housed the Chaise before breakfast ; Read a little & did some problems in Trigonometry before dinner, at which time father offered me the Horse to ride out. I accordingly accepted it & mounted him about 4 o'clock, & proceeded as far as Rumford by J after 5 where I put up, took a little refresh- ment, then walked thro' the Town, which was neat & pleasant, as far as a Park, where I sat down under a Tree upon a bench near a piece of water, which added to the Scene ; the Country all around was extremely Beautiful, & rendered more so by an unclouded and serene Air, accompanied by a Gentle Breeze, very acceptable to the Traveller. Left Romford \ after 6, came by W m Knight's, f but could not stop for fear of being too late, & from thence over part of the Forest, & met his Daughter in a little cart returning home ; arrived in Bett's Street I \ ante 9. 6 Mo. [June.] 5. 1. First Day of the Week. William came to my Bedside, & heard him read part of a Lesson. Rose about seven, helped get the Chaise & horses ready, one of which Uncle Job was [to] ride to * William Allen, the well-known chemist and philanthropist (1770-1843), then aged seven. f ? Father of William Knight, who married J. A.'s sister Priscilla in 1782. I Now spelt Betts Street ; a dingy back street connecting Cable Street, Shadwell (St. Chad's Well), with Ratcliff Highway. The principal buildings now are a London County Council (" Board ") School and some public baths. William Allen's house and brewery were situated here. WILLIAM ALLEN, F R.S., Eldest Son of Job Allen and Margaret Stafford. 1770— 1843. MARY ALLEN, Only daughter of Wm. Allen, of [Hough Court. Married Cornelius Hanbury, and died after the birth of her first child, Wm. Allen Hanbury. 1797— 1823. LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 63 1777. 6 Mo. [June.] Chiswick in Company with Father, who goes in the Chaise with Constantia & Uncle's Wife.* When they had departed, I got ready & went to Ratcliff Meet g with Delia. We were late, occa- sioned by our Waiting for a Coach that was to take the Matrons, which came not. A Silent Meeting. In the Afternoon with the same Com- panion went to Devonshire House. Came home after Meet g & put on other Cloaths & took a Walk with Walter! and William. Came to the Waters Side, took a boat & help[ed] row down to Limehouse. The performance of Walter occasioned much Mirth. By his making a false pull [he] missed the water & fell backwards upon the Waterman's shins, whereby he changed the Muscles of the poor man's Face in a pitiiull manner. We landed, walked further down, took another boat, & rowed all the Way back ; then came home, & heard William read a little, where we were joined by rest of the Family that came from Chiswick. M. 2. Brewing to-day ; attended it close from early in the morn g till late at Night, except in the after- noon snatched a little time to conduct the Chaise to the Wheeler's, it having received some Damage in some of its Excursions. T. 3. Brewing as before. A very hot Day. Orders pour in uncommonly fast ; can hardly supply them. Concluded tolerable soon. W. 4. Much to Carry out, so that both Drays & men * Margaret Stafford, t There is no clue to Walter's identity. Possibly he was one of the brewery " hands." LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 6 Mo. [June.] returned not the last time till near nine o'clock. The whole Guile * to be cleansed to night, & nobody to do it besides father & self. Applied to Walter for his help. Very unwilling to yield at first ; after some time came, & his help forwarded much, so was greatly eased thereby, & ended about ten o'clock. This day the King's birth day;t no fire works at Tower Hill. Day & Night almost Sultry. Th. 5. Brewing to-day. Yesterday's Guile shrinks amazingly. Father goes to meet g this morning. Leaves me in it, as has been his custom lately in order to make more perfect in it, as he intends to take a tour to the North this Summer, therefore am more closely attached to the Copper &c. than I used to be. F. 6. Brewing again to Day, as we find the quantity already Brewed not near sufficient for the Orders that we expect. The Wind shifted N.E., consequently the weather more cool, and the Fire I not so disagreeable. Rose at 6. Going to bed at 11. S. 7. Rose about Seven. Assisted loading out in the morn" till about Breakfast, after that taken up in the counting house, then prepared casks to put the Beer in that was brewed yesterday. The afternoon well filled up with Cleansing * Guile, or Gyle, of ale or beer, a brewing, the quantity brewed at one time. — Bailey's Dictionary. Ditto, Murray. The word has a secondary meaning, " Wort in process of fermentation." t George III. was born May 24th, 1738; but, owing to the change of calendar in 1752, it came to be observed on June 4th, as it still is at Eton. \ In the brewery. HANNAH ALLEN. 1783— 1867. Eldest daughtei of John and Elizabeth Allk From a portrait, Given to S. J. J. Fox on August 11, 1870. 5 LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 67 1777. 6 Mo. [June.] &c, but it was sooner finished than expected: having got a good partner at the Slings.* and no bad master at the pump, made the Labour seem very pleasant. Therefore this Week in which we run throw [sic] a deal of Business concluded well, and partaking but of a small share of what I call the Spleen made the Sufferance of it the more agreeable, except a short Altercation to-night with the Females about not attending meal time immediately when called, of which they complained heavily and judged wrongfully, it being an unavoidable Greivanse [sic] and not in their province rightly to understand the Cause. Cousin Hollis came to-night in order to be ready for the Coach on 2 d day. S. 8. First Day of the Week. Rose about 7. Went to Ratcliff in the morn, to Devonshire house in the afternoon, then to Uncle's to Tea with Cousin Hollis to take his Leave of his Uncle before he goes to School. S. C. was not there, the 2 d Disappointment. Walked round the fields home. After supper went with Aunt Bessy 4 - part of the way home, then returned to bed. M. 9. Rose about 6. Attended the Mashing, then the Books till Breakfast. After that went with Cousin Hollis to London Bridge to meet the Rochester Coach, which we did. When I had put him in. returned home and finished the day with the usual Labour. * "A rope by which a cask or bale is suspended." — Ogilvie. f Elizabeth Prycr 68 LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 6 Mo. [June.] Tu. & W. The same Share of toil all these Days as is io, ii. usual on the same days of the Week. Th. 12. Brewing day. Father went to meeting in the Morning. Brother Miller came to Dinner, as also friend Gredly of Bow with her Daughter. They returned after tea. A fine day and finished soon. F. 13. Our Chaise came home this Morning from the Wheeler's after its repair. Constantia, desiring a ride in the Afternoon, obtained leave of father for us to have the Chaise, & I being to go to Uncle's this Morn g with Change carried an invitation for M. Stafford to join with us in our Excursion. When I finished my Business with Uncle was informed the aforesaid M. S. was gone to Meeting ; then I went into the City, in many places of which I was forced to stand up on Account of the Rain, which began soon after I left Uncle's, & continued till dinner time ; however I went & waited at the Meet g door & delivered my Message to Patty, leaving her at liberty to come, so not (that is) perswading neither way, the day being so foul & no likeli- hood of its being better, or at least no agreable travelling; notwithstanding which she came to dinner with us, not without being pretty well wetted in some places & forced to change some Garments ; after dinner an intermission of rain, though very cloudy & without the smallest appearance of bright Phoebus ; however, the Maidens, unwilling to be disappointed, ordered me to prepare the Carriage. I obeyed as soon CHARLES ALLEN, -ITAT. 46, OF COGGE SHALL (ESSEX | AND ISLEWORTH. Elder Son of John Allen. 1792—1839. From a portrait, -Given to his daughter, Sarah Angell Allen, 1838. ELIZABETH ALLEN, NEE HARRIS. I788— 1 862. From a portrait, Given to her daughter, Sarah Angel! Allen, New Year's Day, 1840. LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 73 1777. 6 Mo. 'June.] as I was made to believe they were in earnest, & with as much haste as possible had all things ready with a little Help at the latter part. & though I dispatched the Business as quick as I could, I did not proceed fast enough for them, oftentimes interrupting me with the ungenerous language of slow santering, etc. : we set off and rode very cheerfully towards Romford. Constantia having a desire to see that Town. When we had advanced a few miles from Home the Roads were very pleasant, not being near so wet as we expected to find them after so much ram. which with the fair Weather that ensued, the Agreable Company, & the view of all Nature smiling around us made v e Afternoon extremely Delightfull. Put up at the Bell if I mistake not. had a dish of Coffee, then walked up the Town quite through it for about J a mile : turned aside into a park, in which was a Gentleman's Seat, which we viewed & returned leisurely back, it being near time to think of Home. Came to the Inn. had the Chaise ready and got in with M. S. not only near in [word obliterated, appears to be "thought"], but also near in person [word partially obliterated] Constantia sit[t]ing on the other side ; in this order we rode to Betts Street, several times regretting the leaving the Country in so delightfull a time. Arrived safe about g ante.* supped & went home with M. S. about io, whose company never at any time seemed more [word totally obliterated], then came back went to Bed much pleased with the Indulgence * ? Post 74 LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 6 Mo. [June.] of this Holliday & charmed with the enjoy- ments thereof. S. 14. A Busy day, partly taken up with the usual concerns, but the greater part in cleaning minutely the Chaise & Harness that it may be in good order for the next Journey, which is to be to the North, father intending to depart from home to-morrow to go once more to Yorkshire to see his aged Parents, who are not like to live till another Year, being very feeble & far advanced in Years, & according to the course of nature cannot hold it long.* Mother is to accompany him only. A rainy day; thought we were greatly favoured Yesterday afternoon, the Morning being so coarse & this day the same. 5. 15. First day of the Week, & the time appointed for the grand departure draws very near, it being this Afternoon ; a poor prospect as to Weather, being a dark day with a continuing Small Rain. All went to Ratcliff Meeting in the Morning. Returned home to dinner, where we met Uncle Job & his two eldest sonsf together with agreable M. S. ; after dinner prepared the setting out, being dry above head ; and they accordingly, after taking leave of all the Friends related, went off proposing to proceed no further than Ware this Day, & there lodge the first night. We went this Afternoon to Ratcliff Meet g , & after tea I had a Walk into the Borough, to Inform some friends to whom Delia was to go this Afternoon in order to be ready for the * Vide note at page 81. Ob. 1779, Mary Allen predeceasing her husband by a few months. t Vide note at page 36. LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 77 1777. 6 Mo. [June.] Godalming Coach to-morrow morning, that her going to School was put off on Acc c of an indis- position of her Eyes. Came home & spent the evening very agreablv with the company of M. S., & after Supper attended her home to Steward Street. Uncle went soon after tea with his sons. I returned & went to Bed about ii. M. 16. Rose this Morning filled with Hopes Cm fears least [sic] the Transactions of this & the future Days wherein I was to be intrusted soley [sic] with the Management of Business should not terminate well, father having expressed some uneasiness on the Reflections of my Care & Abilities previous to his setting out : however, I entered on it with a Resolution not daunted with Despair, & went thro' the Whole as well almost as I could wish, nothing being amiss except the Worts* down rather too cool, which I rectified this day, being the . . . Tu. 17. Gatton Morning, & Brewing to-day : much hurried therein, can hardly gain a Breakfast, the prospect rather discouraging ; having cooled the first Liquor too much for Mashing had like to have thrown me out of sorts, but recovered it well in the third Liquors, after which every- thing went on well & pleasant : the Men finished by about seven & had the Worts down about 11 post : Uncles came this Evening to see how we fared & went home after supper ; Jn° Farrand also supped with us. * " Wort. New drink, either ale or beer." — Bailey. 78 LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 6 Mo. [June.] W. 18. Called this Morn before 6, but did not rise till after the Excisemen took the Length before I came down ; the Drays out at J after 7. Pleased with the Appearance of y e Beer in the Tunns, which afterwards came on rather too forward ; worked Briskly & cleansed it all By seven ; had the Assistance of old Harman in the Afternoon & finished well. " Oh may Thy soul to happier Regions go, Far from this World eternal Bliss to know." [In a very small hand.] " Would thou but deign while thou remainest here To give thy Hand to one who holds thee dear." [In an infinitesimally small hand, only to be read by the aid of a magnifying glass.] Th. 19. Brewing Day. Rose about five, Mashed, lay down again a very small Time, tho' small a great Refreshment. Carried on Matters chearfully & well thro'out the Day. In the Afternoon had the Company of D. & H. Weston, M. & E. Belch. After tea we all joined in a Game of Blindman's Buff very agreably ; we were soon set in a fermenting Heat, which added a ruby lustre to the Cheeks of the Fair & put an end to the Play. Was forced to leave them on Ace* of my heavy Charge in the Brewhouse rather against my Will. Let the Wort down except one. Back about Eleven & went to Bed. F. 20. Rose about 6. A Wet Morns, & one of the Gatton Morn 5 . Very little sold, the inclemency of the Wether [sic] not suffering any Body to LEAVES FROM THE PAST. si 1777. 6 Mo. [June.] go out without being wet through. An easy day. The Afternoon at intervals was enlivened by Bryht Phoebus & the Intermission of Rain. Yesterday's Guile seems well managed by the kindness of its working to-day. A rainy evening. The Work concluded easy & soon. S. 21. Not much Business to-day. This Afternoon received a letter from Father, containing account of his Arrivall at Worshop* & that he had got down safe; that his Father t was well as could be expected, but had almost lost his Sight ; his Mother J in as good Health as the last Time he was down with them. Most of the even g taken up in answering father's Letter, carried it to post office, then went to rest. 5- 22. First Day of the Week. Went to Ratcliff in the Morn & to Wapping in the afternoon. A remarkable Wet Day, as it has been all the Week. M. 23. Brewing as usuall ; everything & all Hands worked kindly through. Tu. 24. All Talents & Time engaged in Brewing, &c. as usual. Done soon. W. 25. A good Face to the Tunns & easy afternoon. Late to Bed, & cleansed all with the Assistance of old David. * Worksop, Notts. f John Allin or Allen, baptised 1696 at Thorpe Salvin, Yorks., " mason," afterwards farmer, buried 1779, at. 83. — See "Family Records." X Step-mother, Mary Stansel, widow, married to John Allen, 1745, ob. 1779. 6 82 LEAVES FROM THE PAST 1777. 6 Mo, [June.] Th. 26. Brewing again to Day, went throw it as usual. Received a Letter in the Afternoon, while the family was gone to Newington, from Parents at York, informing us of their arrival safe there to attend the Quarterly Meet g . F. 27. Gatton Morn g . Dr. Dodd* was hanged this Morn for forgery of a Note to the Sum of £"4,200, almost universally regretted. Tho' a Man of indifferent Morals, yet had gained the Esteem of the Public by his extraordinary Abilities, which he exerted in the Pulpit to the Satisfaction of his Hearers, insomuch that the City petitioned in his Behalf ; but it was not regarded sufficiently to save him ; he was executed with a Highwayman. This Afternoon came to Tea S. Perkins with a Cousin of hers from Bristol. Attended them home & went to rest soon afterwards. S. 28. Set the Drays off, carried out & delivered some Bills. Called at Gracechurch Street * The famous (or infamous) Rev. William Dodd, LL.D., preacher, writer, poet, critic, and divine, who was hanged at Tyburn for the forgery of a note upon* his former pupil and patron, Philip Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, June 27th, 1777. A versatile and prolific author, he published inter alia a work on The Beauties of Shakespeare. The interleaved and annotated copy of Shakespeare's works, which he used while compiling this book, sold in London in July, 1904, for ^131. In 1772 he published a pamphlet on The Frequency of capital Punishment inconsistent with Justice, Sound Policy, and Religion. Great efforts were made to save him from himself suffering the extreme penalty of the law, but George III., influenced (it is said) by Lord Mansfield, was obdurate. Dr. Johnson visited him in Newgate Gaol, and composed the funeral sermon which Dr. Dodd preached upon himself before his fellow- prisoners on the Sunday before his execution. It is said that on the scaffold he tried to persuade the hangman so to adjust the noose that it might be possible to resuscitate him after hanging for an hour, a proceeding which was occasionally known to be successful. Surgeons were in attendance, but the attempt, if made, was unavailing. — Vide Sir Leslie Stephens' article in the Dictionary of National Biography, vol. xv. , pp. 155, 157, and for an account of the trial and death the Gentleman's Magazine for 1777, passim. Married William Sturge of Bristol, 1846. From a Silhouette by Samuel Met ford, cir. 1835. LEAVES FROM THE PAST 85 1777. 6 Mo. [June.] Meeting to know if Deptford* Quarterly Meet g was to-morrow ; it is not was informed. Then proceeded to Paternoster Row. bought two Geographical Numbers, came home, then went & informed S. P. & her Cousin concerning the Meet" at Deptford. After Dinner Booked the Men & wrote a Letter to Father : in the Even- carried it to post. Just after I had come in M. Stafford came to the Gate from Steward Street to lodge at our House, there not being room at Uncle's on Acc r of Sickness, with which his Third Son Joseph! was afflicted. She was herself taken very ill on her way hereto. & thought she could not have reached the House, as she was alone ; at length she arrived after io o'Clock, sat down a little Time & recovered herself better, & then went to Bed. 5* 29. M. S. returned to Spittalfields after Breakfast. We went all to Ratcliff except Delia this Morning : came home & dined. Self lay an hour to sleep, & then went to Meet g again, & met with Uncle & his two Eldest Sons. Uncle went back, but his sons came with me home, & after tea I conducted them to their home, & in the Way met with Decora fillia [sic] with others returning as I suppose home ; just spoke & passed them. & soon reached Steward Street. Found Uncle's family all pretty well except Joe, who was very 111 being in great pain, his parents not knowing his * Founded 1691-4. Still in existence. Peter the Great, when engaged in learning ship-building at Deptford, is said to have attended Deptford Meeting. — Vide London Friends' Meetings, lit supra, pp. 223, 224. f Vide illustration facing page 36. 86 LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 6 Mo. [June.] Disorder. Tarried a small Time & returned with M. S., & took round the Road back, & arrived about supper Time. A pleasant afternoon. M. .30. A line Day. Clogged* to Rett's Street by Brewing, which went on easy, the Men done very soon, the Zeal of going to a Club feast animated them. 7 Mo. [July .1 Tu. 1. The same Work to Day as Yesterday, with the addition of the Gatton trade in the Morn g & Cleansing in the afternoon ; went thro' all with Pleasure, the more practice the more perfect & less trouble. This afternoon Delia departed to go to her Quarters in the Borough to be ready for the Godahning Coach tomorrow Morn g . A very Wet Day in the Afternoon especially, when it was attended with Thunder & the Clouds discharged their Contents with a much greater Rapidity, finish [edj & went to rest about 11. W. 2. Set off the Drays this Morn g , & then went into the City; called on Uncle Job's to hear how Joe was, & found him better, then returned home after I had been to the Excise Office & paid a Malt Bill ; in y e Afternoon sent for old Harman, & with his Help cleansed all the Guile, which seemed in good order. M. S. came to lodge to Night; after supper had a playing skermish with her & Constantia in the Counting House, where they were come to * i.e. unable to leave, " tied by the leg." SARAH ANGELL FOX, NEE ALLEN. Second Daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Allen. B. l822. LEAVES FROM THE PAST 89 1777. 7 Mo. [July.] inspect into Secrets, as they thought, but were disappointed & met with a very suitable prize.* Th. 3. Rose at 6. Was surprised at opening my Chamber door, as a Mop was set against it, which fell into the Room on opening the Door. Brewing this Day. Went thro' it easy. An uncommon call for the Grains. Late to Bed. The Worts cooling slowly. F. 4. Gatton Morn g , a pretty good run. After dinner uncle Job came & looked upon us. Just after he was gone received a Letter from Father, whereby we were informed of his departure from York & his Arrival again at Thorp, t & the receipt of our Letters, &c. The Day concluded well, very rainy & the Night also. S. 5. A Rainy Morn-. Set drays off, & then went to the Bankers & deposited some Money there. Called at Spittalfields to acquaint Uncle of the aforesaid Letter & returned home to dinner, & chiefly spent the remainder of the Day in the Counting House. No Wet since the Morn g . 5. 6. First Day, a Cloudy Morn g . Hammersmith^ * i.e. recompense. f Thorpe Salvin, in Yorkshire, on the borders of Nottinghamshire, thirteen miles from Sheffield and four and a half from Worksop, the postal town. It contains a beautiful church with fine Xorman work, in which William Allen and his forbears were baptised ; many of them lie buried in the churchyard. X Built T677, united to Westminster Meeting in 1750. Meetings were occasionally held there until 179S, when it was closed. Reopened in 1805, it was again discontinued. In 1S69, though remaining the property of Friends, it was used as a Nonconformist Chapel. The graveyard was closed three years earlier. — Vide London Friends' Meetings, ut supra, pp. 261-264. 1)1) LEAVES FROM THE PAST 1777. 7 Mo. [July.] Meet g happens to Day ; intend going, having already had an invitation by Aunt Eliza last Week to accompany her & Jn° Peers, who had hired a boat to go by water ; went to Lambeth, where I found they had declined going, but was resolved not to do the same, if I should Walk it alone. Aunt agreed to the same, so went off together & reached the Meet g in good time, not without some apprehensions from the threats of the Element [sic]; yet were much favoured & had a pleasant Walk thro' the Parks & Kensington Gardens. Dined at Aunt Clayton's, who[m] we found well, & tarried Tea time, & then Departed, returning leisurely to our homes & parted at the Queen's Palace*; met with M. S. at our house, who had been to Deptford Quarterly Meet g this Afternoon, Supped, & then went to rest, but first Stept into Sister's Room where she & M. S. lodges [sic], Where I hid a warlike weapon in the Bed, & fastened a paper to it, whereon was written these words — Cease from those ways & then ye shall have peace, And never more provoke Superior Force. Pry not into the secrets of a friend Least [sic] a worse consequence may be y r end. Retaliation is of nature's Laws, Most do embrace it when they have just cause. Another seige [sic] , if e'er ye dare engage, May be resisted with far greater rage. Repine not then if ye receive your due, For now you know the pay that will ensue. * Probably Buckingham Palace, then called Buckingham House, which was furnished as a dower-house for the Queens-Dowager of England, in lieu of old Somerset House turned into public offices, and settled on Queen Charlotte in 1775. CHARLES HARRIS ALLEN. Eldest (surviving) Son of Charles and Elizabeth Allen. Grandson of John- Allen. 1S24 — T 9°4- LEAVES FROM THE PAST !»r, 1777. 7 Mo. [July.] (relating to a Transaction mentioned of them in the I st of this Month, who, as a Reward for the entertainment I gave them, set a mop against my Chamber Door, as mentioned in the 2 d ). Did not lay down till I had heard the results of the Scheme. It was not long before I was called to take it away, they having discovered it in getting into Bed. Went into the Room, saw none there, as the lodgers were retreated into the Closet undrest. Took the scare crow out of Bed ; but, thinking they had not seen the paper, left it in one corner of the Room, where they might see it in the Morn g , & left them to the peaceable possession of their Nest, not a little pleased, thinking it a just recompense. M. 7. Brewing day, which went on easy & pleasant thro' out. At breakfast had a chearful Alter- cation with the two females about the Scarecrow in the Bed. After breakfast M. S. departed, after which applied for the Instrument of last night's diversion, but could not easily obtain it. Tu. 8. Gatton & Brewing. Much hurried, as one Man lay sick who used to help much on this Morn". However went thro' it as easy as could be expected, considering the work to be done. W. 9. The Man still 111, a laborious day for me. After supper had a deal of play with the females. Late to Rest. Th. 10. Brewing to Day, much to do, being still short- handed, yet concluded everything well. The LEAVES FROM THE PAST. 1777. 7 Mo. [Jul)-.] Weather grows warmer. Late e'er any of the Worts came down. F. ii. Gatton Morn g . The man rather recovered; sent him with Change to Spittalfields, & tarried at home myself all the Day. The Work finished tolerably well. S. 12. Rose late; set the drays off. After breakfast went & deposited some Cash with the Bankers ; returned & tarried at the Counting house most of the Day. 5. 13. Fine Day. Went to Ratcliff Meet- in Morn 8 , & to Wapping in the Afternoon. Came home to Tea, where I met with W. Nash & Wife, whom Constantia had invited to tea from Ratcliff Meet-, together with A. Robinson, Sister to Sam 1 Robinson of Shadwell, who has lately arrived from Newcastle on a visit to her foresaid Brother & Jane Burnham. Sometime after Tea they all departed, when it was my Business to conduct A. R. to her Quarters. Walked round Stepney fields home, it being a pleasant Even g . Finis. J. W. Arrowsmith, Printer, Quay Street, Bristol. APPENDIX. I. Account of the death of John Allen, written by Elizabeth Harris,* who subsequently married his elder son Charles. [John Allen died of disease of the kidneys, March 20th. 1808. Vide "Family Records," pp. 16, 17.] Ratcliff. 3 rd ™ 22 nd 1808. Little did I think when I took leave of my dear cousins yesterday that I should so soon have to employ my pen on so affecting- an occasion as the present. On our arrival yesterday evening we were very much struck by the unex- pected intelligence of the decease of our friend J. Allen, who early on First Day [Sunday] morning suddenly breathed his last. I believe thou t wast informed of the Doctors on last Sixth Day [Friday] administering a fresh and very powerful medicine, which on Seventh Day [Saturday] seemed to produce very flattering symptoms, his health &c being so much improved that it was judged unnecessary for any one to sit up with him that night, but how sudden was the change ! His wife who slept on a bed in the same room was at about one o'clock alarmed by his moaning (as he sometimes did at first waking), & immediately got up and went to him, inquiring how he did, to which he replied much as usual, when he endeavoured to raise himself upon his knees, suddenly fell in her arms, and before his family could be collected expired, although she had rung the bell immediately on his first sinking. Messengers were des- patched for Harkness & S. Marsh, but the solemn scene was passed long before they arrived. * * * ■ * The funeral X is intended to be on next First Day [Sunday] , which I believe thou wilt wish to attend, we * 1788— 1862. f There is nothing to indicate to whom the letter was addressed. It was probably written to Mrs. Elizabeth Kidd {nee Storrs), wife of Richard Kidd, of Isleworth. She had taught Elizabeth Harris in childhood, and was a highly esteemed Minister among Friends. I At the Friends' burial-ground adjoining Ratcliff Meeting-House. APPENDIX. shall therefore expect and hope to see thee on Sixth or Seventh Day [Friday or Saturday] at furthest ; wilt thou be kind enough to inform Uncle and Aunt, as they would also perhaps like to be there. I have sent Caroline up with a note to A. Knight * to enquire how she left our deeply afflicted friends last evening; as she is not yet returned, I must wait until she is before I proceed. — Caroline is just come in & has brought a note from dear A. K., which informs us that they were as well last night as could be expected — poor E. Allen t was much cast down, though his lying so long in such a state must, as A. K. says, have blunted the edge of the trial in some degree, & his going off so quickly at last without appearing to suffer much must be consoling to them. Hannah J says she never saw him look so sweetly as he did a few minutes after his close. Not having either time or inclination to enlarge by commencing any fresh subject after the preceding one, I now hasten to conclude this messenger of sad tidings & with requesting thee to distribute our love amongst our particulars in Isleworth, & accept a large share thyself, I bid thee affectionately farewell, Thine sincerely, ELIZ™ HARRIS junl A. Knight desires her love to thee. II. Copy of letter addressed to Hannah Allen, care of Jn°. Allen, New Road to Ratcliff, London, by Priscilla Knight,§ eldest daughter of William Knight and Priscilla Allen. The letter bears post-marks "Two Pence. Post. * John Allen's niece, Ann Knight, (1786 — 1862). f His wife, Elizabeth Allen (nee Marsh), (1754 — 1826). I His eldest daughter, Hannah Allen, (1783 — 1867). § (1783— 1820.) APPENDIX. 3 Shoreditch," and ki Fe. 5, 1805." Hannah Allen and Priscilla Knight were first cousins, both born in 1783. [Punctuation has been inserted where the sense required it.] [No address or date.~] I expect my dear H will be surprized at seeing another scrawl from me, but having an opportunity of sending it part of the way, embraced it, if they come too fast tell me. W m .* desires me to say that he is very anxious for a letter, and wishes thee not to wait for a private conveyance, but write as soon as possible by the post ; we wish thee to come down, he say [sic] in a month's time he could teach thee to play the flagelet — it may plainlv be seen bv my last what a desperate scuffle I was in when it went off, we got home at eight and before I could disrobe myself a messenger from the friend who convey' d it to London came, I had not then finished the answers which are in it. and amidst the repeated calls of my mother &c. it was finished tho' not by me. I had not time to read it. I often think of our adventures and the dark walk from Broomfield recalled several of the summer ones — the B friends were much entertained by the recital of our Dunmow labours ; the wet meeting, the shower of oats from the cottage window, the fairing &c. &c. afforded mirth, because lie was matched — Ann, Maria,*}" and I have learnt that part of a certain poem, in which one of the characters says, ' O, H , thou hast cleft my heart in twain ! ' I personate the youth, and Maria the ghost — but alass ! where my mother should weep — she laughs and her stifled titter serves for sobs; I hope we shall mend with practice. Hast thou read the distrest mother ? Pray say how my answers please, and point out their faults. I hope for a letter soon ; and I send thee some questions which I desire thee to answer, do not excuse thyself by saying such subjects don't interest thee. * Her brother (1785 — 1838). f Her sisters (1786 — 1S62) and (1791 — 1870), vide "Family Records," pp. 8-12. 4 APPENDIX. I st . Is conscience an innate principle born with man, or is it given by education ? 2 nd . Was Adam or Eve the most guilty in eating the forbidden apple ? 3 rd . Is it possible for a man not to fear death ? 4 th . Why are there no tides at the Naze of Norway ? 5 th . What was the Roman legion and by whom instituted ? 6 th . What causes the change in the temperature of the air while the wind continues at the same point ? I suppose it will not be long before my father is in London ; I hope to have answers to these questions returned by him. Thee well know what a cold-hearted pack some of the congregation here [? Chelmsford] are, I wish every day that thee lived near us — here is not a girl who will improve our mind — Hast thou seen J. F. since we were at Kenington ? I ordered a pelese the day after I came home — how much I wanted it then ! We have not had the weather much colder — and my coat was too heavy — We have had a short walk this afternoon, mother had not been out for a week, we got home when it began to snow — I was checkmated by W m . two nights past in the same foolish manner that I always have been — it is very provoking that my brains will not stretch to a game of chess ; I am really mortified when I consider what the human mind is capable of, and find that my reflective powers will not manage 32 wooden pegs — I hear E. M. has been with you; does she know this famous game ? Has her brother suited himself with a situation ? Send me some questions, I need improve- ment — time flies and leaves so few traces, that I sigh when I cast my eye backward — Adieu ! it is growing dusk. ' Nymph, in thy orisons be all my sins remember'd.' I have just answered a flourish of the bell, and can only say that I am thy afP PRISCILLA. Saturday night. A0D2NDA ET CORRIGENDA. Slip I. For " Eaugharne " read " Langharne." After William Sturge insert " ob. 1905." Slip II. After William Henry Woodgate insert " = Julia Hobbs, cir. 1864." Slip III. After Stafford Allen for "ob. 1899" read " ob. 1889," TFT- v*r> -jig" *— -it- '■3*- "3r> -c^j— «■» "-r-r- ~£if- -sir* -res» ~.~ "^'^ ! B °»° : < ;: - r ' """il"""- "f^E* 1 Mr