The Diaries of Josiah Chater – 1845

Excerpts from Josiah Chater's Diaries 1845

Excerpts:

1845

January 13th – Plough Monday

The first thing this morning was the morris dancers it being Plough Monday & they did kick up such a row as I never heard before in all my life all day long to men women & boys Mr Lilley & Mr Blunson have been figuring out the bills this day they began the County book but it is not quite finished writing out the bills so I have got to do it tomorrow morning this evening I did not put it in the _ _ I might do a little tonight all the talk is now about stock taking Blumson has been telling me that him & his wife & daughter Catharine are invited to a ball one day next week Tuesday I rather think

February 1st – Bank Robbery

As I came back from Mr Lilleys this morning I called at Williams & took him some silk handkerchiefs to look at one of which he kept at 3/6 I tried a pair of those Kid Gloves that were taken in stock 16 dozen for 15 but I could not make them answer for they split in all directions we have not been very busy today I have not waited upon one customer all day for I have been in the counting house writing the stock book I do not know whether I mentioned it or not but about 2 months ago there was a large bank robbery on the Firm of Rogers & co  of 44000£ & it is not found out yet nor do I think it will be now John is just going to have a glass of hot brandy & water because he has a bad cold this evening I went to Hymans? opposite the Hoop & had my hair cut they charged me 3d this day I have been taking the shop into the stock books

February 14th – Valentine’s Day

This afternoon Mr Hayes had a Valentine from York & little Kate Greenfield who is staying at Mr Goody’s had one to(o) Mr Blunson did not yet back from dinner till just upon four O’clock & he was quite (Mops? as we call it) or drunk Mr Lilley being out of the way the men have got on with the new building today this evening Mr Lilley has been taking the order for London in consequence of his going on Monday last Wednesday I went to the Institute & had out Chambers Information for the People I wrote a letter to Eliza I had to take a check to the bank but had to bring it back again because they did not know where it was to be paid

February 28th – A Water Closet

I am almost afraid we shall not have our new Water Closet for Barrett says it must not go through his premises or something to that before Mr Lilley went to tea he brought out the stockbook & told me to examine the mistakes & cast? it up I have examined all the way through & shall cast up a little tomorrow he did not come down till nearly nine & when he came in I was right on an boiling an egg that Blunson sold me for a halfpenny & toasting a piece of cake so he said have they all done up & gone & he laughed to see the egg on the counter I said yes & he did not stop long Mr Chambers Jack lay on the counter & he looked at it & said it was a capital little thing  Mrs Goody has had a grand party what we call the Slandering society for I believe they meet up for little else but for the sake of scandal we put her out at tea time so she said she was quite ashamed of us boys & she should separate us

March 21st – Good Friday Holiday

Weather a most delightful day for the sun was out very cheerful although the air was keen especially on Newmarket Heath

This day being Good Friday we all had a holiday I got up at ½ past seven & went to the post when I got there Mr Hayes had been so I came back to breakfast after breakfast I went to Williams & we went up Emmanuel Lane & up the Newmarket Road as far as the Railroad when we got there Uncle Adams overtook us so we got in his carriage & went straight off to Newmarket the atmosphere was not very clear but we could see a great way round us we saw Ely Cathedral & a great many churches to(sic) many to enumerate we got there at ½ past eleven & stopped at the Star ordered our dinner at two O’clock & then went out for a walk but it was not very pleasant walking the roads being so very dirty Newmarket is a nice airy town  & some very good buildings in it the Rutland Arms is a very fine hotel the largest that every I saw The White Hart is a good inn a very excellent place _ & very open all round there are two churches I went into one we went into dinner about ½ past one & when we got into our dining room Uncle gave me my new watch & my old one for me to send home to Eliza which I shall do if I am alive & well next Saturday after that we dined off a pair of soles which were fried & excellent they were too then some mutton chops grilled & after that a delicious Bread & Butter pudding & so we finished but to close it we each had a bottle of soda water with a glass of sherry wine in it & Uncle had a cigar we headed for home at ½ past 4 & arrived in Cambridge ¼ past 6 then I went to put on a clean collar & brush up a little I went to Mr Smarts to tea after tea we had a game of bagatelle & drafts & Morris then had our supper off a ham & apple pie & before we came away we had some singing & left ¼ before 11 to think I spent the day very comfortable my watch is a beauty I have an Indian rubber guard with it but we have not to let Mrs Adams know a word about it I saw some races & beautiful creatures they are too we planned that we should go to Newmarket last night

April 3rd – Cutting up stamps

In consequence of my not getting up very soon I did not go for a very long walk I went up by Greens Garden & round by the Hat & Feathers we have been getting out Mr Lilleys orders today I got a Soverigns worth of Stamps this afternoon cut them up I put them in my little box I have been writing  the circulars for the Lakenheath journey nothing else very particular occurred this day

June 20th – Grand Horticultural Fete

This morning I was up at ½ past six & went for a walk round Kings & by Queens after Breakfast I went with Best (Bert?) to see this Grand Horticultural Fete it certainly is a splendid show who should I see there but John Chater he has brought some pansies & his man George they are very good ones I stopped til ten & I was just coming away when Mr Ashton called me to go to Q_ for some more plants which I did & went back again in at Dinner Mr Jones called from Walden & they told me so I went to the door to see if he was gone & I just caught sight of his Back I ran after him & we walked down to _ Round Church _ St Johns up Trinity St & left him in the Market Hill in consequence of Mr Lilley not coming down this evening I got a very few minutes after eight so I ran to the red Lion Yard just saw William at the end of Downing St caught him & we both went to the Flower Show we got in the first gate but could not pass the second however a Lad named Bertie gave William a pass ticket so that he got in but like a silly gave the man his Ticket had he not done so he would have given me the ticket thro the Iron Fence & I might have got in with the same ticket but I did not wait outside long for I saw the man go a little on one side then I opened the gate & in I walked found John had got the !st Prize for Pansies he gave me all his flowers & then we went up to the Dolphin to see him off he treated me with 2 Bottles Ginger Beer after that we took a walk to the Rail round Pembroke St & home by the Senate House there was a Beautiful Band at Downing this afternoon.

November 19th – Railway  coming to Cambridge

There has been a grand meeting at the Town Hall about the Railroad coming to Cambridge there are nineteen projected a very large meeting I suppose the Railway King was there Mr Hudson before eight oclock I went up to Mr J___ the [?foreman] & with Mr Main who has been [?painting] the line from London to Cambridge after nine I went to the Town Hall & heard the singing it is very nice indeed

December 24th – Home for Christmas by train

I went round for William just about ½ past 3 & we started from Cambridge by the 4 Oclock Train 2nd Class & got to Walden about five Oclock there Father met us with the Pony & Charles & Tom when we got home had our tea & went down to Grandmothers  then William & the boys went into the Town to hear the Band & I Eliza & Anne Cook  went to see Old Mary Charlotte & a Cousin of hers Mary Ann Webster who is living with Doctor Jones & there we heard the Band play several very nice tunes then we went to see Susanna & Mr Jenkins where we had some Tea & wine & found Father there so we went home had our supper I & the boys went to find some Celery I washed it & had a good treat so after a little chat about different things we closed the leaves of this day  Ann Cook has been staying with Father a  week

December 25th – Christmas day

This being Christmas day Father according to the Old Custom got up at five Oclock & went to the Prayers meeting at Mr Collins we got up about ½ past seven had a good breakfast Sasuage (sic) etc & then went down to John Francis & had several tunes over, from there we went home & thence proceeded to Church went up the Gallery to practice the Anthem (for unto us a child is born etc etc) which was sung during the Service William & I sat in the Gallery & sang with them then Johnathan Smart sang a bass Solo Mr Clutton preached a very excellent Sermon after that went home & had some tunes Mr Pigg of Wendo Arms Sweetheart was there he came to dine with us we had an excellent dinner a Roast Turkey & Sasuages (sic) & a boiled Leg of Mutton with (& trimming) plum pudding after dinner I went with Tom & asked Mr & Mrs Jenkins to come up to Tea & also to Polly & friend but she was so very busy she could not come however John did (they have got Mr Bensons Tennants (sic) to dine) also Gray & Helen Francis & in the afternoon we had games at Multiplication Cards & Blind mans buff & a glorious time we had the Tea came & after that we had Honey ? & all manner of fun till Supper at Supper there were cold Turkey Mutton Mince & apple pies celery & a variety of other things when that was over we had a Hymn or Two & Gin & water & parted Company about twelve Oclock & I went down with Grandmother with the Lanthorn Aunt Ann sent me a pair of Muffalers (sic) of her own Knitting for a Xmas box as likewise she did all the other boys

December 26th – Boxing day

We heard yesterday the cause of the delay of a train that should have been at Cambridge 1 hour & a ½ before we started & we started before it got in it upset in some way or other & killed the stoker & injured the Engine driver so much that they do not expect his life an hour we got up this morning after a rare frolic in bed about nine Oclock had eggs for breakfast & then went with Father to see Mr Bunten thence to H Butterfield where Father bought me a penknife gave 2 shillings for it & we had some wine & cake from there to Miss Redheads then to Aunt Francis then to Bridge End Gardens to Mr Stokess & Mr Gibson straitway to Mr Kemps where Father bought us a pair of gloves each at 2/6 a pair from there to Mr Spicers where we had a glass of wine & biscuit then William & I called upon Mrs Hodson & met Father again at R Buntens then we went to Mr Jenkines & home to dinner Brawn sausages Mr Ruse sent them as a present from Bardfield after dinner I & William went into Mr Jones & had a glass of punch each scrumming? stuff too & a biscuit but Mr Jones was not at home so we spoke to him afterwards. In the afternoon we had a game at Marbles in the shop & I looked out some books I wanted to have sent in my box me Left a little before four & started with Joe Auger for the Chesterford station which we reached before five after leaving all our fun & happiness far over the Hills (Grandmother was up at our house to dinner & she looks very well indeed for her age) we had not been at the Chesterford station long before in came Thomas Wright who was going to Cambridge so he was nice company for us & he came right home with us Father gave me ½  crown & 1/9 in settlement for the Rly with 2/6 from Uncle Adams & the carriage paid to & from left me sole master when I got home of just 4/- Father gave me a razor strop I feel very windy & full in fact I have been doing hardly anything but eating & drinking ever since I have been home