The Diaries of Josiah Chater, Cambridge – 1846

Excerpts from Josiah Chater's Diaries 1846

Overview

This diary records a full year in the life of Josiah Chater working for Mr Lilley in Cambridge. It captures a period of continued commercial routine alongside social tension, reform, and personal development, with detailed observations of shop life, town events, and relationships.

Work and Apprenticeship

Chater’s work remains centred on the shop, counting house, and warehouse:

• posting accounts, writing bills, and preparing invoices
• assisting wholesale customers and managing stock
• participating in stock-taking and warehouse reorganisation
• supporting travelling trade and circulars

The year includes significant alterations to the oil warehouse, improving layout and efficiency.

Workplace discipline is strict, but Chater gains increasing responsibility and skill.

Conflict, Crime, and Workplace Tensions

1846 reveals more tension than previous years:

• theft by a fellow worker (Sheldrick), leading to arrest and committal
• repeated quarrels with the Goody household over living conditions
• disputes among staff and dissatisfaction with food and accommodation

These entries provide rare insight into shop discipline and internal conflict.

Town and Gown Disturbance

The diary records serious unrest in March:

• widespread smashing of college windows at Christ’s and Emmanuel
• university authorities threatening expulsion for gatherings
• a university man found with a pistol at a concert

These incidents show clear tension between townspeople and university members.

Religion, Societies, and Self-Improvement

Chater becomes increasingly engaged in structured self-improvement:

• regular chapel attendance and Sunday School teaching
• participation in singing classes and choral events
• reading at the Mechanics’ Institute (including Dickens and educational works)
• involvement in new discussion groups, including a “Mental & Moral Improvement Society”

He also begins learning French and writing poetry, reflecting growing ambition.

Leisure and Social Life

Leisure remains varied:

• walking (Trumpington, Grantchester, the Backs)
• cricket matches on Parker’s Piece (including Cambridge v All England)
• bathing, music, and chess
• visits to friends and social evenings

There are also romantic elements, especially in references to “Lizzy”.

Cambridge in 1846

The diary captures a dynamic town:

Public life and events

• Anti-Slavery Society meetings
• concerts and choral performances
• fairs and bazaars
• formation of local societies

Commerce and change

• expansion of shop activity and wholesale trade
• increasing organisation of labour and stock
• early shop-closing reform (e.g. Robert Sayle closing at 7pm)

Railways and Accidents

Railways continue to shape daily life:

• regular travel between Cambridge and surrounding areas
• multiple recorded railway accidents, including one fatality
• increasing integration of rail into work and family visits

Family and Travel

Chater maintains strong links with Saffron Walden:

• visits home by rail and on foot
• family meals and social gatherings
• ongoing correspondence and parcels

A detailed October visit describes travel, food, and family life in vivid detail.

Domestic Change

A major theme is dissatisfaction with domestic arrangements:

• poor food and management by Goody
• discussions about appointing a housekeeper
• eventual moves toward restructuring the household

This reflects wider concerns about living conditions for shop workers.

Weather and Daily Conditions

As in earlier years, Chater records weather daily:

• severe cold and snow in early months
• unusually mild winter periods
• hot late summer
• fog, rain, and stormy autumn conditions

These observations shape both work and leisure.

Significance

The 1846 diary is particularly valuable for:

• evidence of workplace discipline and conflict
• detailed accounts of town and gown unrest
• growth of self-improvement culture and voluntary societies
• early examples of retail reform and shop practices
• continued impact of the railway on everyday life

It shows a young worker becoming more confident, reflective, and socially engaged.

Key People

Josiah Chater; Mr Lilley; Mr Blunson; Reece; Sheldrick; Goody family; William Chater; Smart family; Mr Adams; Lizzy

Excerpts:

1846

January 2nd – New Year Fun

When Mr Lilley came down I had to go into his counting house to write out bills because Blunson & him have been figuring some of this morning. Blunson has taken a shop in Silver St just a Temporary one until he can get a larger one elsewhere it is for his Son John but it shows a very nasty spirit indeed for he is going to undersell Mr Lilley if he can Mr Lilley went over to Beach this afternoon which gave me an opportunity of getting away a little earlier in the evening so that I got to Mr Smarts a very little after eight. They were then playing at Charades so I joined them & capital fun we had to then we went to supper after that had a game at Twilight I had 3 forfeits & we had rare kissing after that we had Cross questions & worked answers but the best of all was when they were all dressed up in smock frocks etc H Smart with Miss Trundle & Miss Johnson & others to Mrs Trundles right there in the street I had such a lark just as Miss Johnson was coming out of the passage down she came such a thump we broke up a little after eleven there were about 4 & twenty altogether 12 young Ladies & 12 Gentlemen & out of the whole there was not one to equal Lizzey & certainly have not spent such a merry evening for many a day just as I was coming away I could not find my hat so I came home in a Bayman Worsted cape with a long tassel to it red & Green

February 22nd – Fire at the Headley iron Works

We had not been in Bed last night half an hour before we heard the alarm of fire it was between eleven & twelve so we got up immediately & found it to be at Messrs Headleys Iron Foundry I have not learnt how it originated but at all event burnt down all their buildings & part of Warren(?) & Bakers also Hebblewhites & the Chronicle Office it was not 3 yards from Simpsons & Bashams so I ran there directly & found they were not moving but they were not long & we cleared their great warehouse by carrying the Goods over to the Red Lion I carried their books into the Bar but happily their premises did not catch Mr Lilley came down & tied up our books but I did not think there was any occasion for that after we had done all we could William & I went behind the Hall & had a glass of lemonade each & John Cook went to bed about 3 Oclock but Stephen & Hayes sat up all night but I did not get to sleep till past four & I got up at seven went to look at the ruins it ceratinly was a miraculous escape for the Petty Cury for had the wind laid in the North is must have inevitably have come down but providentially it laid exactly to blow the flame on to Trinity Church the only spot where there was a vacant space & no houses about ½ past nine we went by the Train to Walden 3rd Class & got there about 5 minutes to eleven so that we reached home at ½ past eleven we found Father and the rest of them gone to Church

March 9th – Town v Gown Riot

The four University men were tried this morning at the Town Hall one was fined £1.0.0 one 10s & one 2/6 & pay their costs the other was let off there were a very great many people on the Market Hill & the University men vow vegence to the police tonight about ½ past eight the Gownsmen assembled in the Rose Crescent to the amount of as near as I could guess 300 & from there they paraded the streets till a little after nine then they began to kick up a row they had tremendous cudgels I got out about ½ past nine was going up to the Misses Reed but however I could not get there any howtill nearly ten & then I found my Brother & we walked about together for some time until the Universitymen were all in Poor old Robinson got a blow & cut his lip open tremendously & many others had the same the Proctors & Warders were all out but to no purpose there has not been such a tremendous row for a many years but after they were all in they threw glass bottles on to the Townsmens head & water & stones which so enraged the Townsmen that they went to all the colleges & smashed the windows all to pieces but Christs has got it the worst there is about 80 panes broken I got in about 10 minutes before eleven

March 10th –

I went round this morning on purpose to see the smash of window that was made last night at Christ & Emmanuel Colleges there are a very great many squares broken I counted 84 alone in Christs College The Vice Chancellor has issued a notice stating that whenever 4 or 5 Universitymen are found assembled together they will be either rusticated or expelled as he the (Vice C-) shall think fit which I think in a great measure has put a stop to more violent proceedings this evening I heard Mr. Lilley tell Freeman he expected the new man down perhaps tomorrow had a letter from home stating that Tom will go to Balsham either the End of this week or beginning of next   Went to Marshalls & was measured for a pair of Clarence Boots I was going into dinner & the Board was up at the door to keep Fanny in so I stepped on it & Mrs G said she wished me to step over for she said your legs are long enough yes I said they are but they are rather stiff which was a settler for her took my jacket round to be mended saw L. S. twice today I had the head ache a little towards this evening

April 10th – Good Friday entertainment

This being good Friday I got up at ½ past five this morning & went round for William & we both walked up to the Train together I had a new suit Bl&Wte Check Trousers plaid Waistcoat & Olive Green double Breast Jacket (no little [swell?]) & William had the same sort of Trousers his Coat & a different Waist coat when we got there we found Old Mr Hayes Bert & John Cook going to London so we all got in to one Carriage & went together very comfortable we got home about ½ past nine Oclock had a good breakfast fried Ham Eggs & Buns &c &c went to Church heard a beautiful anthem Who is this that cometh from ____ came home to dinner after dinner had a game at Cricket on the common then went into the Yard & had a good game at Marbles with John Spicer & about Five Oclock as we were at play Blunson & his daughter came Marching down the common they have been dining at Littlebury at Mrs Stacey’s so as soon almost as they had got in we took a walk down the Garden & I Beau’d Miss Catharine Blunson into Warrens garden then we came back & had our Tea after that Eliza drove Miss Blunson to the Station & Blunson William & I walked but we were just going into the Yard when the train came up & we were obliged to cut it pretty quick we ran & just got in in time J Cook popped his head out & then we found Hayes & Best so we all got into the same carriage when we got to Chesterford we took up [Quince?] and at Whittlesford we took up Salt & lots of others we knew we got in to Cambridge about Twenty minutes past Seven I then came home & took my coat off & marched with William to the Temperance meeting behind the Hall we had 1 Glass of Lemonade each heard 2 very good speeches & came away about ½ past ten & I was very tired indeed & very glad indeed to get to bed little Harriett Jay is at Walden she goes to school there & lodges with Mrs ___ Francis Tom was also at home he got home by a little after Seven Walked from Balsham ten miles Jabez is very much better today he can get up now & put his shoes on yesterday for the 1st time for this month or more

May 5th – Bad Feelings

I went up the yard this morning at ½ past seven because Freeman did not come down till after Breakfast for he has got a bad Leg & when I went to Sweep the Counting house I could find no Broom found one of the girls sweeping the yard so I took it from her & on going in to Breakfast Goody [began?] me by asking what business I had to take the Broom away from the girl I soon told him & he said if he had been there he would have broken my head with it & thought up a variety of things against me & so did Mrs G & she had the impudence to tell me I was never up till between six & seven I told her if I did not get up till nine it was no business of hers & they said I was insolent to her when she came into my room so I told them both plainly she did not know herself & that it was quite unbecoming of her to come into any ones room without rapping then she said she had told Mr Lilley of me & she would tell my Uncle & I asked her if she thought he would listen to her & if he did he would take no heed of what she said but I never had such a [Turn out?] since I have been here she said I was very different now to what I was when I first came I told her yes for then they thought of frightening me but now they had found their mistake & that I did not care for either of them as I had done nothing that I was ashamed of & after all was said they both walked out & I ate 3 pieces of Bread & Butter quite deliberately & drank my coffee Stephen is of age today & he has been treating the men up the yard with some beer (his apprenticeship is out today) Mr Lilley went to Newmarket after we closed I went to the Mechanics till Ten saw [Mr Pashler?] &  Miss Macintosh poor George Williams is cut out & Mr P is quite sweet with her

September 18th – Photography arrives

I was going round to William after breakfast when who should I meet but Eliza who stopped me & shew’d me her & Miss Mills likenesses taken by Mr Procter in daguerotype [sic] they are certainly very exact she also asked me to leave their umbrella as I went by their house which I did with great pleasure because she was so very pleasant & familiar renewd my book at the Mechanics began to learn French have not got far but like it very much after we closed I went to the Mechanics looked at Punch & came back & had some cold apple pudding for supper Mr & Mrs G appear a little more sociable We have had more goods in from London & Manchester than they have since I have been here