Six north country diaries - The MAN & Other Families

84
1717. Oct. 11th. Were yesterday at Mr. Bilton's. A Roman
inscription at Can'ow-brough, ^** etc., vid. Coat of arms of Northumberland.
Observed a pretty l^uffet at their house. Was at Mrs.
Bullman's'9 in Horseley, of whose sister Mr. Widdrington said, he
supposed that she was the ' tougher '^o or portion, etc. Mrs.
RamseySi began to talk of law and business as soon as she lighted
took little notice of me—fancied Mr. Fenwick had told her we found
fault with his narrow temper.
1717. Oct. 12th. Mr. Dulap said they used bag-pipes, Scotchbonnets
and plads at [siKice left] in Spain—I suppose the Scotts had
introduced those habits and customs in the late
war with Spain and
France, etc. He said no, the Scotts were supposed to come from
thence. Stayed till 8 of clock on the 8th of this month with Mrs.
Mitford,^2 etc. Uncle said I like their company better than his
what inducement could make me stay, etc. I told him I was with
Mitford, he said she had no good character, etc.
1717. Oct. 13th. Woman scolded uncle in Market-jDlace, told
him he took one pig out of five for tythe, etc. ; he saj's he has considered
that case, and he thinks in conscience he ought to make her
pay the mortuary, etc., which he, knows will ruin her, but he says
nothing will reclaim her but that^ Said my sermon on charity
would do, with looking of or repeating much of it by art^—it was not
methodical.
1717. Oct. 14th. Went to Newcastle—John Spoor lent me his
mare to ride on. Aunt Reed^^ told me if I had come sooner or even
before the servants had dined, I might have gott a better dinner, and
yet she offered uncle Robert some duck that was left at dinner, etc.
A pretty good seat might be made at Melden.
1717. Oct. 15th. Uncle trenching about the young apple-trees,
and putts in [sj'iace Ieft~\ burnt to ashes, but mostly to loosen the
earth about their roots, that thej may have liberty to spread and
" Carraw-burgh, a station on the Roman Wall. Cf. Bruce, Roman Wall,
3rd edition, pp. 169-172.
"Mr. Robert Bulman of Long Horsley, married 26 Nov., 1696, Anne
daughter of Robert Lisle of Weldon. Cf. new History of Northumberland,
vol. vii. p. 500.
*" The play is upon the words tougher and tocher ' ' (Scot.), or towgher
'
{Cumb.), a marriage portion or dowry.
*'
There were two Mrs. Ramsays of the period, viz., Elizabeth, daughter of
Robert Ellison of Hebburn, who married (as his second wife) on 1st March,
1660, William Fenwick of Stanton and secondly William Ramsay, alderman of
Newcastle ; and Margaret, daughter of John Forster of Cornhlll, who married
first, George Fenwick of Brinkburn, and secondly, Major William Ramsay ;
she died on the 29th of September, 1723, aged 73, and was buried at Brinkburn,
where there is a monumental inscription.
"-
Mrs. Mitford was the widow of the Rev. William Mitford, rector of
Elsdon (1674-1715). She died in February, 1725/6, and was buried at Elsdon,
on the 8th of that month.
" See p. 69, note 14, supra.