Six north country diaries - The MAN & Other Families

92
1717. Nov. 16th. Some thoughts of Sir G. Wheler's youngest
daughterly- and very managing woman, keeps account of all matters
of house and husbandly, etc. Mr. Lademan and Mr. Cowlin, having
botli recommendations from the town of Hexam,!!^ the Company
of Mercers whose gift the lecturer's place was in, said that to return
either of them, must disoblige a great part of the town, and therefore
they would send a third to whom they thought the town could find
no exception.
1717. Nov. 17th. Went to see Mr. Colingwood's daughters, etc.
Mr. Nicholson's wife sent another letter to uncle, to give her the
little money that is due to her—Uncle in his answer tells her of
assignations in woods with other women's husbands, etc.
1717. Nov. 18th. More plague than enough about this money
of Mr. Douglas's, etc. Mr. Twentyman,^!^ a. candidate for Alnwick,
a (sic) gave him a good character to Mr. Nicholson, who is to be an
examiner, he said he would give him his interest for my sake, etc.
1717. Nov. 19th. When [a space hff] murthered his master,
Mauritius—the Pope Boniface VIII. declared for universal supremacy
—and the same year Mahomet published his Alcoran. Uncle putts
about five bushels in a hogshead in his drink. B. Haddon insinuated
as if she would wash me my bands, etc. She took notice how badly
they were done, etc.
1717. Nov. 20th. Went to Elsden, marryed Christopher Little
and Mrs. Mitford,iis at their entreaty—she dissatisfied that none of
"- Judith, ninth and youngest daughter of Sii' George Wheler, knight, prebendary
of the second stall in Durham Cathedral, and rector of Houghton-le-
Spring, was married 19 June, 1722, to Thomas Sharpe, D.D., archdeacon of
Northumberland, etc. Cf'. Surtees, Durham, vol. i. p. 176.
"^ Mr. George Ritschell, the younger, lecturer (and also perpetual curate)
of Hexham, died in 1717, when Mr. Thomas Andrewes of Queen's College,
Oxford, was appointed by the Mercers Company lecturer in his room. His
competitors were the Rev. John Laidman named on p. 85, supra, and the Rev.
— Cowling, evidently the person of that name mentioned on p. 69, supra.
"^
A clergyman named Twentyman was subsequently curate at Whittingham.
"^ Mrs. Little's father, Mr. William Mitford, was fifth son of Mr.
Robert Mitford of Mitford, by his wife Philadelphia, daughter of Humphrey
Wharton of Gillingwood. Educated at the University of Glasgow, he was
presented to the rectory of Elsdon in 1674, and died there in April, 1715.
By his wife Isabel (who was buried 8 Feb., 17*25/6), he had issue four sons,
Michael, William, Robert and Humphrey, and five daughters, Philadelphia,
Mary, Anne (who died at Newcastle, 28 Sept., 1778), Isabel, wife of
Christopher Little of Rothbury, and Elizabeth. The eldest son, Michael
Mitford, took orders, and, after being curate to Mr. Robert Thomlinson
at Whickham, became vicar of Edlingham. He married at Whickham, 22
January, 1718/9, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Shafto of Swalwell, by whom
he had (perliaps with other) issue, three daughters, Eleanor, married 10 Nov.,
1763, William Spoors of the parish of Edbngham, and died 13 Feb., 1800;
Isabel, (lied unmarried, June, 1745, aged 24 ; and Anne, married 25 Jan, 1750/1,
Gal)riel Hall of Cawledge-park, son of Thomas Hall of Hatherwick, and died
4 September, 1812.