Six north country diaries - The MAN & Other Families

220
1767. Oct. 6. Died at Scorton, Rev. Mr. John Noble.
1767. Nov. 9. This day I received a patent appointing merecorder
of the city of Durham. A voluntary grant, nee preee, neepretio.
1767. Dec. 9. Thomas Drake, a minor canon, suspended by the
dean and chapter ab officio et beneficio, for presuming at Evening
Prayers to order a singing boy to tell the organist who was playing a
voluntary to give over inlaying. (Restored after Christmas.)
1768"^ Jan. Old Mrs. Kay died at Melsonby aged 84 or 85.
She was daughter of William Norton of Sawley, esq.
1768. Feb. 13. Died at Kneeton, about six in the evening, my
good sister, Hobson, and was buried in Middleton church the 16th.2i8
1768. May 15. Died Alderman Joseph Grej,^^^ suddenly. He
had been for above a year afflicted with a paralitic disorder on his
right side.
1768. Aug. 20. Died at Byfleet in Surrey of an apoplexy the Rev.
Mr. Spence, prebendary of Durham, and professor of modern historj''
in the University of Oxford, a learned and amiable divine and
scholar. 220
1768. Sept. (1 October) 8. Died at Bishop Auckland,22i in anadvanced
age, Mrs. Agnew, wife of Major Agnew. She was the
second daughter of Thomasi Wilkinson, esq., of Kirkbridge, one of
my godfathers.
1768. Oct. 17. The Rev. Jonathan Branfoot222 opened the
free school at Durham, to which he was api^ointed by the Dean and
Chapter.
1759 to his death. He showed great benevolence to the brethren at Sherburn,
demolished then' rude huts and erected new buikUngs so that every brother
might have a room to himself. Cf. Hutchinson, Durham, vol. ii. p. 600.
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Cf. p. 190, supra.
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Died at Durham Mr. Grey, an alderman of that city, a gentleman much
esteemed. Newcastle Courant, 2lst May, 1768. He was buried at St. Mary le Bow.
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The Rev. Joseph Spence was educated at Winchester school and at
Magdalen-hall, Oxford, matriculated 11th April, 1717, aged 16, B. A. 1724, fellow
of New College ; M. A. 17'27, professor of poetry 1728-1738, rector of Birchanger,
Essex, 1728-1742, rector of Harwood Magna, Bucks, 1742, prebendary of the
seventh stall in Durham Cathedral 1754, professor of Modern History at Oxford
1742 until his death. He was author of Polymetis. He is said to have fallen into
a pond and to have been taken out dead. His monumental inscription at Byfleet
states that in him learning, genius and shining talents, tempered with judgement
and softened Ijy the most excellent sweetness of manners, were greatly
'
excelled by those truly Christian graces, humanity ever ready to assist the
distressed, constant and extensive charity to the poor, and uiabounded
benevolence to all.' Cf. Hutchinson, Durham, vol. ii. p. 200.
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Monday died at Bishop Auckland Mrs. Agnew, lady of Major Agnew of
that place. Newcastle Courant, 15th October, 1768.
""- 1783. Aug. 5. The Rev. .lonathan Branfoot, M.A., vicar of Billingham
and curate of St. Nicholas, buried. Regi-^ters of St. Mary in the Soiifh Buiiey,
Durham. He was son of Jonathan Branfoot, master of Durham school from
1768 to 1783.