Six north country diaries - The MAN & Other Families

262
1784. Nov. 29. Rev. Mr. Stockdale was inducted to the livings of
Longhoughton and Lesbuiy by the Rev. Mr. S. Hall.
178-i. Dec. 5. A great storm at sea, snow and frost, and a most
incredible loss at sea, the gi'eatest nmiiber of wrecks of ships on the
coast that ever were known.
1784. Dec. 27. Rev. Mr. Goodwell of Kyloe preached a sermon
on behalf of the Society of Masons.
1784. Dec. 27. Mr. John Brown set on his journey for London.
1784. Dec. 30. Rev. Mr. Stockdale came to^ board at N[ichulas]
B[rown]'s house.
1785. Jan. 2. Were married at Alnwick church, Captain Joseph
Wood to Miss Dodds.i
1785. Feb. 6. Died at Alnwick, Rev. Mr. T. Knipe, curate, much
lamented, aged 58, had served the parish 27 years with unblemished
character.
1785. Feb. 13. A funeral sermon was then preached there by
the Rev. Mr. Percival Stockdale to a numerous congregation—beyond
imagination—from 1 Samuel xx., 3, tO' tlie great satisfaction of the
audience. 2
1785. Feb. 20. Died at Alnwick, Robert Mackey, gardener, aged
50.
1785. Feb. 22. Died at Real, John Selby, esq., aged 69—50,000/.
fortune.^
'
Mr. Joseph Wood was a major in the Northumberland Militia and resided
at Embleton ; his wife was Miss Ann Dodds, daughter of Mr. John
Dodds, deceased, a major in the East India Company's Service. Cf. Newca>itle
Courant, 8 Jan., 1785. Cf. Monumental Inscription, Embleton.
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This sermon was preached by Mr. Stockdale, and published and sold by
Alexander Graham, bookseller in Alnwick. It was dedicated ' to Edward
Jerningham, esq.'
' The Rev. Percival Stockdale, writing from Lesbury on the 26 October,
1785, to his friend and correspondent, Mr. Loggen, attorney, 83, Basinghall
Street, London, says :
'
John Selby, esq. of Beal, in the county of Durham, uncle of my friend Mr.
George Selbj'^ of Foxton-hall, very near me, and in Northumberland, died on
the 21st of February last. He had but one brother, a George Selbj', aged 62
last July, to whom for his natural life he left an estate, now lett for £1,561 per
annum, together with £8,000 vested in trust to purchase its value in estate,
which additional estate was to descend with the £1,561 per annum. I must
here observe that as this £8,000 is not at all mentioned in his will, it was
found at the time of his death by his executors, in bonds and mortgages, and is
exclusive of the payment of all his debts and legacies. £2,000 with £50 a year
for life would likewise revert to the residue of the estate in case of the death
of an illegitimate daughter of the said John Selby, esq., which daughter is six
years of age. The estate is charged with annuities to the amount of about
£200, which annuities are granted to old people and only for the term of their
lives. The present George Selby, aged 62, who inherits the estate, is married
to a young woman of about 30, by whom he has a daughter, m'Iio cannot enjoy
the estate, as it is entailed on male heirs. The wife of the said George Selby
is reported to be pregnant. If he has no male heir the estate, at his death,
descends to my friend Mr. George Selby of Foxton-hall, as you will see by the
will. This gentleman is 39 years of age, and though I remarked his constitu-