Six north country diaries - The MAN & Other Families

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bastard laid to him—the woman was in Newgate, he and another
gent, went thro the common room where she was 2 or 3 times, she
happenning to say he was a. pretty gent., the other asked her what
then, had she anything to say to him, did she know him ? She said
no, etc. He, or :.ome of that name used frequently to gett drunk,
and being sensible to what dangers, etc., he then exposed himself,
gave his man power to take his spurs, sword, and whip from liim—
Mr. Fenwick was once there when he delivered sword and spurs,
but prayed his man John to lett him keep his whip—John would
not, they strugled a, little, but the master surreudred, and said John
was a hard hearted fellow—^he likewise prayed he might ride his
own horse home; 'no,' says John, 'then you will leave me,' 'no
indeed I wo' not,' say he^—however John would not, and so he
mounted John's galloway and called him hard hearted, etc.
1717. July 29th. Uncle John*^ gave uncle Robert^ only a calf's
head to dinner and pluck, when he first carryed his wife^^ thither
his wife had not one shilling to command from one year end to
another. Mr. Metcalfe being ill sent up for his daughter—he asked
her if she had not a respect for his nephew, for so he heard, if she
* John Thomlinson, second, but eldest surviving, son of Richard Thomlinson
of Blencogo, was born chra 1651, either at Blencogo or in the parish of Wigton.
He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and, after being ordained,
became vicar of Bromfield, Cumberland, the advowson of which church was
purchased by his father. In 1(378 he was preferred by Dr. Rainbow, bishop of
Carlisle, to one of his best livings, at Rothbury, which rectory he held until his
death. His wife, Mary Nelson, is said to have been a near kinswoman of
Bishop Rainbow. Husband and wife are buried in the chancel of
Rothbury, where there is a monument bearing the following inscription
'
Near this monument lyeth the body of the truly virtuous matron Mary
wife of John Thomlinson, rector of Rothbury, who departed this life, Oct. 30,
1710, aged 70 years. Also on her right hand is interred the hodj of the said
Rev. John Thomlinson, a worthy benefactor to this parish, who was rector
above 41 years, who departed this life May 23, 1720, aged 69 years.' On a
neighbouring tablet are commemorated Mr. Thomlinson's benefactions to the
school of Rothbury, to the school and almshouse at Wigton and to the vicarage
of Wigton. John Thomlinson's will is dated 12 Feb., 171920.
' Robert Thomlinson the youngest of the ten children of Richard Thomlinson
of Blencogo, was educated at St. Edmund Hall and Queen's College,
Oxford, matriculated 22 March, 1685/6, aged 17, B.A. 1689, M.A. 1692,
ordained by Dr. Louth, bishop of Oxford, was successively rector of Brockley,
Somerset, lecturer of St. Nicholas', Newcastle, vicar of Eglingham, rector of
Whickham and prebendary of Chamberlain Wood in St. Paul's Cathedral. The
two last preferments he held until his death, at Whickham, on the 24th March,
1747/8, aged 79. His benefactions to Allonby chapel, Whickham and Bellingham
schools, and the founding of the Thomlinson Library at Newcastle, are
set out by the late Rev. E. H. Adamson in Arch. Ael. 2nd series, vol. x., p. 80,
and by the late Mr. William Shand in Arch. Ael. 2nd series, vol. x., p. 59 ; xv.
340.
The Rev. Robert Thomlinson married, at East Ardsley, on the Sth April,
'"
1702, Martha Kay, daughter of John Ray of Gomersal, and aunt of Mr. John
Ray, vicar of Ward on. She was baptized at Birstal on the 13th July, 1668,
and living to exti'eme old age died at Whickham on the I6th December, 1769.
Cf. Hunter, Familiae Aflnorum Gtiitium, vol. iii. p. 892.