For background information about the diaries and their transcribers see Introduction
June 1
Bellingham entry
June ye 1st. A fayr day. Mr Hornby [probably Edmund Hornby] came to see me. I bowl’d in ye afternoon, and walk’t wth Nabby. Dick Awdes dy’d this morning about 2.
Rawstorne entry
i at Preston & at prayers
Comment
Hewitson suggests Dick Awdes was Richard Awrds of Poulton or his son, but supplies no evidence. There was an Awrds (or Awards) family in Poulton at this time and another at Goosnargh. [1]
[1] ‘Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerk Project’, http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/.
June 2
Bellingham entry
Ye 2d. A fayr day. Coll Matthewes and me walk’t in the evening. He treated us att his quarters. Dick Awdes was buryed this afternoon.
Rawstorne entry
2 at Penwortham Church heard Mr Gregory twice & return’d.
June 3
Bellingham entry
Ye 3d. A very wett day. Coll Matthewes was wth me att my Lodging. Mr. Franks came home. Margaret [?] fell ill.
Rawstorne entry
3 went to Kirkham, a private Session [probably a meeting of some county magistrates] there and went there to Capt. Longworths
June 4
Bellingham entry
Ye 4th. A fayr day. I went with Mr. Rishton to Poolton. I had soar eyes.
Rawstorne entry
4 at St. Michaells at Hen: Gaskells held a private session there
Comment
This is the only reference to a Gaskell in the diaries, possibly Henry Gaskell of Out Rawcliffe who died in 1691. [1]
[1] ‘Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerk Project’, http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/.
June 5
Bellingham entry
Ye 5th. A fayr day. We went to Martin Mear [Blackpool] to fish. We heard great guns from Lerpoole. Din’d att Capt Veales.
Rawstorne entry
5 came from Capt Longwoths ths to Penwortham [Priory] dyned there & went to Swany [possibly Swansey’s] returne, all night at Penwortham
June 6
Bellingham entry
Ye 6th. A wett afternoon. I came from Poolton. Called att Mr Parkers, and gott home about [no time mentioned] of ye clock.
Rawstorne entry
6 went to Preston, Mr Patten & I sat ‘ith’ Hall to take the returne of Persons sent to sumon the Papists, it was the day appoynted for appearance
Comment
Rawstorne’s entry suggests that the leniency extended towards Catholics by James II was at an end, and they were now facing the prospect of recusancy fines.
June 7
Bellingham entry
Ye 7th. A fayr day. I bowl’d both fore and afternoon wth Coll Matthewes. Was att Kellett’s [hostelry, not identified] att night.
Rawstorne entry
7 at Preston & at prayers, Cousin Milford & ‘s wife [?] & Sister Asheton [probably of Cuerdale] & Coz: Bethe [?] came.
June 8
Bellingham entry
Ye 8th. A fayr day. I bowld wth ye officers and treated them att Cook’s [hostelry, not identified]. Mrs. Ashton was buryed.
Rawstorne entry
8 at Preston & at prayers & at Mr Pattens 2 or thrice & at Hugh Tootell p3 & at Mrs Ashetons funerall. i3 sweords Brought in by the Grave of Pendle.
Comment
Mrs Ashton would be Anne Ashton, wife of Mr James Ashton of Cuerdale, and mother of Richard Assheton, who inherited the Downham estate. [1] The grave of Pendle (Forest) was an officer of the forest. He had probably collected the swords from local Catholics.
[1] ‘Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerk Project’, http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/.
June 9
Bellingham entry
Ye 9th. A fayr day. Nabby was very ill of a cold and stayd from church. I had an invitation from Mr. Gipps for Mr. Barton to be chaplain to ye E. of Derby.
Rawstorne entry
9 at Preston Church heard Mr Birch twice, Mr Townley seinse brought to Town
Comment
Richard Harrison’s transcription ‘seinse’ is unclear, perhaps it should read ‘seized’ and suggests that Mr Townley had been detained as a suspected supporter of James II. There were many branches of the Townley or (Towneley) family in addition to the Townleys of Townley, several of the latter being noted Jacobites. It is unclear which Mr Townley is referred to here.
June 10
Bellingham entry
Ye 10th. A fayr day. There came some letters to Coll Matthewes from Cockermouth. I was wth Mr. Walmsley, of Lealand.
Rawstorne entry
i0 at Preston & at prayers, & afternoon at George Bullocks [hostelry, not identified] & Margret Wildings Mr Rigby & Mr Patten & Capt Longworth & I: had Mr Townley [see previous entry] before us – examined but denyed all
June 11
Bellingham entry
Ye 11th. A fayr day. Mr. Tim Bankes was here, going to London. Mr. Barton came and sup’t with me. I gott answer from Drs Comons [Doctors’ Commons] serv’d.
Rawstorne entry
ii at Preston & at prayers & at Miter
Comment
A number of courts sat at the Doctors’ Commons in London. [1] What action Bellingham was taking is unknown. Possibly Banks, who acted for the Bellingham family, called on Bellingham to seek instructions on his way to London.
[1] ‘Doctors’ Commons’, 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, 1911, Wikisource, https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Doctors%27_Commons.
June 12
Bellingham entry
Ye 12th. A hott day. I went wth Mr. Barton, Hodgkinson, Patten, to Bury, by Bolton. Stayd all night wth Mr. Gipps.
Rawstorne entry
i2 at Preston & went to Bowles to Swanseys, Cousin Milford [?] with me dyned there, & my brother, Mr Rigby, Mr lemon & others, cost 2s a peice return’d before 7. Coz: Milford & sister Asheton [probably of Cuerdale] & Coz: Bethe [?] went to Penwoetham, Sister ffleetwood [Edward Fleetwood’s wife] came for ‘m
June 13
Bellingham entry
Ye 13th. A hott day. Went to Manchester by Prestwich. Call’d on Mr. Ashton ye Parson. Saw my Lady Stevens and her daughters. Att Manchester is a very good Church. It is a rural Deanary, wth very bad Choristers. There is a good foundation of Hospital boys, founded by one Chetam of this town, and a pretty Library wth an annual income of £10 p an.
Rawstorne entry
i3 at Preston & went to Osbaldeston & my wife wth mee
June 14
Bellingham entry
Ye 14th. A fayr day. We din’d wth Mr. Ashton att Prestwich. Dr Roe went wth us. We were very handsomely entertain’d. We sup’t wth Dr Roe. I saw Alderman Percivall, and Mr. Hawekes, J. Banks, Mr. Tige, and Mr. Clements, all of Ireland.
Rawstorne entry
i4 went to Penwortham & my wife wth mee
Comment
The persons from Ireland mentioned by Bellingham would be some of the many Protestant gentry escaping James’s forces in that country.
June 15
Bellingham entry
Ye 15th. A fayr day. About 11 we left Manchester. Stay’d some time att Chorley. Met Alderman Sandyford, who gave us an account of a Papists ship that came from Ireland to Lancaster, that severall Papers and Commissions were seizd come from K James to severall persons of this country, but directed to women. Here came ye Ld Brandon, Gerard, and Capt Kirby, in order to rayse ye militia of ye whole county.
Rawstorne entry
i5 at Penwortham & Hutton & return’d
Comment
There was a good deal of rumour mongering at this time, so it is uncertain how reliable Alderman Sandyford’s information was. It does indicate that suspicion was growing of support for James in the county, especially among Catholics. That might account for Brandon, the Lord Lieutenant, calling out the militia. Gerard was possibly Brandon’s son. Capt Kirby was probably Roger Kirkby of Kirkby Ireleth
June 16
Bellingham entry
Ye 16th. A fayr day; wind at E, but turn’d in ye afternoon. Ye curate preach’d an ingenious, honest sermon for unity.
Rawstorne entry
i6 at Penwortham heard Mr Bland & Gregory
June 17
Bellingham entry
Ye 17th. A fayr day. Ye militia come in apace. Severall Papists seiz’d. I was to see Andrew Moore [?] , of Drogheda.
Rawstorne entry
i7 went to Preston to waite on my Ld Brandon
Comment
The Lancashire militia was organised in three regiments recruited from the county hundreds. Rawstorne appears to have been the colonel of the regiment of the Leyland and Derby hundreds (see Bellingham entry for 23 November 1688).
June 18
Bellingham entry
Ye 18th. A moyst day. Ye militia drew out to ye moore. I went to view them. I was after to waite on Sr Rich Standish, but was disappointed.
Rawstorne entry
i8 at Preston & Martshed toth Moore
June 19
Bellingham entry
Ye 19th. A fayr day. Ye militia drew out. I was att ye moore. Ye Ld Brandon and others went to meete ye Lds Comrs [Lords Commissioners] to Lancaster. This being ye fast [this would be a national day of fasting] , there was preaching, but no occasional prayers.
Rawstorne entry
i9 at Preston & at Moore
Comment
The Lords Commissioners were, according to the next day’s Rawstorne entry, the Earl of Devonshire, Lord Lumley and Mr Wharton. They were appointed by William to regulate the army, a task that took them north for several months at this time. The Earl of Devonshire was one of the seven noblemen who invited William to invade England; Lord Lumley was another. Mr Wharton was Thomas Wharton, a leading Whig, a measure of whose character is shown by the fact that a few years previously he had been fined £1,000 for sacrilege: ‘In a state of intoxication he and his brother Henry forced the doors of the parish church of Great Barrington in the middle of the night, rang the bells, tore up the Bible, and “pissed against a communion table”.’ [1]
[1] ‘Cavendish, William, Lord Cavendish (1641-1707), of Chatsworth, Derbys. | History of Parliament Online’, accessed 23 July 2018, http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/cavendish-william-1641-1707; ‘Lumley, Henry, Visct. Lumley (c.1685-1710), of Stansted Park, Suss. and Lumley Castle, Co. Dur. | History of Parliament Online’, accessed 23 July 2018, http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/member/lumley-henry-1685-1710; ‘Wharton, Hon. Thomas (1648-1715), of Upper Winchendon, Bucks. and Danvers House, Chelsea, Mdx. | History of Parliament Online’, accessed 23 July 2018, http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/wharton-hon-thomas-1648-1715
June 20
Bellingham entry
Ye 20th. A fayr day. Mr. Bankes came to see me. We walk’t out to view ye Militia. The Lds Comrs came to town very late. We have ye certaine account of Edinburgh Castle being surrounded [rumour mill grinding away].
Rawstorne entry
20 at Preston & at Moore till after Ten waiteing on the Ld Comssioners: the Erle of Devonshire & Ld Lumley & Mr Wharton who came to vew our Regiemts:
June 21
Bellingham entry
Ye 21th. A moyst morning. Ye Mayor treated ye Lds Comrs. They went away about noone. Att Night I was wth Coll Kirby and his uncle and some others.
Rawstorne entry
2i they went away & we stood to oe armes in the street While they passed by, ’twas a rainy day
Comment
Col Kirby could be the Roger Kirkby of Kirkby Ireleth mentioned above, whose uncle was William Kirkby
June 22
Bellingham entry
Ye 22th. A fayr day. I waited on ye Ld Delamere [leading Whig supporter of William and rival of Lord Derby], who was very obleiging. Mr. Bankes went hence. I sent my Ld Derby’s and Mrs Gipps letters by Mr. Sharpless [an entry in Bellingham’s diary for 7 February 1689 suggests Sharples was an Irish gentleman] to Mr. Barton. I was wth Sr R. Standish, and Mr Fleetwood, and others, pretty late.
Rawstorne entry
22 at Preston & marcht’ toth More where we [militia] Musterd & stayed till nyne
June 23
Bellingham entry
Ye 23th. A very hott day. We had newes that Richards could not gett into Derry, the river being block’d upp by a boome. I saw blacke George Mr Cartney [Macartney, the Mr Cartney is probably a transcription error] of Belfast.
Rawstorne entry
23 at Preston Church heard Mr Birch & dyned wth my Ld [Derby] at Mr Pattens & heard Mr Bland after.
Comment
Richards was probably Col Solomon Richards, whose regiment had sailed from Liverpool to attempt to raise the siege of Derry. [1] The siege was lifted a month later when three ships breached the boom. Macartney was a prosperous Belfast merchant, one of the many Protestant gentry who fled Ireland to escape Tyrconnell’s intimidation and settled briefly in Lancashire. [2]
[1] George Walker, A True Account of the Siege of London-Derry by the Reverend Mr. George Walker …, 2005, http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A67017.0001.001.
[2] Helen Henrietta Macartney Robbins, Our First Ambassador to China: An Account of the Life of George, Earl of Macartney, with Extracts from His Letters, and the Narrative of His Experiences in China, as Told by Himself, 1737-1806 (Cambridge University Press, 2011), 3–4, https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=CKDLSUUehXQC.
June 24
Bellingham entry
Ye 24th. A very hott day. Dr Leigh and I din’d att Penwortham. We had duck hunting in ye afternoon, and call’d att ye boat house.
Rawstorne entry
24 at Preston & marched to Ormischurch lodge at Mr Darbieshires [not identified]
June 25
Bellingham entry
Ye 25th. A hott day. We hear yt Kirke is gott into Derry. One Skrostamore, a Dutch Quarter-master Generall, return’d hither from Whithaven where [he] has been to secure shipping and necessaryes for transporting men for Ireland. Severall expresses passed to and from this town this day.
Rawstorne entry
25 at Ormischurch & at Morre wth souldiers
Comment
The news from Derry was false. Major General Percy Kirke did not manage to relieve the town until later the following month. [1]
[1] Steve Pincus, 1688: The First Modern Revolution (Yale University, 2009), 271.
June 26
Bellingham entry
Ye 26th. A hott day. I bowl’d att ye marsh. Severall papists were brought in here by Sr Wm. Pennington.
Rawstorne entry
26 at Ormischurch
June 27
Bellingham entry
Ye 27th. A hott day; but some few drops of heat. There was great shooting between Brown and Fletcher wth Billington and Etherington {none identified, probably army officers]. Ye former won, Att boat house att night. There was dancing att Mr. Greenfeilds: Coll Matthews and Coll Rigby’s daughters and some others.
Rawstorne entry
27 at Ormischurch
June 28
Bellingham entry
Ye 28th. Some gentle showers. I bowl’d, and after went to Mr Cottam’s garden [see Bellingham entry for 6 November 1688] to eat fruite etc.
Rawstorne entry
28 at Ormischurch
June 29
Bellingham entry
Ye 29th. A fayr day. Dr Roe came hither I was wth him while he stay’d, and att evening wth Mr. Mayor and Mr. Hornby att ye mitre.
Rawstorne entry
29 march’d to Wygan
Comment
Rawstorne would have been taking his militia regiment toWigan
June 30
Bellingham entry
Ye 30th. Much raine. I stayd from church in ye afternoon to write Letters. Ye militia are to goe some to Wiggan, some to Manchester, and some to lancaster
Rawstorne entry
30 at Wygan Church heard Mr. Hadden [not identified] twice. lodged at Mrs. Cases [not identified]
preston history 