Articles, records and resources relating to the history of the Lancashire town of Preston
May 1689
For background information about the diaries and their transcribers see Introduction
May 1
Bellingham entry [no entry] Rawstorne entry i at Preston & Bowles at Swans’s
May 2
Bellingham entry [no entry] Rawstorne entry 2 at Preston dyned at Ancor
May 3
Bellingham entry [no entry] Rawstorne entry 3 at Preston & at prayers & dyned at Ancor wth Mr. Mayor Mr. Starkey [not identified] Capt. Longworth & Mr. Cross de Darwin [not identified] at Mr Cowleys [not identified] charge Excise officer
May 4
Bellingham entry [no entry] Rawstorne entry 4 at Preston & at prayers & at dinner at home my brother wth us & after wth him and others at Mary Rigby’s 3
May 5
Bellingham entry [no entry] Rawstorne entry 5 at Preston & at the Church, heard Dr. Hughes Major Generall Kirks Chaplaine [not identified; for Kirk see 27 April entry] 2 the first on proverbs i0: & 9: hee that walketh upright walketh surely, the 2d on i Corinths 6: & 20: for ye are bought with a price &c Excellently well [Harrison is doubtful about the transcription here, inserting ([?] [at he])] [1] Majoe. Generall Kirk came in About 5 vewed the regiemt.
[1] Richard D. Harrison, ‘The Rawstorne Diary, 1687-89’ (typescript, nd), 121, Search Room, Lancashire Archives.
May 6
Bellingham entry [no entry] Rawstorne entry 6 at preston, waited on the Majoe Geneall [Kirk] was at Coffeehouse wth. Dr. Hughes [not identified] & at prayers, & at Coz: ffranks’s ‘ith’ fryergate at Supper wth: Leiuetent: Coll Saint James Capt. Bell:ingham Capt. Barber [not identified], Mr MayorMr Lemon, Dr Hughes Mr Greenfield [Christopher or Thomas] & others. Comment Saint James would be the Col St John that Bellingham mentions in his next diary entry. This was Col Thomas St John who commanded a foot regiment: ‘This was one of the Londonderry Regts. raised as a volunteer corps for the defence of that cily in1689, and commanded by the gallant Col. Henry Baker, the Govr. of Londonderry, until his death. On 4 Aug. 1689, Major-Gen. Kirke appointed Tho. St. John to the colonelcy. The Regt. fought at the Boyne and in the subsequent sieges of Athlone and Limerick.’ [1]
Bellingham entry May ye 7th. A fayr day. I bowld wth Coll St. Johns, etc. Express came from Liverpoole yt Derry [besieged by James II’s troops] holds out still. Rawstorne entry 7 at Preston & went to Penwortham after dinner went to the Christning= Christianing of Rich: Pemberton’s [not identified] Sonne Edward, Brother ffleetwood & Capt Clayton Godfathers, my wife Godmother,.
May 8
Bellingham entry Ye 8th. A very hott day. I din’d wth ye officers and sate wth ye Coll [St John?] till near 12 att night. Rawstorne entry 8 at Preston & at prayers, after dinner went to Swansey’s wth Mr Mayor & others, return’d before 7 was after at the funerall of Coz: ffranck’s Child this day he lent me 50l. for 5 weeks
May 9
Bellingham entry Ye 9th. A hott day. I din’d wth Cousen Johnson, bowl’d, and was att dancing wth ye officers, att Mrs Tophams, wth some of ye young ladyes of ye town. Rawstorne entry 9 at Preston & at prayers Comment Mrs Topham’s could have been a private residence or a place of public entertainment. Bellingham (3 March 1690) reports viewing lodgings at Tophams.
May 10
Bellingham entry Ye 10th. A hott day. Mr. Sharpless [an entry in Bellingham’s diary for 7 February 1689 suggests Sharples was an Irish gentleman] came to see me. Major Roe [not identified] came to town. I saw Mr. Griffith [not identified] and payd him ye 10 Guineas wch his brother sent me. Rawstorne entry i0 at Preston & at prayers & at M: Rigb’ys [Alexander?]
May 11
Bellingham entry Ye 11th. A hott day. Ye battalion of 7 Companyes drew out and exerciz’d well. I din’d wth ye officers. Made upp accounts with my sister and Mrs. Gregson [possibly wife of Josiah Gregson]. Rawstorne entry ii at Preston & at prayers & at M: Roes ‘ith’ weend [hostelry location uncertain] wth Mr Hesketh & ‘s brother [there were many Heskeths among the gentry in this part of Lancashire].
May 12
Bellingham entry Ye 12th. A hott day. Hughes, Chaplain to Kirk’s Regiment, preach’d an excellent sermon. Capt Berry and I walk’t to ye boat house to see Tom Fleetwood. My wife, sister, and the girls came to us. Birch preach’d in the afternoon. Rawstorne entry i2 at Preston Church heard Dr Hugh Major Generall Kirks Chaplaine & the Vicar newly come home, at ‘s house after Comment Hewitson presumes Capt Berry to be William Berry of Ormskirk, but supplies no evidence.
May 13
Bellingham entry Ye 13th. A fayr day. Ye Battalion drew out. An express came for them to march immediately to Ormskirke. I went parte of ye way wth them, and was wth Capt Withers, Develin, and Bickerstaffe [last two militia officers not identified] late. Rawstorne entry i3 at Preston & went to Rufforth [Rufford] to the funerall of Mr. Cappell [not identified] after Sharrocks the Alehouse [not identified] wth. my brotherMr. Mayor Sr. Rich: StandishSr Tho: Standley Capt. Staughton [not identified] & others
May 14
Bellingham entry Ye 14th. A hott day. Ye King’s declaration of Warr against ye French King. I sup’t att cousen Patten’s and eat chard. Rawstorne entry i4 at Preston & at prayers: ‘ith afternoon at Jon Crabtrees [hostelry, not identified] wth Mr Rigby o’th’ Gorse [not known which of the many Rigbys this is] & after at Margret Wildings wth Mr MayorMr Patten & others Comssrs: for the [Ayd] went after wth Mr Mayor to Walton Comment The declaration of war with France brought England into coalition with a number of European powers which had already declared war. Anti-French feeling in England was inflamed by accounts of the suffering of the Protestants in Ireland where the Jacobites had taken control of nearly all the island, with the notable exception of Londonderry, the plight of whose inhabitants was becoming increasingly desperate. Rawstorne’s reference to Commissioners for the Aid presumably refers to the Royal Aid mentioned in his entry for 24 April 1689.
May 15
Bellingham entry Ye 15th. A very hott day. I walk’t in ye morning. Went to ye marsh [probably to Swanseys, judging by Rawstorne’s reference] in ye afternoon, and saw Mr Parker [probably Christopher Parker of Bradkirk Hall, or one of the Browsholme Parkers], etc. Rawstorne entry i5 at Preston & not at prayers, Mr Mayoe sent to mee to goe to Swanseys where we dyned, ’twas the bowling day.
May 16
Bellingham entry Ye 16th. A fayr day. I play’d att Mr. Chaddocks, and was treated. I walk’d wth Nabby on Enam [Avenham]. Rawstorne entry i6 at Preston & at prayers at Penwortham [Priory] dyned ther & returned by 5
May 17
Bellingham entry Ye 17th. A windy day. Mr Kenyon came to town. 5 justices of peace sworn. I was wth Mr Kenyon and them. Rawstorne entry i7 at preston, & at Ancor, Mr Kenion gave the Oathes of Allegiance & Supremacie & the Oath of a Justice of peace to mee Mr. Patten Mr Tho: Rigby Capt Longworth & Tho: Holden dyned there all of us, was a Marie Rigbye’s for 3 onely, & at Mr Ja: Cowps Comment New county magistrates were being sworn in to replace those imposed by James II shortly before the Revolution. There are two possible candidates for the Rigby mentioned here: Thomas Rigby of Goosnargh and Thomas Rigby of Whittle-le-Woods, both of who later became sheriffs of Lancashire. [1]
Ye 18th. A fayr day and wind for ye forces who are gone to Derry. Some hail in ye evening. I was wth Mr. Fleetwood and his cousen, of banke, late. Rawstorne entry i8 at Preston & at prayers Comment Mr Fleetwood’s cousin would probably have been Christopher Banastre of Bank Hall, whose daughter married Thomas Fleetwood
May 19
Bellingham entry Ye 19th. Some raine in ye night. Ye Curate preach’d in ye morning and Mr Gregory in ye afternoon. I walk’d to Walton and saw Mr Houghton. Rawstorne entry i9 at Preston Church heard Mr Bland & received the Sacrament, & went to Margret Coxams in Longton to see Cousin Boswells, Barbery & Amilia [these persons not identified]
May 20
Bellingham entry Ye 20th. A rany morning wth some hail. Ye wind N.W. Rawstorne entry 20 at Preston & at Mr pattens to examine Irish souldiers & committed them toth’ house of correction & was afternoone at Ancor wth the Comssrs: for the Poll, & at Jo: Cottams [hostelry, not identified] & Mr Ja: Cowps Comment The Irish soldiers were presumably some of James’s troops attempting to return to Ireland. The commissioners were possibly the same commissioners referred to in Rawstorne’s entry for 14 May.
May 21
Bellingham entry Ye 21th. A fayr day. I din’d wth ye Mayor att Penwortham. Mr. Barton [possibly the clergyman of that name] and French [not identified] came to this town. I was wth them late att ye anchor. Rawstorne entry 2i at preston & not at prayers, went before that to Penwortham wth Mr Mayor & Capt Bellingham, was at Boathouse in oe returne wth my Brother & Coz: ffleetwood [possibly Richard Fleetwood]
May 22
Bellingham entry Ye 22th. A fayr day. Shooting at bootts [butts] between Fletcher and Etherington [neither identified]. Fletcher won. After went to the marsh and bowl’d. Stay’d late with Mr. French [not identified]. Rawstorne entry 22 at Preston & at prayers, Gave to the Irish poore protestants il-is-6d & my wife gave i0s: pd the day before to the royall Aid is [see 14 May entry].
May 23
Bellingham entry Ye 23th. Much raine this morning. Mr. French went hence. Serjeant Walls was buryed. We supt att W. Patten’s. Rawstorne entry 23 at Preston & at prayers & at Ancor to hear Complaint about a tax relating to the royall Aid adjourned toth hall [town hall] where wee met about Papists Convictions [summoned] but appeared not. Comment It would seem from Rawstorne’s entry that the recusancy penalties relaxed under James II were now being enforced
May 24
Bellingham entry Ye 24th. A fayr, temperate day. Sr John Coghill gave me an account of another great defeat given by those of Derry to ye beseigers. I was with Char. Rigby and Mr. Gibbs. I receiv’d a letter in great haste from Sr J. Coghill yt his sonne lay very ill. Rawstorne entry 24 at preston & went to Hutton ’twas the [Manor] Court there, was at Heardsle’s [?] in my returne, Mr Steward [?] & I & my brother & Mr Standley [unclear which Stanley this is] came to us
May 25
Bellingham entry Ye 25th. Some raine. I was wth Sr Rich Standish and Mr. Fleetwood. There came in a detachment of Dragoons of Collnel Leviston’s [commanded by Lt-Col Edward Matthews]. They are 60 besides officers. Rawstorne entry 25 at Preston & at prayers & Talbot
May 26
Bellingham entry Ye 26th. A fair day. This morning about 4 I fell very ill, tooke a vomitt, and began to mend about 10. Mr Gibbs preach’d twice. I had several visitants, among them Mr. Gibbs. Rawstorne entry 26 at Preston Church heard Parson Gypps twice.
May 27
Bellingham entry Ye 27th. A fayr day. I bowl’d in ye afternoon wth ye Lewt. Coll. Matthewes, and sup’t att cousen Patten’s. Rawstorne entry 27 at Preston & ‘ith’ Court house about the Poll Act & the Aid, & at Mr Cowps and Mitre wth Mr Rigbyes [unclear which Rigbys are referred to] & Capt Longweth [Longworth?] Comment The poll tax was one of the revenue devices used by Parliament to raise the £2.5 million that William wanted to fund his campaign in Ireland and pay for his troops stationed in England. [1]
Bellingham entry Ye 28th. A fayr day. I saw ye Dragoons exercise very well. Great cocking att ye marsh. Some Dragoons went out this evening to search for Papists’ armes. I tooke ye bitter draught this morning; wrought well. Rawstorne entry 28 at Preston & at prayers & Mr Pattens, comitted a Priest one Tuttell to Lanc. [Lancaster] Mr Patten joyned wth mee was after both of us wth Lt. Collonell Matthews at george Ratcliffs for 3 only Comment Troops searching for papists’ arms, and the detaining of priests did not bode well for local Catholics.
May 29
Bellingham entry Ye 29th. A fayr morning, but a very wett afternoon. I was att ye marsh, and saw severall matches att cock fighting. Rawstorne entry 29 at Preston & at prayers and at Jo: Rigbyes wth Coz: ffleetwood of Lailand [probably Richard Fleetwood] p3
May 30
Bellingham entry Ye 30th. A fayr day. I went wth ye officers to ye marsh, and bowld most of ye afternoon. Ye Dragoons return’d wth severall Papists’ horses, but little worth. Rawstorne entry 30 at Preston & at prayers, Coz Milford & ‘s wife [not identified] called of us & Sister ff: [wife of Edward Fleetwood] & A: [?] met ‘m
May 31
Bellingham entry Ye 31st. Much raine; ye wind att S. We hear that Kirke [see above] is again off. I bowld wth ye officers, and went to see cousen Patten, newly come from Lancaster. Rawstorne entry 3i at Preston & at prayers ’twas this day no 30 [utd up ra ’tis] a mistake [Harrison describes this entry as unintelligible]
