Histories

Parish records outline the story of Robert & Joan Daggitt's family in Gristhorpe but the real interest is provided by the diary kept by their contemporary George Beswick (1697-1779). George was the brother of the Lord of the Manor, William Beswick, and also lived in the Manor House. He was an Attorney at Law, or solicitor, with a practice in Scarborough, but he was also an active member of the village community. His diaries, which are still in the possession of the Beswick family, cover the period from 1744 to 1756 and describe the life of the village and its residents in detail. All the passages which refer to the Daggitt family are reproduced below (even the most unflattering parts!) and in figure 1 the people mentioned are identified by an asterisk.
In a few places the diaries are damaged or illegible but the partial entries from these pages are still included here. The following words which appear in the diary are no longer in use.

Cheslup
Cheeselip: The dried stomach of a calf used in cheesemaking for the rennet it contains.

Back Knotts
A local word for a kind of firewood?

Hire Picre
Hiera Picra, a purgative drug.

Town Gate
A name then used for the main street of Gristhorpe.

Webb
A piece of woven cloth.


The mentions of war and the threat from the French refer to the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48). The invasion of England by Bonnie Prince Charlie and his rebel Jacobite army in In 1745 is also mentioned.

In 1752, in the middle of the years covered by the diary, Britain changed from using the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar and also adopted January 1st. as New Years Day instead of March 25th (Lady Day). The latter change explains the unfamiliar sequence of months in some of the years up to and including 1752.
Italics are explanatory notes added by me within the text.

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1744

April 18th. Wed. ... Gentlemanlike man very well mounted on a Bay Mare who rid by us and the workmen down Gricethorp Towngate who Enquired where the Butcher lived after we had directed him to Edmund Maltby's upon Enquiry what he was, Dagger (sic) informed us that he was a Cheslup Buyer who made it his business to go round England and Wales on pirpose to buy Cheslup Skins...

April 30th. Mon. Went up to Daggitts to read over ... wherein ... is given of Marq de feur ... policy to the States General in Order to Draw them over to the King of France's Interest ...

May 17th. Thur. My mother went to Daggitts the weaver this afternoon who is beginning of her Webb and to encourage him to use his best skill in the working of it carried him up his lowance of our home brewed ale which has pleased him and his son so well that the neighbourhood have been very agreeably entertained with their chorus's all this afternoon.

May 18th. Fri. Robert Daggitt the weaver of Gristhorp is it seems resolved to be well layd in with Back Knotts this summer - he hath hired Matt Shaw with his Cart and two horses who hath this day brot him no less than four load and laid them up on the Causeway before his door and his Shop in the Town Gate to dry - it is indeed very dry weather now as it hath been ever since the last rain which fell on Holy Thursday - but it is thought if any considerable quantity of rain shod fall shortly and before the Knots be dry enough to burn that he will have but an indifferent bargain of them.

May 23rd. Wed. ... in the last paper that is extant Robert Daggit says gives an Account of his (the King of France's) having seized and taken possession of the great Towns in the low Countrys belonging to the Dutch - Sed Q -

May 24th. Thu. Wm. Preston was gaming in the Street with William King one of the servers to John Dowsland the Master Mason of Smales house till it wearied the patience of the Master, he found fault with Preston for keeping his servt. from his work and neglecting his calls, which created a few sparring words or rather Scolding - Old Daggitt our Gricethorp Newsmonger both for foreign and Domestick affairs must of course be a Spectator said little or nothing for or against either party, but a man may easily guess at the bent of anothers inclinations - by innuendos and therefore I apprehended he rather shewed some partiality for Preston which seemed to me an awkward piece of behaviour till I found out the reason for the thing - which was only because Dowsland is a Rival to William Daggit his son in their Amours to Nelly Smales. Woman is the Occasion of much Strife.

June 1st. Fri. Dorothy Daggit called here in the afternoon a little before Cow time and tells what fine Sport they expect at Lebberston tomorrow night and in the Evening here will be 3 Bridles to run for by horses, besides a Dove to be Danced for by the Merry Milkmaids, Ribbons, Gloves and other things to be run for by the young people of the neighbouring Towns ...

June 2nd. Sat. ... Lebberston Sport Horse Races ...

June 7th. Thur. In the evening walked over to the Tanyard and bore company with Wm Daggitt and Wm Preston, journeyman & Shoemaker who were irrigating several of the Tan Tubbs of the ffetid water and replenishing them with fresh ...

June 22nd. Fri. William ffoster, Tom Gofton, John Lyon and others were at Daggitts shop after Dinner and Mrs. Daggitt must needs have me read out of Sir Robert's Newspaper which I fetched and read to them.

June 26th. Tue. As I was up Street today at Daggits shop there I met with sevl neighbours talking of yesterday's Sport ...

Oct 19th. Fri. ... in the evening Dagget and I went to David's Tan Garth and got the Courant which he brought from Scarboro yesterday.

Nov 18th. Sun ... Dorothy Daggot with her perpetual clack which filled the house with more clattering than twenty magpies would have done in the spring of the year. Dorothy told tale and gave answer to her own talk and what it consisted was all but lyes and impertinance.

Nov 19th. Mon. Bro.Wm. has gone to the Cliff but see nothing of any wreck but there were two men walking under the cliff which he supposed ... thers watch for what they could find of that sort which as we ... were old Daggot and his son for they came home with some small matter of pieces of wood with them.

Nov 22nd. Thu. Dorothy Daggot gone to Scarboro' with 24lbs of butter and rides on the white mare with the butter basket tied behind her. I sent with her the Old England Newspaper to Nolly which she lent us last Thursday. ... Dorothy Daggot came from Scarboro' from selling 4 and 20 lbs. of butter. She returned at 4 in afternoon. She sold 17 lbs for 5 1/2d and the rest for 5d and we had the honour of her company in the evening till we were all perfectly weary with her wind and noise and her other most gallent imperfections of behaviour. She indeed made very good account of her butter; sole it and came home in the due time that pleased my mother who gave her sixpence for the trouble and her supper.

Nov 29th. Thu. Dorothy Daggott gone to Scarboro' this morning with 15 pounds of Butter. I desired her to bring me a Quire of writing paper from Nolly, I am quite out but I fancy she'll forget, she and Johnson both coming home in the evening ...
Fri ... called at Daggotts ...

Dec. 2nd. Sun. ... we had also some of Dol Daggit's noise some small time in the evening but she did not trouble us a long time.

Dec 6th. Thu. Dol Daggit gone to Scarboro' this fine bright sun shine morning to sell our butter - 15 pounds ... Dol rides on Matt Shaw's sorril mare there being none else here to get is the reason for employing her again. Her tongue and her behaviour is so intolerably impudent we are quite tired of her.

1745

Dec 8th. Sun. ... Prince William had reached the Rebells ...

Dec 10th. Tue. Wm. (George's brother) brought word that the ffrench have landed 2,500 men in Scotland for the Pretender's use.

Dec 13th. Fri. ... Dagget - 20 ffrench men of war in the channell.

1746

May 10th. Sat. Dorothy Dagget was paying a visit to Gristhorp 3 or 4 days agoe, stayed 3 or 4 days here & so ... and was cracking of her place Geo. Kirbys and extolling of it to a great degree. She returned to it last Wednesday and came here again yesternight; her mistress has, we suppose, turned her away. Her bro. has gone today for her things.

June 18th. Wed. My Mo. had a great scold with William (George's brother) yesternight about Doly Dagget ... She's (George's mother) now in the height of her ill humour. Wm. and Dolly D. put her out.

July 11th. Fri. Newspaper payd off and dropt by D.D. (Dorothy Dagget) ...

July 19th. Sat. 8th Instant Newspapers again begun and to be left at Daggets. I promised to be one half penny per week for my share, let D. get who he will besides. Dropt this proposal.

Aug. 12th. Tue. A sweet morning - Daggott came round to help load the hay in the parks - yoaking about 6 - fine morning.

Oct. 15th. Wed. Fine morning. Tom, W Daggett, David digging & making Clay.

Oct. 18th. Sat.

Expenses this ffare day
At Graces with Dagget

Oct. 30th. Thur. ... drunk 1d worth at Palmers and at Mallys, ditto at Weldons, Ditto at Mallys - and came home unconcerned but got to Daggets and sent for 2 penny worth & adjourned to Thompsons - I got 1s-3d off and not drunk but my Mother said when I came home to Bed that I had been at Thompson's - which I confessed.

Feb 6th. Fri. At home all ...
Mother sadly jealous ...
Dagget's Dolly tend ...
made none and was taken up ...
into the Stable, Mally with her at ...
her, as it were by force

25th. 27th. ... Robert Dagget ...

Mar 20th. Fri. ... drank 2d worth of Ale at Thompson's whilst ... Humpton, Willy David, Daggot etc. were ...

Mar 21st. Sat. David and his man, Daggot beating Grace & while at Dinner o. Mally pilferd an Apron full of knotts & we jeered her.

1747

Easter Monday Walked to Scarbro' ... Went on to J. West's ship but there were none at work so came home on the Sand and overtook Dagget and his wife soon after in Coal Lane ...

1750

April 10th. Tue. Robt. Carter digging at the west end of John Cravens house - going to rebuild that part for Willm Dagget and Rachel to live in next Martinmas at their Wedding ...

April 12th. Thur. Building New House Wm. Dagget and his intended bride, Rachell.

Oct. 15th. Mon. Rainy Morning. William Daggit ...

Oct. 18th. Thur. Some Sparrs found at the Sands; Dagget & Mr. Ezart each one.

Nov. 19th. Mon. Willm Daggit & his bride Rachel Appleby, now D returned yesternight from amongst her relations since the marriage last week.

Dec. 4th. Tue. Drinking Tea again with the young Ladys and held Chat with them in the evening, Shepherd, Dagget and his wife being there.

March 18th. Mon. Doll Daggit has this day had a Warrent from Squire Osbaldeston served on her by Broderick Robt, the Constable for aspanking, beating and abusing Clare Preston last Saturday at the Cliff Mill. - She and old Daggiet and his son are gone to Hunmanby and William Preston & Clare to be examined before the Esq.
1751

April 27th. Sat. Rachel Dagget brot. to bed of a Son. Old Dagget says his Son has performed the part of a man but dos not consider his Son was married only in martinmas week last which is not full 6 months since.

April 29th. Mon. People filling the highway up in the dirty place before Daggets house.

May 1st. Wed. It is comed out that Rachel Dagget when she found she had conceived took some Hire Picre (in order to prevent a miscarriage coming to sight) before her marriage.

June 6th. Thur. Skirmish with Dol=Dagget & Sister Dolly Carter. Lasses took her off Sister Dolly, tore her coif in defending her attacker etc. with Stones etc. flying at her. Town in an uproar.

Sep. 23rd. Mon. Served Copy of the notice for Robert Daggit to quit possession of the House and Garth of Mr. Geo. Sinclaire in Gristhorpe. Copy in Bundle in my Desk, signed Geo. Sinclaire. Old Robert Daggit asked what it was about before his Son who was also with him in the Shop. I told him it was for him to quit the possession on or before Lady Day next for Mr. Sinclare was designed to pull the house down or else to make some further convenience for them to dwell in to the same effect. He gave it to his Son to read and I came away. Mrs Betty Sinclare went up Street with me to the door & so to Mrs Humptons - Moor Grey Coat: Notice for Daggit to quit possession served this day: G.B.
1752

April 8th. Wed. Dowsland & Bateson only at Daggets.

June 17th. Wed. Doll Dagget stroleing with Sis Dolly.

June 20th. Sat. A very immoderate & hot fall out 'twixt Dolly & Dol Dagget.

1754

Dec. 1st. Sun. Old Robert Dagget buried in ye afternoon service this cold frost and snow the bearers had hard work, the snow is so deep. Text 37Ps 37th. v. "Mark ye perfect man & behold ye upright for ye end of that man is peace."

1755

April 26th. Sat. Diana Daggit & her sister Dol. with Diana's bastard came from Hull where she was brot. to Bed, having stayed there some weeks before - her late Master - Hebb of Cloughton is the supposed ffather & has as it is reported Given & paid her money for satisfaction & Bond to indemnify Cloughton.

- End of Diary Extracts -

Acknowledgments
My thanks to:
Mrs. Diana Beswick
References
1. Diary kept by George Beswick of Gristhorpe from 1744 to 1756.
2. Hanoverian England 1714-1837, Leonard W. Cowie, Bell & Hyman, London, 1967.
3. Culloden and the '45, Jeremy Black, Alan Sutton (Stroud)/St. Martin's Press (New York), 1990.
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