December 1784

Entries in Richard Hall's diary for December 1784 revealed here by Mike Rendell give a little insight into that month in Bourton on the Water. (In January 1784 Beddome's wife Elizabeth had died). 

Mike Rendell begins by saying that

On Tuesday 7th December 1784 Richard Hall noted that there was “snow last night, very Cold.” The following day saw the entry “Snow at night, hard Frost, very sharp. Snow in ye afternoon, wind high at night.” And so it continued for the rest of the week (“Snow lay, hard Frost …. very hard Frost, snow lay some more last night … a considerable deal of Snow.”).

He then gives us a copy of the diary for Monday December 13 until the end of the year

Monday December 13th

Snow still lay – Frozen hard -pretty fine day.

Tu. 14^th

Having obtained help of God … I am spared to see the return of my Wedding Day. Din’d at Mrs Snookes with Mr Beddome. Mr and Mrs Palmer came in the afternoon. Frost continued. A little more Snow. Cold.

W 15^th

Heard Mr Beddome at the lecture Isah 41.10 former part - mostly dull, a little snow, rather Thawed – Cold
Thu 16^th

Mr Mrs Peake, Mrs Snooks Maria din'd. On a Cod, etc, snow continued dull and cold.

Fri 17^th

Dined at Mrs Snookes with Mr & Mrs Peake on a Cod, etc. N+Much snow fall in the past nights. Hard frost. Pretty fine day. Cold.

S 18th

Dull, some snow in the afternoon. Not as cold as it was.

Sabt -19^th

Heard Mr Wilkins Acts 8.39 last Cl. Mr Beddome Isah 41.10 former part. Snow continued, mostly dull, cold.

Mo: 20^th

Hard Frost, fine day, very cold.

Tu: 21st

Mr Griffiths of Bath & Mr Snooke Breakfast with us. We din'd, etc. with him at Mrs Snookes. Frost continued, Snow still lay – snowed a little today. Very cold.

W 22^nd

Hard frost, fine day, very Cold.

Th 23^rd

Hard frost, very Cold pretty fine.

Saty 25th

Xmas Day. Heard Mr Wilkins Luke 2. 14^th. We din'd etc at Mrs Snookes. frost continued, dull a little, snow, Cold.

Sabt 26^th

Heard Mr Beddome Ezekl 12.2 & Mr Wilkins 2 Chron 34. v 3 former part. Dull, seems like(ly) a thaw, not quite so cold. frose at night or in ye night – a great fog alright.

Mo 27^th

Frost continued – dull, Cold, a very little snow.

Tu: 28^th

Din'd at Mrs Snookes with Wife. Mr Mrs Miss Beale. Mr Shaw. Miss Beddome. Mr B drank tea. Dull day, frost, very sharp wind – exceeding Cold.

Wednesday Decr 20th

Heard Mr Wilkins at the Lecture 2 Peter 3.18 dull day hard frost, very cold.

Thu. 30th

A great fall of Snow, the past night which lay thick. Dull day, foggy, not quite so sharp.

Fri. 31st

Through spareing mercy am preserved to the close of another year, through which much goodness and mercy have followed me but what little fruit – has been brought forth in the midst of many Favours and privileges how well is it God's thoughts are not as mine nor his ways as my ways. Mr Mrs Palmer, Mr Wilkins, Miss Beddome, Mrs Snooke, Maria – Din'd. Mr Beddome drank tea. dull day, cold, Snow still lay thick.

At the beginning of this year 1784 we had much Cold Weather, and snow, a late Spring, warm Summer with much Thunder and Lightning, a very fine Haymaking and Harvest … Snow upon the ground, which has been from the 8 of December and still continues.

The Lord has crowned the Year with his Goodness. 

The Snooke Diaries

I made one of my little trips the other day. This time to the Gloucestershire Record Office in Gloucester, where they have transcripts of four diaries by William Snooke, esq. These diaries are for 1768, 1769 (though January-September has been excised from the original for some mysterious reason), 1774 and 1775. The diaries contain sparse comments on every day life and accounts.

I only had time to take notes from two and a half diaries so will have to return for the rest.

Most fascinating from our point of view are the references to Beddome and his family, especially the record of his texts Sunday by Sunday (except when Snooke is in London) and often in the week too. Initial observations are these

1. It appears to have been the Beddomes' practice to take tea at the Snookes on Mondays. Sometimes it was on another day or without Benjamin's presence or not at all.

2. Beddome, as we know, was a textual preacher but he often preached runs of sermons on a passage, such as a Psalm or part of Matthew 25.

3. He was not over fastidious about keeping such series to the right service, ie having started a morning series he might switch to the afternoon.

4. Sometimes funerals would take place with a sermon at the time of the regular worship.

5. There were meetings in the week. In the earlier diaries these take place on Fridays (Preparation day) but later move to a Wednesday.

6. The sacrament was observed usually once a month. There is no obvious pattern, however.

7. Two Sundays a month were Stow days when, presumably, there was also a service in Stow.

8. Beddome was the usual preacher unless he was away at the Association, in London, unwell or making room for another preacher.

9. The evidence for Snooke's regular payments to Beddome is here. It was £2 2 0 quarterly.

10. Snooke obviously loved preaching, being a regular hearer of Beddome and other preachers. He also bought and read sermons. He gave to beggars from time to time. He also went to plays and other entertainments in London and occasionally did the lottery. There is no strong evidence of rigid Sabbath keeping.