Diary, 1768, Dec. 8 -- 1773, Apr. 4, (bulk 1768, Dec. 8 -- 1769, Apr. 28 )

ArchivalResource

Diary, 1768, Dec. 8 -- 1773, Apr. 4, (bulk 1768, Dec. 8 -- 1769, Apr. 28 )

Diary and memorandum book of an unidentified Bostonian, probably a relative of John Olds, a London merchant. The largest portion of the diary covers his stay in London from December 1768 to late April 1769 (ff. 2-58). The diariest sailed from Boston to London in October 1768, onboard the Amazon. The diarist, evidently a single young man, also recounts his visits to the relatives (one of whom asked him "whether people in America talk'd English"), sightseeing and social life -- coffeehouses, the Old Bailey, Parliament, St. Paul's cathedral, the Tower, etc (including admission fees), and a detailed record of a session of a "Disputing Club" that held a moderated debate on "whether or not it was to the honour of Britain to tax America." Much of this portion of the diary is devoted to politics, especially the Middlesex election of John Wilkes (the diary opens with an account of the Brentford riots) and the American policies of the cabinet. An intensely religious person, he attended services at various London churches, including George Whitefield's Tabernacle; the diary contains detailed records of sermons and preachers. The diary also frequently mentions John Olds and Thomas Bromfield (1734-1816), a Boston merchant who had settled in London in 1760. This portion ends with a record of his voyage to Boston onboard the Paoli; he arrived to the city on June 19, 1769. The other, smaller, portion of the diary consists of detailed records of sermons, mostly by John Hunt and John Bacon of the Old South Church, that the diarist attended between Jan. 14 and Apr. 1773; the records include the author's own religious reflections. Also included is a certificate of residency issued by the town of Weathersfield, Conn. to Peter Verstille who had moved there from Boston in April 1760.

71 leaves, 17 cm., two quires, stitched in contemporary marbled paper cover.

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7472449

Related Entities

There are 8 Entities related to this resource.

Old South Church (Boston, Mass.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6bk599f (corporateBody)

Third Church gathered in 1669 by seceders from First Church; in 1717 name changed to Old South Church. From the description of Third Church records, 1674 May 28. (American Congregational Association). WorldCat record id: 70948286 Third Church gathered in 1669 by seceders from First Church; in 1717 name changed to Old South Church (also called Marlborough Street Church); present meeting house built in 1730 and is owned by Old South Association; in 1875 church moved to the cor...

Whitefield, George, 1714-1770

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63x86pj (person)

Epithet: Reverend; of Add MS 34068 British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001152.0x0000fb Epithet: Reverend; Preacher British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001152.0x0000fc Methodist clergyman. From the description of Papers, 1750-1759. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 20504475 Clergyman and evangelist. ...

Wilkes, John, 1725-1797

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6nk3tgx (person)

English political reformer, Lord Mayor then Chamberlain of the City of London from 1779 to 1797. From the description of John Wilkes papers, 1795-1804. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122448079 ...

Verstille, Peter, 1734-1778.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6rr38k9 (person)

Bacon, John, 1738-1820

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w65158rs (person)

Hunt, John, 1711 or 1712-1778

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6k93jwm (person)

Bromfield, Thomas, 1734-1816.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w69s329j (person)

London Tabernacle (London, England)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6tt9vwz (corporateBody)