The Diary of Nathaniel Bryceson (Part 6)

[Ruskie]

Hi Ruth et al.

Just musing ....

St Martins in the Fields .... this was where his mother married John Bryceson in 1818 and was the home parish of John Bryceson when he died in 1824.

... It's a typical Nat diary entry today. Copying down all the memorials ...

I suspect Nat would most likely have seen John Bryceson's grave if one existed on his church visit. Knowing his own birth date he would have surely known he was not a true Bryceson. It would be nice to know if a grave or a monument transcription exists for John.  Linda

Yes Nathaniel must have known John Bryceson was not his father IF he knew John's date of death.

28th Apr 1824
John Bryceson, age 39, abode: St Martin in the Field,
buried Pentonville Chapel, St James, Clerkenwell

John was buried in Pentonville Chapel. There may not have been a headstone for Nathaniel to see .... 

[waiteohman]

Hello Ruskie

I don't know that Nathaniel knew the death date of John Bryceson. Took a search for John in the diary postings and didn't find Nat mentioning John's death. Wondered if a grave existed and he came across it in graveyard visits. Possibly then finding out John was not his father and discovered his illegitimacy. If the case, might account for the coolness that seems to exist towards his mother.

April 2nd he purchased 'The Portrait of John Milton the Poet at the age of 21 years’ . This is most likely what he purchased plus his in a dark frame http://www.rootschat.com/links/09ky/

Linda

[Ruskie]

Hello Ruskie

I don't know that Nathaniel knew the death date of John Bryceson. Took a search for John in the diary postings and didn't find Nat mentioning John's death. Wondered if a grave existed and he came across it in graveyard visits. Possibly then finding out John was not his father and discovered his illegitimacy. If the case, might account for the coolness that seems to exist towards his mother.

Linda

No, I don't think he knew either.

[Aniseed]

Worked by candle light for first time since Midsummer owing to the scamp of coalheavers leaving us with one gang only.

Does anyone know what a scamp is? Is it like a strike? Is it still due to the beanfeast? I'm a bit mystified this morning!

ETA: According to an online dictionary, Scamp can mean 'to go about idly', which I suppose would fit in...

[rubyjas]

I think it means careless and slipshod so I imagine these particular workers were having a duvet day, very probably as a result of overindulgence. Fairly similar to what happens on a Monday now.

[Steven Bryceson]

Remember that on NB's marriage certificate he describes his father as Nathaniel Bryceson and his father's occupation as "cabinet maker". I sense humour is at work here and think Nat knew but may have been too ashamed to tell the Vicar (or even his wife). Somehow the White story was passed down, unless a family researcher found his baptism entry, but my guess is NB knew and told his son Henry or that Henry heard it from another relative NB has told.

[waiteohman]

hi Steven

I also believe Nathaniel knew his father wasn't John Bryceson. I wonder if in one Pentonville Chapel grave yard wanderings he came across John's grave and discovered he couldn't possibly have been his father, confronted his mother with the facts and was told the details. I don't think he would have been told as a child he was illegitimate, especially since he went by surname Bryceson. Would love to know if there was a grave stone for John that could possibly add credance to this theory. Mission impossible for me. Have you added the Pentonville Chapel to your bucket list 

Linda

[Ruskie]

Remember that on NB's marriage certificate he describes his father as Nathaniel Bryceson and his father's occupation as "cabinet maker". I sense humour is at work here and think Nat knew but may have been too ashamed to tell the Vicar (or even his wife). Somehow the White story was passed down, unless a family researcher found his baptism entry, but my guess is NB knew and told his son Henry or that Henry heard it from another relative NB has told.

Your Mum thinks that Leo may have found Nathaniel's baptism as White. 

Yes, I get the impression that Nathaniel was a stickler for doing things the right way, and that he would have been a bit embarrassed to say his father was 'White' or leave this part of the marriage certificate blank, so he decided to say his father was Nathaniel Bryceson for the sake of respectability. 

[waiteohman]

Mrs Patton & Mrs. S were a real interest to Nat as they lived and were living long lives. I doubt it had anything to do with the sex of the person. No worries Steven, if the apple doesn't fall far from the tree here .

Jan 26: Purchased book in Princes Street, Soho, opposite George Yard, on Human Longevity with a brief account of some persons who have lived a century afterwards from AD 66 to 1799.

The book is 248 pages. 1712 centarians! Would you believe it. Wonder how many were older than Mrs. P. 

Human longevity: recording the name, age, place of residence, and year, of the decease of 1712 persons, who attained a century, & upwards, from A.D. 66 to 1799, comprising a period of 1733 years, with anecdotes of the most remarkable / compiled by James Easton, 1823.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/09l6/

Linda