The Diary of Nathaniel Bryceson (Part 8)

[steve_gus]

I have long wondered if anyone has been bored enough to count how many of the (240?) posts have been made so far, and how many are left in the next 40 or so days.

The picture of the two link boys from the original web page has them saying to the man give us a shilling or we will singe your beard.

Well, there is still something similar going on in modern times. My son had read, and experienced himself, something that goes on in Liverpool, near the football ground. On match days 10 year olds (in the case of my sons experience) will ride up to you on a bike once you have parked your car on the streets. (Parking is hard to come by). You will then be offered the service, for five pounds, of their "looking after your car" whilst its parked there.

innovative.


steve

[Siamese Girl]

The 30th - I bet Nat and Ann are regretting exchanging her original clock for one I assume they hoped was better 

Its interesting to see Mrs Kennington has a kitchen. I always wonder reading the census in buildings of multiple occupancy, just how many rooms people actually lived in.

Carole

[Ruskie]

I have long wondered if anyone has been bored enough to count how many of the (240?) posts have been made so far, and how many are left in the next 40 or so days.

The picture of the two link boys from the original web page has them saying to the man give us a shilling or we will singe your beard.

Well, there is still something similar going on in modern times. My son had read, and experienced himself, something that goes on in Liverpool, near the football ground. On match days 10 year olds (in the case of my sons experience) will ride up to you on a bike once you have parked your car on the streets. (Parking is hard to come by). You will then be offered the service, for five pounds, of their "looking after your car" whilst its parked there.

innovative.


steve

Oh no Steve - don't say that we only have 40 odd days left!

You gotta love those enterprising little Skallies! A great service they offered your son though - five quid to take care of your car? Bargain! 

[Ruskie]

The 30th - I bet Nat and Ann are regretting exchanging her original clock for one I assume they hoped was better 

Its interesting to see Mrs Kennington has a kitchen. I always wonder reading the census in buildings of multiple occupancy, just how many rooms people actually lived in.

Carole

This never ending clock saga is making me laugh.  Poor old Nat - he must be so fed up with that thing by now. Wasn't it his suggestion that Ann swap her original clock for this Dutch one? He probably feels guilty so is persevering in trying to fix the thing. He is persistent and trying very hard to make it right - I feel a bit sorry for the poor lad.

Yes, it is interesting that Mrs Kennington has a kitchen. I wonder if it's only used by those living at 27 Stephen Street or if residents of other 'rooms' also use it?

We have Ann in the 1841 and 1851 censuses:

1841
St Pancras
STEPHEN STREET
Lots of people all living in seperate "rooms?"
including:
SOPHIA OLLIVE 50 DRESSMAKER Y
ANN FOX 30 F S , yes

1851 (this is 5 years after Nathaniel wrote his diary!)
27 Stephen Street
Cock Family
John BURNS
Mary Elizth KENNINGTON, unm 63, mangling , b Middlesex, St James, Picadilly
ANN FOX, 49, Charwoman, b Middlesex, Queen St

Can anyone remember if we found Mrs Kennington in the 1841 census? (I know that Mrs Burns died earlier in 1846).

As Ann and Mrs Kennington appear to be living with the Cock family and John Burns, I wonder why Nat says it's Mrs Kennington's kitchen rather than Mr or Mrs Cock's kitchen? Or perhaps the Cock family didn't live there in 1846?  I'll have another look at the census entry ... 

Added: I've just checked and they're enumerated oddly ... 

[deb usa]

Hi

Didn't Nat and Ann get 'up to wicked tricks' in Mrs Kennington's kitchen early on in the diary?

I don't think we found Mrs K in 1841

deb

[deb usa]

Sunday 26th April 1846
 From thence went to see Ann at Mrs Kennington in Stephen Street.  There regaled ourselves a little unlawfully …. and kitchen.  Supped there - bread, cheese and ale, and returned home afterward.


Where did the "wicked tricks' happen?

deb

[Ruskie]

You've got a good memory Deb - I'd completely forgotten about that.

oooooo! What are the missing words? How frustrating! It looks like Mrs Kennington is either out a lot or a party to their affair. And it sounds like it is Mrs Kennington's place rather than Ann's. (On the 1851 it looks like Ann is a "lodger").

If the word "and" was missing I would guess that they regaled themselves unlawfully in the kitchen, but those missing words are sending the imagination into overdrive. Maybe the missing words could be something like ... "in the parlor, the bedroom" ...  ...Also .... would it have been "unlawful"?  Added later ... Ignore this. Deb has cracked it! See her reply below. 

[Ruskie]

As an aside, I thought it was nice that Ann bought Nathaniel a silk handkerchief to thank him for fixing his clock. 

[deb usa]

If the word "and" was missing I would guess that they regaled themselves unlawfully in the kitchen, but those missing words are sending the imagination into overdrive. Maybe the missing words could be something like ... "in the parlor, the bedroom" ... 

...Also .... would it have been "unlawful"? 

Or the sentence could read :

There regaled ourselves a little unlawfully by swinging from the chandeliers in the parlour and kitchen.