Title
Diary kept by members of the Browne family of Flitton
Note The family concerned was that of the Rev. Alfred Browne, Vicar of Flitton from 1834 until his death on 26 March 1876.
The diary was kept in a large bound volume originally intended just to cover the year 1842, with 1 day to a page. It is marked on the title page 'Alfred T Browne from J A Pym, Esq'
The diary was begun by the Vicar's son Alfred (15 in 1851) but was kept up in later years by Mr Browne himself, the younger son, Henry, and probably by the aunt (Mrs Browne's sister, Charlotte Bobart) who was living with them and perhaps also Mrs Browne herself or the daughter, Flora, with occasional entries by the family servant or others, for example Mr Brownes' pupil, R Wigram (see 18 August 1851). It has proved difficult to identify exactly each correspondent as sometimes it seems as though the entries were deliberately made impersonally.
Not only has it proved difficult to identify some of the writers of the entries concerned, but also the people mentioned, especially as in the later part of the diary often just the initial letter of the name is given. There is also variation in clarity of handwriting - Alfred's being very readable, his father's not so.
From the diary it is apparent that the family mixed with other clergy families in the immediate neighbourhood and also with the families of local professional men. There are also references to family members who have not been positively identified i.e. Grandmama in Finedon, Northants, whom the family visit regularly, by train.
The diary contains little or no expressions of opinion,
but mainly factual information about the daily lives of the family at Flitton Vicarage for the years concerned.
It contains an entry for every day, with the occasional exception. Always the weather is given, and usually the daily occupations of the family (walking, visiting etc).
Callers are also mentioned, and often local births, marriages and deaths (for which the church bell was tolled). Mr Browne's religious duties are often referred to (especially in the entries he makes himself).
Apart from a [brief] account of a visit to Finedon and to the Great Exhibition in 1851, the diary is almost entirely concerned with Flitton matters. When Alfred, and later his brother, went off to school, and then to Oxford University, the diary did not go with them but stayed at home - which accounts for the entries being made by other members of the family.
Main writers or people concerned:-
Rev Alfred Browne
He was baptised on 21 October 1804 at Felmersham the
son of the Rev John Browne, Rector of Helmdon, Northants, and Martha his wife.
[The Rev John Browne and Martha Miller, had been married by licence at Felmersham on 13 October 1803]
The Alumni Oxoniensis mentions that Alfred was the son of John of Bridgewater, Somerset, and was a student at Christ Church. He gained his BA in 1826 and his MA in 1829.
Mr Browne's obituary in the Bedfordshire Times records
his death on 26 March 1876, and his burial at Flitton on 1 April aged 71. He was a 'ripe' scholar and an Asiatic linguist. He had obtained high honours in classical schools. He was an astronomer and had a telescope in the garden. [Indeed the diary records the occasional astronomical observation].
Mrs Browne
From the various census entries it appears that she had been born at Oxford, in the parish of St Peter's in the East, as Elizabeth Bobart, in about 1802.
She was buried at Flitton (by the South Chancel door of
the Church) on 25 February 1873 at which time her age was given as 73.
Charlotte Hobday Bobart
She was Mrs Browne's sister, also born at St Peter's in
the East, Oxford, about 1804. She was buried (aged 59) at Flitton on 15 September 1863.
They seem to have been the sisters of Henry Hodgkinson Bobart, who was the 2nd son of Tilleman H. Bobart of St Peter's in the East, Oxford. He was a student at Christ Church College, and gained his B A in 1826 and his M A in 1829 [i.e. at the same time as Mr Browne].
Children of Mr and Mrs Browne
Alfred Tilleman Browne.
Born at Flitton on 29 September 1835. He was privately baptised on 31 October of that year and was admitted to the Church on 5 November.
In the 1851 census he was living at home apparently studying the classics with his father. [He refers in the early pages of the diary to the classical texts he is reading - as well as to the works of other authors, including Scott].
He went to Sherborne School briefly in 1854 and matriculated on 5 December of that year. He then went to Corpus Christi College, Oxford, from which, in 1858, he obtained his B A (2nd class Natural Sciences - perhaps reflecting his interests in gardening and natural history - again mentioned in the early part of the diary). He received his MA in 1862. He was ordained deacon in 1863 and Priest in 1864.(Rochester diocese). He spent most of his life in various livings in the Kent area.
Henry Ernest Browne.
Born 30 March 1837 and baptised on 14 April. He was admitted into the congregation on 23 May. He also apparently went to Sherborne School for a short time.
He matriculated on 29 February 1856. He was a student at Corpus Christi, and then went to New Hall Inn. He obtained his BA in 1862.
Flora Elizabeth Browne
baptised on 3 April 1840.
Presumably away at School [Northamptonshire? London?] at the time of the 1851 Census. Unmarried at her father's death in 1876. There is no mention of her in the 1881 census for the County
Main events
1851
1 January Diary begun. Entries made by Alfred recording books read, purchases, classical studies, summer cricket matches, seeds sown in garden, mechanical matters including an interest in clocks etc
4 January Papa had a letter to inform him of the arrival of the petition and its approval by the Queen
28 January Papa ill and bled with leeches
10 February Rough music at Greenfield in the evening
19 February 'Mr Sayer came to take Papa to the poll at Ampthill'
3 May Papa's new pupil came [Mr R Wigram]
17 July Papa went to opening of church at Hawnes
31 July Went to see steam engine threshing wheat near Pulloxhill
20 September Saw preparations at Wrest for gasworks
30 September Went to Great Exhibition. Very much pleased with the machinery and the dioptic lighthouse
3 October Saw steam engine at Brentford and Kew Gardens
6 October Went to Woolwich Dockyard
20 October - 13 November Schoolroom enlarged. Small bell turret made.
Decmeber 18 - 22 Cooper called to brew 20 December. School room used for first time without partition.
26 December. Stove placed in schoolroom
1852
References to lectures in the Kitchen (throughout year)
5 February Partition being put up in School
10 February Vicarage drawing room floor made secure, joists rotten, weight of organ did not help
19 February Fine aurora borealis
25 February Charles Lowaras [?] taken to lunatic asylum at Bedford
14 March Club funeral before afternoon service
22 and 23 March Temperatures 80%
24 April Went to Wrest Park to see artesian spring near Hill's House (the gamekeeper)
23 May 'Papa had the telescope out in the evening..'
9 July Observed an emission from one of Jupiter's satellites
19 July [Entry by Mr Browne] 'Charley Pym weighs
14s 8lb although only 17 years old'
17 December 'Papa began the Writing School'
30 December Papa issued his first marriage licence
1853
11 - 17 January Entry in code/shorthand
21 January Bought some steel pens for the writing school
31 January Written by Henry as Alfred off to Sherbourne School
12 February 'William went to Clophill to take Flora's toothbrush that was forgotten and salve for her chilblains'
[briefer entries throughout year in various hands]
23 December Alfred came home
1854
11 January to end of month No entries
February Alfred and Henry both going to Sherbourne [briefer entries for rest of year, in various hands]
18 August Written by Mr Browne. Took 2 photographs
21 October Henry's last day here
1855
5 January Deer hunt
12 January Heard of Flora's safe arrival at Brighton
19 February Alfred and Henry left for Oxford and London [brief entries, written by various hands]
1857
23 January Alfred and Henry left for Oxford
13 April Alfred left for Oxford
25 April Henry left for Oxford
6 July Fanny the new maid came
7 July Hill the gamekeeper buried
4 July Clophill tea drinking
7 October Fast day [for Indian Mutiny]
1858
19 January 'C went to the Infant's School'
23 January A & H to Oxford
17 April Nightingale singing in garden
13 July Sarah Clarke came to offer herself for the place
19 July Lord de Grey sent venison
26 July Sarah Clarke came
27 September A & H on excursion to Matlock. 'The comet very bright' [Donati's comet]
5 October 'The comet very bright in the evening'
9 October 'The weeping and copper beech trees planted on the lawn'
16 October Saw comet very faintly
20 October Chestnut tree in Churchyard cut down
1859
1 February Mr Mendham [of Clophill] sent magic lantern. Writing class
9 February Lecture in schoolroom with views of India
26 February 'I began to teach the Girls singing in Church'
27 February - 9 March Cooper brewing
1 April New carpet came from London
20 April Nightingale singing
6 May Mr B went to Ampthill to vote
10 July Feast Sunday
22 July Opening of Pulloxhill organ
5 August Flora with toothache. Did not seem to get better even after administration of laurel leaves and chamomile outwardly
9 September Notices holes bored in Balsam Poplar supposedly by grub of goat moth
28 September Mrs B heard of death of Uncle Hanbury who died at Crystal Palace on 26th
1860
generally brief routine entries
20 January Deposits received for Penny Bank for first time
7 May Nightingale heard
17 May Marmalade making
16 July Visit of chimney sweep
18 July Little eclipse of the sun
August Henry learns drilling
13 August James Evans for character to go on railway as stoker, Gt Northern
1861
generally brief routine entries No reference to census
10 August A. left for Westmoreland
6 November Magic lantern again a failure owing to 2nd breakage of chimney
25 November A gentleman from Canada called (Revd Stannard)
1862 References to Flora teaching writing and singing. Adult class
22 April Nightingale heard
27 June Last entry in book
At back Entry in code/shorthand. Latin and English names of flowers