Reference
X67/926
Title
Diary kept by Edwin Ransom as a young man. The diary begins at the age of 15 when Edwin is attending Lewesford House School, Tilehouse Street, Hitchin and ends with his marriage to Amy Wright in 1871. Much of the subject matter is concerned with his studies, the books he has bought and is reading, his religious feelings and the meetings of the Society of Friends.
Date free text
1857-1871
Production date
From: 1857 To: 1871
Scope and Content
Family matters include visits from and to aunts and cousins, marriages and funerals. For example: Cousin's wedding, p20, Marriage of Caroline Ransom and William Pryor Read, p22. John Ransom 70 p21. Funeral of Richard Marks Brown, p37. Pa 70 p47. 22/4/60 declining state of aunt Mary Exton p53. 19/8/60 birthday 19 today p63. Pa's death p109. Looking forward to marriage and the changes it will bring p117.
Business and the move to Kempston: 22/6/58 'I to Kempston soon have been some 4 or 5 times already' p44. 'I to stay about the mill for 3 or 4 weeks to learn' p47. Move to Kempston, enlargement of mill and new house by Conquest 1858-9, p48-9, 52. Taking on the buying and selling p54. Pa's great delight in greenhouse p56. Trade slack p56. Trade good p66. JCs opposition in trade p106-7. 'Partnership with G Horn has almost no alloy and is eminently satisfactory in some large and small respects! Farming before us (tho' in debt to bank) and I talk of writing perhaps in a local newspaper' p117.
There are occasional passing references to other local, national and international events: Opening of the Hitchin-London line '4 trains each way' p21. Wishes disasters to British Rule in India p32. Disturbances in Hitchin (related to a bill before Parliament in which his father was involved?) p46. 'The Italian Kingdom at length formed Great excitement in parliament about Nap III taking Savoy and Nice. The Chinese expedition has silently proceeded on its way. ' p 54. Accident to the Manchester Express at Hatfield p56. Breaking up of the Hitchin Library p64. Flood, p64. 'Politics are rather fearful - many looking for a European war (wh in any magnitude I do not incline to expect' p 114.
There are many references to his travels in England particularly a trip to the south-west and a description of his European tour p96-104.
Exent
117, No. of pieces: 1
manuscript
Format
volume
Reference
Level of description
item