6th Month 1813
1.
Memorandums respecting our family and its affairs; also of some of our relations nearly connected with us in various respects,
intends therefore confining myself principally to the present and two preceding generations, except in our own particular
family which I intend to trace in the different branches, as long as I am permitted.
I shall begin my account with my Dear Parents. My Father, Daniel Beeby, was the youngest son and child of Nicholas & Mary Beeby of Wolsty born 3rd of 2nd month 1758, they had besides him three daughters viz Rachel, Mary, and Jane, and one son William, each of whom I shall have occasion to mention in course.
My Mother, Mary Beeby, was the oldest daughter and child of William and Mary Glaister of Newtown born 17th of 2nd month 1758; they had besides her, five children viz John, Thomas, Hannah, Joseph and Ruth, all of whom I shall also have occasion to mention.
My Father and Mother were friends that is the people called Quakers (as were their Parents and families on both sides) and were married in friends meeting house at Beckfoot the 28th of 7th month 1779 and came to reside at Allonby the 16th of the 9th month following, in a house belonging to John Beeby, Merchant they lived up stairs, and my Father had his shop underneath. About two years after my Grandfather Nicholas Beeby purchased that House, and the one adjoining, which after undergoing some alterations and repairs he gave one to my Father and the other to Aunt Jane Harker. Both houses have since undergone some alterations, and received some additions which are great improvements to the originals particularly Uncle Harkers.
My Mother had six children of whom I Mary was oldest born 1st of 10th month 1780 William born 15th of 12 month 1781, John born 6th of 4th month 1783. Rachel born l6th of 10th month 1784. Ann born 22nd of 11th month 1786 and Nicholas born 3rd of 12th month 1788 and died within three weeks after.
2.
On the 13th of 6th month 1779 my Aunt Jane Beeby was married at Bromfield to Richard Harker a very promising young man, but
not a friend, which was displeasing to her Parents a native of Yorkshire, but then and for some time had been employed in his
traide of a Cooper at the fishing yard Allonby and had become acquainted with my Aunt whilst living in the capacity of a servant
at John Beeby's Merchant. My Aunt has had three daughters viz Mary born 10th of 4th month 1780. Isabella born 1786 and died
a few weeks old, and Isabella born 18th of 8th month 1789.
3.
In the spring of 1781 my maternal great Grandfather Thomas Ostle of Newtown died aged 81, he walked to Allonby a few months
before to see me who was his first great grandchild and sixth successive generation he had seen of the name of Mary in a lineal
descent.
4.
In the latter and of the same year 1781, my Father and uncle Harker purchased a fishing boat called the Lion, which with her
repairs, cost upwards of £30. Soon after which they went into Partnership in the fish-curing business; and in the course of
the years 1782-83 & 84 erected a salthouse and large open room for empty barrels and lumber and sunk cisterns for salting herrings
in; which were all in the yard behind their respective houses they also erected the wood shade in addition to their other
conveniences. Uncle also built a cooper shop; but my Father had no share of the cooperage then nor until the present year
(1813).
5.
In the 6th month 1782 my Uncle John Glaister of Newtown was married in friends meeting house at Beckfoot, to my aunt Mary Beeby
of Wolsty who has had four children viz Rachel, Dan, John & William, Dan died when an infant.
6.
In the year 1785 about candlemas, my Aunt Rachel Beeby died of a dropsy at her Fathers house aged about 40 was unmaried.
7.
In the same year (1785) my Father who had in his youth served an apprenticeship to a blacksmith and had followed the trade
since, except in the herring-fishing season; now found some symptoms of his health being likly to suffer by close confinement
and hard labour, which notwithstanding he found not sufficiently productive to enable him to support their rapidly increasing
family, to his wish or their wants he determined therefore to take another course and try the sea-faring way of life accordingly
a small sloop was built at Allonby for him, named the Hope about 35 tons burthen, of which he had three eights, Uncle Harker
had other three and some of their f[rie] nds the remaining two. In this vessel Father left home for the Highlands of Scotland
the 14th of 6th month to the herring fishing and after an absence of about two months returned with a cargo of herrings. Soon
after that time they sold the boat Lion and had another built which they called Lion also.
8.
In the 6th month 1787 my Grandfather William Glaister was taken suddenly ill medical assistance immediatly was sent for but
before it could be procured he died aged about 54 years.
9.
In 1788 my maternal great Grandmother Mary Ostle widow of Thomas Ostle (before mentioned) died aged 80. She was married when
very young and had been the mother of fifteen children only five of whom survived her. Her maiden name was Stordy and was of
the Family of that name of Thurstonfield near Carlisle.
10.
My Father having been pretty successful in his line of business wished to have a larger vessel than the Hope accordingly in
the year 1789, another was built at Maryport for him burthen 63 tons named the assistance in allusion to her being intended
an Assistance to him in the support of his family which I can with thankfulness add he was favoured to experience. Father
and Uncle Harker had each a share of the vessel, there were also several other owners.
11.
In the 12th month 1788 my Uncle William Beeby was married in friends meeting-house at Beckfoot to Mary Porthouse, who had
not been brought up a friend, but had attended meetings for some time and been admitted a member. Previous [sic] to marrage
she has had five children viz Rachel, Jane, Nicholas and William the two last died in the twelfth month 1789 within a week
of each other after which they had another son born in the year 1800 named Nicholas.
12.
In the 10th month 1789 my Mothers paternal Uncle Robert Glaister died at the Isle of Man where he had resided for some time
having married a Manks woman whom he left a widow with three daughters.
13.
In the 6th month 1792 my maternal Uncle Joseph Glaister of Newtown was married at the Abbey church to Mary Chambers of Blitter
Lees. They have no children surviving he died suddenly in 1843 the latter end of 7th month.
14.
The year 1793 was a memorable one to our family on account of the occurence which took place. In the course of the summer
Brother John had the misfortune to break his arm twice in six weeks. And in the 8th month my Grandmother Mary Glaister of
Newtown died aged about.[sic] My Grandfather Nicholas Beeby also died in the 11th month - And Aunt Hannah Glaister was married
at Bromfield to John Nelson of Allonby in the 11th month of the same year. My Aunt has had ten children six of whom are surviving.
She died suddenly in the year 1839 or 40 leaving three surviving children.
15.
In the 2nd Mo. 1794 Aunt Ruth was married at Broomfield to John Coulson from near Brampton Cumberland my Aunt has had twelve
children ten of whom are now living. Aunt Ruth has had another son (since the above was wrote) born 11th month 1815. She
had 3 sons at one birth in the year 1800 and died 1845 aged about 76 years.
16.
On the 25th of 1st month 1796 there was an unusally awful high tide which occasioned a great deal of damage along this coast
to a great many people by washing down partly or totally several houses; and other buldings and erections occupied for carring
on the businefs of the respective propietors. Among those who suffered in their Property were Father and Uncle Harker by the
washing down of the wood-shade, and an open yard (below and oppisite their dwelling Houses and back conviences) besides damages
of a more trifling nature which it is difficult now to recollect, and immaterial to enumerate. But Uncle Harker had in addition
to those a severe loss by the Greyhound inn at Skimburness being a great part of it washed down and what tended to make the
trial feel more heavy, it had only been recently purchased and payment made for it a few days previous to its being permitted
to be laid thus almost in ruin. He afterwards rebult, enlarged and improved it.
17.
I do not recolect any thing particular that occurred in the year 1797 so shall pass it over without further notice.
18.
In the 6th month 1798 my Father made a settlement for the assistance, which with some made before ammounted to a handsome
some more than repaid the owners their money advanced and Interest upon it, which was so highly satisfactory to them, that
they awarded him a silver cup (engraved with an inscription suitable to the occasion) and half a dozen silver table spoons.
The owners of the Sloope Hope had on his clearing her, awarded him a sum of money to purchase a piece of plate as a reward
of merit; but thinking the money would be of more use to him for he appropriated it to another purpose. But in the latter
instance he had not the Liberty of so doing; for the owners requsted that Uncle Harker who was (what is called) Ships Husband
would procure the articles for him on their account which was accordingly done.
19.
As the Assistance was returning from the Highlands fishing with a cargo of herring in the night of the 29th of 10th month
in the same year (1798) she ran upon a rock in the sound of Islay and struck so fast that little or no Probability appeared
of her getting off again, except in pieces.
My Father and the other then took to the boat with a view of saving their lives as long as possiable and through the mercy of kind providence were enabled to land safely on a small Island not very distant from where the vessel lay, the higher part of which they ascended to ascertain if they could discern the fate of the vessel when lo, to there great joy and astonishment they discovered her off the rock from whence she had been forced by the violence of the wind and sea (and standing or rather drifting almost direct from where they were) the wind favouring that course which when perceiving, they immiadtly retook to the boat and got safely on board the sloop which they found considerablly injured, yet not so much, but that they could, with pumping, and other means keep her up until they reacched place of safty which happily they accomplished the following morning where the cargo was discharged in order to make such repairs of the vessel as circumstances would admit of and such as proved sufficent to make her bring both crew and cargo safely to Maryport. Upon examining the keel was found to be so much injured by the rock that it was necessary to take it out and put a knew one in.
Thus ended in a favourable manner what at one time appeared extremely dangerous. May it be remembered as one of the many mercies received from the had of merciful God.
20.
On the l8th of 6th month 1799 it pleased infinite wisdom to permit a close trial in the removal by death of our Dear Mother.
She had been for a long time in a verry poor state of health yet at her own particular request, was carried in a cart to my
Uncle William Beebys at Wolsty only a few days prior to her decease which happened there.
I was then and had been for a few weeks stopping there for the benefit of my health, and it was on account of seeing me that she could not be dissauded from attempting what appeared too much for her to undertake without suffring from it but maternal affection was willing to encounter every obstacle and submit to those that could not be surmounted she bore the journy as well as expected and I do not belive that her life was shortned on its account.
She was in the 42nd year of her age, and interred in the friends burying ground at Beckfoot Her character may be comprised in a few words. A virtuous woman whose price is above rubies.
21.
In the years 1800 & 1801. I do not recollect any thing particular that occurred in our own family, but on the 29th of 9th month
1801 David Harris of Maryport (who was engaged to marry with cousin Mary Harker on his return) died in the yellow fever at
Norfolk in Amrica.
22.
In the year 1802 we got the shop fitted up and my sisters and self commenced business in the linen drapery line. As we had
not been accustomed to traide we preferred selling by commsion until we obtained some knowledge of the buisness. B Smith of
Penrith supplied with goods in that way until the year 1806 when we begun at our own risk, and have been favoured to find it
upon the whole exceeds our previous expectations.
23.
In the year 1804 Uncle Harker and my Father purchased the great fishery yard and the former many of the houses & on the South
side. and those not dwellings he got converted into them Besides the room occupied for curing fish & they had each a garden
also some other conveniences.
24.
In the 11th month of the same year cousin Rachel Glaister was married at the Abbey Church to James Little a native of the north
of Cumberland who was a servant in husbandry.
25.
Also in the same year my Brother William entered Captain of the Assistance on the death of Edward Parker who had been captain
since Father left her on the decease of our Mother.
26.
In the 7th Month 1805 - my Grandmother Mary Beeby died at Newtown aged 89. And in the following month my Mothers paternal
aunt Rachel Ostle widow of Thomas Ostle (one of the sons of my Great Grandfather of the same name before mentioned died at
Allonby. Also my Fathers maternal aunt Elizabeth Holiday of Beckfoot died in the 9th month aged 87.