Anonymous Diary

The oldest diary in the Great Diary Project collection is an anonymous one for the years 1735 and 1736 They describe it as a chance acquisition. The diary has been donated to the Bishopgate Institute and is described as a pair of small, unprepossessing volumes, which contain an account of someone’s religious activities in the years 1735 and 1736. In minute handwriting, the writer documents a number of sermons he or she attended during those years. Meticulously recorded for each sermon are the date, location, preacher, text(s) and arguments. Most of the sermons were preached by Peter Goodwin (c 1684-1747), minister at the non-conformist chapel at Ropemaker’s Alley, Moorfields, in the City of London, a congregation which later moved to nearby Aldermanbury Postern. Thanks to the Great Diary Project, and to what they call the chance survival of this diary, this fascinating document is now be available as a source for researchers interested in the history of religion in the 18th century.

Samuel Checkley's Diary

Samuel Checkley (1695-1769) was the pastor of the New South Church in Boston, Massachusetts. His diary notes from a 1735 almanac is extant. The annual Thanksgiving Day for 1735 came on Thursday, November 13, and Checkley notes that he preached all day. He also records that July 4 was Commencement at Cambridge and that it was a rainy day with a northeast wind. That life in the days of the horse and the chaise was not without its excitements and even dangers, is shown by an accident that is thus recorded in the Weekly Journal of Monday, July 7: On Friday last the Day of the Commencement at Cambridge, a Person belonging to Milton, being mounted on his Horse, and riding homewards, was met by a Chaise which run against his Leg, and broke the same so dangerously, that his Life is in great hazzard.