Archives Document of the Month for January 2013
To give some idea of the archives available for access, we highlight an example below.
Diary entries for 5th – 30th January 1809, Dr Thomas Lucas of Stirling
The pages shown are taken from the diaries of Dr Thomas Lucas, surgeon in Stirling. The Archive holds two of Dr Lucas’s diaries, and also a Memorandum Book. The diaries contain everything from day to day news in the town, to comments on Dr Lucas’s friends, family and business acquaintances, to international affairs and even the state of the weather. Written before the first local newspapers are available for Stirling (the Stirling Journal began in 1820), these diaries afford us a fascinating view of Georgian Stirling as seen through the eyes of a local eminent surgeon and businessman, whose lively interest in the world around him is evidenced by the range of topics recorded.
The entries are quite easy to read, but highlights from these pages include:
January 1809
5th An extraordinary heavy fall of Snow with a high wind from the NE
7th Bought John Dicks House & garden at Whinwell for Nine hundred pounds Sterling, this will in all probability be the last purchase of property that I intend to make
15th Another heavy fall of Snow & the Forth again frozen over, a man deranged in his mind was found dead at Bannockburn he had been in the village of Bannockburn two days before, his parents it appeared afterwards lived at Kincardine east from Alloa
Our Armies are retreating before the French in Spain towards the port of Vigo, where we have a Fleet and transports to receive them. Shipwrecks continue frequent upon our Coasts.
21st The Storm continues with unabating Severity. Another revolution in Turkey the Old Sultan Strangled & the New Sultan Mahomet, has taken refuge with the Nisir onboard of a Ship of War.
27th News arrived of the Embarkation of Sir John Moors Army at Corrunna with great loss & the Death of Sir John Moore who was Killed in reputing an Attack of the French during the Embarkation. Sold my house & Garden in Spittal Street to Archibald Sawers Baker for £430 Sterling, This has not been a bargain attended either with much profit or Loss.
30th Walter Lyon who had my Small garden at the back of the town has decamped to Glasgow without paying my rent for the same.
To read more about Dr Lucas and see entries from his 1813 diary released as we progress throughout the year, please see Stirling Council’s brand new blog for 2013 http://thedrlucasdiaries.wordpress.com/
Diary entries for 5th – 30th January 1809, Dr Thomas Lucas of Stirling
The pages shown are taken from the diaries of Dr Thomas Lucas, surgeon in Stirling. The Archive holds two of Dr Lucas’s diaries, and also a Memorandum Book. The diaries contain everything from day to day news in the town, to comments on Dr Lucas’s friends, family and business acquaintances, to international affairs and even the state of the weather. Written before the first local newspapers are available for Stirling (the Stirling Journal began in 1820), these diaries afford us a fascinating view of Georgian Stirling as seen through the eyes of a local eminent surgeon and businessman, whose lively interest in the world around him is evidenced by the range of topics recorded.
The entries are quite easy to read, but highlights from these pages include:
January 1809
5th An extraordinary heavy fall of Snow with a high wind from the NE
7th Bought John Dicks House & garden at Whinwell for Nine hundred pounds Sterling, this will in all probability be the last purchase of property that I intend to make
15th Another heavy fall of Snow & the Forth again frozen over, a man deranged in his mind was found dead at Bannockburn he had been in the village of Bannockburn two days before, his parents it appeared afterwards lived at Kincardine east from Alloa
Our Armies are retreating before the French in Spain towards the port of Vigo, where we have a Fleet and transports to receive them. Shipwrecks continue frequent upon our Coasts.
21st The Storm continues with unabating Severity. Another revolution in Turkey the Old Sultan Strangled & the New Sultan Mahomet, has taken refuge with the Nisir onboard of a Ship of War.
27th News arrived of the Embarkation of Sir John Moors Army at Corrunna with great loss & the Death of Sir John Moore who was Killed in reputing an Attack of the French during the Embarkation. Sold my house & Garden in Spittal Street to Archibald Sawers Baker for £430 Sterling, This has not been a bargain attended either with much profit or Loss.
30th Walter Lyon who had my Small garden at the back of the town has decamped to Glasgow without paying my rent for the same.
To read more about Dr Lucas and see entries from his 1813 diary released as we progress throughout the year, please see Stirling Council’s brand new blog for 2013 http://thedrlucasdiaries.wordpress.com/
