Friday, March 17, 1837

1837

March

Friday 17

7 3/4

12 40/..

Marginal note:  Thieves in the house

No kiss.

John called us at 5 40/.., saying there was somebody in the house – Ann jumped up, so did I, but on hearing that it was there had been, a minute or 2 before, somebody in the house, that they had come in at the north parlour window, and nothing seemed to be gone (not even the plate), I got into bed again and lay very quietly, leaving Ann to inquire and tell me the news –

She persists in the belief that they were in the house when she called me to look about, and had remained in all night – Not a noise was heard till John heard something and got up about 5 1/2 or before – just before which, Cookson awoke hearing them trying to unscrew the lock of her room-door – She called out to know if it was John who was there, and this perhaps frightened them away –

My feeling was shame that people could have got in, and thus had their full swing in the house without our hearing – Yet nothing seemed disturbed except my writing box moved off the table in the north parlour and 1 or 2 other things moved, and the padlock of the great oak chest in the upper kitchen forced open – But none of my books there were disturbed –

Out a little while – Made little mention of the night business, except to give the necessary orders about putting the north parlour casement iron stauncheon in again, and sending for the glazier to replace the one pane taken out –

Breakfast with Ann at 9 –

About, chiefly in the house, till 12.   told Bligh to get the turn up bed downstairs (from the red room) into the drawing room, he to come sleep there –

Ann off at 11 1/4 to Cliff hill – Had workmen there –

Out at 12 with Robert +4 – Finished resetting the 2 great rocks with West this morning –

Went down to the meer this afternoon – Laid one coat of puddle about the meer end clow, and then till after 6 getting down an enormous piece of rag from the brink of Charles Howarth’s field to the Embankment –

With John Booth cleaning and firing pistols, and then with Bligh putting up the bed and putting my books out of the way till 5 3/4,  then at the meer, and came in at 6 50/..

Dressed – Dinner at 7 – Coffee about 8, at which hour, Robert Mann, and brought us a little dog belonging to one of his neighbours, to be a guard to the house, or at least to hear for us – I had asked him about a dog – and had sent off John Booth to Halifax between 9 and 10 for a brace of pistols – We have now 3 brace of pistols, and a gun, all loaded and in good order – Bligh

and George at one end of the house , and all the rest of us at the other –

Fine day – Fahrenheit 35° at 11 p.m., almost till which time, busy with John loading pistols and firing and preparing for the night – Surely, we shall be let alone for a while – but I hope – everybody hopes the people will could again, and give us a chance of hearing them –


WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/20/0035


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