The joys of copying and pasting
The Journal of Michael Pettyt 1857 as mentioned in my previous post
Preface:
This glimpse into the life of one of my ancestors, believed to be the cousin of my paternal grandmother was written in a simple accounting book with the almanac for 1856 on the opening pages.
The Reed Hotel still exists in Rochdale and was a coaching house
It appears that following an accident he travelled to Whitworth near Rochdale to see the world renowned Whitworth Taylor doctors
Whitworth Square is a designated conservation area. 200 years ago the pioneering Whitworth Taylor Doctors had their practice here. John Taylor was formerly a blacksmith and horse doctor. He lived at Whitworth House, just below the Red Lion public house. The Whitworth Doctors were local bone setters but also treated patients from London and overseas, including the then Archbishop of Canterbury.
He spent sometime writing his thoughts and sketching caricatures of people he met. To disguise who the particular caricature was he wrote the names in cursive script backwards! The names being, Tomas Morehouse, Tomas Pettyt, Sarah Bats and William Bailey.Lincolnshire
He also drew sketches of parts of masonry one he named as, Elizabeth Pickles Callis Bridge End ,Todmoren, he and /or his brother(?) Christopher Pettyt could have been stonemasons(?)
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As the following was written in pencil many words are virtually eligible but I am attempting to commit to print the script as I understand it.
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The life of Me for 1857. It was on the twelve day of January when I left home to go to Whitworth and when I landed to Rochdale. I t was the new market and when I landed to the Reed Hotel I got booked for Whitworth got the time of starting they refused to have me but by forceing them they took shame When I got into the coach when it hastened I realy thought that my leg was going to come off but I landed all safe to Whitworth oncemore and a verry fair considering the shape and on Tuesday morning I went under the da** and a middling fair day but a poor night and on Wednesday a poor day and a poor night On Thursday morning ******** once more and when I was at the doctors in came poor fellow with his fingers torn to pieces and they cut two off and set bone may the Lord grant him ***** to get better and all us poorly patients Friday middling easy in the morning but a poor aftermorn rather easier at night on ******** ********* once more a poor forenoon.
************* at dinner time another change at six oclock easier still thank the Lord for letting my poor lime (limb?) having rest once more and Sunday continues mather easier still mosed pain at night. Monday back again Tuesday leg(?) pain again.Of Wednesday horrid, such agony up out of bed as I never had in all my life, in the morning blistered on Wednesday night easier on Thursday all night .On Friday I got on to my crutches the pain took and most raiging(?) pain when in came the doctor chap, but still keeping my spirits up as well as I could but still thought I was over that I never should be my own man again. Poor night at Friday night rather easier Saturday. Good night Sunday. Good day Monday. Good night Monday.
A first rate day but horrid night with pain never slept I all tensed up still gets strong Tuesday a verry fair night on Wednesday a verry painful with blistering. Slept well at night on Thursday. Still get pain in night . Friday mostly so well a good night on Friday>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
He continues with good days and bad days until the last entry with regard to his injury is 31 days after arriving in Whitworth refers … on Thursday blisters! And there it ends but he must have survived as there are entries for 1861
