A Farm Journal ~ 17th to the 31st December 1869 ...

My great great great uncle John Bayliff Bowman lived at Summer Hill, near Monyash in the County of Derby. 

The Bowman family, who were Quakers, had three farms, One Ash Grange [which John Bayliff Bowman often referred to as O.A.], Cales and Summer Hill [which he usually referred to as S.Hill or S.H.]

John Bayliff Bowman is fourth from the left in the photo below ...

 

 

 A Farm Journal continues :~

 

6 - 17 Fine rec[eive]d letters at South Field one from J.Kirby enclos[in]g ch[eque ?] - one from Chester about Farm there & it appearing likely I proceeded thither arr[iving] Queens Ferry on Chester & Hollyhead line 6 miles fr[om] Chester & walked about 1 mile back to Sandycroft Farm 215 ac[res] rent including tithe £500 - occupied by John Taylor J[unio]r Esq - looked over farm sandy loam in first rate condition& waited till 6 pm for Taylor, did not come so to Chester to Hop Pole Inn to lodge

 

7 - 18 Very showery to Churton & Elphick Auctioneers adv[e]rt[ise]d the farm - spoke with Elphick & after noon met Taylor & he who seemed inclined to let it me the rem[ainde]r of lease if approved by Agent to W.E.Gladstone Sir Stephen Glynne - Burnett - left Chest[e]r to M'Chester & staid at B.Brayshaws

 

1 - 19 Fine left for B[akewe]ll atend[e]d meeting & on to Ashford - wet horse aft[ernoo]m found all well

 

2 - 20 Fine look[e]d round all going on well Jesse began ley at S.H. Groove close to Middleton to dine to talk with W[illia] who has been poorly - going with me to morrow to Chester - bo[ugh]t calving cow 2 mo[nth ?] 10 off F Purslove £14

 

3 - 21 Fine day self to Middleton for W[illia]m & on to B[akewe]ll 1.26 for Chester arr[ived] 5 - to Hop Pole

4 - 22 Very wet snow & rain by rail to Queens Ferry station met John Taylor & on to Sandycroft in his gig - got bit lunch looked at agreement etc & then looked round farm - satisfactory - got dinner & on with Taylor in gig to Burnett the agent - gave him references & on to Chest[e]r stayed all night & on home in morn[in]g 

 

5 - 23 Fine S.A. at B[akewe]] to meet me safe home found all right

 

6 - 24 Fine day Mrs Slack & Miss Melland to help to divide the dole

 

7 - 25 Frosty Xmas day

 

1 - 26 ditto morn[in]g - snow[e]d aft[ernoo]n

 

2 - 27 Frosty morn[in]g then snow[e]d fast till noon W[illia]m & I ferret[e]d in dale a bit

 

3 - 28 Fine tied heifers up at Cales gr[oun]d cov[ere]d snow

 

4 - 28 Fine frost & snow

 

5 - 30 ditto

 

6 - 31 snow gone mild - Have taken the farm at Sandy Croft - here endeth the year 1869 -