William Bray

“ It is remarkable that a young attorney of 22 should have been invited to the social meetings of elderly and middle-aged gentlemen of the highest position in the neighbourhood. His grandson, the late Mr. Edward Bray, inherited his companionable qualities, and was welcome in every house he visited. ”

“ Bray succeeded to the possession of the Manors of Shere and Gumshall, which had belonged to his ancestors from the reign of Henry the Eighth. When ten years old he was placed at Rugby, where he remained until he was articled to Mr. Martyr, an Attorney of Guildford. In 1761, he was appointed a Clerk of the Board of Green Cloth, at St. James’s, through the patronage of Sir John Evelyn. His attendance at the Board did not prevent his practising as an Attorney, and it introduced him to many clients. ”

“ MEMORANDA
1806, Nov. 15th.—This day, I completed my 70th year, without having ever met with any accident of consequence and with very little interruption to my health, except in January last, when I had a very serious attack by an inflammation in my lungs, but from which I am perfectly recovered. My eyesight is so good that I can and generally do use my eyes in reading or writing from the time of getting up in the morning till 10 at night. My hearing is in no way impaired. I have not lost one front tooth and very few others. ”

“ Bray’s marriage made little difference in his habits this year. He was almost every night with his friends at cards or backgammon; in the summer evenings at bowls; frequently at the morning services on week days at the Middle Church. ”

“ These eight consecutive days were spent in society. When in London he dined every week at the ‘Crown and Anchor’ with his antiquary friends, and often received them to dinner. He played at whist still, but not so often.
[44c] Sir Peter Burrell married the Baroness Willoughby of Eresby, and was made Lord Gwydir. He and his descendants were among the best clients of Mr. Bray’s office.
[45] The thermometer fell one and a half degree below zero.
[47a] As one of the Clerks at the Board of Green Cloth he had to collect the land tax from the Officers of State. ”

“ Martyr set out at 8 this morning for London. Walked with Miss Molly Flutter and Miss Parson to Chilworth, and fished there. Mrs. Street made us a syllabub.
22nd.—To Mr. Street’s at Chilworth, with Miss Molly and Sally Flutter to dinner. They finished their hopping to-day. About six we began dancing, two Miss Grenville’s, Miss Betsey Smallpeice, Miss Hall, two Stovolds’s, and young Hall, Mr. Street and us; there being one woman too many, we changed our partners, and one woman always sat down. We danced till 3 or 4. All lay there. ”

“ Bray’s descendants; who will see in them a remarkable instance of a life of sociability and amusement, combined with great and successful industry.
More extracts would have only shewn the same activity and pursuits.
p. 5MEMOIR.
Mr. Bray was born at Shere, on the 15th of November, 1736. He was the youngest of the three sons who survived their father Edward Bray, Esq. George the eldest, who was in the Church, and the second son Edward, who was in the Army, both died unmarried ”

“ The question was, whether the increase of unmarried people was owing to the men’s greater bashfulness, or women’s greater coyness, than formerly.
13th.—Went to Drury Lane house: ‘Tancred and Sigismunda.’ Garrick, Tancred; Mrs. Cibber, Sigismunda.
14th.—To Covent Garden, ‘Orpheus and Euridice.’
15th.—Drank tea at Mrs. Emily’s [8b] ; played at cards. Home at 11.
16th.—Came home with Mr. Martyr in his new chaise by 6.
18th.—Dined at Mr. P. Flutter’s; walked up Berry Field with Miss Flutter’s, Miss Nancy Steere, and Miss Parson.
22nd.—To Mr. Bullen’s to dinner, played at quadrille. ”

“ He only paid 10d. for his dinners (without wine) at the ‘White Hart’ and the ‘Tuns,’ and 6s. a week for his lodgings in the town.
[22a] Miss Adee and Betsy Stevens were the bridesmaids.
[22b] Mrs. C.’s was the lodging Mr. Jenkins had taken for him in Lothbury.
[22c] He left a particular account of his expenses on his marriage. The following are some of them:—
[23a] They received friends to tea every evening this week. They lived in a house with a garden, in which Mr. Bray planted fruit trees and shrubs, but where it was does not appear in the Diary. ”

“ Mr. Jenkins was in Mr. Adderley’s office, and afterwards entered into partnership with Mr. Bray. Mr. James was also in the same office.
[15b] He went to his French master for some months, an hour at a time; not regularly.
[16] About this time he bought many books, all at low prices, at stalls and auctions.
[17a] Playing at cards almost every night, and always for coin, he had a purse on purpose.
[17b] Whilst at Guildford he lodged at Baptist’s for 7s. a week. He dined at the ‘White Hart,’ for 10d. ”

“ April 9th.—Having a cold, with a difficulty of breathing, I was bleeded this morning, and found benefit by night.
10th.—At whist till past 11.
May 7th.—On Stephens’s horse to London. To Mr. Adderley’s; at 5 with him to the ‘Feathers’ Tavern, and dined. Away at 8; at 9 Jenkins, Mersing, and Boughton came to me at the ‘Angel’ and stayed till past 12; paid for dinner and wine, 2s. 6d.
9th.—Walked about; called on Adderley; dined with Jenkins; home by Epsom; paid for breakfast at the ‘Angel,’ 8d.; two nights’ lodging, 1s. 6d. maid, 1s.; horse and hostler, 3s. 2d.; turnpike, 41⁄2d. horse hire, 6s. ”

“ March 21st.—Dined at the ‘Crown and Anchor’ (Antiquaries’ Club) , Dr. Hamilton, Sir Wm. Musgrave, Mr. Charles Townshend, Mr. Weston, Seward, Brand, Ord, Lysons; tea at the Coffee House (Holyland’s) paid, for dinner, 2s.; tea, 11d.
Aug. 14th.—In Southampton long coach to town at 6; breakfasted at Alton; dined at ‘Catherine Wheel,’ at Egham; drank tea at Hatchett’s.
24th.—Rode with Edward to Mr. Jenkins’s, at Putney, dined and drank tea. Home at 8.
Oct. 13th.—To Leatherhead to Mr. Cooper’s; to Shere; no dinner.
14th.—Dined at the ‘White Hart,’ Guildford; drank tea at Mr. Polhill’s (Albury) . ”

“ Evelyn to the Board of Green Cloth. There till 3, dined at Clifton’s Chop House. Paid for dinner, 1s.
28th.—Breakfasted at Dr. Adee’s. The Miss Adee’s walked with me to look for a house. Mr. Jenkins supped with me.
29th.—To the Green Cloth at 11; at 3 to the ‘Angel,’ and dined there. To Covent Garden Theatre, but could not get in. Drank tea at Adderley’s; quadrille. Paid for dinner, 1s. 6d.; rum, 1s. 2d.; orange chips, 3d.; cakes, 2d.
1762, Jan. 18th.—Queen’s Birth-day. We all dined at St. James’s. At 11 home in a chaise; paid for chaise, 1s. 6d. ”

“ The Guildford Races were then in May.
[32e] Mr. Sturt was a barrister, and a relation of Mr. Bray’s. Mr. Budgen, Mr. Talbot, and Mr. Scawen, were trustees of the charity.
[33a] A tour with Mr. Jenkins to Oxford, Bath, Gloucester, Salisbury, Blenheim, Fonthill, Longleat, Chepstow, &c. They hired a carriage and horses for the journey; and, in a rhyming letter to his wife, he writes:—
‘We hired from friend Bryant a very good chaise,
Intending thus travelling quite at our ease.
James was mounted behind on a fine prancing steed,
To take care of the baggage and help us if need.’
Mr. ”

“ April 17th.—At 6 set out in the coach for London. Dined at Kingston; in about 5. With James and Jenkins to Mr. Boughton’s; at whist till 11. Paid coach and man, 5s. 6d.; dinner, 2s.
18th.—To the play: ‘The Provoked Husband,’ Mr. Garrick.
19th.—Breakfasted with James at Johnstone’s Coffee House, Charing Cross. Paid for chocolate and muffin, 21⁄2d.
23rd, Sunday.—To St. Dunstan’s Church; walked in Lincoln’s Inn Gardens; to Mr. Emily’s to dinner; to the chapel in Russell Court; walked in the Park; at Slaughter’s Coffee House for half-an-hour; at 8 called on Boughton. ”

“ I am able to walk or ride 4 or 5 hours together, but I do not ride fast. My memory is p. 51perhaps not so good as it has been. On the whole I seem to be in a perfect good state of health, thanks be to God. ”

“ Bray or his partners; but as a mark of repentance Mrs. Wigzell left Mr. Bray’s grandson a legacy of £100, and Mr. Taylor left £100 to the firm of Bray and Warren.
[53b] Principal Librarian at the British Museum; afterwards Sir Henry Ellis. He was Mr. Bray’s oldest friend then living. He died in 1868 at a very advanced age, having during his long life rendered most valuable services to the public, and particularly by his contributions to English history.
[53c] Mr. Higgins was employed by Mr. Bray in writing for him. His last guest at Shere was his old friend Mr. ”

“ Onslow’s, at Ripley, and lay there.
3rd.—Breakfasted there, and to town in the Godalming coach.
Feb. 8th.—Dined at Edward’s, with Mr. Malthus and family; child christened; whist, won 3s.; paid nurse, &c., £3. 3s.
18th.—To Lord Sydney, and with him to Frognal, and lay there.
19th, Sunday.—Returned at 2.
March 1st.—Mr. Willis dined here; with him to the Antiquary Society; supped at the Coffee House, Lord Leicester, &c., there.
April 12th.—To Mr. Strode, at Loseley, and dined; to Mr. Webb, at Milford, and lay. ”

“ Russell, Mellersh, and Ford; home at 11.
15th.—Lord Onslow sent for me to dinner; home at 8. Paid Mr. Wilpley bleeding my wife, 2s. 6d.
p. 27Feb. 11th.—On Upperton’s mare to London; dined with Adderley at the ‘Feathers.’ At 5 to Covent Garden, ‘Comus,’ singing by Miss Brent. To Clare’s for half-an-hour; then to the ‘Angel’; Jenkins came at 10, stayed till 12.
April 13th.—Paid a man going beyond Ripley to get some leeches to bleed the child. A labourer in the garden one day, 1s. 3d.
July 7th.—To the Club at Wotton Hatch; reckoning, 4s. 6d.
28th.—Mrs. Norwood and my wife drank tea with Mrs. ”