"The frost got into the houses. Froze the piss in the pots under the beds" 12 Jan 1780
The Farming Year - January
Commentary:
The winter of 1779-80 was severe and January 1780 was a particularly cold month. Fletcher's graphic and pithy entries bring the cold vividly alive. The frost was so hard that it froze the lakes, giving the younger members of the family the opportunity to go to 'the tarren' (Mockerkin Tarn) or Loweswater to skate (or ‘skeet’, as he spells it).
In years such as these, little work could be done around the farm. The main tasks this month were threshing corn (in an attempt to save it from rats in the barn) and buying in coal for the fires. The weekly rhythm saw members of the family going to the Quaker meeting at Pardshaw Hall on Sundays and to Cockermouth market on Mondays. One event which stands out this month was a meeting of the township vestry to discuss a pauper’s settlement, shedding light on the operation of the Old Poor Law in the small rural community of Mosser.
By 1780 Fletcher was an elderly man, largely confined to the house by ill-health. Members of the Underwood household mentioned this month include the ‘lads’, John and William, Fletcher's two younger sons, then aged 21 and 19 respectively. William was a stocking weaver, apprenticed to George Bell, a Cockermouth stockinger. 'Peter' is Peter Murray, the farm servant, who lived at Underwood in a separate cottage.
(Illustration: Herdwicks in snow, Tilberthwaite, @Bill Shannon)
Diary:
Sat 1st January 1780. The new year begins with sharp frost and very cold weather. John and William gone to the tarren to skeet, it being now froze over some time.
Sun 2nd. John and William gone to the Meeting. The air much softned; it seems to thaw pretty fast. Lads at home in the afternoon.
Mon 3rd. Peter threshing wheat in the forenoon. John and him gone to the smithey in the afternoon with young mare and old Bess to get showed. Frost much gone.
Tue 4th. Peter gone to the coals. The frost came on again this day. Joseph Birket and Mary Card married this day at Brigham, she being with child to him.
Wed 5th. John Dobson here this morning summoning the town [i.e. Mosser township] to meet at Mosser this evening on account of Ann Sumpton's settlement. Peter gone again to the coals.
Thu 6th. The township met and it was agreed that her settlement was in Mosser on account of being hired and serving at John Pearson's; so concluded to pay her 1s per week.
Fri 7th. The frost pretty much gone, having thawed these two days. Threshing wheat to save it from the ratts. Wind about SW but very moderate & gentle.
Sat 8th. The frost come on again last night; very hard and sharp this morning. Peter threshing oats.
Sun 9th. Lads and wife gone to the Meeting. Frost very sharp and severe and has the appearance of continuing. Lads gone to William Allason's in the night.
Mon 10th. Weather very sharp and cold. William at home. He, John & Philip gone to Buttermire with their guns. Got nothing. Much fatigued.
Tue 11th. Peter gone to Ullock for the malt. It has not made much out this season. Got home six bushels and sold four. He says it is very good. Lads gone to Lowswater to skeet.
Wed 12th. Weather very sharp; the frost got into the houses. Froze the piss in the pots under the beds. Some potatoes frosted in the houses.
Thu 13th. Weather the same. Peter threshing wheat. It is very good and sound. William at Cockermouth yesterday and this day. Very cold.
Fri 14th. Frost very sharp and severe. Cleaning up the wheat and bringing it into the ark and mix'd it with how seeds to keep.
Sat 15th. William, Thomas Beeby and Thomas the thread dyer dined here and went after to the water at Lowswater to skeet. Came back in the evening & stay'd all night.
Sun 16th. Change of weather; the frost thawing away very fast. The two men from Cockermouth dined here and went home in the afternoon.
Wed 19th. Peter gone to the coals. Frost not yet quite gone; the air moist and cold. Late sown wheat looks very bad; the sharp frost has pinched it very much.
Thu 20th. Peter gone again to the coals. The frost seems to sett in again. The air very sharp and piercing; the weather pinching & very cold.
Fri 21st. Gone to the smithey with the mares to get them sharped. The frost very severe and sharp.
Sun 23rd. Lads at Meeting in the forenoon. Gone to Lowswater water in the afternoon to skeet.
Mon 24th. Peter gone to the coals and William to Cockermouth. Frost continues very sharp; air cold.
Wed 26th. Peter gone again to the coals. Ground very hard; no appearance of any change yet.
Thu 27th. Peter gone again to the coals. To lay in a pretty good stock before the sale or alteration of weather.
Fri 28th. Peter gone again to the coals. Frost very severe; the running water is mostly froze up.
Sat 29th. Peter gone again to the coals. This will be the ninth time, which makes 54 loads.
Mon 31st. Peter gone to the coals for himself. William at home; the weather being so extreem cold for him.
Extracts from The Diary of Isaac Fletcher of Underwood, Cumberland, 1756-1781, edited by Angus J L Winchester (Kendal, 1994).
