SELECTIONS FROM THE DIARY OF CHRISTOPHER SANDERSON OF BARNARD CASTLE.' INTRODUCTION. As may be seen by referring to the accompanying pedigree, Christopher Sanderson, the diarist, was born at Barnard Castle in the year 1617, being the third son of Philip Sanderson, a substantial haberdasher in that town. Whether he followed his father's occupation is unknown, but he married young and became wealthy, was made a justice of the peace for the county of Durham, purchased an estate at Eggleston in the year 1659, and entered his pedigree at Dugdale's Visitation in 1666. By his three marriages he had a numerous family and was able to give three of his sons a university education. As a justice, he was one of those who unsuccessfully withstood Bishop Cosin's resolution to withdraw the privilege granted to the county of Durham during the Commonwealth of returning to Parliament knights of the shire and burgesses.2 'The manuscript diary entrusted to the Editor by the owner, Sir Jonathan Backhouse, bart., had been transcribed and made ready for the printer, when it was pointed out that in 1906 Mr. F. C. Beazley, F.S.A., had contributed to the twenty-second volume of the Genealogist a paper entitled 'The Diary and Pedigree of Christopher Sanderson of Eggleston,' carefully prepared from an original MS. in the possession of Mrs. G. R. Clover. On comparing the versions the Editor found himself convinced that the last mentioned copy was the older of the two. After consulting Mr. Beazley it was resolved to print those entries only which relate to events of public interest, to refer the readers to the aforesaid volume of the Genealogist for the Sanderson family register and to omit the register of the weather which occupies a full half of the diary. The Editor desires to record his obligation to Mr. Beazley who, with great kindness, has collated the proofs with Mrs. Clover's MS., which has been followed when the readings of the two versions digress. 2 Cf. Hutchinson, Durham, vol. i. p. 540. The Egglestone estate, acquired from Toby Ewbank of that place, by deed dated 25 January, 1659, was settled on the marriage of the diarist's eldest son, Cuthbert Sanderson, with Frances, elder daughter of William Fielding. The trustees of the settlement, which is dated 21 June, 1670, were: Christopher Musgrave, esq., Basil Fielding, gent., Francis Sanderson, merchant, and William Aubone, merchant. The property was sold 31st January, 1726, by the diarist's grand-son, Christopher Sanderson, to Robert Coatsworth, described as 'brother and heir of William Coatsworth deceased,' who had advanced the large sum of 7,0577. 15s. 8d. on account of the vendor. The diarist was father of Robert Sanderson, who, after being educated at Brignal school and at St. John's college, Cambridge, became first assistant, and afterwards joint, editor of Rymer's Foedera. Robert Sanderson also published a volume of Original Letters of William III. He was clerk of the Chapel of the Rolls and usher of the High Court of Chancery, and in 1727 succeeded to Armathwaite castle under the will of his elder brother William. He died at his house in Chancery Lane on the 25 December, 1741, and as he gave the family estates to a grand-son of his sister, Margaret Milburn, it is probable that the male descendants of the diarist had already failed. A daughter, born and died (a) Diale, Visitation of Durham, 1666. tl (b) Ba er, Familiae Minorum Gentium, vol. 111, p. 872. hern Notes and Queries, p. 165. |