Diary of Thomas Smith, Esq. 205 



Saturday 23rd. Mr. Selfe the Clergyman of Broomham was to see my Mother 

 this afternoon, and besides him we had no Company. 



Sunday 24th. Mr. Fox preach'd this Morning on the latter part of the 8tli 

 Verse of 3rd Chapf. of the general Epistle of St. John. 



Munday 25th. Xmas Day. I with my Family attended the Publick Devo- 

 tions, where Mr. Fox preach'd on the same Text as Yesterday. 



Tuesday 26th. Several of our Neighbours din'd with us (they always have 

 done since I have been a House-keeper), and I think we had no disorder, but 

 only cheerfulness. 



Thursday 28th. Whilst I was at Dinner, I had a Servant from Bro. Selfe to 

 speak to me to come to his Mast'^ house, there being Mr Selfe, Norris, his Bro. 

 the Clergyman (who should have been fii'st mention' d), so at 3 or after I walk'd 

 over, and we all tarry'd 'till late on the Ac', of Mr. Norris's, who waited for 

 the Moon, and were oblig'd to be at Nonsuch this Night. "We had also Mr. 

 J"". Guppy with us some time and had little Discourse of publick Matters, more 

 then of the new Parliament that is expected and the South Sea Company. 



Friday 29th. At Eleven I rode to Rhoteridge, Jacky being with me, and 

 having viewed the Hedges and Grounds w'='^. was my Business, Jacky having his 

 Grey hound w**". him we had my Tenant Gibbs with us and tarry'd out till Night. 



Saturday 30th. At Home without Company aU the Day ; two Days past 

 about two in the afternoon I have had a Dimness in my Eys and as it were 

 wavering Clouds before them, which continu'd the Space of a q"^. of an Hour 

 and then went off. But I give God thanks this Day I have been Free. 



Munday, Jan''''. 1st, 1722. By Invitation I din'd with Bro. Selfe, where 

 were Mr. Methuen, Mr. John Thresher, one Mr. Bickham, Mr. Brewer a Law- 

 yer of Bradford, and old Mr. Norris and Mr. Fox. My whole Family were 

 there, and the Young People danc'd, and all stay'd till Eleven, and I think 

 with very little Disorder. 



Wednesday 3rd. All the Company abovemention'd din'd with me and also 

 Docf. Avery,* Mr. Norris the Clergyman, Mr. Webb of Farley, and Mr. Jacob 



•The Dr. Avery here mentioned, -was Benjamin Avery, L.L.D., a Presbyterian Divine, of whom a 

 few particulars can be supplied. He was no doubt well acquainted with the Smith family from their 

 known connection with the cause of Nonconformity in Frome. Robert Smith, Clothier of Frome, 

 the Purchaser of Norwood in 1654, is stated (though the fact does not appear in the Nonconformist 

 Memorial) to have received into his family the Rev. Richard Alleine, ejected Minister of Batcomhe, 

 Somerset, and to have set apart a room in his house for Divine Service, in which Mr, Alleine (when 

 driven into Frome by the Five Mile Act), officiated till his death in 1681. Dr. Aver)' was one of a 

 family so named, living at Newbury and Marlborough at the dates here referred to ; they seem to 

 have been contributors to the Presbyterian Meeting erected at Newbury in the year 1697. He took 

 an active part in the Salter's Hall controversy in 1719, and sided with the non-subscribers. At that 

 date and up to 1720, he was assistant to Mr. Munckley of Bartholomew Close, in a Pi'esbyterian 

 congregation now extinct. Though he laid aside the character of a Minister, he was appointed 1732, 

 " Secretary to the Deputies of the three Denominations," and conducted the extensive correspondence 

 of that association. After 1720 he studied Physic, and practiced in Charter-house Square ; was then 

 chosen one of the Physicians of Guy's Hospital, and Treasurer to that Institution ; he died 1764, at 

 an advanced age, and was buried in the Treasurer's vault. Mr. Bowden, the Presbyterian Minister 

 at Frome, seems to have been well acquainted with Dr. Averj', as he dedicated to him a Sermon 

 preached on the death of Geo. I., in which he expresses his obligations to Dr. Avery, and commends 

 his zeal for the Hanoverian succession. Dr. Avery was one of the wiiters in " the Occasional Papers 

 1716," and editor of some posthumous works of Mr. James Pierce of Exeter. He published a single 

 Sermon preached November Ith, 1713, when ministering in Bartholomew Close. He died possessed 

 of a handsome fortune, the principE^ part of which passed to his niece, married to Mr. Warner of 

 Marlborough. 



