Introduction to the Charles Tiplady Diary

Charles Tiplady was born in Blackburn on the 23rd of June, 1808.  He was the son of Mr. Thomas Tiplady, of Blackburn by his wife Elizabeth, elder daughter of Mr. James Lomax, of Blackburn.  Mr. Tiplady's mother had no brothers, and only one sister, "Molly" (or Mary Lomax, whose marriage to Mr. Thomas Ratcliffe the reader will see is recorded in a short note under this column above.  These two sisters inherited some property from their father, Mr. James Lomax, which had passed to him from his father, Mr. Samuel Lomax.  Tiplady is not a local surname; and Mr. Charles Tiplady, in this Diary, inserts the following item respecting his progenitors, in recording the birth, Feb. 7th, 1843, of his third son Richard.  Alluding to an obituary of one Mr. Richard Tiplady, of Morton, near Bingley, the Diarist writes:-

"This person knew my father well, and derived his descent from the same stock.  I had also another reason for naming this son Richard.  My father had a great-uncle of that name who was an opulent farmer; he died leaving two daughters, one of whom married Mr. John Patrick, the other died unmarried.  Mr. Patrick had an only child, a grand-daughter, to whom descended her grandfather's estate, but in case of her death when a minor, it was to revert to the male heirs of the Tipladys.  This happened, for she died of consumption, aged about 17.  But Mr. Patrick refused to deliver up the estate to my grandfather, the brother of the said Richard, and enjoyed it as his own right.  When my grandfather died, my father, being the only male heir, instituted legal proceedings for the estate, and after several years' delay succeeded in obtaining the property.  Foolish he was with it, but one good thing he accomplished; that was establishing my brother in business."

Charles Tiplady had elder brothers, James Lomax Tiplady, born in 1800, died in Blackburn, in his 70th year, Feb. 22, 1870; and William; and a younger brother, John Tiplady, who married, in Sept., 1840, a Miss Edmundson, of Bury, and settled in that town; also sisters, Mary, who died, aged 33, in March, 1837, and Ann, who lived to a considerable age, but did not marry.  William Tiplady was a printer and bookseller, in partnership with Charles, the firm originally being "W, and C. Tiplady."  William Tiplady died after a long illness on April 29th, 1844.  His will was dated 15th March, 1843.  By Jane, his wife, he had a daughter, Priscilla.  Having no son, the carrying-on of the printing business devolved upon his brother Charles, who after William's death continued it in his own name only.  His shop and printing-office for many years were premises at the bottom of Church Street on the north side, near the Golden Lion Inn.

Charles Tiplady married, first, Miss Mary Heaton.  She did not live long after marriage; her death took place Feb. 27th 1837 and she was interred in St. John's Churchyard.  By her he had issue a son Thomas now living in Liverpool.  Secondly, at the Parish Church, Aug. 15th, 1839 Mr. Charles Tiplady married Miss Mary Callis, daughter of Mr. William Callis, of Salford, Blackburn, Grocer and Provision Merchant.  By her he had issue, sons, Charles Lomax, born in 1840; William Callis, born in 1841; Richard and several daughters.  His second son, Mr. C. L. Tiplady, was killed in the terrible railway collision at Blackburn Station, August 7th, 1881.  Two other sons are now living in Blackburn.

Mr. Tiplady's mother died in her 76th year, Oct. 20th, 1852.  Mr. Charles Tiplady was so busy a man in town's affairs of every description that I cannot undertake to enumerate all the posts he held during the period of thirty-three years covered by this Diary.  He was, however, at various times a Churchwarden and a Sidesman; a Sunday School teacher and superintendent (first at Grimshaw Park and then at Thunder Alley Schools); he was a Freemason and well up in the mysteries of the craft and its honourable degrees; he was an Oddfellow, and a leading spirit amongst the Brethren in Blackburn, holding responsible offices in the Unity.  He was an Improvement Commissioner before the Incorporation of Blackburn in 1851; a Town Councillor from 1860 to 1865, for St. John's Ward; and in the latter year was elected an Alderman.  A sincere Conservative, he served the party and its organisations in diverse official capacities.  He was a principal man for years in the Philanthropic Burial Society; a director of the Darwen Gas Company; a shareholder in and active promoter of the first local Railway Companies.  The entries in his Diary which we shall print will indicate other important functions that he discharged.  His life throughout was a laborious and useful one.  He records that he had a narrow escape from death, Feb. 9th, 1828, at the age of 20.  He had a severe and dangerous illness in 1864, and underwent very painful and critical surgical operations.  He died, aged 65 years, October 15th, 1873.

Of course there is much in the Diary which is of too private a nature for publication.  All such parts I have scrupulously omitted; but there is no harm in including, as as been done, entries which relate to the external activities of the Diarist himself, such as his journeys on business or pleasure, and his notes on the death of kinsfolk as of other friends and neighbours.

1829 -1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873