Alice Thornton's Books

@thorntonsbooks

We are a project based at the University of Edinburgh. Funded by the AHRC Sept. 2021-Feb. 2025. Our main output was a digital edition of the manuscripts of Yorkshire gentlewoman, Alice Wandesford Thornton (1626-1707). See

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Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· 12d

1 Aug. 1667 #OTD Thornton's nephew, Thomas Danby, was murdered near Gray's Inn, London: 'this poor gentleman was suddenly surprised and murdered without any provocation or malice begun on his side. Committed with the most barbarous circumstances imaginable by one Berridge.' (Bk 1, 227). #EarlyModern

A map of Gray's Inn as it stood in Holborn, London in 1677, as printed in a book from 1886.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· 14d

30 July 1632 #OTD Alice Wandesford (Thornton's mother) wrote to her son-in-law Thomas Danby to let him know that his wife had given birth: 'at eight o'clock you are made a father of a second son'. She added that she would not organise the baptism until his arrival except 'in case of necessity'. 🗃️

17th-century painting of a woman holding a child while sitting at a table with food and drink on it. There is a large window on the other side. The baby is wrapped warmly in layers.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· 16d

29 July 1630 #OTD Alice's sister, Katherine, married Thomas Danby at Kirklington #Yorkshire and spent most of the next 15 years pregnant. 16 pregnancies in that time led to 10 children, 7 surviving childhood. She died from postpartum illness in September 1645. #EarlyModern 🗃️

17th-century Wedding portraits of Maria Overlander. She wears a black gown with a white lace collar and holds a white/grey fan.

17th-century wedding portrait of Frans Bannick Cocq. He wears black clothes with a white lace ruff and grey hose and decorated shoes.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· 16d

28 July 1689 #OTD Alice Thornton wrote to her cousin Thomas Osborne (Lord Danby) thanking him for helping her only son, Robert, find a position on a naval ship which was heading to Spain: ‘He assured me he found all persons in the ship very devout at prayers and sermon’. #EarlyModern 🗃️ 📜

The reverse of a hand-written letter written by Alice Thornton (signature pictured) to her cousin, Lord Danby, which is now bound in a manuscript at the British Library.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· 18d

26 July 1669 #OTD Mary Comber, mother of Thomas, wrote to Alice Thornton, about the recent marriage of her son to Thornton's daughter, Nally (Book 3, 191). This likely followed the letter pictured, which was written in Feb. 1669 but only received by Alice Thornton on 14 June. #EarlyModern 📜 🗃️

Photo of a handwritten 17th-century letter from Mary Comber to Alice Thornton, 20 Feb. 1669. It has weighted beads around the edges to keep the document flat.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· 19d

25 July 1668 #OTD Thornton's son Robert, age 5, was delivered from death, after falling out of a barn window: 'standing in the window about four yards high from the earth, he fell out of it into the lane and was very near with his head to a great stone.' (Bk Rem, 130). #HistChild #EarlyModern 🗃️

17th-century painting of two children at a balcony window. One holds a cat under his arm and in the raised left hand he holds a wooden object which is a mousetrap. The 2nd, smaller child looks up at it and points. In the background is a 3rd boy.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· 24d

20 July 1668 #OTD Thornton fell ill on hearing of rumours circulating about her: 'Barbara Todd, did impudently accuse, before my face, my servant (Hannah Ableton) for telling her from one Mary Breakes of several stories —which were very great lies and falsehoods against myself' (Bk Rem, 122). 🗃️

A woodcut, lightly coloured in. It shows 'the several Branches of Gossiping' by depicting women in various places: at a childbirth; at the market; at the church; at the baths; at the ale house; at the bakehouse; washing clothes at the river.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· 26d

19 July 1643 #OTD 3 grenades were shot into Chester by Sir William Brereton's army. According to Thornton, who lived there, 'The second alight short of the city, in a ditch, within a pasture amongst a company of women milking but was quenched without doing them harm at all' (Bk 1, 70). #EarlyModern

Portrarit of Sir William Brereton, 1st Baronet. He wears a brown cloak and on his head a black rimmed hat with a brown rope around it. He has dark brown eyes and beard.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· 27d

Today is World Emoji Day! Did you know that Alice Thornton used an early form of emoji in her writing? She often used a ❤ instead of writing the word heart. In the image, see seven lines up on the right: 'Oh that our soules, my mind & ♥' Image: Book of Remembrances, 109. Photo by Derek Beattie. 📜

A page from a 17th-century handwritten book. Seven lines up on the right the text reads: 'Oh that our soules, my mind & ♥'.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· Jul 12

12 July 1670 #OTD James Comber wrote to his son, Thomas, at Stonegrave with greetings to Thomas’s wife, Alice, and mother-in-law, Alice Thornton, suggesting that his wife visit the couple in #Yorkshire and ‘wait upon your mother in law Madam Thornton about April next’. #EarlyModern 🗃️ 📜

Photo of a slightly damaged letter from James Comber to his son, Dean Thomas Comber, and his son's wife, Alice Thornton Comber (1670). It is on a desk with a paper label above and a drawn measuring scale to show that it is about 15cm wide.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· Jul 8

8 July 1640 #OTD Alice Thornton's father, Christopher Wandesford, wrote to her sister, Katherine, with parenting advice: 'it consists both with discretion and the love which parents bear to their children, to breed confidence and not to give occasion for jealousies to be harboured in them'. 1/3 🗃️

An early 17th-century portrait of Frances, Lady Willoughby with her son Lord Francis. The lady holds a handkerchief and leans on her left hand. Her dress is low cut with an embroidered skirt. The boy leans on her knee and in his right hand he holds a tennis racket.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· Jul 6

CN: infant death 6 July 1634 #OTD Katherine Armitage, sister-in-law of Alice Thornton's sister, Katherine Danby, wrote to Katherine offering condolences on the death of her two-week-old son, Edward: 'what God sends we must entertain with patience and I know so do you.' #EarlyModern 🗃️ 1/3

A 17th-century painting of a child on its deathbed. It is dressed in white, lies on white bedding with straw beneath. Its eyes are closed and hands clasped. The skin is very pale.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· Jul 5

5 July 1640 #OTD Thomas Danby wrote to his wife, Katherine (Alice Thornton's older sister), about the war with Scotland and the likelihood of fighting in #Yorkshire. This was the second so-called Bishop's War, ending with Scottish victory in October 1640 with the Treaty of Ripon. #EarlyModern 🗃️

17th-century painting of a man at a desk writing a letter with a quill. He is leaning on his elbow with his hand on his chin and is looking into the distance.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· Jun 23

23 June 1669 #OTD Alice Thornton received a letter from a niece, Mary Fairfax, consoling her on husband William's death and giving 'her good opinion of Mr Comber, who was esteemed an understanding and ingenious person, and may do very well in the marriage of my daughter' (Book 3, 216-17). 🗃️

A mid seventeenth-century painting of a woman who wears a black hood and a black gown with a white collar. She has a red jewel just below the collar.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· Jun 22

22 June 1666 #OTD Thomas Comber wrote to Alice Thornton. She was very ill after discovering her husband had cut her daughters off from their inheritance. Comber wrote of 'his great trouble for my danger, whose death would be an exceeding loss to all my poor children' (Book 3, 188). #EarlyModern 🗃️

A 17th-century painting of a physician taking the pulse of a female patient. She is pointing to her chest and has a devotional book on her lap. He wears a black cap, looks at the viewer and points to himself.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· Jun 21

21 June 1639 #OTD Alice Thornton’s father, Christopher Wandesford, wrote his 3rd letter to her from Dublin while she was ‘into England at the Bath'. She had travelled with her mother, aged 13, to Bristol where the water at St Vincent's Rock was thought to have curative properties. #EarlyModern 🗃️

A black and white drawing of 'The South prospect of a part of St Vincent's rock in the Hot well near Bristol', from James Millerd's map (1728). There are shops on the river Avon in the forefront and then houses at the docks and the tall rocks behind.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· Jun 19

19 June 1634 #OTD Alice Thornton's father, Christopher Wandesford, wrote to his older daughter, Katherine, congratulating her on the birth of a 3rd son: 'I know your mother's desires were to have been with you in the time of your danger'. #EarlyModern 🗃️

17th-century portrait of a woman with two children. One holds her hand on the right. The other is reclined on a pillow and is holding a very small dog.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· Jun 14

14 June 1667 #OTD Thornton's husband, William, wrote to their daughter, Nally, who was in school at York with her sister, Kate: 'tell Kate that she must be careful of her behaviour, that when I come to York there may no complaints of her'. Kate had just turned 11 two days earlier. #EarlyModern 🗃️

17th-century painting of a Young Girl Holding a Letter. She sits leaning with her elbow on a desk covered with a green cloth. Her skirt is blue and her top is an orangey red.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· Jun 13

13 June 1692 #OTD Alice Comber, Alice Thornton's oldest daughter, gave £2 to the poor of Stonegrave parish. This was nine days after the death of her brother, Robert, at age 29. Her £2 is equivalent to about £439.80 in today's money. #EarlyModern 🗃️

A photo of an oak poor box from the late 17th century. Its inscription reads: 'Remember the poore 1684'.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· Jun 12

12 June 1686 #OTD Alice Thornton wrote to her son, Robert, about his MA graduation, 'your … designs concerning your journey to Oxford in order to obtain your degree at the commencement ... are very satisfactory and pleasing to myself and all your friends'. #EarlyModern 🗃️

17th-century painting of a graduation ceremony. It is outside and men in black gowns and caps are coming out of a gate in a procession. There is a tall red building on the left with tall trees either side.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· Jun 8

8 June 1666 #OTD Alice Thornton wrote to her husband William thanking him for his letters letting her know that he was better after taking the waters at Scarborough. Dr Wittie, the Thornton family doctor, had written a book on the benefits of 'Scarborough spa'. #EarlyModern 🗃️ 📚

The frontispiece of Robert Wittie's 'Scarbrough-Spaw' (1667) - the subtitle is 'A description of the nature and virtues of the spa at Scarborough, Yorkshire'.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· Jun 4

4 June 1692 #OTD Alice Thornton’s only surviving son, Robert, died. He is buried before the second of the nine altars in Durham Cathedral. His sister, Alice, wife of Thomas Comber, Dean of Durham Cathedral, placed a memorial stone there in 1695. #EarlyModern 🗃️

Photo of a mounted wall monument from the late 17th century. It is a memorial to Robert Thornton in the Chapel of the Nine Altars, Durham Cathedral.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· Jun 3

3 June 1662 #OTD Alice Thornton got her cousin, Roger Covill, to draft a deed to ensure that her children would be provided for after her death, even if William remarried and had other heirs. This deed was superseded by another made by William in 1665 and Thornton was devastated when she found out.

17th-century painting of a scholar. A man with long hair in a brown robe sits at a covered table where he writes with a quill next to some books. A dog jumps up at him and he has a red parrot. He looks at the viewer.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· Jun 2

2 June 1624 #OTD William Thornton, later husband of Alice Thornton, and his twin brother Robert were born. Alice mentioned this when writing about William's death on 17 September 1668, 'being on June the 2nd, 1668, 44 years of age' (Bk Rem, 153). #EarlyModern 🗃️

Early 17th-century painting of two swaddled infant.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· May 25

25 May 1640 #OTD Christopher Wandesford wrote to his daughter Katherine (Alice Thornton's older sister). He reassured her that her husband, Thomas Danby, was in no danger from taking up arms, 'for never were people more bound to serve a good king and in a just cause, than at this time'. #EarlyModern

An engraving of Charles I, in the centre, with smaller head and shoulder portraits of other Cavaliers around the edges on all four sides.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· May 20

20 May 1655 #OTD Alice Thornton's father-in-law, Geoffrey Gates, was buried, two days after his death, at St Mary's Lowgate, Hull. The parish registers record that 'Colonel Geffrey Gates was buried the 20th'. He died eight days after his wife, Elizabeth (William Thornton's mother). #EarlyModern 🗃️ 📜

Photo of a church, St Mary's Lowgate in Hull. The photo is taken through the bare branches of two trees and the sky is a clear, bright blue.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· May 18

18 May 1655 #OTD Geoffrey Gates, Alice Thornton’s father-in-law (her husband’s stepfather), died in Hull. This was only eight days after the death of his wife, Elizabeth, William Thornton’s mother. #EarlyModern 🗃️

A 17th-century painting of a man sleeping in a white night gown and cap. His mouth is slightly open and his pallor suggests he is unwell.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· May 17

7 May 1660 #OTD Alice Thornton's daughter Kate, age 3, choked on a pin while playing with her older sister. Thornton's speed saved her: 'I had much to do to get it out but, with all the force I had, it pleased God to strengthen me to do it' (Bk 2, 187). #EarlyModern #HistChild

Early 17th-century painting of two small girls holding hands inside a building. They wear brown dresses with bows on the arms and have their hair tied up. The larger girl, on the right, holds a couple of flowers.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· May 12

12 May 1669 #OTD Thornton's former maid, Mary Breakes, wrote to her long-term maid, Daphne, to blame Anne Danby for the slanders against Thornton: 'Mary utterly denies all and that she never saw or heard, or knew any evil by me in all her life, and cries out against Mrs Danby to be so treacherous'.

A 17th-century painting of a young woman writing a letter with a quill. She is seated at a table and wears an orange gown.

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks· May 11

11 May 1655 #OTD Alice Thornton’s mother-in-law, Elizabeth Gates, was buried at Stonegrave church ‘in her husband’s alley (my father Thornton) whom she had outlived 17 years, having also been married to him 17 years’ (Bk 1, 141). Her second husband was to die just eight days later. #EarlyModern 🗃️