John Marsh journals

Finding aid prepared by Gayle M. Richardson.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
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URL: http://www.huntington.org
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Descriptive Summary

Title: A history of my private life : an autobiography in journal form for the years 1752-1828
Dates: 1802-1828
Collection Number: mssHM 54457 (Volumes 1-37)
Extent: 37 volumes in three boxes
Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The thirty-seven-volume journal of the amateur English composer and musician John Marsh of Chichester, Sussex; in which he records the important events of his eventful life and of the life around him.
Language of Material: The records are in English.

Administration Information

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Publication Rights

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], HM 54457 (Volumes 1-37), The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mrs. Homer Crotty through purchase from Christie’s Sale 4420, Lot 285, February 14, 1991.

Biographical Note

John Marsh (1752-1828) was born in Dorking, Surrey on May 31, 1752; educated at Greenwich Academy, he was destined for a career in law despite having an obvious interest and aptitude for music. In 1768 he was articled to a solicitor in Romsey; at the same time he began violin lessons and after becoming proficient, taught himself the cello, oboe, and organ as well as composing music. In 1774 Marsh married Elizabeth Catherine Brown (1756/7-1819) and they had five sons and one daughter of whom only Edward Garrard and Henry reached adulthood. After Marsh inherited a large family estate he left the legal profession and concentrated on his music, including playing, composing and managing subscription concerts in Salisbury, Canterbury and Chichester. John Marsh died after a short illness on October 31, 1828 .

Arrangement

The volumes are arranged chronologically.

Scope and Content

The journal volumes are arranged chronologically in three boxes: Box 1 Volumes 1-12 (1752-1789, Aug.) ; Box 2 Volumes 13-25 (Aug. 1789-1806) ; Box 3 Volumes 26-37 (1806-1828). The journals comprise thirty-seven volumes in white vellum covers, all in good condition. After 1778, at the end of each year, many of the volumes include lists of musical compositions and publications, major events, journeys, marriages, births and deaths. The majority of the volumes were written by John Marsh except the very end of volume 37 which was finished by his son Edward Garrard Marsh; also, the volumes contain the pencil edit markings and notes made by E.G. Marsh for his heavily edited early edition of the journals.

Note

Cataloger's notes
The journals have been published: The John Marsh Journals, edited, introduced and annotated by Brian Robins, Pendragon Press, 1998-2013.

Indexing Terms

Personal Names

Marsh, Edward Garrard, 1783-1862
Marsh, John, 1752-1828

Subjects

Composers –- England, Southern –- Biography
Families –- England –- History -- 18th century
Families –- England –- History -- 19th century
Music –- England, Southern -- 18th century -- History and criticism
Music –- England, Southern -- 19th century -- History and criticism

Geographic Areas

Chichester (England) –- 18th century
Chichester (England) –- 19th century
England, Southern -– Description and travel
England, Southern –- Social life and customs –- 18th century
England, Southern –- Social life and customs –- 19th century

Genre

Diaries –- England –- 18th century
Diaries –- England -– 19th century


Box 1

HM 54457 Volumes 1-12 (1752-1789, Aug.)

 

 Vol. 1  Pr. L. I : Age 1 to 13 1/2 (1752 to 1765)

176 p. With autograph note by John Marsh on inside front cover.
 

 Vol. 2  Pr. L. II : Age 13 1/2 to 17 1/2 (1766. 1767. 1768. and 1769)

177 p. Waltham, Gosport and Romsey.
 

 Vol. 3  Pr. L. III : Age 17 1/2 to 20 (1770. 1771 and till June 12th 1772)

187 p. Romsey.
 

 Vol. 4  Pr. L. IV : Age 20 till 22 1/2 (1772 (June 12th) till Nov. 14 1774)

189 p. Romsey and London.
 

 Vol. 5  Pr. L. V : Age 22 till 25 1/2 (1774 (Nov. 15) till Dec. 31 1777)

183 p. Romsey and Salisbury [Sarum].
 

 Vol. 6  Pr. L. VI : Age 25 1/2 till 28 (1778. 1779 and till Aug. 26 1780)

182 p. Salisbury [Sarum]
 

 Vol. 7  Pr. L.VII : Age 28 till 30 (1780 (Aug. 20th) till June 11th 1782)

182 p. Salisbury [Sarum]. With additional ruled pages laid into back of volume.
 

 Vol. 8  Pr. L. VIII : Age 30 till 31 1/2 (1782 (June 30) till Dec. 31 1783)

183 p. Salisbury [Sarum] and Nethersole.
 

 Vol. 9  Pr. L. IX : Age 31 1/2 till 33 (1784 Jan 1 till July 24 1785)

182 p. At Nethersole
 

 Vol. 10  Pr. L. X : Age 33 to 34 1/2 (July 1785 to Nov 1786)

182 p. Nethersole and Canterbury.
 

 Vol. 11  Pr. L. XI : Age 34 1/4 to 35 1/2 (From Nov. 1786 to the end of 1787)

183 p. Canterbury and Chichester.
 

 Vol. 12  Pr. L. XII : Age 35 1/2 to 37 (1788 and till Aug. 1789)

182 p. Chichester.
Box 2

HM 54457 Volumes 13-25 (Aug. 1789-1806)

 

 Vol. 13  Pr. L. XIII : Age 37 to 38 1/2 (Aug. 1789 to Dec. 31 1790)

182 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 14  Pr. L. XIV : Age 38 1/2 to 40 (1791 and to June 24 1792)

180 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 15  Pr. L. XV : Age 40 to 41 1/2 (June 1792 to Feb. 28 1794)

182 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 16  Pr. L. XVI : Age 41 1/2 to 43 (Mar. 1794 to July 22 1795)

183 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 17  Pr. L. XVII : Age 43 to 44 (July 1795 to Aug 1796)

183 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 18  Pr. L. XVIII : Age 44 to 45 1/2 (Aug. 1796 to ye end of the year 1797)

189 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 19  Pr. L. XIX : Age 45 1/2 to 46 3/4 (Jan. 1798 to May 1799)

182 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 20  Pr. L. I : Age 47 to 48 (June 1799 to Aug. 1800)

182 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 21  Pr. L. XXI : Age 48 to 49 (Aug. 1800 to Sep. 1801)

171 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 22  Pr. L. XXII : Age 49 to 50 (Sep. 1801 to June 11 1802)

178 p. Chichester. Also includes lists of his musical compositions, publications, particulars of his estate and income, principal events of his life.
 

 Vol. 23  Pr. L. XXIII (Appendix I) : Age 50 to 50 1/4 (June 11, 1802 to Oct. 4, 1803)

182 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 24  Pr. L. XXIII (Appendix II) : [Age 51 to 52 1/2] ([1803, Oct. to 1805, May])

183 p. [Chichester].
 

 Vol. 25  Pr. L. XXV (Appendix III) : Age 52 1/2 to 54 1/4 (May 7 1805 to Nov. 1806)

180 p. Chichester.
Box 3

HM 54457 Volumes 26-37 (1806-1828)

 

 Vol. 26  Pr. L. XXVI (Appendix IV) : Age 54 to 55 3/4 (Nov. 1806 to May 1808)

184 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 27  Pr. L. XXVII (Appendix V) : Age 55 3/4 to 57 1/2 (May 1808 to the end of 1809)

183 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 28  Pr. L. XXVIII (Appendix VI) : Age 57 1/2 to 59 (Jan. 1810 to Oct. 1811)

178 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 29  Pr. L. XXIX (Appendix VII) : Age 59 to 61 (Oct. 1811 to Sep. 1813)

180 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 30  Pr. L. XXX (Appendix VIII) : Age 61 to 63 (Sep. 1813 to Nov. 1815)

178 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 31  Pr. L. XXXI (Appendix IX) : Age 63 to 65 1/2 (Nov. 1815 to the end of 1817)

182 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 32  Pr. L. XXXII (Appendix X) : Age 65 1/2 to 67 1/2 (Jan. 1 1818 to Mar. 16 1820)

190 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 33  Pr. L. XXXIII (Appendix XI) : Age 67 1/2 to 69 1/2 (Mar. 18 1820 to Dec. 12, 1821)

175 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 34  Pr. L. XXXIV (Appendix XII) : Age 69 1/2 to 71 (Dec. 13 1821 to Aug. 18, 1823)

176 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 35  Pr. L. XXXV (Appendix XIII) : Age 71 to 72 1/2 (Aug. 18 1823 to Dec. 8th 1824

175 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 36  Pr. L. XXXVI (Appendix XIV) : Age 72 1/2 to 74 (Dec. 10th 1824 to Sep. 17th 1826)

179 p. Chichester.
 

 Vol. 37  [Cover Blank}: [Pr. L. XXXVII (Appendix XV) : Age 74 to 76] ([1826, Sep. to 1828, Oct.])

184 p. [Chichester]. Note: final pages of the Journal written in the hand of Edward Garrard Marsh from Aug.-Oct. 1828; includes account of John Marsh's death on Oct. 31, 1828.