IN a shameless bid to promote my new book, which really is an excellent Christmas present for anyone you love, I've returned to the story of William Emerson, the great Hurworth mathematician.

His life story is told more fully in the book, The Road to Rockliffe. Lots of other people have investigated Emerson, including Stephen Erskine of Hurworth who discovered this transcript in Durham County Record Office. It was made in 1871 from Emerson's original diary.

In Memories on Wednesday, among other items, is another look at the diary to try and analyse what Emerson was up to on his annual jaunts up Weardale. He had a small agricultural estate there. He called it Gatecastle, but I can't find it anywhere. On a lintel, there was an inscription - 1616 RA RI - which must be the date of its construction, and the initials of those involved. And, tantalisingly, it is said there there is a sundial there that Emerson made. I'd love any further details of Emerson, and I'd love any further interpretations of his diary. Wednesday's article is based around a County Durham vernacular word that appears below and which a reader has kindly interpreted for me. Here's the diary in full:

1761 Geo. Walton working at the house and Bire. Paid 15 shillings for work between Monday 22 June – Wednesday 1 July.

The tenants agreed to drop a fourth part of the Gate in the billing, to make a better pasture and make it 10S a gate.

1762 Did the same thing, and to continue for 3 years. The Tithe is about 30-35 shillings a year annually.

½ year land tax at 3 shillings a pond = 9S 4d ½ year land tax at 4 shillings a pond = 12S 6d June 2nd Went to Gatecastle June 3rd rested

1764 Came from London, September 16th. Went into Weardale, September 18th and staid till October 5th stopping the houses and pointing the walls.

1765 Went into Weardale, Aug.7th, returned Aug. 10th.

1766 Went into Weardale, June 10th, returned June 20th, did nothing but finished the henhouse door, and set on the front-door lock. Bob Hopper went along with me.

1767 Went into Weardale, May 20th and returned June 3rd. Exceptional cold, wet weather all the while did nothing.

1768 Went into Weardale Thur. July 21, saw the sea1. Fryday went fishing, Saturday wrought at the net. Sunday at Chapple and Mary vicars. Monday at home working on net. Thursday at hay. Wednesday fishing, kill’d 21 trout, 17 of them in the Wellburn, afternoon most of the 6, 7 or 9, 10 miles long. Thursday came to Hurworth, brought my fish.

1769 Went into Weardale, May 21 Thursday. Fryday gath’d for fishing. Saturday put dtaties on y’r bar-hrad Bire. Sunday, wet. Not a Chappel, got to Mary Vicars. Monday. Did some jobs. Saw Phoebe. Tuesday, mended foredoor. Wed. Came home. A dam’d wet day.

1770 Went into Weardale, Aug. 16 Thursday. Fryday, saw Phoebe. Saturday was 2 hours a getting 4 Gribo and catch’d 4 trout. Sunday, at Chappel and Mary Vicars. Monday, mended Phoebe’s clock and crutches. Tuesday at hay. Set up dial. Wednesday at hay. Dined with Phoebe. Thursday came to Hurworth.

1771 Went into Weardale with Willy Burn on Thursday 6 June. Fryday saw Phoebe. Saturday got the deed signed. Sunday at Mary Vicars, not at Chappel. Monday went round Whesthop Fell at East yit. Thursday, did nought but sleep. Wednesday got the lease signed. Thursday, rain. Mended the Bire door. Fryday came to Hurworth.

1772 Went into Weardale June 24 Wednesday. Thursday fished. Fryday set the water off billing. Saturday opened the rimmel-wood. Heard Phoebe was dead, the night before. Sunday, rain. Phoebe bury’d. Not at Chappel. Monday, Mary vicars. Tuesday came to Hurworth. I went no more into Weardale being not able.

From 4 Riggs east of the Bire to the Wray or Stakyard Fallows: South – potatoes. All the rest oats. Wood laid to grass.

Estate: Over meadows contains - 8½ akers Barhead Field - 5¾ akers East Field - 8¾ akers Lonnin whole - 1¾ akers Whesthope Close - 3½ akers