Copy of diary of JA Dossor

Scope and Content

This appears to be a handwritten transcription of extracts from the original diary of John Arthur Dossor that was possibly made in the 1930s. A note on the inside cover states: 'Diary of JA Dossor (Grandad) 1912. Born Oct 2nd 1862. Died 21st June 1931'. The original date of death, 17th May, has been crossed through. The entries mainly cover 26 July 1912 to 4 February 1914, but there are some entries for 1916 and 1928. Dossor appears to have been a shopkeeper in the Huttton Cranswick area of East Yorkshire.

The diary contains details of both national and local news and events, such as the loss of Captain Scott, the deaths of various neighbours and family members and his new Hudson bicycle. There is also extensive detail relating to the weather and how it has affected the roads and the crops, information about the prices Dossor is having to buy and sell his goods at and accounts of visits to various local houses, such as Sledmere, and events such as Beverley Races and village shows. A visit to SS Port Hunter at Hull is also mentioned. There is a reference to Dossor's first view of an 'airoplane' (16 July 1913) and the first time an airplane flies over Cranswick (25 August 1913).

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