Journal of Richard Kay of Bury, Physician

Copy made by Samuel Hibbert-Ware of the journal of Richard Kay (1716-1751) of Baldingstone, Bury, physician, from 11 April 1737 to 19 July 1750. This copy appears to include the full text. The diary is of interest for the information it contain on medical training and practice in the first half of the 18th century. At the end of the volume are copies of two letters from Joseph Hunter at the Public Record Office to an unnamed female correspondence, 23 September and 26 October 1845, together with genealogical notes. Entitled: The Journal of Robert [recte Richard] Kay.

Enclosed is a photograph of the gravestone of Robert Kay (d. 1750), his wife and children, including Richard Kay. The photograph was presented by Ernest Bosdin Leech in 1947, and was used as a the frontispiece of Brockbank and Kenworthy's printed edition (see below).

There is a published edition of the diary of Richard Kay: W. Brockbank and Rev. F. Kenworthy (eds), The diary of Richard Kay, 1716-51, of Baldingstone, near Bury, a Lancashire doctor, Cheshire gleanings, Chetham Society, Third Series, vol. 16 (1968). The editors used a typescript copy held in Manchester Central Library, the text of which appears to be identical to the present manuscript.