The diary is believed to have been written by a resident of Whitchurch. It was possibly written by William Lewis, the forge carpenter at the Melingriffith Ironworks as the Pritchard family were linked to the Lewis family by marriage,
The diary has very brief entries which record both local and national events. On a local level, some marriages and many deaths are recorded, as well as observations on the weather and payment for labour. He also records planting vegetables and nature observations such as hearing the first 'cuckow' in spring.
Other events noted in the diary include:
fields of corn being set alight (swing riots), 1830
Merthyr Riots and execution of Dic Penderyn, 1831
Cholera, 1831
Great Reform Act, 1832 'a great rumpus'
The volume also includes recipes, including 'how to make silvering for brass' and 'corn plaster' which appear to have been written by Thomas White. It is possible that he was also the author of the rest of the diary.