Manuscript Location

University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Kislak Center for Special Collections - Manuscripts

Place of Origin

England ➔ Bristol

Date of Composition

1747-1799

Description

The author of this book, Mary Bridges Beck, wrote her name and the date September 1737 on the second page, the presumed start date of the manuscript. Born to  George and Elisabeth Bridges, prominent, philanthropic Quakers of Bristol, England, she married Bristol merchant Joseph Beck in 1742 and had four children:with him, Ann, Elizabeth, Joseph, and Mary. Mary Bridges Beck's daughter Elizabeth married Edward Ash, and Mary gave her book to one of Elizabeth's ten children, Mary Ash Were, as recorded on the second page of the book: "This book for Mary Ash Were by her G[rand] mother M[ary] Beck 1799."

This book is in two parts. Written from the front of the notebook are elegies, maxims, religious writings, and prose, poetry, and letters by various writers, including Lord Byron, William Diaper, John Dryden, Alexander Pope, and Elizabeth Singer Rowe. Also included are sayings by Beck's father titled "Some serious reflections." Written from the back of the notebook going toward the center are 160 numbered pages of culinary, medical, and household recipes, preceded by a table of contents. The culinary recipes cover breads, cakes, jellies, meat dishes, pickled foods, puddings, and soups. Many of the recipes are attributed and include comments by Beck.