Transcribed from the Charles Clark’s Private Press 1847edition ,
OR,
FACTS AND FUN
FOR
THE FOREST FROLICKERS.
BY A FAMED FIRST FRIDAYFAIRGOER.
A DAY of fun andjollity.—Tom Thumb.
Contains Memoirs, Anecdotes,Poems, Songs,
&c. with the curious Will of Mr. Day,
never before printed.
A VERYLIMITED NUMBER PRINTED.
TOTHAM:
PRINTED AT
CHARLES CLARK’S PRIVATE PRESS.
FAIRLOP’S FRIDAY,
1847.
THIS curious and interesting account, written by a gentlemanof Essex, intimate with one of the descendants of Mr. Daniel Day,will afford us an instance of its being in the power of almostevery man, to add to the felicity of his neighbours and fellowcreatures. The subject before us, though in the middlingrank of life, for a series of years had the gratification to seethe hearts of hundreds annually rejoiced and made glad, by hismeans, around the old Oak, and thousands to this time assemblethere, on the day he set apart for innocent pastime and rationalrecreation, so that the benevolent views of his heart were notburied with him in his grave: and, we most sincerely hope, whilethe spot whereon stood the far-famed Fairlop Oak is to be pointedout, the sons and daughters of freedom and hilarity will meetbeneath the delightful shades of the Forest of Hainault, incommemoration of the Founder of the Feast and Fair, DanielDay.
Daniel Day was born in the parish of St. Mary Overy, (in whichparish his father was an opulent brewer) in the year 1683, andfor a great number of years, until his death, was a veryconsiderable engine, pump, and blockmaker, in the parish of St.John’s, Wapping, where, to this day, his memory isrespected as a great benefactor to that parish, particularly inthe gift of the great bell at the consecration of the new churchin 1760, and as an upright and ingenious tradesman, a greatmechanic, as the many inventions he has left behind him in theconstruction of various descriptions of engines and pumps, and ofthe improvement he made in the jiggers used by brewers in thestarting of beer, which is worked by them to this day,sufficiently proves. He was of a most charitable p. 2and humanetemper, and exemplarily generous and liberal in his principlesand actions; to evince this we need only mention his portioningoff his twin nieces in his life-time with £1000 each, oneof whom lies buried near him. He would not only lend adistressed friend considerable sums, but he invariably refusedthe smallest interest, and very frequently forgave the principal;in short, his character for probity was such, that his neighbourswere ever satisfied with his arbitrations in their disputes, towhich his abilities were amply adequate; his memory wasastonishingly retentive, in so great a degree, as to enable himto repeat, almost verbatim, a long discourse or sermon. Hewas not the enemy of any man, or particular description of men,but the muscles of his face were violently agitated whenever heheard of litigation in law, and he always professed to be uneasyin the company of the practitioners of it....