The Diary of William Young of Cotchford Farm

This book, based on William Young's diary from 1854/5, tells the story of his journey via Liverpool and onwards on a three-masted schooner to New York, Buffalo, and eventually Lake Erie. He was part of a criminal enterprise and eventually suffered mutiny and wreck, but he proved an indispensable worker in the mill towns on Lake Erie. His is a young, clear voice on life a hundred and sixty years ago.

Format: Hardback
Length: 112 pages
Publication date: 28 February 2022
Publisher: Unicorn Publishing Group

William Young, the son of a gentleman farmer named Henry Young, resided on Cotchford Farm in the mid-nineteenth century. At the young age of twenty-three, William embarked on a remarkable journey, leaving the farm for what we would now consider a gap year. He ventured to Canada, where he worked for a year. This captivating book, based on his personal diary from 1854/5, takes readers on a captivating adventure through Liverpool and onwards on a three-masted schooner, bound for New York, Buffalo, and eventually Lake Erie.

The voyage itself was fraught with peril, a far cry from the ease of transatlantic travel today. Unbeknownst to our diarist, the ship he sailed on was part of a criminal enterprise, which eventually faced mutiny and wreck. In the mill towns on Lake Erie, Young proved to be an invaluable worker, contributing his skills to both crop cultivation and stonework. As he prepared to return to England, he encountered numerous challenges.

William Young's voice is youthful and clear, offering a unique perspective on life over a century and a half ago. His diary entries provide a vivid glimpse into the social, economic, and cultural landscape of the time, offering a valuable insight into the lives of ordinary people during a transformative period in history.

Weight: 420g
Dimension: 155 x 217 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781914414299