English recipe and commonplace book, late 18th century

Collection of medical recipes and commonplaces, largely in a single, late 18th century hand, apparently that of a certain Peter Bell, of Minsca, near Lockerbie. The collection begins with a transcription from George Cheyne's Essay of health and long life, which the author entitles 'General Rules for Preserving or recovering of Health' (pp. 1-36), following by many recipes, notes on drugs and medicines, spiritual reflections and other commonplaces. With loose recipes and other documents.

late 18th century

1 volume 1 volume: 150 x 90 mm. 5 blank leabves + 115 pp. (page 63

Purchased from PBA Galleries, December 2008.

The author has added genealogical notes on [pp. 168-175], dated 1773, which indicate that the Bells were settled at Minsca for several generations. In later years the author added to these notes, noting that Peter Bell married a certain Mary Bell in 1782 and had one son and six daughters, the youngest of whom, Sarah, married Robert Carruthers in 1827. Later hands continue the Carruthers genealogy, suggesting that this volume was inherited by Sarah Bell and subsequently passed to her descendents.