29 March 2011

You’ve no doubt noticed that many of the little pop-up descriptions of people, places, etc. in diary entries are lacking descriptive text. Which is a shame, especially for those who aren’t too familiar with the diary and Sam’s world. So I’ve put together a list of the most frequently-appearing topics that are currently lacking brief summaries.

If you feel inclined, pick a topic, click through to its Encyclopedia page, where there may be annotations and more to help you, and have a go at composing a brief description. We’re only looking for a maximum of 50 words for each one.

You can post your summary in the comments below, or email it to me. And if you fancy writing more than one, that would be great. I’ll cross out any for which I receive descriptions, to try and avoid duplication of effort.

Here are the 100 most frequently-mentioned topics in the diary (number of mentions shown for each):

1. Westminster Hall (301)
2. Deptford, Kent (252)
3. Mountagu, Jemima (“my Lady,” Countess of Sandwich) (251)
4. Mercer, Mary (167)
5. Greenwich (141)
6. Brampton, Cambridgeshire (134)
7. Portsmouth, Hampshire (102)
8. Pepys, Paulina (“Pall”, sister) (100)
9. Birch, Jane (Pepys’ maid) (98)
10. Duke’s House (“The Opera”, Lincoln’s Inn Fields) (95)
11. Edwards, Thomas (93)
12. Willet, Deborah (89)
13. Birch, Wayneman (Pepys’ “boy”) (76)
14. Prize goods (74)
15. Ashwell, Mary (72)
16. Wight, Mary (a, Aunt Wight) (71)
17. Joyce, William (jun.) (64)
18. King’s House (Theatre Royal, Vere St) (62)
19. River Thames (57)
20. Hill, Thomas (56)
21. Rotherhithe (Redriffe) (54)
22. Carkesse, James (54)
23. Andrews, Thomas (51)
24. Turner, Thomas (50)
25. Hawley, John (49)
26. Harwich, Essex (44)
27. Robinson, Ald. Sir John (Lieutenant of the Tower) (43)
28. Plate (43)
29. Whitehall Chapel (39)
30. Hampton Court Palace (34)
31. Royal Fishery (34)
32. Barker, Miss (34)
33. Dunkirk, France (33)
34. Hervey, Sir Thomas (Navy Commissioner, 1665-8) (33)
35. Trinity House, Deptford (31)
36. Ropeyard (Woolwich) (30)
37. Guinea (30)
38. Burrows, Elizabeth (30)
39. Mathematics (29)
40. Wren, Matthew (b) (29)
41. Batelier, Mary (27)
42. Cockpit (Whitehall Palace) (26)
43. Wood, William (sen.) (26)
44. Yeabsley, Thomas (24)
45. Committee on Miscarriages (24)
46. Gentleman, Jane (22)
47. Lovett, Mr (22)
48. Harman, Philip (21)
49. Wood, Barbara (b. Sheldon) (21)
50. Virginals (20)
51. Protestantism (20)
52. Sheerness, Kent (20)
53. Lisbon, Portugal (20)
54. Sun, The (King St) (19)
55. Matted Gallery (Whitehall Palace) (19)
56. Trinity House (Water Lane) (19)
57. Welsh, Jane (19)
58. Udall, Sarah (19)
59. Crown (King St, “Wilkinson’s”) (18)
60. Erith, Kent (18)
61. Tooker, Frances (18)
62. Daniel, Mrs (18)
63. It is Decreed (18)
64. Sheldon, William (17)
65. Bands (17)
66. Hope, The (17)
67. Poll Bill (17)
68. Breda, Holland (17)
69. Wotton, William (16)
70. Clerke, Mr (c, solicitor) (16)
71. Hackney (16)
72. Greeting, Thomas (16)
73. Vauxhall (15)
74. Hamburg, Germany (15)
75. Jane (Pepys’ cook-maid) (15)
76. Mercer, Nicola (15)
77. Pope’s Head (Pope’s Head Alley) (15)
78. Flying Greyhound (15)
79. Holles, Sir Frescheville (MP Grimsby, Lincs.) (15)
80. King’s Head (Islington) (14)
81. Markham, Nan (b. Wright) (14)
82. Royal Catherine (b) (13)
83. Middleton, Col. Thomas (Navy Commissioner of Portsmouth) (13)
84. Vernatty, Philibert (13)
85. Tooker, John (13)
86. Mile End (13)
87. Smegergill, William (‘Caeser’) (13)
88. Oxford (13)
89. Brisbane, John (13)
90. Smith, Sir George (13)
91. Commander, Henry (12)
92. Hill House, Chatham (12)
93. Gallery (Whitehall Palace) (12)
94. Gracious (Gracechurch) Street (12)
95. Maes, Iudoco (12)
96. Bergen, Norway (12)
97. Ashburnham, William (Cofferer of the King’s Household) (12)
98. Eleven Months Tax (12)
99. Compton, Sir William (11)
100. Alsop, Timothy (11)

If you fancy writing a summary I’m sure current and future readers of the diary will be grateful!