This is the first part of the Fairlop chronology. See our page on Fairlop for details.
Daniel Day, the founder of Fairlop fair, was born in the Parish of St. Mary Overy, his father being an “opulent brewer”.
Around this time Daniel Day started his annual visits to Fairlop Oak in Hainnault Forest, near Epping, bringing along his friends from Wapping, they all feasting on beans and bacon. The fair would develop from this gathering.
A few years before the year of Daniel Day’s death, a branch of Fairlop Oak “received a shock” and Daniel procured the branch from the lord of the manor, and employed a carpenter, Mr. Clear, to make it into a coffin for himself.
Daniel Day, the founder of Fairlop fair, dies aged 84. He was buried, according to his unusual instructions, in Barking churchyard, in the coffin he had previously had made of the Fairlop Oak. See next item for contemporary account, and Fairlop and its Founder for background.
A few Days since died at Wapping, Daniel Day, aged 84 Years, a Man well known for his mechanical Turn, and Ingenuity in Engine Work and Pump-making. He was the first Promoter and Founder for Fair-Lop Fair, in Hennault Forest, in the County of Essex, which was held the first Friday in July every Year, where he has for forty Years eat Beans and Bacon, under the same Tree: He constantly walked to and from it, while his Strength permitted, in one Dress, a blue Serge Waistcoat and Breeches embroidered with Needle-Work. The last 8 Years, as he grew feeble, he went in a Coach, attended by a Fiddler. He endeavoured to make the Fair Statute, but could not succeed, or would have been buried under the Tree, and ordered a Monument to his Memory; but to shew his great Regard for the Tree, and its Situation, he procured a Limb, of which has been made a Coffin, which he has had by him many Years, in which he used to lie down often, to see if it fitted him. He ordered his Body to be laid in Barking Church-yard, (the Parish in which the Tree is) to be carried by Water, attended by his own Men, with white Gloves and Aprons, each Man to have two Shillings and Sixpence, and a full Pot. His Fortune, which was easy, he kept in the Bank, as he always declared against Interest for Money, and used to quote a Passage out of the Psalms, He that putteth not out his Money to Usury, nor taketh Reward against the Innocent, he that doth these Things shall never be moved.