[1] Ordained a deacon in 1717, he obtained a curacy at Rothbury, Northumberland to one of his uncles, also John Thomlinson (1651–1720), who was rector there.
He remained at Rothbury after his uncle's death in 1720, and in 1721, for unknown reasons, he moved to Navestock, Essex.
He continued writing it until at least 1722, with several undated entries at the end, from which we learn that he is married, although no record of the marriage can be found: his wife is known only through monumental inscriptions.
Written in the volume in an eighteenth-century hand is a comment which includes a brief description: [The Diary] affords a lively picture of the sordid and selfish views of the writer and of his friends for his advancement, in seeking for a rich wife, and the shameless traffic and trifling with the feelings of many women in this pursuit.
Thomlinson does not hesitate to criticize his subjects, and reports scandals together with curious and humorous anecdotes,[2] including what is certainly one of the earliest limericks.