The 'remarkable occurrences' is an autobiography of Elizabeth Richards (1742-1816), a woman from a Norfolk farming family. Entries appear to be recorded at the end of each year until December 1815, when she describes her 'declining state', shown by the frequent references to hopes for the following years, for example at the end of 1793 (fol. 27v) when she records that there is war with France, and offers prayers that 'it may have a speedy and happy end'; or at the end of 1797 (fol. 30) which 'ended happily to me because I had the pleasure of seeing all my family with me an enjoyment I have not known of many years before and much question whether I ever shall again be so blessed: God only knows'. The volume forms a record of Elizabeth's family and her Norfolk social circle. There is much about the growth and progress of her children, with reports of inoculations, first days at school, her oldest boy Jack's [John] first dancing lesson, illnesses and mishaps. She records several of her own miscarriages. As her children grow up she notes their courtships, engagements and marriages, their careers and families. Jack entered a clerkship at Lincoln's Inn in London in 1779 (fol. 15), and took chambers at Staples Inn in London in 1785 (fol. 22), becoming a successful solicitor, gaining the Duke of Sussex as a client, and moving to Datchet, Berkshire where he married an heiress Elizabeth Russell. Mrs Richards visits her grown-up children in London, Datchet and Portsmouth.

Notable entries include visits to London in 1766 (fols. 2v-4v), 1801 (fol. 35), and 1806 (fols. 41-2); visits to the theatre, including Drury Lane, London (fol. 3), Norwich (fols. 14v, 21, 24), Yarmouth (fol. 15v), a play performed in a barn in Dereham (fol. 16v), in the Swan at Harleston (fol. 27v), 'the opera of Cleopatra's death'[Nasolini, La Morte di Cleopatra] in London in 1806 with 'Braham and Madm Grassino'[Giuseppina Grassini] (fol. 42), and Windsor (fol. 44).

Public events mentioned include Norwich riots in 1766 (fols. 4v-5); the contested Norwich and Norfolk elections, 15 and 23 Mar 1768 (fol. 6) and 5 Apr 1784 (fol. 19), the election and subsequent riots in Norwich, 15 Sep 1786 (fols. 22r-v), and the 'grand contested' Norfolk election, Oct 1806 (fol. 42v); the execution of the King and Queen of France ('the beautiful but unfortunate Maria Antoniette') in 1793 by their 'wicked subjects', and of Princess Elizabeth in 1794, and the flight of the Dutch Stadholder to England in early 1795 following the French conquest of the Netherlands (fols. 26v-28r); a visit to Yarmouth in 1797 to see the captured Dutch fleet (fol. 29v); a day of thanksgiving and rejoicing for the 'signal victory gain'd over the French fleet off the Nile by Adm Nelson a Norfolk man', 29 Nov 1798 (fol. 32). She records the victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 (fol. 59), contributing to a subscription for war widows.