Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 100

15.-"Died last week, in the 85th year of his age, Mr. Thos. Leech, hosier, one of the oldest inhabitants of Diss. He was the representative of the venerable Bishop Blaize in the last procession of the wool-combers held at Diss at about the same time the like pageant was exhibited at Norwich, Diss having been esteemed a great manufactory of hosiery, and one of the chief in Norfolk and Suffolk."

19.-At a meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, it was decided to celebrate the christening of the Prince of Wales by the erection of an almshouse, and to raise 1,000 for carrying out the scheme. At an adjourned meeting, on January 25th, the resolution was rescinded, because "the opening of an alms-house was only the opening of a pauper warren."

On the same day a dinner was given at the Royal Hotel, a ball took place at the a.s.sembly Rooms, and the inmates of the Workhouse were entertained.

FEBRUARY.

5.-Richard Cricknell, the Norwich pugilist, died on this date. "He had never been well since he fought with Cain (on January 7th, 1840, _q.v._); the injury which he received to his head deprived him of his reason, and he had since been in the Bethel."

6.-Died at Budleigh-Salterton, near Exeter, aged 70, the Rev. William Gilpin, who had been twice stationed in Norwich as Wesleyan Superintendent, namely, in 1809 and 1824, during which periods "the great chapels" in Calvert Street and St. Peter Mancroft were erected.

9.-Died at his seat at Thorpe Lodge, aged 87, Lieut.-Col. Harvey, a magistrate and deputy-lieutenant of the county, and a justice of the peace for Norwich. He was also "Father of the City." Born in 1755, he was elected Sheriff of Norwich in 1784, Alderman for the Middle Wymer Ward in 1787, and Mayor in 1792. During the war which was terminated by the Treaty of Amiens he raised and commanded a troop of Volunteer Cavalry, called the Norwich Light Horse, which, on the renewal of hostilities with France, was augmented to a squadron, of which he was appointed Major. In 1824 he became by seniority Lieut.-Col. Commandant of the 3rd Regiment of Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry and continued at the head of the corps until the three county regiments were disembodied. In 182526 he served the office of High Sheriff of Norfolk. The Thorpe Lodge estate was sold at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, by Mr. Culley on June 9th and 10th. The amount realised by the auction was 35,000 and sales by private contract brought the amount to 50,000.

10.-Lord Jocelyn was elected unopposed Member of Parliament for Lynn, to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Sir Stratford Canning as Amba.s.sador at Constantinople.

26.-A prospectus was issued inviting the public to subscribe 800 in 40 shares of 20 each, for the purchase of a steam carriage (patented by Mr.

W. Parr) to run for hire between Norwich and Yarmouth. (There is no further record of the proposed undertaking.)

MARCH.

7.-The Norwich weavers commenced a strike to enforce a return to the scheduled prices paid in 1836. The women and girls employed at Mr.

Wright's factory struck on July 19th, and paraded the streets with alms-boxes; and on August 22nd the jacquard weavers adopted a similar course. In the latter case Mr. Hinde and Mr. Steward agreed to their demands, and Messrs. Willett and Francis urged the making of mutual concessions.

-Died, aged 86, Elizabeth Hawes, widow, of Coltishall. "She was born and reared in humble life, and was the only sister of that eminent scholar, Richard Porson, and though under widely different circ.u.mstances, her mind showed traces of the relationship in perception, memory, and the power of application."

23.-Disturbances took place at Lynn in consequence of a reduction in the wages of coal porters and sailors. The rural police were summoned, special constables sworn in, and a troop of the 13th Light Dragoons were ordered from Norwich. Several of the ringleaders were sent to jail.

26.-The publication of Part I. of Mr. David Hodgson's "Antiquarian Remains, Princ.i.p.ally Confined to Norwich and Norfolk," was announced on this date.

-*"A plan has been set on foot for the establishment of an Art Union for East Anglia, with the view of giving encouragement to the fine arts in this county and its vicinity. The exhibition is intended to be opened at Norwich at or prior to the Festival week." The society was known as the East of England Art Union, and the first exhibition was opened "at their well-lighted gallery in Exchange Street," on July 27th. The exhibitors included J. Stark, J. B. Crome, S. B. Colkett, M. E. Cotman, A. Stannard, R. Ladbrooke, J. B. Ladbrooke, T. Lound, R. Leman, &c.

APRIL.

4.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, before Mr. Serjeant Atcherley, George Barber, aged ten years, was indicted, upon the Coroner's inquisition, for murdering John Smith, aged eight, by throwing him over Shotford Bridge into the river Waveney, on November 6th, 1841. The only direct evidence to criminate the prisoner was his own confession, which was extracted from him by a witness who had chained him up and frightened him by threats. The Commissioner directed the jury to acquit the prisoner, who was afterwards received into the establishment of the Philanthropic Society, St. George's Fields, London.

5.-A singular case was tried at the Norfolk a.s.sizes, before Lord Chief Justice Tindal. The defendants, John Utting and Anna Bunn, were indicted for conspiring against one Daniel Durrant, of Winterton, a criminal then under sentence of transportation for life. Durrant, at the Summer a.s.sizes in 1841, was charged with committing a rape upon Bunn, on whose evidence and that of John Utting, a constable at Filby, he was convicted and sentenced. Soon afterwards Durrant's wife died of grief, and Bunn, labouring under the pangs of remorse, confessed to the Rev. Mr. Sidney, of Acle, that the statements which procured the conviction of Durrant were false. It was further shown that Utting had planned with Bunn to ruin Durrant. The jury now found that Durrant was not guilty of the charge on which he was convicted, and returned a verdict of guilty against Utting, while Bunn, who had not been called upon to plead, was discharged. Utting was taken before the Court of Queen's Bench, on May 9th, and was there sentenced by Mr. Justice Patteson to twelve calendar months' imprisonment in Norwich Castle. "The issue of the prosecution was that Durrant was restored to liberty and returned home. Only three years ago he would have been executed for this crime. He was formerly an innkeeper, with a good business. Through this unfounded charge he has lost his wife, who died of a broken heart, and he and his three young children are now dest.i.tute." Public subscriptions were made on behalf of this unfortunate man.

16.*-"During the a.s.sizes the Norwich Scholars ascended the tower of St.

Peter Mancroft and made a grand attempt to ring 6,729 changes of Stedman's Cinques. They attained about 6,000, in four hours and a half, after which the gudgeon of the tenor broke, which, with the stock and implements, weighs 5,000 lbs. and upwards. It fell on the beams beneath with a tremendous crash, but sustained no injury. The ringers were more frightened than hurt."

-*"Messrs. Whaites, of Ingham, have, in two days during the last fortnight, killed 116 couples of snipes; on the first day 54 couples, on the second day 62 couples." Other remarkable feats of snipe shooting were recorded during the year. On October 15th Mr. Robert Fellowes, jun., killed, on Sir William Beauchamp Proctor's marshes at Langley, 60 couple; and on November 17th, at Rockland, Mr. Richard Crawshay killed, at one shot, four snipe on the wing.

-The publication, by subscription, was announced of a new tragedy, ent.i.tled, "De Valencourt, or the Fate of Extremes," by Mr. William Henry Hoskins, princ.i.p.al tragedian and deputy stage manager at the Theatre Royal, Norwich, and Mr. H. H. Hoskins, author of "The Spaniards' Ransom,"

&c. The publishers were C. Mitch.e.l.l, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, London; Matchett and Co. and Bacon and Co., Norwich. The play was produced at Norwich Theatre for the first time on May 14th. "In the piece there is an imitation of Shakesperian language and dialogue; there are many striking, and some touching pa.s.sages, but allied with much that is very strained and exaggerated."

23.-Mr. Abington, "a graduated member of Trinity College, Cambridge, and also of the English Bar," who had adopted the stage as a profession, made his first appearance at Norwich Theatre, as Hamlet.

MAY.

1.-A serious fire occurred at Hillington Hall, the seat of Sir William ffolkes, Bart. The fire was confined to the servants' apartments, which were totally destroyed, and the main building was saved by the unroofing of the intervening structure.

6.-Samuel Wilkinson, of Mill Street, Peafield, appeared before the Norwich magistrates and stated that he wished to sell his wife. The magistrates referred him to the Ecclesiastical Court, but he said he would effect the sale and take the risk. On the 7th, at or near the Prussia Gardens, he sold his wife for a guinea, and received a sovereign on account. On the 10th Wilkinson was bound over to keep the peace for a.s.saulting his wife. In the course of the hearing the following written agreement was produced:-

"This is to satfy that I Samyoul Wilkerson sold my wife to Mr. Gorge Springle for the sum of one pound one before witness.

Samyoul X Wilkerson Maryann Wilkerson X her mark Gorge Springle X his mark Frederick Cornish, witness."

7.-Died, Mr. George Cooke Tucker, landlord of the New Inn, Cromer. "The present flourishing establishment was built and raised by him. Possessed of a peculiar courteousness of manner, and endowed with great kindness of disposition, he was alike esteemed by the resident gentry and the general inhabitants of the place and neighbourhood. He had reached the patriarchal age of ninety years."

11.-Died, aged 62, Mr. William Norman, Windsor Place, New Lakenham, "many years hair dresser to his late Majesty George III."

18.-At Norwich Theatre was produced, for the first time, a new melodrama, in three acts, ent.i.tled, "The Student of Jena," by Mr. Wm. Cooper, B.A., barrister, of Norwich. "The play is founded on the romance of the 'Diamond Watch,' a piece of _diablerie_, emanating from the German school."

26.-Thurlow, the pedestrian, commenced a walk of 2,000 miles in one thousand hours, at Richmond Hill Gardens, Norwich. (No further record.) Robert Skipper, "the celebrated pedestrian, of Norfolk and Norwich, having been absent on the Continent and in different counties, where he has won several matches, and is now in his 55th year," began a walk on June 21st, of 50 miles per day for twenty successive days, at the Green Hill Gardens, St. Augustine's Gates, Norwich. He completed the task on Sunday, July 10th, "and did not appear to be in the least distressed."

28.-Mr. and Mrs. Wood commenced, at Norwich Theatre, a five nights'

engagement, prior to their final retirement from the stage. The operas produced included "Fra Diavolo," "Midas," "La Somnambula," and "Norma."

-The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry a.s.sembled at Swaffham for eight days'

permanent duty, under the command of Major Loftus.

30.-Cricket was revived in Norwich by a match played on this date, between the Norwich Club and the officers and privates of the 13th Light Dragoons. "Considerable fluctuation has for the last few years in Norwich marked the practice of this celebrated manly game, and about two years since nothing appeared more probable than its extinction."

JUNE.

1.-Another instance of the holding in church of a public meeting for secular purposes occurred on this date. The inhabitants of Stoke Holy Cross a.s.sembled at the parish church to discuss the propriety of establishing a benefit society. Mr. T. Brightwell presided over the meeting.

14.-Died, aged 65, at Long Island, United States, Mr. John Hunt, engraver, formerly of Norwich. He was the author of a work on British ornithology.

19.-A severe thunderstorm occurred at Norwich. "The wind blew a perfect hurricane. Rushing in a straight line for Catton, it caught the high wall in St. Clement's Square, and blew down about 30 yards of solid brickwork." The sails of Catton mill were blown off, trees were torn up by the roots, and the river suddenly rose above the banks in places. At Harleston a marsh mill was overturned and houses were unroofed.

21.-Died at the Euston Hotel, London, Mr. Fred. Yates, aged 45, manager of the Adelphi Theatre. He married, in 1823, Miss F. Brunton, granddaughter of Mr. John Brunton, of Norwich.

30.-Died at Longford Hall, Derbyshire, aged 88, Thomas William c.o.ke, Earl of Leicester. His lordship was born on May 6th, 1753, and was returned for Norfolk in 1776. With one brief intermission, he continued to represent the county until 1832. He was created Earl of Leicester in 1837. He married, in his twenty-third year, his cousin Jane, youngest daughter of Mr. James Dutton, who died June 2nd, 1800, leaving no male issue. After remaining twenty-two years a widower, he married, February 26th, 1822, Lady Anne Amelia Keppel, third daughter of the Earl of Albemarle, her ladyship being then 19 and Mr. c.o.ke 70 years of age. The issue of the marriage were Thomas William, born in 1822; Edward Keppel, 1824; Henry c.o.ke, 1827; Wenman Clarence Walpole, 1828; and Margaret Sophia, who, at the Earl's death was only ten years of age. The remains of the deceased n.o.bleman arrived at Swaffham on July 10th, and were placed in the large room at the Crown Inn. From four o'clock in the afternoon until nine in the evening the body lay in state, and immense numbers of persons pa.s.sed through the apartment. At nine o'clock on the morning of the 11th, m.u.f.fled peals were rung, and at eleven o'clock the funeral procession started for t.i.ttleshall. It pa.s.sed through Castle-acre, the Lexhams, and Litcham. "At every spot where the main road crossed the cross roads were carriages in waiting to fall into the procession, which, marching in close order, was two miles in length." At t.i.ttleshall church, where the interment took place, there was a great gathering of the personal friends and tenantry of the deceased earl.

JULY.