Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 19

JANUARY.

14.*-"The orders lately come down to Norwich, besides affording constant employment to most of the manufacturing poor for nearly twelve months, will in the different branches of labour diffuse upwards of 40,000 in earnings, exclusive of the amount circulated for combing and spinning."

15.-The Norwich Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Lieut.-Col. De Hague, was formed into a battalion of five companies of 60 men each.

25.-A "grand operatical romance," ent.i.tled "The Forty Thieves," was produced for the first time at Norwich Theatre, with scenery specially painted by Dixon.

28.*-(Advt.) "A card. Mr. Lambert, from Leicester, respectfully informs the ladies and gentlemen of Norwich and its vicinity that he arrived on Sunday at Mr. Leeche's, at the King's Head, where he will see company from 11 to 2, from 3 till 6, and from 7 till 9 each day. Admission one shilling each." Lambert died on Wednesday, June 21st, 1809, at Stamford.

He was in his 40th year, and weighed 52 stones 11 lbs.

28.-In consequence of a rapid thaw, the low lying parts of Norwich were flooded. "Some of the houses were six or seven feet under water," and boats were rowed in the street at St. Martin-at-Oak. The marshes below Norwich were so inundated that the course of the river could not be traced, and the barge proceeding to Yarmouth had to return, in consequence of the men being unable to find the channel.

30.-During a violent gale a stack of chimneys fell on the roof of an old house in c.o.c.key Lane, Norwich. Mr. and Mrs. Graham were buried in the ruins and killed. On the same night a large tree in Sprowston Park was blown down. It was planted the day King Charles was beheaded, January 30th, 1649.

FEBRUARY.

3.-Mr. S. Mitch.e.l.l (as nominee for the Wymer Ward, Norwich) obtained judgment in the Court of King's Bench, by which it was ruled that Militiamen out on duty, but having dwellings in the city in which their families lived, had a right to vote at ward elections.

7.-A stage coach, owned by Mr. Wm. Funnell, and known as the Lynn and Norwich Telegraph, commenced running. It left the Star Inn, Lynn, on Tuesdays and Fridays at eight a.m., and arrived at the Woolpack Inn, Norwich, at eight p.m. It ran by way of Grimston, Great Ma.s.singham, Rougham, Litcham, Mileham, Stanfield, Brisley, Elmham, Billingford, Bawdeswell, Lenwade Bridge, Attlebridge, and Drayton. The return journey was on Wednesdays and Sat.u.r.days.

24.-Died, at his house in Bruton Street, London, aged 85, the Right Hon.

the Earl of Orford. His lordship was the nephew of the famous Sir Robert Walpole, afterwards Earl of Orford. For many years he sat in the House of Lords as Baron Walpole of Wolterton. On the death of Horace, Earl of Orford, he succeeded to the Barony of Houghton, the Earldom becoming extinct, but he was afterwards created Earl of Orford. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Lord Walpole, who was for many years member for Lynn.

General Walpole, who concluded the treaty with the Maroons in Jamaica, who seconded Mr. Tierney in his duel with Mr. Pitt, and who was one of Mr. Fox's secretaries, was a younger son of the deceased Earl. The remains were brought from London for interment in the family vault at Wolterton. The funeral procession pa.s.sed through Norwich on March 10th in the following order:-"Four hors.e.m.e.n preceding the Earl's coronet, borne on a cushion of crimson velvet by a person on horseback, bare headed; then the body in a hea.r.s.e, surmounted with plumes and drawn by six horses, followed by a mourning coach and six; his lordship's coach and six, with blinds up, and servants on horseback closed the procession." The great bell of St. Peter Mancroft, and the bells of other churches tolled as the procession pa.s.sed through the city.

28.-The Norwich Squadron of Light Horse Volunteers had just concluded their drill on Mulbarton Common, when Capt. Darell's hounds drove a stag across the parade ground. The Volunteers at once joined in the chase, "to which it will readily be conceived their numbers and appearance gave a great _eclat_." The stag was taken alive in a shed at Mangreen, after a run of 3 hours 10 minutes.

Died, this month, Mr. John Wagstaffe, of Bawburgh. He was the author of a poem, ent.i.tled "Stonehenge," dedicated to his friend and neighbour, Mr.

Edward Jerningham.

APRIL.

3.-A trotting match took place between Young Adonis, a colt belonging to Mr. James Neeve, of Terrington St. Clement, and an eight year old horse, Hue and Cry, owned by Mr. James Mathew, of the same place. The stakes were 20 a side, and the distance five miles. The colt, which carried 13 stones, covered the distance in 19 minutes, and won.

10.-A meeting was held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, at which resolutions were pa.s.sed, thanking Col. Wardle and his supporters for their conduct in Parliament, respecting the charges preferred against the Duke of York.

21.-A new peal of bells was opened at Wiveton. The tenor, weighing upwards of 11 cwts., was cast and hung by Mr. Wm. Dobson, of Downham Market.

22.-The postmasters announced that "from the wonderfully high prices of horses, hay, corn, &c.," they were "under the disagreeable necessity of charging eighteen pence per mile from this date."

27.-Died, aged 32, in Arras prison, John Rising, sixth son of Mr. Robert Rising, of Somerton Hall. He commanded the Vanguard letter of marque, which was captured, on her return from Trinidad, off Beachy Head, by the Ambuscade, after a desperate resistance. The remains of the deceased were followed to the grave by upwards of 200 Englishmen.

MAY.

9.-The six regiments of Norfolk Local Militia a.s.sembled for 28 days'

training at Norwich, Yarmouth, Lynn, and Swaffham.

11.-Notice was issued of an intended application to Parliament for an Act for erecting a bridge over the river Wensum, at or near the Foundry, in the parish of St. Peter per Mountergate, Norwich, for making roads for connecting the bridge with the Thorpe turnpike road and the Castle Hill, and for raising money to carry the Act into execution. A pet.i.tion for leave to bring in a Bill was presented in the House of Commons in February, 1810, and on March 13th the Bill was read a second time, and committed. It was announced on April 14th that the measure had pa.s.sed the House of Commons, and been read a first time in the House of Lords.

On April 18th, the Bill received the Royal a.s.sent. The first stone of the bridge was laid on August 6th by Alderman Jonathan Davey, the projector of the undertaking. The contractor was Mr. Mendham, of Holt.

12.-On this day the thermometer stood at 80 degrees in Norwich.

13.-The Rev. Charles Millard appointed Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich, on the resignation of the Rev. Henry Bathurst.

19.-The officers of the Lynn Freebridge Legion presented a sword to their commanding officer, Lieut.-Col. Taylor.

JUNE.

3.-Died, aged 49, John Christmas Beckwith, Mus. Doc., organist of Norwich Cathedral and St. Peter Mancroft. On the 7th, "the remains of this eminent musician were interred in St. Peter's Church under the organ, agreeable to his own desire." His son, Mr. John Beckwith, succeeded him in both appointments.

7.-Died, in his 68th year, at his house in St. Saviour, Norwich, Mr.

Thomas Watson, who served the office of Sheriff in 1789, and of Mayor in 1790.

17.-Mr. Bannister appeared at the Theatre Royal, Norwich, in his entertainment, "Bannister's Second Budget for 1809."

18.-Miss Booth, a well-known Norwich musician, elected organist at the Octagon Chapel, in the place of Mr. John Beckwith.

19.-Holkham Sheep Shearing commenced. An improved turnip drill, made by Mr. c.o.ke's blacksmith (Mann), was exhibited. "By this drill the oilcake dust and turnip seed are kept separate till they come into the funnels, from which they combine and fall into the drills." A manure drill cart, invented by Blyth, of Norwich, was also shown. "This implement first ploughs the soil, deposits the manure, and sows the seed after it, and both are instantly buried up." It was worked by two horses and three men. Mr. Lester, of Paddington, exhibited a working model of a newly-invented machine for separating the corn and seeds from the straw and chaff.

20.-Guild Day at Norwich. Mr. Thomas Back was sworn in as Mayor, and entertained 640 guests at the Guild feast in St. Andrew's Hall. At the ball at Chapel Field House the dancing was opened by the Mayor and Mrs.

William Jerningham. The prisoners in the city gaol thanked the Mayor "for one guinea on the Guild Day, and for a plentiful basket of meat from the hall, which was equally divided amongst them."

26.-The Bishop of Norwich confirmed 800 persons at the Cathedral.

27.-Swaffham Races re-established with great success. Four plates were run for on this and the next day, and several of the horses were from Newmarket. "Public ordinaries were provided at the different inns; that at the Crown was attended by a select party of 68 ladies and gentlemen.

At seven the former retired to their toilettes, and at about nine o'clock proceeded to the a.s.sembly-room, where the company numbered 200 persons.

The ball was opened by Mr. P. Hamond and Miss Upcher."

Brooke House (with 170 acres of land), formerly the residence of Sir Roger Kerrison, was this month purchased by Mr. Thomas Kett, of Seething, for 16,010.

JULY.

5.-Arrived, at Yarmouth, part of the 40 sail of transports, for the purpose of receiving on board the 2nd Battalions of the 11th and 59th Regiments of Foot, the 1st Battalion of the 79th, and other regiments for the Expedition.

11.-At Norwich Quarter Sessions, George Hubbard was indicted for stealing a pair of velveteen breeches. "The offence being for a grand larceny the prisoner was allowed to plead the benefit of clergy." He was sentenced to six months' solitary confinement and to be publicly whipped.

12.-A curious case was tried at the Norfolk Quarter Sessions. In the course of the inquiry into the conduct of the Duke of York in September, 1808, it was stated that a Mrs. Sinclair Sutherland had written to his Royal Highness to induce him, "for certain reasons," not to permit Major Turner, 3rd Dragoon Guards, to sell out in favour of Lieut. Sitwell until the following March. In consequence of this communication, Major Turner's resignation was not accepted until some months after it had been sent in. Major Turner went to reside at Buckenham, in this county.