Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 34

4.-King George III. attained his 78th year on this day (Sunday). The Corporation of Norwich attended service at the Cathedral, the Brunswick Hussars fired a _feu de joie_ in the barrack square, and the Light Horse Volunteers, commanded by Major J. Harvey, marched into the Market Place, and after thrice discharging their pistols gave three cheers for the King. "The children belonging to the Sunday School of the Independent Chapel at Lynn, about 800 in number, were regaled with cake and wine."

On the 5th a society at Norwich, known as "The Loyal Heroes," celebrated the Royal birthday by dining at the Pigeons, Charing Cross.

6.-Married at St. Peter Mancroft church, Norwich, Lieut.-Col. Robert John Harvey to Charlotte Mary, only daughter of Mr. Robert Harvey, of Watton.

After the service "the wedding party returned to their carriages, a wedding peal was rung, and the Norwich Light Horse, forming a guard of honour, acted as escort to the bride and bridegroom, and fired a _feu de joie_ in front of their house."

12.-A grand camping match took place at Ranworth. "They played 24 a side, but neither party goaled the ball, and it was decided by a bye."

Between 2,000 and 3,000 persons were present.

-A wrestling match for a subscription purse of 5 took place at the Bird-in-Hand, Kirby. The prize was won by a Reedham man. "A grand milling afterwards took place between Chapman and Ellis, the Newmarket Lad. It was strength and ferocity against science and steady courage, and was won by the latter, who blinded his opponant in 25 minutes."

17.-The Brunswick Hussars, commanded by Col. von Tempsky, left Norwich on their route to Harwich to embark for the Continent.

23.-News was received at Norwich of the battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18th. Cannon were fired, and bells rung in celebration of the victory. The rejoicings were renewed on the 27th, when the Expedition and other coaches brought intelligence of the second abdication of Buonaparte. The Expedition coach, decorated with laurel and flags, was dragged through the streets to the singing of "G.o.d save the King" and "Rule Britannia," and a bonfire, fed with the stalls from the fish-market, and with other stolen material, was lighted at night.

24.*-"That long and justly complained-of nuisance, St. Stephen's pit, is about to be removed. The Corporation of Norwich have ordered a lease of it to be granted to Mr. Edward Bacon, builder, and four houses are to be erected on its scite agreeable to a plan delivered by him for that purpose."

JULY.

3.-Holkham Sheep Shearing commenced. Among the implements exhibited was a machine for spreading hay. "It was drawn by one horse, and by means of strong iron rakes affixed to an axle or centre completely spread a number of swathes (three or four according to the length of the rakes) as fast as the horse could walk."

6.-A "long and scientific battle" took place between Chapman and Ellis on a meadow on the Suffolk side of the Waveney, near St. Olaves Bridge.

"From the first to the 17th round the superior size and strength of Chapman carried him through, and betting was two and three to one in his favour; but, in the 18th, Ellis went in and gave his opponent three desperate facers, which brought the betting even till the 31st round, when Chapman beginning to show evident marks of severe punishment, had his right eye closed; betting, two to one on Ellis. In the 54th round the left eye was closed, and his head became truly terrific, and had from its swollen state a giant-like appearance." Ellis was the winner after a contest of one hour, 12 minutes, for a subscription purse of 7!

8.-Died at Swaffham, aged 88, Thomas Chesney, gardener. "What is very remarkable he never was more than four miles from Swaffham."

-The following names were published as those of local officers present at the battle of Waterloo:-Lieut.-Col. Charles West, 3rd Regiment of Guards; Lieut. the Hon. Horace G. Townshend, 1st Regiment of Guards; Lieut.

Sigismund Trafford, 1st Royal Dragoons, eldest son of Mr. S. Trafford Southwell; Ensign Alfred Cooper, 14th Regiment, youngest son of Mr. C.

Cooper, Norwich; Col. Sir Edward Kerrison, 7th Dragoons (? Hussars); Lieut.-Col. Archibald Money, 11th Light Dragoons; and Major Sir George Hoste, Royal Engineers.

11.-At Norwich Quarter Sessions, John Watson was indicted for conspiring with two other persons unknown to fraudulently obtain a bank note for 10 from Thomas Starling. The prisoner and two persons, apparently strangers, were boasting at a public-house how much money they possessed, when the accused taking prosecutor aside told him that if he could lend him a 10 note it would enable him to win a wager. The prosecutor went out, borrowed the money, and placed it in the hands of the prisoner, who with the other conspirators went away, taking the money with them. The prisoner was sentenced to seven years' transportation.

13.-Arrived at Yarmouth two transports from Ostend with 300 sick and wounded soldiers of the Duke of Wellington's army. They were removed in keels from the ships to the hospital on the Denes.

15.*-"The Postmasters-General have established a penny post six days a week to Stalham, with open letter boxes for the receiving of letters at that place, Neatishead, and Hoveton, near Wroxham Bridge."

28.-The High Sheriff, in compliance with a requisition signed by the county justices in Quarter Sessions, convened a meeting at the Shirehall, Norwich, when, on the motion of Mr. Robert Fellowes, seconded by the Hon.

Col. Wodehouse, a subscription was opened for the relief of the wounded survivors, and the widows and children of the soldiers who fell at Waterloo. This subscription amounted to 7,000. Collections were also made in the city and county churches.

29.-A balloon ascent was made from the Ranelagh Gardens, Norwich, by Mr.

Sadler. "All night long hundreds continued to flock into town, and at daybreak the roads were literally thronged with people. Some hours before noon the princ.i.p.al avenues to the Market Place were blocked up with vehicles for which accommodation could not be found in the inn yards, and horses were picketed in the streets. Lodging and accommodation at the inns were very difficult to obtain, and in many instances a guinea was given for a bed." Miss Bathurst, daughter of the Bishop of Norwich, presented the aeronaut with a banner previous to the ascent. The balloon rose at 3.35 and descended at 4.30 p.m., in a field near Sprowston Hall. "Among the company present in the Ranelagh Gardens was General Money, who 30 years previously, namely on Sat.u.r.day, July 23rd, 1785, made a similar ascent, and was blown out to sea, where he was rescued by the Argus Revenue cutter."

31.-A baker was fined before the Mayor of Norwich for "exposing bread to sell on the Lord's day before the hour of ten o'clock in the morning."

Shortly afterwards 15 persons were summoned for like offences, and the Master and Wardens of the Bakers' Company applied that the fines might be strictly enforced.

AUGUST.

1.-A cricket match was played on Hempton Green between the united parishes of Litcham, Dunham, and Brisley, and of Walsingham and Fakenham.

"The latter team, although unparalleled in the annals of cricketeering, did not get a single notch."

5.*-"Mr. Bellamy, the favourite comedian of the Norwich Company, is engaged by the managers of Covent Garden Theatre at a liberal salary."

The London Press criticised his "provincial tw.a.n.g," and described his performance of the part of Polonius as "somewhat outlandish."

8.-Died, at Downham Market, Mr. Zachary Clark, "one of the people called Quakers." He founded a Lancasterian school in the town, and in 1811 published an account of the different charities belonging to the poor in Norfolk.

13.-A serious fire occurred near the church of St. Lawrence, Norwich.

Six houses were destroyed. The fire originated at the house of a cabinet maker named Hubbard.

15.-The first division of the West Norfolk Militia marched from Norwich for Ipswich under command of Major Barnham; the second division, under Lieut.-Col. Nelthorpe, marched on the 16th, and the remainder on the 17th. The strength of the regiment was upwards of 500 rank and file, chiefly raised in three months by beat of drum. The corps embarked at Harwich, and sailed for Ireland on August 28th.

-A division of the King's German Legion, under command of Capt. Meyer, marched into Norwich from Harwich, where they had landed from Cuxhaven.

19.*-"Last week a well-contested battle was fought at Cley between John Bell and the noted Matthew Randall, well known for his skill in gymnastic exercises. Betting was two and three to one in favour of Randall. After 20 minutes' hard fighting Bell won. The known bottom of Bell and the tried science of Randall drew a considerable concourse of people, among whom were noticed many distinguished characters of the neighbourhood. A handsome subscription was made for the conqueror, who was taken from the ground in a gentleman's carriage."

-The Norfolk, Suffolk, and London Accommodation Coach, owned by John Noller, was advertised to leave the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at eight o'clock, and to travel through Scole, Eye, and Debenham. Fares: Insides, 18s.; outsides, 12s.

19.*-"Died, last week, aged 94, John Minns, worstead weaver, of St.

Paul's, Norwich. He had antic.i.p.ated the event 16 years ago, and had then his coffin made, which he had ever since kept in an adjoining room, and actually used as a cupboard."

22.-The Corporation of Yarmouth elected Mr. Robert Alderson, Steward of Norwich, Recorder of that borough.

SEPTEMBER.

3.-A lad, named Henry Thirkettle, when nutting in Hempnall Wood, touched the wire of a spring gun, and the charge entering his body inflicted terrible injuries. William Ebbage, in the service of Mr. Henry Usborne, of Heydon Hall, was on October 28th similarly injured. Mr. Gurney, barrister, was consulted as to the legality of the use of spring guns.

His opinion was that their use was not lawful, and that in case of death a verdict of murder might be returned against the master who authorised the use of, and the servant who set a spring gun. A contrary opinion was expressed by another barrister.

6.-Died at Ber Street, Norwich, aged 68, Martin Drummee, a noted bird fancier, "by which business he had acc.u.mulated considerable property."

9.*-"According to the Charter of the borough of Yarmouth, the Aldermen and Common Councilmen are annually to a.s.semble and choose _before they separate_ 'the most discrete' alderman to be Mayor. The election of Mr.

Cory did not take place until after a strong trial of patience and abstinence on both sides. The electors a.s.sembled on the _Tuesday_ noon, and remained shut up (with only such provisions as they carried in their pockets) until ten o'clock on the _Thursday_ night, when the six whose supplies were first exhausted found themselves obliged to agree with the other six who were better provided, and to surrender their votes to avoid starvation, and a third night's confinement in the Church Hall."

16.-Equestrian performances commenced at the Pantheon, Harper's Gardens, Norwich, under the management of R. Usher, "late clown at Astley's Royal Amphitheatre, and J. Clarke, the celebrated equestrian of the Royal Circus, London."

19.-At the Yarmouth Race a.s.sembly on this date "it was the general remark that there was too much display in the ball-room, attributed by some to the ladies in the hurry of setting off having left, what ought to be considered a necessary article of dress, behind them."

25.-Married, Mr. D. Fisher, manager of the Norfolk and Suffolk Company of Comedians, to Miss F. B. Bane, niece to Mr. Aldrich, of Pulham.

-Died at Burnham Westgate, Sir Mordaunt Martin, Bart., aged 75. He pa.s.sed the last 50 years of his life in retirement at Burnham Thorpe, devoting his time princ.i.p.ally to the study and practice of agriculture.

26.-Died at Yarmouth, aged 50, Mrs. Holland. "Her death was occasioned by her being frightened by the stories of a Mrs. Spaul, who pretended to tell fortunes." Mrs. Spaul was committed to gaol by the Mayor.

29.-Mr. Thomas Thurtell, alderman, and Mr. William Foster were sworn into office as Sheriffs of Norwich, and entertained a large company to dinner at Chapel Field House.