Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 36

20.-A meeting was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, when resolutions against the continuance of the Property Tax, and a pet.i.tion to the House of Commons, were adopted. On the 9th a county meeting was held at the Shirehouse, Norwich, at which a pet.i.tion to both Houses of Parliament for repealing some of the taxes affecting agriculture, was unanimously agreed to. The meeting was held in consequence of a requisition signed by farmers only who confined their objection to the clause in the Property Tax which related to the tenants' duty, and to the Agricultural Horse Tax. On the 23rd a second county meeting was held, when resolutions congratulating the county on the rejection of the Property Tax and the relinquishment of the War Duty on malt were pa.s.sed. A pet.i.tion to Parliament was also unanimously agreed to, recommending a reduction of the military establishment, and the adoption of such a system of economy as might render a further continuance of War Taxes unnecessary.

25.-Died at Ranworth, William Browne, in his 104th year.

26.-Mrs. Bartley, of Drury Lane, appeared as Isabella ("The Fatal Marriage"), at Norwich Theatre.

MARCH.

4.-Mr. Incledon, accompanied by Mr. Collyer and Master Taylor, commenced a four nights' engagement at Norwich Theatre. He appeared as Capt.

Macheath ("Beggars' Opera"), Hawthorne, Tom Tug, and Steady ("The Quaker").

9.*-"One day this week some men were opening in St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich, a vault which had been closed nine years, when they found three bats entirely covered with mould and dust. They were in a state of complete torpidity, but one of them immediately took flight."

13.-A severe thunderstorm, accompanied by rain and hail, occurred at Yarmouth and other places in the neighbourhood.

18.-Miss L. Kelly, of Drury Lane, appeared at Norwich Theatre as Juliet.

She was joined on the 21st by her sister, Miss F. Kelly.

-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, held at Thetford, before Mr. Baron Wood, Robert Lord, _alias_ Davies, and William Hardy were indicted for having forged notes in their possession. A curious circ.u.mstance led to the detection of the first-named prisoner. A parcel was sent from London by the Fakenham coach addressed to "Isaac Davies, Tivetshall Ram, Norfolk." The address was so badly written as to be mistaken for "Swetshall Ram," and, as no such place could be found, the proprietor of the coach opened the parcel and discovered the forged notes. Lord was found guilty, and sentenced to 14 years' transportation. Hardy was acquitted.

19.-Died, Nehemiah Haylett, of Kenninghall, aged 101.

21.-Died, at Lynn, Mr. Thomas Day, in his 87th year. He was the oldest burgess in that town, and the last of the officers of the West Norfolk Militia, who, in 1759, volunteered their services to the Government. In 1779, when the Lynn Volunteers were formed, Mr. Day was selected Colonel Commandant.

23.*-"Died lately at Dunham, in his 85th year, Thomas Grounds, and about an hour after, Jane, his wife, in her 83rd year. They were both buried in one coffin."

29.-At a public meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, it was resolved on the motion of Mr. Robert Fellowes, seconded by the Rev. J. Ives, to establish a Savings Bank. The bank was opened, with offices in St.

Andrew's Hall, on April 29th, and on the first day 86 3s. 6d. was received from depositors in sums of 1s. and upwards.

30.*-(Advt.) "By desire of Thomas Thurtell, Esq., and William Foster, Esq., Sheriffs of the City of Norwich, at the Theatre Royal, on Sat.u.r.day, April 6th, the Comedy of 'The Road to Ruin,' the Farce called 'The Lyar,'

and the Burlesque Opera 'Bombastes Furioso.'"

31.-Died very suddenly at an advanced age, in the pulpit of Hales Church, the Rev. Valentine Lumley Barnard, rector of Stockton, Norfolk.

APRIL.

3.-A meeting of merchants, manufacturers, &c., was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, when resolutions were pa.s.sed to instruct the members of Parliament for the city to watch and oppose the intended measure for allowing the exportation of wool free of all restrictions. The measure was for the time relinquished.

4.-A public meeting was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, at which it was unanimously resolved to pet.i.tion Parliament for the repeal of the Insolvent Debtors Act, as being in its operation injurious to trade and commerce.

6.*-"A troop of the 1st Royal Dragoons arrived at Norwich from Ipswich last week. The officers and soldiers were wearing their Waterloo medals."

-Edward Lea was executed on the Castle Hill, Norwich, for uttering forged Bank of England notes.

15.-Sir Simon le Blanc, one of the judges of the Court of King's Bench, and many years leading counsel on the Norfolk Circuit, died in London, in his 68th year.

-Mr. and Mrs. Bartley, of Drury Lane Theatre, commenced playing a round of characters at Norwich Theatre.

16.-The Rev. St. John Priest was inst.i.tuted to the rectory of Billingford, on the presentation of Mr. T. W. c.o.ke, M.P., who "acknowledged, in a very handsome manner, the obligation he felt to that gentleman for his exertions in the cause of agriculture, and particularly as secretary to the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation, which office he had held for 13 years without emolument."

19.-A main of c.o.c.ks of 21 battles was fought at the Feathers Inn, Yarmouth, between the gentlemen of Norfolk and the gentlemen of Suffolk, at five guineas the battle and ten guineas the odd. Feeders: Layton for Norfolk, Kersey for Suffolk. The match was continued on the 20th.

23.-At Norwich Quarter Sessions John William Smith was charged with stealing a silver spoon from the Waggon and Horses public-house, the property of William Smith, and a coat, the property of Michael Callow, from the Crown Inn, St. Stephen's. The prisoner, a farmer, had occupied 300 acres of land, and resided on his own estate at Great Ellingham. He was sentenced to seven years' transportation.

24.-By the alteration introduced by Government in the Local Militia establishment the pay of the permanent staff ceased, the accoutrements were sent into store, and the non-commissioned officers and drummers discharged. The only officer retained was the adjutant, who was placed on the reduced pay of 4s. per diem.

27.-Died, aged 85, Mr. Henry Thompson, one of the chief burgesses of Thetford. He had been a member of the Corporation more than half a century, five times served the office of chief magistrate, and in 1806 was appointed one of the a.s.sistant justices of the borough.

MAY.

3.-At a quarterly meeting of the Norwich Corporation it was ordered that the Hospital and City Committees be empowered to recommend to the next a.s.sembly to make such abatements in the rents of the Corporation farms as they might think necessary in consequence of the reduced price of grain, wheat being from 36s. to 37s.; barley, 11s. 6d. to 13s.; and oats, 9s.

6d. to 10s. 6d. per coomb.

11.-The first division of the West Norfolk Militia, under command of Col.

Nelthorpe, marched into Norwich on their return from Ireland; the second division, under Major Barnham, arrived on the 13th. The regiment was disembodied on June 17th.

-*"Died in September last at Allahabad, in his 32nd year, Richard Turner, jun., Judge of the Provisional Court at Agra, and eldest son of the Rev.

Richard Turner, Great Yarmouth."

16.-A serious riot occurred at Norwich. A crowd a.s.sembled in the Market Place, threw fire b.a.l.l.s and broke the windows at the Guildhall. They then broke into the New Mills, threw a quant.i.ty of flour into the river, and carried some away in sacks. On their return from the Mills they smashed many windows in St. Andrew's, Bank Street, Tombland, Magdalen Street, and other localities. Dr. Alderson came out of his house to remonstrate with them and was knocked down. The Mayor and magistrates a.s.sembled at the Guildhall, special constables were sworn in, and the mob dispersed. A picket of the West Norfolk Militia was stationed all night at the Guildhall, and a party of the 1st Royal Dragoons patrolled the streets. The disturbances were renewed on the 18th, when the Riot Act was read, and the mob dispersed by the military.

18.-The proprietors of the Norwich Expedition coach to London by Thetford and Newmarket announced a reduction of fares to 1 15s. for inside, and 1 for outside pa.s.sengers. From this date the Expedition started at three o'clock in the afternoon and reached London at nine o'clock next morning.

20.-A riot took place at Downham Market. The magistrates a.s.sembled at the Crown Inn were publicly insulted, and so much disorder ensued that the Upwell Yeomanry Cavalry were called out, and the Riot Act read, after which the crowd gradually dispersed. A demand had been made for wages of 2s. per day to be paid every Monday and Thursday. In consequence of the farmers having refused to comply, another disturbance took place on the 24th, when two women and several men were apprehended and committed to Norwich Castle. The prisoners were charged at the Norfolk a.s.sizes, held at Norwich in August, before Lord Chief Justice Gibbs, when sixteen were found guilty and sentenced to death, but only two, Daniel Harwood and Thomas Thody, were left for execution, which took place on the Castle Hill on August 31st. "The recollection of his wife and children and the horror of immediate death overcame Thody's fort.i.tude. He was nearly sinking down under the agony of grief and terror, which he expressed by convulsive shrieks, and was obliged to be supported by several men."

22.-At a meeting of owners and occupiers of land, at Diss, a series of resolutions was proposed by the Rev. Mr. Manning, rector, in favour of the commutation of the t.i.thes. It was decided to pet.i.tion the House of Commons on the subject. Similar meetings were held in other parishes in the district.

27.-Mrs. Mardyn, of Drury Lane Theatre, commenced an engagement at Norwich Theatre as Albina Mandeville in the comedy of "The Will." On succeeding evenings she appeared as Amelia Wildenham ("Lovers' Vows"), Widow Brady ("The Irish Widow"), Miss Peggy ("The Country Girl"), and Miranda ("The Busybody").

28.-At a "grand wrestling," which took place at Kirby, twenty-four "professors" entered the ring, and "a finer display of science was never exhibited." A man named Starling was the winner. "A smart milling took place between Broughton and Ives, the former a regular descendant of the great pugilist of that name. Ives proved entirely dest.i.tute of science and was badly beaten."

31.-Under the sanction of the Norwich magistrates and the Court of Guardians the defective silver of the labouring poor of the city was exchanged for current coin.

JUNE.

8.*-"Died last week at Reedham, in his 104th year, John Andrews, a labouring brickmaker. He married in the early part of his life, and had six children, who are now old people. He was left a widower at 55, and at 64 married his present widow, who was but 22. Notwithstanding the disparity of years she proved the greatest blessing to him in his old age, for she treated him with the greatest kindness and attention."

10.-A new theatre was opened at East Dereham by the Norfolk and Suffolk Company of Comedians. "It is fitted up in a style of neatness and elegance scarcely to be met with in any country town. The painting and decorations of the interior were executed by Mr. D. Fisher, to whose known taste they do ample credit. Mr. Fisher has brought with him a most respectable company."

15.-Died, Mrs. Cross, of Swaffham, aged 100.

17.-At a quarterly a.s.sembly of the Corporation of Norwich a congratulatory address was ordered to be presented to the Prince Regent on the marriage of the Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg. A similar address was voted by the Court of Mayoralty on July 10th.