Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 73

DECEMBER.

13.-Died at East Dereham, aged 85, Mr. James Philo, who had filled the office of parish clerk for fifty years. ("The dignified High Church clerk" in "Lavengro.")

21.-The _Crim. Con._ action, Muskett _v._ Gurney, tried at the Thetford a.s.sizes in 1818, was re-opened in the Court of King's Bench, when further evidence was adduced on behalf of the plaintiff, to whom the jury awarded 2,000 damages. (May 17th, 1830: "Married, at St. Mary's, Marylebone, Richard Hanbury Gurney, to Mary, only daughter of Mr. William Jary, of Burlingham.")

-A meeting of 200 insurers in the Norwich Equitable Insurance Office was held at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, "for the purpose of taking into consideration the conduct and management of the funds of the society, and of dissolving the inst.i.tution, with the view of the just redistribution of the funds, the formation of a new society under a more protective management and control." Mr. Skipper was elected registrar and secretary of the new society.

26.-The pantomime, "Punch's Festival, or Harlequin Christmas-box," was produced at Norwich Theatre, under the superintendence of Mr. T. Hill, of Drury Lane Theatre. Mr. Thorne painted "a grand moving panorama, commencing with a view of the intended Port of Norwich (ships lying in the basin), leading through the valley of Thorpe, embracing Col. Harvey's house (Thorpe Hall), Hinsby's Gardens, and intermediate scenery to Lake Lothing, and concluded with the grand junction lock at Lowestoft in its present state." The last scene, "Norwich a Port," concluded with "a grand display of fireworks by Chevalier Southby, of the Royal Gardens, Vauxhall, and the London theatres."

28.-Died at Lynn, Mr. Benjamin Smith, aged 93. "He was a man of rather eccentric habits. His gravestone had been placed in the churchyard of St. Margaret's nearly ten years before his death, having only a blank for his age and day of decease. In his personal habits he was frugal almost to parsimony, but his benevolence was only bound by his means. He entirely rebuilt St. James's almshouses for 12 widows, and an abode for the Reader; and erected and partly endowed another almshouse (called the Wesleyan almshouse) for six poor women."

1830.

JANUARY.

1.-Died at Yarmouth, the Rev. H. R. Bowles, one of the ministers of the Unitarian chapel in that town. He was master of the Yarmouth Academy, and formerly an actor on the Norwich stage.

5.-Died at his house in St, Stephen's, aged 86, Mr. James Keymer, city surgeon, and for upwards of fifty years surgeon and apothecary to the Norwich Bethel. He was known as "the father" of the Norfolk and Norwich Benevolent Medical Society (established in 1786), and "in his capacity of accoucheur introduced no less than 8,000 children into the world, and repeatedly attended three and four generations in succession."

5.-At the Norwich Consistory Court, the suit, Meachen _v._ Carter, was tried. The parties lived at East Dereham, and the dispute arose about the use of a pew in the church. The defendant was proceeded against for "quarrelling, chiding, and brawling in church," and the court, in giving judgment, declared him excommunicate, directed him to be imprisoned for three days, and condemned him in costs.

10.-During a severe storm from the N.N.E., the streets of Cley-next-the-Sea were inundated in places to the depth of six or eight feet, and several families were rescued from the upper windows of the houses. Many vessels were wrecked along the coast.

11.-The Relief Committee of the Norwich Court of Guardians determined to erect two looms in the Workhouse for the employment of persons who might apply for relief on the ground of not being able to obtain work. From these looms, at a subsequent date, work was deliberately cut and destroyed. On the 12th the riotous conduct of the weavers necessitated the calling out of the 7th Dragoon Guards; and on the 13th Mr. John Wright, one of the princ.i.p.al master manufacturers, had vitriol thrown into his face in St. Faith's Lane. Mr. Wright, who was dreadfully injured, discharged a pistol at his a.s.sailant, who escaped. The Corporation offered a reward for the apprehension and conviction of the miscreant. Richard Nockolds, who was executed for arson on April 9th, 1831, confessed to the perpetration of the outrage. The distress continued throughout the winter, and on February 6th a meeting was held at the Guildhall, at which a relief fund was started, and nearly 3,000 raised. At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, on March 10th, Lord Suffield, in his charge to the Grand Jury, suggested means for the alleviation of public distress. Mr. Cobbett came down to Norwich and lectured at Ranelagh Gardens on March 12th and 13th, on "The State of the Country."

Half-a-crown admission was charged, and "he pocketed about 50, which, all things considered, was about as much as he could well expect." A common hall was held on March 17th, "to consider the unprecedently distressed situation of the country," and Parliament was pet.i.tioned on the subject. Mr. W. J. Utten Browne, in the course of the proceedings, described Mr. Cobbett as "one whose name it was pollution to p.r.o.nounce, and who had crawled up from the very dregs of the people to a slimy popularity." In the report of this meeting the term "Liberal," as used in a political sense, appeared for the first time. On May 15th the welcome announcement was made that some of the princ.i.p.al houses in Norwich had brought gros de Naples and other silks to such a state of perfection that they had a decided preference in the market, and that so numerous were the orders that scarcely a loom in this important branch of the weaving trade was unemployed.

16.-A great meeting of freeholders of the county was held at the Shirehall, Norwich, presided over by the High Sheriff (Mr. Andrew Fountaine), at which a pet.i.tion was adopted for presentation to Parliament, praying for the repeal of the malt duties. (Meetings for the same end were held in all parts of the county.)

19.-A prize-fight took place at Thurton, between T. Riches, 11 st., and John Clarke, 15 st., for a purse of 10. The former was seconded by Ned Painter and Loveday, and the latter by Gale and Mike Fenn. Seventy-two rounds were fought in 1 hour 26 minutes. Riches won. "Hundreds of persons from Norwich padded it through the snow to witness this exhibition of science."

19.-Mr. Marsham Elwin resigned the chairmanship of the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, and was thanked by the magistrates for the important services he had long rendered to the county. At the April Sessions Mr. John Weyland was elected in his place.

22.-A great fall of snow occurred in the Lynn district. The London coach ran into a drift at Tottenhill. The snow was almost up to the lamp-irons, and the vehicle was hauled out by teams of agricultural horses.

25.-Miss S. Booth appeared at Norwich Theatre as Widow Cheerley ("The Soldier's Daughter"). Her other impersonations included Little Pickle ("The Spoilt Child"), Sally Scraggs ("The Englishman in India"); Mary ("The Innkeeper's Daughter"), Aurelia Fairlove ("The Young Widow"); Lady Elizabeth ("The Day after the Wedding"), Priscilla Tomboy ("The Romp"), and Carline ("The Noyades, or the Maid of Venice").

FEBRUARY.

8.-The roads in various parts of the county were rendered impa.s.sable by deep snow. The Fakenham coach was three days on its journey from London.

16.-Died, Dr. Robert Gooch, of Berners Street, London, librarian to the King. Dr. Gooch, who was in his 45th year, was born at Yarmouth, and married the eldest daughter of Mr. N. Bolingbroke, of Norwich.

26.-At three o'clock in the morning, John Brooks and William Brooks, awaiting trial in Norwich Castle for a highway robbery at Middleton, attempted to escape. They were confined in BiG.o.d's Tower, from the summit of which William Brooks endeavoured to lower himself by means of his blanket and rug. The improvised rope gave way, and Brooks fell a distance of 70 feet. His thigh, pelvis, left arm, and the whole of the ribs on his left side were broken, and a large tumour subsequently formed at the back of his head. Notwithstanding his terrible injuries, Brooks recovered, and at the Summer a.s.sizes at Norwich was borne into court on the back of a warder to take his trial. It was stated that he was permanently crippled and quite disabled, but Mr. Justice Parke sentenced him to transportation for life.

27.*-"Private Flood, 7th Dragoon Guard's, who was tried by court-martial for sleeping at his post at Norwich, was sentenced to receive 300 lashes, but his Majesty was graciously pleased, in consideration of the long imprisonment he had undergone, to remit the infliction of the punishment."

MARCH.

20.*-[Advt.] "Dr. Johnson's Hotel and Tavern, Bolt Court, Fleet Street.

Anthony Beck, late of West Lexham, has taken the above house, and begs leave to inform his Norfolk friends and the public in general that he has used every exertion to render it worthy their support and patronage, and to a.s.sure them that he has paid due attention to that grand desideratum of Norfolk gentlemen, wines and spirits of the best quality, and good and well-aired beds. N.B.-Within 10 minutes' walk of Smithfield Market and the Theatres."

20.*-"We are informed that it is in contemplation to establish a pack of foxhounds in the western part of Norfolk, and that the kennel is to be at Litcham. In consequence thereof, the largest of the Kempstone hounds will be disposed of, but the Kempstone pack will not be given up. They will return to their original standard of small beagles, which are better adapted for elderly sportsmen, and will not hunt the same day as the foxhounds do."

22.-A public meeting was held at Yarmouth, to protest against the determination of his Majesty's Commissioners for Building Churches to erect a church there in opposition to the desire of the inhabitants. The imposition already in force of 2s. in the pound on houses and grounds, and a duty of 2s. a chaldron on coals consumed in the town, for the support of the church and chapel, was considered oppressive.

29.-The Common Council elections, which commenced at Norwich on this date, gave the 'Orange and Purple' party the ascendancy. "The trade in votes was unblushingly pursued on both sides, and the prices that were given towards the close of each day's polling were of a heavy amount."

30.-A steeplechase took place for a silver cup valued at 30 gs., from Fritton Church to Gorleston Church, a distance of four miles. Horses were run by Mr. Hector Munro, Mr. J. Fowler, Mr. S. Palmer, and Mr.

Moore. The race was won by Mr. Munro's entry. In the evening "the gentlemen of Mr. Munro's hunt dined at the Bear Inn, and the company were much gratified with an excellent local and appropriate song, the production of Mr. Burton, of the Norwich Theatre Royal, and repeated by that gentleman in the course of the evening with increased effect."

APRIL.

3.-At a meeting held at the King's Arms Inn, East Dereham, it was decided to establish a pack of foxhounds in that part of the county, and to solicit landowners to preserve foxes.

-*"Last month a number of persons left North and South Lopham in waggons, on their way to embark at Liverpool for the United States of America.

Between 100 and 200 persons are emigrating from these parishes, a considerable sum of money having been borrowed on security of the rates to defray the expenses of their pa.s.sage (about 6 10s. per head), and to furnish each family with the clear sum of 5 on their landing at New York."-[Advt.] "Emigrants to North America. The Preston, A.I., Thomas Woodthorp master, burden 300 tons, being well fitted with berths between decks, and having excellent accommodation for cabin and steerage pa.s.sengers, will sail from Yarmouth, on the 15th inst., for Quebec. For pa.s.sage or freight apply at the Counting-house of Isaac Preston, Esq."

5.-At the Sheriffs' Guildhall Court, Norwich, the only jury available were so long engaged in considering a verdict that nine solicitors in court volunteered to form a jury to try the next cause. Those sworn were Messrs. J. B. Daveney, H. Miller, G. Dye, R. Fickling, C. S. Gilman, Colman, Lawter, and Marston. Three laymen made up the requisite number.

"The swearing of the jury of legal gentlemen caused much laughter, and what appeared most singular, after hearing evidence on both sides, they could not agree to a verdict, but recommended the withdrawal of a juror, which was done accordingly. Such a jury was never heard of before in Norwich."

10.-John Simmons, aged 31, and William Lovet, 20, convicted at Thetford a.s.sizes of burglaries at Thorpe, were executed on the Castle Hill, Norwich. Calcraft was the executioner. "After the execution the bodies were laid out in the mill-yard, and the different cla.s.ses of prisoners were marched past."

-*"A few weeks since a pike was caught in the North River, near St.

Benet's Abbey, which weighed 35 lbs., the extreme length of which was 49 inches. It measured 25 inches in girth. This astonishing fish, the largest ever caught in this county, was presented to his Majesty by Mr.

H. N. Burroughes, of Burlingham."

12.-Mr. Power, of Covent Garden Theatre, commenced a short engagement at Norwich Theatre, in the part of Dennis Brulgruddery. His other impersonations were Teddy the Tiler, Larry ("More Blunders than One"), Dr. O'Toole, Alessandro Ma.s.saroni ("The Brigand"), and Teague ("Honest Thieves").

13.-At a meeting of the Norwich Paving Act Commissioners, a report was received from the Lighting and Watching Committee on the proposals of the agents of the Norwich Gas-Light Company for extending their works through the princ.i.p.al streets of the city. There were then four miles of main and service pipes supplied with oil gas; it was proposed to extend the pipes to twelve miles, and to supply "purified coal gas." It was explained that the adoption of the proposal would result in the abolition of 900 old oil lamps and the subst.i.tution of gas lamps, at an increased annual charge of 500. At an adjourned meeting on April 30th, the scheme was adopted, and tenders were invited for carrying it into effect. In May the Norwich Gas Company purchased five acres of land near Bishop Bridge, on which to erect works for supplying the whole city with coal gas.

19.-Three troops of the 1st Royal Dragoons, under the command of Major Martin, arrived in Norwich, to replace the 7th Dragoon Guards. The headquarters of the regiment marched in on May 15th, from Manchester.

21.-Mrs. W. West, of Drury Lane, appeared at Norwich Theatre, as Portia.

Her other parts included Edmond ("The Blind Boy"), Juliana ("The Honeymoon"), Mrs. Beverley, Ellen Enfield ("Falls of Clyde"), and Therese.

23.-The Norfolk Quarter Sessions pet.i.tioned the Lord Chancellor to order the removal of the Lent a.s.sizes from Thetford to Norwich. On May 3rd the Corporation of Norwich adopted a similar pet.i.tion.

-The birthday of King George IV. was celebrated for the last time.