Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 79

SEPTEMBER.

1.*-"At a meeting of the inhabitants of Diss, held last week, it was resolved that the present peal of eight bells should be recast, with an additional weight of metal. A subscription was opened which, in three days, amounted to all the money needful, without any charge upon the church rate of the parish." The work was done at the Downham Market Foundry. The bells were met on their way to Diss by a large concourse of the inhabitants, who a.s.sembled at Roydon White Hart, and, forming in procession with the Diss band and the handbell ringers at their head, escorted the trucks to the town. The treble, sixth, seventh, and tenor were "maiden"; the others needed but slight alteration. The tenor weighed 23 cwt., and the total weight of the peal was 98 cwt. 2 qrs. 10 lbs.-more than 40 cwt. heavier than the former peal. The bells were "opened" on January 7th, 1833, by the St. Peter Mancroft Company, Norwich, and by other companies; public dinners were held at the different inns, in celebration of the event, and a silver-mounted snuff-box, made out of the polished oak of the old frame, was presented to the rector, the Rev. William Manning.

2.-Died at Norwich, aged 67, the Rev. Joseph Kinghorn, 44 years minister of the Baptist congregation at St. Mary's. "His literary qualities were unwearied diligence and deep and erudite enquiry, especially into all subjects connected with theology and moral philosophy."

4.-Mr. Charles Turner was elected an Alderman for the Great Ward of Mancroft, Norwich, in place of Mr. J. S. Patteson, deceased.

11.-A curious incident was witnessed at the marriage, at Guestwick, by the Rev. J. Blake, of Mr. Samuel Goldsmith, miller, of Corpusty, to Miss Mary Goldsmith, of the former place. "The ceremony being over and the clergyman about to retire, the gentleman who gave away the bride, Mr.

George Barton, of Wood Dalling, unexpectedly took another licence from his pocket and called out, 'Stay, sir, and marry me.' The ceremony was again repeated, and Mr. Barton was united to the bridesmaid, Miss Hannah Goldsmith, the sister of the other bride, Mr. and Mrs. Goldsmith performing in their turn the necessary offices for this couple. The village bells rang gaily, and a great deal of merry-making followed these nuptials."

OCTOBER.

6.-Died at his house, St. Giles', Norwich, aged 73, Mr. William Burt. He served the office of Sheriff in 1814, was elected Alderman of the Great Ward of Mancroft in 1815, and was Mayor in 1820. Mr. Edmund Newton was elected Alderman in his place.

8.-The Norwich Eldon Club held its first anniversary dinner at the Waggon and Horses Inn, Tombland.

11.-Died at Hindolvestone, Mr. Thomas Gardner, groom of the Great Chamber to the King. "He had the honour to serve in that capacity during the whole of the late reign, and also in the reign of George III., having held the appointment upwards of thirty-three years."

17.-The first revision of voters' lists, under the Act of 2 William IV., c. 45, commenced in the Eastern division of the county at Long Stratton; the revising barristers for the Western division commenced their circuit at Thetford on the 25th. The revision of the Norwich lists commenced on the 22nd. It was described "as the vexatious and irritating process introduced by the Reform Bill"; and it resulted in the removal from the city lists of the names of between 300 and 400 persons who had hitherto been accustomed to vote.

23.-Mr. Cozens, of London, while shooting on the estate of Mr. Hardy, at Letheringsett, was killed by a gunshot wound accidentally inflicted by one of the party.

-A general court-martial, of which General Sir Robert Macfarlane, K.C.B., G.C.H., was president, commenced an inquiry at the Cavalry Barracks, Norwich, into charges preferred against certain privates for disobeying the lawful commands of the Colonel of the 7th Hussars. At a parade of the regiment for ball practice on September 27th, Col. Keane gave the word "Attention," when, to his surprise, not a man obeyed the command.

Seizing one of the men, Private Philip Pitman, he marched him to the officers' quarters, and had him tried by court-martial for insubordination. He was sentenced to receive 200 lashes, which were administered immediately, in the presence of the whole regiment. All the men were armed with their weapons, and carried ball cartridge. This action on the part of the Colonel restored discipline and obedience to orders. Each prisoner made a long written defence. Their princ.i.p.al complaint was that the regiment was overworked. Colonel Keane replied that what had been ordered was by direction of the War Office; and the men had been kept constantly employed in consequence of the prevalence of cholera in Norwich. The court concluded its sittings on November 10th.

The sentences, approved by his Majesty, were as follow:-Private John Martin, transportation for life; Thomas Almond, seven years'

transportation; Henry Bone, seven years; Charles Edwards, 12 months'

imprisonment; and John Clayson, 14 years' transportation. Five non-commissioned officers were reduced to the ranks, and the regimental sergt.-major suspended. During the progress of the court-martial, a troop of the 1st Dragoon Guards was stationed at Dereham, and a detachment of the 12th Regiment of Foot at Wymondham.

31.-A mysterious individual, known as "The Wandering Piper," made his appearance at Norwich. It was stated that he had been an officer in the Army, and had served under Sir John Moore and the Duke of Wellington, and was piping through the country to win a wager, one of the conditions of which was that he must subsist upon unsolicited alms given by the public.

The piper gave a performance at the Bell Inn, Orford Hill, in aid of the newly-established Lying-in Charity. He returned to Norwich on December 1st, and gave another entertainment at the Norfolk Hotel for the same charity. He re-appeared in Norwich in 1838, having, in the interval, travelled the British Isles and the United States. It was then announced that his name was Graham Stuart. His death occurred in March, 1839, at Mercers' Hospital, Dublin, to which inst.i.tution he bequeathed all his property.

NOVEMBER.

17.-The officers of the preventive service stationed at Brancaster seized a large tub-boat, containing 5,565 lbs. of tobacco and about 650 gallons of brandy and Geneva, the whole of which was lodged in the Customs-house at Wells-next-the-Sea.

DECEMBER.

2.-The body of Sarah Watling, buried in the churchyard of Swanton Abbot, was found to have been stolen from its grave. At the Norfolk Adjourned Quarter Sessions, held at Norwich on March 6th, 1833, George Ives and Nathaniel Canham were indicted for stealing the body. The prisoners were acquitted.

10.-The nomination of candidates at the first election in Norwich under the Reform Act took place at the Guildhall. The nominees of the "Purple and Orange" party were Lord Stormont and Sir James Scarlett, and of the "Blue and White" party Mr. Richard Hanbury Gurney, the former member, and Mr. Charles Henry b.e.l.l.e.n.den Ker. A poll was demanded, and the election was immediately proceeded with. In the afternoon a riot occurred in the Market Place; the "Purple and Orange" booth was pulled down, and a bonfire made of the _debris_. The "Blue and White" band, stationed near the fire, played their favourite tunes, and men carrying the banners of the party danced round the pile. Stones were thrown and bludgeons used, and a man had his arm broken. Many other persons sustained less serious injuries. The 7th Hussars, who had been removed from Norwich to Wymondham before the election commenced, were recalled to suppress the disturbance, and many citizens were sworn in as special constables. An officers' guard of the Hussars was posted near the Guildhall throughout the night, and another polling-booth was erected. Voting recommenced at eight o'clock on the morning of the 11th, and continued all day; the books were again opened on the 13th, and at noon the poll finally closed, when the result was declared as follows:-Stormont, 2,016; Scarlett, 1,962; Gurney, 1,810; Ker, 1,766. The chairing of the new members took place on the 14th; on the same day their friends and supporters dined at the Norfolk Hotel, and in the evening the election ball was held at Chapel Field House.

10.-Lord George Bentinck and Lord William Lennox were returned unopposed for Lynn.

-Lord James FitzRoy and Mr. Francis Baring were returned without opposition for the borough of Thetford.

13.-Mr. Shaw's granaries on the Boal at King's Lynn were destroyed by fire. The loss was estimated at upwards of 2,000.

15.-Sir Jacob Astley and Sir William ffolkes were nominated at Swaffham as candidates for the representation of the Western Division of Norfolk, and returned unopposed. Mr. T. W. c.o.ke formally took leave of the electors, on his retirement from Parliamentary life. He had represented the county since the year 1785.

17.-The nomination of candidates for the Eastern Division of the county took place at the Shirehall, Norwich. Lord Henry Cholmondeley and Mr.

Peach were nominated by the "Pink and Purple," and Mr. W. W. Windham and Major Keppel by the "Blue and White" party. The poll was opened on the 20th, at Norwich, Yarmouth, North Walsham, and Long Stratton, and closed on the 21st. The result, which was not officially declared until the 24th, was as follows:-Windham, 3,304; Keppel, 3,261; Peach, 2,960; Cholmondeley, 2,852. The election dinner was held at the a.s.sembly Room, Norwich, under the presidency of the Hon. Edward Harbord.

22.-Atkins' Menagerie was exhibited at Norwich. This was the first occasion on which a "lion tamer" appeared with a travelling menagerie in the city. In the centre of the show was introduced a large iron cage, into which the keeper entered and put the animals through their performances.

1833.

JANUARY.

4.-Lord Suffield resigned his chairmanship of the Norfolk Court of Quarter Sessions.

11.-In the Court of King's Bench, the Sheriff of Norwich obtained a rule _nisi_ for a criminal information against Mr. John Teasel, carpenter and builder, a Common Councilman of Norwich, for having taken away one of the poll-books at the last election at Norwich, and for attempting to tear and mutilate it. The rule was discharged on the 31st, on the defendant undertaking to answer an indictment at the ensuing a.s.sizes. At the Norwich a.s.sizes on March 23rd, before Mr. Justice Bolland, application was made on behalf of the defendant to have the case tried by a county jury, upon which it was ordered to stand over till the next a.s.sizes. At the Norfolk a.s.sizes on August 10th, before Mr. Justice Littledale, the defendant was placed upon his trial, and the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

16.-Died at Bracondale, Norwich, aged 80, Mrs. White, mother of Henry Kirke White.

22.-A meeting was held at the Baptist chapel, Orford Hill, Norwich, presided over by Mr. John Cozens, at which a report was made by a committee appointed "to investigate the return of Lord Stormont and Sir James Scarlett," to the effect that sufficient evidence had been obtained to warrant the presentation of a pet.i.tion to the House of Commons on account of the "undue election" of the members. The Norwich Election Pet.i.tion was opened before a Committee of the House of Commons on March 20th. The examination of witnesses commenced on March 21st, and concluded on April 2nd. Counsel addressed the Committee on April 3rd, and on the same day the Chairman (Mr. Charles Shaw Lefevre) announced that the Committee had resolved-(1) That Lord Stormont and Sir James Scarlett were duly elected members for the city of Norwich. (2) That the pet.i.tion of John Cozens and others was not frivolous nor vexatious. (3) That the opposition to such pet.i.tion was not frivolous nor vexatious.

FEBRUARY.

1.-The portrait of Mr. T. W. c.o.ke, painted by S. Lane, was hung in the Corn Exchange, Norwich. In celebration of the event, a dinner was held at the Norfolk Hotel, presided over by Major Case, who said his family had been tenants on the Holkham estate for 63 years, and his grandfather, who owed much to Mr. c.o.ke, died worth 150,000.

2.*-[Advt.] "A grand main of c.o.c.ks will be fought at the Black Boys Inn, Aylsham, on February 12th, and two following days, between the gentlemen of Norwich and Aylsham, for 5 sovereigns a battle and 50 sovereigns the odd. Feeders: Stafford for Norwich; Overton for Aylsham."

5.-A barque of 220 tons burden, designed for the West India trade, was launched from the yard of Mr. Preston, at Yarmouth.

22.-Died at Winfarthing, Sarah Jessup, aged 101 years, "the last 30 of which, till a year and a half ago, she was employed as walking post from the Post Office at Diss to Winfarthing, a distance of four miles, which she constantly performed in all weathers, and is computed to have travelled more than 13,400 miles. She was married in the reign of George II. She had 16 children, who multiplied to the fourth generation, so that her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren at the time of her decease amounted to 444. Besides these, great-great-grandchildren, some of every degree and age, to the number of 200 and upwards, followed her to the grave, to which she was carried by her four sons."

26.-A desperate affray took place between the coastguard, under Lieut.

George Howes, R.N., and a large party of armed smugglers, at Cley-next-the-Sea. The coastguard were obliged to fire several times in self-defence. The contraband goods seized consisted of 127 half-ankers of brandy and between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds of manufactured tobacco.

-At a public meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, under the presidency of the Mayor, it was decided to pet.i.tion the House of Commons to protect children employed in factories from severe and injurious labour, by limiting the hours of their employment.

26.-The Lynn and Newmarket mail was proceeding through Methwold when the coach was upset in a deep drain, and one of the horses falling upon Booty, the coachman, he was suffocated.