Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 28

27.-"Died, few days since in his 105th year, Mr. Ling, of Woodbastwick."

MARCH.

4.-At a meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, it was resolved to open a subscription for the relief of the inhabitants of the Russian provinces suffering from the invasion of their country by the French.

5.-Died in London, William n.o.ble, formerly a member of the Norwich Company.

6.*-"We hear the Society of the Antient Order of Stagorians is now reviving in this city, and is likely to become a very respectable one."

7.-Downham Church was re-opened for service after being closed some months for restoration.

10.-A general fast observed at Norwich. The shops were closed, and services held at the churches and chapels, at which collections were made for the relief of the poor.

12.-Died, aged 69, Mr. Edward Sharpe, for upwards of 22 years keeper of the Norwich city gaol.

24.-In consequence of the establishment of the Local Militia, the Volunteer corps of Infantry in Norwich and Norfolk were disbanded and deposited their arms. Each corps received the thanks of the Prince Regent for their patriotic services.

27.*-"The Amelia frigate, the Hon. Captain F. P. Irby, has arrived at Portsmouth after a night action with L'Arethuse, French frigate, one of the most desperate that has been fought during the present war. This excellent officer, who has been severely wounded, has been so actively employed during the last five years that he has not been resident at his seat, Boyland Hall, more than five days during that period."

31.-Died at Weasenham, aged 74, Mr. Thomas Sanctuary. "For many years he was an extensive and opulent farmer. He left his property among his relatives, with a legacy of 2,000 to Miss c.o.ke out of respect and grat.i.tude to his worthy landlord, Mr. T. W. c.o.ke, under whom he acquired his handsome fortune."

APRIL.

5.-The West Norfolk Militia marched in three divisions from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Edinburgh Castle, where they entered permanent quarters.

10.-Charles Harper, 26, and Edmond Impeon, 21, were executed on Castle Hill, Norwich, for a burglary at the dwelling-house of Mr. John Butler, of Barney. "After hanging the usual time their bodies were delivered to their afflicted relatives, and by them conveyed home for interment."

17.-Mary Turrell, apprehended on suspicion of being the mother of a newly-born child, whose dead body was found in Vipond's pond at Harleston, committed suicide by poisoning. The coroner's jury returned a verdict of _felo de se_, "and on the same evening about seven o'clock she was buried in the high road with a stake driven through her body in the presence of a vast concourse of people."

25.-Died, in his 67th year, Mr. James Bullard, many years master of the Bethel Hospital, Norwich. His death resulted from a wound in the stomach, inflicted with a scythe by a patient named Jonathan Morley, who was engaged in mowing the lawn in the inner court. The coroner's jury returned a verdict of wilful murder, and Morley was committed for trial at the a.s.sizes, when he was ordered to be kept in custody, "being insane at the time he committed the act." In December, 1816, an order was received from the Secretary of State for the Home Department for the removal of the prisoner from Norwich gaol to the new Criminal Lunatic Asylum in St. George's Fields, London.

27.-The "light machine" commenced running between Wells and Norwich. It set out from Wells on Tuesdays and Fridays at nine o'clock in the morning, and travelled through Fakenham and Bawdeswell to the Bell Inn, Orford Hill, Norwich. The coach returned by the same road on Wednesdays and Sat.u.r.days. Mr. J. Sizeland was the proprietor.

29.-The Duke of c.u.mberland arrived at Yarmouth, and embarked on board the Nymphen frigate for the Continent.

MAY.

1.*-"The commanding officers of the Norfolk Regiments of Local Militia and the Norfolk and Norwich Volunteers have received orders to send the accoutrements of their respective regiments to the nearest ports for the use of the German levies against the common enemy. The arms have this week been sent to Yarmouth."

1.-A contested election took place for the mayoralty of Norwich. The candidates were Alderman R. Harvey, jun., Alderman J. Harvey, and Alderman Davey. The freemen demanded a poll for Mr. R. Harvey, sen., and Mr. J. Ives Harvey. Mr. Harvey, the elder, strongly opposed his nomination in consequence of his infirm state of health. The polling commenced at once, and continued till six p.m. The contest was resumed on the 2nd (Sunday) at ten o'clock, and at the close the voting was declared as follows:-Davey, 764; J. Harvey, 730; R. Harvey, jun., 717; R.

Harvey sen., 9. The two first-named were returned to the Court of Aldermen. At a Court of Mayoralty held on the 3rd, Mr. John Harvey was objected to on the ground that he was not an inhabitant of the city as required by the Charter. This objection was upheld by Mr. Serjeant Lens, to whom the case was submitted, and on May 20 it was resolved at a Special a.s.sembly to apply to the Court of King's Bench for a mandamus to elect a Mayor. A writ was granted, and the election took place on June 7, when the candidates were Mr. Davey, who polled 801 votes; Mr. Barnabas Leman, 797; and Mr. J. Harvey, 749. The two first-named were returned to the Court of Aldermen, who elected Mr. Leman, and he was sworn into office on June 22.

6.-A rowing match took place between four 4-oared boats from Carrow Bridge to Whitlingham and back, for a silver cup. The Zephyr (Mr.

Yarrington) won. Distance, four miles; time, 36 minutes.

15.-A historical drama, ent.i.tled "The Siege of Sarragossa, or Spanish Patriots of 1808," by Mr. Bennett, a member of the company, was produced at Norwich Theatre.

17.-The birthday of the Princess of Wales was observed in Norwich for the first time by the ringing of the church bells.

23.-Died at Bangalore, in his 26th year, Capt. Robert Beauchamp, of the Hon. East India Company's Horse Artillery, Madras Establishment, third son of Sir Thomas Beauchamp Proctor, Bart., Langley Park.

24.-The Bishop of Norwich commenced his ordinary visitation of the diocese, at Thetford, and on the following day at St. Peter's Church, confirmed upwards of 700 persons. At St. James's Church, Bury St.

Edmund's, his lords.h.i.+p confirmed 2,700 young persons; at Ipswich, 1,300; Woodbridge, 600; Framlingham, 700; Downham Market, 1,000; St. Nicholas'

Chapel, Lynn, 1,000; Redenhall, 662; at Norwich Cathedral, 800; and in the city and hamlets, 1,000. The Bishop expressed the opinion "that the number confirmed in the diocese, which was much increased since the last confirmation, was decisive of the laudable exertions of the clergy."

-The bounds of the parish of St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, were perambulated, "the officiating individuals being saluted at every part of the parochial confines by sprinklings as memorials of the occasion. The water ordeal being gone through, the gentleman repaired to a good dinner and the cheerful gla.s.s." On the 26th "the bounds of St. Andrew's were in like manner ascertained."

30.-Three African youths taken out of a Portuguese slave s.h.i.+p by Capt.

the Hon. P. F. Irby, of the Amelia frigate, and sent by him to Norwich for education, were baptised at St. Peter Mancroft Church.

JUNE.

4.*-"At Gretna Green, Mr. Thomas Bunn, corn merchant, to Miss Sarah Cobb, second daughter of Mr. John Cobb, of Yarmouth." The parties were re-married at Gorleston by the Rev. Mr. Forster, on June 4.

7.-Mr. J. Youngs, of St. Peter Hungate, Norwich, was carried in a sedan chair to record his vote at the Mayor's election. On his return home he immediately expired. He was 85 years old.

8.-Died, at the Grotto, Thetford, Mr. John Ellis, "long known as an industrious collector of antiquities, fossils, foreign birds, &c., of which he had a large and very curious cabinet."

17.-The first recorded "speech day" at Norwich Grammar School. It was described as "the first speech day of the kind ever held at Norwich or at this school," and its inception was due to the fact that "the Latin oration which in former times used to be delivered at the school porch on Guild Day," had been "for the last two years superseded by the non-observance of that annual festival."

19.*-"Died, last week in St. Clement's, the Widow Herring, in her 106th year."

-The officers of the Norwich Court Leet seized the defective measures of Edward Phillipps, a retail corn dealer, in King Street. The offender was fined by the court, who ordered the forfeiture of two of the measures.

20.-Mr. Bowles, "formerly a respectable performer in the Norwich Company of Comedians," preached at the Octagon Chapel to a numerous congregation.

21.-Opening day of Holkham Sheep Shearing. It was stated in the course of the proceedings, that "a very large quant.i.ty of bones is collected in Norfolk and exported from Yarmouth to distant counties, where, after being ground or crushed, they are used as manure by farmers." "Why," it was asked, "should not Norfolk and Suffolk farmers lay their bones in their own counties?"

JULY.

1.-A rowing match for pair-oared boats took place at Whitlingham.

Distance, one and a half miles; the best two heats out of three. The winner of the silver cup was the Achilles, owned by Mr. Homer.

4.-The Expedition coach entered Norwich, with colours flying, and with the intelligence of the great victory of the Allied Army at Vittoria under Lord Wellington on June 21. "Mr. Coldwell, the proprietor of the coach, himself brought down from London a copy of the 'Gazette Extraordinary,' and read its glorious contents from the coach box to his fellow citizens a.s.sembled in the Market Place."

7.-The Mayor of Lynn (Mr. John Hemington) laid the foundation stone of the new Theatre in that town.

10.*-"Among the officers promoted to be lieutenant-colonels in the army in consequence of the victory at Vittoria is Major Robert John Harvey, a.s.sistant Quarter-Master-General of the Portuguese Army, son of Mr. John Harvey, Thorpe Lodge, Norwich. This gallant young officer had two horses severely wounded under him in the battle."