Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 72

1.-Died at his house in Surrey Street, Mr. Hammond Fisk, aged 70, Sheriff of Norwich in 1823.

11.*-"Died lately, at Keel Hall, Staffords.h.i.+re, aged 78, Mr. Walter Sneyd, formerly M.P. for the borough of Castle Rising, and many years Colonel of the Stafford Militia."

-Died at Hanworth, Mr. J. Hicks, formerly of his Majesty's Navy, and Provost-Marshal-General of England, aged 69.

13.-A two days' cricket match commenced on the Norwich ground, between Norfolk and Suffolk, for 50 aside. Fuller Pilch played for Suffolk, and William and Nathaniel Pilch for Norfolk. Norfolk, 53-82. Suffolk, 59-59. The return match commenced at Bury on July 23rd. Suffolk, 102-16. Norfolk, 91-26.

15.-At Norwich Quarter Sessions, Mr. William Day was elected Treasurer of the city, on the resignation of Mr. J. Patteson.

-A public dinner was given to Mr. Alderman Thurtell, by his political friends, "in testimony of their appreciation of his honourable, impartial, and upright conduct in the discharge of the duties of the office of Mayor during the past year."

18.-Madame Vestris appeared at Norwich Theatre for the first time, in the part of Madame Germance ("Home, sweet Home"), and Justine ("The Rencontre"). She afterwards a.s.sumed the characters of Elizabeth ("Sublime and Beautiful"), Victoire ("The Invincibles"), Lady Bell ("Know your own Mind"), Apollo (burletta of "Midas"), Laura ("Sweethearts and Wives"), Phbe ("Paul Pry"), Let.i.tia Hardy ("The Belle's Stratagem"), and Don Giovanni.

27.-Great discontent was manifested by the Norwich weavers. At a meeting held at the Ranelagh Gardens on this date, the operatives pet.i.tioned the Mayor to use his influence to prevent manufacturers giving out work at reduced prices to persons in the country. On September 1st the weavers stopped the carriers' carts and searched for country-made goods. Men in disguise entered houses and took work from the looms, under pretence that it had been done below the scale prices. At a meeting at Ranelagh Gardens on October 5th, the manufacturers and operatives drew up a form of agreement, in which the prices were scheduled. At the end of the month many unemployed weavers paraded the streets, headed by a m.u.f.fled drum and a shuttle bound in crope. The Court of Guardians on December 1st appointed a committee to advise as to the best means of alleviating the wants of the people. During the week commencing December 14th there were numerous meetings of operatives, and an attack was made on Mr.

Athow's house. Detachments of the 7th Dragoon Guards patrolled the streets. On December 17th a number of Norwich weavers visited Saxlingham and destroyed a great quant.i.ty of silk and materials; and in the following week several disguised men broke into the house of William Springhall, Boatswain's Call Yard, St. Augustine's, cut work from his looms, and shot at him with a pistol. He received severe wounds in the body, and a reward of 100 was offered by the Corporation for the apprehension of his a.s.sailants.

AUGUST.

6.-A cricket match, between the Marylebone and the Norfolk Clubs, commenced on the Dereham ground. "Lord Suffield, president of the county club, with Lady Suffield, was present, and 20 or 30 gentlemen's carriages were on the ground, whilst hundreds of spectators were gathered around."

Scores: Marylebone, 64-78; Norfolk, 95-48.

10.-Miss Paton re-appeared at Norwich Theatre for one night, as Agnes ("Der Freischutz") and Diana Vernon ("Rob Roy").

11.-Died, Mr. Richard Gurney, of the Bowling Green Inn, Norwich, aged 48.

(The "retired coachman, with one leg," in "Lavengro.")

13.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, at Norwich, before Mr. Baron Garrow, Ireland Watts and Robert Watts were charged on an information filed by the Attorney-General, with obstructing Custom-house officers in the discharge of their duty. Capt. De Lafosse, the officer at Mundesley, traced contraband goods to the house of the defendants at Antingham. Having obtained a writ of a.s.sistance, he proceeded to the house with Lieut. Lee, several of the coastguard, and a peace officer. Admittance was demanded, and the defendants offered resistance. The captain then drew his pistol and threatened to fire, when Robert Watts bared his breast, exclaiming, "Fire, and be d---d." Capt. De Lafosse, fearing he could not enter the house without bloodshed, withdrew his men. Mr. Kelly, for the defence, submitted that the captain's authority did not permit him to search the house, but the special jury returned a verdict of guilty. In the Court of King's Bench, in November, Mr. Kelly moved for a rule to show why there should not be a new trial, on the ground of the invalidity of the officer's writ. Lord Tenterden held that this might be a question of great importance on public grounds, although in the individual case it was of little consequence. Rule granted. (There is no further record of this case.)

14.-At the Norwich a.s.sizes, before Mr. Justice Parke, John Stratford (42) was found guilty of the murder of John Burgess, an inmate of Norwich Workhouse, by poisoning him with a.r.s.enic, on March 2nd. The execution took place on the roof of the new Gaol, on August 17th. After hanging an hour, the body was removed to the lower court at the Guildhall, where it was publicly exposed for two hours. Thence it was conveyed to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, where Mazzotti, the modeller, took a cast of the head; and on the 18th Mr. Crosse commenced a series of anatomical lectures at the dissection of the body. A public subscription was started for the widow and family of the culprit.

25.-Mr. Charles Middleton and Mr. Samuel Shalders Beare were nominated for the office of freemen's Sheriff. At the poll "the partizans of Mr.

Beare announced upon their cards that they gave one s.h.i.+lling, but as soon as they found that their opponents were giving 2s. 6d., they outbid the 'Purples' by offering 2s. 6d. and a pot of beer. At three o'clock the 'Purple and Orange' party headed their opponents by 64. The 'Blues' went to work in purse and person, and placed themselves in a majority. The 'Purples,' finding they could not regain the advantage, at 5.30 informed the Mayor they did not wish to put their opponents to any further expense. Beare, 1,200; Middleton, 1,023."

-A singular wedding took place at Fakenham. The bridegroom was Thomas Hudson, aged 79, and the bride Martha Frary, aged 21. They were followed to church by an unfortunate cripple, driving his curricle of dogs.

Immediately after the hymeneal knot was tied, the bridegroom was torn from his fainting partner, thrown into an open cart, decorated with ram's horns, and drawn through the princ.i.p.al streets of the town, amidst the firing of guns and the shouts and ridicule of the people.

29.-The Corporation of Lynn, according to custom, a.s.sembled at the Guildhall on St. John's-day, and went to St. Margaret's Church. "Groups of persons a.s.sembled at an early hour to witness the bearing of the branch to the house of the Mayor-elect, Mr. William Bagge."

SEPTEMBER.

2.-The new Roman Catholic church of All Saints, Norwich, was opened by the Right Rev. Dr. Weld, Bishop of Amycl. "The ringing of the bells of St. Giles' church on the occasion has been made the subject of a great deal more exultation on the one hand, and more lamentation and indignation on the other, than it really merits. The truth is that the bells were set out by the ringers upon speculation, and they were afterwards handsomely rewarded by the Catholics for their liberalism, the venality of which is disgusting enough."

4.-The body of a woman, named Ann Coe, buried two days previously, in Fincham churchyard, was disinterred and stolen. "The churchyard is _very near the turnpike road_. The coffin, containing the shroud, was found in the churchyard, superficially covered with mold."

8.-The Corporation of Yarmouth voted 1,000 towards the building of a church in that borough.

11.-An auxiliary of the "British Society for Promoting the Principles of the Reformation" was formed in Norwich. Under its auspices a great meeting was held at St. Andrew's Hall, on October 21st, at which some disturbance took place.

21.-The Rev. Edward Valpy, D.D., resigned the appointment of headmaster of the Norwich Free Grammar School, which he had held since 1811.

23.-Mary McMullen, aged 61, walked 76 miles in 24 hours, on a measured half-mile of the Gaywood Road near Lynn. She performed the like feat at the Ranelagh Gardens, Norwich, on October 12th, and at North Walsham on March 8th, 1830. At the Ranelagh Gardens, on April 26th, 1830, she walked 100 miles in 24 successive hours.

OCTOBER.

8.-At Swaffham Races, Mr. Shearman "made a match to trot his noted bull a mile in 4 minutes the day before the fair, and Mr. Gould is in treaty to purchase him to run over a short stage in the Stamford coach from Swaffham to Narborough. Mr. Farrer made a match with Mr. Cooke that he will produce a pair of working oxen that will beat any pair of horses he can produce to plough an acre of land, to take place the day before Swaffham fair."

11.-Died in Union Place, Norwich, aged 102, Mr. Charles Kingaby. He left a widow, aged 98, and a daughter in her 70th year.

14.-The election of an Alderman to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Alderman Steward, on October 11th, resulted in the return of Mr.

Marshall, who received 246 votes, against 207 recorded for Mr. Turner.

"Both sides bought votes as fast as possible. From 30s. to 10 and 15 was given."

-A severe gale occurred on the Norfolk coast, and several lives were lost. At Brancaster the preventive service picked up 291 casks of brandy and Geneva.

20.-A new vessel, the Indian Maid, was launched from the South Gates Dockyard, Lynn, and christened by Miss Ayre, daughter of one of the owners.

22.-The Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural Society was formed at a meeting held in the old Library Room, Norwich, under the presidency of Mr. Edward Lombe, of Great Melton. Mr. Lombe was elected president, Mr. R. Crawshay vice-president, Mr. John Kitson treasurer, and Mr. Elias Norgate secretary. The first show took place at the Swan Inn, on November 25th.

30.-A fire which occurred at Messrs. Squire, Hills, and Sons' distillery, Norwich, did damage to the amount of 2,000.

31.-Mr. Thomas Cubitt, of Honing Hall, was presented by the yeomanry of the Tunstead and Happing Hundred with a silver vase, in recognition of his 45 years' active service as a magistrate.

NOVEMBER.

9.-Died at Aldborough, aged 95, Mrs. E. Dyball, a remarkable woman, "who practised as midwife at Thurgarton near 50 years, and left 148 children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, besides 42 who have died" (_sic_).

17.-A 400-ton vessel, called the Duke of c.u.mberland, was launched from the dockyard of Mr. F. Preston, at Yarmouth.

18.-A gang of convicts, when travelling by coach from Lynn to London, made a desperate effort to escape. During the greater part of the journey the keepers stood over them with c.o.c.ked pistols. On the coach arriving in town a London mob endeavoured to rescue the prisoners, "but the keepers presented so formidable an appearance that they were able to lodge the convicts in Newgate previous to their removal to the hulks."

20.-Mr. Silvers, tide surveyor at Yarmouth, after a chase of five miles, captured on Breydon a 39 ft. smuggling galley, manned by a crew of nine hands. The smugglers effected their escape, but left behind them 283 half ankers of proof brandy, and about 6,000 lbs. of tobacco.

23.-The centre and south wing of Cromer Hall, the seat of Mr. Geo.

Windham, was destroyed by fire. The damage was estimated at 12,000.

24.-During a severe gale off Yarmouth, a vessel foundered, and eight hands perished.

28.-The Rev. Thomas Kidd, M.A., Trinity College, Cambridge, was elected by the Court of Aldermen head master of the Free Grammar School, Norwich.