Norfolk Annals
Chapter 152 : 31.-Died at his residence, St. George's Middle Street, Norwich, aged 75, the Rev.

31.-Died at his residence, St. George's Middle Street, Norwich, aged 75, the Rev. John Alexander, for nearly 50 years pastor of Prince's Street chapel. "He was honoured and loved by his congregation as a kind-hearted, liberal-minded, and truly Christian gentleman."

AUGUST.

7.-The dismounted party of the B and C Batteries, Royal Horse Artillery, arrived by rail at Norwich. The mounted portion marched in on the 13th, under the command of Major H. P. Bishop.

8.*-"The death, of Mr. George Cattermole, the well-known artist, is announced. He was born at d.i.c.kleburgh, near Diss, in 1800. At an early age he acquired proficiency as a draughtsman, and some of the most elaborate drawings in Britton's 'Cathedrals' emanate from him."

-Chang, the Chinese giant, was exhibited at the Lecture Hall, St.

Andrew's, Norwich. "He is between 8 ft and 9 ft. high, and his natural suavity of manner is very agreeable to those he meets."

10.-The Grand English Opera and Ballet Company appeared at Norwich Theatre. The _artistes_, included Miss Annie Thirlwall, Miss Blanch Cole, Miss f.a.n.n.y Rowland, Mr. William Parkinson, Mr. Aynsley Cook, Mr.

Eugene Corri, Mr. Charles Durand, &c. In the company's repertory were "Un Ballo in Maschira," "Faust," and a _ballet divertiss.e.m.e.nt_, in which the sisters Louie and Marie Smithers appeared.

19.-The British a.s.sociation for the Advancement of Science commenced its thirty-eighth congress at Norwich. The General Committee met at St.

Pater's Hall in the morning, and in the evening the President, Mr. J. D.

Hooker, F.R.S., D.C.L., delivered his inaugural address, at the Drill Hall. The various sections were presided over by the following gentlemen:-Mathematical and Physical Science, Professor Tyndall, LL.D., F.R.S.; Chemical Science, Professor Frankland, F.R.S.; Geology, Mr. R. A.

C. G.o.dwin Austen, F.R.S., F.G.S.; Biology, the Rev. J. M. Berkeley, M.A., F.R.S.; Geography and Ethnology, Capt. Richards, F.R.S., Hydrographer to the Royal Navy; Economic Science and Statistics, Mr. Samuel Brown, President of the Society of Actuaries; Mechanical Science, Mr. G. Bidder, C.E. On the 22nd the members were invited to Crown Point by Mr. R. J. H.

Harvey and Lady Henrietta Harvey. The concluding meeting was held at St.

Peter's Hall on the 26th, after which excursions were made to Lynn, Hunstanton, Wolterton, Walsingham, Burgh Castle, and Holkham Hall, where the members were entertained by the Earl of Leicester. The International Congress of Prehistoric Archaeology, presided over by Sir John Lubbock, was held simultaneously with the gathering of the British a.s.sociation.

Its meetings took place at the Public Library.

19.-Died at his residence, Craven Hill Gardens, Bayswater, General Sir George Petre Wymer, K.C.B., Colonel of the 107th Regiment. He was a son of Mr. George Wymer, of Reepham, where he was born on August 19th, 1788.

Educated at North Walsham, he entered the military service of the East India Company in August, 1804, served in Lord Lake's campaign of 1805, and throughout the Nepaul War in 181415. In 1840 he joined the army under Sir William Nott at Candahar, and was present during the investment of that city. He was appointed brigadier, and in command of the First Brigade of the Candahar Force saw much active service. In 1842 he was appointed _aide-de-camp_ to the Queen, in recognition of his services in Afghanistan, and in 1857 he was made a K.C.B. for his military services in India. His military career extended over 64 years. General Wymer married, in 1833, a daughter of Sir C. F. Crespigny.

SEPTEMBER.

4.-A new lifeboat, built at the cost of 1,000 subscribed to the National Lifeboat Inst.i.tution by Mr. Benjamin Bond Cabbell, of Cromer Hall, was launched at Cromer. Mr. Bond Cabbell also provided all the necessary appliances, the transport carriage, and the boat-house. The Bishop of the diocese delivered an address at the launch, and the ceremony of christening the boat by the name of Benjamin Bond Cabbell was performed by Miss Buxton.

7.-Died, Francis Baring, third Baron Ashburton. His lords.h.i.+p was second son of Alexander, first Baron, by his wife Anne Louisa, eldest daughter of Mr. W. Bingham, of Philadelphia. He was born on May 20th, 1800, and married in January, 1831, Mdlle. Claire Hortense, daughter of the Duke de Ba.s.sano, by whom he left issue Alexander, his successor in the t.i.tle, and formerly Member of Parliament for Thetford, the Hon. Denzil Hugh Baring, and an only daughter, Mary Louisa Anne, married to the Duke of Grafton.

Previously to his accession to the family honours, the deceased n.o.bleman represented Thetford in Parliament, namely, from 1832 to 1841, and from July, 1848, to December, 1857. He was a Conservative in politics, but, like his father and brother, was moderate in his views, and generally voted with the cla.s.s of politicians formerly known as "Peelites."

10.-Died at Westgate House, near Bury St. Edmund's, Rear-Admiral Sir William Legge George Hoste. He was the eldest son of Sir William Hoste (who was created baronet in 1814 for his naval services, but particularly for the victory he gained over the combined French and Italian squadrons off the island of Lessa in 1811), and Lady Harriett, third daughter of Horatio, second Earl of Orford. Born on March 19th, 1818, he succeeded to the baronetcy on the death of his father, in December, 1828. He was Gentleman Usher to Queen Adelaide from 1845 to 1849, and was appointed Groom-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria in 1860.

OCTOBER.

21.-Died, from the effects of an accident, caused by a fall from his horse whilst riding from Cringleford to Earlham, Mr. Charles Evans, barrister-at-law, and Chancellor for the Diocese of Norwich. Mr. Evans was born at Harrow in 1798, and was the eldest son of the Rev. Benjamin Evans, formerly a Fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge, and for many years a.s.sistant-master at Harrow School. After remaining a short time at Eton, he proceeded to Pembroke College, where he took his degree in 1819, as twelfth wrangler, and was afterwards elected a Fellow. On being called to the Bar Mr. Evans joined the Norfolk Circuit, and in 1824 settled in Norwich, where he practised to the time of his death. In 1845 he was appointed by Bishop Stanley to the Chancellors.h.i.+p of the diocese.

He was acting judge of the Court of Record, Chairman of the Board of Guardians, to which office he was elected on the pa.s.sing of the new Act in 1863; president of the directors of the Norwich Union Office, a magistrate of the city, chairman of the Governors of the Grammar School, &c. Mr. Evans married in 1829 Emily, daughter of Mr. George Morse, of Catton, by whom he left eight children-five sons and three daughters.

31.-The Earl of Leicester presided at a meeting of the inhabitants of the county and city, held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, "for the purpose of bringing the affairs of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital before the public." Resolutions were adopted affirming that the resources of the inst.i.tution were inadequate to meet the annual expenditure, and as a means of increasing the revenue it was desirable "that on one Sunday at least in every year, as far as possible on the same Sunday, collections be made for the benefit of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in places of wors.h.i.+p throughout the diocese, where such collections shall not interfere with the claims of other hospitals." As the resources of the Hospital were heavily drawn upon by casualty cases, a separate fund called the Accident Fund was established.

NOVEMBER.

9.-Mr. Edward Kerrison Harvey was elected Mayor and Mr. John Robison appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

15.-For the second time since its erection in 18578, the Britannia pier at Yarmouth was partially destroyed. Built at the cost of 6,000, it was originally 750 feet in length. On October 25th, 1859, during a tremendous gale, a sloop, driven from her anchors, was dashed upon the pier and divided it into two portions. It was deemed advisable not to rebuild the severed portion, 80 feet in length, and the terminal portion was subsequently removed. During a heavy north-east gale on this date the schooner Seagull, of Lynn, parted from her anchors, and, drifting towards land, struck against the north side of the pier. The crew of six hands speedily scrambled upon the structure and escaped, but about 105 feet of the centre portion of the pier was completely torn away and damage done to the amount of nearly 1,000.

16.-The nomination of candidates for Norwich, to be elected under the new Reform Act, took place at the Guildhall. The Liberal candidates were Col. Sir William Russell, Bart., C.B., Charlton Park, Charlton Kings, Gloucester, and Mr. Jacob Henry Tillett; and the Conservative candidates Sir Henry Josias Stracey, Bart., of Rackheath, who had been selected about a fortnight previously. The show of hands was in favour of the Liberals, and Sir Samuel Bignold demanded a poll, which was opened on the 17th "at 29 polling places most conveniently arranged in the different wards." The p.r.o.nouncement of the electorate at this election was upon the Irish Church, and at Norwich, as elsewhere, a severe contest resulted. The poll closed at four o'clock with the return of Sir William Russell and Sir Henry Stracey, the figures being officially declared on the 18th as follow:-Stracey, 4,521; Russell, 4,509; Tillett, 4,364. Sir Henry Stracey, accompanied by Lady Stracey, on the morning of the 18th was escorted from Rackheath Park to Norwich, by his mounted tenantry, and received at Magdalene Gates by an imposing procession of Conservative electors, who, amid the playing of bra.s.s bands and the ringing of St.

Peter Mancroft bells, accompanied him to the Guildhall. After the declaration the procession, half a mile in length, marched through the city. Mr. Tillett, in an address to the electors, stated: "The Tory party have, beyond all precedent, and in the most undisguised manner, committed themselves to the disgrace involved in the wholesale purchase of votes." (_See_ January 14th, 1869.)

16.-The nomination of representatives to serve in Parliament for the Western Division of the county took place at Swaffham, when Sir William Bagge, Bart., and the Hon. Thomas de Grey were re-elected without opposition.

17.-The nomination of candidates for the borough took place at King's Lynn. Lord Stanley and the Hon. Robert Bourke were nominated by the Conservatives, and Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, Bart., by the Liberals. The poll was opened on the 18th, and resulted as follows:-Stanley, 1,265; Bourke, 1,125; Buxton, 1,012. (_See_ March 16th, 1869.)

-Died at his residence, Surrey Street, Norwich, in his 82nd year, Mr.

Thomas Brightwell. A native of Ipswich, he married the only daughter of Mr. W. M. Wilkin, of Costessey, and settled in Norwich, where he resided for 60 years, and practised as a solicitor. An earnest Nonconformist, he joined the congregation which a.s.sembled at the Old Meeting in St.

Clement's, where to the close of his life he officiated as one of the deacons. He was the author of a work on the Pentateuch, and his intellectual attainments and scientific pursuits gained him admission into the circle which included William Taylor, Doctors Sayers, Martineau, Rigby, and Barrow, Sir James Smith, and other Norwich celebrities. Men bearing historic names, and of widely different sentiments, had from time to time been entertained beneath his roof-Williams, Dr. Gary, Moffat, Doctors Philip and Wolff, of missionary fame; Joseph Kinghorn, the eloquent Irving, Belzoni, the Egyptian explorer; Professor Sedgwick, George Borrow, and many others who had done good service in the cause of religion, literature, and science. A close observer of nature, Mr.

Brightwell gave much of his time to entomology, and a fine collection of insects in the Norfolk and Norwich Museum was formed by him. But the study to which, in his later years, he devoted especial attention was that of Infusoria. A treatise upon Infusoria, ill.u.s.trated from drawings by his daughter, was written by Mr. Brightwell and printed for private circulation. At the Norwich Congress of the British a.s.sociation, of which he was a vice-president, he was greatly amused by the anxious and ineffectual endeavours made by several of the scientific men present to procure copies of the work, then out of print. In 1821 Mr. Brightwell became a Fellow of the Linnaean Society, and he also rendered considerable a.s.sistance in the formation of the Norfolk and Norwich Literary Inst.i.tution and of the Norfolk and Norwich Museum.

21.-The nomination of candidates for South Norfolk took place at the s.h.i.+rehall, Norwich. The Conservative candidates were Mr. Edward Howes, of Morningthorpe, and Mr. Clare Sewell Read, of Honingham Thorpe. Mr.

Henry Lombard Hudson, of Harleston, was nominated by the Liberals. The polling, on the 24th, resulted as follows: Read, 3,097; Howes, 3,055; Hudson, 1,679.

23.-The following gentlemen were nominated at Aylsham to contest the new const.i.tuency of North Norfolk:-Sir Edmund Knowles Lacon, Bart., and the Hon. Frederick Walpole, Conservatives; Mr. Edward Robert Wodehouse and Mr. Robert T. Gurdon, Liberals. The polling took place on the 26th, at nine polling-places-Aylsham, Cromer, Holt, North Walsham, Ormesby, Reepham, Stalham, Wells, and Yarmouth. The official declaration was made at Aylsham on the 28th, as follows:-Walpole, 2,630; Lacon, 2,563; Wodehouse, 2,235; Gurdon, 2,078. (_See_ May 17th, 1869.)

DECEMBER.

19.*-"A club bearing the name of the Norwich Football Club has been started, and has already begun to play upon the Norfolk and Norwich Cricket Ground. Mr. Croker has been elected president, and Mr. Edward A.

Field treasurer and secretary." The members made their public _debut_ on February 5th, 1869, in a match against King Edward VI. School. (This is the first reference to football, as distinct from the old game of camp ball, made in the columns of the NORFOLK CHRONICLE.)

26.-The pantomime produced at Norwich Theatre was ent.i.tled "The White Fawn, or the Loves of b.u.t.tercup and Daisy and the Fairies of the Coral Lake." At Wombwell's Menagerie (then owned by Mr. Fairgrieve, of Edinburgh) was exhibited, "Prince Bonta Workey, son of the late King Theodore, who held levees in his grand state saloon at stated intervals during the day."

-Died at his residence, Chapel Field Road, Norwich, Mr. Trivet Allc.o.c.k, in his 80th year. "He was an active politician and staunch Liberal, and had a.s.sociated in his earlier life with men like William Taylor and others, whose superior learning formerly made Norwich celebrated."

1869.

JANUARY.

1.-At the justices' room of the Mansion House, London, John Henry Gurney, Henry Edmund Gurney, Robert Birkbeck, Henry Ford Barclay, Henry George Gordon, and William Rennie, directors of Overend, Gurney, and Company, Limited, were summoned for having, in July, 1865, and at divers other times, conspired to defraud Dr. Adam Thom and others who became shareholders in the company, of money to the amount of three millions sterling. The defendants, on the 27th, were committed for trial, and were admitted to bail, each of them in the sum of 10,000, with two sureties of 5,000 each. The trial commenced in the Court of Queen's Bench on December 13th, before the Lord Chief Justice, who summed up on December 22nd, and the jury, after a few minutes' deliberation, returned a verdict of not guilty. Intense excitement prevailed in Norwich during the trial, and on December 22nd, when the result was telegraphed to the city, it was everywhere hailed with great satisfaction. A remarkable scene occurred at Norwich Corn Hall, where a sale was in progress when the intelligence was received. The proceedings were stopped by cheering, the waving of hats, and other demonstrations of approval, and the auctioneer, addressing the company, said, "The name of Gurney was an honoured name in Norwich. The Gurneys had ever been friends of the poor and kind and good to all cla.s.ses, and all were glad that the trial had resulted in the honourable acquittal of all the defendants."

2.-At the Lambeth Police Court, William Sheward, aged 57, was charged upon his own confession with the wilful murder of his wife, Martha Sheward, at Norwich, on June 15th, 1851. On the night of January 1st the prisoner went to the Carter Street Police Station and said to the officer in charge, "I have killed my wife. I have kept the secret for years, but I can keep it no longer." In a further statement he said he had intended to destroy himself, "but the Almighty would not let him do it." He added that he had cut up his wife's body, and that a portion was kept in spirits of wine at the Guildhall at Norwich, by order of the magistrates.

At the Norwich Police Court, on January 4th, the Chief Constable (Mr.

Hitchman) detailed to the magistrates the particulars reported to him by the London police, and stated that on June 21st, 1851, portions of a human body were found in different parts of the city and deposited at the Guildhall. The magistrates issued a warrant for the apprehension of Sheward, who, on January 7th, was brought to Norwich, and appeared before the Bench on January 8th. He was described as a licensed victualler, of the Key and Castle public-house, St. Martin-at-Oak, and it was proved that he married his first wife, a Norfolk woman, who formerly lived at Wymondham, at Greenwich, on October 28th, 1836. In 1838 he came to Norwich, opened a p.a.w.nbroker's shop in St. Giles', and became bankrupt.

When living in Tabernacle Street, in 1851, his wife suddenly disappeared, about the 9th or 10th of June. Upon this evidence the prisoner was remanded, and at subsequent hearings witnesses were called who deposed to finding various portions of human remains in different parts of the city and suburbs in the summer of 1851. Relatives of the deceased woman stated that the prisoner accounted for her disappearance by saying that she had left Norwich for a time. On February 1st the prisoner was fully committed for trial. At the Norwich a.s.sizes, on March 29th, before Mr.

Baron Pigott, Sheward was placed upon his trial, and on the second day of the hearing Mr. Metcalfe, Q.C., for the defence, contended that the accused was labouring under delusions when he made the confession. The jury, after three-quarters of an hour private deliberation, returned a verdict of guilty, and the prisoner, who had nothing to say, was sentenced to death. Immediately after the trial anonymous letters were published in the London newspapers a.s.serting the innocence of the prisoner; similar letters were addressed to the Magistrates' Clerk at Norwich, and one communication actually purported to have been written by Mrs. Sheward herself. Efforts were made to obtain a commutation of sentence, on the ground of the long interval that had elapsed between the perpetration of the murder and the trial of the accused. These efforts, however, were of no avail, and the capital sentence was carried out by Calcraft at the City Gaol on April 20th. This was the first private execution that had taken place in Norwich. It was announced that on April 13th the culprit made a full confession of his crime, and gave detailed particulars of the manner in which he had disposed of the body of the murdered woman. In a letter to his second wife he also admitted his guilt.

14.-The trial of the election pet.i.tion presented by Mr. Jacob Henry Tillett against the return of Sir Henry Josias Stracey, Bart., as member of Parliament for Norwich, commenced at the s.h.i.+rehall, before Mr. Baron Martin. Counsel for the pet.i.tioner were Mr. Serjeant Ballantyne, Mr.