Norfolk Annals
Chapter 140 : -At the Norwich Quarter Sessions, before the Recorder (Mr. O'Malley, Q.C.), Edwar

-At the Norwich Quarter Sessions, before the Recorder (Mr. O'Malley, Q.C.), Edward Durrant (27), grocer, surrendered to his bail on the charge of "having by fraud in playing with cards won the sum of 14s., the money of Samuel Boughton, at the Star Inn, Haymarket, Norwich." There were other counts, charging the defendant with defrauding other persons by the same means. Mr. Serjeant Ballantyne, specially retained, succeeded in obtaining a verdict of not guilty. The Recorder observed: "Well, prisoner, you have had a most merciful jury; that is all I can say." The defendant was cheered as he left the Court.

9.-The first of the peripatetic shows of the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation was held at East Dereham. "The cautious and timid members of the Norfolk a.s.sociation who prophesied that so many dark and dreadful events would happen to the society if absolved from her marriage vow which wedded her entirely to Norwich, and Swaffham, must have been pleasantly surprised by the entire success of the Dereham meeting." So great was the rush to the show-ground that more than once the barrier was broken down. The sum of 230 was taken in admission money, whereas it had never before amounted to 150, and rarely exceeded 80.

17.-Mr. Henry Stevenson, one of the proprietors of the NORFOLK CHRONICLE, was driving through Upper Surrey Street, Norwich, with his wife, when the horse started off at full speed in the direction of All Saints' church, where the phaeton was upset, and Mrs. Stevenson sustained injuries from which she died an hour afterwards.

27.-Died, in St. John de Sepulchre, Norwich, the Widow Rumsby, aged 100 years.

-Died, in London, Mr. H. L. Styleman le Strange. He was the only son of Mr. Henry Styleman, of Snettisham Hall, where he was born in 1815.

Educated at Eton and at Christchurch, Oxford, he travelled, on the completion of his University career, in Egypt, and, returning home in 1836, his majority was celebrated at Hunstanton Hall, the ancient residence of the le Stranges. In 1839 he procured the Royal licence to a.s.sume the patronymic surname of le Strange, in addition to that of Styleman, and in the same year married Jamesina Joice Ellen, daughter of Mr. John Stewart, of Balladrum, Inverness, by whom he left issue two sons and three daughters. Mr. le Strange, acceding to the request of the Conservative party, stood for the Western division of the county, and was defeated by a small majority. He left the hustings with the promise that at the next election he would again offer himself; he kept his promise, but eventually withdrew, and retired from politics. He then commenced his great work of painting the roof of Ely Cathedral, on the design and execution of which he bestowed many years of hard toil. At his death the work was about half completed, and he had only recently received recognition of his artistic talents by being appointed a member of a commission for investigating the state of the frescoes in the new Houses of Parliament. Hunstanton church is a monument to his taste and skill.

Mr. le Strange was senior co-heir to the baronies of Hastings and Foliot, and co-heir to those of Camoys and Strathbolgie. He had served the office of High Sheriff of Norfolk, was a magistrate and deputy lieutenant, and a director of the Lynn and Hunstanton Railway Company.

30.-Mr. Simmons, of Lydney, Gloucesters.h.i.+re, made a balloon ascent from the Orchard Gardens, Norwich, and, after attaining an alt.i.tude of 5,000 feet, descended in Spixworth Park. There he lightened the balloon by landing a fellow-pa.s.senger, and having re-ascended to the height of 12,000 feet, finally came to earth in Mr. Trafford's park at Wroxham.

Mr. Simmons made another ascent from the Orchard Gardens on September 8th, and descended at Little Plumstead; and after re-ascending, came down among the ruins of St. Benet's Abbey.

AUGUST.

28.-A cricket match, between twenty-two of Norfolk and Norwich and eleven of United All England commenced on the Cricket Ground, Norwich, and concluded on the 29th. Norfolk and Norwich, 73-75; United All England, 119-31.

SEPTEMBER.

8.-A trial of McCormick's new reaper took place on Mr. Clare Sewell Read's farm at Little Plumstead. The experiments were conducted by Mr.

McCormick, the inventor, and Mr. Burgess, the manufacturer of the machine, in the presence of Baron Ricasoli, ex-Prime Minister of Italy, and of several other foreigners of distinction.

11.-Three troops of the 5th Royal Irish Lancers, with headquarters and band, arrived at Norwich. "Although the regiment has been formed only five years, the princ.i.p.al portion of the non-commissioned officers and many of the privates were engaged at Balaclava, being Volunteers from other regiments to a.s.sist in training the present regiment."

12.-A great Volunteer _fete_, given at Crown Point, by the High Sheriff of Norfolk (Mr. Harvey), was attended by many thousands of spectators from all parts of the county. The city and county corps, in two brigades, commanded respectively by Lieut.-Col. Custance and Lieut.-Col.

Astley, with the Norwich Light Horse, under Lieut. Hay Gurney, were reviewed by Major-General Sir Archdale Wilson, K.C.B. The Norwich Cadet Corps, recently organized by Mr. Noverre, and the Grammar School Cadet Corps, were also in attendance. After the review the troops were entertained at dinner, a balloon ascent was made by Mr. Simmons, and military and other sports followed.

17.-The foundation-stone of a new church at Hautbois Magna was laid by Lord Suffield. The new building, which was designed to supplement the old parish church, was erected mainly by the exertions of the rector (the Rev. J. C. Girling), who gave the site. The cost was estimated at from 800 to 900. The church was consecrated by the Bishop of Norwich on May 26th, 1864.

OCTOBER.

6.-Died at his house, Belitha Villas, Barnsbury Park, London, Mr. John Curtis, F.L.S., aged 72. Mr. Curtis was a native of Norwich, where he resided many years. He was author of the celebrated work, "British Entomology," on the completion of which Sir Robert Peel awarded him a pension for life.

13.-A ten miles race, between the Indian Deerfoot and Brighten, "the Norwich Milk Boy," for a silver cup of the value of 30, took place on Figg's Cricket Ground, Newmarket Road, Norwich. Previous performances of Brighten and Deerfoot had given rise to suspicion as to the genuineness of these contests, but on this occasion it was announced that "Deerfoot's career in England being about to terminate," the race would be a legitimate trial of speed. Brighten won by 30 yards, in 54 minutes, 30 sees.

17.-A severe storm occurred at Yarmouth, and numerous s.h.i.+pping casualties were reported.

19.-A fire took place on the premises of Messrs. Tillyard and Howlett, wholesale boot and shoe manufacturers, Water Lane, St. George's Colegate, Norwich, and damage was done to the amount of 2000.

29.-Died at St. Leonard's-on-Sea, the Dowager Lady Stafford. Her ladys.h.i.+p was an American by birth, one of four daughters of Mr. C. Caton, of Baltimore. So remarkable were the sisters for their personal charms, that they were known as "the beauties of Baltimore," a reputation which had the effect of securing for three of them British coronets, one as the d.u.c.h.ess of Leeds, another as the Marchioness Wellesley, and the third as the Baroness Stafford. She became the second wife of the 8th Lord Stafford in 1837.

NOVEMBER.

10.-Mr. Henry Staniforth Patteson was elected Mayor, and Mr. J. J. Colman appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

18.-The Norwich Town Council adopted an address to the Queen, congratulating her Majesty upon the attainment of his majority by H.R.H.

the Prince of Wales. The county magistrates adopted a similar address on January 8th, 1863.

19.-Died, suddenly, aged 50, Mr. John Wodderspoon, sub-editor of the "Norwich Mercury." He had resided in Norwich about fourteen years, and had previously been connected with the "Suffolk Chronicle," at Ipswich.

Mr. Wodderspoon devoted his leisure time to the pursuit of the fine arts, and had achieved considerable proficiency as an amateur artist, a talent which a.s.sisted him materially in his other favourite study, archaeology.

He was an active member of the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society, and whilst resident at Ipswich, wrote, "Memorials of Ipswich" and "Historic Sites of Suffolk." His death occurred under painful circ.u.mstances. On the previous day a summons had been served upon him for threatening, it was alleged, a reporter on the "Mercury" staff. When giving instructions to Mr. Bugg, his solicitor in the case, Mr.

Wodderspoon fell down and instantly expired.

22.*-"The Queen has been pleased to grant unto Henry Evans, the elder, of Lyng and of Bylaugh, clerk, and to his eldest son, Henry Evans, the younger, of Elmswell, in Suffolk, clerk, her Royal licence and authority that they and their respective heirs may, in compliance with a proviso contained in the last will and testament of Sir John Lombe, late of Great Melton, baronet, deceased, respectively take and henceforth use the surname of Lombe only, and use and bear the arms of Lombe in lieu of their present surname and arms of Evans."

DECEMBER.

1.-Father Gavazzi lectured at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, on "Italy, Victor Emanuel, Garibaldi, and the Pope," and on the 2nd on "The Progress of the Gospel in Italy."

10.-Mr. Charles Mathews appeared at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, in his entertainment, "Personal Reminiscences, in Eight Chapters." The entertainment was repeated on December 13th.

13.-Died at his residence, Elmsfield, Harrow, Lieut.-Col. Richard Montague Oakes, formerly of the 1st Life Guards, and Chief Constable of Norfolk, aged 71.

18.-A gale of great severity commenced at Yarmouth, and continued until the 22nd. "The lifeboats were suffered to lie quiescent on the beach, their crews (of the Young and Diamond Company) standing stolidly by, indifferent even to the signals of distress which from time to time came over the raging waters from vessels in great danger." There was no loss of life. An inquiry was opened on January 6th, 1863, as to the conduct of the lifeboat crew, and adjourned to the 12th, when a resolution was adopted exonerating them from blame.

20.-Died at his residence, Norton Lodge, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Graham E. Hamond, Bart., G.C.B. He was the only son of Captain Sir Andrew Snape Hamond, R.N., created baronet in 1783, and was born December 30th, 1779. On the death of his father, at the advanced age of 90, in September, 1828, he succeeded to the baronetcy.

He commenced his naval career in 1793, as mids.h.i.+pman in the Phaeton 38, under the command of his cousin, Sir A. S. Douglas; he then removed to the Queen Charlotte, 100, the flags.h.i.+p of Admiral Lord Howe, under whom he shared the honour and took part in the victory of "the glorious first of June." Joining the Britannia, 100, the flags.h.i.+p of Admiral Hotham, he served in the Mediterranean, and witnessed the destruction of L'Alcide 74, taken in the action of July 13th. After constant active service on the Lisbon and home stations, during which he a.s.sisted at the capture of several French privateers and at the blockade of Malta and the siege of La Valette, he was appointed to the command of the Blanche, 36, in which s.h.i.+p he partic.i.p.ated in the battle of Copenhagen. In 1804 he was appointed to the Lively, 38, in which frigate he captured, off Cape St.

Mary, three Spanish frigates laden with treasure, and destroyed a fourth; during a subsequent cruise off Cape St. Vincent he captured the San Miguel, and the same day, in company with the Polyphemus, 64, took the Santa Gertruyda, 36, laden with a valuable cargo of 11,215,000 dollars in specie. In December, 1808, he was appointed to the command of the Victorious, 74, in which he a.s.sisted at the reduction of Flus.h.i.+ng in 1809. He was appointed commander-in-chief of the South African station in September, 1834. Sir Graham was a magistrate and deputy lieutenant for the county of Norfolk.

21.-The sea broke over the sandhills at Wells and flooded about 700 acres of the west marshes, which had been reclaimed from the ocean by the Earl of Leicester. The damage was estimated at 10,000.

26.-The Christmas pantomime at Norwich Theatre, produced under the management of Mr. Sidney, was ent.i.tled "Jack the Giant-Killer."

Wombwell's Menagerie was exhibited on the Castle Meadow.

1863.

JANUARY.

21.-Died at his residence, Thorpe Hamlet, aged 82, Mr. John Skipper, who had filled several offices under the old Corporation of Norwich, including those of Speaker and Chamberlain.

24.-Died at Trumpington Street, Cambridge, Mr. S. D. Colkett, artist, formerly of Norwich.

31.-The litigation arising from the inundation in Marshland commenced on this date with the hearing, in the Vice-Chancellor's Court, of an application for a mandamus to compel the Middle Level Commissioners to restore the paling path over the breach made by the inundations. At the suggestion of the Court, it was agreed that the only question in dispute, that of legal liability, should be raised as a special case. At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, on April 1st, before Lord Chief Justice Erle, two actions, Mason _v._ Wise and Coe _v._ Wise (clerk to the Middle Level Commissioners), were down for trial by special jury. It was understood that these cases, which were brought for the recovery of damages consequent upon the inundation, were selected out of a total of 107 causes in which writs had been issued. In the action Coe _v._ Wise, the declaration alleged that by a certain Act of Parliament the Middle Level Commissioners were bound to make and maintain a certain cut, bank, and sluices; it was complained that, in consequence of their negligence, the tidal waters burst through them and flooded the lands of the plaintiff.