Norfolk Annals
Chapter 40 : 12.-A c.o.c.king match, "fought in silver," between the gentlemen of Norwich

12.-A c.o.c.king match, "fought in silver," between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Yarmouth, commenced at the Feathers Inn, Yarmouth, and concluded on the 14th. Feeders: Lamb for Norwich, Nash for Yarmouth.

15.-The first stone of the Nelson Monument on the South Denes, Yarmouth, was laid by the Hon. Col. Wodehouse (chairman of the sub-committee), in the presence of the Mayors and Corporations of Yarmouth and Norwich. A civic dinner was given, and in the evening a ball, attended by 350 persons, took place at the Town Hall.

-Mrs. Rigby, wife of Dr. Rigby, gave birth, at Framingham, to three boys and a girl. One lived 18 days, and the other three from eight to ten weeks. At a quarterly meeting of the Norwich Corporation on September 12th, the Court of Aldermen resolved that a piece of plate be presented to Alderman and Mrs. Rigby in commemoration of the birth, to which the Commons "cordially acquiesced on the understanding that if the same event should happen in their own body they should put in a claim for a similar complimentary memento." A violent personal dispute ensued between two members of the Common Council, "which so alarmed eight of the members for the Ward beyond the Water that they left the room without leave of the Speaker, the consequence being that the whole proceedings proved abortive." Another meeting was held on the 27th, when the presentation was amicably agreed to, and on December 24th Dr. and Mrs. Rigby were given a silver bread basket, "with the names of the children and the arms of the family richly emblazoned thereon."

16.-The thirteenth annual exhibition of the Norwich Society of Artists was opened in Sir Benjamin Wrenche's Court. Mr. W. M. Sharp was president, Mr. J. Freeman vice-president, and Mr. P. Barnes, secretary.

The Norfolk and Norwich Original Society of Artists advertised their thirteenth exhibition to be held at the New Room, Theatre Plain-Mr. R.

Ladbrook, president; Mr. J. Sillett, vice-president; Mr. J. Thirtle, secretary. Both exhibitions were honoured by the presence of the Mayor and Corporation.

-Died at his house, Chapel Field, Norwich, Mr. John Ninham, aged 63, artist and engraver.

23.-Mr. Keen performed at Norwich Theatre in the character of Richard III. On succeeding nights he appeared as Oth.e.l.lo, Bertram, Sir Giles Overreach, Sir Edward Mortimer, Selim ("Barbarossa"), Shylock, Octavian ("The Mountaineers"), and Paul ("Paul and Virginia"). He afterwards fulfilled an engagement at Yarmouth Theatre.

26.-A contested election took place at Norwich for the office of freemens' Sheriff. Mr. John Lovick was returned with 807 votes as against 718 polled by his opponent, Mr. George Harvey.

SEPTEMBER.

6.*-"Last week two troops of the 5th Dragoon Guards, under the command of Major Irwin, marched into Norwich Barracks, and relieved the two troops of the Royal Dragoons, ordered to Scotland."

10.-The Bishop of Norwich confirmed 800 persons of both s.e.xes at a special service held at Norwich Cathedral.

13.*-"Died lately, at Madrid, at the house of her sister, Lady Whitlingham, Barbara, wife of Mr. Bartholomew Frere, his Majesty's secretary to the Emba.s.sy at the Ottoman Porte. The marriage had been solemnized by proxy according to the usual forms, but Mr. Frere having been detained at Constantinople, neither had the happiness of seeing each other since their union."

26.-Skipper, the pedestrian, undertook to walk 60 miles in 12 successive hours on the bowling-green at the King's Head Inn, East Dereham. "He was so exhausted in the last two miles that he could not accomplish his task."

-A meeting was held in St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, when an auxiliary a.s.sociation to the London Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews was established, with the Lord Bishop as president.

27.-Died at Kirby Cane parsonage, from injuries received by the accidental discharge of a gun, the Hon. C. J. Keppel, fifth son of the Earl of Albemarle.

-A party of Indian jugglers gave a performance at Mr. Noverre's ball-room, "near Messrs. Gurney's bank," Norwich.

OCTOBER.

1.*-(Advt.) "Christopher Woods has been a prisoner in Norwich Castle during four and a half years, and there must remain for life, unless a.s.sisted with 20 to enable him to put in an answer to a bill in Chancery. The attention of the truly Charitable is earnestly requested in behalf of this unhappy man, his distressed wife, and four children."

11.-Mr. Robert Baker, glover and breeches maker, of Wells-next-the-Sea, was found murdered in Market Lane, about 200 yards from the town. His skull was beaten in and his throat cut. The county magistrates, a.s.sembled for other business at the s.h.i.+rehall, Norwich, ordered the printing of 3,000 handbills giving notice of the murder. These were taken by the constables to every coach, fish cart, and other conveyance leaving Norwich. A man named James Johnson, 29 years of age, was apprehended on suspicion at the King's Head Inn, Hethersett, on October 15th. The prisoner was tried at the Norfolk a.s.sizes, held at Thetford on March 19, 1818, when, after a trial lasting seven and a half hours, the jury returned a verdict of guilty, and he was sentenced to death by Mr.

Justice Dallas, "his body to be delivered to the surgeons to be anatomised" on the Sat.u.r.day following. On the prisoner asking for "a longer period than two days in which to prepare for eternity," the judge ordered death to be postponed until the following Monday, on which day the execution took place on the Castle Hill, Norwich, in the presence of 5,000 spectators. "Mr. Wilson, a gentleman from London, and Mr. Austen, a pupil of Mr. Dalrymple's, performed the dissection and prepared the subject for the lectures which have been daily delivered by Mr. Crosse."

At the trial an indictment was preferred against an accomplice of the prisoner, one William Hardiment, not in custody. A third man, Benjamin Neal, was in custody charged with being an accessory before the fact, but the bill was thrown out by the Grand Jury. (See March 28th, 1822.)

14.-Under the direction of Messrs. Beckwith and Pettet a grand Musical Festival began at Norwich, and was continued until October 19th.

Miscellaneous concerts were given in St. Andrew's Hall, and selections from oratorios in St. Peter's church. The princ.i.p.al performers were Mrs.

Salmon, Miss Frith, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Hawes, and Mr. Bellamy.

22.-A single wicket match was played at Holt by Frost, a member of the Holt Cricket Club, and Pilch, of the Litcham Club, for 10 a side. Pilch was the winner.

28.-Mr. W. Finch announced that he had acquired Harper's Gardens, "near St. Stephen's Gates, Norwich." Mr. Harper, the former proprietor, removed to the Falcon Inn, Ditchingham.

30.-Died, in his 85th year, James Vines, for upwards of 60 years a member of the St. Peter Mancroft company of ringers, at Norwich.

NOVEMBER.

5.-A salmon trout, measuring 40 inches in length and weighing 21 pounds, was killed at the New Mills, Norwich.

7.-An express arrived at Norwich bearing tidings of the death of Princess Charlotte. "Three post chaises and four followed a few hours after with gentlemen from some of the first London houses, to buy up all the black bombazines that the manufacturers had on hand, some of whom, however, had earlier intelligence of the melancholy event by letter brought by the express messenger, who arrived here on horseback." It was subsequently stated: "Notwithstanding the immediate and necessary exertions of all persons employed in the manufacture of bombazines and other articles of sable hue, they have not yet been able to satisfy the demand for goods of this description, whilst the dressmakers, &c., have found it difficult to execute all the orders they have received. During the last week all the coaches have departed heavily laden with manufactured goods." On November 19th, the day of the funeral, black was worn generally, St.

Peter's bell was tolled, and the Mayor and Corporation attended service at the Cathedral. "The Mayor subst.i.tuted for the official cloak of justice one of black c.r.a.pe, and he also wore weepers."

10.-Messrs. Adams' troupe of equestrians commenced a season at the Pantheon, Norwich.

14.-Died, whilst on a visit to Holkham Hall, Elizabeth, Countess of Albemarle.

15.*-"There have recently been cast at the bell foundry at Downham five clock bells for the new General Post Office, Dublin. A large bell is now preparing at the same place for erection in the Wabash, Indiana State, North America, by a religious society of Germans who have settled there."

20.-Several persons "who had long resisted the threats and entreaties of the inhabitants of Old Buckenham" were convicted before a magistrate at Larlingford, and fined for playing cricket on Sunday, October 2nd, on Old Buckenham green.

DECEMBER.

5.-At a special a.s.sembly of the Corporation of Norwich addresses of condolence were voted to the Prince Regent and to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, expressive of the deep grief felt by the citizens on the death of the Princess Charlotte. Similar addresses were presented by the Corporations of Yarmouth, Lynn, and Thetford.

-Died in St. Stephen's, Norwich, in his 74th year, Mr. James Hardy, of Hethersett. He served the office of Sheriff of Norwich in 1800.

6.-Messrs. Caldwell, Waterhouses, and Co., advertised the establishment of a service of "new light caravans upon springs." The conveyances left Norwich every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at eight o'clock, and arrived at the Swan-with-two-Necks, Lad Lane, London, on the following morning at six o'clock. They were despatched from London every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sat.u.r.day evening at five o'clock, and arrived in Norwich the next afternoon at three o'clock. The rate of carriage from London to Norwich was 9s. per cwt., and from Norwich to London 11s. per cwt.

15.-A three days' c.o.c.king match commenced at the White Swan, St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, between the gentlemen of Norfolk and the gentlemen of Suffolk. A main of 31 c.o.c.ks was won by Norfolk six battles ahead, and a match of 11 chickens by Norfolk one battle ahead. The byes, of which 14 were fought, were even. Stakes: 10 a battle and 200 the odd; chickens, 5 a battle and 50 the odd; byes 10 per battle. Feeders: Lamb for Norfolk, Nash for Suffolk.

16.-A prize fight took place on Bungay Common between Sutton, the Black, and Ned Painter, who was accompanied from Norwich by a large number of his supporters. Fifteen rounds were fought in one hour forty-two minutes for a purse of 100, 80 for the winner and 20 for the loser. Painter, "the best man of the day with Norfolk training," won. "Several well-dressed women were present at the fight."

20.-The Fakenham and London post coach, the Patriot, was advertised to run from Fakenham on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The proprietors were Robert Leamon, Fakenham; T. W. Woer, Swaffham; Thos. Golding, Newmarket; George Barton, Cambridge; and John Eames, London.

-Joseph Penny, of Yarmouth, who impersonated Neptune at the Peace festival at Yarmouth on April 21, 1814, was drowned with his son whilst sailing a small boat in stormy weather.

27.*-"The commissions executed and presents sent from this land of turkies greatly exceeded any former year. It is calculated that upwards of 4,000 have been despatched by different conveyances from Norwich during the past week, which, averaged at nine pounds each, at 10d. per pound, amounted to 1,500."

1818.

JANUARY.