Part 8

Dec. 20th. Rev. F. W. Johnson, who was appointed in Jan., 1858, minister of St. John’s Church, died in London. By will he bequeathed £3,000 to endow the Beach and Harbour Mission.

Dec. 27th. Jacob Astley, Baron Hastings, and a baronet of England, died at his town residence, aged 62 years. He was born on Nov. 13th, 1797, and was the eldest son of Sir Jacob Henry Astley. The late lord married, on Mar. 22nd, 1819, Georgiana Caroline, youngest daughter of Sir Henry W. Dashwood, Bart., and sister of the late Marchioness of Ely. (See Dec. 24th, 1875.)

Francis Worship, E. P. Youell, and J. Clark, Esqs., appointed as Magistrates.

Bastard shark caught off Yarmouth.

Thirty-two thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine barrels of herrings shipped at Yarmouth for foreign ports.

Vice-Admiral Lovell, K.H., who had served under Nelson at Trafalgar, died, aged 72.

New Lifeboat-house erected by the National Association at a cost of £400.

1860.

Jan. 3rd. Three cases of wine, eight of spirits, and five of oil, and a cask of vinegar, landed here, having been picked up by the smack “Chance.”

Jan. 4th. Schooner “Hero,” of and for Yarmouth, went ashore on Palling Beach and became a total wreck. Sold for £9.

Jan. 20th. The people in Southtown alarmed by the report of a “Spring-heel’d Jack” in the locality for some days previous. The supposed fiend, who assaulted one of the employés on the East Suffolk railway, and left him insensible on the ground, was said to be a man clad in a white tight-skin dress, and goat’s horns fixed to his head.

Jan. F. Palmer, Esq., appointed hon. surgeon to the Rifle Volunteer Corps.

Feb. 2nd. The fishing lugger “Paymaster,” belonging to Mr. B. Fenn, sailed from Yarmouth to Portsmouth, a distance of 240 miles, in 23 hours.

Feb. 14th. A detachment of the Donegal Militia (162) left Yarmouth for Deptford.

Feb. 16th. The premises of Messrs. Bullimore, West, and Todd, coachbuilders, carpenters, &c., destroyed by fire.

Feb. 16th and 18th. Officers of the Donegal Militia performed at the Theatre on behalf of the Hospital. _Used Up_ and the _Irish Attorney_ were represented.

Feb. 17th. The fishing smack “John Bull” driven on Yarmouth beach in a gale. The crew of five were taken out of the rigging by a lifeboat crew, and all saved except one boy. George Milligan, at the risk of his own life, bravely rescued a helpless man who was lashed to the rigging. In March, he and Capt. T. Davies, R.N., inspecting commander of the Yarmouth Coastguards, received silver medals for their bravery on this occasion, and the lifeboat crew £24.

Feb. 24th. Enquiry opened in the House of Commons upon the petition against the return of Sir E. Lacon and Sir H. Stracey, Barts., as M.P.’s for the Borough. After seven days’ investigation, the Chairman of the Committee announced them as duly elected.

Feb. 28th. A tremendous hurricane, which for about half-an-hour in the afternoon raged with the greatest fury, the pressure per square foot being 30 lbs. The like not known before for many years. In 1839 it reached only 28 lbs.

Feb. A beautiful silver épergne, of Eastern design, representing a giraffe feeding under a palm tree, presented to the Rev. J. B. Bampton on his leaving Yarmouth for Dover, by the supporters and students of the Yarmouth Government School of Art and Navigation, as a token of esteem.

March 7th. At a Levée at St. James’ Palace, Captains S. C. Marsh and W. J. Foreman; Lieut. A. W. Morant and Dr. Stephenson, of the 1st Norfolk Artillery Volunteers; and Capt. J. H. Orde, Lieut. E. P. Youell, Ensign J. Tomlinson, and Hon. Assistant Surgeon F. Palmer, 2nd Norfolk Rifle Volunteers, were introduced to her Majesty by the Earl of Leicester, Lord Lieutenant of the County.

March 13th. A new fishing smack, “Harriett Todd” launched. Mr. Todd lost the smack “Viper,” and had three others damaged in the gale of the 20th Nov., 1861.

March. The brave crew of the Gorleston Lifeboat “Ranger” awarded the sum of £233 by the owner of the brig “Martin Luther,” for assisting his vessel into Harbour during the hurricanes of Feb. 28th.

March. Petition sent to the House of Commons for total abolition of Church rates; also a petition to suppress Bribery by a condign punishment upon all guilty of the practice. The latter was signed by 230 electors, and presented to the House on the 24th instant, by J. Mellor, Esq., M.P.

March. Loss of the Yarmouth fishing smack “Emerald,” and seven hands, about twenty miles east of the Leman and Owen Sands.

April 6th. Artillery and Rifle Volunteers’ first demonstration on the South Denes.

April 10th. Conservative Banquet at the Theatre. The entire pit was boarded over on a level with the stage, where the tables were arranged; and a military band played in the gallery. A marquee was erected on the plain as a reception room.

April 23rd. First stone of the Gorleston Methodist New Connexion Chapel laid. Building cost £250. It was opened July 22nd.

May 17th. The barque “Caroline” launched, after being repaired at an outlay of £5,000, from Mr. Powell’s yard. The band of the Donegal Militia played “Rule, Britannia” as she glided off the incline.

May 28th. Fearful gale and loss of life at sea; eight vessels—brigs, schooners, and a barge—lost on Scroby and in the Cockle Gat, with their crews; also 14 fishing vessels and 156 men and boys, lost off Yarmouth. The appeal to the town and nation on behalf of 50 widows and 160 orphans left destitute resulted in the handsome sum of £10,000. Her Majesty and Prince Consort headed the list with £100 each. In a former gale the north-east pinnacle of St. Peter’s Church fell over the nave and crashed through the roof into the organ gallery, the organ narrowly escaping. Damage estimated at £250.

June 5th. G. S. Harcourt, Esq., resigned the Secretaryship of the Sailors’ Home owing to ill-health.

June 30th. The Channel Fleet of 13 vessels, under the command of Sir C. Freemantle, anchored in the Roads, and comprised the “Royal Albert,” 121 guns; “Donegal,” 101; “Edgar,” 91; “Aboukir,” 91; “Conqueror,” 101; “Trafalgar,” 91; “Centurion,” 91; “Algiers,” 91; “Mars,” 80; “Mersey,” 40; “Diadem,” 32; also the “Greyhound” corvette, and “Locust.”

July 9th. Procession through the town of the Foresters and Members of the Eastern Star Provident Association to the Victoria Gardens, where a gala was given.

July 18th. Sir Samuel Morton Peto presented with a superb china dessert service, and an elaborately-worked plateau épergne candelabrum and other plate, value about £2,000, by 300 subscribers, as a token of regard and obligation to him in making the East Suffolk Railway.

July 24th. Prince of Wales’ Own Donegal Militia, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Lord Claude E. Hamilton, left Yarmouth for Ireland, after staying twelve months.

Aug. 8th. The Norfolk Militia Artillery arrived at the Southtown Barracks, and were disbanded on the 20th. This regiment was embodied in April, 1859, and in May left for Sheerness, and thence for Woolwich.

Sept. 3rd. First prize competition meeting of the Rifle Volunteers held.

Sept. W. Strike, Esq., Collector of Customs, promoted to the Collectorship at Waterford; he was succeeded by W. C. Maclean, Esq., Comptroller at Portsmouth.

Oct. 15th. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean, the celebrated Tragedians, appeared at the Theatre Royal in _The Wife’s Secret_.

Oct. 26th. A short sun-fish caught on the North Beach. It was 4 ft. in length, and weighed about 11 stone. A fine specimen was also caught off Yarmouth in 1821.

Nov. 3rd. Frightful boiler explosion on board the steamer “Tonning,” off Yarmouth.

Nov. 7th. Race by two herring traders—the brig “Susan Bailey,” of Ipswich, and schooner “The Belle,” of Brixton—from Yarmouth to Leghorn. The latter arrived at her destination after a run of nearly 17 days, the “Susan Bailey” being two days behind her.

Nov. 10th. The brig “Eleanor,” 300 tons register, launched in full rig from Messrs. Beeching’s yard.

Dec. 28th. Melancholy occurrence at the Theatre, caused by the sudden death of Tom Algar, the clown, during the Christmas Pantomime. On Jan. 4th Mr. Owen, the manager, gave a benefit to the widow and orphans.

Dec. 29th (Saturday). The town, in consequence of a hard frost, had the gas cut off from 5 p.m. till 9, and then only partially.

Dec. The Rev. Henry Ralph Nevill, M.A., nominated to the Honorary Canonry in the Cathedral Church in Norwich, vacated by the death of the Rev. W. M. Hanson.

Fish Depôt, near the Jetty, erected.

The sum collected in Market Tolls this year was £220 12s., about the average for the last 22 years.

Parliamentary returns show that the number of houses in Yarmouth compounded for by landlords was 1,098, of the annual gross-rent of £6; and 229 at £7.

About 1,300 Voters on the Register this year.

1861.

Jan. 1st. Yarmouth specially appointed as one of the 32 Ports into which wine in casks was allowed to be imported, but the “testing” not permitted unless by special grant.

Jan. 6th to 11th. Colder weather than had been experienced in Yarmouth within living memory.

Jan. 15th. Meeting at the Town Hall for the relief of the poor in the town; £330 subscribed in the room.

Feb. 1st. “Iconoclast” lectured at the Theatre to a crowded house. Subject, “What Must a Man Do to be Saved?” Admission, 6d. and 2d.

April 8th. Census taken. The returns were as follows: Population of Yarmouth, 13,207 males; 16,881 females—30,088. Gorleston and Southtown, 2,029 males; 2,456 females—4,485. Houses inhabited in Yarmouth, 6,861; uninhabited, 239; building, 73; inhabited in Gorleston and Southtown, 975.

April 13th. A detachment of the Royal Artillery, comprising 403 men, officers included, with 15 women and 19 children, arrived at the Armoury from Woolwich.

April 24th. The barque “Harmony,” 300 tons register, or about 450 burthen, launched from Mr. H. Fellows’ yard, after which a religious service was held on board. She was built for carrying Missionaries to Labrador, and was the second built by Mr. Fellows for the Moravian Mission, the one built in 1833 being of the same name.

May 20th and 21st. Riot in the town between the Royal Artillery and the E. N. Militia. About 100 men, armed with sabres, broke out of the Armoury, and rushed down the road towards the bridge like wild men, where several hundred civilians had congregated, but who fled before the soldiers, spreading terror in the neighbourhood. Tradesmen had to close their shops.

May 24th. Gable-end of a three-storey house, built on the site of the Convent of Blackfriars, in Friar’s Lane, fell out from top to bottom.

May 29th. The Rev. James Tann, 14 years Pastor of the Particular Baptists of this town, died.

June 18th. Stormy meeting at the Town Hall respecting the election of a Vestry Clerk. The four following days a poll was taken, which resulted in the return of Mr. S. B. Cory by a majority of 233 votes. Cory, 856; Mr. C. H. Chamberlin, 623. Mr. Cory died in Oct. 1876. (See Aug. 16th, 1861, and Nov. 1876.)

June 23rd. Rev. H. Squire, Unitarian Minister of this town, terminated 30 years’ Ministry. On Aug. 5th he was presented with a silver inkstand, value £30, by the members of the congregation. He died in London, Aug. 1869, aged 62.

June 30th. Comet first seen in Yarmouth. Its brightness and length of tail rivalled Donati’s, which appeared in 1858.

June. Mons. A. A. Desfougerais appointed as French Maritime Consul and Agent in Yarmouth, by the French Government.

June. Mr. F. Danby Palmer passed legal examination in honours, he being the first local candidate who obtained that distinction.

June. Lieutenant E. Leeds, R.A., instructor to the Artillery Volunteers, presented by the officers and men of the corps with a gold watch and chain, as a memento of their esteem.

July 6th. Sir Francis Palgrave, K.H., Deputy-Keeper of her Majesty’s Records, died, aged 72 years. He married the daughter of the late Dawson Turner, Esq., of Yarmouth, and was Knighted in 1832 for his services and attention to Constitutional and Parliamentary literature.

July. Mr. George Tyrrell, builder, of Southtown, received the Government contract for altering and re-constructing the Redoubt at Harwich. In May, 1862, he also obtained the Government contract for the erection of a Fort at Bembridge Town, Isle of Wight, at an outlay of about £40,000.

Aug. 16th. Purse of £70 presented to Mr. S. B. Cory, the newly-appointed Vestry Clerk. (See June 18th.)

Aug. Turkish Baths on Regent Road established, but were not in existence many months.

Aug. Mr. J. S. Cobb passed his examination at the Royal College of Surgeons, and obtained his diploma as a dental surgeon.

Sept. 1st. Mr. F. W. Rolfe played his opening service at St. Peter’s Church, and received his appointment as organist. In Nov., 1870, he was presented with a purse of £11 by the members of the St. Peter’s Musical Association. He died in 1884.

Sept. 12th. Yarmouth and other Norfolk Volunteers reviewed at the Earl of Leicester’s Park at Holkham.

Oct. 26th. Alarming Fire at Mr. J. Self’s fish storehouse and drying-rooms, in Row 145. Estimated damage, £400. And on Nov. 25th, Mr. T. W. Downing’s fish-stores; damage, £200.

Nov. 2nd and 3rd. Heavy gale and great loss of life and property; 19 shipwrecked seamen received at the Home; the previous ten days, 44.

Nov. 21st. New Lifeboat sent to Yarmouth by the National Institution.

Nov. 26th. A site on the South Denes, for erecting an Iron Mission Church and Schools, granted by the Town Council to the Rev. H. R. Nevill. The Church was opened for Service on March 4th, 1862. Cost, £500. (See May 26th, 1869.)

Nov. 28th. Artillery Volunteers’ First Distribution of Prizes and Presentation of eight Saluting Flags, which cost £14, the gift of fifty lady subscribers, took place at the Corn Hall.

Nov. The fishing-lugger “Triumph,” of Yarmouth, lost in a gale in the North Sea, and 11 hands, principally belonging to Sherringham. Mr. J. W. De Caux, assisted by the Mayor (R. Steward, Esq.), collected £52 13s. for the widows and orphans.

Nov. The Rev. Hezekiah Martin, B.A., Curate of Caister Church, presented by the parishioners with a silver salver as a tribute of esteem.

Dec. 14th. H.R.H. the Prince Consort died, aged 42. During the ensuing week all outward manifestations of sorrow were paid in Yarmouth to the deceased Prince—shops were partly closed, flags raised half-mast, mourning uniform worn by volunteers, &c. On the 23rd the Town Council adopted a vote of condolence to her Majesty.

Dec. The Rev. F. C. Skey, late Curate of St. Nicholas’ Church, appointed Minor Canon in Bristol Cathedral. A gold pencil case was presented to him (Dec. 19th) by the scholars and teachers of St. Peter’s School.

St. John’s School erected.

St. Andrew’s Institute established in Charlotte Street, but removed to the North Quay in 1865.

Deaths: Oct. 21st, Mr. David Hogarth, who ably filled the position of Postmaster of Yarmouth for upwards of twenty years, aged 68.—Nov. 1st, John Goate Fisher, Esq., aged 82.—Nov. 4th, Mr. T. W Chevalier, Head Master of the School of Design, aged 30.

1862.

March 1st. 1862 changes of grandsire triples, composed and conducted by Mr. William Lee, were rung on eight bells in the Parish Church Steeple.

April 9th. Suffolk Militia Artillery, commanded by Colonel Adair (460 men), arrived at Southtown.

May 5th. Corner stone of the Bethel laid, and the Chapel opened Aug. 15th. Cost about £300.

May 23rd. The Priory Musical Class presented Mr. Musgrave with a silver inkstand.

May 27th. A portion of the Channel Fleet anchored in the Roadstead. It comprised the “Revenge,” 91 guns; “Trafalgar,” 90; “Emerald,” 51; “Chanticleer,” 17; and the gunboat “Porpoise.” They waited the arrival of the “St. George,” the vessel in which H.R.H. Prince Alfred sailed.

May. C. J. Palmer, Esq., presented the Corporation with a scarlet gown and a black gown, originally worn by the Mayors. The former to be worn on extraordinary and the latter on ordinary occasions.

June 1st. The man-of-war ship “St. George,” 90 guns, with. 900 men on board, joined the Channel Fleet in the Roadstead. On the following morning (Monday) a royal salute of 21 guns was fired from the North Battery, and a gay display of colours hoisted by every ship in the Harbour, in honour of Prince Alfred. The same afternoon the Sailor Prince, accompanied by Major Cowell, the Rev. W. Lake Onslow, and the Hon. Manners Sutton, landed on the Beach, and proceeded to the South Denes, where a cricket match was played by 11 Officers of the Fleet against 11 Gentlemen of Great Yarmouth.

June 19th. Review of the Eastern Counties’ Volunteers at Yarmouth. No less than 30,000 spectators from all quarters of the country assembled on the South Denes to witness the review, which was of the grandest description. A dinner was afterwards given to the Volunteers (3,500) and about 250 other guests, on the St. George’s Denes, which passed off admirably. Purveyor, Mr. J. Franklin, Crown and Anchor. The cost to the town was about £530.

July 9th. Blondin, the Niagara rope-walker, appeared at the Victoria Gardens.

July 16th. Caister lifeboat, while lying on Caister Beach, was struck by lightning during a heavy thunderstorm.

July. H. R. Harmer, Esq., solicitor, appointed a Commissioner to Administer Oaths in Admiralty.

Aug. 19th. Sir E. Lacon assumed the command of the Artillery Volunteer Corps on the resignation of Major S. C. Marsh.

Sept. 12th. Grand fête of Norfolk Volunteers at Crown Point, Norwich.

Oct. 8th. The celebrated Rev. C. H. Spurgeon preached at the Wesleyan Chapel.

Oct. 20th. Fearful gale. About 1,000 vessels sheltered in the Roadstead. Five others were reported to have gone down on the Sands with their crews.

Nov. 21st. Public meeting at the Town Hall, for raising a fund to relieve the distressed Lancashire operatives. £160 was subscribed in the room.

Nov. The Trustees of the Municipal Charities received the sanction of the Charity Commissioners to erect a Grammar School at Yarmouth, which was built and opened July 29th, 1863.

Dec. 20th. High tide. On the Southtown Road the water was a foot deep, and many parts of the town were inundated. The tide was higher than that recorded in 1816. Mr. T. W. Downing lost the smack “Gem” in the gale.

Dec. 22nd. The brig “Lotus” launched from J. W. Rust’s yard. Dimensions—length, 103 ft.; breadth, 24 ft.; depth, 24 ft.; burthen, 258 tons.

Deaths: Feb. 27th, the Rev. Thomas C. Clowes, formerly Incumbent of St. Mary’s Church, and Head Master of the Preparatory Grammar School, Southtown, at Ashbocking Vicarage, aged 61.—March 20th, Mr. Henry Danby Palmer, third son of George Danby Palmer, Esq., aged 47.—Nov. 12th, Nathaniel B. Palmer, Esq., aged 37.

1863.

Jan. 1st. Assembly Rooms opened by a company. On Feb. 13th, 1870, the Billiard Rooms were destroyed by fire; damage, £700.

Jan. 20th. Smack “Baron Campbell,” belonging to Mr. Yaxley, foundered in a heavy gale. The crew, after battling with the fury of the waves for 13 hours, and being nearly exhausted at the pumps, were gallantly rescued by the crew of the smack “Greyhound.”

March 10th. Marriage of Prince Albert Edward with Princess Alexandra of Denmark, at Windsor. The display of enthusiasm at Yarmouth somewhat resembled the Volunteer Review of June 19th, 1862, with this difference—the town in the evening was brilliantly illuminated, and a display of fireworks took place in the Market Place. Nearly 600 Volunteers were entertained by Sir E. Lacon to a sumptuous repast at his stores on the North Quay. 4,669 school children were regaled with a tea at the town’s expense, which, with all other expenses, incurred an outlay of £259. The subscriptions amounted to £322.

March. 19th. The Yarmouth Gas Bill Clauses to incorporate the Company, and make further provisions for lighting the town, were agreed to by a Committee of the House of Commons. The bill was read a third time, and passed March 23rd.

March. The Rev. John Beazor ordained as Deacon by the Bishop of Tasmania.

April 18th. A fine otter captured on the Hall Quay.

April. The Royal Marriage Celebration Committee presented R. Steward, Esq., and Capt. W. J. Foreman with a silver medal as a souvenir of the eventful occasion, and in recognition of their valuable services.

May 12th. Sardinian barque “Mississippi,” with 1,000 tons of cargo, sprang a leak and was beached, but got off again by the Gorleston boatmen for £300, when (on the 16th) she stranded on the Bar. In June she was dry-docked in the yard of Messrs. Fellows and Sons.

May 26th. Charles Marsh, a nigger acrobat, went up the Nelson Monument, got outside, and after clambering up the caryatides to the figure of Britannia, performed some of his gambols, but accidentally missing his footing, fell headlong from the trident to the ground, a distance of 140 ft., and was killed.

May 31st. First service for the ordaining of priests and deacons held at St. Nicholas’ Church by the Bishop of Norwich. Five ordained as deacons and four as priests.

June 17th. The Norfolk Agricultural Society held their Annual Show of Stock and Implements for the first time at Yarmouth. The prizes offered were £558 in money, £53 in silver medals, and £37 in four silver cups.

June 24th. Bishop Hills returned to England upon a visit from British Columbia, and preached at St. Nicholas’ Church, Aug. 16th.

June 25th. Mr. N. Clowes, Secretary to the Young Men’s Association, was presented with “Routledge’s Edition of the Poets” (19 vols.), as a mark of esteem.

June 25th. The Yarmouth Gas Bill read a third time and passed, and received the Royal assent June 29th.

June. David Falcke, James Scott, and William Briggs, Esqs., were approved as Magistrates by the Lord Chancellor.

July 1st. The barque “Egbert,” 400 tons burthen, launched from Messrs. Fellows and Sons’ yard.

July 6th. Two men accidentally killed by the falling of a hatchway belonging to the wherry “Rigby,” while at Burgh Water Frolic with a freight of 90 or 100 pleasure-seekers, many of whom were precipitated into the water.

July 14th. The Channel Squadron, under the command of Admiral Dacres, visited Yarmouth Roads. It comprised the “Edgar,” 71 guns; “Black Prince,” 41; “Warrior,” 40; “Liverpool,” 39; “Royal Oak,” 35; “Emerald,” 35; “Resistance,” 16; “Defence,” 16; and the corvette “Trinculo.” Totals—293 guns, 6,800 horse-power, and 4,799 men.

Aug. 26th. Memorial stone of the new Baptist Chapel, St. George’s Park, laid. Contract for building, £1,500.

Sept. 15th. Review on Mousehold Heath of the Norfolk Volunteers, on which occasion Corporal J. Wilshak, of Yarmouth, was presented with the Champion’s Prize (£20 and bronze medal) from the hands of Lady Suffield.

Sept. 18th. Messrs. Churchwardens Steward and Aldred presented with a silver tea service each, by members of the congregation of St. Nicholas’ Church, in testimony of their esteem. (See Nov. 23rd, 1879.)

Sept. 26th. First number of _Yarmouth Chronicle_ published by Messrs. Steer and Godfrey.

Oct. 3rd. The cutter “Samuel and William” (60 tons), belonging to Messrs. Smith and Sons, launched, this being the first built at Runham, near the Suspension Bridge. She was built by Messrs. Winter and Pigg. The father of the latter built the yacht, “Red Rover,” the property of S. Nightingale, Esq.

Oct. Mr. C. C. Newcombe, appointed Postmaster.

Oct. A pedestrian named Elson, of Nottingham, walked for several days from Yarmouth to Lowestoft and back three times each day—a distance of sixty miles a-day.

Nov. 2nd. The Board of Health decided to borrow £3,000 for extending the Parade south, on the suggestion of C. J. Palmer, Esq.