Part 33

1823—Joseph Crane, Esq.

1824—Thomas Shaw, Esq.

1825—George Baker, Esq.

1826—John Brookholding, Esq.

1827—Thomas Pilkington, Esq.

1828—John Williams, Esq.

1829—Thomas H. Crane, Esq.

1830—James Fryer, Esq.

1831—T. S. Cartwright, Esq.

1832—John Brookholding, Esq.

1833—Thomas Cartwright, Esq.

1834—Slade Baker, Esq.

1835—Slade Baker, Esq.

* * * * *

1836—John Bury, Esq.

1837—John Nichols, Esq.

1838—John Beddoe, Esq.

1839—James Cole, Esq.

1840—William Bucklee, Esq.

1841—T. S. Cartwright, Esq.

1842—George Baker, Esq.

1843—James Holder, Esq.

1844—Joseph Farmer, Esq.

1845—George Masefield, Esq.

1846—T. T. Lankester, Esq.

1847—James Banks, Esq.

1848—Adam Prattinton, Esq.

1849—John Baker, Esq.

1850—John Bury, Esq.

1851—Slade Baker, Esq.

TOWN CLERKS OF BEWDLEY.

1775—W. A. Robarts, Esq.

1808—Samuel Baker, Esq.

1816—Slade Baker, Esq.

1833—William N. Marcy, Esq.

MAYORS OF DROITWICH.

The close Corporation of Droitwich used formerly to elect two Bailiffs and two magistrates, year by year, out of their own number; the Lords Foley, from time to time, holding the office of Recorder. The two last Bailiffs, for the year immediately preceding the passing of the Municipal Reform Act, were E. B. Penrice and W. H. Ricketts, Esqs. The following is a fist of Mayors under the Municipal Act.

1836—E. B. Penrice, Esq.

1837—John Robeson, Esq.

1838–9—E. B. Penrice, Esq.

1840—E. B. Penrice, Esq., (resigned) and S. Tombs, Esq.

1841—William Trehearn, Esq.

1842—Samuel Tombs, Esq.

1843—Edward Smith, Esq.

1844—John Pumfrey, Esq.

1845–6—T. G. Smith, Esq.

1847—Edward Smith, Esq.

1848–9–50—John Bradley, Esq.

TOWN CLERKS OF DROITWICH.

1800—Thomas Jacob White, Esq.

1820—Thomas Gale Curtler, Esq.

1836—Samuel Tombs, jun., Esq.

MAYORS OF EVESHAM.

1800—Hon. & Rev. G. Rushout.

1801—Anthony Roper, Gent.

1802—John Lord Northwick.

1803—George Day, Gent.

1804—Thomas Gore, Gent.

1805—William Barnes, Gent.

1806—William Soley, Gent.

1807—W. F. Preedy, Gent.

1808—Thomas B. Cooper, Esq.

1809—John Hunter, Gent.

1810—Sir C. Cockerell, Bart.

1811—Rev. E. Dolman Cooper.

1812—W. F. Preedy, Gent.

1813—Matthias Stratton, Gent.

1814—Rev. H. P. Cooper.

1815—George Day, Gent.

1816—Thomas B. Cooper, Esq.

1817—Hon. & Rev. G. Rushout.

1818—Daniel Edge, Gent.

1819—Edward Savage, Gent.

1820—Rev. Joseph Martin.

1821—Thomas B. Cooper, Esq.

1822—William Barnes, Gent.

1823—Benjamin Murrell, Gent.

1824—William Soley, Gent.

1825—W. F. Preedy, Gent.

1826—George Day, Gent.

1827—Thomas B. Cooper, Esq.

1828—William Byrch, Gent.

1829—John Procter, Gent.

1830—John Thomas, Gent.

1831—Daniel Edge, Gent.

1832—John Walford Izon, Gent.

1833—Sir C. Cockerell, Bart.

1834—Alfred C. Cooper, Gent.

1835—William Barnes, Gent.

* * * * *

1836—William Barnes, Gent.

1837—Thomas B. Cooper, Esq.

1838—T. N. Foster, Merchant.

1839—Ben. Workman, Solicitor.

1840—John New, Esq.

1841—J. M. G. Cheek, Esq.

1842—Thomas White, Tanner.

1843—Anthony New, Esq.

1844—Richard Gibbs, Gent.

1845—John Bromford, Gent.

1846—Zaccheus Hughes, Draper.

1847—J. B. Haynes, Surgeon.

1848—Anthony Martin, Surgeon.

1849—R. H. Hughes, Merchant.

1850—John Clarke, Esq.

TOWN CLERKS OF EVESHAM.

1800—James Taylor, Esq. (reappointed 1836)

1838—Oswald Check, Esq.

MAYORS OF KIDDERMINSTER.

Prior to 1836 the chief officers of Kidderminster were High Bailiffs. The following are the Mayors elected since 1836:

1836—William Butler Best, Esq.

1837—George Hooman, Esq.

1838—George Talbot, jun., Esq.

1839—Charles Talbot, Esq.

1840—Henry Brinton, Esq.

1841—Joseph Newcombe, Esq.

1842—Wm. Henry Worth, Esq.

1843—James Morton, Esq.

1844—Wm. Butler Best, Esq.

1845—George Hooman, Esq.

1846—Wm. Butler Best, Esq.

1847—Wm. Boycot, sen., Esq.

1848—Wm. Boycot, sen., Esq.

1849—Wm. Roden, Esq., M.D.

1850—Wm. Boycot, jun., Esq.

TOWN CLERKS OF KIDDERMINSTER.

1800—James Pinches, Esq.

1801—George Hallen, Esq.

1826—Thomas Hallen, Esq.

APPENDIX.

TABLE A—POPULATION.

1801. 1811. 1821. 1831. 1841. 1851. County of Worcester 139,333 160,546 184,424 211,365 233,484 276,926_a_ City of Worcester 11,131 13,551 16,207 _b_18,442 27,023 27,528 Dudley 10,307 13,925 18,611 23,443 31,232 37,954 Stourbridge (including 8,297 9,755 11,227 13,571 17,483 19,246 the Lye and Upper Swinford) Kidderminster Bor. & 8,036 10,025 12,752 17,913 17,500 20,852 For. Bromsgrove 5,898 6,932 7,511 8,612 9,676 10,310 Redditch 1,000 — — — 3,314 4,774 Stourport 1,603 2,352 2,544 2,952 2,952 2,993 Evesham 2,837 3,068 3,472 3,976 4,245 4,605 Pershore 1,910 2,179 2,328 2,536 — 2,717 Droitwich 1,840 1,977 2,176 2,487 2,779 3,125 Upton 1,858 2,167 2,319 2,343 2,599 2,698 Tenbury 1,541 1,562 1,668 1,768 1,776 1,784 Great Malvern — — — — 2,768 3,763

_a_ By the Act 7 and 8 Victoria, c. 61, part of Halesowen parish, containing 18,827 persons in 1851, and parts of other parishes, locally situated in Worcestershire, but belonging to other counties previously, became parts of Worcestershire. Taking the same limits, the population of Worcestershire in 1841 was 248,460.

_b_ The population of Worcester, even at this time, was estimated at 25,000; but the figures given above, up to this census, only indicate the population included within the old city boundary.

WORCESTERSHIRE.—CENSUS OF 1851.

HOUSES. POPULATION. Inhabited. Uninhabited. Building. Males. Females. Total. Eastern Division 32,136 1,387 236 81,441 81,067 162,508 Western Division 23,503 1,336 101 55,515 58,903 114,418 Entire County 55,639 2,723 337 136,956 139,970 276,926

TABLE No. 2.—CRIMINAL STATISTICS.

The following statistics only relate to the county of Worcester. Prior to 1821 there are no records of convictions, &c., in existence; the Table, therefore, commences with that year.

Year. In what Court Tried. Number of Prisoner Number Number No. Sentenced Number Summary Total Number of Proportion of Tried. Capitally Sentenced to various terms Acquitted or Convictions. Persons Convicted to Convicted. Transportation. of Discharged. Convicted. Population. Imprisonment. 1821 Assizes 80 25* 15 18 22 Sessions 167 — 26 92 49 292 468 1 in 359 1822 Assizes 58 16 6 10 26 Sessions 132 — 22 57 53 324 437 1 in 390 1823 Assizes 69 15* 8 20 26 Sessions 68 — 12 35 21 348 438 1 in 397 1824 Assizes 49 16 5 12 16 Sessions 86 — 8 37 41 352 430 1 in 408 1825 Assizes 54 15 6 21 12 Sessions 103 — 14 51 38 363 469 1 in 379 1826 Assizes 90 27* 10 30 23 Sessions 70 — 8 36 26 304 405 1 in 446 1827 Assizes 110 34 25 29 22 Sessions 124 — 17 79 28 332 516 1 in 354 1828 Assizes 42 13 6 10 13 Sessions 156 — 27 88 41 304 448 1 in 414 _a_1829 Assizes 83 39 5 13 26 Sessions 154 — 34 75 45 287 453 1 in 412 1830 Assizes 80 32* 3 12 33 Sessions 142 — 25 81 36 319 470 1 in 405 1831 Assizes 90 43* 7 23 17 Sessions 220 — 41 112 67 402 628 1 in 307 1832 Assizes 74 28* 9 16 21 Sessions 164 — 36 83 45 373 545 1 in 345 1833 Assizes 73 22 13 19 19 Sessions 258 — 53 137 68 448 692 1 in 285 1834 Assizes 69 3* 20 23 23 Sessions 260 — 63 124 73 526 759 1 in 262 1835 Assizes 51 11 6 16 18 Sessions 139 — 24 82 33 373 512 1 in 393 _b_1836 Assizes 47 4 14 12 17 Sessions 212 — 32 125 55 357 544 1 in 363 _a_1837 Assizes 66 14* 10 24 18 Sessions 278 — 47 141 90 328 564 1 in 354 1838 Assizes 64 3 23 21 17 Sessions 303 — 36 179 88 425 687 1 in 292 1839 Assizes 70 1 16 31 22 Sessions 323 — 44 190 89 411 693 1 in 292 _c_1840 Assizes 76 — 10 36 30 Sessions 474 — 68 278 128 566 958 1 in 202 1841 Assizes 99 1 9 60 29 Sessions 383 — 43 231 109 461 805 1 in 256 1842 Assizes 101 1 16 59 25 Sessions 440 — 57 252 131 439 824 1 in 253 1843 Assizes 120 2 14 44 60 Sessions 418 — 39 245 142 535 879 1 in 242 1844 Assizes 141 1 17 78 45 Sessions 390 — 31 239 120 535 901 1 in 237 1845 Assizes 135 1 20 66 48 Sessions 368 — 28 220 120 460 785 1 in 298 1846 Assizes 154 — 17 79 58 Sessions 329 — 7 220 102 377 700 1 in 337 _a_1847 Assizes 88 — 7 52 29 Sessions 458 — 30 302 126 458 849 1 in 281 1848 Assizes 109 — 12 70 27 Sessions 515 — 21 354 140 599 1056 1 in 228 1849 Assizes 99 3* 10 33 53 Sessions 452 — 50 289 113 614 999 1 in 244 1850 Assizes 115 3 15 62 35 Sessions 427 — 38 280 109 605 1003 1 in 246

* Executions in all these years—vide pp. 146, 148.

_a a_ Criminal code greatly mitigated. Various offences hitherto only triable at Assizes, transferred to the jurisdiction of Quarter Sessions.

_b_ Prisoners’ Counsel Bill passed.

_c_ County Police established.

_d_ Sir John Pakington’s Juvenile Offenders’ Act passed.

* * * * *

*** In 1836 the jurisdiction of the City Quarter Sessions was extended to the new city boundary, and the deduction of population from the county raises the proportion of convicted persons from that year forwards. In 1845 the outlying parts of the county were included in the jurisdiction of the County Quarter Sessions, and the ratio of convicted persons is proportionably diminished.

TABLE No. 3.—PROVISION FOR RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.

It is not pretended that the following statistics are absolutely accurate—the amount of accommodation afforded being altogether matter of computation. Neither do they afford reliable data for comparing the relative increase of different religious denominations, because a considerable proportion of the old churches have been enlarged in the present century; while, on the other hand, many of the new chapels built by Dissenters, especially the Wesleyans, were erected in the place of preaching rooms used before the year 1800.

Built before Accommodation. Built after Accommodation. A.D. 1800. A.D. 1800. Places of 210 63,680 24* 14,590 Worship in the County connected with the Established Church Wesleyans 6 3,240 34 6,760 Baptists 13 3,654 17 3,498 Independents 4 2,283 10 3,176 Primitive — — 13 1,906 Methodists Wesleyan New — — 8 2,526 Connexion Wesleyan — — 4 950 Association Countess of 1 1,400 9 2,790 Huntingdon Catholics 2 630 10 2,089 Unitarian 8 2,300 — — The Friends 7 1,500 — — Other Sects — — 4 500

* The Churches built in the county since 1800 are—Redditch (chapel of ease); St. George’s Chapel, Kidderminster; St. Andrew’s, Netherton; St. George’s Chapel, Claines; St. Peter’s, Malvern Wells; Christchurch Chapel, Broadheath; Christchurch Chapel, Catshill; Bartley Green Chapel, Northfield; Christchurch Chapel, Lye; St. James’s, Dudley; St. John’s Chapel, Kate Hill, Dudley; St. Michael’s Chapel, Broadway; Christchurch Chapel, Trimpley, Kidderminster; Yardley Wood, Yardley; St. John’s Chapel, Kidderminster; Aston Magna, Blockley; St. Matthias, Malvern Link; St. Paul’s, Worcester; St. Peter’s, Cookley; North Hill District Church, Mathon; The Quinton, Halesowen; Langley Green, Halesowen; St. Peter’s, Worcester; Amblecote, Oldswinford; Trinity Church, Malvern.

TABLE No. 4.—OBSERVATIONS AS TO FALL OF RAIN.

Year. Worcester. * Cleobury. † Orleton. ‡ 1835 — 29.16 27.265 1836 — 32.93 28.155 1837 24.465 31.18 28.545 1838 23.850 28.73 26.355 1839 34.595 37.70 34.145 1840 20.715 26.94 25.800 1841 29.649 34.82 32.770 1842 — 25.09 25.480 1843 — 30.42 29.935 1844 — 23.56 21.730 1845 — 27.91 27.405 1846 — 29.24 27.015 1847 — 28.60 27.985 1848 — 36.69 39.015 1849 23.88 30.79 26.945 1850 18.66 22.84 24.615 1851 18.93 21.33 28.276

* The first series of these observations at Worcester were taken by Mr. T. R. Hill, at the Literary and Scientific Institution, and those for 1849–51 by Dr. Turley, St. John’s. It would seem as though less rain fell in this neighbourhood than in other parts of the county; but the years given happen to be amongst the drier ones, and in general it will be found that more rain falls at Worcester than in most other parts of England. The mean height of the thermometer in the midland districts of England is about 50°, at Worcester the mean will be found slightly to exceed that figure.

† From observations taken by Mr. Hunter of Mawley Gardens.

‡ From observations taken by Mr. T. H. Davis of Orleton, who possesses an accurate register of the rain which has fallen in each month for the last twenty years. The result shows May to be the driest, and November the wettest, month, and gives 2.19 as the average of January; February, 2.21; March, 1.91; April, 2.05; May, 1.82; June, 2.41; July, 2.39; August, 2.70; September, 2.41; October, 2.80; November, 3.16; December, 2.17; and of the whole year, 28.276 inches.

ELECTIONS OF 1852.

WORCESTERSHIRE EAST—J. H. H. Foley, Esq., and Captain Rushout reëlected without opposition.

WORCESTERSHIRE WEST—Hon. General H. B. Lygon and F. W. Knight, Esq., reëlected without opposition.

WORCESTER—MAY—(Election on Mr. Rufford’s accepting the Chiltern Hundreds)—William Laslett, Esq., of Abberton Hall, had some time previously announced himself as a candidate for the representation whenever a vacancy should occur, professing Radical opinions. The Conservatives brought forward Mr. Charles M‘Garel, who declared himself a supporter of Lord Derby’s Government; but as he was not explicit on the subject of “Protection,” he found so little favour with the voters, that after four days’ canvass he left the city. Mr. Laslett was then returned unopposed. JULY—Mr. Ricardo and Mr. Laslett united the suffrages of the Whig and Radical parties, and the candidate supported by the Conservatives was J. W. Huddleston, Esq., the well known barrister on the Oxford Circuit. He avowed himself a Free Trader, but would support Lord Derby’s Government in other matters. The Sheriff’s return showed 1,212 votes given for Mr. Laslett, 1,164 for Mr. Ricardo, and 661 for Mr. Huddleston.

KIDDERMINSTER—Mr. John Best, the former member, was opposed by Robert Lowe, Esq., a member of the Australian Council from 1843 to 1850, and member for Sydney in 1848. He professed to be ready to support Lord Derby’s Government according to their measures, though a thorough Free Trader. He thus obtained the support of the Whig and Radical parties in the borough, and also of a section of the moderate Conservatives. He was returned on the poll by a majority of 94: the numbers being—Lowe, 246; Best, 152.

BEWDLEY—Sir Thomas E. Winnington, Bart., Liberal, and Joseph Sandars, Esq., Conservative, were the candidates—Viscount Mandeville having been previously elected for Huntingdonshire. The votes were—for Winnington, 169; Sandars, 151.

EVESHAM—Lord Marcus Hill retired from the representation, and the candidates were Charles Lennox Grenville Berkeley, Esq., formerly member for Cheltenham, Liberal; Sir Henry Willoughby, Bart., Conservative; and Sergeant Wilkins, Radical. The votes given were—for Willoughby, 189; Berkeley, 170; Wilkins, 87.