Chronological Retrospect of the History of Yarmouth and Neighbourhood Part 47

Aug. The Hon. and Rev. Edward Pellew, M.A. (about eight years Inc.u.mbent of St. Nicholas' Church, and which he resigned in 1844 in favour of the Ven. H. Mackenzie, M.A.), died at Crowe Hill, Nottinghams.h.i.+re, aged 69.

Sept. 6th. Two gentlemen started on a voyage by the rivers and streams, a distance of about 130 miles-from Hitchin to Yarmouth, _via_ Norwich and Reedham-in the canoes "Wanderer" and "Ruby," which adventurous journey was completed in six days.

Sept, 9th. The French iron steamer "Fulton," worth about 5,000, and cargo 650, through collision with the brig "Thomas Gales," opposite the Monument, foundered, but her crew were saved. Insured for 3,200.

Sept. 15th. Mr. T. Todd's smack "Ann" foundered.

Sept. 20th. Mr. H. Stonex presented by the Yarmouth Musical Society with a gold-mounted ivory baton and an inlaid walnut music-stool as a token of their appreciation of him as their conductor.

Sept. 23rd. Mr. William James Palmer admitted a licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries.

Sept. Commander T. S. Gooch, R.N., son of Admiral Gooch of Yarmouth, appointed to the command of H.M.S. "Beacon," on the coast of Africa.

Oct. 5th. Mr. Thomas H. Colley, on resigning the office of House Surgeon at the Yarmouth Hospital, after 14 years' service, was presented at the Town Hall with a gold watch and chain, value about 40, and a purse of 250 guineas, by 500 subscribers, for his zeal and kindness in the discharge of his duties.

Oct. 19th. Terrific gale. More than 70 smacks put in disabled, and some seven lost their crews (41 men), besides 14 other men washed overboard; 13 widows and 25 children left dest.i.tute.

Oct. 29th. The Italian barque "Oceana Antonio," 529 tons, ran ash.o.r.e south of the Wellington Pier.

Dec. 20th. Gas explosion at Messrs. Bracey and Son's counting-house, whereby two persons were injured.

Launches: Feb. 1st, the schooner "Maria," from Mr. Rust's yard after extensive repairs.-Oct. 11th, the smack "Alice," 40 tons register, from Mr. Rust's yard.-Nov. 12th, the self-righting lifeboat "Penny Readings,"

33 feet long, cost 500, launched at Lynn, the boat having been built in Yarmouth.-Nov. 25th, the smack "Cambria," from Messrs. Smith's yard.

Deaths: Jan. 11th, Arthur Steward, Esq., aged 68.-March 4th, William Jex, Esq., Master of the Hopton Hunt, aged 68.-April 14th, William Hill Winmill, Esq., of Gorleston, aged 35.-Aug. 10th, Edward Trafford, Esq., of Wroxham.-Dec. 8th, Mr. Stephen Hardingham, aged 74.

1870.

Jan. 2nd. New organ at Roman Catholic Church opened.

Feb. 14th. The schooner "St. Cyran" came ash.o.r.e south of the Britannia Pier, and the crew rescued by the rocket apparatus; the Austrian brig "Giovanning" came ash.o.r.e in the South Ham; the steamer "Sea Queen," 677 tons burthen or 903 dead weight, laden with 1,100 tons of coal, wrecked off Yarmouth, and her crew of 24 hands perished; and the barque "Victoria" wrecked on Gorleston Beach, 500 yards from the sh.o.r.e, and out of a crew of 16 but fire were rescued.

Feb. 15th. The schooner "Favourite" came ash.o.r.e between the Jetty and Wellington Pier, and the crew, except one boy, saved; and on the same morning, the crew of the lifeboat "Friend of All Nations" courageously proceeded out of the harbour to a vessel in the South Ham, and the perilous venture of the crew was hailed with l.u.s.ty cheers from a crowd a.s.sembled on the Gorleston Pier. In these gales the smack "Chance It"

was burnt to the water's edge off Yarmouth, and the crew gallantly rescued by the smack "William and Ann," of this port.

Feb. 23rd. The organ at St. Nicholas' Church, after being repaired by Messrs. Hill, of London, at a cost of 820, was opened by a grand choral service. Before removal it contained 2,133 pipes, which number has been increased to 2,873, viz., great organ 1,311, swell 908, choir organ 504, pedal organ 150; 45 stops and 7 couplers.

Feb. Rev. A. P. Holme appointed by the Bishop of Chester to the Rectory of Tattenhall, Ches.h.i.+re; and on Mar. 1st the rev. gentleman was presented with a silver inkstand, value 25, marble timepiece 5, and an electro-plated cruet stand.

March 5th. Collision in the Roadstead between the s.s. "Chester," value 8,000, and s.s. "Thames," the former being run ash.o.r.e north of the Britannia Pier.

March 20th. Fire on board the iron s.s. "Emily."

April 27th. The first portion of St. James' Church, which cost about 1,000, was opened by the Bishop of Columbia. The entire building, when finished, will cost 8,000 or 10,000.

April 28th. The south aisle of St. Nicholas' Church, after being rebuilt, opened with a full choral service, the Lord Bishops of Rochester and Norwich officiating in the service. This service was the grandest since Aug., 1848, when Dr. Stanley and Dr. Wilberforce preached at the opening services, after the old galleries, pews, &c., had been swept away. The Church covers an area of 23,085 square feet; is 228 ft. long and 110 ft. wide, transept 148 ft.; and will accommodate 5,500 wors.h.i.+ppers.

April. Captains Spencer Smyth, R.N., and C. Dent promoted to the rank of Rear-Admirals. The former served in several naval engagements from March, 1803 (when he entered as Mids.h.i.+pman on board the "Dreadnought," 98 guns), to Oct. 22nd, 1827, the date he was promoted to the rank of Commander; and from 19th of March, 1833, to Oct., 1835, he filled the position of a.s.sistant-Commander of the Coastguard at Yarmouth; and promoted to Captain on the reserve list F.G., July 28th, 1851, for meritorious services. (See Aug. 3rd.) Admiral Dent also served in several similar engagements since the year 1810.

May 18th. Gaol Street altered to its original name, Middlegate Street.

May. Baptist Chapel in Row 14 sold to Sir E. H. K. Lacon, and converted into a beer store. In excavating, an immense leaden coffin was discovered, besides the human bones of persons long since departed this life, which were re-interred. On Aug. 25th the cornerstone of the new Chapel on Wellesley Road was laid. (See April 7th, 1871.)

May 30th. Lord Mahon, eldest son of Earl Stanhope, returned as Member of Parliament for East Suffolk, including Gorleston. Votes-Mahon, 3,456; Colonel Sir Shafto Adair, Bart., 3,285; including Gorleston votes, M., 245; A., 183.

June 6th. Mr. E. Cattermoul, librarian, presented with a watch, value 25, and a cheque for 31 10s., by the subscribers to the Public library.

July 12th. Middlegate Congregational Church rebuilt and opened. This building alone cost 4,000, the architect being Mr. J. T. Bottle, of Yarmouth.

July 18th. John Bately, Esq., of Southtown, was admitted a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of London, having pa.s.sed on Sept. 24th, 1864, the examination in Arts at Apothecaries' Hall; on May 6th, 1868, admitted a member of the Royal College of Surgeons; and on July 2nd of the same year, a licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries of London. On October 1st, 1868, this gentleman, at the opening of the Medical Session of Queen's College, Birmingham, by Lord Littleton, received from the hands of the Bishop of Worcester the Council Prize of the Sydenham College-the highest honour the College could confer.

July 27th. Mr. M. E. Sturge, the newly-appointed bandmaster of the East Norfolk Militia, presented with a richly-chased ebony and gold baton by the members of the band, as a mark of their respect and esteem.

Aug. 3rd. Police-constable Shreeve gallantly rescued a lady, who had fallen overboard while in the act of landing from the London pa.s.senger steamer "Albion," from drowning.

Aug. 3rd. Mr. W. S. Stanford appointed Harbour Master in the place of Rear-Admiral S. Smyth.

Aug. 7th. H.M.S. "Penelope" put into Yarmouth, but left on the 12th.

This ironclad vessel, under the command of Lieut. Mogel, is a double screw corvette, 600 horse-power, 3,096 tons, carries ten guns, and a crew of 400 all told.

Aug. 8th. Edward Youell, Esq., died at Yarmouth, aged 89 years. This much respected gentleman was a partner for 42 years in the banking firm, of Lacons, Youell, and Co., from which he retired in 1863, having been in the house nearly 70 years.

Aug. 8th. A fis.h.i.+ng trawler driven into the new works of the Jetty (see Aug. 20th, 1808), carrying away one of the piles, and knocking down the pile-driving machine, which fell on her deck and completely crushed it.

Aug. Mr. William James Palmer, L.S.A., admitted a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Aug. 18th. Mr. J. S. Dominy, previous to leaving for York, resigned the position of Head Master of the Government School of Art in favour of Mr.

J. F. Ryan.

Aug. 20th. Mr. John Harrington gallantly rescued two men from drowning on Yarmouth Beach; and during the present year he was instrumental in saving the lives of two others, for which he was awarded a testimonial on vellum by the Royal Humane Society.

Aug. 23rd. Great Yarmouth Annual Marine Regatta took place. The first Annual Roads Regatta was held Aug. 1st, 1834.

Sept. 1st. Meeting convened by the Mayor at the Town Hall on behalf of the sick and wounded in the Franco-German war; 297 6s. 7d. collected in the town, out of which sum 291 16s. was forwarded, when the list closed in Jan., 1871, to the National Society.

Sept. 22nd. S. J. F. Stafford, Esq., surgeon, presented with an elegant crystal-and-gold claret jug, and on Dec. 29th with a silver salver by the Nottingham Order of Oddfellows, as a token of their esteem.

Sept. Miss Emma Pearson, daughter of the late Capt. Pearson, of Yarmouth, sacrificed the comforts of her home to undergo suffering and privation in a foreign country as head nurse amidst the carnage of battle fields, and too much cannot be said in praise of her conduct. On being invited by Count Bernstoff to the Prussian Emba.s.sy, she received many merited thanks for her kindness and attention to the German wounded.

(See Aug., 1872.)

Oct. 14th. Heavy gale, in which the "Ex," of Yarmouth, foundered; and on the 16th, the lugger "Proverb," of Gorleston, and six other vessels.

Oct. 24th and 25th. The most beautiful display of the Aurora Borealis witnessed since 1707.

Nov. 18th. The s.s. "M. E. Clarke" totally lost on Hasbro' Sands, and her crew of 16 hands landed at Cromer.