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HEREFORDIENSIS
160 Years Ago - Abstracts from the Hereford Journal
Herefordiensis is the name of the Society's Journal, which has been published quarterly for over twenty-five years now. It is free to Members and includes helpful articles, members interests, and a query and help section. Articles submitted for publication by members are always welcome. The Journal Editor is Brian Passey, 70 Kimberley Road, Penylan, Cardiff, CF23 5DL (email: bcp@supanet.com). Back numbers of Journals can be obtained from Mr D Jones, 28 Treherne Close, Lugwardine, Hereford, HR1 4AF. Most Journals are available, price £1.00 per issue plus 37p postage.)
The contents of past copies are being added to the website and can be found HERE although this is a work "in progress" at present.
Note: For current and other editions please use links below:
Current edition
April, May and June 1842
January, Febuary and March 1842
October, November and December 1841
April, May and June 1841
January, Febuary and March 1841
The following is a brief extract of an ongoing feature in the Herefordshire Family History Society Journal by John Harnden, entitled:
160 Years Ago - from the Hereford Journal of July, August and September 1841
(This particular item is taken from the October 2001 issue, back numbers of Journals can be obtained from Mr D Jones, 28 Treherne Close, Lugwardine, Hereford, HR1 4AF. Most Journals are available, price £1.00 per issue plus 37p postage.)
7th July Grand opening of the Great Western Railroad from Paddington to Bristol & Bridgwater. The 118 miles to Bristol took four hours. ♦ Mrs. Johnson’s American Soothing Syrup for children cutting their teeth. Available, of course, from the Hereford Journal office. Or you could try Eau O’Meara, prepared for Napolean Bonaparte at St. Helena. ♦ A Fiat of Bankruptcy has been issued against James JAMES of Ross, grocer, dealer and chapman. ♦ Death at Overton, near Ross, of William Henry, aged three, only son of Mr. Edward JONES. Descendants of this family will now realise they do not exist.
14th July Edward JONES, who got into Buckingham Palace four times, has now left Tothill Fields gaol. He has been seen hanging about around the palace again, so he was quietly put on a ship bound for Australia. ♦ For some reason best known to themselves Henry CROGGAN of Grampound, Cornwall, and Amey, eldest daughter of Mr Trethewy, were married at Bredwardine on 6th July. ♦ Mr. WINTER of St Owen’s Street, Hereford reported to the police the theft of a lamb. A dog found found part of it behind a haystack, so two police officers were sent to watch the stack all night. Both fell asleep, whereupon the thief tiptoed up and took his prize away. What is interesting is that in the heading the police are referred to as "Bluebottles". And more interesting still is how the facts came to be known.
21st July Architects are invited to submit plans for the new Hereford city prison. Death on 5th July at Nant Gwtheyrn, alias Vortigern’s Vale, Mr Richard WILLIAMS, bachelor, aged 89, brother of the celebrated Welsh dwarf, Ellias bach y Nant. ♦ In Ledbury the inhabitants were entertained by Signor Blitz who danced on a large barrel whilst it was rolling at a rapid rate through the streets, and over various obstructions.
28th July With a remarkably straight face this worthy paper repeats an article from the Kendal Mercury. Margaret LEECE, aged 14 and living in Rusland, lost a small gooseberry in her ear. (Don’t we all?) Some days later she laughed heartily and the gooseberry came out of her nose, having turned red on the journey. Beat that. ♦ Marriage 18th July at Almeley of William PROBERT, fiddler, aged 75, & Elizabeth JONES, widow of William JONES, alias "The Heaver", aged 24. Honestly. ♦ The mystery of a skeleton found near Leominster has been solved – it was a pig. ♦ The new church at Wellington Heath, Ledbury, has been consecrated by the Lord Bishop. (The registers started in 1842).
4th August At the Herefordshire Summer Assizes the judge remarks that there are "no cases of an aggravated nature." Admittedly, fourteen prisoners got an average of only six months each, but Ann WALTERS was transported for ten years for having a baby on the roadside near Ledbury and leaving it to die, and John DYER got the same for stealing a sheep at Bodenham. Thomas BROOKS was indited for having in 1834(!) feloniously married Elizabeth BISHOP, his previous wife, Mary PROBERTS, whom he married in 1830, being still alive and living about seven miles from Ledbury. ♦ Marriage on 19th July (Where?) of Mr. VAUGHAN, comedian, & Miss OWENS, eldest daughter of Mr. OWENS of the Tenbury & Leominster theatres. ♦ At Worcester a man married his aunt – the paper lists the various relationships thus created, including the fact that he will be father, uncle and cousin to his children.
11th August We learn that our national anthem was first sung in 1607 at an entertainment given by the Merchant Tailors Company to James I. Not a lot of people know that. ♦ Shortly after the Queen’s uncle, the King of the Belgians, arrived at Windsor on a visit the town was flooded with Flemish tobacco and Belgian cigars, smuggled in by members of the king’s suite. Rotten lot. ♦ Marriage on 5th August at Eardisland of Mr. Samuel Hancorn JAMES, Warden of the Lord Durham Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Kington, to Ann, only surviving daughter of the late Mr. John SMITH, stonemason, of Barrow, and niece to Host JONES of the Lamb Inn, Kington. ♦ The Hereford Post Office will in future be closed on Sunday mornings from 10.45 to 1.30p.m.
18th August The wheat crop is now being harvested, and the accidents start. At Winforton John ROTHEROE, aged 11, died after being severely crushed by a thrashing machine. ♦ The marriage - "Lately, at Lantwit Major, after a tedious courtship of two weeks, of Mr. William HARDEE, farmer, Boverton, to Mrs. GARSETT, widow of the late Mr. C. GARSETT." ♦ The Queen goes to Virginia Water to see Prince Albert’s pack of beagles in action. One lot of coach and horses runs amok and a postillion is injured. The Queen is alarmed and solicitous but not injured. Just as well – she is expecting again in October.
25th August A rather weird cricket match took place at Camberwell, between the one-arm and one-leg pensioners of Greenwich and Chelsea. The Chelsea pensioners, having more one-legged men and being older, came off worse and lost by 19 runs to 176. ♦ Death on 16th August at Aylton of Thomas LEWIS aged 103. He kept his marbles to the end. Inquest on the death of James MORGAN, 30, of Bridstow, run over by a waggon. ♦ Verdict: Accidental death, with a deodand of 1s on the horse and 1s upon the waggon. ♦ The upper classes are arriving in droves in Aberystwyth for the summer season. ♦ You will no doubt be concerned to read that there is a scarcity of camels in India. In the Afghanistan campaign over 45,000 have been killed, stolen or strayed.
1st September The Whig government has been defeated over their new budget measures and Sir Robert Peel has been asked to form a Conservative government. Much gloating by the Hereford Journal. ♦ Several inhabitants are complaining by the "effluvium of melted tallow" in Bewell Street, Hereford. ♦ Death on 17th July at Swansea of Mr. Thomas Geach, Primitive Methodist minister, late of Hereford, after three weeks illness of typhus and brain fevers. ♦ Plans for the new Hereford city gaol have been accepted; estimate £3859.
8th September Captain John ADAMS of H.M. sloop Acorn sends an account of the capture of a large Spanish slave brig from Havannah, bound for Cubinda for slaves. ♦ The Madrid papers report an abundant shower of stones in Navarre, some weighing half a pound. ♦ A recent Act of Parliament empowers the Tithe Commissioners to settle any parish boundary dispute on application by at least two-thirds of the parishioners. The Emperor of China is fulminating about the lack of success his troops are having against the British "barbarians". One commander has been cut in half at the waist and another died by having his flesh cut off in small pieces. ♦ Three young children die of measles in Monmouth.
15th September The Dean & Chapter of Hereford Cathedral announce the forthcoming Courts Baron for their manors of Woolhope, Norton Canon, Canon Pyon, Preston on Wye and Newton. The first four will hold their courts within the respective parish, but in the case of Newton the court is held at the Canons’ bakehouse in Hereford. ♦ Another long list of people arriving at Aberystwyth for their holiday. I hope they haven't left it too late. ♦ The paper reports that the crime of sheep-stealing is very much on the increase, and adverts in the last few issues back this up.
22nd September James BOSWORTH of St. Owen’s Street, Hereford, self-styled broker, hairdresser, appraisor and general salesman, has taken almost half a page to describe, in rhyme, the contents of his shop. Example – "I’ve Skins of the most beautiful birds of the Grove/Indian Fans and a large Chinese Hat/The Anvil of Vulcan, the Thunder of Jove/And the Skin of Dick Whittington’s Cat. Sounds like a cross between a museum, a second-hand shop and a pawn shop. ♦ Several cows near Kington have had their tails cut off. Anyone for soup?
29th September For Sale by Auction at Kington, Two Freehold Cottages and land in Lyonshall in the occupation of - VALE, James DAVIES and Ann WATKINS. ♦ James BOSWORTH advertises again! Another example – "Bonnet and Hat Blocks/Shirts and round Frocks/A Dress of the days of Queen Anne/Curry Combs and Brushes/Some Patent Trusses/And Steel Traps for Vermin or Man. ♦ The collapse of the Bank of Messrs William Henry HOBHOUSE & Co. at Bath means that Mr. HOBHOUSE, recently returned as a Whig member of Parliament for Hereford City must resign. The Hereford Journal is trying hard not to gloat. ♦ Mr. PUGH of Presteigne recently shot a grouse, to the leg of which was attached a canvas bag containing an envelope on which was written ‘Clock £2-8-0’ and a silver fourpenny piece. Is somebody making all these weird things up? I must admit I drew the line against reporting a female who weighed two tons.
Contributor: John Harnden, 11 Longworth Road, Tupsley, Hereford HR1 1SP
Last revised: 2nd October 2006
© Herefordshire Family History Society 2006