1861.
Jan. 2nd.—The poor rate assessment had been raised some £14,000, and a 1s. 2d. rate thereon made.
Mr. F. Ferrier (Deputy Coroner) had held an inquest on the body of Thomas Algar, the clown who had expired at the Theatre immediately after the performance on the previous Friday. The deceased was 34 years of age, and left a widow and one child. The verdict was that deceased died from “natural causes”; Mr. C. C. Aldred (the Surgeon) and the Jury gave their fees to the family.
Jan. 5th.—The Revenue cutter, in attempting to run for the harbour, had fouled the pier and was sunk.
Jan. 12th.—“The strong frost had literally stopped the river traffic.”
It had been decided to give £124 worth of coal to the poor.
Jan. 19th.—A public meeting had been held to raise funds for that purpose. The Mayor presided, and the following gentlemen took part in the proceedings:—Mr. W. Worship, the Rev. B. Vaux, Mr. R. Steward, Mr. C. C. Aldred, Mr. R. Hammond, Mr. T. Brightwen, Mr. C. Cory, Mr. L. Blake, and Mr. E. H. L. Preston. Sir E. Lacon sent a cheque for £50, and £350 was subscribed in the room.
Jan. 26th.—Dr. Stephenson had been appointed Surgeon for the South District.
The “Racehorse” (belonging to George Danby-Palmer, Esq.), had been abandoned near Cape Horn. There had been a mutiny on board her, and a naval Court was inquiring into the affair at Calloa.
Jan. 30th.—The Guardians were calling attention to the “Compulsory Vaccination Act.”
Feb. 2nd.—The annual Sailors’ Home meeting had been held in the new building on the Drive.
Mr. Henry R. Harmer had been appointed a Chancery Commissioner.
Feb. 6th.—At a Vestry meeting it had been determined to take a poll of the parish as to whether the Vestry Act (13 and 14 Vic. cap. 57) should be applied to the parish.
Feb. 9th.—Two hundred and eighty-eight appeals had been lodged against the Poor’s Rate.
Feb. 16th—“Costerton v. Lacon” had been tried. In this action the plaintiff, a solicitor at Yarmouth, complained of having been slandered by the defendant, who was M.P. for the town, and who ultimately consented to a verdict against him for 40s. and costs.
Feb. 20th.—The poll of the parish had closed as under:—
| For applying the Vestry Act | 737 |
| Against | 414 |
| Majority | 323 |
Mr. Clowes then proposed, and Mr. Livingston seconded, a resolution to the effect that a Vestry Clerk be appointed at a salary of £100 per annum, and ultimately this was carried, and a vote of thanks to the Vicar and his assessor (C. J. Palmer, Esq.), terminated the proceedings.
Feb. 23rd.—The Conservatives had adopted Mr. C. H. Chamberlin (a Liberal) as their candidate for the office of Vestry Clerk, the other candidate being Mr. S. B. Cory.
Feb. 27th.—The case of Morant v. Chamberlin (which involved the right of user of part of the Quay by George Danby-Palmer, Esq.), had been decided as follows: “Verdict for plaintiff, issue on the 4th plea for defendant.”
March 2nd.—The Prince of Wales had visited the town “incog.”
March 6th.—One Cox, “a magician of Friars’ Lane,” had been before the Justices.
March 9th.—The Hon. Harbord Harbord had been hunting the district with his pack of harriers during the week.
Part of a house had been blown down on the Regent Road.
March 13th.—The Artillery Corps had adopted white (in lieu of blue) facings to their uniform.
March 16th.—The Fitzroy storm signals had been hoisted in the town.
March 23rd.—“Iconoclast” proposed to deliver lectures at the Theatre. This had been stopped by the Mayor, and an action was threatened against the proprietor of that building. The following is a copy of the Bill issued:—“Theatre Royal, Great Yarmouth. Iconoclast the well-known advocate of Secularism, and co-editor with Mr. Joseph Barker, &c., will deliver three lectures in the above place, on the 25th, 26th, and 27th of March, 1861. Subjects—Monday, “Were Adam and Eve our first parents?” Tuesday, “The History of the Crucifixion, self-contradictory and incredible.” Wednesday, “The Atonement and its relation to sin and pardon.” Admission—Lower boxes, 6d.; upper ditto, 4d.; pit, 3d., gallery, 2d. Iconoclast respectfully invites the clergy and ministers of Yarmouth to discuss his lectures; especially those who claim to have refuted him during his absence.”
Major Orde, Mr. Chamberlin, and Captain Holmes had given readings from Dickens’ works in the saloon of the Victoria gardens before the members of the Rifle Corps and their friends; Captain Holmes was expected to be appointed adjutant of this corps.
March 30th.—“Cufaude v Cory” had been heard at the Assizes. In this action damages were claimed by the plaintiff, Clerk to the Guardians against the defendant, Mr. S. B. Cory, for an alleged libel, he having stated in a handbill that Mr. Cufaude “cooked” the parish accounts. Mr. O’Malley, Q.C., Mr. Power, Q.C., Mr. Keene and Mr. Cherry were for the plaintiff, and Mr. Palmer and Mr. Hotson for the defendant. The Jury found for the plaintiff with £500 damages.
April 3rd.—“The nocturnal jokes” were again the subject of inquiry; Mr. E. O. Johnson (a Volunteer Sergeant) had been discovered by a policeman taking away Dr. Smyth’s bell, but as that gentleman would not prosecute, the charge dropped.
Mr. J. H. Harrison then made a complaint to the Court of damages to his property by these “jokers.”
At the Vestry Meeting, Mr. R. Hammond proposed, and Mr. W. Worship seconded, the re-election of Mr. S. C. D. Steward as one of the Churchwardens, and Mr. Fenn proposed, and Mr. Laws seconded, the re-election of Mr. E. R. Aldred as the other warden, “and the Minister accepted the second nomination as his warden.”
N.B.—This was the first attempt by a Vicar to take action of this sort, (the right of election of both Churchwardens being vested in the Vestry of the parish.)
The following gentlemen had been elected Guardians:—
North Ward—S. Nightingale, E. H. L. Preston, and J. B. Hylton.
Market Ward—C. C. Aldred, W. Laws, and J. Fenn.
Regent Ward—W. Worship, R. D. Barber, and D. A. Gourlay.
St. George’s Ward—J. G. Plummer, C. E. Bartram, and C. Miller.
Nelson Ward—T. Brightwen, C. Woolverton, W. C. Reynolds, and J. Clarke.
It was stated that only 7s. 6d. had been subscribed by the lodging-house keepers to the Race Fund.
April 10th.—It was understood that the Chairman and a majority of the Board of Guardians were favourable to the admission of Reporters to the Board meetings.
“Great reductions” had been made upon the Poor’s Rate appeals.
April 13th.—Captain Holmes had been appointed Adjutant to the Rifle Volunteers.
Sir J. Walsham had held an inquiry as to the allegations with regard to the parish accounts, which had been alluded to in the recent action of “Cufaude v. Cory.” Mr. Hotson attended it on behalf of Mr. Cory.
April 17th.—Two batteries of Royal Artillery had arrived in the town.
April 20th.—A gunboat, with the men of the Revenue cutter on board, had run into the pier-head.
An illuminated clock had been placed at the Sailors’ Home.
A rule “nisi” had been granted in the action of “Cufaude v. Cory” on the ground of excessive damages.
April 27th.—The “Harmony,” missionary ship, had been launched from Messrs. Fellows’ yard.
There had been “numerous” arrivals of invalids from India at the R.N. Hospital.
May 1st.—Solomon Levy, a converted Jew, had been baptised at St. Peter’s Church, F. Worship, Esq., standing “as witness to the Baptism.” Afterwards the Rev. Bowyer Vaux preached from Titus iii, 5.
May 4th.—The Rifle Volunteers had held a “Mess” at the Star Hotel, when Host Diver catered for them.
May 8th.—The following “Census” returns had been made for the parish:—
| Males. | Females. | Total. | Excess of Females. |
North Ward | 3620 | 4330 | 7950 | 710 |
Market Ward | 2211 | 2706 | 4917 | 485 |
Regent Ward | 1553 | 2382 | 3935 | 829 |
St. George’s Ward | 1777 | 2419 | 4196 | 632 |
Nelson Ward | 3873 | 4885 | 8758 | 1002 |
Total | 13,034 | 16,722 | 29,756 | 3658 |
Workhouse | 173 | 159 | 332 |
|
| 13,207 | 16,881 | 30,088 |
|
Estimate Gorleston & Southtown &afloat | 6,000 |
| ||
| 36,088 |
| ||
The Rifle Volunteers, 200 strong, had attended St. Nicholas’ Church. The leading fish-merchants proposed to purchase two fast steamers as carriers to the London markets.
May 11th.—Mr. Evans was sitting at the Town Hall to take evidence on the claims of the Ormesby and Scratby people to exemption from payment of Market Tolls at Yarmouth.
May 18th.—So few mackerel had been brought in, that they were selling at 1s. each.
May 22nd.—A very old house (formerly part of the Convent) had fallen down in Friars’ lane.
There had been two military rows between the Royal Artillery and the E.N. Militiamen.
May 25th.—The Mayor and Magistrates had met Major Martin (E.N.M.) and Colonel Bruce (R.A.) on this subject, and steps had been taken to prevent the men meeting again.
May 29th.—“Mace,” the local pugilist, (being known in the neighbourhood) was being heavily “backed” for the fight for the championship.
June 1st.—Sergeant Seeley (E.N.M.) had died from the effects of choking himself by swallowing a piece of meat.
A “handsome new schooner” had been launched by Mr. Brandford.
A “considerable number” of new fishing and pleasure boats were being built at the port.
Shops were being opened in Regent Street, under the Board of Health Act, which had overruled the old local act under which the houses there, were not to be so used.
June 8th.—The mackerel voyage had been very unsuccessful.
A “Turkish” bath was to be opened in a few week’s time.
June 15th—Mr. Frederick Danby-Palmer had passed the legal examination (in honors.)
A case of alleged “Witchcraft” at Gorleston had occupied the Bench.
June 19th.—At a meeting of the Ratepayers Mr. J. Clowes proposed, and Mr. Burroughs seconded, Mr. S. B. Cory as a proper person to fill the office of Vestry Clerk. Mr. Livingstone, Mr. Neave and Mr. Royal also took part in these proceedings.
June 22nd.—At the Vestry meeting, held for the election of that officer, Mr. George Danby-Palmer proposed and Mr. Livingstone seconded Mr. S. B. Cory, and Mr. Charles Cory proposed, and Mr. G. A. Clarke seconded, Mr. C. H. Chamberlin. The proceedings were of a most disorderly character, terminating “in a talk of many tongues, which accused each other of being ‘liars’ and so on.”
June 24th.—At 12 o’clock the poll stood—
Cory | 270 |
Chamberlin | 194 |
And closed— | |
Cory | 366 |
Chamberlin | 269 |
June 25th.—it closed— | |
Cory | 701 |
Chamberlin | 512 |
June 26th.—It finally closed— | |
Cory | 848 |
Chamberlin | 620 |
Majority for Cory | 228 |
Mr. Cory and Mr. George Danby-Palmer then addressed the electors, and votes of thanks to the Vicar (Rev. H. Nevill) and his assessor (Mr. C. J. Palmer) terminated the proceedings.
June 29th.—The election for, and meeting of, the “Eastern Counties Asylum of Idiots” had taken place at the Town Hall. The Mayor presided, and there were also present, Sir Thomas Beevor, Bart., Rev. T. Bailey, Rev. R. M. Bingley, Rev. Thos. Quintin, Rev. E. Postle, and Messrs. W. Worship, T. Brightwen, F. Palmer, John Crisp (Mayor of Beccles), J. H. Bly, &c.
July 3rd.—M. Desfongerais had been appointed Consul for the French Government at Yarmouth, and had appeared for a French vessel in an adjudication case, held before F. Worship and F. Palmer, Esqs.
July 10th.—Mr. S. B. Cory had commenced his duties of Vestry Clerk.
The mackerel fishing was a failure, and the Summer fishing “very slow.”
July 17th.—At the Water Frolic, the “Red Rover” won the cutter, and the “Vampire” the lateen, prize.
The Rev. H. Squire had, after a pastorate of 30 years, resigned the Unitarian Chapel Ministry.
July 20th.—Messrs. C. J. Palmer, C. C. Aldred. W. Johnson, C. Cory, and J. Brightwen had been appointed a Committee to carry on the proposal to found a Grammar School in the town.
A “furious tempest, including thunder, whirlwind, and lightning” had burst over the town.
July 31st.—Mr. Lane had claimed £300 damages for libel against the Free Press Newspaper Company, but under the advice of the Chief Justice, a Juror was withdrawn, each party paying their own costs.
Aug. 7th.—The Vestry Clerk and the Overseers could not “gee” together.
Aug. 10th.—At the Regatta, the “Queen Victoria” and “Volunteer” won the yawl matches, and the “Red Rover” and the “Belvidere,” the pleasure-boat matches. The yacht match fell through in consequence of only two vessels being prepared to sail in it.
Aug. 14th.—A number of noisy women outside the Police Court, on the hearing of the claims to be excused payment of the Poor’s Rate, had “mobbed” the Vestry Clerk and had in short “taken possession of the Court and its entrance.”
Aug. 17th.—The Rifle Volunteers were holding their Prize Shooting Match on the North Denes. Messrs. Wilshak, Ferrier, and Swann had won prizes.
A great shoal of dog-fish had visited the Eastern coast.
Mr. S. B. Cory had been presented with a sum of money to cover his expenses occasioned by the contest for the office of Vestry Clerk.
Aug. 24th.—The Mayor, Lord William Powlett, Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P., Lieut.-Colonel Baker (10th Hussars), Captain Lane, and C. J. Palmer, Esq., had been nominated Stewards of the Race Ball.
The old Dutch Clock on the South Quay was “to go.” It had been stated that the custom prevailed of winding it up “with a hammer.”
Aug. 28th.—Two ladies had been robbed of their watches on the Wellington Pier.
Sept. 7th.—The Volunteers were drilling for the review at Holkham.
The Race Ball had been attended by the Mayor, Lady and Miss Lacon, Mr. M. Lacon, Mr. Blake Humphrey, Mr. Blofeld, Captain and Mrs. Warren, Captain and Mrs. Dods, Lieut. Daveney, Captain Travers, Mr. Bedingfield, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Palmer, Captain Dunne, Mr. Magnay, Captain Jervois, Mr. Stracey, Captain Turnour, R.N., Captain Ensor, Miss Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. F. Frere, Mr. and Mrs. H. Frere, Mr. and Mrs. Falcke and party, Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Mr. F. Danby-Palmer, Mr. Button, Mr. Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Gosnall, Mr. Rising, Mr. Waters, &c.
The Drapers (with one exception) had agreed to close on Thursdays at four o’clock.
Sep. 18th.—The Volunteer Corps under the command of Major Marsh and Major Orde, had attended the Review at Holkham.
Sept. 18th.—The Volunteers had, after their return from Holkham, “annoyed and disturbed the inhabitants by an irregular firing of musketry” in the streets.
A young actor, having gone mad through love for a lady in the town, had been taken to the Workhouse, where the lady’s portrait and letters were found upon him.
Sept. 25th—Capt. Tomlinson had won the cup in the Volunteer Officers’ Shooting Match with 10 points, Captains Youell and Holt making 8 points each. The following also competed:—Captain Barber, Lieutenants Harmer and Moore, and Ensigns Brown and Aldred.
Sept. 28th.—The Rev. C. Voysey had been presented with a private Communion Service by the poor attendants at the Wherrymen’s Church upon his leaving Yarmouth.
A grand bowling match had been held on the Bear Green between the bowlers of Yarmouth and Lowestoft. The latter won by 9 to 6 games.
Oct. 2nd.—Mr. E. P. Youell was mentioned as the next Mayor. He was described as “not a prejudiced partizan on either side.”
Oct. 5th.—The Shooting Prizes had been distributed to the Rifle Volunteers at the Town Hall, when about 240 officers and members were present, and a number of ladies and gentlemen who had been invited by the Mayor, who entertained them with champagne on the occasion.
The following was the list of winners:—
“Tradesmen’s Cup,” Mr. Fyson; 2nd prize, Mr. Hudspith.
“A Neck Pin,” Captain Youell; “A Cup,” Mr. Wilshak; and other prizes Messrs. Gunton, Teasdel, Banham, Osborn, Kennett, and Swann.
“The Ladies’ Challenge Cup,” Mr. Fenner; and “The Officers’ Cup,” Captain Tomlinson.
Oct. 12th.—Extensive repairs were being carried on at the Southtown Barracks.
Oct. 23rd.—It was stated that Mr. Palmer was to be the new Mayor.
Mr. D. Hogarth (Postmaster) had died.
Oct. 26th.—The Lord Bishop had held a Confirmation in the Parish Church.
Eleven hundred persons had been excused from payment of the Poor’s Rate.
Oct. 30th.—Mr. Neave and Mr. Livingston (Radicals) were going to contest the North and Regent Wards respectively.
In St. Andrew’s Ward, a meeting of electors had determined to again nominate Mr. R. Steward (Tory) and Mr. W. T. Clarke (Liberal) in a “if ye’ll claw me, I’ll claw ye; style of pastime.”
An alarming fire had happened in Row 145, the centre of a thickly populated district; Mr. Self’s premises chiefly suffered, his damage being estimated at £300.
The Justices had signed a 1s. 2d. Poor’s Rate.
Nov. 2nd.—The trawling business was increasing, 100 smacks then hailing from the port.
Two new vessels had been launched at Southtown, one for Mr. Womack and one for Mr. Powell.
Mr. Todd had also built a new smack called the “Christiana.”
Nov. 6th.—Alarming and destructive gales had raged along the whole coast on the 1st of November, and 27 shipwrecked seamen had been received at the Sailors’ Home.
The following account is given of this:—“With the exception of two or three of the candidates who came forward as Liberals, the aspirants for Municipal honours did not this year favour the public with any printed expositions of their views, or any explanations of the grounds upon which they came forward. The elections of Friday, however did not cause much excitement, although at the eleventh hour the Conservatives found themselves opposed in all the wards except St. Andrew’s, in which Messrs. W. T. Clarke, and R. Steward were elected unopposed. In the Market Ward, Mr. Gourlay (L) and Mr. E. Aldred (C) sought re-election, and the new candidate was Mr. Lawn, Liberal. The result of the voting was—Gourlay, 60; Aldred, 59; Lawn, 20. The two former, of course, were elected. In the Regent Ward, Mr. Barber, Conservative, sought re-election, and in the place of Mr. Norman, surgeon (C), who retired, Dr. Stephenson (C) was put forward. The candidates on the other side were Messrs. Livingston and de Caux. The ward again showed its partiality for medicine, and polled as follows:—Barber, 109; Stephenson, 106; Livingston, 81; de Caux, 69.—In St. George’s Ward, the Conservative candidates, who sought re-election, were Messrs. R. Ferrier and B. Jay, opposed by Messrs. Scott and Palmer. The poll—Ferrier, 101; Jay 101; Palmer, 39; Scott, 37.—Nelson Ward: C. J. Palmer (C), 93, C. Woolverton (C), 93; G. Moore (L), 3; Playford (L), 3. North Ward: W. Worship (C), 118; J. B. Hylton (C), 118; S. W. Bly (L), 83; J. Neave (L), 84.—It was rumoured that during the day some bribery was effected by such moderate sums as half-a-crown and five shillings per man.
Nov. 13th.—At the Council meeting Mr. C. C. Aldred proposed, and Mr. Shingles seconded, Mr. Robert Steward as Mayor, and he was elected accordingly.
Nov. 20th.—There were between 200 and 300 fishing vessels at sea during the recent gales, of which only 30 luggers were then unaccounted for. About 100 lasts of fish had been delivered on the Quay on the previous Saturday, when prices ranged from £15 upwards.
A new Lifeboat had been stationed near the Britannia Pier.
Nov. 23rd.—Among the smacks which had been injured in the gale was Mr. Todd’s new vessel the “Christiana;” some of this owner’s other vessels had suffered damage, and his loss was estimated altogether at £1,000.
Nov. 27th.—Mr. Downing’s fish-offices had been destroyed by fire.
Nov. 30th.—In the Town Council, Messrs. Gooda, Burroughs, Clowes, S. B. Cory, and another had voted against the question of the Mayor being “decorated by the wearing of a gown;” 17 members had, however, voted that the question be referred to the Lands Committee.
The Artillery Volunteers had salved a boat and obtained £7 salvage money to the annoyance of the Beachmen
The Parish Authorities “remained at loggerheads” with the Vestry Clerk.
In the opinion of the inhabitants the “robes question” seemed only a plan to run up a bill for another “folly.”
The Police had been furnished with “Southwester” hats.
Dec. 4th.—It was stated that the robe business had cropped up, as the Mayor was going to Court, and it was felt
“That if, this year, the Mayor’s not knighted,
The Corporate ‘status’ will be blighted.”
Herring was making £35 per last, and 1,000 packages of trawl fish had been forwarded to the market.
Dec. 11th.—The Lands Committee had decided that the Mayor, Town-clerk, and Messrs. Collins, Ellis and Thompson (the officers) should wear gowns, but no head gear had been decided upon for them.
Dec. 14th.—“Deerfoot,” an American runner, had been performing in the town, when he accomplished 10 miles in 53 minutes.
The Treasurer to the Rifle Corps (Mr. Clarke) and the Quarter-Master (Mr. C. Diver) were about to be appointed Supernumerary Lieutenants.
Dec. 18th.—Owing to the death of the Prince Consort, the paper appeared in mourning.
The flags had been hoisted at half-mast on the Town Hall and other public buildings on receipt of this mournful news.
Dec. 21st.—The Artillery Volunteers had given an entertainment at the Theatre.
Dec. 25th.—There had been a Special Service at St. Nicholas’ Church on the occasion of the funeral of the Prince Consort, when the Vicar preached from the text, “And the King said unto his servants, know ye not that there is a Prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel.” Sam. iii., 38. At the close of the service the “Dead March” in Saul was played, and the Rifle Volunteers returned with muffled drums, the bells ringing at the same time.
The Artillery Corps fired minute guns from the South Battery for an hour, and from twelve to two the shops throughout the town were closed.
The Town Council met and voted an address of condolence to Her Majesty.
Dec. 28th.—A special service had also been held at the Synagogue, commencing with Psalms 13, 19, 15, and 85, and concluding with a prayer for the Queen and the Royal Family, after which, on the motion of Mr. Pyke, an address of condolence to the Queen and Royal Family was adopted.
The Rifle Corps had again on the invitation of Major Orde visited Hopton.