1884.
Jan. 8th. J. T. Waters, Esq., elected Borough Coroner in place of C. Diver, Esq., resigned.
Jan. 15th. St. Andrew’s Hall, Gorleston, sold, including fittings and dwelling-house adjoining, for £430.
Jan. 23rd. Heavy gale; and another on 26th, accompanied with a heavy thunderstorm.
Jan. 26th. At midnight Mr. E. Bostock’s draper’s shop, King Street, burnt down, and stock-in-trade completely demolished; the Rose Tavern adjoining (occupied by Mr. W. Overed) was also partly destroyed by fire; at the same time part of Mr. Watts’ dyeing premises in Middlegate Street were in flames.
Jan. Mr. Keymer, organist of Gorleston Church, presented with a handsome five-o’clock tea service by the choir.
The past winter, and during several previous, were among the mildest on record, snow and frost being scarcely seen.
Feb. 4th. School Board Election.
Feb. 15th. Boiler explosion at Mr. Nall’s steam printing works, Row 63. Messrs. George Emmerson and John Hughes were severely scalded, and much damage was done to the building and machinery.
Feb. 16th. Fire at Mr. G. Archard’s, King Street.
March. The Rev. A. J. Spencer, M.A., prior to leaving the ministry at St. John’s Church for Hickley. Leicestershire, was presented with several costly presents by his congregation, church helpers, &c.
March. A clerical impostor, named John Lindsay, scripture reader connected with St. Peter’s Church, brought to bay, and subsequently imprisoned for solemnizing matrimony without a license.
March. Mr. C. W. Moss, F.C.O., appointed organist of St. Peter’s Church.
April 1st. Mr. Wm. Albrow, 14 years hon. sec. of the Market Ward Conservative Association, presented with a handsome ormolu clock under glass shade, by the members.
April 2nd. A young cow visited the shop of Mr. Baird, Regent Street, but being no judge of leather left without giving an order. Prior to this, Mr. F. Norris’ shop was visited by some sheep.
April 6th. Fire at the Belvedere Tavern, Caister Road.
April 7th. C. S. Orde, D. Tomkins, and F. Arnold, Esqs., sworn in as Borough Magistrates before the Recorder.
April 17th. Fire at Mr. W. Wilkins’ net chamber and residence, Southtown.
April 22nd. Destructive earthquake in East Anglia, but the shock was only slightly felt at Yarmouth, and no damage done.
May 15th. Quarter-Master Cooke, 1st N.A.V., presented with a silver tankard and a four-o’clock tea service, by the past and present officers of the corps and other friends, on his retirement; also an illuminated address.
May 15th. Wm. Smith attempted to murder his wife at Gorleston, and sentenced to 7 years’ imprisonment on July 25th.
May 21st to 23rd. An Ohio Englyshe Fayre at the Town Hall.
May 28th. The south transept of the Parish Church opened after restoration. (See Dec. 3rd.)
June 11th. The will of the late Mr. W. N. Burroughs proved, his personal estate amounting to over £11,000. (See Dec., 1883.)
June 28th. Chas. Cory Aldred, Esq., Deputy-Mayor, and five times Chief Magistrate of the Borough, died. He was born March 21st, 1811, and for 40 years was a very prominent member of society. To perpetuate his memory, his portrait, in robes, painted by Mr. J. B. Burgess, A.R.A., of Finchley Road, St. John’s Wood, and subscribed for by the town, is to be hung in the Town Hall.
June. The Guardians issued bills in all the Wards with the names of defaulting ratepayers upon them, which led to much ridicule, and a public indignation meeting was called on June 25th.
July 5th. Fire at Mr. Sharman’s, Regent Street.
Launches: Jan. 7th, the trawler “Ethel May;” Jan. 29th, smack “Sir Francis Burdett.”
Marriages: March 19th, Mr. W. Richardson, M.B., C.M., to Miss Helen S. Blake.—April 16th, Mr. R. P. Chamberlin, of Wroxham, to Miss Clara M. Wiltshire.
Deaths: Jan. 3rd, John Clarke, Esq., J.P., at Felbrigg; Jan. 9th, Quarter-Master Stembridge, P.W.O. Royal Artillery, aged 47; Jan. 3rd, Mr. Geo. M. Pulford, aged 80; Feb. 15th, Mr. H. H. Gambling, aged 60; Feb. 22nd, Mr. F. W. Rolfe, organist of St. Peter’s Church, aged 43; April 12th, W. N. Burroughs, Esq., aged 85; April 14th, Emma, widow of the late Robert Boyce Crisp, aged 68; April 16th, Arthur Palmer, Esq., J.P., aged 63; April 26th, J. S. Clowes, Esq., T.C., aged 35.
August. The following is a list of persons who died in this Borough of 90 years and upwards:—1793, Matthew Champion, aged 111; 1854, Eleanor Warren, 102; 1855, Thomas Burgess, 94; 1860, Ann Mann, 96; 1861, Thornton Fisher, 91; 1865, Susannah Clark, 97; 1866, Edmund Clarke 95; 1868, Sarah Crockett, 99; 1869, John T. Buston, 90; 1870, John Meffin, 93; 1873, James Mitchell 99, Mary Ablitt, 95, Susan Baldwin 90, Rebecca Willemite, 90; 1874, Ann Kippon, 97; 1875, Catherine Pullyn 90; Mary Thomas 93, Mary Hall, 91; 1876, Sophia Ranall 90, Mary Ann Blyth, 90; 1877, John Smith 90, Barker Crisp 94, Elizabeth Bristow 91, Martha Bryanton, 91; 1878, Mrs. George Danby Palmer 91, Wm. Plummer 96, Sarah Kelf 92, John Van Hutton 102, Hannah Fountain 91, Susannah Newman 91, Ann Pidgeon 94, Sarah Porter, 94; 1879, Sarah Haw 91, Jane Haw 93, April 6th, Ann Parker 95; Elizabeth Fenn, 90, Elizabeth Farrow 92, Mary Francis 93, Elizabeth Warren 104 and 8 months; 1880, Margaret Henry, 96; 1881, Samuel Yarham 94, M. A. Crickmay 90, Ralph Newby, 93; 1882, Sarah Parker 91, John Mooring 102, Susannah Dye, 94; 1883, Elizabeth Wright 94, Wm. Tyrrell 92, Mary Hogg 91, Maria Manship 96, Lydia Bulley 90, Mary Errington, 92; 1884, Feb. 9th, James Kemp 90, Elizabeth Roberts 97, Sarah Gates 91, Elizabeth James 90, and Wm. Wood 91.