1723. Two new galleries erected in St. Margaret’s church, on the sides of the organ loft; with projections for two particular families.—This year (or during the mayoralty of William Allen, which commenced at Michaelmas,) Thomas German (says one MS.) was hanged here for burglary, on the gallows out of the South Gates—Cooper’s MS. calls him Jarmey, in a memorandum which reads thus—“1723: A night watch set up for all the year, and the king’s watch dropt here, being one Jarmey, who broke into several houses, and was hanged for the same out of the South Gates.”—The same MS. referring to the same year, has this passage—“A great fleet of ships lost on Christmas day; Mr. Vinkerson’s ship right against West Lynn church, laden with coals.”—Dr. Browne this year gave great offence to the Hall and especially the mayor—of which see p. [900].
1724. The chapel chimes, which formerly played but one tune, were this year altered, and made to play several tunes.
1725. Ever since 1682 it was customary for each alderman upon his election to give 10l. and each common-council-man 6l. 13s. 6d. towards the Workhouse: but this year Mr. Thomas Allen, being chosen alderman, refused to comply with this custom, and thereby occasioned the cessation of those laudable donations. (Cooper’s MS.)—From the book of Extracts it seems it was in 1726 Mr. T. A. became an alderman.—The harbour now in a most wretched state, see p. [901].—And this year 1725 (if we are not mistaken, for the last figure is not very plain) Cooper’s MS. mentions a great tide, which happened on the 8th. of March, and came into a Warehouse in Puddin Lane, where was a quantity of unslaked lime, which being wetted became so hot as to set some deals that lay there on fire, so as to endanger the firing of the town. He seems indeed to say that it was a piece of iron heated by the quick lime which set the deals on fire.
1726. Henry Southwell, a freeman, charged by the corporation (unjustly it seems) with having violated his oath of freedom, and threatened with disfranchisement.
1727. The mayor, Mr. Thomas Allen issued an order to the barbers, to prohibit them to shave on Sundays—of which see p. [910].—February 3rd. this year the above Henry Southwell was disfranchised.
1728. The decree of disfranchisement against Mr. Southwell was rescinded On the 29th. of April this year; of which see further at p. [902], and 3.—Of this year’s mayor, Goodwin, and his successor Taylor, see pages [910] and 11.
1730. April 6. Our corporation made a remonstrance to the corporation of the Bedford Level against repairing Denver Sluice: which was probably very right.
1731. Great complaints of the decrease of trade &c. here this year. But among the occurrences of this period the most deplorable and shocking was the murder of Ann Wright, a publican, by one George Smith, who had been let into the house in the dead of the night by the servant, Mary Taylor, for which she was burnt at a stake in the Tuesday market-place, and the man was hanged on a gallows, 17 yards distant, on Thursday the 1st. of April, see p. [912] and [914].
1738. Law-suit between the corporation and alderman Thomas Allen, who was charged with attempting to evade the customary payment of 1d. per quarter for corn sold by him to unfreemen. See p. [918].
1741. On the 9th of September a violent hurricane which blew down the spires of St. Margaret’s and St. Nicholas’s and did immense damage all about the country.—St. Margaret’s spire falling on the body of the church demolished a great part of it—the rebuilding began in 1742, and was completed in 1747.—see pp. [919], 20, 21.