Mr. John Smith's death took place at 35 High street on the 7th of May, 1857, at the age of 72 years. He had been in earlier life a painter, plumber and glazier, his business premises being mainly in George street. In 1839, he built a house in Norman Road then known as No. 18 (now 71) and next above one that was built at the same time as Mr. Burgess, of which I was the first occupant. Mr. Smith, like Mr. Burgess, was a Wesleyan, but was unfortunate in his business after many years of honest labour. He then resided with his two daughters, who conducted a stationery and newspaper business in High street, and whilst assisting them in the business, was in the habit of coming every week to the present writer in Norman Road for a supply of newspapers and periodicals. He was a very worthy man, and was generally regarded as one of the oldest and most respected tradesmen in the town.
Major Close, of 32 Wellington square died on the 26th of January, at the age of 77 years. He was a retired major of the Royal Artillery, and his remains were interred at All Saints, Hastings. Maria, the widow of the same Major John Margerum Close, died seven years later - namely, May 11th, 1864, at the age of 81, and was buried at Halton. Their second son, the Rev. Robert W. Close, Incumbent of Woodhouse, Leicestershire, died on Dev. 18th 1852, aged 42 years. The mother of the Major, widow of the Rev. Henry Jackson Close, also died at Wellington square, the date being Dec. 9th, 1843, and her age 89. It was a good family to the Hastings people; and the Misses Close continued to occupy the residence, 32 Wellington square, till sometime in the 'seventies, after which my records fail to supply me with particulars; but I opine that one of them - Miss Hannah Close - died at White rock place on July 1st, 1889, at the age of 67, and was buried in the cemetery.
Some other deaths in Wellington square during 1857 were
Lennox, Dunbar Rothes, late Captain of 42nd Highlanders, 2nd son of Late John, Esq., H.E.I.C Civil Service Feb 1st, aged 22.
Starkey, William, Aug 3rd, aged 49
Rudibent[a], Eliza, wife of Charles, Esq., Oct 12th, aged 29
Jones, Miss Letia, Nov 24th, aged 67
Hastings people who died away Bartlett, Mrs Emma, wife of Daniel and daughter of Mr. W. Ginner, of Hastings, at Maidstone
Belsey, John Hadden, at Flushing, Nov 18th 1857, aged 54 years.
Fowler, Frederick, grocer, at Crouchfield, Hemel Hempstead, April 14th, 1857, aged 26
Cossum, Richard, of an old Hastings family, at Cleveland, New York, May 9, aged 37.
Coussens, Elizabeth Stone, wife of Thomas at London, August, 27th, 1857, aged 43
Lingham, Thomas, at Milwaukee, U.S. drowned while crossing a river Sep. 9th aged 33
Cite error: <ref> tags exist for a group named "Notes", but no corresponding <references group="Notes"/> tag was found
