Births, Marriages and Deaths
To the inmates of the Hastings Union Workhouse were given the carcasses of two large and fat sheep, wherewith to celebrate the birth of the new year, 1849. On the following Thursday the Board of Guardians received a letter from the Poor Law Board calling attention to a former request for a return of vaccination cases; The Clerk explained that he had an account to send, but the number was very small as the parents refused to have the operation performed, And well they might, knowing, as they did, that vaccination was a delusion and a snare — knowing, in fact, that in their own experience, as well as in the experience of other persons, the filthy practice of planting disease in a pure body had only one result, that of engendering disease, sometimes ending in death. I often wish I could afford to republish in book form, for gratuitous distribution, all that I have written against this system of legalized ‘murder, together with exposures of the discreditably manipulated statistics by highly paid officials; but as this probably will never be done, it is some satisfaction to believe that not many more years will have run their course ere, at least, the compulsory inflic‘tion of the practice will be repealed. The then Boards of Guardians and Benches of Magistretes will be lost in wonderment why they so long listened to the voice of the charmer, and allowed themselves to be the instruments for administering a cruel and despotic law.
Apropos of Guardians and Magistrates, it occurs to me that of the former in 1849 were Messrs. T. and J. Arkcoll Kelland, Beck, Ross, Peerless, Milham, Putland Foster, Wood, Thwaites and Smith. Call them now, and not one would answer. The same may be said of the then Magistrates who, by-the-bye, were not quite so attentive to their unpaid duties as are most of the J.P.’s of the present day. During the week ending Feb. 17th a man was charged with having been drunk and abusive, but as no magistrate was present and none could be found after two hours’ search, the delinquent was dismissed. Also, on the 21st, two men, who appeared at court were discharged for the same reason. One of these was the half witted, but cunning itinerant Mike Hamilton, many of whose public vagaries, as witnessed by myself, could be amusingly described.
There was also a singular absence of Aldermen at the election of Borough officers on the 1st of Nov. Aldermen Scrivens and Burton were not sufficiently well in health, Aldermen Maw and Moore were out of town, Ald. Farncomb was disqualified, and Ald. Ticehurst engaged at the West-Ward election. Also, as a relative topic to that of the Guardians, it may be here noted that on the 8th of March there was numerous assemblage at the Lord Nelson inn, with Mr. W. Amoore in the chair. to present. Mr. Anthony Harvey with an elegant silver snuff-box, on which was engraved "To Mr. A. Harvey by the parishioners of All Saints, as a small acknowledgement of his many years valuable services as a Poor-Law Guardian." This presentation having been made by the male ratepayers, the exclusion of females was not to be endured, and so another testimonial was presented in the following month, which took the form of a gold ring, "for the efficient manner in which he had discharged the duties of Guardian on behalf of the parish of All Saints."
Mr. Harvey was also Superintendent Registrar of Births and Deaths, and his returns showed that in five years there had been 2,504 births and 1,595 deaths. Separately in the three districts there were 1028 births and 457 deaths in All Saints, 956 births and 653 deaths in the Castle district, and 670 births and 295 deaths in the Ore district. All Saints included St. Clement’s. The Castle district comprised in addition to its own parish, St. Andrew's, Holy Trinity, St. Michael’s, St. Mary Magdalen, St. Leonards and Bulverhithe. Ore included besides its own parish, those of Guestling, Fairlight and Pett.
Mr. Harvey's returns for the five years 1844-748 only dealt with the births and deaths, but a return for the quarter ending June 30th, 1849, showed that the marriages were 18, or 4½ below the average of the four preceding years, It was pointed out as being singular that during the winter quarter of 1846, when the marriage ratio was so remarkably high throughout England, in the Hastings district it was at its lowest ebb, the number being only 15 - less than half that of the corresponding quarter in the preceding year. The births (128) were a slight increase on those of the two preceding years, but five fewer than in 1846. The deaths (89) were 14 in excess of the June quarter, 1858, and 4 fewer than in 1847. Details such as these are always more or less dry reading, but they are nevertheless useful both for comparison and for estimating the conditions and requirements of health.
Among the births in 1849 were the sons of Wm. Banks, H. S. Lane, Esq., Joseph Frost. Edward Hayles, Thos. Cuthbert, Thos. Hubbard, Thos. Edwards, Rev. R. G. Bartram, Hy. Osborne, David Duke, Wm Barden, Wm Aylesbury, Thos Chester, T. Barnes, Samvel Phillips, Lawrence Yates, Thos. Fisher, and Geo. Burgess (twins). Also daughters of J. P. Muirhead, Esq., Wm, Hunt, Thos. Grant, John Phillips, Esq., Stephen Wenban,Peter Pagden, Wm. Carey, Edward Hayles, Esq. Edward Smith, John Heathfield, J. G. Jarvis, Esq., and Wm. Aylesbury.
Mr. Harvey’s returns did not include marriages, but the following were among those which, were solemnized in 1849 :—
John Lye to Mary Ann Day.
John Bevins to Martha Minter,
Charles Booth to Mary Foster.
Louisa Dunk to William Hutchings.
Matthew Lambert to Jane Stapley.
Robert Bourne to Charlotte Mitchell.
Frederick Richard Gausden to Mary Ann Payne.
Joseph Brown to Sarah Jane Winter.
Wm. Winter to Philadelphia Hunt.
Robert Henry Osborne to Maria Catt.
Frederick Winser to Mary Ann Noakes.
George Wright to Hannah Osborne.
George Mann to Naomi Clark.
George Carley to Sarah Aldridge.
John Huggett to Mary Ann Head.
Samuel Tichban to Caroline Ann Kent.
Thomas Leppard to Matilda Butcher.
George Williams to Esther Coussens.
Henry Russel] to Mury Leppard.
James Binns to Mary Ann Taylor.
George Christian to Mary Cornelius.
Charles Kenward to Sarah Pont.
Frederick Avery to Susannah Miles.
Thomas Aspinall to Mary Ann Miller.
James Foster to Mary Ann Swaine.
Although not among the Hastings marriages, there were two which took place in the same year at the Rye Wesleyan Chapel, and are here recorded for their singularity. Mr. Samuel Smith, of Peasmarsh, was there married to Miss Harriet Huggett, of the same place, he being 68 years of age, and she — who was his fifth wife - being 60. Also at the same time, Richard Wynn, of Winchelsea, aged 56, was married to Mrs. Selden, of the same place. aged 60. The united ages of the four persons amounted to 234 years. The Rev. Mr, Keyworth was the officiating minister. Who would be the minister to perform the baptisms? This, however, by the way! Now for some of the Hastings and St. Leonards deaths which occurred in 1849. These were:
Thomas Turner, schoolmaster.
Mies Jane Jones (while at Kingston), aged 72.
Frank Fraiser, Esq.
Mary, wife of George Ransom, 42.
Miss Maria Reid, of Reading. 65.
William Heath, fly propriesor, 54.
Dr. Burton, son of the St. Leonards founder.
Matthew Kelland, retired draper, 58
Harriet, wife of Thomas Body, of Beckley, 29.
Henry Metcalfe, Esq., 58.
Emma, daughter of John Ellis, 27.
William Cash, Esq., of Peckham Rye, 57.
Charles Watson, Master of the William Pitt sloop.
Richard Byham, Esq.
Elizabeth, wife of Commander Ellsmere.
George Bray, 84.
Wilham Hutchings, 5!.
Emma Frances, wife of J. M. Heathcote, Esq.
Elizabeth Mann, wife of Rev. John Sheal, 48.
James Tutt, late of Mount Pleasant Farm, 72.
Hannah Beck, grandmother of the present nonagenarian Wm Beck, 98.
John Dudley, Esq., 55.
Mary Elizabeth, daughter of John Geo. Edwards, 23.
Mary Ann, widow of George Hyland, 46.
Thomas Norman, 32
Charles Thompson, Esq., 75
Ann Frances, wife of Thomas Hilder.
John Dobell, Esq., late of Her Majesty’s Household.
Dr. Robert Bally, of Fairlight, 87.
Lucy Eliza, widow of George Mackay, Esq.
Mary, widow of John Nicholls, 76.
Charlotte, daughter of late John Russell, Esq., 57.
Mary, wife of Thomas Rose, 34.
Eliza, daughter of Charles Hall, 17.
Edward Paul, mariner, 71.
Thomas Lawson, Esq , 39.
Henry Thomas Everett, 23.
Sir James Urmston, 67.
John Morris, Esq.. 51
William White. late schoolmaster, 59.
Judith Beale, 90.
Joseph Ranger, surgeon, 61.
Mercy White, 56.
Martha Pearson. 62.
Charles Roffe, Esq , 66.
Susannah Bumstead, 83,
Eliza Perry, 88.
Bridget Bumsted, 66.
Mary Ann Stace, 41.
John Howell, of Ore, 76.
Frances Gallop, 63
Edward Hennab, lieutenant, 48.
Judith Wood, 77.
Mary Ann Thwaites, 52
William Reade, 72.
Ann Hide. 90.
Ann Crouch Reeves, 72.
Adam Carley, 86.
Mary White. 50.
Ann Page, 81. - "Queen of All Saints"
Mory Ann Offen, 34.
Sarah Boyes. 51.
In the partial list of deaths in 1849 as already given, it will have been seen that there were septuagenarians, octogenarians and nonagenarians; and among the following which completes the list, there is a similar show of ripe ages; thus proving that Hastings was favourable to long life even when the sanitary arrangements were very inferior to what they are at the time of writing. The septuagenarians consisted of one each at 70 and 71, six at 72, one each at 73.and 74, two each at 76 and 76, and three at 77. The octogenarians were one at8l, two at 83, one at 84, one at 86. and two each at 87 and 88, The nonagenarians were two at 90, one at 96, and one at 98. The following names complete the list of deaths in that year.
John Cramp Rutledge. 40
Hugh Penfold, ironmonger
Mary Ann Jenner, 44
Henry Stace (by accident)
Thomas Fautley Bosom (by suicide), 55
James Cooper (by accident)
Thomas Williams. 28
Mary Thwaites, 77
Elizabeth Ellis, 67
Elizabeth Dulake, 38
Ruth Martin, 43
Eliza Ridley, 70
Mary Whistler, 73
Mrs. Mackay, 86
Ann, wife of William Gill, 96
William Ellis, 77
Mark White, 59
William Morfee, 38
William Jennys, 46
Hannah Hemmings, 83
Martha Christmas, 35
Stephen Bradley. 38
George Taught. 67
George Duke, Esq., barrister and J.P.
Jane Sutton, 48
Mrs. Anne Bartlett, 39
Mary Hull, 72
Mary Mercy Glandfield, widow
Sarah Pocock, 74
David Brazier. 36, suddenly
Susannah Johnson, 41
Mary Iggulden
Henry Lovell, 40
John Reed, 88
Mary Ann Coleman, 62
William Hutchings, 51
Charles Coleman, 22
Charlotte Kussell, 67
Stephen Bradley, 38, (by accident )
The Joseph Ranger included in the above list had been a surgeon at Hastings 23 years, and had practised previously at Portsmouth and at Cranbrook. My own personal experience and that of a relative were such as to give us a not very high estimate of his medical abilities. My relative being ill and for a considerable time under the care of Mr. Ranger, was at length advised to prepare for death. Another surgeon (Mr, Miller, then at Paragon Buildings), was sent for and who cured him in a fortnight, so that he lived after that for 36 years.
My own case was that of general debility from the severe epidemic of influenza which set in after the unparalleled fall of snow in 1836. I was pronounced to be suffering from incipient consumption. I have to be thankful that Mr. Ranger's diagnosis has not prevented my living since then an exceptionally active life of 58 years. The art or the science of medicine has many phases, and the two cases here alluded to supply us with one example. Before his death, Mr. Ranger had been nearly a year out of health, but the cause of his death was said to be a fit of serious apoplexy. His remains were followed to the grave by as many of the local medical practitioners as could possibly attend.
Another of the enumerated deaths was that of Stephen Bradley, a butcher, whose employment was mostly that of selling meat to people at their own homes. In the month of January, whilst cutting up a pig at what was then 11 Norman-road West, poor Bradley let the knife slip into his thigh which severed an artery, and death resulted from loss of blood in about ten minutes, notwithstanding that surgeons Ticehurst and Cumming arrived almost within the time. I was on the jury at the inquest, and well remember Mr. Ticehurst showing how the flow of blood might have been stopped or checked until the arrival of a surgeon, and the advice he gave to always cut from you, instead of to you.
The death of Mr. George Duke occurred on the 24th of January, at his residence, Cliff Cottages (afterwards Lossenham Villas, and now Eversfield place). He was a barrister and magistrate, a son of the late William Duke, surgeon, and the author of a few literary productions.
The Lieut. Hennah included in the above list, expired at Government House, after a protracted illness, leaving a widow and six children, one of whom afterwards was the late Alderman Capt. Hennah. The funeral took place on the 15th of March, at All Saints, with military honours, his infant child, who also died, being placed in the same coffin. A body of mounted guard headed the procession, followed by a band playing the Dead March. The coffin was covered by the union jack, and surmounted with the uniform of the deceased. Drummers with the drums covered with crape followed next, and after them was a large body of coastguards and officers from different stations. Shops in George street and High street were partly closed, and the throng on the route to the church was immense, whilst the number of persons in the burial ground and on the adjacent hill was estimated to exceed two thousand. Three volleys were fired over the grave.
Judith Wood, who also died in 1849, was the mother of William Wood, an active and respected publican, She died suddenly from an apoplectic fit, on the 19th of March.
The death of Charles Coleman, mentioned in the foregoing list, necessitated an inquest, which being held by Mr. J. G Shorter, resulted in a verdict of "Natural Death." He was 22 years of age, and had only recently completed his apprenticeship to Standen and Forrest, tailors, of High street. He had drunk a glass of brandy and water and smoked a pipe of tobacco at the Tiger Inn, and as he was going from the house he fell in an epileptic fit, and died within two hours.
Another sudden and regretted death was that of Mary Mercy widow of John Glandfield, coachman, undertaker, house-agent. &c., of George street. She suffered from a diseased heart, aggravated by poor living, and much family trouble. The more immediate cause of death was the sight of her son, of weak intellect, brought home drunk, which threw her into a fit at the shop door, from which she never rallied. The sudden death of Mercy White also necessitated the holding of an inquest. She was 56 years of age, and after walking on Sunday, the 13th of May, to Hollington and back, she sank down and died. The inquest was held at the Carpenters’ Arms at the Priory. and the verdict was "Died by the Visitation of God".
An inquest was held also on the body of a child of 16 months, named Elizabeth Deeprose, who was killed in Stonefield road, by a cart laden with stone going over its head, the said cart with a horse attached, being 1n charge of a youthful carter named Shoesmith, who was several yards in front of the horse, and was thus in a position not to see the accident. Exactly such a fatality occurred to the youngest brother of mine. in 1832, but instead of a youth, the carter, named Veniss was a middle-aged man, and was walking at the least 20 yards in front of his horse. Those who are guilty of such reprehensible practice ought to be amenable to something more than the mere censure of caution.
The Mr. Hugh Penfold, whose death is included in the foregoing list, was a member of the Town Council. As an ironmonger in George street, he succeeded Messrs. Rickman and Godlee, who were successors to Messrs. Thomas and John Mannington. His remains were interred at St. Clement's, whither they were followed by the workmen of the establishment and about 90 other persons, including members of the Corporation. The shops were partially closed and a large crowd of people witnessed the funeral, which took place on the 23rd of June. A few days after the burial of Mr Penfold his place on the Council board was filled by Mr. C. J. Jeudwine, a grocer, his election being secured with 124 votes as against 38 only for his rival, Mr. John Coussens.
