relict of Humphrey Gillbe, Esq. These good people were referred to in the Reminiscences of Hastings as having been long residents at what is now 9 Cobourg Place.
Turnpike Trust Misappropriation
A few days before the death of the last-named lady, the demise of Elizabeth, the wife of William Lucas Shadwell took place. In connection with the name of Shadwell much local history might be written, but for the present I will merely say that Mrs. Shadwell was 82 years of age, and her remains were followed to Fairlight church on the 15th of October by many sorrowing relations and friends. Exceeding the age of Mrs. Shadwell by four years was that of Mr. Hannay, a well-known schoolmaster and Jurat of Hastings, who at one time received the endowments both of Parker’s and Saunders’s Charities (which ought to have been kept separate) and under whose guidance an elementary education was received by many persons of the old town; a few of whom are still living in 1882. Mr. Hannay was of a quiet, respectable deportment, and was generally esteemed by those with whom he had intercourse, and especially by those who, like himself, belonged to what is sometimes designated the Old School of Politics. He died in the 89th year[a] of his age on the 3rd of June, and was interred in ground at All Saints’. On the 23rd of November was buried at St. Leonards, and followed to the grave by a number of workmen and others, the dead body of Samuel Homan, nephew of Benjamin Homan, one of the first contractors for the building of St. Leonards. The deceased was not quite 24 years of age, and although his death was sudden, a coroner's inquiry showed that it was by no unnatural cause. Another sudden death took place on the 28th of November, but of a still more painful character. It was that of Richard Symes, a coastguard, who shot himself on the beach, and, as was alleged,from remorse or some other feeling through having quarreled with his wife. He left a widow and eight children. On the same day a woman named Mary Ann Back fell over a fence belonging to Mrs. Milward in a field adjoining the Rev. G. G. Stonestreet's house at Halton, and was killed. Thus, no fewer than three inquests were held by Mr. J. G. Shorter, the Borough Coroner, within five days. The other deaths in Hastings and its neighbourhood during the year 1842, together with the ages and place of burial, so far as have come to my knowledge, are as follows:—
Britt, James, 80, about May 31, Bexhill.
Chatfield, Hannah, 89, April 18 or 19, Bexhill.
Cochrane, Jeremiah, 78, late of Regent’s Park, All Saints.
Glaisher, Mary, 69, wife of Samuel, Jan, 24, All Saints,
Hall, Elizabeth 42, wife of John, of Lincolnshire, April 12, St. Leonards.
Harrison, Henry John, 33, son of Richard, Esq., Feb, 20, St. Mary’s,
Harvey, Jane Elizabeth, 30, wife of G. D., Esq., May 24, St. Mary’s.
Homan, Elizabeth, wife of James, 32, May 1, St. Mary’s.
How, Ellen, 51, wife of Thomas, April 12, St. Leonards.
Hughes, Edmund, Esq., barrister, 42, Nov. 18, St. Mary’s,
Johnson, Jane, 49, wife of George, Esq., Nov. 8, All Saints.
Joyce, Evans, wife of Rev. John, April 18, St, Mary’s.
Kite, Ann Alpine, 25, daughter of Robt., Esq., St.Mary’s.
Lingham, Joseph, 78, April 8 or 9, Bexhill,
Longley, Mary, 72, widow of John, Aug. 3, All Saints,
Lennard, Mary, 88, July 17 or 18. Bexhill.
Mason, Eliza, 32, daughter of William, April 13, Croft Chapel.
Maplesden, Ann, 86, wife of Thomas, January 25 or 26, Bexhill.
Picknell, Richard Shepherd, 23, mariner, Aug. 19, Fairlight.
Reeves, Henry, 84, August 14 or 15, Bexhill.
Robinson, George, 18, son of George, December 5, St. Clement's,
Ross, Mary Ann, 44, August 5, St, Mary’s,
Sherwood, Elizabeth, 31, wife of William, Feb, 1, St. Mary’s.
Smith, Jane, 61, wife of Joseph, June 11 or 12, Bexhill,
Wallis, William Blyvers, Esq., 76, Feb. 17, All Saints.
Wimble, Nicholson Harrison, 63, of Lower Croft, Dec, 20. All Saints.
Wimbourne, Thomas, 78, May 22 or 23, Bexhill.
At this time the borough was so shut in by turnpike gates that visitors and residents complained alike of the expense and delays occasioned thereby. The insolvent position of the Flimwell and Hastings Trust (between those places by way of the old London Road), the mismanagement of the Hastings and Holing(sic)[1] Trust (the shorter road was to join the Flimwell route at Beauport) and the new St. Leonards and Sedlescome road (to Staplehurst via Cripps Corner Hawkhurst and Cranbrook) had so many gates that there was no means of travelling to and from the new towns without the said expense and annoyance. Yet was it proposed by the Hastings and Hollington trust to erect another gate at the Tivoli, thus aggravating the evil already complained of.
When the Act was obtained for that piece of road it was expressly stated that a gate should not be erected there, and on the faith of such promise, it was believed that some of the people at Hastings subscribed their money, they rightly considering that to be envisioned with numerous and expensive turnpike gates was extremely detrimental to a watering place. But as respects the Hastings and Hollington Trust, the following summarised report of a meeting held at Battle on the 4th of April will indicate what, in such terms, may be called its difficulties by mismanagement. Mr. Paine of Hastings, as reporter to the Brighton Guardian, having understood that it was the intention of the chairman (Rev. Mr. Munn) to propose the non-admission of the press, waited till that gentleman arrived and then followed him in. The said expulsion was quickly moved by the chairman and seconded by Mr. Watts, the explanation being that there was a running comment on the previous meeting. Much conversations ensued, in which several gentlemen expressed their desire for an open court. Mr. Paine sad he was willing to leave the room if desired by the meeting, but he could not, if allowed to remain, be bound to that which the chairman had pointed out. It had always been his rule, as far as possible, to discharge his duty faithfully to his employer and the public, and he would suggest that he be allowed to continue that course. A general consent was given and the business proceeded. The clerk (Mr. Ellman) read in an imperfect manner, a form of agreement of settlement of the outlay of £3,000 which he had borrowed, and which, if ratified would lead to the abandonment of a Chancery suit. Mr. Ticehust said he would agree to it, because the terms were the same as he offered to Mr. Ellman a year ago, only that another £100 must be added to the expenses for law proceedings. Being asked if he would give up possession of the gates, Mr. Ticehurst replied that he would concur in an arrangement for letting the tolls, but he could not give up his legal possession of the gates. He would keep them on for a few years, if only to show to the trustees that the road could be kept in repair for £100 a year instead of four or five hundred.
Turnpike Trust Misappropriation, &c.
His account from November to March showed receipts £118 18s. 3d. and expenses £46 1s. 8d. including £27 law expenses in seizing the gates leaving a balance of £79 16s. 7d. in hand. As to the £500 said by the clerk to have been paid to Tester, he (Mr. Ticehurst) repeated his former denial. If a man had £900 due to him for five years on which interested had accumulated, how could it be said he had been paid. He admitted that some money had been paid to Tester, but it was only for work -
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- ↑ Brett probably meant to write Hollington Here - Transcriber
