ILFRACOMBE And District 1824-1830

From the NORTH DEVON JOURNAL

Set out below are some extracts from the North Devon Journal, copies of which are held in Barnstaple Museum. A complete digital record is available at Ilfracombe Museum.

CHITTLEHAMPTON. An Inquest was held on Saturday last, by Thomas Copner, Esq., Coroner, at Chittlehampton, on the body of Mr W.Shapland, of Swimbridge, aged upwards of 66 years, whose death was occasioned by a fistic contest with R. Milford, by whom he was struck to the ground, which occasioned a concussion on  the brain:--Verdict. Manslaughter. This adds one to the  numerous proofs of the demoralizing influence of those annual revels so common to almost every parish in the county. Mr Shapland, a very respectable farmer, was induced to go to the revel in the adjoining parish of Chittlehampton, and whilst sitting in a Public House, the above named Milford came in, between whom a dispute arose, which terminated in the aforesaid fatal manner:--We hear Milford has decamped.

21st January 1825 - EXETER. A boy in the employ of Cap. Pearce, of the Good Intent, Exeter Trader, while in the act of sculling a boat up the river, fell overboard, the oar slipping from his hand. Fortunately, Mr. Roberts, one of the officers of the Custom-house, saw the circumstance, and with that humane impulse which does honour to his feelings, rescued him from a watery grave. He had sunk twice, and would soon have gone to rise no more.

28^th January 1825 -  The boy which we stated in our last to have been nearly drowned by falling over the side of a boat, while sculling in the river Exe, and who was saved by the exertions of Mr. Roberts, of our Custom-house, has as last met a watery grave. The vessel left, on Monday morning, in order to proceed on her voyage. When arrived at the Lower Lock, the crew crossed over to Topsham, leaving her in charge of this boy, who going into the main chains on a necessary occasion, fell overboard, and before assistance could be rendered, sunk to rise no more.

13th March 1828 ILFRACOMBE.—A boy of the name of Richard Geen, about 14 years old, was last week committed to the County Jail by N.V. Lee, Esq., charged with stealing three silver watches, from the Shop window of Mr. Organ, watch maker of this town. After having got the watches in his possession he carried them about his person for several days, till a foreign ship being about to sail, he went on board, and sold them to the crew for 16s. 6s., and 5s.: the real value being about £4. The ship being prevented by a change of wind from proceeding on her voyage, the circumstances came to light, and the watches being identified by Mr Organ, the young miscreant when apprehended acknowledged the fact, and asserts that he had no accomplice.

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19th June 1828 ILFRACOMBE,- On Saturday morning last, as a poor woman of the name of Windsor, of Ozaborough, Morthoe, was returning from a neighbouring farm, she saw a large adder approaching her, and not at all alarmed at the appearance of the reptile, she stooped to take up a stone to throw at it ; at that moment it made a sudden leap at her, and severely stung her hand, which became almost immediately swollen and painful, to such a degree, as induced her to make  the best of her way to Ilfracombe for relief, where she arrived  three hours after the accident, labouring under every symptom that indicated almost immediate dissolution ; the arm, part of the trunk, with the throat and tongue very much swollen, distressing vomiting, excruciating  pain in the bowels, with cold sweats, and stupor. Every remedial measure was resorted to by Mr. Jones, surgeon, to whose house she was taken, and who availed himself of the assistance of Mr. Foot, and although little or no hopes at the poor creature’s recovery were entertained for some considerable time, yet we rejoice to hear, she is now considered by her medical attendants to be out of danger.

26th June 1828 ILFRACOMBE.- The poor woman who was bitten by an adder, whose case we stated last week, has returned to her usual domestic employment.

21st August 1828 - The fine new Brig, the Duchess of Clarence, Cap. G. Fishley, which sailed a short time since on her first voyage, is just arrived at Liverpool, from Savannah, with the loss of five of her hands, four of whom died on their passage  home, their names are Thomas Bowden, Thomas Wade, and Geo. Norman, of this place, John Hancock, of Combmartin, and—Dendle of Morthoe : the Cap. and the remainder of the crew, with the exception of three or four, have been very ill the greater part of the passage, and it was with great difficulty they could (from the limited number of hands who escaped the sickness) work home the vessel.

13th November 1828 - Thomas Downing, of Newton Tracey, yeoman, appeared to answer the complaint of the Churchwardens and Overseers of that parish, for misusing Eleanor Mitchell, his parish apprentice, and to shew cause why she should not therefore be discharged from her apprenticeship. The Magistrates (after listening to a recital of circumstances too disgusting to detail) expressed themselves in strong terms of disapprobation with regard to Downing’s conduct, and ordered  the apprentice to be discharged immediately. Downing paying the sum of £7 11s. to the parochial authorities in consideration thereof.

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1st January 1929 - We noticed in our last week’s Journal, a report of the services rendered by the cruising skiffs of this harbour, to vessels driven into the Bristol Channel in thick and tempestuous weather ; we wish that the part of that statement which advanced  that the men received £160 and £140 for the services rendered to the Russian squadron was correct ; but, in this instance, these serviceable men were scarcely paid enough to defray their expences from, and detention at, Bristol. A frigate and two brigs, part of a Russian squadron bound up the Mediterranean, was driven into this Channel in the most stormy and tempestuous weather ; and the situation on those ships was most dangerous for every seaman acquainted with the Bristol Channel, must be aware of the danger these foreigners were in, to be in such a situation without pilots, and unacquainted with the navigation of the Channel.  A skiff from this place, fell in with  the before mentioned ships at anchor, about four miles to the eastward of Lundy, and put on board two hands, and came to this port for another skiff with fresh hands, and the next day, a third man was put away ;  by which, each ship had on board an able pilot.. One of the skiffs cruised to the westward of the Island of Lundy, in hopes of meeting an 80 gunship, also belonging to the squadron, and which was supposed to be in the channel. Finding it impossible to get out of the Channel or to Milford, the boatmen deemed it prudent to take these ships to Kingsroad, where they arrived in safety. For all these exertions, wear and tear of craft, and services rendered, the pilots received from the said three Russian Men of War £35.

6th August 1829 - ILFRACOMBE The Repository.-The annual display of Ladies fancy-work, took place on Tuesday, at the Public Rooms. A number of beautiful and useful articles were tastefully arranged for sale. We understand that the sum collected exceeded £80 which will be employed in affording temporary relief in time of sickness  to the necessitous poor, and in supporting  the National Schools on the principles of the established church.

25^th March 1830 ILFRACOMBE.— Bred turned to Stones.—A poor woman near this town, on Friday last, having put into her oven adjoining the road three loaves, was greatly surprised when she came to draw the batch to find the same number of large stones in the place, some miscreant having made a large aperture to the back of the oven and vilely made the exchange.

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23^rd September 1830. (Barnstaple) The Ball on Tuesday Evening was attended by upwards of one hundred an sixty ladies and gentlemen ; several of the country families of distinction were present ; and so agreeable was the assembly, that they did not separate till four o’clock in the morning.

Sudden Death.—We have this week to record another awful instance of this very alarming visitation in the person of the Rev. Mr. Churchward, rector of Goodleigh, who, whilst enjoying the comforts of his domestic circle, on Monday evening, seated at the tea-table, surrounded by his family, in perfect health, intending on the morrow to take a journey to Exeter, suddenly dropt his head on the table, and instantly expired! aged 63,--a striking proof of the verity of the fact, so universally admitted but so little heeded, that “in the midst of life we are in death.”

An inquest was held on Thursday last, by Mr. T. Copner, Esq, Coroner, on the body of a man named Philip Lock, of Ilfracombe, who whilst going to the cupboard for a bottle of vinegar, dropped down and expired instantly:-Verdict, divine visitation.

Accident.—On Monday night, as one of the lighters was passing through the bridge, the night being very dark, Philip Morris, one of the lightermen, stood on the gunwale to keep her clear of the arch, and slipping his foot, fell overboard, without being seen by his partner, and was drowned ; the body has not yet been found and is supposed to have drifted down with the tide. The poor fellow has left an wife and six children to lament their loss.

30^th December 1830 ILFRACOMBE.—A public examination of the scholars of Mr. Baker’s Academy, in this town, took place last Wednesday morning, which lasted upwards of three hours. The subjects of examination were,--The Latin Classics,--Universal Geography,--English Grammar,--Arithmetic,-- and Mapping. The boys, who were mostly very young, manifested a proficiency which was in the highest degree creditable to themselves and to their tutor, and evidently gave a great satisfaction to their parents, as well as to the visitors who were present.    

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