Updated 3 Jan 2009
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WIRKSWORTH Parish Records 1600-1900
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Wirksworth newspapers 1858 |
The following extracts have been found
in the Wirksworth Observer or Wirksworth
Advertiser around 1858, displayed on the Kodak reader at
the Local Studies Library at Matlock, photoed from the reader,
and transcribed at home.
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1290
Wirksworth Oberver 26 June 1858
County Hall, Friday, June 18.
Stealing a Diamond Ring
Mary Hollingworth,
16, of Idridgehay, was charged with stealing
a diamond ring, the property of the Rev Henry
James Cotton, of Dalbury Lees. - Mrs Cotton
deposed that the prisoner came into their service in
February last as under nurse, and remained until
the 31st of May. After prisoner was gone she
missed a diamond ring of the value of about £10
from a ring stand. Prisoner might go into the
room, but had no authority to remove the ring -
Elizabeth Hardy, servant to Mrs Hutchinson, Wardwick,
and previously fellow-servant with prisoner,
saw prisoner in Derby on Whit-Tuesday; the latter
had a ring upon her finger, which she said was worth
£12, and that a gentleman had given it to her in
Derby - Police-constable John Hallam apprehended
prisoner at Mr Ault's, Quarndon, on the present
charge. At first she denied all knowledge of the
ring, but afterwards went up stairs and brought
him the ring produced - Prisoner pleaded guilty -
Dr Peach, in passing sentence, said: There is
some suspicion that you have taken other things,
and the Magistrates have given you an opportunity
of restoring them, but you deny that it is true. It
is a very bad case, and must be visited with
considerable punishment. You are committed for six
months with hard labour.
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1291
Wirksworth Oberver 14 Aug 1858
Wirksworth Petty Sessions August 3rd
CHARGE OF FALSE SCALES - Mr Burton, superintendant
of police, charged Benjamin Clayton, grocer, of
Middleton-by-Wirksworth, with having on the 24th ult,
used scales which were 1¼ ozs against the purchaser.
Burton stated he had previously examined defendant's
scales and weights, and found them quite correct, but as
they were now incorrect the Bench inflicted the usual
penalty of 10s, and 10s 6d expenses.
ASSAULT-James White charged George Buckley
with having assaulted him at Matlock. This was a
mere boys' quarrel, and after the examination of a number
of witnesses, chiefly boys and their fathers, the case
was dismissed, the Bench ordering the expenses,
amounting to 7s 6d, to be equally divided between
plaintiff and defendant, the Bench remarking that the case
ought not to have been brought to the cought at all.
INCORRECT SCALES-Superintendant Burton charged
Benjamin Spencer, of Middleton-by-Wirksworth, with
having on the 24th ult, used scales 1½oz against the
purchaser. Burton stated that had the scales been
properly cleansed, he believed they would have been correct,
but that they were not so; he further stated that on a
previous occassion he had found the same scales half an
ounce wrong, and had then complained.- Defendant was
fined 10s, the expenses being 10s 6d, and informed
that another offence would certainly be met by a
much more serious penalty.
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1292
Wirksworth Oberver 28 Aug 1858
WIRKSWORTH COUNTY COURT
RIVER TRESSPASS - WALKER v BUXTON
This case, which was of considerable local importance, occupied the
attention of the court for some hours.
Mr Stone
apperared for the plaintiff and
Mr Harward, for defendant.
- The real meaning of the action was this:
Mr Walker,
who keeps one of the Matlock Museums, has for many
years had the privilege of letting out boats for hire on
the River Derwent, at Matlock, his father having enjoyed
a similar privilege for a great number of years previously.
During the course of the present summer,
Mr Buxton,
who keeps another Museum, and who has property
which extends in two places to the edge of the river,
has also recently purchased boats for the purpose of
letting them out also, and Mr Walker believing he had
no right to do so, brought this action, claiming the
nominal sum of £5 as damages, for having taken
persons in a hired boat from his house down the river to the
weir, and in so doing having tresspassed on land, covered
with water, which plaintiff rented from F Arkwright,
Esq and the proprietors of the Old Bath Hotel. After
numerous witnesses had been examined, the fact of
defendant having let boats for hire was proved, the Judge
decided that the river Derwent was not a public navigable
river like the Thames or the Trent, and, although
it was proved that many other persons had let boats for
hire at various periods, still there had been no continuous
using of boats proved - Mr Stone, in a speech of
considerable length, remarked that the object was not to
obtain damages, but to ascertain the respective rights of
plaintiff and defendant. It had been proved that
plaintiff had at least at one part the privilege of both
sides of the river, and there certainly did not appear to
be such a right in existence as that claimed by defendent.
If, indeed, such a right existed, any person having
a few yards of land by the water side might fill the river
with boats, and thus deprive his client of the benefit
which he ought to derive from renting both sides of the
river. - His Honour in summing up said that every person
having land extending to the side of the river, had a right
to the use of it for general purposes as far as the
centre, but no further, except by an understanding come
to between the parties, and as there was no precedent
to show to the contrary, in his opinion defendant had
committed a trespass, but, as damages were stated not
to be the object, he would give a verdict for plaintiff,
damages £2, with costs of witnesses - It was understood
the case would be referred to a higher Court.
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1293a
Wirksworth Oberver 4 Sep 1858
FATAL ACCIDENT - It appears that on Wednesday Aug 25, as
Benjamin Mould of this town, aged 17, was
emptying a quantity of gunpowder, from 10 to 12 lbs out of one
vessel into another in the bottom of the old end mine at
Crich, by some means the whole of the powder exploded
and so burnt and mutilated the unfortunate young man
that he died the day following. What is very extraordinary
deceased climbed from the bottom a distance of 90 fathoms.
[1 fathom=6 feet]
See email from Steve Thompson
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1294
Wirksworth Observer 4 Sep 1858
PETTY SESSIONS 31 Aug
The routine business of renewing public-house licences
occupied the attention of the Court from about eleven till
after one. Mr Burton, superintendent constable, made
complaints of irregularities in three public-houses in the
district, stating that he had been requested by the Bench
to name the irregularities complained of on the licensing
day; it, however, appeared that the houses had been better
conducted since the original complaints had been made,
and as there was no pressing for penalties, and the landlords
were all dismissed with cautions for the future only,
we decline to mention either their names or the signs of
their houses.
CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS - Police constable H Clayton
charged Henry Wain with having been drunk and disorderly
at Idridgehay, on the 24th August - Wain admitted the
offence, but pleading extenuating circumstances - The
Bench however, intimated to the effect that proved cases
of inebriation - especially when accompanied by disorderly
conduct - must always be met by a fine, no matter how
respectable the offender might be. Fines 5s and expenses.
STEALING FRUIT - Mr John Swindell, a butter dealer,
of Kirk Ireton, who occupies an orchard and a little land
at the place named, charged two boys, named David Cockey[ne]
and William Millington, with having stolen about a quarter
of a peck of apples from one of prosecutor's trees a few
days previously. The boys had been caught in the act,
and there was nothing in the shape of a defence; their
parents, who were decent people, were present, and
expressed their sorrow at what had occurred, and they would
take all the care they could of their children for the future.
Prosecutor said that he had been previously robbed, but not
as he was aware of by the two boys now under examination,
and he expressed a wish that the Bench would deal mercifully
with the children - The Chairmen informed both the
boys and their friends, that they - the boys - had rendered
themselves liable to a heavy fine, or a considerable period
of imprisonment with hard labour, and that another
proved offence would be still heavier punished; but in
consequence of what prosecutor and their parents had
just stated, they were let off with a fine of 6s 6d each, the
expenses being 13s 4d each.
[ ¼ peck = ½ gallon = 2.25 litres]
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1295
Wirksworth Observer 18 Sep 1858
Petty Sessions
INCORRECT WEIGHTS - Superintendent Burton
charged a corn dealer, named
[Francis] Barton, with having used
weights which were incorrect and against the purchaser,
at the Steeple Houses wharf, near Wirksworth, on the
23rd August - Mr Stone, for defendent, endeavoured
to prove that the weights in question had been purchased
of
John Marsden,
of Wirksworth, as old Iron, and were
merely at defendent's wharf in transitus, but it appearing
that the possession had been proved at a public wharf,
and Mr Stone's witnesses could not substantiate that
they never had on any occasion been used for weighing
at the wharf, defendent was convicted in the penalty of
5s, the expenses being 10s 6d.
Burton next charged Samuel Frost with a similar
offence, at the same place, on the same day. It did not
appear that there had been any intention whatever of
doing wrong, either in this case or the previous one, and
that false weights were in possession simply through
neglect. - The Bench, however, would not permit even
neglect to operate injuriously on the purchasers of coals,
and defendent was find 5s and expenses.
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1297
Wirksworth Advertiser 6 Nov 1858
SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDENT
at Matlock Bridge Station
Two persons killed
It is our painful duty to record this melancholy
accident which occurred on the morning of Monday
last, and resulted in the death of a lady named Mrs
Royale, (wife of Mr Royale, late confidential valet and
interpreter to the recently deceased Duke of Devonshire,
and who had journeyed with the above named nobleman
many thousands of miles on the European continent)
and a porter named George Wall. It appears
that just as the 9:10 am train from Ambergate to
Rowsley came out of the short piece of tunneling
before arriving at Matlock Bridge Station, Mrs Royale
attempted to cross the line to go by the approaching
train. The porter, who was on the opposite side of the
line and at this end of the platform, seeing her danger,
and after urging her in vain to keep back, sprang
towards her with a view doubtless of keeping her on the
up line. Unfortunately however, both met on the down
line, and before they could make their escape to one
side or the other, the train struck them, although a
desperate effort had been made both by the driver and
guard to stop it. Both the unfortunate persons were
thrown across the rails, and the whole of the train passed
over them, mangling both bodies in a most frightful
manner. The sight before us (for we were eye-witnesses)
was most horrifying; the head of the lady was almost
completely severed from the body, and so dreadful was
the mutilation that for some time after her identity was
mistaken. The porter was also frightfully mangled, the
train having passed over his leg and other parts of the
body, so that by the time the train had stopped he was
quite dead. Never have we seen this neighbourhood
thrown into such a state of consternation, and we trust
that this shocking catastrophe will prove a warning to
all travellers (in this neighbourhood especially) against
attempting to cross the line when there is a train
approaching. How often has this been urged, but how little
attention is paid to this warning? If not for ourselves
we are duty bound on account of others to use
all the caution, patience, and forethought we possess.
The present melancholy case brings this very forcibly
before us without any further argument. A few minutes
of time waited and no accident would have occurred.
The case of the unfortunate porter is very distressing.
About three months ago his wife died, leaving him with
three young children who are now left entirely unprovided
for. We scarcely consider it necessary to remind
the philanthropic portion of our readers that it is truly
a case for their consideration. George Wall bore an
excellent character, and the peculiarly distressing
circumstances of his death call for every assistance it
may lie in our power to give. We should be glad to
hear of a subscription being got up for the benefit of
the orphan children.
[THE INQUEST follows this article on the same paper.]
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1299
Wirksworth Advertiser 6 Nov 1858
PETTY SESSIONS
Moot Hall, Wirksworth
Tuesday Nov 2 1858
Before C.Clarke, Alfred Arkwright, F Goodwin
and E Wilmot, Esquires
C Radford, esq,
Tansley, charged Job Browning, a
boy aged 14 years with setting fire to some cotton in the
Tansley Cotton Mills. A young woman who worked in
the mill saw the boy with a match in the mill and told
him to put it in his pocket. There is a notice up
forbidding all hands from bringing matches or any other
kind of lighrs into the mill. Mr Rowbottom, the
mamager, said that after the fire was extinguished he
began to make enquiries, and the last witness told him
about the boy Bunting having a match, upon which he
sent for him but he could not be round for some time.
When found the boy admitted playing with a "cracker",
and that he rubbed it with a match, that it ignited and
the sparks flew into the cotton. The boy had been with
them for about two years, they had no occcasion to complain
of his general conduct, - C C Radford, esq, said
he did not think the boy had intentionally set fire to the
cotton, but he considered the result might have been so
serious that it was his duty to bring him before them,
for a caution against any repetitions of it. - The bench
after reprimanding him very severely told him if he had
been committed and found guilty of a wilful intent to
fire the mill he would have been liable to be transported
for 10 years. Dismissed with a severe caution.
Michael Gleeson,
a licensed hawker, charged
William Ludlam
with stealing a pair of braces from his basket.
Plaintiff did not appear before the bench having reason to
believe attempts were being made to compound the
felony, remanded the prisoner until Yuesday nnext, and
ordered the plaintiff to be brought as well. Bail allowed
in two £10 surities, and himself for £20.
Edward Brookes,
of Middleton, licensed victualler
was charged with having his house open at half-past
12 am, on the morning of Sunday, the 24th ult.
Mottishaw,
the policeman on duty, went into the house
and found three men drinking, it was then half-past
twelve. Defendant said they were then upon business
and had been waiting for him coming from Wirksworth,
and could not be expected to sit there without something
to drink. He called
John Hooson,
who said he went
there to receive some money and was waiting for him
coming in. Defendant afterwards admitted getting home
about half-past ten. The bench considered he had
sufficient time to transact his business before twelve
o'clock. Convicted in the penalty of 20s, and costs
10s 6d.
Superintendent Burton next charged
Thomas Hall, of
Bolehill, with having unjust and false weights and
scales. He had been cautioned only two months previously.
The scales were 1oz short and a lead weight
unstamped ¼ oz short. Convicted and fined 20s and
10s 6d costs.
Serjeant Rust had a complaint to make against a
number of young men and boys congregating in the
Market-Place, in this town, and other thoroughfares at
night. Several of the inhabitants had complained to
him of the great nuisance and requested him to disperse
them. He had frequently attempted to do so, but was
always met with hissing and very bad language. He
knew many of them. They seemed to think he had no
power to disperse them. The bench at once gave him
orders to arrest any whom he found making a disturbance,
or in any way annoying the public, and they
would show them whether they had the power or not.
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1300
Wirksworth Advertiser 20 Nov 1858
Cromford
ACCIDENTS-Within the last few weeks, similar
accidents have occurred to two young women,
respectively named Mary Eaton and Hannah Taylor, both
employed in Masson cotton factory. In each case,
one hand was drawn between two wheels of contrary
motion, and badly crushed. Such accidents, however,
we are glad to state, are of very rare occurrence, and
are chiefly generated by neglect, rather than by an
unguarded position of the machinery.
ANOTHER ACCIDENT - On Saturday, the 6th instant,
John Hacket, a labourer employed on the Cromford
and High Peak Railway, met with a severe accident
which, but for his presence of mind, might have been
attended with more serious consequences. It would
appear that he has to attach the wagons to the wire
rope at the bottom of the incline plane, when the
same began to move up the plane. It is his place to
go up as far as the curve upon the plane, and see
that the wire rope keeps on the wheels at the curve,
and there meeting the down wagons to jump on, and
get down again to take them off at the bottom. As
he was getting on while it was in motion, his foot
slipped between the wagon and the wheel. Fortunately
by pulling a red handkerchief out of his pocket,
he signalled to the men at the bottom, when the
waggons were instantly stopped and assistance
rendered. The poor man's leg was found very badly
hurt, the flesh being torn away by the friction of the
wheel. Had he not had a strong nerve and acted as
he did, it might have cost him his life.
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1301
Wirksworth Advertiser 29 Jan 1859
BRASSINGTON
SHEEP WORRYING - on the morning of Saturday
last, 30 sheep were discovered to have been worried
during the night. Upon examination it was ascertained
that a man passing about eleven o'clock the
night previous, heard a dog barking furiously, but
suposing it to be poachers took no notice. Twelve
of the sheep were found to be the property of Mr T
Watson, nine of Mr T Smith, and the remaining
nine of Mr Wm Wright. In hope of finding out
whose dog it was that had caused such disastrous
havoc, three sheep were left in the field and the place
watched the following night. The plan proved successful
for the marauder was shot on Sunday morning
and found to be the property of Mr John Gregory,
of Harborough. It is time something was done to
put a stop to such attacks, as Mr Hall, of Hopton,
had three sheep worried the week previous, and Mr
Elliott, of Carsington, lost two from the same cause.
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1302
Wirksworth Advertiser 19 Feb 1859
Petty Sessions, Moot Hall, Wirksworth
Tuesday January 25th 1859
Before
G G Goodwin,
C Clarke,
A Arkwright,
and
E Radford, esquires
Noah Kidd,
Wm Musgrave,
George Hodgkinson,
Jonathan Hodgkinson, and
John Mason, all of
Cromford, and
Wm Debanks, of Matlock, were
charged with wilfully damaging some birch trees, on
the 9th inst., the property of
P Arkwright, Esq. All
admitted the offence excepting Wm Debanks, who
said he had turned back before they got to the wood,
John Shelley,
the keeper swore to seeing him with the
others; they were all squirrel hunting.- The prosecution
was not pressed but wished to be remembered
as a warning for the future. - Ordered to pay the
costs, which amounted to 4s each.
John Kelly was charged with being drunk at
Wirksworth, on the 18th inst. Defendant admitted
being "fresh", and in extenuation said he was an
old soldier and had a crack in his head.- Ordered to
pay costs amounting to 15s, six weeks allowed for
payment.
Elizabeth Pearson v John Wall.- This was a case
of affiliation, adjourned from last sitting. Mr Stone
appeared for defendant and based his defence upon a
quibble of the law, but was overruled by the bench.-
Order granted 2s per week, to commence from date
of application.
Esther Holmes v John Carding. - This was
another case of affiliation, and evidence was brought
to prove that defendant had offered £10 to be freed
from any further liabilities.- Order granted 2s per
week from time of birth.
Thomas Cooper (18),
Job Vaines (16), and
Wm Buckley (14), all of Matlock,
were charged with
stealing two pigeons, the property of Sarah Marshall,
of High Moor Farm, Crich, on Sunday, the 23rd
inst. - Sarah Marshall said that the three prisoners
came and wanted to purchase one of the pigeons, but
she would not sell it, and about an hour and a half
afterwards she missed two two of them; the two produced
were her property.- The prisoners pleaded "not
guilty" but consented to be tried by the bench. - The
case was most clearly proved against them and
Buckley was sentenced to one month, and Cooper and
Vaines each to two months imprisonment.
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1304
Wirksworth Advertiser 26 feb 1859
PETTY SESSIONS
Moot Hall, Wirksworth
Tuesday February 22nd 1859
Before F G Goodwin, C Clarke and A Arkwright, Esquires
Eli Brooks of Matlock was charged with stealing
two deal boards, valued 3s, the property of
Mr John Wheatcroft, on Tuesday the 15th inst.
William Walthall
said he saw prisoner on the night of Tuesday
the 15th inst, going through Matlock Bath about 8
o'clock with two boards on his shoulder, he was going
along the road in the direction leading from the
quarries occupied by Mr Wheatcroft. Samuel
Smedley (a worker at the quarry), said, that
in consequence of information received from last
witness, they went together to Brooks's house and
asked to see the boards, he showed them the boards
now produced. They had been taken from the quarry.
He told him they were Mr Wheatcroft's property and
that he had better take them back, he said he would
not for either him or Mr Wheatcroft. We then all
three went to Mr Wheatcroft's, and he returned with
us to see the boards. Prisoner then said that he
would take the boards back to the quarry. John
Wheatcroft said that he went to prisoner's house, and
he offered to bring them back. He (prisoner) said he
had taken the boards out of a mine near the quarry
and did not know to whom they belonged. Since
prisoner had been out on bail he had asked me two or
three times to be merciful, I told him I would recommend
him to the merciful consideration of the Magistrates.
Police Constable Hancock went on the 16th
inst, and told prisoner he was charged with stealing
two boards, he said his brother had told him to fetch
them from the mine. Prisoner afterwards said that
his brother and another man had brought them out of
the quarry into the mine, and that he had fetched
them away to make a scaffold. Prisoner elected
to be tried by the bench. Convicted for one month
and hard labour.
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1305
Wirksworth Advertiser 26 Mar 1859
PETTY SESSIONS
Moot Hall, Wirksworth
Tuesday March 22 1859
Before C.Clarke, F G Goodwin and A Arkwright, Esquires
Thomas Brooks, John Allen, William Byard,
William Godbehere, William McDonald, William
Pearson, William Phillips and Mary Seeds were
severally summoned by Mr Street for non-payment of
Poors Rates. The whole of the above persons were
ordered to pay, excepting the last named Mary Seeds
whom the bench excused because she was receiving
parish pay. The reason why Mr Street considered a
rate was due, was because Mrs Seeds had several
relatives living in the same house, from whom, he
(Mr Street) believed she received support. The bench
enquired of Mr Street how often poor rates were
collected, and on being informed that they were
collected half-yearly, said they did not approve rates
remaining so long, and remarked that if poor persons
could not pay small sums it was not likely they could
pay large ones. Mr Street in reply urged that according
to his experience the present mode was the best.
Isaac MacIntosh, of Matlock, was charged by Mr
Matthew Marsh, of Low-lees Farm, near Matlock,
with having stolen on the 18th inst., a harrow tooth, the
property of the said Mr Marsh. Both Mr Marsh and
his son swore to the iron tooth, which Police Constable
Hancock produced, having found it on prisoners person.
Prisoner pleaded guilty, but said he took it from a hole
in the wall thinking it was of no use. Mr Marsh had
previously missed several valuable pieces of iron, which
he believed prisoner had taken, having frequently seen
him on his premises when he had no business there -
One month imprisonment.
Joseph Cockayne, of Lea, was charged with being
drunk and disorderly at Holloway, on Sunday morning,
the 20th inst. - As Cockayne had been confined in the
Lock-up since Sunday, the bench excused the penalty,
and ordered him to pay the costs, which amounted to
7s 6d.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23
Ellen Bryan was charged with stealing on Thursday,
the 17th inst, 6s 6d, the property of William Martin,
Matlock Bath. - Sarah Martin said, I am the wife of
William Martin. Prisoner came to my house on Wednesday
evening and asked me to allow her to sleep there
that night; I consented, and she slept with me. I rose
on Thursday morning about seven o'clock and left
prisoner in bed. There was 7s 6d in a small box in
the same room; the box was not locked. I went and
fetched a shilling out about nine o'clock; prisoner
was in bed and seemed to me to be asleep. I left 6s 6d
in the box; went to call the prisoner about ten o'clock,
she got up and came down stairs directly, went upstairs
again to do her hair, came down again and got her
breakfast; she then put on her bonnet and went away,
I had to go out to work that day. I locked the door
and took the key with me; I went out a few minutes
after her. I was not at home again until about half-past
nine o'clock at night. When I went to bed I
looked in the box and the money was gone. No other
person had been in the house from the time of leaving
in the morning. - Police Constable Hancock said
he apprehended prisoner on Sunday and told her that
she was charged with stealing 6s 6d from Mrs Martin.
She said "I didn't take 6s 6d. I only took a half
crown and a two shilling piece."- Prisoner pleaded
Not Guilty of stealing 6s 6d, but Guilty of stealing
4s 6d - There were several charges against the prisoner
for obtaining money and goods by false pretences -
Committed to prison for 21 days with hard labour, and
at the expiration of that period to be sent to a Reformatory
School for 4 years.
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1306
Wirksworth Advertiser 2 Apr 1859
PETTY SESSIONS
Moot Hall, Wirksworth
Tuesday, March 29th, 1859
(Before C.Clarke, F G Goodwin, A Arkwright, and E Wilmot, Esquires)
Messrs Ward and Son, of Matlock, were charged by
Superintendent Burton with using a dray without
having the proprietor's name written thereon,
contrary to law. Defendant acknowledged the charge but
said it was on the day previous to that on which the
charge was made. Fined 5s, and costs 10s 6d.
Joseph Carline, of Starkholmes, was charged by
Superintendant Burton with using unjust scales for
the purpose of weighing flour &c. Defendant said
the scales were right the day before Superintendant
Burton called and the reason why they were then
untrue was owing to his girl having weighed some
salt and left a small portion in the scales. Fined 2s 6d,
and 10s 6d costs.
Samuel Kirkland, of Kirk Ireton, was charged
with being drunk there on the 26th March. Defendant
admitted he was fresh. He called Mr Henry
Matkin, publican, to "give him a character". The
Bench:- Have you ever seen anything amiss by this
man. Henry Matkin:- No. The Bench:- Did you
ever see him drunk? Henry Matkin:- O Yes, many
a time. (Laughter). Fines 5s, and 10s 6d costs.
Joseph Bottom, of Wirksworth, beerhouse keeper,
was charged with keeping open his house after eleven
o'clock in the evening, contrary to law. Defendant
said he was acting according to instructions he
received from the supervisor. The Supervisor not being
present the case was adjourned until next meeting of
the magistrates.
Ann Allen, Wirksworth, was charged with stealing
a pair of boots, the property of Margaret Smith, but
there not being sufficient evidence the case was
dismissed.
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1307
Wirksworth Advertiser 9 Apr 1859
Sale by Mr J Poyser
Valuable Lead mines in the Wapentake of Wirksworth
TO BY SOLD BY AUCTION by Mr J POYSER
At the Cock Inn, Cromford,
on Thursday, the 21st
April 1859, at Three o'clock in the Afternoon, punctually
(subject to such conditions to be then
produced, and in the following or such other lots as may
be agreed upon.)
LOT 1
All that Lead Mine, Level and Sough,
situate in the parish of Bonsall, in the county of Derby,
called "The Ball Eye Mine", with the several
other Mines, Veins of Lead Ore, and mineral
possessions adjoining and belonging, called "Bunting's
Mine", in Bradley Wood, "Blackwell's Pipe", "Cowper's
Pipe" and "Munkser Rake" comprising a
range of Mineral Ground extending over an area of
about 30 acres, and now occupied by the Ball Eye
Mining Company.
Also about 400 yards of Wrought Iron and other
Rails, or Tramway and sleepers lying within the said
Level or Sough, commencing from the Mine Hillock
at the entrance and teminating at the forefield of the
said Mine, together with the Waggon, Fly Wheel,
Smith's Implements, 260 yards of Air Pipes, Augurs,
and other working Stock, Tools, and Implements,
belonging to the said Mining Company.
Upwards of £1,200 has been expended by the Company
in driving the Level and Veins to their present
position, and there are numerous other valuable Veins
near thereto requiring only a reasonable outlay to
explore them, and a further prosecution of the works
will prove remunerative, as great advantages must
necessarily be derived from the labour and capital
already expended.
The Mine or Level is situate in the Valley leading
from cromford to Bonsall, and is driven in a direction
towards Matlock Bath.
Mr William Brookes will attend at the
Rutland Arms Inn, Matlock Bath,
on Thursday and Saturday,
the 14th and 16th days of April, to conduct applicants
to the Mines.
LOT 2
All that Productive and Valuable Lead Mine,
situate at Middleton Moor, near Wirksworth, and called
"Wigley" or "Bond Dog Hole", with the several
extensive Veins of Lead Ore, Scrins, Pipes, and Mineral
possessions belonging thereto.
Also, the Horse Gin, with Ropes, Kibbles, Rails,
Waggons, and other plant and working machinery
thereto belonging.
LOT 3
All those 18 twenty-fourth parts or shares of an in
all that other valuable Lead Mine, called "Hopton
Pipe", situate near to Middleton-by-Wirksworth aforesaid,
with all the Veins of lead Ore, Rakes, Scrins, and
other mineral possessions belonging thereto.
These Mines are situate in or near to one of the most
valuable Lead Ore Fields in the county.
Lots 2 and 3 were formerly the property of the late*
Mr Roger Knowles,
Mine Agent, Wirksworth, and
were worked by him to considerable profit for a series
of years, and offer an excellent investment for a small
outlay.
A portion of the Hopton Pipe Title is let subject to
a rental or cope of 3s per Load on Lead Ore, and 2s
per load on inferior Ore, and at the present time such
Mine is productive.
Mr Elias Knowles, of Wirksworth, will show Lots
2 and 3; and further particulars as to any of the Lots
may be known on application to Mr Stone, Solicitor,
Wirksworth.
*[Roger Knowles died Dec 1858]
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1315
Wirksworth Advertiser 12 Oct 1859
MIDDLETON-BY-WIRKSWORTH
Mr Llewellyn Jewitt, of Derby, has
recently published an interesting little work
entitled "The Matlock Companion and
Visitor's Guide", and amongst the villages
he has thought worthy of mention therein
is that of Middleton-by-Wirksworth.....
"Middleton is perhaps one of the most quaint and
genuine specimens of a Derbyshire mining village which
the visitor can find in a long day's ramble. The houses
or rather huts or hovels as many of them mat more
appropriately be called, are as rude and simple, as
picturesque and uncomfortable-looking, as the people
who inhabit them, who are almost a race by themselves.
The visitor who knows nothing of mining villages may
perhaps be surprised to be told that at Middleton not
only are the miner's cottages in which they, their
wives and families, "live and move and have their being"
and vegetate generation after generation, in some cases
built not only close to the mouth of a mine, but that
in others the shaft of the mine opens in the floor of the
house itself, - the floors in may instances, being only
the bare soil and rock. These huts, the miners in
their quaint dresses covered from head to foot with the
yellow earth, their hard features darkened by constant
work, their wives loosely and picturesquely attired, and
their dusty children rolling about the doorways and
roads bare legged, bare footed, bare headed, and
almost bare bodied."
["The Matlock companion, and visitor's guide to the beauties
of Matlock, and its immediate neighbourhood, including also a
brief sketch of Buxton, and short notices of places generally
visited." by A. Jewitt, published 1834]
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1316
Wirksworth Advertiser 2 Dec 1859
Middleton
ACCIDENT-On Saturday last, whilst Samuel Spencer,
of Middleton, was engaged in getting stone at the
works of the Hopton Wood Stone Company, a large
piece of stone, estimated at about a ton weight,
accidentally dropped from above upon him, but falling in
an oblique direction, produced serious injury to his
back and face, instead of immediate death as was
expected by his fellow workswen. W Webb, Esq
M D of Wirksworth, is in attendance upon him, and
we understand that he is likely to recover.
Alderwasley
ACCIDENT- On Tuesday, the 22nd ult, as Mr
Phineas Peat,
of Cuninglow Farm, was letting a cow
loose from his cowhouse his fingers became entangled
in the chain, one was dislocated and the other so
severely injured as to require amputation, which was
performed by Dr Webb of Wirksworth.
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1317
Wirksworth Advertiser 11 Feb 1860
SUICIDE - A lamentable suicide occurred in
Parwich last week, the poor victim of the rash act
being a shop-keeper of Matlock, named
Moses Wheeldon.
Rumour alleges certain discreditable
circumstances as the primary cause of the man's
flight from Matlock to Parwich, where he put an
end to his life by hanging himself in a stable.
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1318
Wirksworth Advertiser 25 Feb 1860
Correspondence
To the Editor of the Wirksworth Advertiser
THE GAS QUESTION
Sir- I do not think it necessary to reply to all the
charges made by your correspondent, "Z" in your
last week's Advertiser, because my replies to "X"
chiefly embody the same. I cannot, however, avoid
making some passing remarks on the censure he so
liberally bestows upon the management of our Gas
affairs. I wish the writer had made himself better
acquainted with his subject before he stated his own
fancies for facts. Our price for Gas has been
reduced four times in sixteen years, and yet he says, "the
enormous price now charged is greater here than anywhere
in the country, and yet with greater facilities
for procuring the material for making it". Now, Mr
Editor, as we are paying 3s per ton for coal more
than what is paid for it at Bakewell, and double the
price it is obtained for at Matlock Bath and Belper
Gas Works, what facilities have we to make our Gas
cheaper? His concluding remarks, too, on the quality
of our Gas, is just in keeping with his other ipse
dixit; and I fearlessly appeal to our Gas consumers
for their testimony to the contrary.
In the very style of treating the subject the writer
seems to assume by calling upon "the public to speak
out", &c, that the Gas consumers of Wirksworth
have already advanced a sufficient sum of money to
the Gas Company, either by gift or loan, to put the
Works in the best possible condition, and complains
that "for many years nothing has been given in
return but promises of amendment; and therefore
grumbling becomes a legitimate subject".
As this is not the case, the Wirksworth Gas Company
can surely please themselves, as well as any
other Firm, to what extent, and in what way they
employ their own capital, without being dictated to
by those who have no interest in their concerns.
All the succeeding committees of the Company have
acted honourably and generously towards the public;
and, whilst they and the other shareholders are
amongst the greatest consumers of what they manufacture,
it is to their own interest and comfort to
make the article as cheap and good as possible; and
this is a sufficient guarantee that the public advantage
must be secured along with their own.
I am, Sir, yours obediently,
MARCELLUS PEAL
Clerk pro Gas Co
Feb 23rd, 1860
[Second master of Grammar school, registrar of births
and deaths for the Wirksworth district, and clerk to
the Gas and Coke Co.]
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1327
Wirksworth Advertiser 12 May 1860
THE IMPERTINENT CENSUS BILL
Mr Toulmin Smith, in his Parliamentary Remembrancer,
calls attention forcibly to the impertinent, arbitrary, and
(if passed into law) tyrannical proposals of this bill. He
says:
The present bill departs very widely from all its
predecessors in the particulars which it requires to be
answered by every one. In addition to the particulars
that have been heretofore asked - namely, name, sex,
age, occupation - every one will, under the bill, be
compelled to answer as to the "rank, profession, and
birthplace" of every person who is in his or her house
on the night of Sunday, 7th April, 1861, "and also
whether any were blind, or deaf and dumb."
A census is valuable, when properly taken, for certain
definite purposes. But the propiety of it ceases,
when it is made a cover for prying inquisitiveness
beyond the line of a few precise facts. It will be impossible
for any man or woman of self-respect to read the
above demands - all of which are to be enforced under
penalty of summary conviction - without a feeling of
indignation. No man, of any sense of delicacy, would
insist on knowing the rank, profession, condition [whatever
that means], or "religious profession", of all his
guests. To demand an account of the "religious profession"
is, indeed, to make a statuary declaration that
it is desirable to foster sectarian jealousies. No Man is
bound to answer to any other man what his own
"religious profession" is. The question, from whomsoever
it comes, is an unwarrantable impertinence. An
enforced answer is peculiarly offensive. It is assumed
that there exists in England a National Church - which can
only be such by being catholic, not sectarian. Sectarianism
may delight in pains and penalties, and in
enumerating its pledged votaries. A true National
Church can require no "profession".
But there are other points in the present Census Bill
that need attention. It proposes to empower the
"enumerator" to "complete" such returns as "shall
appear to them to be defective"; and to "correct"
any that they shall choose to say are "erroneous".
This is rather like the way in which the Ballot returns
at Nice were made agreeable to France. It amounts to
telling the enumerators that the schedules actually
returned need to be of no account; those who collect
them may alter or doctor them, and cook their
statements of facts and figures, just as they like. Again,
"instructions" are to be prepared by the Secretary of
State. If such instructions are to be made, they ought
to be contained in a schedule to this bill, so that they
may be known and approved by Parliament. For it is
to be observed, that not only is any man who refuses
to parade his "religious profession" to be summarily
convicted, but there is a separate clause expressly
ennacting that whoever shall refuse to answer to any
"enumerator" any "such questions as shall be directed
in any instructions to be prepared by or under the
direction of the said Secretary of State" shall be
summarily convicted. In the Act of 1830 (II Geo IV
and 1 Will IV c 30) the instructions were contained
in a schedule. The same course ought now to be
insisted on.
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1331
Wirksworth Advertiser 27 Jul 1860
Wirksworth
DEATH OF MR REEVES - We regret to announce
the death of
Mr Reeves,
for many years the
organist of Wirksworth Church, which happened
near Willenhall, under melancholy circumstances
on Friday last. Mr Reeves it appears, who was
on a visit to his mother, had eaten a hearty dinner
after which he intimated his intention of visiting
a friend about a mile off. On his way Mr Reeves
suddenly fell down and expired. The cause of
this melancholy event, was, we understand, appoplexy.
Mr Reeves was an able musician, and
was much and deservedly respected by all who
knew him.
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1333
Wirksworth Advertiser 24 Aug 1860
Matlock Bridge
ACCIDENT- On Tuesday morning last an accident
of a serious character occurred at the Cawdor
lead mine, which fortunately was unattended with
loss of life. Two men,
Charles Webster, (son of the agent), and
John Pidcock, of Cromford, were
passing down the shaft on what are called the
travelling irons, when some part of the machinery
connected with the engine gave way, and the rope
rapidly uncoiled from off the drum. Their descent
became fearfully rapid, and they came to the
bottom of the pit with tremendous force. The
men, who had received severe internal injuries,
were conveyed home and received prompt medical
attention from Dr Cash, with whose aid it is hoped
they will shortly recover.
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1334
Wirksworth Advertiser 31 Aug 1860
Wirksworth
ACCIDENT ON THE HIGH PEAK RAILWAY - On
Friday last, as three waggons containing various
kinds of luggage, were being let down the Middleton
inclined plane, the rope (which is a wire one)
broke, and set the waggons at liberty, when they
ran to the bottom at a fearful rate. A crate of
glass for
Mr Wildgoose, Cromford, a cask of
whiskey belonging to
Mr Wilson, of Wirksworth,
were destroyed. The whole damage amounted to
about £300.
LAMENTABLE ACCIDENT - We learn with regret
that
Mr Samuel Myers, jeweller, of Wirksworth,
met with a serious accident at the railway station,
Uttoxeter, on Monday morning. Mr Myers it
appears was sauntering on the line and was watching
the movements of a train in front of him, when
a pilot engine came up behind him and knocked
him down. He has received internal injuries of so
severe a character that no hopes are at present
entertained [of] his recovery.
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1335
Wirksworth Advertiser 28 Sep 1860
Wirksworth
LAMENTABLE CASE OF SUICIDE - We regret to
inform our readers that
Mr Kay, of the Hob
Farm, Wirksworth, killed himself yesterday morning
at his residence, by cutting his throat. For
some time past the deceased has been suffering
from slight mental derangement, which was no
doubt the cause of his thus putting an end to his
existence.
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1336
Wirksworth Advertiser 5 Oct 1860
SUICIDE OF MR KAY OF THE HOB FARM, WIRKSWORTH
We last week briefly recorded the lamentable
fact that Mr William Kay, of the Hob Farm, had
committed self-destruction, and we this week add
the melancholy details of the case. The deceased
was 66 years old, and, we believe, was a man highly
respected in the vicinity, and his premature end
will be regretted by many friends. He had, it
appears, lived on the farm nearly thirty years and
had made extensive improvements upon it, which
necessarily involved a considerable amount of
expense and trouble. About two years ago, when
the farm passed into the hands of a new landlord,
he received a notice to quit and he was very much
grieved and showed great agitation and anxiety of
mind at the thought that he must leave the farm
on which he had made so may improvements.
His landlord afterwards gave consent for him to
stay if he chose, but still the poor man entertained
the thought that he should be compelled to leave
the place, and was continually mourning and
appeared very unhappy respecting it. In November
last he became worse and was seized with fits
of giddiness, from the effects of which he fell twice
and slightly injured himself. He was then under
the care of Dr Mant, of Wirksworth, and from
then to the time of his death he had been in a
very low state, constantly murmuring and expressing
a fear of some approaching calamity. On
Thursday morning he went out of the house, and
was seen to pass the window in the direction of the
cart shed, and his son going shortly afterwards to
fetch him in the house, found him in the cart shed,
resting on his hands and knees, with his throat
bleeding. He was still living and his son carried
him into the house, and a messenger was despatched
for medical assistance, but the poor man died
before its arrival. Some mystery at first presented
itself, from the fact that the instrument with which
the deed had been committed was nowhere to be
found. The police were unceasing in their endeavours
to find the missing instrument, the soil floor
of the cart shed was brushed over, a garden adjoining
wasweeded throughout, and the grass in the
orchard and some corn in an adjacent field were
mown with this object, but their efforts were
unsuccessful until another search in the cart shed
discovered an ordinary pocket knife buried in the
soil about two feet distant from the place where
the deceased was found. None of the principal
blood-vessels of the neck were injured in the least,
but the wind-pipe was completely severed and
presented a ragged appearance, as though the deed
had been the work of some blunt instrument. An
inquest was held on Friday afternoon, at the
George Hotel, before F G Bennett Esq, when
Mr George Kay, son of the deceased, testified to
the forgoing facts and R R Alderson Esq, surgeon,
witnessed to the effect that the wound from
its appearance was inflicted by the deceased upon
himself, by such an instrument as the one produced.
He stated, as his opinion, that had a medical gentleman
been upon the spot at the time his services
would have been unavailing, for death would be
caused by suffocation, consequent upon the trickling
of blood into the air vessels. The jury
returned as their verdict, "That deceased committed
suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity".
See email from Stuart Flint
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1340
Wirksworth Advertiser 2 Nov 1860
Middleton
ACCIDENT- A serious accident, through the
imprudent use of fire-arms, occurred at Wirksworth,
on Monday, to a youth named
Edward Adams,
of Middleton. The youth was loading an
ordinary pistol at the time, when it exploded and
shattered his fingers, nearly removing one of
them. It was only on the previous Tuesday, as
would be seen from our police report last week,
that this youth was brought before the Bench for
discharging a pistol in the public street, but through
some legal technicality he was dismissed with
a caution |
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Steve Thompson writes:
re 1293a
Thanks for this item: I don't know very much about the mines at Crich,
but there is some information about them in the various editions of
"Lead Mining in the Peak District".
According to these books the shaft at Old End Mine was, at 912 feet, the
deepest in Derbyshire to be sunk entirely in the limestone. The Crich Sough
met the shaft at a depth of 420 feet, so clearly in 1858 some pumping was
taking place, as the deceased is described as climbing 90 fathoms, 540 feet.
Mining there is said to have ceased in 1864, but there was renewed activity
from 1867 to 1879, and a brief revival for a few years after 1908.
In the 1940s the shaft was reopened to a depth of 300 feet by miners seeking
fluorspar, but the shaft had been filled in sometime before 1968.
The shaft was located close to the junction of Great Rake, Shack Vein and
White Rake at approx. SK 3456 5585.
Hope this is of a bit of interest...
Best wishes
Steve
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Stuart Flint writes:
re 1336
William Kay who committed suicide at Hob Farm Gorsey Bank married Martha
Wetton of Holehouse which is off Pratt Hall Lane Ashleyhay twixt Ashleyhay
and Gorsey Bank I can see the farm from my front room window ..
The Wettons are of my allied kin as my Uncle Arthur Botham was son of
Henry and Mary Botham nee Wetton of Gorsey Bank Uncle Arthur married my
father's sister Leah Amelia Flint he a Pit Deputy at Clipstone Colliery
retiring to Whitley Bay Tyne and Wear living near my cousin Harry Sprake
Botham he named after my father and his brother John Botham who left
Bolsover after the 2nd W.W. having served in the Army/Airforce during the
war to open Garages and Vehicle Dealerships at Newcastle Upm Tyne and
Lisles Taxis/Chauffer Driven Cars. I was offered a job by Harry as a Driver
in my 20s .. John emigrated to Australia in the 1960s his daughter is
my fellow family history researcher today she having married a retired
Australian Assistant Chief Constable he born at Mansfield where he was a
Police Officer
William Kays son George Kay had a daughter Anne Mary Kay who married
James Slack son of George and Sarah Slack nee Butler Sarah daughter of
John Butler of my wifes kin of Alderwasley George Slack was son of my
3XUncle and Aunt Samuel and Sarah Slack nee Land Sarah sister of my
2XGrandmother Hannah Land who married James Smith of Carsington ..
Samuel Slack was kin of my wifes family of Slack of Middleton..
Samuel and Sarah's daughter Elizabeth married William Allen Flint son of
my 4XUncle Robert Flint they emigrating as Mormons to Kaysville Utah in
1850 Samuel and Sarah's son Samuel married William Allen Flints sister
Hannah Flint..
George and Sarah Slack nee Butlers children were:
Emma married Charles Phillips Hairdresser of Wirksworth he born in
Warwickshire.
Louisa married Jonathan Logan Schoolmaster
Alfred.. William George..
James born 1867 married Anne Mary Kay dau of George Kay Farmer of Hob
Hall Farm
Regards Stuart G Flint
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