Interesting Dover items …. From the old newspapers
and other records
Miscellaneous
WET NURSE:
Wanted immediately in that capacity,
a young healthful person of good character, with a fresh breast of milk.
If from the country, the more desirable. Apply to Mr LEDGER,
Albion Library Dover)
(Kentish Gazette Sept 14 1798 p.1 col.1)
TURKEYS brought into Dover:
The quantity of turkeys and other poultry brought into Dover from France in the last two weeks, is computed at upwards of 13 tons weight; the quantity was more astonishing than the quality - From the general appearance of the fowls they seem to have suffered severely from the late panic.
(Cinque Ports Herald 1 Jan 1826 p.3 col.1 )
HATTERS:
Hatters - Dover: “An ill wind that blows nobody good”
The proverb has been verified in the opinion of the hatters of Dover; for during the late tremendous gale when so many persons were attracted to the beach, to gaze upon the rude “imperious surge”, sixteen gentlemen returned minus their upper coverings which were borne away irrecoverably to add to the treasures of the deep and, in the language of the Rejected Addresses they “lost the felt and felt what they had lost.”
(Kentish Gazette 12 Oct 1832 p.3 col.4)
Electric Telegraph
half column report on lecture at Dover Museum and Philosophical Institution
(Dover Telegraph 12. 12 .1846 p.8 col.2)
also Extension of Electric Telegraph Co. system
(Dover Telegraph 4.9.1847 p.1 col.1)
also re Lecture
(Dover Telegraph 6 Nov 1847 p.1 cols 3 & 4)
CHARLTON BY DOVER
Property for sale:
“near Victualling Office” – property for sale (limekilns, limehouse and yard, and brew houses and ground – gives names of tenants (could be indexed)
(Kentish Gazette 17.1.1797 front page)
A FAT HOG:
This is to give notice that there is to be seen at the Dolphin in Dover a very surprising Fat Hog… he is allowed to be the largest in the kingdom at this time … he is 8 feet long, 7 feet in girth and 10 hands high; and is promising at present as if he would come to 40 score in a short time. All persons who come to see this noble sight, the lowest price is 1d; gentlemen and ladies, not under 2d… so remarkable the sight of this kind has not been seen in this county for many years. Likewise there is a stock of good beer in the house.
(Kentish Gazette Oct 3 – 6 1786, p.1 col.2. half way down)
BEGGING in Dover:
“On Wednesday last as Matthew KENNETT Esq. Mayor and G. STRINGER Esq. his deputy were going up Biggin Street they were surprised at the boldness and audacity of two mendicants whom they saw not only announcing their arrival by knocking and ringing at the doors but absolutely obtruding on almost every person who passed them. The Mayor, Mr S. with the most praiseworthy promptness immediately procured two Peace Officers who conveyed the worthless rascals to the Treadmill. By the way it is a constant remark that Dover is the general resort for all rogues and vagabonds in this part of Kent and why? because no means are used to prevent their entrance. If a few such examples were made as the one in question Dover would be as free of mendicants as any other town. A great relief would also be afforded to the Parish Officers, who are constantly pestered by this class of people demanding assistance, which if not granted, are so abusive that it is necessary at times to obtain Peace Officers to curb their insolence.
(Kentish Gazette 24 Feb 1829 back page col.4.)
EXTRAORDINARY FLIGHT OF BUTTERFLIES: The swarm of butterflies which crossed the Channel, and appeared at Dover on the 5th ult., are said to have belonged to the “Pontia capae” (or rapae?).
A correspondent says he has made very minute enquiries into the subject on the spot, as he landed there from Ostend, on the Tuesday following the circumstance. On the 13th he travelled by rail from Cologne to Ostend, the day was intensely hot, and he noticed in that district a prodigious number of these same butterflies through the whole district. The day on which the phenomenon occurred at Dover was exceedingly hot, with the wind at south.
(Dover Telegraph 15 Aug 1846)
Dovor Corn Mill – to be sold by auction at GARRAWAY’s Coffee House, Change Alley, London, in the course of next month (unless disposed of by private contract) - a valuable new erected Water Corn Mill, advantageously situated in the town of Dovor and now in full trade, the property of Mr Thomas BUCKLAND who is retiring from the meal and corn trades.
Also two freehold houses near the mill.
Further particulars will be given and the date of sale advertised in a few days; an application may in the meantime be made to M/s. DAWES, Solicitors, Angel Court, Throgmorten Street, London or to Mr John SHIPDEM Solicitor Dover.
(Kentish Gazette 23 March 1802 p.1 col.4)
Paternity:
Susannah GAMBRILL of Ewell aged 14 yrs, charged John GOLDSACK, farm servant, with being the putative father of her child. He had offered to marry her but parents refused to let her marry because of her age. (Dover Telegraph 11 Jan 1851, p.1 col.4)
Delivered at Half Way House, christening in Dover:
"Susanna HAMILTON christened, the daughter of Francis and Margaret HAMILTON. The poor woman's maiden name was Margaret BROWN, her childbed pains fell upon her at the Halfway House where she was delivered, betwixt Canterbury and this town. And she brought her child to my house and I christened it. She herself, an ancient father and mother, are going to New England where they say this Francis HAMILTON is settled in a plantation left him by a deceased brother who lived there."
(St Marys Dover Baptism Register 24 July 1718)
------------------------------------------------
Occupation: Bone Crusher:
Thomas HOWES head married 55 Bone Crusher born Cranborne, Dorset
Eliza " wife " 40 born Charlton by Dover
Caroline M. " dau Unm 14 servant ditto
William H. " son 8 scholar ditto
Clara F. " dau 4 " ditto
(Charlton by Dover 1861 Census, 4 Castle Cottages, ref 205)
Occupation: Dealer in Fossils:
William GRIFFITHS head married 56 dealer in Fossels (sic) born Walworth, London
with wife Ann 55 (born Dover), and children John (20), Elizabeth (17), Sarah (16), Benjamin (13) all born Dover
(DOVER St Marys Parish 1851 Census, Bulwark Lane schedule No.160)
“Missing in the Napoleonic Wars:
The AMOS-BOWLES story
“Henry AMOS born Dover, a soldier, went missing during the Napoleonic wars, and was presumed dead.
His wife (Elizabeth) married Richard BOWLES by whom she had a daughter Esther, before her former husband re-appeared and she returned to him. Henry and Eliz. AMOS had 4 more children before Henry AMOS died, leaving her a widow in actuality. She then “re-married” BOWLES at St James church Dover: Elizabeth AMOSS widow of St James Dover married Richard BOWLS widr of same 8 Nov 1819
She and BOWLES had another daughter – Jemima Weymouth BOWLES, and a son Richard BOWLES, after they reached the Cape” In all, Elizabeth AMOS of Dover (aged 36 in 1820) had 7 children by Henry AMOS, and 2 by Richard BOWLES.
She emigrated to the Cape of Good Hope – in Menezes’ party, in the ship “Weymouth” - in 1820 with Richd BOWLES, and all of her children, and bore another son on arrival there. Her children by husband Henry AMOS – all emigrated with her:
Henry (aged 16 in 1820), Eliza(13), Charlotte(12), Rebecca(9), Thomas(7), Sarah(6), Edward (4)
(some of the above information from “Settlers Handbook" by M.D.Nash pp.91-92)
Edward INE was charged with living incontinently with Jone MARRANT 1603, denieth it but has been already 3 Sundays asked in Church of St Mary’s. He is a person of 30 years of age born at Chewstock New Brytone (Dover Corporation Records James 1 to Charles 2 volume, folio 199)
ORDER ALLOWED:
Edward HARRIS of St Marys, Dover, at General Sessions was appellant in affiliation case (Elizabeth Ann JONES): the order against him was allowed
George LAKER, an old man, in Dover Union, tried to leave the place "unburdened" with his wife's company…. He suggested his marriage 35 years ago was not legal – but it was found to be legal!
RUN AWAY and left his family of three children chargeable to the parish of Hougham near Dover, Richard CLARK a travelling man by trade a chair-bottomer, aged 50 yrs and upwards, about 5’5” high of a reddish complexion, wears his own hair which is red and has a remarkable red beard. Whoever will apprehend him or give information to the parish officers of Hougham so he may be apprehended shall receive a guinea reward by applying to the said parish officers.
(Kentish Gazette 22-26 Sept 1786 p.1
“On Tuesday morning a girl aged 16, daughter of Mr RATCLIFFE, Cowkeeper, Charlton, went out to draw water, when her feet slipped and she fell into the well, a depth of 56 feet. She was shortly afterwards taken out, with no other injury than a few slight bruises on one side.”
(Kentish Gazette Aug 18 1840 page 3 col.4 ‘Dover’)
FILIATION APPLICATION DISMISSED: The parish officers of St Mary Dover against John GOLDSACK: This was an application for an order of filiation on the defendant, in the case of bastardy of Sarah HART but it appeared on her examination that she was a married woman and the parish officers not being prepared with the necessary proofs of the non-access of her husband, the court refused the order and directed the defendant to be discharged.
