“On Thursday afternoon last the novel ceremonial of an Oddfellows’
funeral took place in processional order. The deceased, Nathaniel
Spilman, had been for many years a member of the two lodges in this
town, and, it having been his request, he was interred with the usual
honours appertaining to the Order. Accordingly, the brethren of the
two lodges proceeded in the following order to the house of the
deceased:—officer of the lodge with his drawn sword, secretary
bearing the scroll, two officers with their wands, two of the head
officers of each lodge, two officers with wands, two of the second
officers of the lodges, a large concourse of the brethren adorned
with their numerous silver medals, aprons, &c., two of the wardens
carrying their badges. On their arrival at the house they proceeded
to the churchyard in the above order, with the addition of the Hon.
and Rev. Edward Pellew preceding the body, which was carried by six
of the brethren of the lodge, with six others as pall-holders,
wearing their different medals and aprons. When at the grave the
Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew read the burial service, and at the
conclusion the scroll was thrown in, each of the brethren throwing in
sprigs of rosemary. The secretary to both lodges read the funeral
obsequies over the grave. They then returned to the house of the
deceased’s relatives, and after leaving the family (who had attended
the remains to the grave) proceeded in the same order to the
lodge-room, where they soon after separated. Certainly nothing could
have been more solemn and impressive than was the whole of this
ceremonial. At a meeting of the brethren on the Monday following, it
was unanimously resolved, that the secretary should issue a circular
to the Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew, thanking him for the great
condescension and kindness evinced by him in attending the funeral of
their late departed brother.”
Nov. 5th.—A meeting to consider the question of constructing a railway
had been held. Admiral Sir G. Parker, William Barth, Esq., Ambrose
Palmer, Esq. (who prognosticated that by means of a railway the fisheries
would become so immense as to be the astonishment of all), R. S.
Lonsdale, Esq., R. Ferrier, Esq., R. Palmer Kemp, Esq., and others took
part in the proceedings.
Nov. 12th.—The following gentlemen had been nominated by the Whig party
as the candidates for election to the Reformed Corporation:—_Gorleston
Ward_: William Barth, Thomas Hammond, J. S. Bell, H. Martin, P. Stead,
and J. W. Dowson. _Nelson Ward_: George Danby Palmer, R. Palmer Kemp, S.
Robinson, J. Symonds, G. W. Garson, and M. Butcher. _St. George’s Ward_:
C. Sayers, H. V. Worship, Thomas Lettis, William Grave, George Penrice,
M.D., and William Barker. _Regent Ward_: John Brightwen, S. Palmer, S.
C. Marsh, C. Davie, B. Dowson, and J. Tomlinson. _Market Ward_: E. M.
Clowes, William Johnson, W. Hammond, S. Cobb, E. Sewell, and B. Cobb.
_St. Nicholas’ Ward_: Thomas Thornton, A. Sewell, Joseph Fiddes, R.
Hammond, W. N. Burroughs, and C. E. Doughty. It was reported that the
Tories had held “secret meetings” and were prepared to nominate Messrs.
S. H. Aldred, J. E. Laws, B. Sherrington, P. Moore, E. H. L. Preston, and
— Moore. Messrs. J. G. Plummer, D. Hook, and S. Sherrington had also
issued a joint address in the South Ward; R. Ferrier and F. Preston had
offered themselves for the St. George’s and St. Andrew’s Wards, and R.
Wall for the South Ward.
Nov. 26th.—It is recorded that in the month ending October, then last,
there entered “inwards” at the Custom House of this port 306 vessels, the
tonnage of which amounted to 24,933 tons, and with cargoes “outwards” 120
vessels, of a tonnage of 8,560 tons. The “Old Spring,” a ship of nearly
400 tons (belonging to George Danby Palmer, Esq.), had arrived from
Archangel with timber, and came up to the Quay without unlading any part
of her cargo.
Dec. 10th.—The retiring Aldermen (except Mr. Barth) were entertained by
their Tory friends previous to their quitting office.
Dec. 20th.—About 120 gentlemen retaliated upon this course by giving a
dinner to Mr. Barth, S. Cobb, Esq., in the chair. S. Palmer, H. Worship,
Thos. Hammond, George Danby Palmer, R. Palmer Kemp, H. V. Worship, C.
Bell, Thomas Green, Esqs., Capt. Jeffries, and Messrs. Burroughs, W. J.
Mason, B. Cobb, Grave, R. Hammond, T. Lettis, and S. Robinson took part
in this entertainment.
1836.
Jan. 2nd.—The following is the account of the first election of Town
Councillors under the Municipal Reform Act:—
“The election of Town Councillors took place here on Saturday last.
The polling commenced at nine o’clock in the morning, and finished at
four in the afternoon. The return was published on Monday by the
Mayor, as follows:—
NORTH WARD.
Richard Hammond 108
William N. Burroughs 99
Abraham Sewell 94
Charles George Doughty 91
Benjamin Sherrington 90
E. H. L. Preston 89
MARKET WARD.
Simon Cobb 135
William Johnson 134
William Hammond 131
Benjamin Cobb 129
Edward N. Clowes 128
Edward Sewell 124
REGENT WARD.
John Brightwen 98
Samuel Palmer 98
S. C. Marsh 98
Joseph Tomlinson 98
C. Davie 97
Benjamin Dowson 95
ST. GEORGE’S WARD.
C. Sayers 91
W. Grave 91
George Penrice, M.D. 91
W. Barber 91
H. V. Worship 90
Thomas Lettis 89
SOUTH WARD.
G. D. Palmer 147
R. P. Kemp 137
George Garson 127
M. Butcher 124
John Symonds 122
Samuel Robinson 118
GORLESTON AND SOUTHTOWN, OR ST.
ANDREW’S WARD.
J. S. Bell 115
Thomas Hammond 111
J. W. Dowson 105
William Barth 101
Hezekiah Martin 91
P. Stead 87
It is a matter of great congratulation that 34 out of the 36
Councillors are Reformers. This election was conducted with
tranquility. Devoutly it is to be wished that parliamentary
elections were managed in the same way. The laborious portion of our
population had no inducement held out to them to lose a single hour.
It is a little curious that Mr. William Prentice—that very Mr.
Prentice who made so conspicuous a figure in our election
parliamentary investigation, proved one of the most formidable
antagonists with whom the Liberal candidates in the town had to
contend.”
Jan. 7th.—The first meeting of the Reformed Corporation is reported as
follows:—
“The Town Council met on Thursday last at the Tolhouse Hall, John
Brightwen, Esq., in the chair, (Isaac Preston, Esq., having, we
understand, ceased to exercise the functions of Mayor since his
publication of the Council List), for the purpose of choosing twelve
Aldermen. The choice fell on the following gentlemen:—Messrs. J.
Brightwen, Benjamin Dowson, Robert Teasdel, Joseph Starling, J. B.
Palmer, R. S. Lonsdale, Thomas Pitt, Captain William Larke, R.N.,
Benjamin Fenn, Robert Wall, Christopher Nicholls, and Captain James
Jefferies. On the following day the Aldermen and Council met at the
same place for the election of a Mayor and for other public business.
Mr. E. H. L. Preston proposed Mr. Richard Hammond. Mr. H. thanked
Mr. P. for the proposition, and said that he should still more thank
his friends if they voted against him. William Barth, Esq., was then
chosen Mayor, amidst loud cheering. Mr. B. was then, together with
the Aldermen, sworn in. The Court was then thrown open to the
public, when the front and side galleries were instantly filled by a
very respectable concourse of persons, the body of the hall being
appropriated to the Council. Several gentlemen were named for
Magistrates to be recommended to the Crown. Accounts were ordered
touching the property (and profits arising from such property) held
by the late Corporation, together with accounts of the official
persons employed, their salaries, &c., for the last five years. J.
Tolver, Esq., was then chosen, during pleasure, as Town Clerk.”
“Our Conservatives had dined together on Thursday to celebrate the
anniversary of the return of Messrs. Baring and Praed. They have
been obliged to put themselves on a level with the Reformers, and be
content with three shilling tickets instead of fifteen. The dinner
took place at the Angel Inn, J. E. Lacon, Esq., in the chair.”