1.--The Norfolk Agricultural Association decided to merge with the Royal
Agricultural Society in 1886 and to hold no county show that year.
6.--In the House of Commons, Mr. J. A. Picton asked the Secretary of
State for the Home Department whether it was a fact that, as reported in
the London papers, the Rev. Coker Adams, rector of Saham Toney, had on
Sunday, July 26th, pronounced in his parish church sentence of
excommunication against Joseph Payne, a parishioner, aged 82, because of
his persistent neglect of the Church's ordinances and refusal of her
ministrations, and enquired whether notice would be taken of his illegal
action? Sir Richard Cross replied that he saw this account with extreme
surprise and regret, and he thought it right the sentence should be sent
to the Bishop, who, he had no doubt, would make enquiry into the matter.
7.--Died, at Rackheath Park, Sir Henry Josias Stracey, Bart. A prominent
member of a well-known county family, Sir Henry for many years occupied a
distinguished position. Born in 1802, he was educated at Eton, and
afterwards served for several years in the 1st Dragoons, and on
succeeding to the baronetcy, on the death of his father in 1855, he
entered with considerable ardour into politics. Just previously he had
been returned without opposition as one of the representatives of East
Norfolk on the retirement of Mr. Edmond Wodehouse. On the dissolution of
Parliament in 1857 Major-General Windham, in the flush of the fame he had
gained in the Crimea, was brought forward for East Norfolk with Sir E. N.
Buxton, and there being divided opinions in the Conservative camp, Mr.
Burroughes and Sir Henry Stracey declined to contest the seat. On the
death of Sir E. N. Buxton in June, 1858, Sir Henry was again nominated,
and was defeated by the Hon. Wenman Coke. In the following year he was
returned with Sir Edmund Lacon for Yarmouth, defeating Mr. (afterwards
Sir E. W.) Watkin and Mr. Young, and sat for that borough until 1865. In
1868 he stood for Norwich in opposition to Sir W. Russell and Mr.
Tillett, and was returned at the head of the poll, but was unseated on
petition. In 1874 he again came forward, in conjunction with Mr.
Huddleston, was unsuccessful, and thereafter took no share in polities.
Sir Henry married, in 1835, Charlotte, only daughter and heiress of Mr.
George Denne, of the Paddock, Canterbury. He served the office of High
Sheriff in 1871, and was a Deputy Lieutenant and magistrate for the
county of Norfolk.
18.--Died, at Hingham, Sir Thomas Beevor, Bart., aged 61. He married, on
December 19th, 1850, Sophia Jane, daughter of the Rev. Clement
Chevallier, rector of Badington and Cransford, Suffolk, and widow of Mr.
Isaac Jermy Jermy, who, with his father, Mr. Isaac Jermy, fell a victim
to the murderer, James Blomfield Rush. "The Beevor family, which, with
their connections, are very numerous, are descended from the Rev. William
Beevor, rector of South Walsham and Rockland in 1659 (the eldest son of
Abraham Beevor, of Heckmondwike, Yorkshire), whose grandson, Sir Thomas,
eldest son of Thomas Beevor, of Norwich, and Hester, daughter of John
Sharpe, of Norwich, was created a baronet in 1784." The subject of this
notice was educated for the Bar, but in his latter years devoted himself
to the supervision of the business of the Norwich Union Life Assurance
Society, of which he was chairman of the directors, and was at the same
time a director of the Norwich Union Fire Office. His eldest son, Thomas
Edward, died to 1879, and the second son, Hugh Reeve, succeeded to the
baronetcy.
24.--Norwich Theatre was opened under the management of Mr. Fred Morgan.
The inaugural performance, "In Chancery," was given by Mr. Edward Terry's
company. On succeeding evenings "Weak Woman" and "The Rocket" were
produced, and Mr. Terry also appeared in the character of James Blodder
in an adaptation of Thackeray's "Jeames's Diary." Several improvements
had been effected in the Theatre, which had undergone much-needed
redecoration.