It is impossible for me to suppress a feeling of pride in
regarding the position in which you have placed me. This
feeling, however, gives place to one of gratitude to those who
have so generously placed confidence in me, and to a sense of
the high responsibility which your votes have imposed upon me.
I am not fond of making professions, and it has been one great
drawback to the pleasure I have had in making myself known to
you, that I have been obliged, as a stranger, to hold more of
the language of self-recommendation than I could have wished.
I trust that, under God's blessing, I may be able so to do my
duty towards you that, whenever I may have occasion to ask
a renewal of your confidence, I may be able to point to my
actions as affording a mere satisfactory test of my inclination
and ability to serve you than words can do.
I thank you heartily for the kind reception I have met with,
for the courtesy which has been shewn to me even by those who
differ from me in opinion, and for the final mark of your
confidence which now calls for my warm acknowledgments. I
have but one favour more to ask. It is, that you will use my
services as freely as I now place them at the disposal of you
all.
I remain, Gentlemen,
Your obliged and faithful Servant,
STAFFORD H. NORTHCOTE.
_Dudley, March 9th, 1855._
Died, March 13th, 1855, Mr. James Jesson, of Victoria Terrace, a man of
isolated and penurious habits, but he left a noble evidence of his good
will to the town at his death, by bequeathing £10,000 to endow "Alms
Houses," a school known as "Jesson's School and Charity." Aged 76 years.
March 21st, 1855. This day was observed as a public day of prayer and
fasting for the success of our glorious soldiers and sailors in the
Crimean War.
May 13th, 1855. A dreadful murder was committed this morning at the
"Sailor's Return" public house, Kateshill, Dudley, by one John Meadows,
who deliberately shot his sweetheart, because he was jealous of her;
the poor girl died instantly.
May 17th, 1855. Married, Miss Elizabeth Bourn, step-daughter of Mr.
F. Pigott, Railway Contractor, of this town, at St. Edmund's Church,
to Mr. Elliott, Manufacturer, Birmingham. Great pomp and ceremony was
observed on this occasion, there being nine carriages in attendance at
the wedding.
A sad sequel happened at the Railway Station as the bridal party
started on their honeymoon. A collision betwixt two trains took place,
by which numbers of passengers were severely shaken and bruised, and
Mr. Thos. Fehr, Spirit Merchant, Market Place, was maimed for life.
May 28th, 29th, 30th, 1855. A series of fetes took place on the Castle
grounds this Whitsuntide, under the management and for the benefit of
Mr. Alfred Bunn, of the Opera House, London. Upwards of 20,000 people
came to see the "sights," and it was said that Mr. Bunn cleared £500 by
this affair, but he forgot to leave any token of his liberality to our
local charities.
Died, July 14th, 1855, Mr. Bagott, Tailor and Draper, High Street. Aged
70 years.
Died, July 27th, 1855, Mr. Joseph Haden, of Dixon's Green. This
gentleman had much to do with the building of St. Thomas's New Church
in 1816.
August 4th, 1855. Hanged at Worcester this morning John Meadows, for
the brutal and unfeeling murder of his sweetheart, Ann Mason, at
Kateshill, in May last.
September 9th, 1855. Great rejoicings all over the land at the
news: "The Russians evacuated Sebastopol after two days' desperate
bombardment by both sea and land by the Allied Forces; they blew up
their magazines, sunk their ships, and set fire to the town previous to
leaving it, and then they retired to the North side of the Harbour."
Glorious news for Old England!
Died, November 2nd, 1855, Mr. Thos. Guest, junr., Grocer, Market Place.
Aged 42 years.
Died, January 24th, 1856, Mr. Josiah C. Cook, Ironmonger, High Street.
Mr. Cook was a prominent Freemason in his time, and was universally
respected as a friend and neighbour. His remains were followed to the
grave, as a mark of fraternity and respect, by many of the leading
Freemasons of the district.