11 January 1838, Brighton Gazette
HASTINGS. Our Quarter Sessions commenced on Wednesday, the 3rd, before Mr Recorder Austin… John Jarvis, a flyman, for embezzling money belonging to his master, Mr Edlin; six months’ imprisonment, three months thereof to hard labour in Lewes gaol. – Henry Bartholomew, a lad, for embezzling the money of his master, Mr Hutchins, of the Saxon Hotel; six months’ imprisonment, three months to hard labour… [A flyman drove a coach called a fly. Henry Edlin was the proprietor of Edlin’s Royal Hotel, now the Royal Victoria. The Brighton Patriot, 6 November 1838, states that in the municipal elections for Hastings’ West Ward [that is, St Leonards] “by the instrumentality of the grossest bribery, treating, and intimidation, Messrs. H. Edlin and E. Farncomb were elected.” In the 1841 census Edlin was a hotelkeeper in Brighton].
2 February 1838, Morning Herald
ST LEONARD’S. JAN. 29. Tuesday last her Majesty Queen Adelaide subscribed 20 guineas for the poor of St Leonard’s, to furnish them with coals and soup during the severe weather, requesting her name to be put down for a like sum in addition, if required. The same day the following names were added…[15 additional individuals or couples were listed, subscribing between 5 pounds and 10 guineas].
19 February 1838, Sussex Advertiser
[The Court for Relief of Insolvent Debtors. Dover, 12 March 1838]. JOHN SMITH, formerly of Henry’s Terrace, Hastings, in the county of Sussex, builder, bricklayer and plasterer; after that of St Leonard’s on Sea, in the parish of Saint Mary Magdalen, builder, bricklayer and plasterer, and lodging housekeeper; then of Warrior’s-gate, Saint Leonard’s aforesaid, builder, bricklayer and plasterer, and lodging house keeper; then of the same place, but occasionally in lodgings at Vinehall, Mountfield, in the said county; and late of Warrior’s-gate aforesaid, out of business. – WILLIAM STRICKLAND, formerly of Hastings, master butcher; afterwards of Saint Leonard’s, in the same county, master butcher; and since of Hastings and Saint Leonard’s aforesaid, journeyman butcher.
13 March 1838, London Gazette
[Insolvent debtor. Hearing, Portugal Street, London, 5 April] Joseph Robinson, formerly of Tunbridge Wells, in the parish of Trant [Frant ?], then of the Priory, at Hastings, afterwards of the East Ascent, and of the Colonnade successively, both at St Leonard’s, then of Tunbridge Wells aforesaid, all in Sussex, house and ornamental painter, afterwards of Union row, New Kent road, Newington, Surrey, then of Twickenham, Middlesex, and late of Ormond-row, Richmond, Surrey, ornamental painter.
20 March 1838, Brighton Gazette
[Horsham. Insolvent Debtors’ Court]. JOHN HUGHES, shoemaker, St Leonards, afterwards of Hollington, committed 6th Nov. 1837, at the suit of Mr Hutchings, hotel-keeper, St Leonards, for the sum of 20l., money lent; he borrowed the money to set up in the grocery business, in which he failed. He had no family. Discharged forthwith. [Hutchings ran the South Saxon Hotel, rebuilt about 1905 as 13 Grand Parade, the current site of the Bonjour café].
6 July 1838, Morning Herald
ST LEONARD’S ON SEA. – The town of St Leonard’s has not been backward in testifying its loyalty on this interesting occasion [the Queen’s coronation on the 28th June]. A committee of the resident inhabitants was formed under the able presidency of their esteemed minister, the Rev. S. Widdrington, to obtain the requisite funds, and to make such arrangements as should evince their lively recollection of the royal patronage which they have on more than one occasion experienced. The appeal was heartily responded to; and the “ways and means” were furnished with a liberal hand. It was then resolved that a dinner, consisting of roast beef and plum pudding, with a proper proportion of good ale, and the usual accompaniments, should be given to the children of the several charity schools, of all denominations, and to as many of the adult poor as could be accommodated. Each of the children also to be provided with a coronation medal, and a sufficiency of blue riband to suspend it round the neck. A subscription was also entered into for a regatta, and a display of fire works in the evening. In short, everything was done calculated to give effect to the demonstrations of loyalty which animated the breasts of all. Tables were laid out with much taste, and decorated with flags bearing suitable mottoes. An immense loaf of gigantic proportions was placed at the top and bottom of the tables, an augury of the abundance which was to follow. The dinner was then served up, and the guests having taken their places, the rev. chairman said the grace, which was followed by one verse of the hymn, “Praise GOD, from whom all blessings flow.” The children of the infant schools formed a large circle by themselves, and were plentifully regaled with plum-cakes and tea. Elford’s excellent band promenaded the grounds, playing appropriate airs. The office of purveyor was excellently executed by Mr Mistel, to whom much credit is due for the liberal supply of roast joints and plum pudding; this, with the very excellent “home-brewed,” left nothing for the candidates to desire. In the evening numbers assembled on the parade to witness the brilliant display of fire works which crowned the festivities of the day.
30 August 1838, Brighton Gazette
ST LEONARDS-ON-SEA. – TO BE LET, with immediate possession, the CONQUEROR MEWS, containing stalls for thirty horses, and twenty coach-houses with rooms over them. These Mews are near completing the sea wall 134 yards further to Conqueror Hotel, and will be let with all the patronage of that superior establishment upon reasonable terms: they are exceedingly worth the attention of any person who has been accustomed to the business of a Livery Yard. – For further particulars, apply to Mr John Peerless, 42, Marina, St Leonards-on-Sea [The Conqueror Hotel was located at what is now the eastern, Hastings end of Marine Court].
29 October 1838, Sussex Advertiser
Hastings Quarter Sessions. Charles Russell, sen., and Charles Russell, jun., were indicted for stealing 17 oysters from an oyster barrel, the property of Wm. Phipps, of St Leonard’s. – Verdict, guilty. Russell, sen., one fortnight’s imprisonment; Russell, jun., one week’s imprisonment in Hastings gaol.
1 November 1838, Brighton Gazette
Quarter Sessions. Charles Stevens was indicted for feloniously stealing from William Wartwick Barton, Esq., £4 9s, pleaded not guilty. Mr Langham appeared for the prisoner. Mr Barton said that he was studying for the law and was resident in Exeter Street, Strand. On the 31 October at 2 in the morning he was walking on the Parade, smoking a cigar, after dining out. Fell in with the prisoner, who he knew as a boatman on the beach. Treated him to rum, for 2s. Not feeling disposed to go to bed, he accompanied the prisoner to a coffee shop in the Lavatory [Norman Road], where they each had some breakfast. He afterwards went on the water for two hours, then they went to the Bopeep Public House, where they had some ham and ale. He continued drinking there all day and fell asleep. On his waking he found his money had been taken from his waistcoat pocket. He charged Stevens with robbing him, who swore at him, and threatened to knock him down. Mrs Payne, landlady of the Bopeep, said that the two men were intoxicated when they came into the house, and continued so during the day… [Robert Bacon and a man named Bates, both in the coastguard service, were witnesses in the Bopeep. Barton treated them to ale. George Duke, a flyman, was on the stand close to the Saxon, now 13 Grand Parade, when the prisoner called him to take a gentleman from the Bopeep. Saw prisoner with money. Jury found Stevens not guilty. William Warwick Barton was a married attorney in Willesden in the 1851 census].
4 February 1839, Sussex Advertiser
The proprietor of the Swan Hotel has commenced running an omnibus between Hastings and St Leonards. This will be a great convenience to the public.
A man named Philpot, charged with driving a truck upon the footpath at St Leonards, pleaded guilty, and was dismissed, with a warning from the Bench, that for the future offenders would be punished. Joseph Morris was charged with driving a carriage on a footpath, on the 22nd of January, in the parish of St Mary Magdalen. Defendant stated that he was drawing a chair upon a footpath, which he supposed was allowed for the convenience of invalids. The magistrates concurred in the necessity of allowing chairs and hand carriages to be drawn upon paths. Case adjourned for a week.
Thanks for typing all of these. I cannot get enough of old press clippings about newly built St Leonards.