The first story about the Hollington toll gate is rather long but is, I think, full of interest. However, I don’t know where it is. Can anyone comment ?
19 March 1840, Brighton Gazette
[Sussex Lent Assizes] John Wood, labourer, 28, charged with having, 7 December, with others, assaulted Francis Pearson with intent to rob him. Pearson was toll collector on the 6th at Hollington Gate, had taken over from Stephen Yielding, who was sleeping in the gate house, as was the witness’s wife. ‘At two o’clock witness was roused by a tap at the window, and instantly afterwards there was a cry of “gate, gate, gate.” Witness put on his night-coat and slippers, and unlocked the door. Saw a man on the Hastings side of the gate, leading a horse. Witness was about to demand the toll, when he was knocked down by a blow; saw two other men before he was struck. The blow fell upon the bridge of witness’s nose. As soon as he was on the ground, his face was covered with a frock, which was held over him. He cried out for help “twenty thousand times,” “help, help, Stephen.” Heard one say, “Stephen is not there.” In the course of the transaction heard Stephen say, “Where is Frank ?” The men then immediately ran away. Ealing [sic] came out to witness’s assistance, and pulled the round frock from his neck. Witness here gave a description of what was called a “Union hat,” and said that one of the men had on a “Union hat.” It was a starlight morning. On the Wednesday following, John Wood was brought through the gate with other prisoners. Witness’s wife, who was at home, saw prisoner at a distance, and identified him. The bat produced was found inside the garden, about a quarter of an hour after the transaction.John Pearson, son of the last witness, found the bat produced, against the house shortly after the transaction, and gave it to his father.
Letitia Pearson remembered the night when her husband was attacked. Her attention had been called to the prisoner before the attack, when he passed through the gate, and she knew him. Heard her husband cry, “murder.” Yielding was sleeping behind the door; I tried to awaken him, and got up herself. Saw John Wood, and he rushed towards the door, and witness “banged the door in his face, and fastened it.” Yielding awoke, and asked witness where her husband was; and she replied that “they were murdering him outside.” John Wood had on a “shining hat, turned up in front, and his frock was turned up, and tucked up in the front.” Gave a description of the man who came to the door to her husband. The next time witness saw the prisoner was in Slatter’s cart, with three other men, at a good distance from witness; she distinguished him from the rest, and told her husband that she knew him to be the same who had rushed to the door.
Stephen Yielding had been toll-collector previously to Pearson; after he left the gate, had been in the habit of sleeping there, and did so on the night that Pearson was attacked, when he got out, and found Pearson supporting himself upon some rails. A round frock was about his head and shoulders. Knew the prisoner before; he is a native of Battle.
Joseph Mepham, driver of the Hastings and London mail, was on the road down to Hastings on Saturday morning, the 7th December; was at the Black Horse Inn, near Feltham Lane, about five o’clock in the morning. The Black Horse is about two miles on the London side of Tivoli gate; saw three men with what they call union hats on. The men had each a stick or bat in hand, resembling that produced, and they were going towards Battle.
Samuel Slatter, constable of Battle, knew the prisoner in December last. Usually wore his whiskers full at the sides, and all round his chin. Obtained a warrant against him on this subject on the 7th. He lived about a quarter of a mile out of Battle. Took him into custody at Battle on the 10th. His whiskers were shaved, and he had none under his chin: he was materially altered. Witness then spoke to passing through the turnpike-gate at Tivoli.
Mr Frederick Ellman, Clerk to the Magistrates of the Battle Division, acted as Clerk on the day when the charge was preferred against the prisoner. He made a statement, which was put in, and identified by the witness. The statement as to this effect, but the prisoner declined to sign it – “I can’t say no more, but that I was in bed, and I have got a witness, named Eldridge, to speak to it, but I have no wish that he should be examined.”
Eldridge was present, but the prisoner declined to call him.
Mr Cobbett addressed the jury for the defence; and his lordship having summed up, the jury, after consulting for about ten minutes, found the prisoner Guilty of an assault, with intent to rob the prosecutor. The prisoner had been convicted before of poaching, and also of an assault; and he had been tried and acquitted on a charge of arson.
The prisoner said he hoped the latter case would not be allowed to have weight in the sentence his lordship was about to pass; for it was well known who the parties were that committed that crime. – Sentenced to Fifteen years’ transportation [The mentioned Tivoli Gate is close to the junction next to Asda in Silverhill. In the 1851 census Stephen Yielding was a carpenter at Mount Street, Battle. John Wood is a common name and not readily identifiable].
28 March 1840, Morning Herald
Mr Hollond, M.P. for Hastings and St Leonard’s, has left town to pass the honeymoon at Paris. Great rejoicings took place at Allegria, the seat of the hon. Member, near St Leonard’s-on-Sea, to celebrate the nuptials of the hon. Member [Robert Hollond (1808-77) was the Whig MP, 1837-52; the Wikipedia article has a portrait. Did not speak in the House of Commons for nearly ten years. He had married 18 March 1840, Great Stanmore, Middlesex, Ellen Julia Teed, minor. He died 26 December 1877, Paris, France, as of Stanmore, with an estate of £350000, equivalent to £34 million today; his widow died 29 November 1884, Stanmore, with an estate of £60302. She was a writer and philanthrophist, and would spend part of the year in her salon at Paris. She too has a Wikipedia article]
16 April 1840, Brighton Gazette
CROSWELLER’S BLUE COACH OFFICE, BRIGHTON.
HASTINGS, ST LEONARDS, & EASTBOURNE COACHES.
THE PUBLIC are respectfully informed that the HERO COACH will commence running on Monday, the 30th inst., every morning at TEN, through Lewes, Horsebridge, Gardener Street, and Battle, to Hastings and St Leonard’s; returning by the same route every morning at the same hour… [continues with details of less frequent Eastbourne coach]
STREVENS, EMARY, & CO., Proprietors.
Blue Coach Office, March 27th, 1840.
30 April 1840, Brighton Gazette
LEWES, THURSDAY, APRIL 30. The Hon. H. Fitzroy, M.P., left London on Tuesday for St Leonards, for the benefit of his health. The hon. Gentleman has taken the house usually occupied by his brother Lord Southampton, when at St Leonards [Henry FitzRoy (1807-59) was MP for Lewes 1837-41 and 1842-59, at first as a Conservative, later as a (free trade supporting) Peelite and just before his death a Liberal. Lord Southampton was Charles Fitzroy (1804-72), 3rd Baron Southampton].
6 June 1840, Dover Chronicle
HASTINGS AND ST LEONARDS. The venerable ruins of the St Mary Magdalene chapel, near Bohemia, are about being removed. A portion of the grave yard has been opened, and the remains of many dead bodies have been found. The Trustees of the Hastings Charities have very kindly given orders that whatever curiousities may be discovered should be deposited in the Museum of the Literary Institute.
6 August 1840, Brighton Gazette
An athletic young man, named Wilson, walked on Wednesday 14 miles, at St Leonards, in one hour, 58 minutes, and 30 seconds; and it is said that he can perform the task in even less time.
3 September 1840, Brighton Gazette
ST LEONARDS. A match of cricket was played on Tuesday last, between eleven gentlemen of St Leonards, (with Burchell, of Hastings) and eleven gentlemen of Hastings, which terminated in favour of the latter, with four wickets to go down. The batting of Thwaites and Burchell called forth the applause of every one present. After the game the parties retired to Mr Oakley’s, at the Horse and Groom Tavern, where about 30 gentlemen sat down to a good supper, which did the landlord much credit. The parties separated about eleven o’clock, highly gratified with the amusements of the day.
26 October 1840, Sussex Advertiser
On Thursday morning last the inhabitants of Hastings and St Leonards were aroused from their peaceful slumbers by the springing of rattles and the cry of fire, and, upon inquiry, it was found that the Allegria, the residence of our respected member, R. Hollond, Esq., was on fire. Hearing of the fire, the engines were got out with great promptitude, and hastened with all possible dispatch to the scene; but, fortunately, there being a plentiful supply of water on the premises, it was extinguished before the arrival of the engines. From the enquiries made at the house it appears that Mr Hollond and a party of friends had been out visiting, and returning home about two o’clock, discovered a great smoke and smell of fire, and upon entering the drawing room they were driven back by vast volumes of smoke. Upon the discovery of the fire the servants, who had retired, were aroused from their slumbers, and several boards of the flooring in the upper rooms were removed, and plenty of water thrown upon the smouldering embers. The fire appears to have originated in consequence of the flues leading from the hot plates being in too close contact with the timbers of the drawing room. Had the fire not been discovered as it was, in all probability it would have fallen to our lot to have recorded the total destruction of the whole of the premises, and a fearful loss of life; but we are happy to state that the damage was of no great extent [Allegria is still there, halfway up Quarry Road. Hollond as noted earlier in this post was the Liberal MP. The 19 October issue says that Mr and Mrs Hollond had as visitors Mr and Mrs Ford].
9 November 1840, Sussex Advertiser
HASTINGS & ST LEONARDS. MUNICIPAL ELECTION. For the East Ward, Messrs. W. Duke, sen., W.L. Yates, James Emary, and Joseph B. Hart, were returned without opposition. In the West Ward the struggle was somewhat severe; but the Liberal candidate, Mr S. Putland, and his friends gallantly took the lead and kept it. The numbers at the close of the poll were – C. Deudney 94, S. Putland 76, C.H. Southall 69, J. Troup 1 [The West ward was, approximately, St Leonards to the east of Mercatoria, the area further west being the St Leonards’ Commissioners’ fief. Charles Deudney was the farmer at Gensing Farm; Stephen Putland was a coal merchant and shipper on London Road; Charles Heywood Southall was a librarian and lived at 6 Maze Hill; James Troup, who presumably cast the only vote for himself, was a property developer who tried to develop Warrior Square].
3 December 1840, Brighton Gazette
ST LEONARDS. The Earl of Warwick, and Lord Brook and suite, are prolonging their sojourn at St Leonards.
A considerable accession to the number of our winter visitors has taken place within the last few days, such as to show that our anticipations of a good winter season are well founded.
The announcement of the safe delivery of Her Majesty and the birth of a Princess was received by the loyal inhabitants of this town with enthusiasm and delight; the standards and flags were hoisted, and soon after day light on the following day a royal salute was fired on the esplanade by Mr Chamberlin, of the St Leonards Hotel [now the Royal Victoria Hotel].
ARCHERY. – The extreme beauty and mildness of the weather has induced another last meeting of the Queen’s St Leonards Archers, suggested by Mr Lamb, who, in a concise and elegant speech, presented at the meeting on Monday two prizes, won at a high score by Miss Mackay and Mr A. Burton. Among the company present we noticed Lady Montgomerie and the Hon. Mrs Dundas [Miss Mackay was probably from Captain Mackay’s family, who were leasing Gloucester Lodge].
4 December 1840, London Gazette
Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership which heretofore subsisted between us the undersigned, Thomas Brown and George Ansell Murton, as Wine-Merchants, at St Leonard’s on Sea, in the county of Sussex, was this day dissolved by mutual consent; and the business will in future be carried on by the said Thomas Brown alone: as witness our hands this 27th of October 1840. Thomas T. Brown, George Ansell Murton [The 1832/34 Pigot’s Sussex Directory, lists Murton as a chymist and druggist, 8 Colonnade, and Thomas Brown, wine merchant, 14 Colonnade].
22 February 1841, Sussex Advertiser
HASTINGS AND ST LEONARDS. MAGISTRATES’ SITTING. Present, F. Smith, (mayor). – Edward Matkins charged by Inspector Campbell with begging at St Leonards on the afternoon of the day before. The prisoner who had given Campbell his wrong name, was discharged upon promising not to offend again.
1 March 1841, Sussex Advertiser
HASTINGS AND ST LEONARDS. On Monday an inquest was held at the Horse and Groom, St Leonards, before J. Phillips, Esq. (who has been appointed Deputy Coroner during the unavoidable absence of J.G. Shorter, Esq. Coroner for the Borough of Hastings) on view of the body of James Owen Mann, an infant who came by his death under the following circumstances. Mary Ann Mann, mother of the deceased, stated that he was 4 months old, and was one of twins. On Saturday night at eleven o’clock when she went to bed with the child it was in good health. It lay on the outside of the bed. During the night she put her hand on its face and found it quite warm. In the morning when she awoke about 8 o’clock she remarked to her husband how well the infant had slept all night. She then looked at him and found him black in the face and quite dead. Mr Smith, the surgeon, was sent for and attended; but life was extinct. Up to that period the child had been usually healthy. Ann Pringle deposed to being called by the husband of the last witness, and to finding the child as described. The parents were particularly fond of the child. When the surgeon came he declared the child to have been dead some hours. – Verdict, “Natural Death.” [Twins William Frederick and James Owen were baptised on the 29 November 1840, St Leonards parish church, to James, blacksmith, and Marianne Mann, of St Mary Magdalen. He was buried at the same church on the 24 February 1841, aged 4 months. In the census carried out on the 6 June 1841 the Mann household of five was at ‘Mews’, probably located between Stanhope Place and East Ascent. All were stated to have been born in Sussex. The children were Elizabeth, 4, Louisa, 2, and the surviving twin William, aged 8 months].
5 April 1841, Sussex Advertiser
On Tuesday, as an old female servant of Mrs Col. Martin, residing at 10, Grand Parade, was walking between Hastings & St Leonards, she was observed suddenly to drop in the path. She was taken to the house of her mistress, but before she arrived there life was extinct. On Thursday an inquest was held on the body, before J.G. Shorter, Esq., Coroner, at the South Saxon Hotel, when a verdict of “Died by the visitation of God” was arrived [The South Saxon Hotel was rebuilt about 1905 and is now Bonjour Café, 13 Grand Parade].