Author: Volunteers

Murder in mid-18th century east-coast America was part of life. At this time the east coast truly resembled the wild west and Frederick Stump was lucky he was never brought to justice for these shameful murders. “The Frederick Stump affair” gives a more detailed account.

“Philadelphia Feb. 1. On the 10th of last month, four India men and two women went to the house of Frederick Stump, near the mouth of Middle-Creek, in the county of Cumberland in this Province, where the said Stump, after disabling them by making them drunk, most inhumanly murdered them, and hid their bodies under the ice in the creek. On the next day he went with a servant lad to an Indian cabbin, about 14 miles up the said creek, and there barbarously put to death an Indian woman, two girls, and a young child, and set fire to the cabin, and burnt the bodies to ashes. After committing these horrid murders, he freely confessed the whole to Mr. William Blyth, whose deposition, we hear, has been taken before the Chief Justice. The only reasons assigned by him for these atrocious violences, were, that he was afraid the six Indians intended to do him a mischief, and that he murdered the other four lest they should inform the other Indians of the death of the six. Upon the whole, he seemed to be under no apprehensions of punishment, and behaved as if he had done a meritorious action.”

Stamford Mercury, 14th April, 1768.

Skipping or any other playful activity was strictly forbidden in the Royal Parks without prior ‘authorisation’. Victoria Park lies on the Thames near Westminster where park rules were stringently enforced as one family discovered to their cost.

“Whitsuntide frolics.–At Worship-street police-court on Tuesday John Turner and Selina Turner, man and wife, were charged before Mr. Bushby with skipping in Victoria-park. Selina Turner was further charged with assaulting two of the park constables. The evidence showed that about 5 o’clock on the previous afternoon the prisoners and several others were skipping with a rope in the open portion of Victoria-park. The officers went up, and after requesting the skippers to desist took John Turner into custody. On the way to the station Selina Turner caught hold of one of the constables by the whiskers, and kicked the other.  At the station door she was taken into custody. In answer to the charge the prisoners indignantly denied that they were doing any wrong by skipping in the park. Selina Turner did not assault the officers, who used John Turner very roughly. The officers admitted that the male prisoner was not turning the rope when apprehended. Mr. Bushby said by the schedule of the Act under which charge was laid (Royal Parks and Gardens Act) it was enacted that no person should play any game in the parks except in accordance with the rules of the park, and the rules of the park said that no “unauthorised” person should play any game. The male prisoner had rendered himself liable to a penalty of 5l., and Selina Turner for obstructing the officers to 20l. fine. However, he fined the man only 5s. or seven days, and the woman 20s. or 14 days.”

Stamford Mercury, 6th June, 1873.

Forfeits was a typical Victorian game but when the players venture outside the house in costume it may well end in tears.

“A Christmas Forfeit.–An amusing case was heard before the Southampton Magistrates on Saturday. A respectable young man named Renyard was charged with loitering in the streets in woman’s clothes. A constable proved having seen him on the previous night in female attire. The prisoner’s defence was that on Friday night he was at a Christmas party playing forfeits, and he was “sentenced” to walk down the main street dressed in woman’s clothes, and being “in for a lark” he did it. The policeman said prisoner was wearing a woman’s hat, a crinoline, a black silk skirt and a shawl–clothes which a companion of the prisoner, who was also at the party, said were borrowed from ladies who were taking part in the game of forfeits. The Magistrates told the accused he had been guilty of a stupid Christmas frolic, but had been punished enough by being locked up all night, and they discharged him.”

Stamford Mercury, 3rd January, 1873.

Forgery among the holy orders, whatever next? Did the Reverend Moyle see the error of his ways or did he pursue a criminal career? Unfortunately, this is the record of his first offence, (or the first one that came to notice) for which he was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment. He became infamous with reports of his trial reaching New Zealand.

“A Clergyman charged with Forgery. –The Rev. Vyvyan Henry Moyle, Vicar of Eston in Cleveland, was on Monday arrested and remanded on a charge of forging shares, value 22,000l., in the recently-formed company of Messrs. Jackson, Hill, and Co. (limited), of Eston, iron manufacturers. The rev. gentleman applied for 10,000l. worth of shares in the firm, which were supplied, and he had paid 3,500l., the amount of calls due. On the 26th ult. the secretary of the company received what were supposed to be 220 fully-paid shares of 100l each, signed and sealed, and a transfer signed with Mr. Moyle’s name. Inquiries showed that the Mutual Society, Gresham-buildings, London, had advanced money upon the documents. Mr. Moyle was taken before a Magistrate at Middlesbrough, and evidence was adduced which justified a remand for a week. It is stated that the prisoner does not deny the charge ; the whole of the signatures to the documents and seal also are supposed to be forgeries. Mr. Moyle was first in Middlesbrough as a curate twelve years ago, and was appointed to Eston upon the formation of that parish.”

Stamford Mercury, 3rd January, 1873.

Climbing boys and girls, technically called ‘chimney sweeps’ apprentices’ were sent up chimneys that were too narrow for their masters to climb. The practice in England was finally outlawed in 1875, although obviously discountenanced when this article was written.

‘A chimney-sweeper, named James Wilkes, travelled down from Lincoln in one of the steam-packets to Boston on Thursday the 18th inst., accompanied by an interesting-looking boy, about six years old. This child he took care should be in his sight as much as possible during the voyage ; but, notwithstanding his caution, the boy availed himself of an opportunity to communicate something to one of the passengers, which induced that person to watch where the fellow took the child, and afterwards having procured the aid of a police-officer, they searched the premises, and rescued the unfortunate boy from the clutches of Wilkes, whose obvious intention was to make him labour in climbing chimneys. It is supposed that the parents reside in Yorkshire, and it may be imagined how intense must have been the agony they have endured since their child was missed. On Friday, Wilkes was examined before the Magistrates of Boston, and remanded for further examination, to give time for due enquiry into the circumstances of the case.’

Stamford Mercury, 26th June 1829.

Easter Island remains a mystery today. Experts still disagree over the date the Polynesians colonised the island and why the civilisation collapsed so quickly. Here’s what people thought a century ago.

‘Mystery of Easter Island

“All the seashore is lined with numbers of stone idols, with their backs turned towards the sea,” wrote a navigator 150 years ago of this island–“which caused us no little wonder, because we saw no tool of any kind for working these figures.”

The “idols” are not the only mystery on Easter Island. Whence came the inhabitants ? From South America, 2,000 miles to the East ? Or did they sail against the prevailing winds from the distant island to the West ? Some hold that Easter Island is all that remains of a sunken continent. Wooden tablets have been found there, bearing a script which has defied all translation.

The statues stand on the slopes of Rano Raraku, an extinct volcano. The quarries from which the statues came are on the higher slopes. The shadow of this mystery lies over the land. “The inhabitants of today are less real than the men who have gone. In Easter Island the past is the present ; it is impossible to escape from it.”

Some of the statues are over 30ft. in height. They weigh 40 to 50 tons. They were erected chiefly, it is believed, to mark the “ahu” or burial-place of the dead. It is impossible, save on the great eastern and western headlands, to go for more than a hundred yards without coming across one of these abodes of the dead.

Looked at from the landward side, the “ahu” appears as a vast theatre stage, the floor of which runs gradually upwards from the footlights. At the back is a great terrace, on which are set the giant stone images, all facing the spectator.

“Irrespective of where he stands, he will ever see them towering above him, clear cut against a turquoise sky. In front of them are the remains of the departed. Unseen on the farther side of the terrace is the sea. The stone giants and the faithful dead over whom they watch are never without music, as countless waves launch their strength against the pebbled shore, showering on the figures a cloud of mist and spray.”

All of these remains have been overthrown and many broken. It is not known how they were overthrown. It is not even known how they were set up. In one place an “ahu” was built on a natural eminence. One side was sheer cliff, the other, a slope of 29ft., was as steep as the roof of a house. Near the top a statue was lying.

“Do you mean to tell me,” said a guide who was directing the party, “that that was not done by mana? (magic).”–From “The Mystery of Easter Island,” by Mrs. Scoresby Routledge (Sifton Praed).’

Stamford Mercury, 2nd January, 1920.

Belgium secedes from the Netherlands and becomes independent. A contemporary account of the division of the country; you can’t help but empathise with Van de Weyer and his reluctance to sign the final treaty.

‘Brussels Papers received on Sunday contain intelligence respecting the new and final treaty between Holland and Belgium, determined on by the Five Powers. The substance of the treaty is, that Belgium shall form an independent state, comprising the provinces of South Brabant, Liege, Namur, Hainault, Western and Eastern Flanders, Antwerp, and Limburgh, excepting Maestrecht and the districts of the Prince of Limburg. A part of Luxembourg is also ceded to Belgium, for which the King of Holland will receive territorial indemnity in Limburg. The free navigation of the rivers running through both countries is recognised, as arranged by the Congress at Vienna. The National Debt will be equitably apportioned between the two countries, by which arrangement Belgium will be charged with a debt of 8,400,000 florins. The twenty-four articles were read in the Chamber on Thursday the 20th, together with two notes addressed by the Conference to the Belgian Plenipotentiary, Van de Weyer, and the answer of the latter. The Five Powers declare the terms of adjustment now laid down, are their final and irrevocable decision. M. Van de Weyer did not consider himself authorised by the instructions of his government to sign the articles, and indeed, in the Belgian Congress there already appear symptoms of dissatisfaction ; but the terms of the present arrangement being so perfectly equitable, it is obvious that their clamour and intemperance must be disregarded, and this impediment to the general tranquility of Europe effectually removed. The Belgian government are said to have received a separate intimation from the French ministry, that in case of their refusal to accept the treaty they must not expect to be assisted or encouraged by France.

Stamford Mercury, 28th October, 1831.

Bees have long been highly valued for their honey and the care of bees was a traditional rural pursuit. In 1820 this letter to the Stamford Mercury gives a detailed description of the bee box made by the writer’s neighbour.

Nowadays so many different types of bee hives or bee boxes are available, some of which sound like the one described below.

BEES.

Mr. Editor,- I request that you will give a place in your next number to the following attempt at describing the method by which a neighbour of mine manages his bees, and by which he always has his honey in the purest state, without ever destroying a single bee. In place of the common hive, my neighbour uses square boxes, made of thin board, about fourteen inches each way at top, and eight inches deep ; each box has a square hole cut out in the centre of the bottom and top, of about three inches across, exactly opposite to each other, and slips of thin board fitted to them, to slide out and in, as occasion may require. These boxes are placed close on the top of each other, to the number of three or four, and the slides drawn back the breadth of the hole, so that they will have a communication with each other. The bees are put into the uppermost box, and when it is completely filled with comb, in place of swarming, (as they must do in the common hive, for want of room) they work down into the second box, and so on to the bottom. By putting a pane of glass in the side of each box, it can be always be seen what progress they make downwards. By the time they are down into the third box, the slide is then to be put in, and cut off the communication between the first and second ; the upper box can be lifted off full of pure honey, without a single bee in it. – By the time they have reached the lowermost box, they are to be lifted off gently, and an empty one put in below it, and so on. One can have any number of sets of these boxes that their stock requires, and they are all to be placed in a wooden frame of convenient width, and in length to answer the quantity one intends to keep ; it is to be boarded entirely round ; the north side, however, to open on hinges, for the more conveniently taking out and putting in the boxes.

Stamford Mercury, 14th January, 1820.

Top hats are still de rigueur at Ascot. Over a century ago oval-shaped top hats were a new thing, nowadays men are spoilt for choice with hats of three different oval shapes : round oval, regular oval and long oval – who would have thought we needed so many? Here’s a modern guide to buying a top hat for those formal occasions.

‘LONDON PATENT IMPROVED OVAL-SHAPE BEAVER HATS,

Manufactured upon Blocks the exact Shape of the Head, and warranted to retain their form.

NATHANIEL DANDO and Co. Oval Hat Manufacturers. Original Inventors, and only Makers of the Improved Oval Shape Beaver Hat, No. 42, Cheapside, LONDON, again beg leave to introduce to the notice of the public, their Patent Improved Oval Shape Beaver Hats, assuring their friends that they have now completely effected that desideratum of making a hat so near the shape of the head, that it is worn without being felt ; thereby preventing those frequent head aches, and unpleasant sensations, so often experienced by wearing the common round shaped hat on an oval head, which must of course cause an unequal pressure upon the veins, thereby obstructing the free circulation of the blood in the vessels of the head, and often producing most serious consequences.

N Dando and Co. beg to refer to the many medical gentlemen, of the first eminence, who are wearing and recommending their Oval Shaped Beaver Hats, for their peculiar ease and comfort.

Merchants and the Trade can be supplied with the Improved Oval Shape Beaver Hats, only by Messrs. Nathaniel Dando and Co. 42, Cheapside, London, and the public by most of the respectable hatters in the Kingdom.

A brief explanation of the Superiority of the Improved Oval Shape Beaver Hat, to the Common Hat.

The natural shape of the common hat from its being made on a perfectly round block, and brought to the oval shape of the head, by the hands and the use of a screw, is liable by wear, or when exposed to the damp or rain, to get soft, flap in the brim, and return to its natural round form ; thus losing its shape by being artificially produced.

The Improved Oval Shape Beaver Hat, being manufactured and finished upon an oval block, made to the exact shape of the head, (most of which are from one inch to one inch and a half oval,) will not lose its shape, not being artificially produced with the hands and screw, as is the case with the common hat ; but manufactured from its first state in the shape required to be worn, nor is its shape liable to be affected by the damp or rain.

Nathaniel Dando and Co. request their friends and the public particularly to observe, that they have not appointed any Agent in London ; that their Warehouse, 42, Cheapside, is the only house in Town where they can be supplied with the Improved Oval Shape Beaver Hat ; and that every hat manufactured by them, has their names engraved in the bottom of the lining.’

Stamford Mercury, 27th August, 1819.