Newspaper Snippets

Transcriptions from early Newspapers - articles that reference Plymouth Dock, a.k.a. Devonport/Stoke Damerel, between 1800 and 1830.

A Most Laughable Incident A Most Melancholy Accident Birth Birth Buried with Military Honors Decision to Build a Library Lieutenant G.S. Richards, Certificates for wearing Hair Powder Throat Cut Devonport Column Admiral Sir James Saumarez, Bart. G.C.B. Last night some seamen broke into Miss Palmers’ shop

Drowning at Morice Town Fatal Duel Fire at North-Corner Died Died Married Orders were received The boy Weymouth Insolvent Debtors Plymouth Dock Equitable Annuitant Society Glorious Victories over France and Spain

A Most Laughable Incident

That on Friday 2nd Jan 1806 A most laughable incident took place in this town and dock, with a party of Trafalgarian and Ortegal naval heroes yesterday, ashore on leave. About 12 of them hired the largest hackney coach they could get on the stand, filled it inside and outside, and on the top; 4 occupied each corner of the coach on top, with two immense bowls of grog, with which they regaled themselves, and then changed places, handed the grog into the coach to their comrades, thro’ the windows; and tho’ the coach drove full gallop, they stood upright, huzzaing Nelson, Collingwood and Strachan, and dancing on the coach, with handkerchiefs as signals. They finished their career at Castle Rag and North Corner, without any accident whatsover.

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A Most Melancholy Accident

On Monday night last, about eleven o’clock, a most melancholy accident occurred, during the tempestuous weather. As Lieutenants Stopford and Ibbotson of the Cornwallis, with Lieutenant Bulmar of the East India Company’s Service, who came home passenger in that ship, after an absence of nine years, were proceeding in a shore boat to North Corner, it became necessary from the extreme agitation of the sea, to alter the trim of the boat, and one of the officers rather suddenly rose to shift his seat for that purpose, when the boat instantly upset, and Lieuts. Bulmar and Ibbetson were unfortunately drowned. Lieutenant Stopford and the watermen, two in number, were saved, by swimming to the Jetty Head of the Dockyard, where they held by the spring of the Belzebub, until ropes were lowered to them by the wardens and sentries. It is rather singular that the watermen are the same who recently saved the lives of General and Mrs. Nelson, Neither of the bodies has yet been found.

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Birth

At Baker’s Place, Richmond Walk, the lady of Paul Le Patourel, Esq. Of a daughter.

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Birth

On Sunday, in Ker-street, the Lady of Mr. W.D. Sole, solicitor, of a daughter.

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Buried with Military Honors

This day the remains of Mr. Cridland, private gentleman trooper in the Plymouth-Dock Volunteer Cavalry, was buried with military honors at Stoke Church.

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Decision to Build a Library

It was finally determined by the inhabitants of Devonport, at a meeting held on Tuesday, that a Public Library should be forthwith built.

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Lieutenant G.S. Richards,

of Torpoint, has been appointed First Lieutenant of the Ocean, at Devonport.

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Certificates for wearing Hair Powder

HAIR-POWDER TAX. SOUTH AND WEST DISTRICT OF DEVON. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That Certificates for WEARING HAIR-POWDER, for the Year, commencing the 6th of April, 1800, and ending the 5th of April, 1801, will be issued by the following Persons, at the Places under mentioned. Mr. R. Nelson or Mr John Carne, Plymouth-Dock Mrs. Sarah Trickery, Plympton &c. &c. And at my Office in the City of Exeter. H. Ley, Distributor of the South and West Districts of Devon.

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Throat Cut

One day last week, when the Royal Sovereign, of 110, was paid off, some of her crew were ashore at North Corner, one of the seamen said to a scamping fellow of that ship, “he deserved to be cobbed for his villainy, and was a disgrace to the ship;” on which he drew a knife, and cut the poor man’s throat so badly, that his life is despaired of. The villain made off directly, and escaped.

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Devonport Column

We understand that the very liberal contribution of between 300l. and 400l.,* has been made by Sir John St. Aubyn and John coles, Esq. towards the erection of the Devonport Column.

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Admiral Sir James Saumarez, Bart. G.C.B.

and Vice-Admiral of Great Britain, will succeed to the command at this port about the 14th April next. Captain Philip Pipon to be Flag-Captain, and John McArther, Esq. Secretary.

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Last night some seamen broke into Miss Palmers’ shop,

milliners, and robbed it of nearly 40l* worth of gloves and laces, with which they got clear off, but a hue-and-cry being raised, six seamen and two girls were taken at Dock, trying to sell the property; after a long examination three seamen were fully committed to take their trials for the burglary at the ensuing assizes.

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Drowning at Morice Town

Mr. Body, carpenter of the Bellona, in Hamoaze, was unfortunately drowned early Friday morning, by falling over the quay into the canal at Morice town.

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Fatal Duel

Sunday Morning, 12 October, a duel was fought near the obelisk, Mount Edgecombe, by a Mr. Armstrong, Midshipman of His Majesty’s ship PRINCE OF WALES and a Mr. Long of the RESISTANCE frigate, which lately sailed from Plymouth. His antagonist’s ball entered Mr. Long’s right side and it is thought lodged in his left shoulder. This circumstance took place at half past eight o’clock in the morning, and was not made known until three in the afternoon when the Port Admiral ordered search for the deceased. He was found lying on his back, his hat on, his pockets turned out, and a cane lying across his arm. His second, Mr. -----, Midshipman of the MONARCH had left him immediately after the fatal ball was fired and returned to Dock with Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Wells of the PRINCE OF WALES, his second. The dispute originated in a common hop in Pembroke Street, where Armstrong wanted to put out the lights while the deceased was dancing with his girl. High words arose, and they immediately adjourned to an inn where the challenge was settled. Mr. Long was a youth of engaging manners, about 18 years old, and, it is said, related to the Duke of Montrose. A strict search is making after the parties who, it is supposed, have gone on board their respective ships. Note. Mount Edgecombe is parkland on the opposite bank of the mouth (The Narrows) of the River Tamar from Plymouth. Dock is Plymouth Dock, the original name for Devonport.

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Fire at North-Corner

A fire broke out last night about twelve o’clock, on the Quay, the bottom of North-Corner-street, Plymouth-Dock, which destroyed three or four store-houses.

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Died

On Thursday, in Queen-street, Devonport, aged 44, Mr. Knighton, formerly a broker, of Plymouth.

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Died

On Saturday morning, in Paradise Row, Stoke, aged 72, Mr James McArthur, and within a few hours after, Mrs Catherine McArthur, his wife, aged 66. Mr McArthur had retired from business for some time, and was well known and highly respected as a tradesman of Devonport.

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Married

On Thursday last, at Charles Church, Plymouth, George Sidley, Esq. Master Attendant of the Devonport Dock-yard, to Grace, only daughter of the late Hugh Pearce, Esq. Commander of the Hart reenue cutter, and Superintendant of the Revenue Water Guard at the Islands of Guernsey, Jersy, and Alderney.

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Orders were received

at the Dock-yard on Monday for each of the quartermen who were lately reduced, and continued in employ, to be allowed an apprentice.

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The boy Weymouth,

who ran away about a fortnignt since, with a sum of money which Mr Wyatt, the grocer, his master, had entrusted him to carry to one of the banks in Devonport, was taken at Bristol on Tuesday, and has been brought back and confined in the Guildhall.

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Insolvent Debtors

Daniel Thomas McCarthy, heretofore a clerk in the Plymouth Dock Yard. James Davis, formerly of Cornwall Beach, Devonport; and late of Kingsand, Victualler and mariner. Emanuel Northey, jun, late of No 17, William street, Morice Town, Devonport, baker and grocer. John Codd, late of Duke street, Devonport, grocer. John Dixon, of Cornwall street, Devonport, and late of Copper Street Southsea, Hants, tailor and slop seller.

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Plymouth Dock Equitable Annuitant Society

The General Meeting of this Society will be on Saturday the 22d of this instant, February, by One o’clock in the Afternoon, at the House of Mr. Stenlake, the Old King’s Arms, Fore street, Dock; when and where all the Members are desired to attend, to pay their annual Subscriptions, and transact the Business relative to the Society. N.B. This Society is calculated to be the most permanent - The annual subscription is One Guinea, and the Annuity to Widows, after the Fifth Year’s subscription, is Five Pounds; after the Sixth, Six Pounds; after the Seventh, Seven Pounds; after the Eigth, Eight Pounds; after the Ninth, Nine Pounds; after the Tenth, Ten Pounds per Annum. Persons desirous of becoming Members (not exceeding Forty Years of Age) are requested to attend the General Meeting, when they may be elected. James Rogers, Secretary. Feb 3d, 1800.

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Glorious Victories over France and Spain

ADDRESS TO HIS MAJESTY. At a general meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Dock and parish of Stoke Damerel, held at the town-hall, in the said town, on the 3d day of December, 1805, for the purpose of addressing and congratulating his majesty on the late glorious victories obtained over the combined fleets of France and Spain; RICHARD MORICE, esq. In the chair.

Mr. William Foot having brought forward an address, resolved unanimously that the same be adopted. That the same be delivered to John Coles, esq. With a request that sir John St. Aubyn, baronet, will be pleased to present the same to his majesty.

That the thanks of he meeting be given to Richard Morice, esq. Francis St. Aubyn, esq. And the rev. Jonathan Williams, clerk, for convening the same.

That the thanks of the meeting be given to Mr. William Foot, for framing and bringing forward the address. That the same be copied on parchment and left for signatures at the town-hall, at the two banks, and at Mr Hoxland’s and Mr Congdon’s, printers.

And that these resolutions be printed and published in hand bills, and in the Sun, Star, Sherborne, and Exeter papers.

R. MORICE. The Chairman having quitted the chair, resolved unanimously that the thanks of the meeting be given to him for his able and proper conduct in the chair. Town-hall, Dock, 3d December, 1805

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Note: * 40l is written today as £40

page updated 31 May 2009

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