Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from the Salisbury and Winchester Journal
Monday, March 13th, 1797
Winchester
Saturday, March 21
On Tuesday evening last the Hon Sir Richard Perryn, Knt. and the Hon.Sir Francis Buller, Bart. arrived at this city, when the Commission for holding the Assizes for Hampshire was opened; but Wednesday being appointed for a General Fast, the business of the Court did not commence till Thursday morning. There were SIXTY FOUR prisoners on the Calendar for trial, of whom fourteen were capitally convicted, and received sentence of death, viz.
Gaspard Koep[?] and Nicolas Wagner, for violently assulting and forcibly ravishing Elizabeth, the wife of Richard Lock, at Claybrook Common, in the parish of Whippingham; - David M'Farin, for assaulting and robbing William Ross of two half-guineas and 7s. in silver, at Hambledon; - William Smith, for breaking into the house of Mary Piercy, at Portsea, and stealing one linen handkerchief and a great number of farthings; - Charles Ladew, for assaulting and robbing James Kent, on the highway at Portsmouth, of a box, containing twelve gold epaulets, the property of Messrs.Daniel and Richard Blechford; - Thomas Bartlett, for breaking into the stable of Mr.Wm. Eggar, at Bentley, and cutting a quantity of hair from the manes and tails of his horses; and also for stealing a she ass, the property of Jane Miles; - William Cook, for violently assaulting and taking from the person of John Mangrove, one linen shirt, a pair of slippers, a half-guinea in gold, 7s. in silver, &c. at Wymering; - Daniel Driscoll and Thomas Nowland, for stealing seventeen handkerchiefs, eleven pairs of stockings, and a check shirt, out of the house of William Tracey, at Portsea; - Anthony Rowson, for publishing as true a forged and counterfeited deed, called a power of attorney, purporting to have been signed by James Clark[?] and David ------, and to have been sealed and delivered by them, with intent to defraud James Kane, at Gosport; - James Donnaly, for breaking into the house of Mary Brown, of Alverstoke, and stealing three gowns, a petticoat, &c.; - William Willis, for breaking open the dwelling house of Richard Seymour, at Portsea, and stealing a cloth cloak, a muslin apron, and other articles; - Daniel Guilmore, for stealing a bundle out of the house of Henry Dicker, at Gosport, containing various articles of wearing apparel; and Rebecca Titford, for breaking open the dwelling house of Francis Phillips, at Minstead, and stealing therefrom two gowns.
William Hall and John Roberts, for stealing the mast of a ship in Portsmouth harbour, belonging to his Majesty; William Robinson, for stealing from Jonas Morris, at Magdelen Hill fair, near Winchester, bank notes of �151; - William Bird , for stealing twelve pellias cases, at Porchester, the property of his Majesty; Francis Simmons, for stealing some of the King's stores; - Henry Barker, for stealing 25 silver and six metal watches, at Alverstoke, the property of Jacob Moses; - and Noel Dubois, for stealing a silver watch, three gold seals, and a gold trinket, from Lewis Lazarus, in Portsmouth Harbour, were ordered to be transported for seven years.
Salisbury,
Monday, March 13, 1797.
Extract of a Letter from Weymouth dated March 13.
"Arrived the Greyhound revenue cutter of this port, of 16 guns, Captain Wilkinson, from a cruize. He saw the fleet under the command of Admiral Lord Bridport pass the Start on the 3d inst. about four o'clock P.M. with a fine breeze at E.S.E. and supposes his Lordship must be off Brest on the following morning.
"On Wednesday last Capt.Wilkinson, of the Greyhound, and tide surveyor of this port, seized the Mary Schooner of New York, Stevenson master, from Brest to Portsmouth, for illegal practices. - She came to an anchor within five miles of his harbour, and was running contraband goods."
On Thursday last a General Meeting of the Lieutenancy held by the Right.Hon the Earl of Pembroke, Lord Lieutenant, and several Deputy Lieutenants of this county, at the Town-Hall in Devizes, for the further execution of the Provisional Cavalry Acts, when the several estimates of compensation to the balloted persons were settled, and various orders made for expediting the purposes of the Act.
And on Friday morning the Lord Lieutenant reviewed the Second Division of the Supplementary Militia, Training at Devizes, (about 450 in number) in a field near the town, and expressed great satisfaction at the martial appearance of the men, the adroitness with which they performed their several evolutions, and the high character for sobriety, subordination, and good manners given them by their Officers. The Second Division completed their 20 days service on Saturday; and the Third Division is to assemble Devizes on Thursday next.
Tuesday last a troop of Royal Horse Artillery marched into Dorchester, with field pieces, mortars, &c. there to be stationed in readiness for service, should the French be daring enough to attempt landing in his district.
The 34th and 48th regiments marched through this city last week on their route from Poole to Everly, &c. and thence to Winchester. They are both lately returned from the West Indies : the former regiment on its march to embark for that quarter, about two years and a half ago, passed through here, and was then about 900 strong; it now musters about 120 men, 40 of whom have been recruited since its return. The latter regiment has suffered in nearly the same proportion.
The Rev.George Saxby Penfold [?], of Merton College, Oxford, is instituted to the Rectory of Pulham, in Dorsetshire, vacant by the death of the Rev.J. Parsons.
On Tuesday the 28th of February died, at his seat at Carswell House, in Berkshire, Henry Southby, Esq. - Among his numerous acts of benevolence and charity, he was the first author, in Bath, of that noble institution the Sunday Schools, where he collected near four hundred children, who must ever gratefully respect the memory of so good a benefactor, and so worthy a character.
Lately died, at Market Lavington, Mr.Thomas Chandler, surgeon, whose assiduous attention to the duties of his profession, justly endeared him to ranks of all people. His death will be an universal loss to that neighbourhood.
Last week died at Bath, the Rev.James Sparrow, a Prebendary in the Cathedral Church at Sarum, and Rector of Waddington, in Lincolnshire; a man of extensive learning and general knowledge.
On Tuesday morning last died Mr.Rogers, taylor of this city. His death was very sudden : he had walked from home to a house at Harnham, where he had some business, and on entering complained he was ill, leant on a table, and almost immediately dropped down dead.
On Friday died Mr.Banning, shoemaker, in St.Thomas Church-yard.
On Tuesday evening last, at the close of Blandford fair, two horses were stolen from the doors of public houses, though left for a few minutes only, whilst their owners took a parting glass with some friends within; and have not since been heard of; - a circumstance that ought to operate as a caution to all idle visitors at fairs.
On Saturday Mr.Baron Perryn arrived here, and opened the Commission for the Lent Assizes for the County of Wilts, the business of which commences this day.
There are only ten prisoners on the Calendar for trial, viz. - Benjamin Jones, for ----- ; - Martha Perkins, charged with the wilful murder of her bastard child at Westbury; - Susannah Pugh, charged with a similar offence, at Wroughton; James Jenkins, for stealing four ewe and three wether sheep, from a field in the parish of Cricklade, the property of Mr.Edward Smith; - Henry Peaple, for stealing a chesnut gelding, belonging to Mr.Charles Hedges, from a stable at Cold Harbour Inn; - Richard Imber, for a burglary in the dwelling-house of Mr.James Holloway, at Westbury; - John Castle [?}, for killing John Neale, at Grittleton; - John Bryant, for stealing a sack and four bushels of sharps and gurgens, from the mill of Mr.Robert Bryant, of Bradford; John Spearing and Roger Moody, for stealing two silk handkerchiefs, the property of Andrew Pope, at Downton.
James Brewer, committed for killing William Staples otherwise Vince, on Devizes Green, died in prison, as has already been mentioned.
The Judges go from hence to Dorchester, where the Commission will be opened on Thursday, and the following prisoners are to take their trials:-
Wm. Cross, charged with stealing half a guinea and some silver, the property of Hugh Brine, of Sherborne. - Jane Waters, for having burglariously broken and entered the dwelling-house of Harrist Bezant, at Weymouth, and stealing two red cloth cloaks. - Wm.Jerrett, charged with giving George Bridle, the younger, of Rampisham, three dangerous wounds in his body with a knife.- Ann Cousins, charged with stealing eleven yards and a half of muslin, the property of George Golding, at Bridport.- Sarah Cummens, charged with stealing divers articles of wearing apparel, the property of George James, of Fryer Waddon. - Tho. Barnet, for stealing a watch, the property of John Neal of the 1st reg. of dragoon guards. - Henry Attwood Keate, charged with having shot at, and dangerously wounded Wm.Adams, of Cranborne.- Wm. Baker and Wm. Pym, for stealing a great coat out of a cart in the parish of Sturminster Newton Castle, the property of John Skinner, of North Cheriton, Somerset.