Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
19th November 1836
Maidenhead, Nov 18
The Anniversary of the Wesleyan Missionary Society will be held in the Town-hall, on Tuesday evening next, when the claims of the Missions will be advocated by the Rev.J.Beecham, one of the Secretaries, the Rev.J.Scott, and the Rev.W.Griffith, jun., from London.
Several of the navigators who are employed on the Great Western Railway have this week been fined by the magistrates for riotous and disorderly conduct.
A small pony was stolen on Sunday last from the premises of Mr.Grove, of Maidenhead Thicket.
Awfully Sudden Death - An awful instance of the uncertainty of human life occurred at Cookham on Thursday last. Mr.S.Dell, a shoemaker, while in conversation with some persons in that village was suddenly seized with illness; his friends observed his countenance undergoing a rapid change, and before they had time to recover from their surprise, or to render any assistance, he fell down and instantly expired !
Chertsey, Nov 18
An inquest was held by Mr.Woods, one of the coroners for Surrey, at Chertsey, on Wednesday, on a man of the name of Willis, 70 years of age, who was taken out of a small rivulet of water (scarcely six inches deep) crossing a lane very near his own habitation. It appeared that the poor fellow, who had been in his country's service, and become so infirm as to be unable to walk without two sticks, had been on an errand about a quarter of a mile on Sunday last; and as he was seen in the evening when almost dark pursuing his usual route towards the lane in question, in which is a public footpath leading towards his own house, it was evident from the position in which he was found that in his attempt to cross the stream he had slipped into the water and was unable to raise himself. His groans were heard distinctly from the cottage but a few minutes only before one of the inmates went to the spot. The Jury, in returning a verdict of "Accidental Death," animadverted on the negligence of the occupier of the adjoining land ( a tenant, as it was understood, of Mr.Sumner's) in not replacing the old bridge , or archway which had been taken away, and to the absence of which the accident was attributed.
Addlestone New Church - The subscriptions for erecting the new church at Addlestone, near this town, are proceeding in a most spirited manner, and with a rapidity that is highly creditable to the families in the neighbourhood. Among the donors we find Eades Summers, Esq., and F.Whightwick, Esq., for �200 each, and the following for �100 each, viz., Lady F.Hotham, the Hon.Mrs.Fox, Lady Wood, George Best[?], Esq., John Ivatt Briscoe, Esq., R.K.Escott, Esq., David Hall, Esq., Henry Pownall, Esq., &c, &c; the total amount of subscriptions is �3,006 12s; independent of which, a lady, who is well known for her benevolent disposition, and for the extent of her patronage of charities, has given the munificent sum of �2,000 for the endowment of the church, besides �100 as a subscription. As we have reason to believe, from the unostentatious manner in which this lady bestows her superabundant wealth that it would be a violence to her feelings to give publicity to her name (though it is known and revered in her own neighbourhood), we forbear from stating it.