150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (4th - 10th OCTOBER 1871)
This week's stories include the St Helens children that never attended school, a death on the railway at Sutton Oak, the unfriendly man who cheated the Prescot friendly society, the Haydock Park farm sale and the anti-vaccinator from Preston.
We begin on the 4th with the monthly meeting of St Helens Town Council in which the rates for the next financial year were set at 1s 4d in the pound. That was the same rate as last year but in fifty years time they would be 18s 6d in the pound!
The new St Helens Railway Station in Shaw Street had in July been "thrown open to the public", as a number of newspapers put it. The station was not much to shout about, apparently, but at least it was new and was making the approaches to the station look rather shabby. So the councillors asked their surveyor to estimate the cost of putting these roads and properties in good order. Notices would be sent out to owners to implement the required improvements asap.
An alarming letter from local flint glass maker Samuel Bishop was read out at the council meeting. An analysis of a census taken earlier in the year had revealed that as many as 2,000 children between the ages of five and twelve who were resident in the borough did not attend school. That was in breach of the Elementary Education Act of 1870, which had established local education authorities in England and Wales and is recognised as being the first piece of legislation to specifically deal with the provision of education.
Although important, the Act brought neither free nor compulsory education, which is why 2,000 kids in St Helens were not going to school and there wasn't really much that the council could do about it. Curiously, vaccination was compulsory – despite being highly controversial – but going to school wasn't.
A number of newspapers this week were carrying an advert for an auction at Haydock Park Farm – which was described as being one mile from Ashton and a mile from Newton-le-Willows. John France was the 71-year-old farmer at Haydock Park who in the 1871 census said his farm covered 355 acres. France was selling off all his livestock, including 53 head of horned cattle and 35 fat lambs. The advert said: "The whole of the Live Stock are well-bred, of good colour and fine symmetry, and cannot fail to be looked upon with pleasing eyes by the most fastidious." Seven acres of turnips and 90 acres of winter grass were also up for auction.
A Miners Conference at Merthyr ended on the 6th and the attendees agreed to try and get some MPs elected to Parliament in order to enable improvements to their conditions and pay. But it couldn't happen fast enough, with seventeen disasters set to take place in the Lancashire coalfield during the 1870s. It was also decided that next year's conference would be held in St Helens.
Walking on the railway lines was a very common practice, as it was often a more direct route between A and B and so saved time. However it didn't save time if you got killed – as many did. On the 7th Samuel Lucas of Convent Row was killed when walking in the dark along the railway line from Sutton Oak station (shown above) to his home. The train from Widnes ran him over, cutting off a foot and the 48-year-old's face was reported as being "completely smashed". Samuel's son James, then a booking clerk, later became stationmaster at Sutton Oak station and retired in 1914 after 31 years in charge.
Many people during the 19th century were members of friendly societies. These were essentially insurance providers that doled out payments for sickness, burials and sometimes unemployment. Some had strange names such as the Ancient Shepherds Friendly Society, the Antediluvian Order of Buffalos or the Ancient Order of Druids.
On the 10th in St Helens County Court the president of the Amicable Hearts of Oak Friendly Society of Prescot brought an action against a steward called Welsby, who had behaved in a most unfriendly way. The man had been given the sum of £12 to pay sick members of the society. But instead of going round Prescot and doling out the cash like he was Father Christmas, Welsby went to Birmingham and "got on the spree, and spent it". There was substantially no defence to the charge and verdict for repayment was given for the plaintiff. It's a little surprising that the criminal court was not chosen for the action, although they probably felt they had more chance of getting their money back in the civil court.
I mentioned earlier that vaccination was compulsory – but it was highly controversial too. To provide some insights into the level of hostility from some people, I am going to end by printing extracts from a letter published this week in the Preston Chronicle. Modern day epidemiologists do say that 19th century vaccines did not have the quality standards of today – and so, perhaps, some of the letterwriter's claims could have some foundation.
"Sir, – I am summoned again “to be and appear on Monday, the ninth day of October instant, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, at the police-court.” Five times already, including adjournments, have I been summoned to “appear” before the said court, and twice have I paid the “full penalty,” 20s., and costs 8s., equal to £1 8s. Whether such proceedings, instituted by those “dressed in a little brief authority,” are justifiable, “or the other thing,” I will not presume to state; but when I remember that, according to the statement of the advocate for the prosecution, I am “the only one in Preston who has resisted the law,” I am also reminded of a remark by the advocate for the defence, viz., “Repeated prosecution becomes persecution.”
"However that may be, I can only repeat publicly what I stated to Mr. Pinder privately, and that is, “You will never make me submit;” to which he replied, “I don't think we shall, Mr. Foster.” No, sir, they may prosecute and persecute as long as they think proper, but I shall set both them and their vaccination laws at absolute defiance. The State-endowed fraternity, with all their medical lore, cannot prove that my child will have the small-pox if he be not vaccinated, neither can they prove that such a beastial operation, however frequently performed, will serve as a preventive. Seeing then that there is a doubt, I, as the alleged guilty party, am entitled to its benefit.
"But be that as it may, we can furnish innumerable instances of injury – besides many deaths – both of infants and adults, resulting from vaccination – aye, and re-vaccination too, that the doctors never hear of, for only a few weeks ago a fine healthy child, “not a hundred miles from Preston,” was “taken to be cut,” – its arm nearly “rotted off,” and it died, as the medical gentleman – to his credit be it stated – wrote upon the death certificate, “from the effects of vaccination.” A young gentleman in Preston was vaccinated recently, and had the small-pox in a short time afterwards. Yes, Sir, and persons have had the small-pox who have been vaccinated, some once, others twice, and a few three times.
"Those, therefore, who know this, and are willing to submit to such an operation, must be cowards, and those who enforce the provisions of such health-destroying and disease-propagating Acts will get what they deserve, viz., branded with infamy. I shall go boldly to meet my persecutors, and let them, if they will, rob me again of another £1 8s. When I cannot afford to pay the iniquitous fine imposed, I will, without the least hesitation, surrender my body for imprisonment, but my child shall not be injured by any vile innoculating matter. The Queen, before re-vaccination, was uniformly healthy, but since that operation, she has been seriously indisposed. Vaccination, however, is doomed. – Yours, &c., E. FOSTER, Sec P. B. A. T. L. Preston, October 5th, 1871."
Druggist Edward Foster would again be fined 20 shillings. In December 1876 it was reported that the man had been before the courts 35 times through refusing to have his child vaccinated.
Next week's stories will include the St Helens vicar accused of indecency, the father and son who died down Peasley Cross Colliery, the murderous assault in Eccleston and the captain who dumped his boat in St Helens.
We begin on the 4th with the monthly meeting of St Helens Town Council in which the rates for the next financial year were set at 1s 4d in the pound. That was the same rate as last year but in fifty years time they would be 18s 6d in the pound!
The new St Helens Railway Station in Shaw Street had in July been "thrown open to the public", as a number of newspapers put it. The station was not much to shout about, apparently, but at least it was new and was making the approaches to the station look rather shabby. So the councillors asked their surveyor to estimate the cost of putting these roads and properties in good order. Notices would be sent out to owners to implement the required improvements asap.
An alarming letter from local flint glass maker Samuel Bishop was read out at the council meeting. An analysis of a census taken earlier in the year had revealed that as many as 2,000 children between the ages of five and twelve who were resident in the borough did not attend school. That was in breach of the Elementary Education Act of 1870, which had established local education authorities in England and Wales and is recognised as being the first piece of legislation to specifically deal with the provision of education.
Although important, the Act brought neither free nor compulsory education, which is why 2,000 kids in St Helens were not going to school and there wasn't really much that the council could do about it. Curiously, vaccination was compulsory – despite being highly controversial – but going to school wasn't.
A number of newspapers this week were carrying an advert for an auction at Haydock Park Farm – which was described as being one mile from Ashton and a mile from Newton-le-Willows. John France was the 71-year-old farmer at Haydock Park who in the 1871 census said his farm covered 355 acres. France was selling off all his livestock, including 53 head of horned cattle and 35 fat lambs. The advert said: "The whole of the Live Stock are well-bred, of good colour and fine symmetry, and cannot fail to be looked upon with pleasing eyes by the most fastidious." Seven acres of turnips and 90 acres of winter grass were also up for auction.
A Miners Conference at Merthyr ended on the 6th and the attendees agreed to try and get some MPs elected to Parliament in order to enable improvements to their conditions and pay. But it couldn't happen fast enough, with seventeen disasters set to take place in the Lancashire coalfield during the 1870s. It was also decided that next year's conference would be held in St Helens.
Many people during the 19th century were members of friendly societies. These were essentially insurance providers that doled out payments for sickness, burials and sometimes unemployment. Some had strange names such as the Ancient Shepherds Friendly Society, the Antediluvian Order of Buffalos or the Ancient Order of Druids.
On the 10th in St Helens County Court the president of the Amicable Hearts of Oak Friendly Society of Prescot brought an action against a steward called Welsby, who had behaved in a most unfriendly way. The man had been given the sum of £12 to pay sick members of the society. But instead of going round Prescot and doling out the cash like he was Father Christmas, Welsby went to Birmingham and "got on the spree, and spent it". There was substantially no defence to the charge and verdict for repayment was given for the plaintiff. It's a little surprising that the criminal court was not chosen for the action, although they probably felt they had more chance of getting their money back in the civil court.
I mentioned earlier that vaccination was compulsory – but it was highly controversial too. To provide some insights into the level of hostility from some people, I am going to end by printing extracts from a letter published this week in the Preston Chronicle. Modern day epidemiologists do say that 19th century vaccines did not have the quality standards of today – and so, perhaps, some of the letterwriter's claims could have some foundation.
"Sir, – I am summoned again “to be and appear on Monday, the ninth day of October instant, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, at the police-court.” Five times already, including adjournments, have I been summoned to “appear” before the said court, and twice have I paid the “full penalty,” 20s., and costs 8s., equal to £1 8s. Whether such proceedings, instituted by those “dressed in a little brief authority,” are justifiable, “or the other thing,” I will not presume to state; but when I remember that, according to the statement of the advocate for the prosecution, I am “the only one in Preston who has resisted the law,” I am also reminded of a remark by the advocate for the defence, viz., “Repeated prosecution becomes persecution.”
"However that may be, I can only repeat publicly what I stated to Mr. Pinder privately, and that is, “You will never make me submit;” to which he replied, “I don't think we shall, Mr. Foster.” No, sir, they may prosecute and persecute as long as they think proper, but I shall set both them and their vaccination laws at absolute defiance. The State-endowed fraternity, with all their medical lore, cannot prove that my child will have the small-pox if he be not vaccinated, neither can they prove that such a beastial operation, however frequently performed, will serve as a preventive. Seeing then that there is a doubt, I, as the alleged guilty party, am entitled to its benefit.
"But be that as it may, we can furnish innumerable instances of injury – besides many deaths – both of infants and adults, resulting from vaccination – aye, and re-vaccination too, that the doctors never hear of, for only a few weeks ago a fine healthy child, “not a hundred miles from Preston,” was “taken to be cut,” – its arm nearly “rotted off,” and it died, as the medical gentleman – to his credit be it stated – wrote upon the death certificate, “from the effects of vaccination.” A young gentleman in Preston was vaccinated recently, and had the small-pox in a short time afterwards. Yes, Sir, and persons have had the small-pox who have been vaccinated, some once, others twice, and a few three times.
"Those, therefore, who know this, and are willing to submit to such an operation, must be cowards, and those who enforce the provisions of such health-destroying and disease-propagating Acts will get what they deserve, viz., branded with infamy. I shall go boldly to meet my persecutors, and let them, if they will, rob me again of another £1 8s. When I cannot afford to pay the iniquitous fine imposed, I will, without the least hesitation, surrender my body for imprisonment, but my child shall not be injured by any vile innoculating matter. The Queen, before re-vaccination, was uniformly healthy, but since that operation, she has been seriously indisposed. Vaccination, however, is doomed. – Yours, &c., E. FOSTER, Sec P. B. A. T. L. Preston, October 5th, 1871."
Druggist Edward Foster would again be fined 20 shillings. In December 1876 it was reported that the man had been before the courts 35 times through refusing to have his child vaccinated.
Next week's stories will include the St Helens vicar accused of indecency, the father and son who died down Peasley Cross Colliery, the murderous assault in Eccleston and the captain who dumped his boat in St Helens.
This week's stories include the St Helens children that never attended school, a death on the railway at Sutton Oak, the unfriendly man who cheated the Prescot friendly society, the Haydock Park farm sale and the anti-vaccinator from Preston.
We begin on the 4th with the monthly meeting of St Helens Town Council in which the rates for the next financial year were set at 1s 4d in the pound.
That was the same rate as last year but in fifty years time they would be 18s 6d in the pound!
The new St Helens Railway Station in Shaw Street had in July been "thrown open to the public", as a number of newspapers put it.
The station was not much to shout about, apparently, but at least it was new and was making the approaches to the station look rather shabby.
So the councillors asked their surveyor to estimate the cost of putting these roads and properties in good order. Notices would be sent out to owners to implement the required improvements asap.
An alarming letter from local flint glass maker Samuel Bishop was read out at the council meeting.
An analysis of a census taken earlier in the year had revealed that as many as 2,000 children between the ages of five and twelve who were resident in the borough did not attend school.
That was in breach of the Elementary Education Act of 1870, which had established local education authorities in England and Wales and is recognised as being the first piece of legislation to specifically deal with the provision of education.
Although important, the Act brought neither free nor compulsory education, which is why 2,000 kids in St Helens were not going to school and there wasn't really much that the council could do about it.
Curiously, vaccination was compulsory – despite being highly controversial – but going to school wasn't.
A number of newspapers this week were carrying an advert for an auction at Haydock Park Farm – which was described as being one mile from Ashton and a mile from Newton-le-Willows.
John France was the 71-year-old farmer at Haydock Park who in the 1871 census said his farm covered 355 acres.
France was selling off all his livestock, including 53 head of horned cattle and 35 fat lambs. The advert said:
"The whole of the Live Stock are well-bred, of good colour and fine symmetry, and cannot fail to be looked upon with pleasing eyes by the most fastidious."
Seven acres of turnips and 90 acres of winter grass were also up for auction.
A Miners Conference at Merthyr ended on the 6th and the attendees agreed to try and get some MPs elected to Parliament in order to enable improvements to their conditions and pay.
But it couldn't happen fast enough, with seventeen disasters set to take place in the Lancashire coalfield during the 1870s.
It was also decided that next year's conference would be held in St Helens.
Walking on the railway lines was a very common practice, as it was often a more direct route between A and B and so saved time.
However it didn't save time if you got killed – as many did.
On the 7th Samuel Lucas of Convent Row was killed when walking in the dark along the railway line from Sutton Oak station (pictured above) to his home.
The train from Widnes ran him over, cutting off a foot and the 48-year-old's face was reported as being "completely smashed".
Samuel's son James, then a booking clerk, later became stationmaster at Sutton Oak station and retired in 1914 after 31 years in charge.
Many people during the 19th century were members of friendly societies. These were essentially insurance providers that doled out payments for sickness, burials and sometimes unemployment.
Some had strange names such as the Ancient Shepherds Friendly Society, the Antediluvian Order of Buffalos or the Ancient Order of Druids.
On the 10th in St Helens County Court the president of the Amicable Hearts of Oak Friendly Society of Prescot brought an action against a steward called Welsby, who had behaved in a most unfriendly way.
The man had been given the sum of £12 to pay sick members of the society.
But instead of going round Prescot and doling out the cash like he was Father Christmas, Welsby went to Birmingham and "got on the spree, and spent it".
There was substantially no defence to the charge and verdict for repayment was given for the plaintiff.
It's a little surprising that the criminal court was not chosen for the action, although they probably felt they had more chance of getting their money back in the civil court.
I mentioned earlier that vaccination was compulsory – but it was highly controversial too.
To provide some insights into the level of hostility from some people, I am going to end by printing extracts from a letter published this week in the Preston Chronicle.
Modern day epidemiologists do say that 19th century vaccines did not have the quality standards of today – and so, perhaps, some of the letterwriter's claims could have some foundation.
"Sir, – I am summoned again “to be and appear on Monday, the ninth day of October instant, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, at the police-court.”
"Five times already, including adjournments, have I been summoned to “appear” before the said court, and twice have I paid the “full penalty,” 20s., and costs 8s., equal to £1 8s.
"Whether such proceedings, instituted by those “dressed in a little brief authority,” are justifiable, “or the other thing,” I will not presume to state; but when I remember that, according to the statement of the advocate for the prosecution, I am “the only one in Preston who has resisted the law,” I am also reminded of a remark by the advocate for the defence, viz., “Repeated prosecution becomes persecution.”
"However that may be, I can only repeat publicly what I stated to Mr. Pinder privately, and that is, “You will never make me submit;” to which he replied, “I don't think we shall, Mr. Foster.”
"No, sir, they may prosecute and persecute as long as they think proper, but I shall set both them and their vaccination laws at absolute defiance.
"The State-endowed fraternity, with all their medical lore, cannot prove that my child will have the small-pox if he be not vaccinated, neither can they prove that such a beastial operation, however frequently performed, will serve as a preventive.
"Seeing then that there is a doubt, I, as the alleged guilty party, am entitled to its benefit.
"But be that as it may, we can furnish innumerable instances of injury – besides many deaths – both of infants and adults, resulting from vaccination – aye, and re-vaccination too, that the doctors never hear of, for only a few weeks ago a fine healthy child, “not a hundred miles from Preston,” was “taken to be cut,” – its arm nearly “rotted off,” and it died, as the medical gentleman – to his credit be it stated – wrote upon the death certificate, “from the effects of vaccination.”
"A young gentleman in Preston was vaccinated recently, and had the small-pox in a short time afterwards.
"Yes, Sir, and persons have had the small-pox who have been vaccinated, some once, others twice, and a few three times.
"Those, therefore, who know this, and are willing to submit to such an operation, must be cowards, and those who enforce the provisions of such health-destroying and disease-propagating Acts will get what they deserve, viz., branded with infamy.
"I shall go boldly to meet my persecutors, and let them, if they will, rob me again of another £1 8s.
"When I cannot afford to pay the iniquitous fine imposed, I will, without the least hesitation, surrender my body for imprisonment, but my child shall not be injured by any vile innoculating matter.
"The Queen, before re-vaccination, was uniformly healthy, but since that operation, she has been seriously indisposed. Vaccination, however, is doomed.
"Yours, &c., E. FOSTER, Sec P. B. A. T. L. Preston, October 5th, 1871."
Druggist Edward Foster would again be fined 20 shillings. In December 1876 it was reported that the man had been before the courts 35 times through refusing to have his child vaccinated.
Next week's stories will include the St Helens vicar accused of indecency, the father and son who died down Peasley Cross Colliery, the murderous assault in Eccleston and the captain who dumped his boat in St Helens.
We begin on the 4th with the monthly meeting of St Helens Town Council in which the rates for the next financial year were set at 1s 4d in the pound.
That was the same rate as last year but in fifty years time they would be 18s 6d in the pound!
The new St Helens Railway Station in Shaw Street had in July been "thrown open to the public", as a number of newspapers put it.
The station was not much to shout about, apparently, but at least it was new and was making the approaches to the station look rather shabby.
So the councillors asked their surveyor to estimate the cost of putting these roads and properties in good order. Notices would be sent out to owners to implement the required improvements asap.
An alarming letter from local flint glass maker Samuel Bishop was read out at the council meeting.
An analysis of a census taken earlier in the year had revealed that as many as 2,000 children between the ages of five and twelve who were resident in the borough did not attend school.
That was in breach of the Elementary Education Act of 1870, which had established local education authorities in England and Wales and is recognised as being the first piece of legislation to specifically deal with the provision of education.
Although important, the Act brought neither free nor compulsory education, which is why 2,000 kids in St Helens were not going to school and there wasn't really much that the council could do about it.
Curiously, vaccination was compulsory – despite being highly controversial – but going to school wasn't.
A number of newspapers this week were carrying an advert for an auction at Haydock Park Farm – which was described as being one mile from Ashton and a mile from Newton-le-Willows.
John France was the 71-year-old farmer at Haydock Park who in the 1871 census said his farm covered 355 acres.
France was selling off all his livestock, including 53 head of horned cattle and 35 fat lambs. The advert said:
"The whole of the Live Stock are well-bred, of good colour and fine symmetry, and cannot fail to be looked upon with pleasing eyes by the most fastidious."
Seven acres of turnips and 90 acres of winter grass were also up for auction.
A Miners Conference at Merthyr ended on the 6th and the attendees agreed to try and get some MPs elected to Parliament in order to enable improvements to their conditions and pay.
But it couldn't happen fast enough, with seventeen disasters set to take place in the Lancashire coalfield during the 1870s.
It was also decided that next year's conference would be held in St Helens.
However it didn't save time if you got killed – as many did.
On the 7th Samuel Lucas of Convent Row was killed when walking in the dark along the railway line from Sutton Oak station (pictured above) to his home.
The train from Widnes ran him over, cutting off a foot and the 48-year-old's face was reported as being "completely smashed".
Samuel's son James, then a booking clerk, later became stationmaster at Sutton Oak station and retired in 1914 after 31 years in charge.
Many people during the 19th century were members of friendly societies. These were essentially insurance providers that doled out payments for sickness, burials and sometimes unemployment.
Some had strange names such as the Ancient Shepherds Friendly Society, the Antediluvian Order of Buffalos or the Ancient Order of Druids.
On the 10th in St Helens County Court the president of the Amicable Hearts of Oak Friendly Society of Prescot brought an action against a steward called Welsby, who had behaved in a most unfriendly way.
The man had been given the sum of £12 to pay sick members of the society.
But instead of going round Prescot and doling out the cash like he was Father Christmas, Welsby went to Birmingham and "got on the spree, and spent it".
There was substantially no defence to the charge and verdict for repayment was given for the plaintiff.
It's a little surprising that the criminal court was not chosen for the action, although they probably felt they had more chance of getting their money back in the civil court.
I mentioned earlier that vaccination was compulsory – but it was highly controversial too.
To provide some insights into the level of hostility from some people, I am going to end by printing extracts from a letter published this week in the Preston Chronicle.
Modern day epidemiologists do say that 19th century vaccines did not have the quality standards of today – and so, perhaps, some of the letterwriter's claims could have some foundation.
"Sir, – I am summoned again “to be and appear on Monday, the ninth day of October instant, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, at the police-court.”
"Five times already, including adjournments, have I been summoned to “appear” before the said court, and twice have I paid the “full penalty,” 20s., and costs 8s., equal to £1 8s.
"Whether such proceedings, instituted by those “dressed in a little brief authority,” are justifiable, “or the other thing,” I will not presume to state; but when I remember that, according to the statement of the advocate for the prosecution, I am “the only one in Preston who has resisted the law,” I am also reminded of a remark by the advocate for the defence, viz., “Repeated prosecution becomes persecution.”
"However that may be, I can only repeat publicly what I stated to Mr. Pinder privately, and that is, “You will never make me submit;” to which he replied, “I don't think we shall, Mr. Foster.”
"No, sir, they may prosecute and persecute as long as they think proper, but I shall set both them and their vaccination laws at absolute defiance.
"The State-endowed fraternity, with all their medical lore, cannot prove that my child will have the small-pox if he be not vaccinated, neither can they prove that such a beastial operation, however frequently performed, will serve as a preventive.
"Seeing then that there is a doubt, I, as the alleged guilty party, am entitled to its benefit.
"But be that as it may, we can furnish innumerable instances of injury – besides many deaths – both of infants and adults, resulting from vaccination – aye, and re-vaccination too, that the doctors never hear of, for only a few weeks ago a fine healthy child, “not a hundred miles from Preston,” was “taken to be cut,” – its arm nearly “rotted off,” and it died, as the medical gentleman – to his credit be it stated – wrote upon the death certificate, “from the effects of vaccination.”
"A young gentleman in Preston was vaccinated recently, and had the small-pox in a short time afterwards.
"Yes, Sir, and persons have had the small-pox who have been vaccinated, some once, others twice, and a few three times.
"Those, therefore, who know this, and are willing to submit to such an operation, must be cowards, and those who enforce the provisions of such health-destroying and disease-propagating Acts will get what they deserve, viz., branded with infamy.
"I shall go boldly to meet my persecutors, and let them, if they will, rob me again of another £1 8s.
"When I cannot afford to pay the iniquitous fine imposed, I will, without the least hesitation, surrender my body for imprisonment, but my child shall not be injured by any vile innoculating matter.
"The Queen, before re-vaccination, was uniformly healthy, but since that operation, she has been seriously indisposed. Vaccination, however, is doomed.
"Yours, &c., E. FOSTER, Sec P. B. A. T. L. Preston, October 5th, 1871."
Druggist Edward Foster would again be fined 20 shillings. In December 1876 it was reported that the man had been before the courts 35 times through refusing to have his child vaccinated.
Next week's stories will include the St Helens vicar accused of indecency, the father and son who died down Peasley Cross Colliery, the murderous assault in Eccleston and the captain who dumped his boat in St Helens.