150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (30th Sept. - 6th Oct. 1869)
This week's many stories include the tollgates to Thatto Heath, Eccleston and Parr, the Rainford poacher watcher, the Prescot poker assault, the Snig Lane scrimmage and the violent wife who hit her husband over the head with a pan.
London-born Samuel Gurney kept a drapers shop in London House in Church Street. In the St Helens Newspaper of October 2nd he wrote: "Winter fashions. S. Gurney begs to announce that on Wednesday October 13th, and following days, he will show a choice selection of millinery bonnets, hats, &c., in all the new shapes. Also a carefully selected stock of fancy dresses, shawls, mantles, and general drapery." Apparently a mantle is a loose-fitting outer garment similar to a cape.
Another of those posh dinners took place during the evening of the 2nd that the poor of St Helens could only dream of. This time it was the Lily of the Valley lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows who held their anniversary dinner at the Griffin Inn in Eccleston (pictured above). The St Helens Newspaper described the meal as "very substantial and sumptuous" with the usual toasts drunk afterwards.
The working class could not indulge in sumptuous dinners but they did have Penny Readings to enjoy. One of these was held during the same evening in the Reading Room at Eccleston Lane Ends. Penny Readings were regularly held in the township, as well as at Prescot and in Peasley Cross. The readings began in London in the 1850s and became hugely popular nationwide during the ‘60s before declining in popularity. It was a form of entertainment designed for the working class that featured readings from popular authors, songs, piano playing and talks for the price of a penny.
At the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 4th James Murphy was summoned by Ann Elliott (who appeared to live in Parr) for assault. This is how the St Helens Newspaper reported the case:
"The complainant said that he came into her house to her, and began to ask her certain questions about an alleged slander of his wife on her part. Not finding her explanations satisfactory he proceeded to give her a specimen of his humanity, by knocking her down, and kicking her in various places.
"He made several efforts to eject her from her own house, but did not succeed, through the kind offices of some of her friends. A couple of females gave evidence of the usage received by Mrs. Elliott, and described it as “shameful.” The gallant Murphy, who carried a great piece of plaster over his face, said that in consequence of the vile slanders of the complainant, he went to ask her about her conduct.
"The moment he announced his errand she caught up a domestic utensil and made an indentation in his face. This so startled him that he began to look for the best way out, and the woman, seeing his intention, gave him a taste of the poker at parting. He was bound over."
John Gerrard was also bound over after being charged with shouting and making a great noise at Parr. The man had tried to stop two bailiffs from serving a writ by whipping up a crowd against them. Although the men were roughly handled by the mob, their writs were still served.
As well as gamekeepers Lord Derby employed men known as watchers to keep an eye out for poachers on his land. It was a watcher called Edward Singleton who gave evidence against Edward Gaskell who was charged in the Sessions with trespassing in pursuit of game. Singleton had seen Gaskell in Maggots Nook in Rainford carrying a gun across two farms at six o’clock in the morning.
When he approached Gaskell he ran off but he’d known the man for twelve years and so was able to report him. Edward Gaskell's defence was a rather dubious one, claiming he’d taken the gun off a friend who had borrowed it and as there was no cart road had been obliged to cross some fields. The Bench decided to be lenient and only fined him ten shillings.
The English Opera Company began a series of performances at the Town Hall on the 4th. The St Helens Newspaper wrote: "There was a good attendance and the audience repeatedly testified its approbation of the efforts of the company by its hearty applause."
Henry Foster from Union Street in Cowley Hill was severely burnt at Peasley Cross Colliery on the 4th after firing a shot of explosive. There was a blow back of flames, which badly burned his face, chest and one of his hands.
Prescot Petty Sessions were held on the 4th and the St Helens Newspaper gave an amusing account of the proceedings against Mary Heaney, who was charged with assaulting Patrick Curley with a poker: "It appeared that Curley was going along the street, peacefully inclined towards all the world, but when he got opposite the residence of Mary Heaney he found himself the object of her displeasure.
"She called him a number of insulting names, and made cruel insinuations as to certain painful idiosyncrasies in some of his relatives' characters. He did not positively deny the truth of what she uttered, but he mentioned a few failings of a disreputable kind, which they had never exhibited, and made the assertion in a tone that left Mary open to deduce a great deal personal to herself.
"She became very exasperated, rushed off for a poker, and on returning with that instrument, she performed Curley's toilet with it to some effect. She had no adequate defence to offer, and she was bound over to keep the peace." The word "toilet" is used in the article in its historical sense and refers to Curley's grooming and dressing.
Men hitting their wives in 1869 appears to have been commonplace and only occasionally made the courts as women were highly dependent upon men and so rarely complained. A wife hitting her husband was an even rarer event. However Elizabeth Green appeared in the Prescot Sessions facing such a charge, as the Newspaper described:
"Mrs. Green is a very violent woman – physically the “better half.” On Saturday evening, when her help mate came home, he found her conducting a lingual contest with a neighbour; and, feeling displeased at such conduct, he offered her the alternative of ceasing or staying out. She chose neither, and on his attempting to eject her, she caught up a pan and cracked it on his head. She was ordered to be bound over for a month, but not having any friends obliging enough to be responsible for her conduct [i.e. stand sureties], she will pass that period in Kirkdale [prison]."
More Prescot Sessions were held on the 5th in which Elizabeth Hoyt summoned Mary Wakefield, after what the Newspaper described as a "scrimmage" in Snig Lane. However Elizabeth did herself no favours by getting too emotional and exaggerating her case, as described by the paper:
"From the statement of complainant it appeared that defendant cherished ill will towards her for once coming to court and giving evidence against her. On the present occasion, as she was going home through Snig-lane, she was attacked by Mrs. Wakefield, and violently abused, the observation being made was of that she would never appear as a witness again.
"The complainant appeared to be very excitable, and [the solicitor] Mr. Swift's cross examination evoked her greatest energy. The most remote insinuation that she was departing from the truth was sufficient to call forth the most solemn asseveration, and apostrophes to heaven, with a vigour that would have done credit to a professional preacher. Mr. Swift submitted that malice was apparent in her case, and having called witnesses, the case was dismissed."
The town council held their monthly meeting on the 6th and passed this motion from Alderman Evans: "That it be a special order of the Council to the town clerk, borough surveyor, and treasurer, to suspend any servant of the Corporation who may appear intoxicated during business hours."
The council also discussed the tollgate to Thatto Heath, which had been a bone of contention for some time. Although they wanted to remove all road tolls from the borough, the Corporation would have to step in and agree to pay for the maintenance of the roads. Currently the Thatto Heath tolls brought in £2 10 shillings per week, which was the cost of keeping the road in good repair.
The Mayor mentioned another tollgate in Parr, which provided access to a road from Fingerpost to the borough boundary. And James Cross – the representative for East Sutton – referred to a tollgate from Eccleston to Portico which he said would cost the Corporation £500 to keep in order if they took it over.
Such tollgates or toll bars were managed by trustees, which were duty bound to use the money raised to maintain the road. After a discussion it was agreed that the Town Clerk should negotiate for the removal of the Eccleston gate to Portico and the toll bar at Thatto Heath.
Next week's stories will include the 10-year-old imprisoned for stealing a bag of nails, two destructive fires at Nutgrove Farm, a warning that the council chamber could become a bear garden, temperance in Sutton and the recidivist Catherine Yates is back on the streets charged with indecency in Canal Street.
London-born Samuel Gurney kept a drapers shop in London House in Church Street. In the St Helens Newspaper of October 2nd he wrote: "Winter fashions. S. Gurney begs to announce that on Wednesday October 13th, and following days, he will show a choice selection of millinery bonnets, hats, &c., in all the new shapes. Also a carefully selected stock of fancy dresses, shawls, mantles, and general drapery." Apparently a mantle is a loose-fitting outer garment similar to a cape.
The working class could not indulge in sumptuous dinners but they did have Penny Readings to enjoy. One of these was held during the same evening in the Reading Room at Eccleston Lane Ends. Penny Readings were regularly held in the township, as well as at Prescot and in Peasley Cross. The readings began in London in the 1850s and became hugely popular nationwide during the ‘60s before declining in popularity. It was a form of entertainment designed for the working class that featured readings from popular authors, songs, piano playing and talks for the price of a penny.
At the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 4th James Murphy was summoned by Ann Elliott (who appeared to live in Parr) for assault. This is how the St Helens Newspaper reported the case:
"The complainant said that he came into her house to her, and began to ask her certain questions about an alleged slander of his wife on her part. Not finding her explanations satisfactory he proceeded to give her a specimen of his humanity, by knocking her down, and kicking her in various places.
"He made several efforts to eject her from her own house, but did not succeed, through the kind offices of some of her friends. A couple of females gave evidence of the usage received by Mrs. Elliott, and described it as “shameful.” The gallant Murphy, who carried a great piece of plaster over his face, said that in consequence of the vile slanders of the complainant, he went to ask her about her conduct.
"The moment he announced his errand she caught up a domestic utensil and made an indentation in his face. This so startled him that he began to look for the best way out, and the woman, seeing his intention, gave him a taste of the poker at parting. He was bound over."
John Gerrard was also bound over after being charged with shouting and making a great noise at Parr. The man had tried to stop two bailiffs from serving a writ by whipping up a crowd against them. Although the men were roughly handled by the mob, their writs were still served.
As well as gamekeepers Lord Derby employed men known as watchers to keep an eye out for poachers on his land. It was a watcher called Edward Singleton who gave evidence against Edward Gaskell who was charged in the Sessions with trespassing in pursuit of game. Singleton had seen Gaskell in Maggots Nook in Rainford carrying a gun across two farms at six o’clock in the morning.
When he approached Gaskell he ran off but he’d known the man for twelve years and so was able to report him. Edward Gaskell's defence was a rather dubious one, claiming he’d taken the gun off a friend who had borrowed it and as there was no cart road had been obliged to cross some fields. The Bench decided to be lenient and only fined him ten shillings.
The English Opera Company began a series of performances at the Town Hall on the 4th. The St Helens Newspaper wrote: "There was a good attendance and the audience repeatedly testified its approbation of the efforts of the company by its hearty applause."
Henry Foster from Union Street in Cowley Hill was severely burnt at Peasley Cross Colliery on the 4th after firing a shot of explosive. There was a blow back of flames, which badly burned his face, chest and one of his hands.
Prescot Petty Sessions were held on the 4th and the St Helens Newspaper gave an amusing account of the proceedings against Mary Heaney, who was charged with assaulting Patrick Curley with a poker: "It appeared that Curley was going along the street, peacefully inclined towards all the world, but when he got opposite the residence of Mary Heaney he found himself the object of her displeasure.
"She called him a number of insulting names, and made cruel insinuations as to certain painful idiosyncrasies in some of his relatives' characters. He did not positively deny the truth of what she uttered, but he mentioned a few failings of a disreputable kind, which they had never exhibited, and made the assertion in a tone that left Mary open to deduce a great deal personal to herself.
"She became very exasperated, rushed off for a poker, and on returning with that instrument, she performed Curley's toilet with it to some effect. She had no adequate defence to offer, and she was bound over to keep the peace." The word "toilet" is used in the article in its historical sense and refers to Curley's grooming and dressing.
Men hitting their wives in 1869 appears to have been commonplace and only occasionally made the courts as women were highly dependent upon men and so rarely complained. A wife hitting her husband was an even rarer event. However Elizabeth Green appeared in the Prescot Sessions facing such a charge, as the Newspaper described:
"Mrs. Green is a very violent woman – physically the “better half.” On Saturday evening, when her help mate came home, he found her conducting a lingual contest with a neighbour; and, feeling displeased at such conduct, he offered her the alternative of ceasing or staying out. She chose neither, and on his attempting to eject her, she caught up a pan and cracked it on his head. She was ordered to be bound over for a month, but not having any friends obliging enough to be responsible for her conduct [i.e. stand sureties], she will pass that period in Kirkdale [prison]."
More Prescot Sessions were held on the 5th in which Elizabeth Hoyt summoned Mary Wakefield, after what the Newspaper described as a "scrimmage" in Snig Lane. However Elizabeth did herself no favours by getting too emotional and exaggerating her case, as described by the paper:
"From the statement of complainant it appeared that defendant cherished ill will towards her for once coming to court and giving evidence against her. On the present occasion, as she was going home through Snig-lane, she was attacked by Mrs. Wakefield, and violently abused, the observation being made was of that she would never appear as a witness again.
"The complainant appeared to be very excitable, and [the solicitor] Mr. Swift's cross examination evoked her greatest energy. The most remote insinuation that she was departing from the truth was sufficient to call forth the most solemn asseveration, and apostrophes to heaven, with a vigour that would have done credit to a professional preacher. Mr. Swift submitted that malice was apparent in her case, and having called witnesses, the case was dismissed."
The town council held their monthly meeting on the 6th and passed this motion from Alderman Evans: "That it be a special order of the Council to the town clerk, borough surveyor, and treasurer, to suspend any servant of the Corporation who may appear intoxicated during business hours."
The council also discussed the tollgate to Thatto Heath, which had been a bone of contention for some time. Although they wanted to remove all road tolls from the borough, the Corporation would have to step in and agree to pay for the maintenance of the roads. Currently the Thatto Heath tolls brought in £2 10 shillings per week, which was the cost of keeping the road in good repair.
The Mayor mentioned another tollgate in Parr, which provided access to a road from Fingerpost to the borough boundary. And James Cross – the representative for East Sutton – referred to a tollgate from Eccleston to Portico which he said would cost the Corporation £500 to keep in order if they took it over.
Such tollgates or toll bars were managed by trustees, which were duty bound to use the money raised to maintain the road. After a discussion it was agreed that the Town Clerk should negotiate for the removal of the Eccleston gate to Portico and the toll bar at Thatto Heath.
Next week's stories will include the 10-year-old imprisoned for stealing a bag of nails, two destructive fires at Nutgrove Farm, a warning that the council chamber could become a bear garden, temperance in Sutton and the recidivist Catherine Yates is back on the streets charged with indecency in Canal Street.