Update of the Past NEWS......... 14th April 1883

Catch up on the full story of last weeks NEWS

*William Rutherford Benn and the Reverend  Julius Benn –

The son who murdered his own father at Matlock ............

The Reverend Benn and his son William arrived in Matlock Bath on Tuesday 27^th February and booked themselves 2 beds and 1 sitting room at the property of Mr George Marchant and his family in Matlock Bridge.  Mr Marchant hired out a coach and horse and also offered guests a family run place to stay in Matlock.  The house was named The Cottage and was situated on Chesterfield Road, not far from the railway station.

The father and son told how they were visiting the area for the purpose of William’s health, they were very pleasant but unusually they asked Mr Marchant not to include them in the guest book and not to tell any of their visit.  It seems that they did not want any visitor’s and did not want to be disturbed.  Whilst in the area they visited all of the local attractions; Matlock Bath, Riber Castle, Millers Dale, Cromford and the Heights of Abraham. 

On the evening of Saturday 3^rd March they took their evening meal and then retired to bed around 6pm.  Super was taken in to the men later that night around 9pm, The next morning on Sunday 4^th March the Marchant family were up bright and early and set too preparing the breakfast for their guests.  At one point Mrs Mary Ann Marchant did hear a noise, but thought it was her mother making the clatter.

By 9am the guests had not arisen and the breakfast had gone cold.  This was unusual as the Reverend Benn and his son had been regular early risers during their stay.  The post man came and so Mrs Marchant went to the door of the suite and knocked, to awake the guests.  She thought she heard a murmur and then more snoring.  Mr Marchant went off to Church and left Mrs Marchant and her mother in the home.  He returned around 1pm to find his wife very anxious as she had been unable to wake the guests, despite several attempts and knocks at the door.

At this point Mr Marchant felt that there was something amiss, returned to the suite and again knocked loudly at the door, this time speaking in a loud voice.  This time the door was unbolted and the sight that awaited Mr Marchant was not at all pleasant.  Mr William Benn was stood pointing at the dead body of his father, the Reverend Julius Benn.  William was covered in blood from head to toes.

Mr Marchant feared for the safety of his wife and mother in law and ushered them out of the house, the police were called for.  He need not have worried as William did not cause for further alarm and instead stood motionless in shock.

Dr Moxon and Police Constable Smith arrived and entered the room; Dr Moxon tried to act in a normal way and wished William “good morning”.  William was still, he had cut his own throat.

Mr Hunter who was Dr Moxon’s assistant arrived and stitched up the gash on William’s throat.  Sergeant Gee also arrived at the crime scene and examined the dead body of the Reverend Benn, his head had been beaten and his brain was said to have been protruding from the skull.  Sergeant Else took William in to custody charged with “having wilfully murdered his father”.  William was removed to Derby Infirmary for treatment and observations.

The police were able to glean some information from the letters which had been sent to the Benn party at Matlock Bridge; the names and addresses were recorded.  The Reverend Julius Benn was pastor at the Old Gravel Congregational Church in St Georges in the East in London.  He left a wife and 7 children (including William) and lived at 119 Stepney Green, London.  William had been suffering with depression and had been under medical supervision at the Bethnal House Lunatic Asylum, London East, when the doctors felt that he had recovered enough the Reverend had brought him to Matlock Bridge for rest and relaxation to assist in his sons return to good health. 

The family of the Benn’s were quite assured that William had committed the act of murder due to mental problems.  It was told how he had only married a few months earlier in the December of 1882 and had been over studying in his business which had caused his mental breakdown.

The Inquest –

This was held at the Queens Head Hotel in Matlock Bridge and was headed by the Deputy coroner for the High Peak District Mr A O Brooks Esq.   The panel were told how William had struck the Reverend Benn with a chamber utensil, which caused his death.  The body was witnessed in the bed where it had been found by Mr Marchant the day earlier, it had been washed but was still an unpleasant sight to behold.  Mr Charles Taylor Mycock a draper from Hyde in Cheshire was called to identify the body; he was the nephew of the deceased.  The inquest was then adjourned until the next day, Tuesday –

Today the panel were told how, on the night of the killing William had stated “I did it with a chamber utensil”.  William was found guilty of having “wilfully murdered” his father Julius Benn at The Cottage, Matlock Bridge.

William was the third son of Julius Benn, aged 28 years old at the time.  His family and close friends spoke with great devotion and love for the poor man who would not have inflicted such savage actions to his father had he been in sound mind.  He had been employed by a business in London until a few months earlier, when he had become irritable and had been put in the care of an asylum.  He had only days before been given a clean bill of health from the doctors at the asylum and had been sanctioned fit enough to travel and rest in Matlock Bridge.

Sadly for William his nightmare was not to end their, having tried to cut his own throat at the scene of the murder he later attempted to throw himself from a window at the Derby Infirmary where he was being cared for after the event.  He sprained his ankle and caused injury to his back after he jumped the 21 feet to the ground.  Some said that he was not attempting his own life but trying to escape.  And so William was committed to Broadmoor Lunatic Asylum having been found to not being able to recover his sanity.

The will of Julius Benn was proved on 5^th July 1883 and his wife Ann was beneficiary to his estate of £118 7s 6d. 

As for William, he was born in 1855 in Hendon, Middlesex.  On the 1871 census he is 16 years of age and works as a clerk at East India House.  Ten years on and just before this dreadful incident William is still single and working in the same occupation as a merchant’s clerk. 

 

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Echoes of our Past NEWS............ 14th April 1883

 

Read all about it……. Echoes of our past NEWS

What was in the local news this weekend in 1883?

MAIN NEWS –

There was no major NEWS this week but there was a recipe for Golden Pudding.  The recipe was included in the advertisement for Hartley’s Marmalade and was as follows –

Golden Pudding –

 

Take 2oz bread crumbs,

2oz suet,

3oz Hartley’s Marmalade,

2oz sugar,

2 eggs

Put the bread crumbs and suet (which must be chopped fine) into a

basin, with the Marmalade and sugar,

stir these well together; beat the eggs to a froth,

moisten the pudding with this, and when well mixed,

put into a well greased mould or basin,

tie down with a well floured cloth,

and boil 1 hour.

When turned out strew fine silted sugar over the top.

 

OTHER ITEMS –

*Murderer at Matlock –

A man named William Rutherford Benn who murdered his father the Reverend Julius Benn has been found to be insane and thus has been taken to Broadmoor Lunatic Asylum.  He was said to have committed the murder a month earlier in March 1883.

*Chesterfield School Board –

Held its monthly meeting at the Municipal Hall.  The attendance figures for the schools were read by Mr Kerslake the school attendance officer –

v  Number of children registered – March; 2560  April; 2592

v  Average attendance – March; 1877  April; 1828

v  Highest weekly average – March; 2057  April; 2021

v  Lowest weekly average – March; 1699  April; 1583

*Midland Railway Tender’s –

The Railway was inviting tenders for “cleaning and painting” the station buildings –

v  Houses at Hasland

v  Stations at Bingley, Saltaire, Shipley and Manningham

v  Locomotive Department Buildings at Staveley

Painters and contractors were invited to apply by post before 9am on Thursday 19^th April 1883.

*Pauper on the run –

Thomas Roe appeared at Ashbourne Police Court accused of “having absconded from the workhouse in cloths belonging to the Guardians and also with being drunk and disorderly in Dig Street”.

Thomas was found to be in a state “so helplessly drunk” on 3^rd April at which point Recruiting Sergeant Cooper had to enlist some helpers to get Thomas onto the back of a hand cart so that he could be taken to the lock up.  He had the sum of £2 on his person at the time of arrest.

He was found guilty for both taking the Guardians property and being drunk and disorderly; charged 10s for the taking of property and £1 3s for being drunk.

*Serial offender –

John Cooper of Bakewell could boast great attendance figures after he had reached the grand total of 20 appearances at Bakewell Petty Sessions.  He was charged with being drunk and disorderly at Bakewell Fair on 26^th March. 

Ironically John was not even the subject of the police’s attention; they were arresting another man when he tagged along and began to cause a disturbance.  He was fined 10s and costs but he was unable to pay and so he was committed to gaol for 14 days hard labour.

MARRIAGES –

*Richard Walker eldest son of Richard Walker Esq of Matlock Bath to Fanny May only daughter of the late William Brooker Esq of Hodgkinson Hotel, Matlock Bath.  At the all Saints Church, Bakewell on 12^th April

At the Parish Church, Chesterfield on

8^th April –

*Mr Thomas Foy miner to Miss Fanny Wombwell

*Mr James Hurst engine tenter to Miss Sarah Fisher

9^th April -

*Mr Thomas Mellors miner to Miss Maria Hull

*Mr George Wright miner to Miss Hannah Brown

12^th April –

*Mr Henry Rainsminer to Miss Esther Ball

DEATHS –

*Frederick Stanley Fenton “beloved and only child of Frederick and Davan Fenton” aged 7 years on 7^th April

*Ellen Bridgett aged 49 years at St Marys Gate, Chesterfield on 9^th April

*Hannah Bradley aged 58 years at Brimington on 5^th April

*Ann Dronfield aged 67 years at Holymoorside on 7^th April

*Edward Marsden aged 68 years at High Street, Whittington on 5^th April

*Lucy A Mason aged 18 months at Mountcastle Street, Newbold on 6^th April

*David H Tudor aged 2 years at Station Road, Chesterfield on 7^th April

SPORT –

*Rufford Hunt –

The hunt took place on Friday 13^th April at Owl Cotes Farm near Heath.  There was a good attendance as the weather was kind.

The Welbeck Cup was won by Lord Harrington’s Donovan and the prize was £30.  The Rufford Hunt Cup valued also at £30 was won by Mr R C Otter’s Driver.

AND FINALLY…

*Chesterfield April Fair –

Chesterfield had been under restrictions after a contagious disease had caused the cattle market to be suspended.  The April fair was the first for many weeks in Chesterfield and lots of people turned out to attend the event.

The fair was limited in cattle as the news that the restrictions had been lifted was not common knowledge, but cows, sheep, pigs, horses and even cheese was sold on the day.  Although the quality of the animals was said to have been poor.

 

Update of the Past NEWS...... 6th January 1883

Catch up on the full story of last weeks NEWS...........

* Witham V Wardman

The two men Henry and Walter were brothers, although they were slightly different in age than recorded in last week’s news.  Walter was born in 1855 and Henry in 1858, they were the eldest two sons of William and Julia Witham (nee Turton). 

The family lived at Brimington; William was publican at the Prince of Wales public house on Common Road.  William was originally from Skegby in Nottinghamshire, he married Julia Turton in 1854 at Chesterfield.  They had a large family of at least the following children and probably more –

*Walter Washington 1855

*Henry Albert 1868

*Charles 1860

*George 1863

*Margaret 1865

*Frank 1866

*William Edgar 1868

*Kate 1871

*Florence 1875

Walter Washington was infamous around the Chesterfield area, so much so that in 1890 he was described as “alias Devil a noted Brimingtonion”.  Walter was quiet a character, he was in trouble on numerous occasions for poaching or being drunk and disorderly.  Not only did he assault Anthony Wardman in 1883 but he was also charged with a very serious offence in 1887 when he assaulted Walter Harris so badly that he was “dangerously injured in hospital” and was unable to attend the remand trial.  Walter Witham was said to be 29 years old at the time and worked as a coal miner.

Walter Harris and his house mate Michael Quinn lived at Froggats Yard, Walter was a labourer.  On the night in question Walter and Michael were walking along Holywell Street when they came upon Walter Witham “falling out” with a man named Macguire.  Walter Harris had told Walter Witham to go home, but this just angered Walter Witham more and he offered to “fight Harris for a sovereign”.  The men moved down Tapton Lane and both began punching each other.  Walter Witham had the upper hand though and knocked Harris down to the floor where he jumped on his face with his clogs.  He then raised him from the floor a little and kicked the back of Harris’s head and then chest.  He finished by saying “let the ------ die”.  Harris was taken home, the doctor called and transferred to the Chesterfield Hospital. 

Walter Witham was remanded in Derby gaol until Walter Harris was fit to attend court and the trial was set for 31^st October 1887 at Leicester Assize Courts.  He was found guilty and sentenced to 12 months hard labour.

I have been unable to locate Walter Witham on any of the census after 1881, I don’t know if he married or what became of him after 1896 when he was fined for assaulting James W Shawcroft at Brimington.  Walter had admitted the incident but said that he had taken too much drink and did not mean his actions.  He was told to pay the costs for the court appearance but replied “think I shall pay? I shall pay “note”, I have “note”.  There is a death for Walter Washington Witham in Chesterfield in 1931 aged 72 years old – does anyone know what he was up to for the last 30 years of his life?

As for Henry Albert Witham, his life seems to have also taken a “wild” route.  He was with his brother in May 1877 when they were found guilty of poaching at Ault Hucknall.  They were both fined 10s.  In December 1879 he was charged with being drunk and disorderly with his mates Zimri Ashmore and Frederick Wagstaff in Brimington.  They were to pay the costs and received a caution.

In January 1882 Henry is charged with being drunk and disorderly in Brimington.  This time with 2 married women – Ruth Wardman (alias Ruth Bamford) and Anna Swift.  So this is where the rumours that one of the Witham men had “interferred” with the wife of Anthony Wardman stem from – it was Henry Witham who was the cause of the families dislike for each other.  On the night in question Henry, Ruth and Anna were seen to be very drunk and had been thrown out of the Bugle Horn public house.  They were using terrible language and being very noisy.  Luckily for Ruth Wardman she was found not guilty, but Henry and Anna were both fined 15s including costs.

Henry did settle down and married Bertha Unwin in 1893.  In 1901 he is living with his family at Cotterill Lane, Brimington.  Henry works as a pipe shop labourer and they have 3 children – Kate aged 7 years, Julia aged 4 years and baby Wilfred aged 11 months. 

Henry and Bertha were involved in an altercation in September 1898 at Brimington when Henry was charged with assaulting Margaret Cockerton with bad language.  He was also said to have given her a blow and she was said to have set the poker at him.  Bertha was also involved as she was charging Margaret Cocketon with using indecent language at her- Margaret had called Bertha “Mrs Dyer”.  The court heard how this was due to the Witham’s death of their son Henry Witham.  In the end it was decided that as Henry Witham was a repeat offended and a bad character he was committed to Derby Gaol for 14 days hard labour.

 

By 1911 Henry is living recorded as widowed, but I have been unable to locate a death for Bertha Witham.  What became of her is unknown, she may have died, been imprisoned or did the couple simply split?  Two children were living with Henry; Wilfred aged 10 years and Dorice Annie aged 9 years.

Henry Albert died a few years later in 1913 at Chesterfield. 

Anthony Wardman was the man who disliked the Witham brothers because one had “interfered with his wife”.  We now know that it looks likely that it was Henry as he was at least caught "up to no good" with Ruth Witham.

Anthony married Ruth Maria Bamford in 1879.  In 1881 Anthony and Ruth are living with Ruth’s father George Bamford at East Street, Hasland.  Anthony is 27 years old and works as a coal miner. 

According to the NEWS article Anthony had been to the USA and it was during this time that a Witham man had been around his wife so I would suspect he was away around 1882.  I have not been able to find him in any passenger list though. 

Anthony and Ruth went to live in Canada.  They had one son Taylor around 1891.  If anyone can fill in the gaps I would be most interested.

 

~ ~  ~ ~ X ~ ~ ~ ~

 

* Omri Twigg -

 

With such an unusual Christian name I had to find out more about this man.  Omri was in last week's NEWS announcing his marriage to Ellen Ellis Fryer on 2^nd January 1883 at the Wesleyan Chapel in Bakewell.

 

Omri was born in 1840, the son of Joseph and Phoebe Twigg.  Joseph was a lead miner and the family lived at Youlgreave in Derbyshire.  Omri had 2 older brothers named Joseph and William and 2 elder sisters named Phoebe and Maria.  After Omri was born came Isaac, Benjamin and Georgiana.

 

Omri was late to get wed; in fact he would have been 41 years old.  Ellen was 22 years his junior.  The couple lived with Omri’s family in 1891 at Bradford, Youlgreave.  They had 4 children – Phoebe aged 6 years, William aged 5 years, Benjamin aged 3 years and Maria aged 1 year old.  Also living with then are Omri’s younger brothers Isaac and Benjamin, both were unmarried general labourers and Maria Ellis sister in law who was widowed.

 

On Tuesday 8^th March 1898 tragedy struck the family when Omri’s younger brother Isaac committed suicide.  Isaac had lived with his brother and family for about 2 ½ years at Elton.  He was unmarried and around 48 years old.

 

The house was full with Isaac, his sister, brother Omri and his family and Maria Ellis all living there.  Around 6am on Tuesday morning the chimney sweep named John hope had arrived at Omri’s home and was led into the kitchen where they were shocked to find a pool of blood on the floor.  On further investigation it was found that the blood had seeped through the floor boards from the bedroom above, the bedroom which Isaac and Omri’s son William shared.

 

They proceeded to the bedroom to find the door handle secured close with a cord.  Unable to gain access they had to knock loudly in order to wake William.  Isaac was found still alive, but he had cut his throat with an old pocket knife which was found in the bed with him.  It was thought that Isaac may survive and arrangements were made for him o be under police supervision.  However, he became seriously ill and died during that night.

 

An inquest was held on the Thursday morning at the Duke of York Inn, Elton, the verdict was that Isaac had committed suicide whilst of unsound mind.

 

By 1901 Omri and Ellen have moved to Moor Lane, Elton a nearby village.  He is 60 years old and works as a cattleman on a farm.  They have 3 children living with them – William aged 15 years, Isaac aged 9 years and Emma aged 5 years old. 

 

Only a year later in November 1902 Ellen applied to the Bench for a separation order as she could no longer live with Omri anymore.  The heading of the newspaper article read “A LAZY HUSBAND” “Elton man tells his wife to “scrat” for herself and five children”.  The couple had been married 19 years earlier and had lived for around 8 years at Youlgreave, 4 years at Bonsall Moor and the remainder at Elton. 

 

Three weeks earlier Ellen had moved to live with relatives in Winster.  She had 8 children altogether but only 5 lived with her.  She stated that Omri had provided for her until the past 2 years, when he had stated that “he was not going to work anymore for anybody”.  Omri had maintained that he was ill and had visited Dr Fletcher for him to certify him sick and allow him to claim support.  Dr Fletcher had refused, stating that Omri was “an idle vagabond”. 

 

In the past five weeks that Ellen had lived with Omri he had given her 13s to feed and clothe the family, even though he was earning 7s per week.    The Bench were very supportive of Ellen and could clearly see the failings of Omri.  She was given an order for a judicial separation and custody of the five youngest children, one being only 5 months old.  Omri was ordered to pay 5s a week to Ellen.

 

These goings on would explain why on the 1911 census Omri is living all alone, he is retired aged 70 years old and interestingly has recorded himself as “widower”.  Ellen is alive and living far away from her husband at Holy Bank, Chesterfield Road, Staveley, Chesterfield.  Her eldest son William is the head of the household.  Ellen and Omri’s children are living with them; Benjamin 23 years, Maria 21 years, Isaac 19 years, Eliza 18 years, Emma 13 years and James aged 8 years old.  Ellen has also described herself as “widow”.  There is a death for an Ellen Twigg which fits with her age in 1937, so let’s hope she had a nice happy life after Omri.

~ ~ ~ ~ X ~ ~ ~ ~

Echoes of our Past NEWS......... 6th January 1883



Read all about it……. Echoes of our past NEWS

What was in the local news this weekend in 1883?

MAIN NEWS –            

*Dangerous mill chimney at Chesterfield –

The chimney at Victoria Mills on Low Pavement in central Chesterfield was under scrutiny this week.  It was said to be at risk of falling down and thus injuring or killing innocent people. 

The Victoria Mills were in Peacock Yard off of Low Pavement, the said chimney being situated at the south east corner of the yard.  The chimney was 106ft high, 6ft diameter at the top with 15inches thickness of brick.  The chimney has of late begun to become out of repair at the top, the bottom was still in good condition.  In fact the situation was so dire that the steeple jacks sent to repair the chimney from Sheffield refused to undertake “the dangerous task”. 

Some of the locals who live close have moved out, others are refusing to leave their homes.  On Wednesday last the repairs have begun and the cap and other pieces of the brick work have been knocked to the floor. 

The mill was built by Samuel Walters back in 1849, for Mr Baker a corn factor.  Mr Baker sold the business to Mr George Naish and ran the business until it fell into liquidation.  Since then Mr Sampson has owned the mill.

OTHER ITEMS –

*Affray in the Shambles –

Anthony Wardman was having a drink in the Royal Oak public house, a pub located down the dark alleys of the Shambles in the centre of Chesterfield.  It was the night of the 27^th December.  Henry and Walter Witham entered the pub along with George Hatfield and immediately a row broke out. 

Henry Witham was aged 22 years old moulder; Walter was 25 years old and worked as a foundry man.  George Hatfield was older, aged 44 years and worked as a labourer.  It seems that there was a feud between the Witham and the Wardman family.  One of the Witham men had “interfered with” the wife of Anthony Wardman whilst he had been away in America. 

On the night of affray Anthony had got up and gone outside, whereby the Witham’s started to fight with him, one of them hitting him on the head with a poker.  Anthony ended up on the ground and George Hatfield had kicked him.  Anthony endured injuries including; 2 wounds on the crown and one on the forehead. 

In defence the Witham’s stated that Anthony had started the fight as he had a grudge against the Witham family.  They said his injuries had occurred because he fell and hit his head on the pavement or that someone else had also hit Anthony. 

Many witnesses were called as the pub must have been busy and in the end the jury charged the Witham’s with “unlawfully wounding” and George Hatfield with “common assault”.  The Witham’s were sentenced to 4 months hard labour and Hatfield to one month’s hard labour.  The family feud would now be fuelled even more.

*Too much seasonal drink –

 

William Charlesworth a 64 year old farm labourer from Upper Langwith died on 31^st December 1882.  He was found dead in bed by his wife Sarah Charlesworth.  An inquest was held at the Devonshire Arms at Upper Langwith.

Sarah told how her husband was a very heavy drinker.  How he has gone out drinking on Sunday 24^th December and on Christmas Day.  His drunken state had continued all that week until the Friday when he had returned home about 11am, but by 4pm that afternoon he had again gone out to drink.  On Saturday William did stay in the house, but drank “about 4 quarts of beer” at home.  The next day he did complain that he felt unwell and stayed upstairs in bed until around 7pm when he ventured downstairs.  He wasn’t downstairs long before he returned to his bed.  Sarah went up to check on him about 7.20pm and he was found to be dead.  Sarah identified the body for the inquest.

The jury decided that William had died “from the effects of the excessive consumption of intoxicating liquor”.

*Drunkenness was in the air –

Many of the inhabitants found themselves on the wrong side of the law for being drunk including –

*John Martin, collier Whittington at Newbold Moor on 23^rd December, charged 7s 6d

*Joseph Holland, collier Barrow Hill, charged 10s including costs

*George Carter, navvy Bolsover on 24^th December at Bolsover, Georges wife also asked that he be bound over as she feared for her safety – he was fined 10s and bound over for the sum of £10 to keep the peace with his wife for 12 months

*James Wolf, labourer Birdholme, on 16^th December at Hasland, fined 10s including costs

*Ann Sadler, “middle aged woman” drunk at Bolsover on Christmas Day, charged 10s

*John Skelton, farmer of Woodthorpe drunk at Wingerworth, fined 12s

*William Orien, moulder of Brimington on 23^rd December at Brimington, fined 12s 6d

*Walter Fox, drunk at Brimington, fined 12s 6d

*Workhouse –

A tramp who found himself in the Chesterfield Union Workhouse was in trouble after he refused to “perform task work”.  The tramp was named John Edward Walters.  When he had been asked to do this menial work, he had replied that he would not do it and did not intend to do it either.  For his argument John was sent to gaol with hard labour for 14 days.

MARRIAGES –

 

*John Thomas Lee eldest son of John Lee of Woodthorpe, Staveley to Annie Maria Rodgers, youngest daughter of the late Robert Rodgers of New House Staveley.  On 2^nd January at Staveley Parish Church

*Alfred Nicholls moulder to Harriet Stoppard on 1^st January at St Thomas Church, Brampton

*Omri Twigg to Ellen Ellis Fryer both from Youlgreave on 2^nd January at the Wesleyan Chapel, Bakewell

*Charles William Reynolds solicitor to Elizabeth Moore at Chesterfield Parish Church on 31^st December 1882

*Jesse Holt railway goods guard to Lucy Sarah Seal also on 31^st December 1882 at Chesterfield Parish Church

*William Fretwell clerk to Annie Watts at Chesterfield Parish Church on 1^st January 1883

DEATHS –

*Rev John Kirk Marsh, late vicar of Brampton Derbyshire died on 30^th December at 3 Church Lane, Old Charlton, Kent aged 78 years

*Henry Keates at New Whittington on 28^th December aged 13 years

*Samuel Woodhouse at New Whittington on 28^th December aged 78 years

*Mary Wetton of Grassmoor on 28^th December aged 10 months

*Cornelius Hancock on 28^th December at Old Brampton aged 81 years

*John Magson at Church Lane, Chesterfield on 29^th December aged 72 years

*William Randall at Hasland on 1^st January aged 9 years

*George Kiddy at Brimington on 2^nd January aged 1 year

WEATHER –

The New Year of 1883 saw the continuation of an “abnormally wet autumn”.  In fact the last week of 1882 had been unusually mild with continuous rainfall which had caused wide spread flooding. 

The first week of 1883 had seen some let up in the rain and by Friday 5^th January the weather was now cooler and “rather dull”

AND FINALLY…

*Christmas treats for the children –

Christmas was still the focus of attention especially for the younger members of Chesterfield.  On 3^rd and 4^th of January the children of the Roman Catholic School were to receive their special tea.  On the Wednesday 3^rd January the elder children were shown into the girl’s schoolroom, which had been decorated with not one but two trees.  These trees were so magnificent that the tops touched the ceilings.  The branches were full of gifts for the children; fancy gifts, flannel petticoats, caps, and coats to name a few of the treats that were to be given to the children. 

Tea was served at long tables where the children were seated and waited on by some of the ladies from the church congregation.  Songs and laughter followed and then the gifts were distributed.  The next day the same followed but this time it was for the children of Barrow Hill, Whittington and the infants of the Chesterfield school.