melancholy death of Mr. George James Wood, a youth of about 18 years, the son of T Wood, Esq. and a grandson of James Burton Esq., the founder of the town. He had been with a party of huntsmen out for New Year's Day, and on his return from the chase he endeavoured to leap his horse over a high gate close to an embankment, when he was thrown and instantly killed. This sad event in the town's early history cast a gloom over the inhabitants as well among the deceased's own family. At the time of re-writing this History (1897), the only survivor of the unfortunate young man's family is Miss Wood, of North Lodge east, the entrance to which, as well as that of North Lodge west when first built was from beneath the central arch, traces of which may still be seen. It was this building, also the Clock House on which appeared the form of an anchor, either as Mr. Burton's crest or as the town's emblem. Regarding it as the latter, the St. Leonards and Hastings Gazette, in 1835, was the first journal to use that symbol conjointly with the Hastings Arms on its title-page.
One of the minor events of the year was a case of supposed hydrophobia[a], a liver-coloured spaniel bit a person but so as not to break the skin. It then ran on towards Hastings, biting several dogs on its way, most of which were afterwards destroyed. The rabid dog was also killed.
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