ground where the present fish-market is held," but that was a different thing to that which they had undertaken to do. As is often said, "All's well that ends well!" and in this case the Commissioners bethought them that "prudence was the better part of valour." For a time they were certainly in great pucker overt the matter, their anxiety being also increased by the falling in of the waterworks reservoir and the destruction of the stone groynes at the East Well. In this dilemma the Corporation generously aided them by allowing them to remove the fittings from the old meat-market under the Town Hall without the compensation that was offered, and also promised another £200 towards the construction of a new groyne. By the 8th of March, therefore, the meat-market was removed from High Street to George Street and the fishermen were greatly delighted that their places had been taken by the butchers.
On the 4th of June, the Commissioners resolved by 26 to 23 votes to construct the new groyne at the East Well, and the material to be timber. The minority favoured a groyne of substantial but ornamental stone, notwithstanding the total destruction of the previous one built of stone. A wag put it about that the Stony-hearts had lost and the Wooden-heads had won.
Whilst the Commissioners were commended for their energy in one direction, they were unfavourably criticised for their want of foresight in another. It was said that the state of the open Bourne was disgusting. Into it was thrown all sorts of rubbish which was not only disagreeable but might be dangerous. The Commissioners should not forget that although Hastings had hitherto escaped the dire effects of the cholera, that disease was unfortunately again in the country. This criticism was, however, rather premature, for the operation of covering the stream had already commenced, and one, at least, of the two pumps stipulated for by the Act for the free use of the poor had been set up. This soon became fully known through two of the jurats getting into trouble. Mr. Crouch was summoned and fined for using water from the said pump, to which he was not entitled, and on the same day, Mr. Williams was fined 30s. for selling peaches from his garden without paying the Market dues. This was he who, as John Williams jun., was made a jurat in 1830 and whose father in the present year, 1834, an entry in the Corporation minutes has reference thus:Memorandum - that on this 12th day of February John Williams Esq., one of the jurats departed this life.
This elder John Williams was married to Elizabeth Freeman at Bexhill on Oct 16th 1778.
The following is a record of other transactions of the Corporation during the year:-
Government enquiry into what constituted the Corporation
On the 29th of February, Mr. Bingley, one of the Commissioners for enquiring into the affairs of Corporations sat at the Town Hall, and in reply to his questions, the Town Clerk (Mr. Shorter) stated in substance that the Hastings Corporation had jurisdiction over 750 acres of land in the parish of Bexhill known as Pevensey Marsh, and also over the Hill of Grange in the parish of Bekesbourne, Kent; that over the latter the Kentish magistrates had concurrent jurisdiction with Hastings; that the body corporate consisted of a Mayor, 12 jurats, and an indefinite number of freemen; that the Mayor was elected annually by the commonalty out of jurats; that the jurats were elected annually by the Mayor and jurats, or a majority of them from the freemen, and for life, although they were re-sworn annually. At that time there were only ten jurats, including the Mayor. To the question why was the number not made up, Mr John. Smith offered the explanation that there were refusals by some of those who were chosen to perform the duties of the office, and he instanced the case of Mr. Foster, a tailor, who was made a jurat against his wish; but Mr. Smith affirmed that Foster had declared what he [Smith] had stated in his own hearing. Mr. Shorter continued — that the fine for not serving was £10, but no fines were ever inflicted.
Freemen claimed their right by birth in certain cases, and the eldest son of a freeman could claim at the age of 21. At that time there were 193 freemen (180 resident and 13 non-resident). Mr. Howard Elphinstone submitted that the holding of freehold property entitled, as also did scot and lot; and he brought forward several cases as proof, of which the Commissioner took note. Mr. Shorter further said that the fine to the Corporation on admission of a jurat was £2, for a freeman £2, and for a chamberlain £1. The fee to the Town-clerk was 10/6; for swearing, 3/-; and for stamp £8. For a freeman by birth the stamp-duty was £2. (The Mayor was chief magistrate and coroner, and had power to appoint a deputy. He presided at Quarter-sessions, and had no salary. Jurats were all magistrates, entitled to-sit at Quarter-sessions, and had no emoluments. It had béen usual to appoint a Town-Counsel, and the custom had been traced back to nearly the time of Elizabeth. He was not a corporate officer, and received ten guineas at each session. The Town-clerk was appointed by the Mayor, jurats and commonalty for one year, and so on. He was Clerk-of-the-peace at Quarter-sessions, Clerk to the Magistrates, and attended the Civil court. His salary was £12 9s. 2d., together with professional charges for extra business, and the usual fees at Quarter-sessions. His charges for recovering £119 from the Court of Chancery were £37. There were two chamberlains elected annually by the entire body to collect rents and keep accounts for £5 a year each. There were eight auditors, four of them chosen annually from the freemen by the Mayor and jurats, and the other four from the jurats by the freemen. They had neither salary nor emoluments. The Mace sergeant was chosen annually by the Mayor, but it was usual to continue the same person. He carried the mace and attended Corporation meetings; was a sworn constable, executed all processes in a, civil court, -
