Occurrences in 1828
The merchant Mr. James Breeds was entertained at dinner on the 27th of April by 20 persons who had been in his employ from 21 to 26 years.
Another pugilistic encounter came off on the 9th of May, which was witnessed by about 600 persons, and when Fred. Whiteman who, in the preceding year had been vanquished by Mike Wood, was again beaten after a desperate encounter with a man named Neves, the number of rounds being 135, and the fight enduring 1¾ hours.
On Sunday, the 10th of May, the choice of Mayor fell upon Mr. S. L. Crouch, while Mr. F. North was appointed Deputy Mayor and Mr. J. G. Shorter, Town Clerk. The church bells rang merrily as usual between the services, and the Mayor's banquet was held on the following day. There were at 'that' time only two beadles to keep unruly people in order, and one of these, named Chatfield, fell dead under the Elms while conducting a vagrant out of town. This was on the 13th or 14th of May. - A week later, Mr. Robert Weston was appointed Postmaster in lieu of Benjamin Bossom, then deceased.
There appeared to be an excess of duty on the part of the Revenue officers, when, on the 22nd of June, they seized the new 'Atlanta' because it had on board (contrary to law as alleged) a flying fish preserved in a bottle of spirits and two bottles of pickles. The boat was placed in the Condemned Hole, but was afterwards restored to its owner.
The yearly distribution of Lasher's Charity (rent of 16 acres of land in All Saints) to seven old men was duly performed, the recipients being John Swaine, who had had it for two years; John Whyborn (2); Paul Hew 5; John Phillips 9; Richard Adams 5; Geo. Sargent, 5; and Wm. Foord, 5. The Corporation also applied the Saunders Charity to its legitimate purpose in apprenticing James, the son of Thos. Ranger, to David Delves, shoemaker, and Edward, son of Edward Sharpe, of All Saints Street to Thos. Thorne, plasterer.
On the 2nd of July there was an examination of 100 children at the Cavendish Place new Infant School, in which he who now writes, was one of the first assistant teachers. I am reminded that at the second time there were nearly 400 children in the Wesleyan Sunday school in Waterloo Place.
Among the misfortunes of the year were a defect in the roof of the Pelham Crescent Chapel, which necessitated a suspension of services for some time; the fatal fall of a young man named Easton over the-
