Old newspapers can be a great way to add detail to the bare bones of our
ancestors’ lives. From obituaries, birth and marriage announcements to
inquests and court cases. If your ancestor was in business, you may also
find advertisments in the local newspapers. Most local Record Offices
or Local History Centres have their local newspapers on microfilm for public
viewing. However, it is very time consuming so, unless you know that your
ancestor did something newsworthy, it is probably not worth trawling through
the newspapers on the off-chance of finding something.
During the course of my own research I have come across articles which
have amused, saddened or shocked me and which I feel are of general
interest to Gloucestershire family historians, so I am sharing them with
you. If you should find one of your own ancestors mentioned below, I would love
to hear from you!
Gloucester Journal 14 February 1874 - Accident at Sharpness
On Thursday week an accident occurred to a boy named Phelps, who is
working at the new dock gates. In his dinner hour he began playing on the
pier with the winch that opens and shuts the gates. He caught hold of the
level whilst the weight of the slack chain was turning the winch round,
which also carried him round, and as he was not strong enough to stand
against it, was flung from off the pier on to the sill of the gates, a
distance of 24 feet. He sustained very serious injuries, which however are
not likely to prove fatal.
Gloucester Journal 14 February 1874 - Berkeley Inquest
On Saturday Mr W Gaisford held an inquest on the body of
William Morgan,
who had been injured by a truck passing over him on the new railway, so that
both of his legs had to be amputated. The poor fellow lingered till Thursday
last. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased died from
syncope, from the effects of necessarily undergoing amputation of both legs.
Gloucester Journal 28 February 1874 - Forest of Dean:
Mrs “Pretty Mother” and the unfortunate hen
On Saturday afternoon Martha Martin,
alias “Pretty Mother” of Gatcombe on the
borders of the Forest of Dean, was brought up before Mr H M James of
Kingsland House, charged with feloniously stealing a fowl, the property of a
widow named Carnall. The prisoner did not conceal her guilt, but by way of
justification, made a virtue of her sin by entering into the following
explanation.
She said herself and the prosecutor were neighbours, and a few
days previously the bird intruded into her cottage, taking up its quarters
on the kitchen shelf. Annoyed at such impertinence, she armed herself with
the house broom, and rushing at the bird with a “get out, you impudent
hussy,” the bird in great fright flew to the fire-place and alighted in a
pot of boiling water. Taking compassion on its misery she put an end to its
life by a twist of the neck. The bird, however, next day formed the roasted
dish of Mrs “Pretty Mother’s” mid-day meal. The story was as plausible as it
was touchingly and graphically told, and taking a favourable view of the
domestic episode, the magistrate disposed of the case by ordering the
defendant to pay the value of the bird, and on her consenting to do so she
was released from custody.
Gloucester Chronicle 5 Feb 1870
Mormon Conference in Birmingham
A conference of members of the Latter Day Saints was held on Sunday
in Birmingham. Fifteen elders attended, including one from Cheltenham, The
presidents of the various districts made statements of the general progress
of Mormonism in the Midlands. The elders from Utah expressed the firmest
faith in President Young, They were assured he was a prophet, and the best
friend of man on the earth, It was stated that there are 10,000 members of
the Mormon sect in the British Isles. The statistics of the Birmingham
district showed 12 branches, 87 elders, 39 priests, 23 teachers, 24 deacons:
total officers, 137. During the six months ending Dec 31 1869, there had
been baptised 38 persons, received 11; removed 8; emigrated to Utah 111;
excommunicated 28; died 11: total members 725. Total officers and members
867. The names of various officers and orders of the church, from Brigham
Young downwards, were presented to the conference for approval, and this
ceremony over the conference concluded.
Gloucester Chronicle 29 Jan 1870 - Tewkesbury
Death by Burning
On Monday an inquest was held at the Workhouse on the body of Mary
Ann Taylor, aged 20. She was sitting up very late on Friday night, with a
young woman who worked at gloving, at a cottage at Overbury, where they both
lodged. Their candle having burnt out, they put more wood on the fire, and
went to sleep in their chairs. A blazing stick fell out and set the
deceased’s dress on fire. Her uncle and aunt, who were the occupiers of the
house, ran downstairs, and with a blanket extinguished the flames, but they
were ten minutes in doing so, and in that time the poor girl’s clothes were
nearly all burnt off, and she was frightfully injured, She was conveyed in a
cart to the Rural Hospital at Tewkesbury; but that being full, she could not
be taken in, and was therefore sent to the Workhouse, where she died the
next day. Verdict: Accidental death.
Gloucester Chronicle 29 Jan 1870 - Thornbury:
Rescue from Drowning
A providential rescue from drowning occurred at Rockhamton, near
Thornbury, on Wednesday. Harriet Young, aged about six years, residing with
her grandfather, Mr Ambrose Cullimore farmer, while playing with another
child named Elizabeth Roberts upon the ice on a deep pool fell through into
the water. The little girl Roberts, with extraordinary presence of mind,
ventured on the ice, and, without calling for assistance, succeeded in
rescuing her companion.
Gloucester Chronicle 15 Jan 1870 - Ross
Mysterious Disappearance
Mary Ann Probert, aged 18, daughter of a shepherd and who was employed as
a domestic servant at the Vicarage at Foy, near this town, left the Vicarage
on Saturday morning and has not since been heard of. She had neither bonnet
nor shawl on when she left, and nothing occurred to arouse suspicion, As the
Wye runs close to the Vicarage it is conjectured that she must have downed
herself.
29 Jan 1870 - Ross – The Missing Girl
The body of Mary Ann Probert, the servant who suddenly disappeared from
the Vicarage at Foy on Saturday, the 8th instant, was found in the Wye on
Saturday last by a man named Oakley, who lived as fellow servant with the
poor girl. The body was embedded in sand in the centre of the river, about a
mile below the Vicarage.
Gloucester Chronicle 1 Jan 1870 - Gloucester:
Stealing Money from a Till
Ann Partridge of Bell Lane, was charged with stealing from the till of
the Hare and Hounds beerhouse, St Catherine Street, four florins, three
shillings, a sixpence, and some coppers. Mrs Okey, the landlady, deposed
that on Monday Partridge, who was an acquaintance of hers, came to her house
shortly before one o’clock, said she felt unwell, and went to bend. Prisoner
then said that she had only a penny in the world. …I went to the till and
missed twelve shillings…..sentenced to two months’ hard labour.
Gloucester Chronicle 1 Jan 1870 - Advertisement
Painless Dentistry
Mr H J MACY, Surgeon Dentist of Bristol and Stroud, may be consulted
every Saturday at Mr Joseph Hayes’s Jun, 1 Worcester Street, Gloucester. Mr
Macy extracts teeth by the new process of Nitrous Oxide Gas, but still
continues to use the Anaesthetic Spray. Stopping, scaling and all other
dental operations performed. Artificial teeth made on the newest principles,
combined with moderate charges.
Gloucestershire Chronicle 1 Jan 1870 - Tewkesbury:
Death of the oldest inhabitant
Honor Holder, widow, for many years an inmate of the Gander Lane
Almshouses, died on the 29th instant, aged 94 years.