Yeovil & Yeovilians in the Newspapers
"Read all about it...."
Yeovil and Yeovilians in the newspapers
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Snippets of News
♦
"We hear
from Yeovil in
Somersetshire,
that a
Detachment of
General Gore's
Regiment is
marched into the
said Town, to
keep the
Inhabitants in
awe, they being
suspected of
Disaffection to
the present
Government."
Newcastle
Courant, 30
June 1733
♦
"Last
Saturday
sev'night one
John Adams, of
Yeovil, in the
County of
Somerset, was
found hanging in
a Stable at the
Sign of the
Crooked Fish at
Frome....
ordered to be
buried in the
common Highway,
and to have
Stake drove
through (his)
Body."
Derby Mercury,
5 January 1753
♦
"Extract
of a Letter from
Yeovil, June 26
- 'This week a
young Woman was
brought here, to
the Parish where
she belongs,
raving mad;
occasioned by
the barbarous
Cruelty of two
of the Hessian
Officers that
were quartered
at an Inn where
she was Servant,
near Salisbury,
by laying her on
the Kitchen
Fire, on her
Refusal to
comply with
their brutish
Lust; where she
must have been
burnt to Death,
had not a
Manservant, on
hearing her
Cries,
immediately
rescued her; for
which he
narrowly escaped
losing his Life,
by their
Attempts to run
him through the
Body."
Oxford Journal,
3 July 1756
♦
"Friday
last at Yeovil
market the
People rose on
account of the
high Price of
Corn, and
obliged the
Farmers to sell
their Wheat for
10s per Bushel."
Leeds
Intelligencer,
10 May 1757
♦
"Last
Sunday Capt. Bru--e,
an Officer
belonging to the
Artillery, cut
his Throat at
Yeovil, in
Somersetshire,
and expired
immediately. He
had been fifty
Years in the
Service, and had
£150 per Ann
Pension, granted
by his late
Majesty, for his
past services."
Bath Chronicle &
Weekly Gazette,
10 December 1761
♦
"On
Christmas Day a
young Man at
Preston near
Yeovil, drowned
himself in a Pit
in a Field,
because a young
Woman (between
whom the Bans of
Matrimony had
been published)
refused to marry
him. The young
Woman was
present at the
Time, to whom he
told what he
would do, but
she did not
imagine he would
have put his
Threats in
Execution. The
Jury brought it
in Lunacy."
Bath Chronicle &
Weekly Gazette,
10 January 1765
♦
"A few
days ago one
Gregory, servant
to Mr Symonds,
Gardener at
Yeovil, aged
near 70, was
found dead
between Yeovil
and Ivelchester,
much bruised in
several places,
and his pockets
cut off, whence
it is believed
he was
murdered."
Salisbury &
Winchester
Journal, 6
May 1765
♦
"We hear
that the
Inhabitants of
Yeovil, on
account of the
Repeal of the
Cyder-Act, and
the Prohibition
of the
Importation of
French Gloves,
(Gloving being
the principal
Trade of that
Town) have
devoted the
greatest Part of
the last Week to
Bell ringing and
other
Diversions;
three Sheep
being roasted
whole on the
last three Days,
and two Vessels
of Cyder
continually
running at their
Market-House."
Bath Chronicle &
Weekly Gazette,
1 May 1766
♦
"Friday -
the Inhabitants
of Yeovil,
generously
bought a large
Quantity of
Wheat at 11s per
Bushel, and sold
it again to the
Poor at 8s. --
An Example
highly worthy of
Imitation."
Derby Mercury,
15 August 1766
♦
"Last
Week a Duel was
fought at
Yeovil, in
Somersetshire,
between Mr (J)
Peddle, a young
Surgeon, and Mr
(W) Edwards, an
Ironmonger of
that Town. The
same Form and
Parade was
observed, as
would have been
between two
noble Lords. The
Pistols were
charged by the
Seconds, the
Ground paced
out, their
Breasts
examined, and a
Signal for
firing given, by
the dropping of
a Handkerchief.
Accordingly they
fired in the
same Instant of
Time, when both
were thoroughly
persuaded of
having just
missed each
other - Mr
Peddle not yet
satisfied
proposed Swords;
when the Seconds
interfering, and
rallying them
sufficiently for
their Folly, by
telling them
that the Pistols
had been charged
only with
Powder, they
shook Hands, and
parted good
Friends."
Oxford Journal,
28 December 1771
♦
"There is
a Lady now
living at Yeovil
by the Name of
Shew, who has
practised
Midwifery these
thirty Years, in
which Time she
had brought into
the World 2765
Children, of
which she keeps
a regular and
correct
Register."
Oxford Journal,
16 February 1782
♦
"About a
fortnight since
was caught at
Yeovil, by a
gentleman of
that town, a
blackbird with
white spots on
the breast and
on the back, and
a white circle
around the neck;
and the night
after it was
caught, after
being watched to
roost, by
Charles Phelps
of Yeovil, an
entire white
sparrow, except
a black spot
under the
throat, which
denotes it to be
a cock."
Bath Chronicle &
Weekly Gazette,
20 December 1787
♦
"Whereas
William
Dickinson stands
on a violent
suspicion of
having
burglariously
broken open the
house of John
Hancock, at
Yeovil, in the
county of
Somersetshire,
in the night of
13 March 1788.
The said W
Dickinson is a
deserter from
the marines, is
23 years of age,
five feet seven
inches high, by
trade a
blacksmith, was
born at
Wolverhampton in
Staffordshire,
is of a fair
complexion, hath
grey eyes, light
brown hair, and
had on a dark
brown coat,
yellow striped
waistcoat, black
velvet breeches
and grey worsted
stockings. FIVE
GUINEAS Reward."
Cumberland
Pacquet, 23
April 1788
♦
"Thursday
Mr Genge, of
Preston, near
Yeovil, was
found drowned in
a pond before
his own house.
He was insane."
Bath Chronicle &
Weekly Gazette,
3 December 1789
♦
"Wednesday
was committed to
Ivelchester gaol
by E Phelips
Esq. Thomas
Goodfellow, a
hawker and
pedlar, having
been detected in
picking a man's
pocket of a
purse,
containing three
guineas and some
silver, at
Yeovil Fair."
Bath Chronicle &
Weekly Gazette,
8 July 1790
♦
"Thomas
Goodfellow, the
hawker and
pedlar who was
committed to
Ivelchester gaol
for picking
pockets at the
last Yeovil
Fair, is removed
from that prison
to Worcester, on
a charge of
horse-stealing."
Bath Chronicle &
Weekly Gazette,
29 July 1790
♦
"Thomas
Goodfellow,
alias Bayliss, a
hawker and
pedlar, was
executed at
Worcester on
Friday last for
burglary. He was
removed from
Ilchester gaol,
to which he had
been committed
for picking
pockets at the
last Yeovil
fair."
Bath Chronicle &
Weekly Gazette,
5 August 1790
From my
collection
A contemporary sketch of Ilchester Gaol.
♦
"Wednesday
se'nnight, at
Vagg Farm, near
Yeovil, aged
102, Mr Thomas
Beer, who had
rented that farm
near 60 years."
Death Notices,
Caledonian
Mercury, 22
November 1790
♦
"Mr
Holloway, grocer
of Yeovil,
Somerset,
endeavouring to
overtake the
stage coach
between that
town and
Sherborne,
unfortunately
burst a blood
vessel, fell
down on the
road, and died
almost
instantly."
Derby
Mercury, 12
April 1792
♦
"About
three o'clock on
Wednesday last a
fire broke out
in a house in
Preston, near
Yeovil, which
for nearly three
hours threatened
the whole town
with
destruction. The
wind, which was
high, blew the
flames in
various
directions, and
at the same time
five different
parts of the
town were on
fire. By the
great exertions
of some
gentlemen from
Yeovil, and the
united
endeavours of
the people of
the village and
neighbourhood,
the flames were
got under;
having, however,
entirely
consumed 14
houses, and
damaged a still
greater number.
Near 100
persons, by this
melancholy
accident, are,
at this
inclement
season,
destitute of
homes."
Derby Mercury,
10 January 1793
♦
"Pedestrian
Horse-Racing -
On Thursday
evening last a
velocipede race
was contested by
Mr Butt, linen
draper, and Mr
Leonard,
ironmonger, of
Yeovil.... Mr L,
in consequence
of being rather
shorter in the
legs than his
opponent, was
allowed the
privilege of
wearing a pair
of lady's clogs,
but these
artificial heels
were not able to
cope with the
natural
alertness of the
linen draper, ho
beat his
antagonist by
one minute and a
half, completing
the mile in six
minutes. The
gentlemen
afterwards
retired to an
inn for
refreshment."
Western
Flying Post,
4 November 1819
♦
"The maid
servant of Mr
Thomas Holt,
superintendent
of the Yeovil
police, on
Saturday evening
last, being in
the house by
herself, and on
her knées,
scouring out the
room, was much
surprised at
seeing the door
suddenly opened
and two stout
women enter; she
enquired what
they wanted? and
was answered
either money or
food; she told
them she had
neither, and
desired them to
leave the house,
which they
refused to do,
swearing that
they would have
something before
they left. The
girl (who is
about fifteen
years of age)
immediately took
down her
master's
constable's
staff, and laid
it over the
shoulders of the
women, and
finally ejected
them from the
house, drove
them into the
road, and locked
the door. We
certainly
consider that
great credit is
due to this
young female, as
there can be no
doubt that had
it not been for
her resolute
conduct
something or
other would have
been stolen."
Morning Post,
24 November 1848
♦
"A
commission
appointed by the
Bishop of Bath
and Wells have
decided that
certain charges
against Mr
Elliott, the
incumbent of
Hendford, Yeovil
- of drunkenness
and improper
familiarity with
his female
servant - have
been
sufficiently
sustained to
warrant further
proceedings."
Exeter
Flying Post,
24 December 1857
♦
"A
commission
appointed by the
Bishop of Bath
and Wells have
decided that
certain charges
against Mr
Elliott, the
incumbent of
Hendford, Yeovil
- of drunkenness
and improper
familiarity with
his female
servant - have
been
sufficiently
sustained to
warrant further
proceedings."
The Times,
13 August 1859
♦
"A woman
named Hannah
Russell, 104
years old,
entered the
Yeovil Workhouse
last week as a
pauper."
Glasgow
Herald, 12
June 1868
♦
"Petty
Sessions,
Wednesday -
(Before Capt.
Messiter,
G Harbin, J
Wood, H Batten,
G Bullock, and A
Wood, Esqrs) -
Throwing
Wood at a
Railway Train
- William Pilton,
a little boy,
was summoned for
throwing a piece
of wood on the
rails of the
Bristol and
Exeter Railway
Company. On
the 25th of Jan.
the lad was seen
to throw a piece
of wood at the
10:35am train
from Yeovil to
Taunton. The
wood struck the
top of the van,
and bounded off
to the opposite
side. The lad
said he had no
intention of
doing any harm,
and merely
dropped the
stick on the
line. Mr Harbin
(chairman) said
the case was one
of a most
serious nature.
The bench had no
alternative but
to impose a fine
of £5 and costs,
or in default
three weeks
imprisonment
with hard
labour."
Bristol Mercury
6 February 1869
♦
"At
Yeovil Fair on
Saturday night,
a panic occurred
in a show, owing
to the fear of
the people that
a performing
Zulu was going
to assegai them.
A number of
persons were
thrown to the
ground and
trampled upon,
and the front of
the show was
forced out."
Cornish
Weekly News,
24 November 1882
♦
"A gas
explosion
occurred on
Saturday at the
New Glove
Factory, Yeovil.
The ceilings of
two rooms were
laid bare, and
some rafters
caught fire, but
the flames were
soon
extinguished. Mr
Johnson, one of
the firm, was
knocked down by
a piece of wood
which was driven
against him."
Dundee
Courier & Argus
and Northern
Warder, 05
January 1885
♦
"A fire,
which at one
time threatened
to be of a very
serious
character, broke
out on Monday
night at the
rear of the
Mermaid Hotel.
No time was lost
in attaching the
hose to the
hydrants in the
streets, and a
copious supply
of water being
poured upon the
flames,
extinguished
them before much
damage was done.
There was great
excitement in
the town, there
being many old
business
premises
adjacent. It was
not generally
known that a
quantity of
paraffin and
other oils was
stored near,
belonging to
tradesmen in the
Borough, or
the anxiety
experienced by
those who
resided in the
Borough would
have been
greatly
intensified. The
horses which
were in the
stable for the
night were
rescued with
difficulty. What
would otherwise
have proved to
be a most
disastrous fire
was subdued in
half an hour
after the
outbreak by the
prompt action of
the fire brigade
and others."
Bristol
Mercury & Daily
Post, 3
March 1888
♦
"An
inquest was held
on Monday
morning at the
Swan Inn
before Mr
Muller, coroner,
touching the
death of George
Wellman, a
drover, living
in
Addlewell Lane.
Deceased
complained on
Friday morning
of feeling cold
and shivering,
and, at his
wife's
suggestion, he
remained indoors
all day. He went
to bed early,
and became
worse. He was
gasping for
breath. A
linseed meal
poultice was
applied to his
throat, and his
wife went for an
order for the
parish doctor.
Whilst she was
waiting for the
doctor she heard
that her husband
was dead. Dr
Marsh said he
had examined the
deceased. He
thought that
death resulted
either from
diphtheria or
acute
inflammation of
the larynx. A
verdict in
accordance with
the medical
evidence was
returned, and
the coroner said
he hoped Dr
Marsh would keep
his eye on the
locality for any
further cases of
sore throat.."
Bristol
Mercury & Daily
Post, 3
March 1888
♦
"A case
of shocking
cruelty came
before the
county
magistrates on
Wednesday
afternoon, when
Robert James
Masters, a
Glover, was
charged under
the new Act for
the protection
of children with
neglecting to
provide the
necessaries for
his family.
Mr S Watts
prosecuted. The
principal
witness was Mrs
Marsh wife of Mr
W Marsh,
solicitor, a
district of
visitor, who
said that on her
visits to the
defendant's
house she found
the children in
a wretched
condition,
without food,
firing, or much
clothing. She
had supplied the
family with food
and coal; but on
one occasion the
little ones were
in such a state
from cold that
one of them was
unable to hold
the spoon to its
mouth. Mrs Marsh
heard that the
defendant was
drinking at a
public house,
and she went to
the inn, saw the
man, and
expostulated
with him. He,
however,
apparently took
no notice of Mrs
Marsh's
remonstrances,
and the children
remained in a
sad and
neglected state.
It was proved
that the
defendant was in
constant work.
Evidence as to
the condition of
the children was
also given by
the police, who
said the man had
been summoned
for ill-treating
his wife, but at
the last moment
she refused to
prosecute.
Defendant was
sentenced to 6
weeks hard
labour."
Bristol
Mercury and
Daily Post,
4 January 1890
♦
"A
remarkable woman
named Gillard,
living in
Market Street,
Yeovil, attained
the age of 108
years on
Wednesday. She
lives with her
daughter, who is
80 years of age,
and, although
compelled to
keep to her bed,
is in full
possession of
her mental
faculties. Her
eyesight is
almost if not
entirely gone.
She remembers
many important
public events
that occurred in
her younger
days, and
converses about
them with
evident
interest. As to
her great age
there can be no
doubt, as the
register of her
baptism was
verified by the
then vicar of
Yeovil. She
received a good
many visitors
and more than
the usual number
of callers on
her 108th
birthday."
Bristol
Mercury and
Daily Post,
10 January 1890
♦
"Mr
Richard Vining,
for many years
surveyor to the
Yeovil Town
Council,
committed
suicide by
drowning."
Hampshire
Advertiser,
25 March 1891
♦
"On
Monday night and
accident
occurred on
Babylon Hill,
near Yeovil,
whereby an
auctionéer,
named James
Harris, was
killed, and a
man and wife
named Gale, all
of Yeovil, were
seriously
injured. It
seems that Mr
Harris was
driving to his
home from
Sherborne, and
when at the top
of Babylon Hill,
by some means,
at present
unexplained, the
three were
thrown out of
the trap. Mr
Harris was
picked up at the
top of the hill,
and Mr Gale
about halfway
down, near where
the road
branches off to
Bradford Abbas,
and the woman
was found at the
bottom of the
hill. The
auctionéer and
Mrs Gale were
lying in pools
of blood, and Mr
Gale was be
spattered with
blood, but was
standing up. The
first to arrive
on the spot was
a young man,
named Wilkins,
of Yeovil, who
was on
horseback, and
shortly
afterwards Mr H
Higdon of
Yeovil, came by.
Fly was
returning from
Sherborne at
this time, and
in this Mr
Harris was
conveyed to his
home, where he
was tended by Dr
Colmer, but died
about an hour
afterwards from,
it is supposed,
concussion of
the brain. The
doctor, after
doing all he
could for Mr
Harris, attended
the others and
eventually they
were removed
home, and
conveyed
subsequently to
the hospital.
The man
sustained some
severe cuts on
the head and the
woman scalp was
cut in addition
to other
injuries.
Yesterday
morning she was
not expected to
recover, but Mr
Gale's wounds
were regarded as
not very
serious. An
inquest on Mr
Harris will
probably be held
today
(Wednesday)."
Hampshire
Advertiser,
29 July 1891
♦
"On
Thursday morning
an inquest was
held before Mr
EQ Louch, deputy
coroner, on the
body of Mr
Samuel Cridland,
who met his
death by falling
down a well on
Tuesday. Supt.
Self having
given evidence
as to the
disused well, PC
Hicks said that
on Wednesday
morning he went
to the rear of
the police
station, where
he saw Mrs Self,
who said she had
heard some
noises in the
well. He told
her he thought
someone ought to
be seen about
it. Both of them
walked several
times over the
place where
deceased fell
in, but they did
not think that
it was likely to
give way. After
breakfast
witness saw
deceased near
the station, and
told him there
was something
the matter with
the well.
Deceased went
round with
witness to look
at the well, and
when he was near
the sunken stone
witness called
out to him not
to go any
further, but at
the same time
the stone he was
standing on gave
way, and
deceased fell
in. Witness saw
deceased catch
at the handle of
the pump, but he
missed it.
Dr Colmer
said he examined
the body. He
thought deceased
was stunned by
the fall. The
jury returned a
verdict of
'Accidental
death'. Much
sympathy is felt
for the
deceased's
family."
Bristol
Mercury and
Daily Post,
14 November 1891
♦
"A gang
of poachers who
were being
watched by the
police at
Compton, near
Yeovil, early on
Saturday
morning, were
met by one of
the watchers
(Police
constable Meech,
of Yetminster)
while descending
Babylon Hill
with a cartload
of game. The
policeman
attempted to
stop the horse,
but was
violently driven
into and knocked
down and
seriously
injured. The men
then drove off
at a wild
gallop, and the
efforts of the
other policemen
to stop them
were
ineffectual. It
was at first
feared that the
injuries to
Meech would
prove fatal, but
he subsequently
rallied,
although his
injuries are of
a very serious
nature. No
arrests have yet
been made, the
men having
absconded."
Hampshire
Advertiser,
19 July 1893
♦
"Six
German prisoners
of war who were
being driven in
a motor-lorry
from their camp
to work on a
farm, were
thrown into the
road at Preston
on Tuesday when
the tail-board
on which they
were sitting
collapsed. Five
received minor
injuries and one
was taken by
ambulance to
hospital and
detained with
head injuries."
Western
Gazette,
23
August 1946