[list-cumbria] Cumberland Pacquet - 24

Fri Aug 2 09:15:48 UTC 2024

Whitehaven  - March 30 - 1775.

The weather for several days past has been colder here than it is ever remembered to have been at this season of the year; a great deal of snow fell in the country last Sunday, and was succeeded by a hard frost on Monday evening, which rendered the roads very slippery.

Last Friday died at Tallentyre, [Parish of Bridekirk] about 15 miles from this town, Henry Fletcher Partis, Esq. That estate is now in the possession of Hendry Hopper of Durham, Esq.

We are informed that there is now living with Mr. William Donald at Warwick Hall, in the Parish of Bromfield, one Stephen Huddleston, a man of uncommon strength; he now thrashes one day with another nigh nineteen bushels of oats, which is about two days work and a half; it is supposed that on trial, he is able to thrash twenty bushels, Carlisle measuie [measure?]; as he cleans the before mentioned quantity with no more apparent difficulty than a common Thrasher goes through the usual days work.

A few days ago was lost over board in sailing to Glasgow, James Coome, mariner, the son of John Coome of this place; he was a promising young man of a fair character; his loss will be severely felt by his parents.

On Thursday last died in an advanced age, Mr.William Gaitskell, many years an inhabitant of this town.

Saturday last died Catherine the daughter of Thomas Hartley Esq. of this place.

One night last week a seizure was made of a considerable quantity of tea, about half a mile from this town. [by the Revenue men?]

The same night as some boys were playing in the Old Church yard, one of them accidently stumbled upon a bag, one end of which contained something like tea, and the other end, it is supposed, was stuffed with silk. They agreed to throw it over the wall, into the street, and convey it to a certain house, where they may open it, and see what it contained, but just as this resolution was formed, two stout able fellows jumped up from behind a tombstone, assuring the boys they were willing to take charge of it themselves. The youngsters ran off, and before proper persons could be called, the prize was gone.

Further to the account of the noted sharper Dr. or Mr. Campbell, Stuart, Hamilton, or Douglas; who is minutely described in this paper of December 15th, 1774. The following particulars relative to him are contained in a letter from Bath to the printers of this paper, dated March 23d, 1775; from a person whose veracity would not be called into question, in a matter of greater moment.

“I was today in company with a gentleman who was giving an account of a sharper that he had assisted to apprehend at Bridport in Devonshire, who, he told me, had defrauded a Mrs. Greaves of Honiton of about six pound, under pretence of his having been acquainted with some relative in the West Indies, who he said had sent her a present of some rum to Plymouth; the freight, duty Etc. of which, he told her he paid, for which he accordingly received the money. Soon after he was gone, Mrs. Greaves told a friend what she had done, who assured her that’s he was imposed upon; and offered to go in pursuit of this man; which he did, and took him at Bridport; and secured him in Exeter gaol, where he is now.

[There is more that I have left out]

Last week died in her 90th year of her age, Mrs Denton, widow of Thomas Denton, Esq. of Warnel hall – [located near Sebergham].

A correspondent at Kirkoswald in forms us that a few days ago a female member of the society of Fortune tellers came to a place in the neighbourhood of Aldsone, and meeting with a young woman who was serious of taking a peep into the futurity, in hopes of discovering the happy epocha of matrimony, prevailed upon her to advance half a guinea, which she ( the wife woman) was to fold up in a piece of cloth along with her good fortune; upon the girl making a solemn promise not to examine the contents for some hours;  but the curiosity of the adventurer compelled her, contrary to her promise and the injunction of the scientific traveller,(who had marched off in the mean time) to open the bundle 24 hours before the time appointed for unsealing the myslerica of Fate, when in her great

 surprise she found it contained only two pence halfpenny. The imposter was persued, overtaken and carried before Timothy Fetherstonehaugh Esq. at Kirkoswald, who after reprimanding the girl had her foolish credibility, ordered the Wife-woman to pay her a Guinea, and then to quit the country.

We are informed there is now living in a parish in this County, a family consisting of a boy with two young sisters, and their grandfather and grandmother, their father and mother, with their fathers daughter in law; their two brothers, two sisters, two uncles, and two unmarried aunts; and yet they are in all nine persons.

We hear from Dublin that John Birch who was executed a few days ago at Stephens Green, behaved with great penance. He confessed to Father Austin Who attended him, that he had not committed more than five murders in his life; and that he had only houghed one soldier.

A few days ago was married at Crosthwaite church, the Rev. Mr. Addison of Thornthwaite to Miss Mary Otley of the same place.

We are informed from Beckermont [ Beckermet today], that on Tuesday the 21st instant, there came out a nest of young larks, a remarkable instance of the mildness of the season.

A few days ago as two labouring men were drinking in an ale house in Workington, some dispute arising, one of them struck the other several times over the face with a quart pot; the poor man lay ????? so ill that his life was despaired of.

Last Thursday afternoon a horse and cart ran backwards off the quay at Workington; notwithstanding the fall was several yards, yet the horse was by immediate assistance got safe out again.

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Nev. Ramsden

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