[list-cumbria] Cumberland Pacquet

[Nev Ramsden]

The Cumberland Pacquet Newspaper, consisting of four pages of Newsprint that came out each Thursday, price 2 ½ pence. It was produced and printed in Whitehaven. It was started in 1774 by an unknown publisher and the following extracts are taken from the collection held at the Whitehaven Record Office, that formerly belonged to Whitehaven Library, and was originally brought together by the then Librarian – Daniel Hay. The papers contents centred on intelligence & letters from London, Dublin and the Americas along with articles to broaden the reader’s mind; properties for rent & sale; and on the back page patent medicines to cure everything. 

The only Local information is to be found in a column on page 3 entitled – “Whitehaven” along with the date. This column is the source for the information shown below.

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Cumberland Pacquet or Wares Whitehaven Advertiser for 1774

Whitehaven  - October 20 - 1774.  Issue No.1



On Sunday the 9th Instant, died at Middlewich , Mrs Gale, wife of John Gale, Esq. of this town, she was much esteemed as a Lady of good feale and great affability. 

[This was Mrs Sarah Gale, nee Wilson, born in 1728 in Urswick Parish, Lancs. The Gale family originated from Newcastle upon Tyne and they were major merchant families in the town of Whitehaven]



A Letter from Newcastle says “Capt. Phipps has polled about 24 more than either Sir Walter Blacket or Sir Matthew White Ridley at the Close of the Poll today,



We hear from the Isle of Mann that the Herring Fishery the former part of the season, was attended with verry little success: but at present the fish are as plentiful as the were ever known there in the months of July and August and there is the greatest probability of their curing great quantities there this winter.



The account of the Capt. of a trader murdering his mate as inferred in the former part of this paper, and in several of the London papers is misrepresented. The truth is as follows – The Captain of an Irish Sloop wanted to run his vessel on shore, on the beach nigh Kirk Andrews in the Isle of Mann; the mate attempted to prevent him, when he snatched up a Handspike and knocked him down, on of the seamen sleeping below was awakened, and in coming up the hatchway was also knock’d down by the Captain, but recovered himself, and along with a passenger on board run to raise up the Mate, who received another blow from the Captain, which killed him. The other seaman and a passenger seized the murderer and bound his hands behind his back; then took the [ships] boat to go on shore for assistance, leaving the dead body and the Captain upon the deck. While they were from the Sloop, a heavy gale of Wind came on which prevented their reaching her for some hours; when they boarded her again, with several people from the Island, the Captain was missing, and it is supposed had been washed overboard, the body of the deceased Mate was buried in the Island. The Sloop was bound for Liverpoole, loaden with butter: the Mate’s name was Curphey.



Yesterday began at Cockermouth, the election for two Knights of the Shire, to represent this County in Parliament. The Candidates are Sir James Lowther, Bart.; Sir Joseph Pennington, bart. and Henry Fletcher Esq.



This is all the useful info in the first issue,  Nev.Ramsden
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