Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
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The strange story of Elizabeth AMOS....
Henry AMOS born Dover, "a soldier, went missing during the Napoleonic wars, and was presumed dead. His wife (Elizabeth) married Richard BOWLES by whom she had a daughter Esther, before her former husband re-appeared and she returned to him. Henry and Eliz. AMOS had 4 more children before Henry AMOS died, leaving her a widow in actuality.
She then "re-married" BOWLES by whom she had another daughter - Jemima Weymouth BOWLES, and a son Richard BOWLES, after they reached the Cape" (ie Emigrated 1820 in Menezes' party to Cape of Good Hope) in the ship "Weymouth" ("Settlers Handbook by M.D.Nash pp.91-92)
Elizabeth AMOS of Dover (aged 36 in 1820) had 7 children by Henry AMOS, and 2 by Richard BOWLES.
Emigrated to the Cape Colony in 1820 with Richd BOWLES, and all 9 of her children, and bore another son on arrival there. (see Richd and Eliz. BOWLES) (see also Henry AMOS, below on this list)
Elizabeth AMOSS widow of St James Dover married Richard BOWLS widr of same 8 Nov 1819
(St James Dover, info ex M.Gandy marriage index)
Elizabeth AMOS of Dover (above), her children by husband Henry AMOS:
Henry (aged 16 in 1820) emigrated with her
Eliza ( ditto 13 " ) ditto
Charlotte (ditto 12 " ) ditto
Rebecca (ditto 9 " ) ditto
Thomas (ditto 7 " ) ditto
Sarah (ditto 6 " ) ditto
And Edward (ditto 4 " ) ditto
("Settlers Handbook" by Nash)
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
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and A MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT....
A melancholy accident happened at Dover on Wednesday on landing the passengers from the "Lord Duncan" packet -
A neak (sic) having on board 11 passengers and 4 boatmen, had just put off from the vessel when the "Lady Jane James" passage vessel coming down at the moment, with a fresh wind, ran on board and sunk the neak, by which accident a young man, a passenger named JACOB, a Jew, was drowned after having hung on by the hobstay of the vessel till he was exhausted, when he was obliged to let go his hold and he sunk to rise no more. It is reported he had a considerable sum in foreign coin about his person, another man a hoveller named PERRY dislocated his shoulder and was nearly gone but for the assistance of another boat which succeeded in getting him in after he had gone down twice; the rest of the passengers and crew were saved by the boats and vessel (Kentish Gazette 18 May 1821 back page, col.4)
And later: (local news column): Mr JACOBS, the young man lately drowned, off Dover, had his pantaloons lined with bars of gold.. A reward of £100 has been offered for finding his body."
(Kentish Gazette 29 May 1821 back page col.4)
(NEAK: After much searching no definite identification of this word. "Nektos" (prounced Neek-toss) means swimming (Greek origin). NACA or NACELLE is a French boat without sail or mast "used as early as twelfth century" Neak: not in W.Clark RUSSELL's "Sailor's Language". The incident was not mentioned in Lloyd's List for May/June 1821 - info ex R.Craig)
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 715- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 2,438
Fascinating Kath, wonder if they ever found the body, or pantaloons, of Jacob? What exactly was a Hoveller?
Audere est facere.
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Fascinating stories there Kath, those gold bars in Jacob's pantaloons would have weighed him down somewhat. They say you can't take your fortune with you when you die but poor Jacob did just that
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
lovely use of language again, i particularly liked the bit where jacob was hanging on for dear life then because of exhaustion "was obliged" to let go.
Guest 715- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 2,438
Jacob, A Jew, not very PC was it
Audere est facere.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
could be:
-Hoveler Hov"el*er, n. One who assists in saving life and property from a wreck; a coast boatman. [Written also hoveller.] [Prov. Eng.] --G. P. R. James.
or perhaps an unlicensed Pilot ?
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
... on the subject of economy....
From Eastry (Kent) Union Workhouse, (East Kent) guardians minutes:
At meeting on 17.5.1853
It was decided that one sheet of paper per week be supplied to each inmate to stop the use of rag etc. in the water closets
and later:
The Clerk said as it had been decided that waste paper should be provided for the use of the workhouse inmates in the water closets, he had procured half a ream from Mr BAYLEY of Eastry at 4 shillings.
The Clerk suggested that the Goods Tickets issued by the Relieving Officers, of which there is a great quantity in his possession, may be used for the purpose required, first removing the pins, which he considers could be done by the girls, this would effect not only the saving in the purchase of paper but of pins also, which could be made use of again.
This suggestion was adopted.
Minute dated 24.5.1853
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
I bet there were a few female sailors DISGUISED AS MEN, in Dover:
YOUNG Rebecca
"Death of a female Sailor" - an inquest was held at the Town Hall Gravesend a few days ago. On view of the body of a woman named Rebecca YOUNG, but who was better known by the name of Billy BRIDLE. She having for the last year or two sailed in the "Hatch" boat as a seaman with a man of that name, and always passed as a seaman. It appeared by the evidence taken before the Coroner that about 9 o'clock in the morning of the day on which the deceased met her death, she dressed herself in a pair of trowsers, a shirt, jacket and neckerchief which she borrowed of a sailor belonging to one of Don Pedro's ships lying off Pier, and went on board with him. About 5 or 6 o'clock the deceased who it appears was groggy wished one of the men to go to the mast head with her and after some hesitation, he went to the main top; the deceased wished the man to go higher and he went up to the topmost cross tree. After sitting there a few minutes the man was called down and in about five minutes afterwards the deceased followed, and in attempting to come down by the top gallant halliards, her hands fired, which obliged her to let go her hold and she fell on the deck about the height of 20 feet and was killed on the spot. Jury returned verdict of accidentally killed."
(Kentish Gazette 18 June 1833 back page col.4)
[Note: presumably "groggy" in this report means "in drink"?]
Mary Ann ARNOLD:
The Sailor Girl - Mary Ann ARNOLD, a comely girl who said she was just 15 yrs of age came, accompanied by another young female, to the Justice Room in order to request assistance for a few weeks previously to her departure for India, to which country she had obtained a passage through the kindness of the owners of a ship in which she had served as one of the crew for a considerable time. As the vessel was not to sail until next month and as her parents were both dead and she had no relative to relieve her necessities, she fancied that the best thing she could do was to represent her situation to the Lord Mayor of London who was well known in all the countries to which she had travelled to be the friend of the unprotected. With reference to her exploits in sailing having appeared in the newspapers, she said the Captain of the E.Indiaman in which she was engaged, reported to his owners from the Cape of Good Hope he had found a girl among his crew. She was asked by a Mr HOBLER "were you led by a childish freak into so odd and dangerous a change of life?" to which she replied "Not at all sir, it was nothing but want that drove me to sea. She said she was born at Sheerness, mother and father being dead she thought she had no chance of avoiding starvation except by taking a job on board ship so she acquired a jacket and trousers. She said she had strength beyond her years and the sailors never did her any harm and she worked hard.
"I know everything about a ship and could get into the shrouds in an instant. If I had not been discovered perhaps I never should have left the sea but I have no idea of returning to it" She was paid £4.10s a month, and never seasick. She was given cash to pay her "mess and hammock" until the arrival of an Alderman PIRIE who would vouch for her. (Dover Telegraph 11 Jul 1840 p.7, col.2) (long report - more detail)
From Queenborough Registers, Sheppey, Kent:
Burial on 28 December 1798: A person from HMS Spanker, by the name of William HOLLAND, found to be a female.
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
Reminds me of this story of one of my favourite graves in Kensal Green Cemetery London.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Barry_(surgeon)Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
Gosh, what a life he/she must have led. Very interesting.
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
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There were many British settlers in South Africa in the 1820s. I have some books on them - fascinating reading if you like that sort of thing (which I do). If I ever get the time - and remember, I'll look up and see if there is an Amos mentioned in one of the books.
Roger
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
three more items:
THE LATE EXTRAORDINARY FLIGHT OF BUTTERFLIES: The swarm of butterflies which crossed the Channel, and appeared at Dover on the 5th ult., are said to have belonged to the "Pontia capae" (or rapae?). A correspondent says he has made very minute enquiries into the subject on the spot, as he landed there from Ostend, on the Tuesday following the circumstlance. On the 13th he travelled by rail from Cologne to Ostend, the day was intensely hot, and he noticed in that district a prodigious number of these same butterflies through the whole district. The day on which the phenomenon occurred at Dover was exceedingly hot, with the wind at south. (Dover Telegraph 15 Aug 1846)
Playing Marbles on a Sunday -
"Edward WHELCH and Thomas PAGE, two lads about 12 years of age were charged by Police Constable PINE with playing marbles during Divine Service. PINE stated that great complaints had been made by the inhabitants at a number of boys assembled in a shed at Buckland. He watched the place and succeeded in catching the defendants from among several others who escaped. The lads in their defence stated that seeing some boys playing marbles they went to look on but did not play and the parents being in attendance, promising to take care of the future good conduct of their children, they were discharged with a suitable admonition from the Bench. (Dover Telegraph 27 Nov 1847 p.8 col.2)
Shaking a carpet after 8am:
"Friday - James EPPS was charged by MUGGERIDGE Inspector of Nuisances for shaking a carpet in the Ship Hotel Lane, Strond Street, after 8 o'clock in the morning contrary to the provisions of the Pavement Act. MUGGERIDGE stated that he had previously warned the defendant. Wednesday last about noon the Defendant was shaking the carpet which being witnessed by some members of the Pavement Board he was directed to get a summons against EPPS who admitted the offence but stated that he was ordered to shake the carpet at the time in question which was the only opportunity they had of taking it up. Fined 10 shillings and 10 shillings costs to be paid in a week. (Dover Telegraph 20 March 1847 p.8 col.1, Dover Petty Sessions)
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
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ancient remains found on Western Heights:
"A few days since the workmen on the Western Heights of Dover came to the foundation of a very ancient fort, supposed to have been built about the same time as the castle was. Captain Ford of the Royal Engineers who has the conducting of the works, has given orders for the whole of the lines to be traced, to ascertain its extent. It is so situated as to command the whole of the roads of Dover, and will make a fine situation for a mortar battery."
(Kentish Gazette 1807 21st Aug back page)
and
"The ruins discovered by the workmen on Dover Heights seven days back and which discovery was mentioned in our paper of Friday last, is generally thought to be the remains of some chapel built many years since. It certainly cannot have been fortification, as it is not sufficiently extensive for that purpose. The men have been busily employed since clearing away the rubbish, and in digging yesterday they discovered several human bones, some pieces of painted glass, and a very ancient spur. The circumstance of the glass and bones being found strengthens the opinion of its having been some place of devotion. Some of the stones which have been taken up are very curiously carved and the foundation of the same materials filled with small stones about double the size of the modern brick."
(Kentish Gazette 25 Aug 1807 back page col.4)
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
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Mr Richard HARVEY: "A Qualm of Conscience -
Mr Richard HARVEY the present landlord of the "Queen's Head" public house at Dover, formerly drove one of the coaches between that place and Canterbury during that time he lost out of the same a pair of Shoes and had forgotten the transaction until yesterday morning, when he received by the post the following letter with a 7 shilling piece under the seal.
"To Mr Richard HARVEY:
Being in company with a man who expressed much sorrow and contrition having taken a pair of shoes of yours out of the coach you drove from Dover to Canterbury, while standing in the street, he wishes to make you satisfaction for the injury he did you at that time. He has directed me to send you 7 shilling piece, the price the shoes cost you, then hoping you will forgive the injury done. The shoes was taken in the year 1797 or 1798 - the money is under the seal."
(Kentish Gazette 1 May 1810 back page col.4 near bottom)
[NB the "Queens Head" taken down about 1980, was where Boots chemists store now stands in Biggin Street]
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
That might be the Templars church that was discovered in 1806 on Western Heights.
The foundations are there now, on the road to Braddon.
There is a fascinating secret attached to that church. If you observe the foundations, they are shape as a key: the Key to England!
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
so braddon is on the road to redemtion.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
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Being prepared?
Mrs WILSON, late of Canterbury, died Monday last at Buckland after a few days' illness. She paid three different clergymen to bury her. To one she gave, in addition, all her "plate".
Two of them left Dover previous to her death.
She paid the undertaker (some 3 years since) the expenses of her funeral. She gave all her dresses but one to two women two days before she was taken ill; she left all the money in the house (£5) and all her apparel and furniture etc. to servant of 3-weeks - worth considerable property, the whole of which passes to her nephew Mr SMITH of Alkham Kent.
(Kentish Gazette Tu August 21 1849 p.3)
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred