Norfolk Newspapers
Norfolk Chronicle

Extracts from April 14th 1781

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Page 2, column 2
Christopher Sayers; Prisoners landed at Yarmouth.
Page 2, column 3
Executions of William Skipper, William Fletcher and Michael Moore; Theft from George Ward; Selected deaths.
Page 3, column 1
John Baldeston Gray; Support of poor children and the families of militia men in the hundreds of Launditch and Mitford.

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Norfolk Chronicle
Extracts from April 14th 1781

Transcription and notes copyright © Janelle Penney.
These transcriptions have been made from microfilm supplied by the British Library Newspaper Library, which holds the copyright of the images. If you cite from, or download any part of, these transcriptions you must include this paragraph to acknowledge the British Library Newspaper Library as the source of the material.

Note: the Norfolk Chronicle was published in Norwich. When no place is referred to exactly, or the term "this city" is used, Norwich is the place referred to. Similarly, mentions of "the Castle", the City Gaol" etc refer to institutions in Norwich.

Page 2, column 2

On Friday last at a corporation assembly, held at Yarmouth, Mr Christopher SAYERS was appointed Pier-Master.

A letter from Yarmouth, dated April 12, says, "Last Tuesday fifteen prisoners were landed and brought to our gaol from the Liberty cutter, Lieut. BARKLEY, commander, being part of the crew of a small privateer belonging to Dunkirk, called the Flying Buck, one PAINE, commander, which was driven on shore by the Liberty near Southwold, on Monday last; they had taken only one vessel, which they manned and sent for France. The crew consisted of 25 men, and all Englishmen except three. PAINE was some few years since master of a ship from this port; he was very roughly handled by the populace."

At a time when we are engaged in an expensive war with our combined enemies, and every nerve should be strained for the protection and safety of our commerce, it is truly alarming to hear of the different depredations committed on the property of the mercantile part of the kingdom, by our own countrymen!

Page 2, column 3

On Saturday last, William SKIPPER, William FLETCHER, alias SMITH, and Michael MOORE, were executed on the Castle hill pursuant to their sentence; in the morning they received the sacraments, acknowledged the justice of their sentence, and seemed fully sensible of their approaching fate; when they arrived at the fatal tree, SKIPPER addressed the populace for a considerable time, exhorting them to tread in the path of honesty, and thereby shun those vices which had brought him to such an untimely end; after which they prayed very fervently for a few minutes, and were launched into eternity. SKIPPER was a rather handsome young fellow, aged 23; FLETCHER, 19, and MOORE only 17 years.

During the time of the above execution, the house of Mr George WARD, butcher, in Ber [?smudged and hard to read] Street, was broken into in the absence of the family, and a quantity of plate, linen, and wearing apparel, stolen there-out, to the amount of nearly 20 pounds.

On Thursday died Mr Thomas IVES, who served the office of sheriff for this city in 1770.

Last Saturday se'nnight died, in the 57th year of his age, Mr Marsham PIGGE, of Egmere, in this county, after a long and painful illness, which he bore with great fortitude. He was a man beloved and revered by all who had the pleasure of knowing him; an affectionate husband, a tender parent and a most warm, generous, and steady friend. He has left a widow and seven children to bewail the loss of so dear and amiable a relation, and a numerous set of acquaintance, whose sighs evince the chasm which is made by the event.

Page 3, column 1

Norwich, April 13, 1781.

Whereas John Baldeston GRAY, Apprentice to Mr William COOK, of the City of Norwich, Peruke-maker and Hair-dresser, left his said Master's service on Sunday the first Day of this instant, April. This is therefore to warn all Persons against harbouring or employing the said J.B. GRAY, as they will be proceeded against as the Law directs.

Launditch and Mitford, April 10.

At a Meeting this Day held at the George Inn, in East Dereham, it was agreed to oppose the present Method of putting out the Poor Children from the said House of Industry, and placing them by Force with the Inhabitants of the said Hundreds, who amply pay for their Support besides. It was also agreed, to try whether the said Corporation are not to pay for the Maintenance of Militia Men's Wives and Children. Inhabitants of the said Hundreds, who did not attend this Meeting, are requested to consult with each other at their next Easter Town Meetings, how far they intend to join these important Matters, and give their Answers at the said Inn, on Friday the 20th instant, at Three o'Clock, Afternoon, when another Meeting will be held.