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Miscellaneous Happenings in Burbage
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A sad name give a child - 1781
During the 18th century it was rare for people to have 2 Christian names but there is an entry in the Baptism Register of All Saint's Burbage for 1781 which bestow 6 upon a poor child. The entry reads: Charles Ciractacus Ostorius Maximilian Gustavus Adolphus, son of Charles Stone, tailor, baptized 29th April.
Taken for an entry in Notes & Queries March 2nd 1874 p27
Fire at Burbage : 20th May 1791
"Last Sunday se'nnight, during divine service, a fire broke out at Burbage, Wilts, which consumed a farmhouse, barn, stable, carthouse and nine tenements inhabited by poor people. The flames were so rapid that the whole buildings were destroyed before the engines from Tottenham Park, the seat of the Right Hon. the Earl of Ailesbury, arrived. By this dreadful accident 54 persons are driven from their homes, and reduced to great distress. Two houses only are insured. The fire was occasioned by a woman carelessly putting burning ashes amongst some straw, which immediately cached fire, and communicated to the thatched buildings."
An unnamed Newspaper cutting in Devizes Museum (WC 26/73)
The Poor of 1824
1824 Rents for Parish Homes should be:
Ram Alley Tenements:
- The west tenement £1-5-0d; occupied by Skitterel
- The middle tenement £1-5-0d; occupied by George Ruddle
- The east tenement £1-5-0d; occupied by David Tucker
The Stibb Cottage £2-0-0d; occupied by William Ruddle
The Stibb Tenements:
- £1-0-0d; occupied by Stephen Bushels
- Ditto £1-0-0d; occupied by Jonas Hilliards
- Ditto £1-0-0d; occupied by John Fribbence
The Westcourt Tenements:
- £1-5-0d ; occupied by Richard Newmans
- £1-10-0d ; occupied by William Longs
- £0-0-0d ; occupied by Mary News and other paupers
- £1-5-0d ; occupied by William Skitterall
Seamore Cottage £1-5-0d
Total £14-0-0d
Poor Books 1823 - 1828 [WRO 831/15]
The Slander of Rev. John Shepard Gale : 1827
This is a newspaper report from the Salisbury & Winchester Journal of March 12th 1827. The court case was held at Winchester and whilst there is no guarantee that this is the Burbage lad who was in 1841 to become our first resident vicar for many years, it is almost certainly him as he was curate at Hurstbourne Tarrant, Hampshire at around that time. What was the slander I wonder?
The following causes were tried at Nisi Prius :
Gale, Clerk, v. Blount. - Judd v. Stone.- These were actions brought by the Rev. John Shephard Gale and Mr. Robt. Judd, to recover a compensation in damages for words spoken by the defendants, in conversation with Judd, of a most defamatory nature. Immediately on the opening of the proceedings, the learned counsel for the defendant conferred with the plaintiff's counsel, and the plaintiff's having no vindictive motives, the result was an apology made by Mr. F. Williams, of behalf of the defendant, to the following effect :- This was an action in which was imputed to his client the utterance of words intended to malign the character of the plaintiff in a gross and outrageous manner, so reproachful indeed, and so disgraceful, that it was not possible the plaintiff could overlook it, nor could there be the slightest cause for the imputation towards the respectable individuals, who on that day appeared before them. They were unguarded words, spoken in a gust of passion, and the defendant was now desirous utterly to disclaim them, as well as any intention to defame their character. Mr. Gale is a most respectable clergyman, and there could not be the slightest shadow of suspicion that the words so spoken could be justified or even mitigated. The truth was as he had already stated, that they were spoken in a gust of passion, and that the defendant was sincerely sorry for them. He disclaimed them altogether, and consented not only to a verdict against him, but also to pay all expenses which the plaintiffs had very properly incurred for the vindication of their character, on which the defendant candidly and unfeignedly confessed he had no reason to cast the slightest imputation. - Mr. Philip Williams, a counsel for the plaintiffs, was about to address the jury, when he was stopped by the learned Judge, who observed, that the defendants counsel having agreed to a verdict against him, the trouble of the Jury was saved, and really the defendant ought to think himself very happy in getting so easily out of the scrape. Such words were wicked and abominable against any person, but more especially so against a man exercising the sacred functions of religion, and he was quite sure, that if those words had been proved to be spoken, a Hampshire Jury would have given very severe damages, in order to evince their deep sense of their indignation at the defendant's conduct. A verdict was accordingly entered for the plaintiffs, - nominal damages of 40s with full costs as between attorney and client.
Coin of Cunobelin : 1891
"At an auction in 37 Long Street, Devizes by Mr. J.A. Randell, a large diverse collection of the late Mr. George Elgar Sloper came under the hammer. Among the artifacts sold was 'an ancient British coin, Cunobelin, dug up at Burbage' which went for 25 shillings [£1.25p]".
Devizes and Wilts Gazette 1891. Devizes Museum (WC 3/57)
The Burbage Murder takes place : 1907
A brief write-up of the murder of Stanley George Nash and its consequences can be found here
New Chapel dedicated at All Saint's Church : 10th November 1910
"A new chapel was recently dedicated in the north [south] aisle of All Saint's Church, Burbage. The eastern end is occupied by a beautiful alter, with panels on each side made of oak, the gift of the Marquess of Ailesbury. The figure on the front is given by Mr. Edwards. The ornaments are the gift of Miss Kingsbury, in memory of her father, Cannon Kingsbury, during whose incumbency the north aisle was built as a memorial to Archdeacon Stanton who held the living for many years. The chapel was dedicated to St. Thomas of Canterbury".
An unnamed Newspaper cutting in Devizes Museum (WC 16/180)
The Restoration of the Church Green : November 1913
"For some years the church green has been only a "green" in name, its bare surface, worn into hollows and washed away by rain, presenting a forlorn appearance, quite out of keeping with the church and the rest of the village, which is extremely picturesque. The Vicar has lately made an appeal to the parishioners to restore it to its former beauty and the response has been quite extraordinary. The matter was taken up by the farmers and other employers of labour with splendid promptitude and energy, and many have been the carts and horses lent, with men, for the purpose of hauling soil and turf from the roadsides to fill up the holes and make a level surface. Then others have come forward to help to do the spade and shovel work, and keep an eye on the general plan of the restoration, which promises to be a great success. The meeting to consider the matter was only held on Wednesday last week, and already all the heavy work has been accomplished, and more than 300 loads of soil and turf have been carted and spread. It is pleasant to record such an example of village enthusiasm."
Marlborough Times - November 21st, 1913