Saturday 28 Dec 1844 (p. 2, col. 8 – p. 3, col. 1) SHOCKING ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday last, a poor old woman named Ann HARRISON, residing at the house of her daughter, who keeps a common bakehouse in George-street, in this town, was burnt in a shocking manner. It will be recollected by our readers that this poor woman's daughter, whose name is MARTIN, and is a widow with a large family, was summoned last week by the Superintendent of Police to answer a charge which he preferred against her for throwing hot coals into the street, for which she incurred a fine, including costs, of 12s. Since that time she has, after drawing the oven, left the coals burning on the hearth until she could find time to remove them to a proper place. And on the day in question her mother, who felt unusually cold, was induced to sit close to them, when her shawl ignited, and before she could procure assistance the flames had reached her face. The skin and hair was entirely burnt off her head, and she remains in a most precarious state.—Whitehaven Herald. ACCIDENTS IN WHITEHAVEN.—On Tuesday morning last, a girl named O'BRIEN, about thirteen years of age, residing at New Houses, in this town, was washing a younger brother beside the fire-place, and while stooping down, her clothes caught fire, on perceiving which, she rushed out into the street, and was immediately enveloped in flames. Several women coming up to her assistance, succeeded in extinguishing the flames. She was very severely burned, but not so dangerously as to preclude hopes of her recovery. On Tuesday afternoon last, a very serious accident, and one which might have been attended with fatal consequences, occurred to a boy about eight years of age, named Christopher TATTERS, residing in Bell's-lane, in this town. He had been out shooting with a horse pistol the greater part of the day, and on returning home about tea-time put the pistol, loaded with No. 4 shot, into his jacket pocket. By some movement or another which disturbed the trigger, the pistol was discharged, and the contents, with a portion of the jacket and shirt, were lodged in the arm-pit of the unfortunate lad, making a very dangerous wound and laying bare the principal artery and nerves. He was taken home, and medical assistance was immediately procured from Mr. MOSSOP, surgeon. On Wednesday he was removed to the Infirmary, where an operation was successfully performed for extracting the shot, &c., from the top of the shoulder. Although very weak from hœmorrhage he is now doing well. From the situation in which the shot lodged, his escape was a very narrow one.—Whitehaven Herald. MURDER.—On Monday morning last, the inhabitants of the town of Ulverston, were thrown into a state of the greatest consternation and alarm by a report that an itinerant razor grinder, who is an inhabitant of that town, had murdered his wife in the most brutal and barbarous manner. On inquiry the melancholy rumour was found out to be too true. On Friday night last, the husband returned home in a state of intoxication, and a quarrel ensued between him and his wife, which at length terminated with blows. The enraged man eventually seized the poker, and struck his wife a formidable blow with it on the head, which completely shattered her skull, and must, it is supposed, have produced instantaneous death. Not satisfied with what he had done the enraged murderer commenced kicking the head of his victim, with such violence as to force one of her jaws entirely out of its place; he then brutally kicked her on various parts of her body, which he dreadfully mutilated. He then stripped the dead body entirely naked, and threw it down stairs, after which he burnt the whole of her clothing. Having done this he left the house, and went to his wife's sister, and coolly told her he was afraid his wife was dead. In the mean time two children (a boy and a girl) awoke, and the neighbours, who had heard the noise, were first alarmed by the screams of the boy, that his father had murdered his mother. The wretched man was secured, and a coroner's inquest was held on Monday upon the remains of the unfortunate woman, but we have not heard the result of the inquiry. STORY FOR OLD WOMEN.—A short time ago a youthful Adonis resident a few miles from Appleby, finding his fair Venus in a delicate situation, resolved to make her honourable amends, and accordingly budged off to the parson of the parish to whom he communicated his wishes. The banns were accordingly published on the following Sunday. Unfortunately, however, our hero had taken too much time to consider whether he should prefer a state of conjugal felicity to a life of single blessedness, for on the following day (Monday) a bouncing boy was ushered into the world, the day prior to the mother completing her sixteenth year. This circumstance, however, did not much delay the union: on Saturday last the happy couple were joined together for better for worse. After the completion of the marriage ceremony the bride was churched, and before quitting the sacred edifice "young hopeful" received the christian appellation, in the presence of bride and bridegroom (alias father and mother) the godfather and godmothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, and others invited to witness the ceremony. WHAT'S IN A NAME?—In the town of Market Brough, in the county of Westmoreland, not long ago, a worthy knight of the needle was joined in the bands of holy matrimony to a fair amorosa of that place, whose heart he had long ago possessed. Weeks and months passed on, and all went well with the happy pair; and in due course of time the better half proved in that interesting situation in which all ladies who love their lords delight to be. The advent of a son and heir to the tailor's worldly possessions was looked forward to with no little degree of anxiety by both parties, and every necessary preparation for his due reception was consequently made. The neighbouring wives were all in readiness, and on a day last week were summoned to be witnesses of the long-looked-for event. The accoucheur was speedily in attendance, and shortly presented Mr. ——— with a thumping boy, at the same time jocularly hinting that a female companion was in the rear. This unexpected intelligence threw the poor tailor into a terrible consternation, being in nowise prepared for the receipt of a couple: nevertheless the doctor in a short time handed to him what he called "a very fine girl." Matters having partly been put right, the next consideration was to have the rite "that cleanses babes from all their sins" performed, and the one child was accordingly baptised by the name of John, the other Sarah. The duties devolving on the "knight" on the occasion were not, however, all yet accomplished: an important one—that of having the births registered—still remained. So that nothing might be left undone, the overjoyed tailor posted off to have that matter effected, the twins being named as before John and Sarah. What was going on at home in Mr. ———'s absence, was little dreamt of: a discovery, which set the town in a roar of laughter, had been made, which was nothing less than that the youngsters were "both boys!" What was to be done in the dilemma the poor fellow could not conjecture. He first charged one and then another with duping him; and at last the whole blame fell on the shoulders of the "man-midwife," on whose information that the child was "a fine girl," all had relied for the sex of the infant. Though "a rose with any other name would smell as sweet," the tailor still thought a change might certainly in some way be effected—a thing very desirable. The lawyer was therefore forthwith consulted, from whom it was gleaned, that by merely falsifying the answer to the question, "Hath this child been already baptized or no?" at the christening, that part of the blunder might be rectified; and as to the alteration of the register of the child's birth, that the act provided that in case of accidental errors the registrar might, as therein directed, make the necessary correction. All difficulties were now overcome, the tailor's countenance resumed its wonted brightness, and having returned home along with a few friends, quaffed a bumper to the health and prosperity of his progeny, and drowned the blunder in oblivion. [I strongly suspect that the parents were William MASON, tailor, and his wife Jane, who had twins baptised at Brough on 12 Dec 1844 called Joseph Craddock and George Hunter MASON. Only George is with his mother in 1851 (William is absent but Jane is described as wife of Wm. MASON, Tailor), but in 1861 George and Joseph are with their mother and her new husband James CHEW (also a tailor) in Leeds. Presumably the newspaper deliberately quoted incorrect first names for the children to avoid too easy identification of the family.] DISTRESSING AND MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—It is our painful duty to record an afflicting occurrence which took place here yesterday forenoon, by which a promising and interesting boy, about eleven years of age, eldest son of Mr. Robert SELKIRK, Flesher, Maxwelltown, unfortunately lost his life, and which had nearly proved fatal to several others. The boy SELKIRK, with some of his companions, having ventured upon the ice on the Nith at the Green Sands, opposite the Foundry, where the water is very deep, the ice on the part where SELKIRK was, gave way, and he sunk in the river; another boy, M'GEORGE, son of David M'GEORGE, Maxwelltown, on endeavouring to render him assistance, also went down; on this, a young lad, William PAGAN, belonging to the Courier Office, seeing the dangerous situation of the two boys, struggling in the water, took off his coat, and was proceeding to put it within their reach, when he also sunk. At this perilous and most distressing juncture, Mr. Robert HALLIDAY, Cabinet-maker, having promptly procured a pole with an iron hook, succeeded, from the Dumfries side with great personal danger, in rescuing PAGAN and M'GEORGE. In the meantime, John M'GOWAN, stocking-maker, and a stranger, whose name we did not learn, on proceeding from the Maxwelltown side to the rescue of the boy SELKIRK, also went down in the river. Pieces of wood, however, were thrown them, by which they were enabled to keep themselves afloat till a boat was procured, and they were got out in safety; but the poor boy SELKIRK having sunk in the water, and before those in the boat could succeed in bringing him to the surface, life was found to be quite extinct.—Dumfries Courier.

Thank you Petra & Barbara you sterling work is much appreciated! From Jenny in Lancashire. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Petra Mitchinson Sent: 21 March 2014 20:34 To: Cumberland Mailing List; Westmorland List Subject: [ENG-WESTMORLAND] Carlisle Journal, 28 Dec 1844 - Accidents / Murder / Story / What's in a Name? Saturday 28 Dec 1844 (p. 2, col. 8 – p. 3, col. 1) SHOCKING ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday last, a poor old woman named Ann HARRISON, residing at the house of her daughter, who keeps a common bakehouse in George-street, in this town, was burnt in a shocking manner. It will be recollected by our readers that this poor woman's daughter, whose name is MARTIN, and is a widow with a large family, was summoned last week by the Superintendent of Police to answer a charge which he preferred against her for throwing hot coals into the street, for which she incurred a fine, including costs, of 12s. Since that time she has, after drawing the oven, left the coals burning on the hearth until she could find time to remove them to a proper place. And on the day in question her mother, who felt unusually cold, was induced to sit close to them, when her shawl ignited, and before she could procure assistance the flames had reached her face. The skin and hair was entirely burnt off her head, and she remains in a most precarious state.—Whitehaven Herald. ACCIDENTS IN WHITEHAVEN.—On Tuesday morning last, a girl named O'BRIEN, about thirteen years of age, residing at New Houses, in this town, was washing a younger brother beside the fire-place, and while stooping down, her clothes caught fire, on perceiving which, she rushed out into the street, and was immediately enveloped in flames. Several women coming up to her assistance, succeeded in extinguishing the flames. She was very severely burned, but not so dangerously as to preclude hopes of her recovery. On Tuesday afternoon last, a very serious accident, and one which might have been attended with fatal consequences, occurred to a boy about eight years of age, named Christopher TATTERS, residing in Bell's-lane, in this town. He had been out shooting with a horse pistol the greater part of the day, and on returning home about tea-time put the pistol, loaded with No. 4 shot, into his jacket pocket. By some movement or another which disturbed the trigger, the pistol was discharged, and the contents, with a portion of the jacket and shirt, were lodged in the arm-pit of the unfortunate lad, making a very dangerous wound and laying bare the principal artery and nerves. He was taken home, and medical assistance was immediately procured from Mr. MOSSOP, surgeon. On Wednesday he was removed to the Infirmary, where an operation was successfully performed for extracting the shot, &c., from the top of the shoulder. Although very weak from hœmorrhage he is now doing well. From the situation in which the shot lodged, his escape was a very narrow one.—Whitehaven Herald. MURDER.—On Monday morning last, the inhabitants of the town of Ulverston, were thrown into a state of the greatest consternation and alarm by a report that an itinerant razor grinder, who is an inhabitant of that town, had murdered his wife in the most brutal and barbarous manner. On inquiry the melancholy rumour was found out to be too true. On Friday night last, the husband returned home in a state of intoxication, and a quarrel ensued between him and his wife, which at length terminated with blows. The enraged man eventually seized the poker, and struck his wife a formidable blow with it on the head, which completely shattered her skull, and must, it is supposed, have produced instantaneous death. Not satisfied with what he had done the enraged murderer commenced kicking the head of his victim, with such violence as to force one of her jaws entirely out of its place; he then brutally kicked her on various parts of her body, which he dreadfully mutilated. He then stripped the dead body entirely naked, and threw it down stairs, after which he burnt the whole of her clothing. Having done this he left the house, and went to his wife's sister, and coolly told her he was afraid his wife was dead. In the mean time two children (a boy and a girl) awoke, and the neighbours, who had heard the noise, were first alarmed by the screams of the boy, that his father had murdered his mother. The wretched man was secured, and a coroner's inquest was held on Monday upon the remains of the unfortunate woman, but we have not heard the result of the inquiry. STORY FOR OLD WOMEN.—A short time ago a youthful Adonis resident a few miles from Appleby, finding his fair Venus in a delicate situation, resolved to make her honourable amends, and accordingly budged off to the parson of the parish to whom he communicated his wishes. The banns were accordingly published on the following Sunday. Unfortunately, however, our hero had taken too much time to consider whether he should prefer a state of conjugal felicity to a life of single blessedness, for on the following day (Monday) a bouncing boy was ushered into the world, the day prior to the mother completing her sixteenth year. This circumstance, however, did not much delay the union: on Saturday last the happy couple were joined together for better for worse. After the completion of the marriage ceremony the bride was churched, and before quitting the sacred edifice "young hopeful" received the christian appellation, in the presence of bride and bridegroom (alias father and mother) the godfather and godmothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, and others invited to witness the ceremony. WHAT'S IN A NAME?—In the town of Market Brough, in the county of Westmoreland, not long ago, a worthy knight of the needle was joined in the bands of holy matrimony to a fair amorosa of that place, whose heart he had long ago possessed. Weeks and months passed on, and all went well with the happy pair; and in due course of time the better half proved in that interesting situation in which all ladies who love their lords delight to be. The advent of a son and heir to the tailor's worldly possessions was looked forward to with no little degree of anxiety by both parties, and every necessary preparation for his due reception was consequently made. The neighbouring wives were all in readiness, and on a day last week were summoned to be witnesses of the long-looked-for event. The accoucheur was speedily in attendance, and shortly presented Mr. ——— with a thumping boy, at the same time jocularly hinting that a female companion was in the rear. This unexpected intelligence threw the poor tailor into a terrible consternation, being in nowise prepared for the receipt of a couple: nevertheless the doctor in a short time handed to him what he called "a very fine girl." Matters having partly been put right, the next consideration was to have the rite "that cleanses babes from all their sins" performed, and the one child was accordingly baptised by the name of John, the other Sarah. The duties devolving on the "knight" on the occasion were not, however, all yet accomplished: an important one—that of having the births registered—still remained. So that nothing might be left undone, the overjoyed tailor posted off to have that matter effected, the twins being named as before John and Sarah. What was going on at home in Mr. ———'s absence, was little dreamt of: a discovery, which set the town in a roar of laughter, had been made, which was nothing less than that the youngsters were "both boys!" What was to be done in the dilemma the poor fellow could not conjecture. He first charged one and then another with duping him; and at last the whole blame fell on the shoulders of the "man-midwife," on whose information that the child was "a fine girl," all had relied for the sex of the infant. Though "a rose with any other name would smell as sweet," the tailor still thought a change might certainly in some way be effected—a thing very desirable. The lawyer was therefore forthwith consulted, from whom it was gleaned, that by merely falsifying the answer to the question, "Hath this child been already baptized or no?" at the christening, that part of the blunder might be rectified; and as to the alteration of the register of the child's birth, that the act provided that in case of accidental errors the registrar might, as therein directed, make the necessary correction. All difficulties were now overcome, the tailor's countenance resumed its wonted brightness, and having returned home along with a few friends, quaffed a bumper to the health and prosperity of his progeny, and drowned the blunder in oblivion. [I strongly suspect that the parents were William MASON, tailor, and his wife Jane, who had twins baptised at Brough on 12 Dec 1844 called Joseph Craddock and George Hunter MASON. Only George is with his mother in 1851 (William is absent but Jane is described as wife of Wm. MASON, Tailor), but in 1861 George and Joseph are with their mother and her new husband James CHEW (also a tailor) in Leeds. Presumably the newspaper deliberately quoted incorrect first names for the children to avoid too easy identification of the family.] DISTRESSING AND MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—It is our painful duty to record an afflicting occurrence which took place here yesterday forenoon, by which a promising and interesting boy, about eleven years of age, eldest son of Mr. Robert SELKIRK, Flesher, Maxwelltown, unfortunately lost his life, and which had nearly proved fatal to several others. The boy SELKIRK, with some of his companions, having ventured upon the ice on the Nith at the Green Sands, opposite the Foundry, where the water is very deep, the ice on the part where SELKIRK was, gave way, and he sunk in the river; another boy, M'GEORGE, son of David M'GEORGE, Maxwelltown, on endeavouring to render him assistance, also went down; on this, a young lad, William PAGAN, belonging to the Courier Office, seeing the dangerous situation of the two boys, struggling in the water, took off his coat, and was proceeding to put it within their reach, when he also sunk. At this perilous and most distressing juncture, Mr. Robert HALLIDAY, Cabinet-maker, having promptly procured a pole with an iron hook, succeeded, from the Dumfries side with great personal danger, in rescuing PAGAN and M'GEORGE. In the meantime, John M'GOWAN, stocking-maker, and a stranger, whose name we did not learn, on proceeding from the Maxwelltown side to the rescue of the boy SELKIRK, also went down in the river. Pieces of wood, however, were thrown them, by which they were enabled to keep themselves afloat till a boat was procured, and they were got out in safety; but the poor boy SELKIRK having sunk in the water, and before those in the boat could succeed in bringing him to the surface, life was found to be quite extinct.—Dumfries Courier. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message