For janjim (PM me if you want to meet up in May) - two views of an incident in an ancestor's life. Quite amazing that two diarists' accounts of a very minor event in 1801 have survived.
From the diary of Samuel Purdue, parish clerk of Newbury.
1801 Sept 28. Mr Toomer junr, Mayor; Mr Toomer senr, Justice. The preliminaries of peace signed by Lord Hawsbury and Mr Otto, the French Commissioner. Mr Haskins, Mr Harris and Jas Purdue fined 5s each for drawing beer on the Sunday; refused paying the fine, Mr Lodge, the constable, seized on them; from Mr Haskins 2 bottle of wine, Mr Harris ditto, Jas Purdue a saw; sold in the Market-place by auction on the 20 Nov 1801, by Lodge, the constable, and Stillman; Mr Townsend paid the fine soon as bought, drank the wine in the Shambles, and sung ‘God save the King’, and drank several toasts; barrel of beer gave at night to ye people assembled, and a bonfire on the occasion; the Mayor lose at the time, some of his grindstones broke or carried away.
From the diary of Joseph Toomer, mayor of Newbury
1801 November 10th
Complaints having been made by the Constables that the Publicans in general persisted in serving on the Lord’s Day & that many of the Inhabitants of the Town made a constant practice of assembling at several of the Public Houses on the Lords Day Evening for purchasing of Liquor – and other purposes, notwithstanding the Notices given to the Inhabitants to refrain from exercising their Worldly Business on the Lords Day.
Mr John Haskins of the Kings Arms
Mr John Townsend of the Town Arms
Mr James Purdue of the 2 Brewers
& Mr Wm Harris of the White Hart
were sent for & on being questioned did each of them confess that on Sunday the first day of November Inst they did severally sell Liquor in their respective Houses to persons who could have procured Liquor elsewhere or have been otherwise provided – they were accordingly convicted by their own confession in the penalty of 5/- each.
November 13th
Issued a Warrant of Distress against the publicans convicted on the 1oth & sent a summons to J King for pay the fine for travelling in his Waggon on the Sth.
November 14th
John King paid the Fine of 20/-
J Townsend paid the Fine of 5/-
Constables served the Warrant of Distress on John Haskins, James Purdue & William Harris.
(in January 1802 Robert Purdue of the Rose & Crown was among five landlords fined 5/- for the same offence).