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CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVII.
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIV.
1
CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVII.
Fragments of Two Centuries, by Alfred Kingston
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Fragments of Two Centuries, by Alfred Kingston This eBook is for the use
of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
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Title: Fragments of Two Centuries Glimpses of Country Life when George III. was King
Author: Alfred Kingston
Release Date: May 8, 2007 [EBook #21352]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRAGMENTS OF TWO CENTURIES ***
Produced by Al Haines
[Frontispiece: King George III.]
FRAGMENTS OF TWO CENTURIES.
GLIMPSES OF COUNTRY LIFE
WHEN
GEORGE III. WAS KING.
ILLUSTRATED.
WITH AN APPENDIX SHOWING THE RISE AND FALL OF THE RURAL POPULATION IN 45
PARISHES IN THE ROYSTON DISTRICT, IN HERTS., CAMBS., AND ESSEX, FROM 1801 TO 1891.
BY
ALFRED KINGSTON.
ROYSTON: WARREN BROTHERS.
1893.
PREFACE.
Fragments of Two Centuries, by Alfred Kingston 2
Though the town of Royston is frequently mentioned in the following pages, it was no part of my task to deal
with the general historical associations of the place, with its interesting background of Court life under James
I. These belong strictly to local history, and the references to the town and neighbourhood of Royston simply
arise from the accidental association with the district of the materials which have come most readily to my
hand in glancing back at the life of rural England in the time of the Georges. Indeed, it may be claimed, I
think, that although, by reason of being drawn chiefly from local sources, these "Fragments" have received a
local habitation and a name, yet they refer to a state of things which was common to all the neighbouring
counties, and for the most part, may be taken to stand for the whole of rural England at the time. For the rest,
these glimpses of our old country life are now submitted to the indulgent consideration of the reader, who
will, I hope, take a lenient view of any shortcomings in the manner of presenting them.
There remains for me only the pleasing duty of acknowledging many instances of courteous assistance
received, without which it would have been impossible to have carried out my task. To the proprietors of the
Cambridge Chronicle and the Hertsfordshire Mercury for access to the files of those old established papers; to
the authorities of the Cambridge University Library; to the Rev. J. G. Hale, rector of Therfield, and the Rev. F.
L. Fisher, vicar of Barkway, for access to their interesting old parish papers; to Mr. H. J. Thurnall for access to
interesting MS. reminiscences by the late Mr. Henry Thurnall; to the Rev. J. Harrison, vicar of Royston; to
Mr. Thos. Shell and Mr. James Smith, for access to Royston parish papers--to all of these and to others my
warmest thanks are due. All the many persons who have kindly furnished me with personal recollections it
would be impossible here to name, but mention must be made of Mr. Henry Fordham, Mr. Hale Wortham,
Mr. Frederick N. Fordham, and especially of the late Mr. James Richardson and Mr. James Jacklin, whose
interesting chats over bygone times are now very pleasant recollections.
A.K.
CONTENTS.
Fragments of Two Centuries, by Alfred Kingston 3
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Introduction.--"The Good Old Times" . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
CHAPTER I. 4
CHAPTER II.
Getting on Wheels.--Old Coaches, Roads and Highwaymen.--The Romance of the Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 6
CHAPTER II. 5
CHAPTER III.
Social and Public Life.--Wrestling and Cock-Fighting.--An Eighteenth Century Debating Club . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 19
CHAPTER III. 6
CHAPTER IV.
The Parochial Parliament and the Old Poor-Law . . . . . . . 32
CHAPTER IV. 7
CHAPTER V.
Dogberry "On Duty" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
CHAPTER V.
8
CHAPTER VI.
The Dark Night of the Eighteenth Century.--The Shadow of Napoleon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
CHAPTER VI. 9
CHAPTER VII.
Domestic Life and the Tax-Gatherer.--The Doctor and the Body-Snatcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
CHAPTER VII. 10
CHAPTER VIII.
Old Pains and Penalties.--From the Stocks to the Gallows . . 83
CHAPTER VIII. 11
CHAPTER IX.
Old Manners and Customs.--Soldiers, Elections and Voters.--"Statties," Magic and Spells . . . . . . . . . . . 92
CHAPTER IX. 12
CHAPTER X.
Trade, Agriculture and Market Ordinaries . . . . . . . . . . 103
CHAPTER X. 13
CHAPTER XI.
Royston in 1800-25.--Its Surroundings, its Streets, and its People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
CHAPTER XI. 14
CHAPTER XII.
Public Worship and Education.--Morals and Music . . . . . . 117
CHAPTER XII. 15