When you are researching your family history the Newspaper Archives are a wonderful source of all types of reports that can help us to understand the sort of lives that our ancestors would have lived through. People in and around Billinghay were no different. Just as in the newspapers today, there are weather reports, court reports, job adverts, missing people, terrible tragedies, sad tales, funny tales, sporting triumphs, some mundane tales and lots of celebrations. Here are just a few I have come across lately.

1807 to 1897.

YOUNG QUICKSILVER. This report from the Stamford Mercury – Friday 17 April 1807.

Death at the Coach and Horses, Billinghay reported in the Stamford Mercury – Friday 28 October 1814.

Wheelwrights wanted from the Stamford Mercury – Friday 21 June 1833.

This one sentence really made me smile ‘Great public safeguard’ from the Stamford Mercury – Friday 19 July 1833.

This information from the Fire Fighter Foundation and National Archives: The first organised municipal fire brigade in the world was established in Edinburgh, Scotland, where the Edinburgh Fire Engine Establishment was formed in 1824, led by James Braidwood. 

In 1832 many of the London fire insurance companies amalgamated their separate fire brigades into one combined brigade. The London Fire Engine Establishment began on 1 January 1833 and continued until it was taken over by the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1865. The London County Council inherited the responsibility in 1889.

It’s very likely the Fire Engine that arrived in Billinghay would have been something similar to this, a manual vehicle.

Get your glad rags on! A Ball at the Coach and Horses. Advert from the Stamford Mercury – Friday 25 December 1840.

The dresses below are what very fashionable ladies would have worn early in 1841. Maybe not so elaborate to a village ball but it’s great to see the fashion of the time.

Gentleman Missing, travelling in Lincolnshire. This notice was in the Stamford Mercury – on Friday 26 February 1836. I wonder if he was ever found?

Most of the lesser offences seem to be stealing or drunkenness. This report from the Lincolnshire Chronicle – Friday 11 February 1870.

This report from August 1876, 148 years ago, is fascinating, as the country was experiencing extremes of weather even then. A young man, 20 years old from Billinghay was just one who sadly died of sunstroke.

This report was in the Liverpool Weekly Courier – Saturday 19 August 1876. Apparently the ‘heatwave’ began around 13 August 1876.

This next report from the Horncastle News – Saturday 29 September 1888. Tattershall is just less than five miles from Billinghay so it’s very likely that villagers would have known each other fairly well. The Billinghay Wesleyan Choir were giving the concert.

TATTERSHALL. RE-OPENING OF THE WESLEYAN CHAPEL.—The Wesleyans at this place have just expended about £6o in repairing, renovating, and painting their chapel, the re-opening services were held on Thursday in last week. In the morning the pulpit was occupied by the Rev. G. D. Mason, of Boston, after which a public luncheon was provided in Mr Elmitt’s warehouse. Service was held in the chapel again in the afternoon, the Rev. G. D. Mason preaching an admirable sermon, followed by a public tea, to which a goodly number of friends sat down. In the evening a sacred concert was given by the Billinghay Wesleyan Choir (under the leadership of J. D. Bowling, Esq.), and other friends, the chair being taken by the Rev. R. Nicholson, circuit minister. A good practical speech was made by the Rev. G. D. Mason, and at the close a vote of thanks to those who had assisted was moved by the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Porter, and carried unanimously, after which about 100 friends sat down to a coffee supper. The collections after the services, proceeds of luncheon, tea, and supper, amounted to about £25, towards liquidating the expenses incurred. Alfred Shattlewcrth, Esq., sent £5 towards the restoration fund. We may mention that Mr. Harvey, of Hull, organist, &c., who was staying with Mr. Short at the Villa, rendered good service on the violin. The providing for lunch, tea, and supper was on a large scale, and the eatables were given by friends. Mrs Simpson, Mrs Ranwell, Mrs Comins, Mrs G. Simpson, Mrs Hull, and Mrs Short presided at the tables.

The following newspaper report was on the same page as the one above in the Horncastle News – Saturday 29 September 1888. and I thought that you would be interested just to see the vast variety of wedding presents that the couple received! How the other half lived! Marriage at the Collegiate Church of the Holy Trinity, Tattershall. more on the Church here: Collegiate Church of the Holy Trinity, Tattershall. PDF.

FASHIONABLE MARRIAGE.—On Thursday last, at two o’clock, in splendid weather, Miss Florence Latham, third daughter of the vicar of Tattershall —the Rev. Mortimer Thomas Latham (Vicar from 1846-1892) —was married to Richard Venables Latham, Esq., eldest son of Dr. Latham, of Sandbach, Cheshire, The church was tastefully decorated with flowers. A large number of friends and ladies assembled in the church to witness the ceremony. The service was choral. The bridesmaids were—Miss Fanny Latham, Miss Louisa Latham, Miss Nora Latham, and Miss Wright, and the following were the groomsmen—W, H. Latham, Esq., A. Carrol Otway, Esq., H. N. Latham, Esq., and Rev. Y. S. Alston. Immediately after the ceremony was over the bells pealed out announcing its completion, and continued to ring at intervals during the afternoon and evening. The weather was most lovely for the occasion.

The following are the presents:—Rev. and Mrs. Latham, cheque; Miss Latham, bracket; Mr. and Mrs. Newton Harrison, mirror with candle bracket; Miss Fanny Latham, hymn book with tunes; Miss Nora Latham, photographic album; Latham family (Sandbach), plate; C. Latham (Anerby), cheque ; General and Mrs. Rose, gold bangle; Dr. and Mrs. Latham (Sandbach), dining and drawing-room suite of furniture ; Thomas and Mary Latham, tea table; Mr. and Mrs. Tandy (Crewe), afternoon tea set; Mrs. S. Latham (Congleton), picture of Village Wedding ; Mrs. C. Latham, Seur., tea cloth and picture in chalk ; Winnie Latham and Maggie Latham, picture in chalk and hand screens; Richard and Robin Latham, pocket compass; Stanley and Philip Latham, pair of flower pots; Mr. Latham and Mr. A. M. Latham, carvers; Canon and Mrs. Wright, brass tea kettle; Miss Wright, table; Miss Heathcote, breakfast cruets; Rev. P. 8. and Mrs. Gorst, fish carvers; Mr. and Mrs. New, dessert service ; Miss New, antimacassar ; Misses Oakley, Doulton vases ; Miss Johnson, tea cloth ; Miss Mabel Johnson, pictures ; J.Girdwood, Esq., sugar and cream basket; A Carrol Otway, Esq., brass inkstand; A. Shuttleworth, Esq., gold brooch; Rev. F. Alston, scrap book ; Mrs. Carrol Otway, scent bottle; Newsom family, teapot ; Mrs. Barley, tea service ; Miss Salmon and Miss Beeton, handkerchief box ; Mrs, Clark, jogs and egg boiler ; Mrs. Wm. Wells, cream jug; Mr. and Mrs. Lake, salt cellar and spoon ; Mrs. Richardson, jug and ornament; Miss G. Pickworth, bracket ; Master E. Pickworth, vase; Misses Mand and Anise Wells, candlestick ; Mr. Butters, flowers and grapes; Miss Searson, pencil case ; Mrs. S. Mayfield, travelling bag; Mr. Hubbert, flowers; Mrs. Dunham, hand screen ; Mrs, and Miss Uunthank, photographs; Miss Spurrier, silver buckle; Miss E. A. R. Wells, bread trencher and knife ; Mrs. Franklin, wooden spoon ; Eliza Corby, hand mirror; Miss Rose, centre piece ; Mrs. Green, towels; Miss Nella Green, mat ; Mr, and Mrs. Clitherow, handkerchief and card 3 K. C. Nisbet, 12 dessert knives and forks; Mrs. Nisbet and Mrs. Shaw, crumb scoop ; Mrs. Batty, drawing-room chair; Mr. Watts, cream and sugar holder; Servants at the house, breakfast castors; Mr. E. and Mrs. R. Percival, silver water-jug; Mr. and Mrs. Warbarton, marmalade sot and stand; Mrs. Stringer, salad bowl and ish ; Ladies of Kidsgrove, church cushion ; Mary Brereton, butter dish; Misses Worthington, books; Mr. W. Burgess, letter rack; Mr. and Mrs. Cook, butter knife; Mr. and Mrs. Ward, curtain rod and rings; Dr. and Mrs. Alridge, toilet set; Miss Fanny Latham, Irish linen pocket handkerchief; T. Chaddock Joundes, cheque ; Mrs. Simpson, four engravings; Mr. Speakman, signet ring; Mr. and Miss Whittingham, pair vases; Dr. Fox, pair vases; Miss Johnstone, carved oak chest ; Mr. Blackhurst, bronze clock ornament: Mr. Pinches, picture frame ; Mr. Newton, pair brackets ; Mr. Venables, six wire baskets; Mr. and Mrs. Hope, toast rack ; Mrs. Marriott, cabinet photograph; Mrs., C. Latham, junr., tea cloth ; Mv. Conrad Job, hand screen; Miss Berridge, pincushion; Miss Davenport, small photograph holder. We fear Miss Latham will be very much missed, as she has taken great interest in the Sunday School, and not only in that but in several other ways, will she both be missed and wanted. She is very much respected in the parish, and we are sure she has the best wishes of everyone for her future happiness. She was in all things kind to the poor and carried on a good work in the parish.

Some of these presents above you would find in Antique shops and fairs today.

Suicide at Billinghay reported in the Lincolnshire Free Press – Tuesday 24 September 1889.

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE AT BILLINGHAY. On Friday afternoon an inquest was held at the police station before W. Clegg. Esq., coroner, and jury, of whom Mr W. Watson was foreman, to inquire into the death of a man named Charles Wood, a labourer, about 50 years of age, who was found hanging from a cord suspended from a nail in the baulk of the house on Wednesday night, about half-past twelve o’clock. —Annie Wood, the wife of the deceased, stated that she last saw her husband alive on Wednesday evening, about half past nine o’clock, in the town street, she had left him about half an hour before in the house getting his supper. She had been to fetch half a pint of beer, when he met her, and they had some words about her being so long. He was in drink, and pulled off his coat to strike her when she ran away and went to her mother’s. About midnight she returned, and looking through the window saw him in hanging position. She then went to ask her brother to come, but he refused, and she went back and called one of the neighbours up. She had not heard him threaten to destroy himself, he had threatened her.—Richard Maplethorpe said he heard Mrs Woods calling one of the neighbours up and got up himself to see what was the matter. He went and found Woods hanging by a clothesline from a nail on a baulk in the house, a stooping position. He at once cut him down, and information was given to the police.—P.C. Ranby produced the pieces of rope, and described the position in which found deceased.—As it appeared that the deceased was of weak intellect, and in consequence of the frequent quarrels with his wife, had taken to drinking, the jury agreed that he hanged himself not being of sound mind at the time.

This rather strange report of a new tooth from the Peterborough Standard – Saturday 27 February 1897.

A little later in 1897 Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee was celebrated in Billinghay. From the Sleaford Gazette – Saturday 26 June 1897.

The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria was officially celebrated on 22 June 1897 to mark the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s accession on 20 June 1837. Queen Victoria was the first British monarch ever to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee. This photo below is from a friend’s private collection.

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