James George Cann (1819-1901) : Saddler, Registrar and Local Politician

James George Cann was born in 1819 in Dartford, a son of George and Sarah Cann. They lived in Dartford from at least 1815, when their daughter Frances was born. James was baptised on March 28^th 1820 at Holy Trinity Church, Dartford. The baptism record gives his name as William George Cann but there is a note below saying that this is an error and that the name should have been recorded as James George Cann. It is signed by his mother Sarah and dated 1847. Quite how this error arose and why it took until 1847 to correct it, is unclear!

George Cann (the father of James) was a grocer, who died in 1825 aged 33, when James was only 6. The tithe list in 1838 shows Mrs Sarah Cann as the owner and occupier of a house and shop in Lowfield Street, Dartford. The 1841 census lists Sarah Cann, age 49, a grocer living in Lowfield Street with her daughter Frances, 25. I cannot find James in this census.

The 1838 Tithe List records that a George Cann, who lived in Overy Street, owned 21 houses and a pub in Dartford. He died in 1848 aged 81. His will is difficult to read but it refers to James Cann of Lowfield Street, Dartford, harness maker (son of Sarah Cann of Lowfield Street). George seems to have been a relation of James, possibly grandfather. It seems likely that George left James several of his properties as James was later described as a “large cottage holder”¹.

The 1851 census shows Sarah Cann, a widow and annuitant age 59 living in Lowfield Street with her unmarried children Frances, a seamstress age 35 and James, a saddler master age 31. James married Sarah Best on 9 November 1852 at St Botolph, Northfleet. He was a bachelor aged 33, a saddler. She was a spinster aged 31, born in Northfleet, a daughter of George Best, a wheelwright. They went on to have four children namely Sarah (born 1854), James (born 1858), Martha (born 1860) and Alice (born 1865).

Melville’s 1858 Directory of Kent shows James George Cann as a saddler and harness maker in Lowfield Street, Dartford. In 1861 James, a saddler, was living at a shop in Lowfield Street with his wife Sarah, children Sarah, James and Martha plus a house servant. James’s eldest child Sarah died in 1863 aged 8.

James was a member of the Dartford Detachment Kent Rifle Corps. At their annual dinners he would be invited to relate his stirring adventures with the corps¹.

“He would describe, with a mixture of pardonable pride and irresistible drollery, for he had a rare fund of humour, how he …. took part in a Volunteers’ visit to Belgium, how they were accorded honourable reception by the Burgomeisters of cities there, were specially honoured by His Majesty the King of the Belgians, and received medals in commemoration of the occasion. With these and many other reminiscences, Mr Cann would arouse applause and “set the table in a roar,” for he was a fluent speaker, although a homely one.”

Sometime between 1863 and 1871, James ceased work as a saddler. The census in 1871 records his occupation as “registrar of births and deaths, formerly saddler” and his address as 46 Spital Street, Dartford where he was living with his wife Sarah (49), children James (13), Martha (10) and Alice (6) as well as a servant. James had the same occupation and address in 1881 and 1891. His mother died in 1873 aged 72 and his children married, Martha in 1882 (to Alexander Adams), James in 1884 (to Emma Elizabeth Penn) and Alice in 1899 (to Samuel Rudd Boutle).

James George Cann¹

The 1891 Kelly’s Directory for Kent has the following entry “Cann James George, registrar of births & deaths & vaccination officer for Dartford sub-district & collector of creek dues, 46 Spital Street.”

James was a member of the Dartford Local Board for 35 years and was its Chairman for 20 years. His obituary¹ says :

“He was one of the earliest members of the old Local Board of Health (now the Urban District Council) …. and was one of the most popular members of that body and for a number of years its chairman. He not infrequently headed the poll, being regarded as a people’s man, as when Dartford boasted a Ratepayer’s Association he would attend its meetings, and vigorously defend his own policy, and freely criticize that of his colleagues when they differed from him on some salient question of public interest. …. He was not then a Progressive, or, if so, a very moderate and cautious one, disinclined certainly to movements of a speculative character.”

James did not hesitate to express his opinions forcefully and consequently upset some people. He often opposed schemes that would increase Dartford’s rates. A local newspaper³ reported, following his retirement in 1894 that

“In the course of his long and useful official career Mr Cann has often said unpleasant things, and has trod rather severely on the toes of many who have come into contact with him, and although these things have occasionally raised feelings of antagonism, yet his fellow townsmen have always recognised that he hits straight from the shoulder, and has been impelled by a sense of duty, or a desire to benefit the public, in what he has said and done.”

Sarah Cann, the wife of James, died unexpectedly in 1894 aged 72. She had given orders for a coachman to call for her and was found by a servant lying dead on the floor. Martha Adams, daughter of James, died in 1898 aged 37. She had been “in failing health for some considerable time”⁴.

The 1901 census shows James G Cann, widower aged 82, late registrar of births and deaths living at 46 Spital Street with his son James aged 43, his daughter in law Emma aged 42 and two servants. 46 Spital Street is now the address of the Dartford Conservative Club. From looking at old maps, it seems that the building on this site is the one that James lived in, although the front of it may have been altered.

James died on October 22^nd 1901 in Dartford aged 82 and was buried in East Hill Cemetery in the same grave as his daughter Sarah and his wife. I have located the plot⁵ but it has no stonework on it. The value of James’s estate was £16,138 2s 6d, which is equivalent to about £7 million now⁶. Probate was granted to his son James Cann, pharmaceutical chemist, and Henry Ernest Bailey, solicitor. The death duty record⁷ shows that his household goods were divided equally between his surviving children James and Alice. Annuities were set up to pay Alice £300 pa and his cousin Mary Evenden £30 pa. James Cann junior received the rest of the money.

James senior had three grandchildren. The eldest was Beatrice Cann (1884-1956), daughter of his son James. She married Bertie Edward Waterman in 1908 and they had four children. The other two grandchildren died young, without offspring. They were Alexander James Lindsay Adams (1885-92) who died aged 7 and Dorothy Sarah Adams (1887-1906), who died aged 18, both children of Martha Adams nee Cann. 

A family tree of James George Cann may be found in the “cann42” database on RootsWeb’s WorldConnect Project website.

References

1 Death of Mr J. G. Cann, West Kent Advertiser, 26 Oct 1901.

2 Yesterday’s Town: Dartford, Geoff Porteus, 1981

3 Mr J. G. Cann’s Retirement, Dartford Chronicle & District Times, January 8 1895

4 Death and funeral of Mrs Adams, West Kent Advertiser, 25 June 1898.

5 Plot 2476, SE Quarter

6 Calculated with respect to average earnings using the website “Measuring Worth” www.measuringworth.com/ukcompare/

7 Death duty record folio 3317 in IR 26/7937, held at The National Archives.

Emery Alexander Quait (1823-1901) : Draper, Pawnbroker and Local Councillor

Emery Alexander Quait was born on July 11^th 1823 and baptised the following month at Holy Trinity Church, Dartford. His parents were Richard Quait (a draper) and his wife Amelia. He had four sisters of which two died in infancy. Emery’s father Richard died in 1830 aged 43 and was buried in Dartford’s upper burial ground. His will left his estate (£4,376, equivalent to about £3.3M now⁴) to his wife Amelia for life. After her death it was to be divided equally between their surviving children, namely Emery, Mary Emery and Martha Ellen Quait. Amelia continued to run the family draper’s shop after her husband’s death. In the 1841 census she is shown as a linen draper aged 45 living in High Street, Dartford with her son Emery, aged 17.

An 1847 directory of Dartford¹ lists Amelia Quait, High St under the headings “linen and woollen drapers” and “pawnbrokers”. The 1851 census shows Amelia Quait as a linen draper and pawnbroker employing 7 men, living in High Street, Dartford. Also at this address were her son Emery (aged 27, a draper and pawnbroker), nephew Richard Hackett (aged 14), three assistant drapers, one apprentice draper, two assistant pawnbrokers, a cook, a housemaid and a groom.

Emery married Martha Cooper in 1859 at St John the Baptist, Sutton at Hone. Emery was aged 35. Martha, a farmer’s daughter born in Sutton at Hone, was 33. They went on to have three children; Amelia Emery (born 1861), Mary Alexander (born 1865) and Alexander Wortley (born 1868).

The 1861 census records Emery (36, a linen draper and pawnbroker) and Martha Quait living in High St, Dartford with four assistant pawnbrokers, a linen draper apprentice, a porter, a cook and a housemaid. Emery’s mother Amelia died in 1862 aged 72.

In 1865, Emery was elected to the Dartford Board of Health (at this time there was no town council). The board met regularly to make decisions about the upkeep and public affairs of the town. He was re-elected in 1868 and 1871.

A newspaper article about Emery² says “for the greater part of his life he was the moving spirit of the great drapery, millinery and furnishing trade in the centre of the High Street, which flourished under his direction and made a reputation far and wide. Allied to a handsome figure and pleasant manners, Mr Quait possessed shrewd commercial capacity, and converted a once comparatively small business into one of the largest furnishing houses in the neighbourhood, with a trade and good name extending to distant parts of the county, and even beyond the limits of Kent.” The address of the business in the 1871 census is given as 28-32 High Street. The building no longer exists, but its site is that now occupied by the Greggs and Dorothy Perkins shops, on the northern side of the High Street, next to the entrance to the Orchard shopping centre. Street numbers are not given in the 1851 and 1861 censuses, but from its position on the enumeration list (next to the Black Boy Inn), it seems that the site of the draper’s shop then was the same as in 1871.

By 1874, the drapers shop was known as Quait and Standen, Emery having formed a business partnership with his manager, John Standen. The 1874 Kelly’s directory for Dartford has the entry “Quait and Standen, silk mercers, linen & woollen drapers, upholsterers & undertakers, 28, 30 & 32 High Street.” I believe that undertaker here means a company which undertakes work (not organises funerals). There is also another entry “Quait Emery Alexander, pawnbroker, New Court, 32 High Street.

Emery was warden at Holy Trinity Church for a total of 23 years. He was a People’s Warden from 1867 to 1878. The Dartford Library Local Studies Collection has an 1878 notice inviting townspeople to subscribe to a “Testimonial as a public recognition of his long and valued services” He was presented with a clock bearing the inscription “Presented to Mr E. A. Quait by 130 subscribers in recognition of eleven years’ services as Parish Warden of Dartford from 1867 to 1878.” He then carried on as Vicar’s Warden until 1890.

Emery became a director of the Dartford Gas Company in 1870. His father had been one of the founding shareholders and directors when it was formed in 1826 to provide gas lighting for the streets and private houses of Dartford. The company had expanded since then to meet increasing demand and it paid a good dividend to shareholders. Emery was chairman for 25 years, from 1874 until 1899.

By 1881, Emery and his family were living at Hulse Lodge, Wilmington. The household consisted of Emery, aged 57, a draper, his wife Martha (55), daughters Amelia (19) and Mary (16) plus a cook, housemaid and coachman. Hulse Lodge was a substantial house in its own grounds on the southern edge of Dartford Heath. It is now part of Wilmington Grammar School for Girls.

Hulse Lodge, now part of Wilmington Grammar School for Girls (2011)

Mary Alexander Quait, the younger daughter of Emery, married Charles Franklin Simmons (a land agent) in 1885. They set up house in Basingstoke, where they had six children (including two sons who became Captains in the Hampshire Regiment and died fighting in the Middle East during the First World War). The following year, Amelia Emery Quait, Emery’s elder daughter, married James Husband Carvosso, a civil engineer who had become manager of Dartford Gas Works in 1882. They had five children before James died in 1900.

Lord Randolph Churchill was Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1886, when he visited Oakfield Park near Dartford to make a speech. There was a crowd of about 20,000 people. Emery was one of those who, representing Conservative Associations, gave an address before Churchill spoke.

The 1891 census shows Emery (67, living on own means), his wife Martha (65) and son Alexander (23, a student of medicines) living at Hulse Lodge with a cook, housemaid and coachman.

Dartford became an Urban District under The Local Government Act of 1894. An Urban District Council of fifteen members was required to replace the nine members of the Dartford Local Board of Health (on which Emery had served), as the town’s governing body. Thirty one candidates put themselves forward. Emery came fifth in the poll (with 515 votes) and so was elected.

Emery’s son, Alexander Wortley Quait, was cited as co-respondent in a divorce case³. Frederick George Freeman (a consular assistant) married Mary Elizabeth Blanche Musgrave in 1890. He filed for divorce in 1894, stating that his wife had committed adultery with Alexander on several occasions between 1891 and 1894, claiming damages and costs from him. A jury trial was held in the divorce court in 1895. It ordered Alexander to pay £1500 damages and £316 costs. The total sum is equivalent to about £700,000 now⁴. The marriage was officially dissolved in 1896 and Alexander married Elizabeth later that year.

Martha, Emery’s wife, died in 1897 aged 71, after a “long and severe illness”⁵. In 1901 Emery was living at Hulse Lodge with his son Alexander (33, a physician surgeon) and his wife Mary (31) plus a cook and housemaid. Emery died later in 1901 aged 78. A local newspaper¹ reporting his death said

For some years past Mr Quait had been in precarious health, but with the indomitable perseverance which had characterised him throughout his life, was frequently to be seen reclining in his carriage, with a lady attendant, driven about the town of Dartford, to take a glance at the scene of his earlier activities, and to receive the sympathetic salutations of his many friends amongst the townsfolk.

An item in the Dartford Chronicle⁶ said

Mr Quait’s association with Dartford was life-long and the prominent part he took for many years had made his name a household word, and few men were better known and respected.

He is buried in East Hill Cemetery in the same grave as his mother and wife. The monument is inscribed

Wi….. [AMELIA QUA]IT / who [died Dec 20^th 18]62 / aged [72 years] / Also of EMERY ALEXANDER QUAIT / who died July 15^th 1901 / aged 78 years / Also of / MARTHA / wife of the above / who died Feb 18^th 1897 / aged 71 years.

Emery’s estate was valued at £45,146, which is equivalent to about £15.5 million now⁴. Probate was granted to his son Alexander Wortley Quait and son-in-law Charles Franklin Simmons. The death duty record shows that Emery made small bequests to various relations and servants, with his personal possessions and most of his wealth going to his three children.

Photo (supplied by St Michael’s Church) of memorial window

In 1907, a memorial window was installed in St Michael’s Church, Wilmington. It depicts biblical scenes in stained glass with the words “To the glory of God and loving memory of Emery Alexander Quait and Martha his wife of Hulse Lodge, Wilmington” below.

References

1. General History of Kent (Volume 1), Samuel Bagshaw (1847)

2. Death of Mr Emery A. Quait, newspaper (not Dartford Chronicle) article in Dartford Library Local Studies Collection, 20 July 1901.

3. Documents J77/537, held by the National Archives

4. Calculated with respect to average earnings using the website “Measuring Worth” www.measuringworth.com/ukcompare/

5. Death and Funeral of Mrs Quait, newspaper article in Dartford Library Local Studies Collection

6. The Late Mr E. A. Quait, Dartford Chronicle, 23 July 1901

Frederick Alexander Preston Pigou (1838 – 1905) : Gunpowder maker and controversial landholder in Dartford.

The Pigou family were of French Huguenot origin and had connections with China and India, first as traders, then as members of the Indian Civil Service. A branch of the family was involved in the manufacture of gunpowder in the Dartford area for several generations¹. Frederick Pigou (1739-1804) and his partner Miles Peter Andrews bought the manor of Bignores, which is south east of Dartford, for the manufacture of gunpowder in 1778. Frederick passed it on to his eldest son Frederick John Pigou (1767-1830), who in turn gave the business and land to his three sons Frederick William (1790-1863), Henry Minchin (1791-1874) and Clarence (1798-1858). Frederick and Clarence took an active role in the operation of the gunpowder works with their partner Robert Wilks. Frederick William and Clarence both died unmarried and without issue. Henry Minchin Pigou was the grandfather of the subject of this article.

Frederick Alexander Preston Pigou was born on the 19^th March 1838 in Birmingham. He was the eldest of four children born to Frederick John and Margaret Catherine Pigou. Frederick John played cricket (he was a batsman) for England in 4 matches during 1836². The 1841 census shows Frederick (an agent) and Margaret Pigou living at “House at Railway Station”, Rugby, Warwickshire with their children Frederick (3) and Cecilia (1).

Frederick senior died in 1847 aged only 31. In 1851, his widow Margaret (aged 32, a lady annuitant) was living in Harrow. Also in the household were her children Frederick (13, a scholar at Harrow Public School), Cecilia (11), Florence (9) and Frances (7), her niece Ada Purrier (7) and two servants.

The College Calendars for King's College, London indicate that Frederick was a student in the Applied Sciences department there from 1855 to 1858.  King's did not award degrees at this time, but it did elect successful students to be Associates of the College. Frederick was elected in 1858 (Keith Newton kindly supplied me with the information in this paragraph). 

By 1861, Margaret Pigou (a fundholder), her children Frederick (23), Cecilia (21), Florence (19) and Frances (17) had moved to Essex House, High St, Putney. Also living at this address were Margaret’s nieces Isabella Purrier (22), Eliza Purrier (15), Minnie Pigou (14), Ellen Purrier (10) and Constance Pigou (10) plus her nephew Clarence Pigou (11) and three servants.

Frederick’s great uncle Frederick William Pigou died in 1863. His will instructed his executor, “I would like him to introduce into the business any nephew or great nephew who will testify in writing his agreement so to engage as a partner and take an active part in the business.” So it was that his great nephew Frederick became a gunpowder manufacturer. The London Gazette of 1864 contains notice that he had applied for letters patent, for “improvements in the construction of powder flasks”, although he allowed this to lapse three years later. The partnership between Frederick and Robert Wilks was dissolved by mutual consent in 1866³. The company name continued as Pigou and Wilks, with Frederick as the manager. It became Pigou and Wilks Ltd in 1872 when 1500 shares of £100 each in the company were offered for sale⁴. The company was renamed Pigou, Wilks and Laurence Ltd in 1873. Frederick’s partners were Charles Laurence and Charles Thomas Laurence, gunpowder manufacturers of Battle in Sussex.

Making gunpowder was a hazardous business. There was an explosion at the gunpowder mills in 1872 and another in 1874, but fortunately there were no major injuries on either occasion. An item in the Dartford Chronicle⁵ reads

EXPLOSION AT THE GUNPOWDER MILLS. – At a quarter-past four o’clock last Saturday morning an explosion occurred at the Dartford Gunpowder Mills, Messrs Pigou, Wilks, Laurence &Co’s (Limited), by which a mill was blown away. The explosive force was very great, arising from a “charge” in an advance state of manufacture. Workmen were in the destroyed mill shortly before the accident, and thus had a narrow escape of losing their lives. The damage must have been considerable.

Trademark of Pigou, Wilks and Laurence

(from Dartford Library local history collection)

In 1866, Frederick married his cousin Isabella Margaret Purrier (who was living at the same address as him in 1861) in Brentford. He was aged 28 and she was 27. They were to have six children; Frederick Hugo (b 1866), Mary Isabel (b 1867), Ella Egremont (b 1869), Harold John (b 1874), Meynell Henry (b 1875) and Isabel (b 1877).

In 1871, Frederick applied for a license to manufacture gun cartridges on his land. This was opposed by the Dartford Local Board of Health and several owners of property and land near the proposed site. They argued that as the factory would be within a mile of the town, there was a safety risk from explosions. Also the value of property near the site would be reduced. The license was not granted.

The 1871 census shows Frederick aged 33, a gunpowder maker living at Heathside, Wilmington (also known as Wilmington Manor and now part of Wilmington Grammar School for Girls on the south side of Parsons Lane) with his wife Isabella (32) and children Frederick (4), Mary (3) and Ella (1). Also listed at the address were six servants. Sometime before 1877, Frederick moved into a large house called Bignores, reached via a driveway from Darenth Road. The house was built by James Sharp & Sons, a Dartford firm. The property was later used as the clubhouse for the J&E Halls Sports Club and was demolished in about 2005 when the Princes Park Dartford Football Club Stadium was built.

 Bignores (from Dartford Borough Museum)

In 1876, Frederick enclosed part of his estate on the Brent (an area east of Dartford), which was then open ground. Some people in Dartford claimed a right of recreation on the land and public meetings were held to protest. A banner “The Brent – No surrender!” was hung across the High Street. Frederick offered to leave seventeen acres (nearly half of the land in question) unenclosed but this offer was not accepted. In 1878 the Enclosure Commissioners held an enquiry into the matter. Their report was in Frederick’s favour, saying “the inhabitants of Dartford have not established their claim to a legal right over the Brent.”

Frederick’s wife Isabella died in 1877, the day after the birth of her daughter Isabel. The following report appeared in the Dartford Chronicle⁶ :

DEATH OF MRS PIGOU. On Saturday last the 7^th, the inhabitants of Dartford were informed of a circumstance that once roused their deepest sorrow and sympathy. We refer to the death of Mrs Pigou, which took place at Bignores Dartford, early on the morning of that day, a few hours after the birth of a daughter Isabel. The deceased lady was under the care of Dr Weddell and appeared to have succumbed to supervening syncope. The funeral which took place on Wednesday last was conducted by a friend of Mr Pigou’s. …A large number of Dartford residents attended at the burial service. Mrs Pigou’s kindly smile and many accomplishments will, we are sure, be sadly missed in Dartford in the approaching winter season.

Syncope is a loss of consciousness arising from a fall in blood pressure. Presumably this was caused by blood loss arising from the birth of her daughter.

The 1881 census shows Frederick, aged 43, a landowner, living at Bignores with his children Frederick (14), Mary (13), Ella (11), Harold (6), Meynell (5) and Isabel (3), his sister Florence (38) and four servants. He did not remarry.

(a more detailed family tree may be found in the “pigou42” database on RootsWeb’s WorldConnect Project website)

Frederick had other business interests. Notices in the 1886 London Gazette refer to him as a partner in businesses that performed “Subaqueous Boring and Blasting and Dredging” and acted as “Mechanical Engineers and Contractors for Tunnel Driving”.

By 1891, the household at Bignores consisted of Frederick (52, living on his own means) with his children Frederick (24, 2^nd Lieutenant Hampshire Regiment), Mary (23), Ella (21) and Isabel (13). Also listed were his sister Florence (48, living on her own means) and four servants.

In 1897, Pigou, Wilks and Laurence Ltd held an EGM⁷ which approved a proposal that “The Company cannot, by reason of its liabilities, continue its business and that it is advisable to wind up the same and accordingly that the Company be wound up voluntarily.” A liquidator was appointed who sold the Company with its lands and buildings to Messrs Curtis and Harvey, a firm of gunpowder makers, for £70,430⁸. This would have been divided amongst the shareholders.

Frederick died on 13^th June 1905 aged 67 at Bignores. A local newspaper⁹ printed an item reporting his death. It included

The deceased gentleman had been in impaired health for a considerable time and last season wintered in Egypt, but with little benefit……..Mr Pigou enjoyed a considerable amount of popularity amongst the community, in whose interests he always manifested a kindly interest, although seldom taking any prominently active part in local affairs. He was a great traveller, and the possessor of wide and keen intellectual gifts. Salmon fishing in the Norwegian waters was one of his favourite recreations. Dartford loses in him one who largely contributed to its manufacturing prosperity, and who assisted considerably in founding its reputation as a great industrial centre.

Frederick is buried in the family grave, a large plot surrounded by grey marble kerbstones in Wilmington churchyard. They are inscribed as follows

ISABELLA MARGARET, / wife of F.A.P. PIGOU / of Bignores, Dartford / born 17^th Jan^y 1839, died 7^th July 1877. / Casting all your care upon him, for he / careth for you.  FREDERICK ALEXANDER / PRESTON PIGOU / of Bignores, Dartford / born 19^th March 1838, died 13^th June 1905 / “He forgiveth our sins” /

FLORENCE ELIZA CHARLOTTE / sister of F.A.P. PIGOU

MARGARET CATHERINE / wife of FREDK J PIGOU / Oct 22 1897 / Until the day breaks

FREDERICK HUGO PIGOU Major Indian Army, / dear husband of HILDA EMMA PIGOU, / fell asleep 13^th October 1942, aged 75 years / In loving memory

Frederick's gravestone

Frederick’s estate was valued at £18,763 (equivalent to about £8 million now¹⁰). The executors were his daughter Ella and son-in-law Cyril Ionides (husband of his daughter Mary).

Sources

1. The Dartford Library local history collection contains a hand written Pigou family tree prepared in 1994. The researcher (name unknown) has done a thorough job. I have checked the accuracy of much of the information given.

2. Web page http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/19199.html accessed 3.10.11

3. London Gazette 11 January 1867.

4. File BT31/1796/6846 at the National Archives.

5. Dartford Chronicle 4^th July 1874.

6. Dartford Chronicle 13^th July 1877

7. File BT31/1796/6846 at the National Archives.

8. File J13/1751 at the National Archives.

9. Clipping in Dartford Library local history collection, name of newspaper not recorded (not Dartford Chronicle)

William Cracroft Fooks (1812-99), Charged with Assault.

The research that I did for my item on this blog about the life of William Cracroft Fooks (1812-99) showed that he was a barrister who became a QC and later a JP. However, the story below from the Gravesend Reporter dated 29 Aug 1863 indicates that he was not a paragon of virtue all his life. If the witnesses are to be believed (and it seems unlikely that they all lied), he and two of his sons behaved loutishly in Gravesend in 1863 when William was aged 51 and his sons were 23 (William junior) and 21 (Walter). The alleged victim, Cornelius Hathaway, was aged 49 at the time of the incident.

The Assault Case at Milton Hall.

William Cracroft Fooks, sen., William Cracroft, Fooks, jun., and Walter Pemberton Fooks, of Dartford, were charged with violently assaulting Cornelius Hathaway, the proprietor of the wax figures at Milton Hall on the previous evening. Mr. F. Southgate appeared for Walter Pemberton Fooks. Mr. Fooks, sen., and Mr. Wm. Fooks, jun., conducted their own defence. Mr. Southgate applied that the cases might be heard separately, inasmuch that he would not be able to call them as witnesses if the charges were all heard together. Mr. Hathaway, the complainant, said that he charged the whole of them with assaulting him jointly. The bench said they would hear the case against the whole of them. The witnesses were, at the request Mr. Southgate, ordered out of court.

Clara Padosta deposed : I am an assistant to Mr. Hathaway, the proprietor of the wax works at Milton Hall. The previous afternoon, between five and six o’clock, the three defendants, in company with two other gentlemen, came into the hall, having paid the entrance money at the door. Mr. Fooks, sen., on getting in the room, began to lift the clothes of the female figures, and I went to him and requested him not to touch the figures. Mr. Fooks, sen., then put his glasses on and put his face into mine. The three defendants with the two other gentlemen closed around me so that I could not get out. My husband then came up and pulled Mr. Fooks, sen., on one side, to let me pass out. Mr. Fooks, sen., then struck my husband a violent blow and all three then came round and began to strike him and got him down on the ground. Mr. Hathaway then came up to see what was the matter, and said “For God’s sake, gentlemen, leave off; we can settle this without fighting.” They all three then struck Mr. Hathaway and knocked him down. Mrs. Hathaway then went to my husband’s assistance, when Mr. Fooks, sen., assaulted me striking me. They fought with Mr. Hathaway for about five minutes. Mr. Hathaway did not return the blows. They were got out at the door, and while I was holding up a wax figure at the door which was falling down Mr. Fooks, sen., struck me on the head and said “I will kill you, woman.” Mr. Fooks, jun., and Walter Pemberton Fooks got my husband down on a form at the door. They got out and endeavoured to make their escape, but they were detained till a constable was fetched, when they were given into custody.

Cross-examined by Mr. Southgate: The labels on the figures are small; some of them very small. They might be seen without touching the dresses. I don’t know whether my husband asked them to move before he pulled Mr. Fooks, sen., on one side. I am not positive whether be pulled him on one side or pulled him back. I cannot say how he was moved. The moment he was moved he turned round and struck my husband a blow. Mr. Hathaway then came and Mr. Fooks struck him; the stick produced belongs to my husband, and he fetched it from the door after he was struck. I did not see him attempt to use the stick. There were two females there —myself and Mrs. Hathaway. I struck Mr. Pemberton Fooks, when he was on my husband. I did not see Mr. Hathaway strike any one. None the defendants, to my knowledge, left the room during the fight. They fought their way out. Mr. Hathaway tried to get away from Mr. Fooks, sen., when he was fighting. I cannot say whether Mr. Hathaway went to the door. He did not call any people into the room. Pemberton Fooks had my husband down when I struck him. My husband, after he got up, went for the stick. I did not hear him say anything when he fetched the stick. I do not believe he said anything, as I was close to him at the time.

Cross-examined by Mr. Fooks, sen.; The stick was kept at the door in the corner, it is usually kept there. The name of the figure you was at was Madame Pompriery. I cannot say what distance it is from the door; it is about half-way down the room. The label was pinned on the corner of the apron of that figure. You put your face into mine. I cannot say how long it was after you pushed my husband before he fetched the stick. I would not swear he did not say “I will kill the b--------”, I did not hear him say so. Mr. Hathaway was struck before the stick was fetched. Mr. Hathaway did not touch you till you struck him. I did not pull your whiskers at all. I cannot say whether Mrs. Hathaway did. Mr. Hathaway did not go the door to mv knowledge. Several persons came into the room. My husband did not fetch any persons in when he went to the door, he only fetched the stick, which was taken away from him by Mr. Pemberton Fooks. I cannot say what you were doing then.

Cross-examined Mr. Fooks, jun.: You did not ask for catalogue when you came in. I told you the names of the figures were on them. It was at the door going in the room.

Joseph Padosta deposed that he was the husband of the last witness, and was an attendant at the wax works of Mr. Hathaway, Windmill Street. The three defendants, accompanied by two other gentlemen, came there on the previous evening, between five and six o’clock. On going into the room Mr. Fooks, sen., pulled up the clothes of a female figure, and was requested my wife not to touch them. They then pushed my wife into a corner, and I went to them and said please let my mistress out. Mr. Fooks, sen., then put his hand up a fighting attitude, and I told him not to strike. He then knocked me down, and the other two defendants knelt upon me. My master then came up, and was knocked down. Witness went towards the door and they ran after him; got hold of him, and knocked him down at the door. Witness got hold of a stick to defend himself. They took the stick away from him and he then ran out and fetched a policeman. Whilst was coming out of the door he received a blow on his back from the stick, but he could not say who struck it.

Cross-examined Mr. Southgate; They pushed my wife into a corner of the room. I said please to allow mistress to come out, and then saw his fist up and said do not strike me. I then took the stick to defend myself. I did not use any abusive language; they got the stick away from me.

Cross-examined by Mr. Fooks, sen.: I am the man who was at the door in livery. My place is anywhere. I am the doorkeeper, but am not stationed there. I was inside of the door. I was there when my wife was inside, on the right hand side. She was not by the desk; she was in the exhibition room. I stopped at the door. I saw you push my mistress in the corner. When I came in she was between the two pedestals. I could see the figures from where I stood. You lifted up the clothes of the female figure. You lifted up the gown. No catalogue was asked for. Walter Pemberton Fooks tore my shirt and clothes. You first struck me, then you struck my master. I was not up when I took the stick. The stick was taken away from me, and I then ran away for a policeman.

Cornelius Hathaway deposed that he was proprietor of the waxwork exhibition at Milton Hall. The three defendants together with two other gentlemen came up, paid the admission money and went in. As they were going in one of them remarked that they were going in to see some blocks of wood. He remarked, “No, gentlemen; you are going to see some wax figures.” Soon after they were in, one of them assaulted his assistant. Witness then went up to them and said, “For God’s sake, gentlemen, leave off and settle this without fighting” when Mr. Fooks, sen., assaulted him and struck him several blows. The other defendants also assaulted him. Mr. Fooks, sen., struck him a violent blow in the eye. This witness was cross-examined by Mr. Southgate and Mr. Fooks, sen., without shaking his evidence.

Mr. Southgate said that from an intimation he had received, he was quite willing on behalf of his client to offer recompense for the damage done to the complainant on his consenting to withdraw the charge. Mr. Fooks, sen., said it must not be supposed that he would submit to it as a penalty. It was not a question of money with him, but question of character. He was quite willing to recompense the man, but not for it to be inflicted as a penalty. He said he only was taken his own and son's part, and that he had witnesses to call who would alter the case altogether. The complainant at first refused accede to a compromise, but afterwards consented to withdraw the case. The defendants having compensated him for the damage done, the case, which had lasted three hours, was then withdrawn.