This magnificent find by Trev Ashmore holds a privately kept and previously unpublished journal of local happenings. All beautifully handwritten by William Rhodes, his dated and concisely noted entries fully span years between 1830-1881.
Results from national horse race meetings give away his personal interest, and good reason for enjoying regular railway excursions. Just a few choice examples have been transcribed, largely covering events relevant to Hucknall Huthwaite. The fact that William Rhodes was a prominent Sutton figure is testified by finding 1907 mention given in Lindley's book. Quoting that short entry is best way to describe the man himself.
RHODES' YARD. Whilst this yard is now "no more," still the name after whom it was called is worthy to be kept "green." The late Mr. William Rhodes, less than half-a-century ago, was one of Sutton's most prominent residents. He was conspicuous for his educational abilities, and in addition to carrying on his business as a surveyor and appraiser, he was an able instructor of youth. He was particularly popular as "a recorder of local events" in his day, and many were the wagers that he was able to decide by his well-kept diary. Mr. Rhodes was the owner of some of the property in the yard which bore his name. Approaching the close of 1901, the yard was the scene of a sad calamity, Mr. Charles Aked, a well-known bag hosier, being discovered by the police in the early hours of the morning burnt to death in his home, which was also considerably damaged by the fire. The small, narrow area was requisitioned for the recent Market Place improvements, and the building belonging to Messrs. Fletcher Bros, now occupies the site.
Mr. William Rhodes - Personal Journal | |||
1830 | Sept | 7 | George Shooter murdered by his son Monday morning. |
1832 | Apr | 6 | A great rejoicing on the Feast Friday on acc. of passing the Reform Bill, 37 Flags in Market Place. |
Nov | 30 | died Hy. Marshall(and left £2/0s/2d ) | |
1834 | July | 3 | Jesse Naylor killed by Lightning at Stanley. |
11 | Dr. Sales died | ||
25 | Misham Thomas died | ||
Aug | 6 | Ann Stanhope married | |
Oct | 8 | Archelaus Rhodes married | |
Dec | 31 | died Oates ** | |
1835 | Jan. | 10 | died John Clarke Butcher |
26 | died Jerrmiah Burrows of Hucknall and Buriell in Orchards | ||
Mar | 8 | died Oratio Beastall | |
Apr | 12 | Sutton Church Roof on Fire | |
May | 5 | Mrs Davt Mansfield died | |
Aug | 2 | Betsy Thafs died daughter of T Thafs | |
Aug | 7 | died Mrs Dobson | |
Sep | 16 | Father died aged 61 | |
23 | Boot John Married to Mary Clarke | ||
Dec | 24 | died James Saxton | |
1836 | Jan | 28 | died Sam Bower Skebgy. |
May | 18 | married Sam Saxton | |
21 | died Timothy Hall | ||
June | 27 | married Mr. Clarke to Mary Burrows | |
July | 31 | married Matthew Dodson to Mary Holes | |
Aug | 11 | died Leavers Joshua | |
Nov | 5 | Thos Kinders Wife died | |
21 | Thos Kinders Sale. | ||
Christmas Mr Sampson Married | |||
1837 | Jan | 1 | John Beastall died, son of Chas. Beastall. Large snow about this time from 10 to 16 feet deep.Mail Coach detained for a day or two. Hope Coach was obliged to be left on the road between Mansfield and Nottingham, and many lost their lives. |
14 | died Mr. Clarke of Hardwick | ||
17 | died Matthew ***** | ||
Feb | 15 | died Mr. Richard Tudsbury junr. | |
Mar | 8 | died Hugh Snr. Blackn*** | |
June | 2 | died Thafs George Denmans | |
Oct | 2 | died George Knighton | |
3 | died Mr Kellys Wife | ||
9 | Royal Mail begins service through Sutton to Nottingham | ||
1839 | Mar | 1 | Great talk about this time of a Revolution. |
Aug | 16 | Allsop killed at the Hucknall (Huthwaite) Pitts. | |
Nov | 7 | Trade at this time very bad in the Framework Knitters Branch, Carpenter the relieving officer for this Union in trouble for defrauding the poor. Dismissal 22nd June 1840. | |
1840 | Feb | 20 | This day a Relieving Officer appointed, the name of Lancelot Twells, one quite strange to all, recommended by Col. Rolleston and one of Unwin's sort, this man ran away robbing Sutton of several hundred. |
1841 | May | 3 | Died Ed. Unwin Esqr. Magistrate, Sutton Works respected by a few but hated by many. |
1842 | Aug | 4 | Killed Paul Hill of Tibshelf attempting to get on drug shafts was knock'd back by the end of tree ran over by the drug and died the following day. |
1843 | Feb | 8 | Died William Radford, commonly called Blood Radford. |
1844 | Jan | 16 | Old Betty Low, Tibshelf, died 104 years and 6 days. |
Sep | 30 | Sale of the late Dr. Valentine's goods and effects seized on for debt, this man was like a peacock, all outward show - proud and poor. Mrs. Valentine went away from this town on the day of the sale,the last 36 hours she drank only 7s/4d worth ,she went away a good colour with a shilling worth of brandy to breakfast. | |
1848 | Feb | 16 | died J. Parsons, Relieving Officer and Allsop G. Hucknall(Huthwaite) succeeded him ,if he serves the year out he deceives me ,I know he's too young to bear the burdon. |
1850 | Jan | 5 | Shot in Newton Wood a man in the name of Thorpe of Tibshelf. |
1852 | Sep | 15 | Ben Oscroft said to me that if he saw me tumble down and break my neck he wouldn't gather me up. Because I wouldn't give towards the fireworks when the gas was lighted first. |
1854 | Oct | 15 | died Kyte, Forest Side. |
Nov | 28 | Great fight at the Devonshire Arms between Will Wack (W. Hepworth) and John Blood (John Radford) | |
1856 | Oct | 19 | Stole Coney Dove's pig. |
1857 | Feb | 28 | Buried Mr. Downing of Blackwell between his two wives at Newton in a garden. |
1858 | Feb | 25 | Married Soldier Boot, Hucknall Huthwaite. |
1860 | Nov | 17 | Died Benjamin Burton, Hucknall Huthwaite, commonly called Benoni. |
1862 | Mar | 11 | Joseph Marshall or Happy Jack,3 months imprisonment for cutting his wifes throat. |
Dec | 6 | 4 poachers tried at Nottingham Assizes , Shaw and Turner 5 years, Wilkinson and Shore 1 year. | |
1864 | Sep | 17 | Killed himself (young man) at Kirkby by eating plum pudding. |
1866 | July | 20 | Betts Thos. transported for 7 years and Freeman 6, for assaulting the Hucknall Police, in Huthwaite at the time lived Tom Betts age 24 and John Freeman age 25, both coal miners. |
1867 | Mar | 30 | Pinders Circus here |
1868 | Mar | 13 | Fire at Balls Farm House and Cattle, nr.Newton Wood |
Apr | 2 | Drowned 4 men in Buxton Pit -- on Moleneux. | |
Aug | 25 | Married G. Adlington, Woodland Cottage, Hucknall (Huthwaite) to Harriet Jennings | |
1872 | Mar | 8 | Peter Beader, Hucknall Huthwaite, 2 year to Southwell for striking a man with a Hedge Knife (at Nottingham Assizes) |
1875 | Nov | 6 | Butler and Shaw suffocated in a well in Berristow (and Tom Boot ran it in very fine) |
1879 | Jan | 27 | in liquidation John Thomas Boot, Hucknall. |
1880 | Nov | 16 | Buried two boys Kiddy and Turner killed at Brierly Hill Colliery |