Strode. This gentleman, it would seem, had some influence at Court, as he was (as appears from the Corporation records) instrumental in procuring the new Charter in substitution for the previous one.
The first Town Clerk was Robert Norwood, and in the Recorder there was vested by the Charter of King James II. the power to appoint a successor to the Town Clerk in the event of his death or removal from office. The office of Clerk to the Corporation is, however, of much more ancient origin, as in what is called the Customal of Hastings, compiled in the reign of King Edward III., there is provision for the election annually by the Bailiff and Jurats assembled with the assent of the whole of the Commonalty of a Clerk. By virtue of this Customal the Bailiff acted as Coroner, and there is mention of a Sergeant, the forerunner, no doubt, of the Sergeant at Mace or Town Sergeant. I have not been able at present to ascertain who was the first independent Coroner.
The first Clerk of the Peace appointed on the grant to the borough of a separate Court of Quarter Sessions (1836), was Thomas Baker Baker, in whose office my father worked. The first Sergeant at Mace to the Mayor under King James' Charter was Richard Thresher, and the first Town Sergeant, James Redham. Messrs. Catt and Simmons, the present holders, have reason, therefore, to be proud of the antiquity of their respective offices.
The office of Borough Chamberlain is also an ancient one, as this officer is mentioned in the Corporation records of 1685, and possibly earlier. The last holder was the late much respected John Gibson. Perhaps it is a pity some appointment was not made on his death (it need only have been an honorary one) in order to maintain this link with the past.
In a return of Freemen and other persons made in the reign of King Edward III. we find "Gilbert Gabbe" (possibly an ancestor of one whose name is a household word to the present and last generation); "Robert Tottighe," a name which is preserved in connection with part of the Sayer-Milward Estate, as well as the following (modern spelling), Baker, Harding, Pelham, Reed, and Whicker.
A benevolence return of 36, Henry VIII. (1544) gives the names of the principal inhabitants, with the amounts of their contributions. Amongst these we find "John Love 20s.," "Edward Wood 20s., "Richard Standen 20s.," "Thomas Standen 20s." (This was my mother's maiden name.) In a list of ships belonging to Hastings there is included "The Peter Paulmeres," 36 tons; owner, "Henry Tought." And amongst the able men to take charge of these ships the following names (modern spelling is given in most instances) : Bossum, Butler, Crosskey, Hide, (John) Meadows, Palmer, Reed, Stace and Wood.
