-ried to Martha, the daughter of Mr. Thos. Breeds and secondly because an old woman named Breeds had lived in a cottage or cave before the site had been secured by cutting down the cliff.
Occurrences in 1828
In the latter half of April were recorded the fatal burning of a servant of grocer Trougheck's and the imprisonment of the 'Queen of the Gipsies(sic)' for stealing gownpieces, the death of Mr. Tindall, a Hastings tradesman, the accidental drowning of a fisherman named Southurst and the death of a man named Catt, by a fall of earth.
Also in the month of May among other deaths were those of three children of the name of Broadbudge, three of the name of Tassell (2 of them twins), three of the name of Phillips, a Mrs. Anthony Harvey (mother of the late Councillor Harvey), and Mr. Mark Breeds (a well known merchant). The last named died on the 6th of May, and, four days later, his remains were conveyed to Guestling for interment, accompanied by 2 mules, 4 sailors, 6 horsemen, a mourning coach and many private carriages. At this time the Duke of Wellington was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and Lady Kensington was residing in Wellington Square, thus named in honour of the Duke. On the 10th of May she was visited by her son, in command of the Garnet, brig of war, which was anchored off Hastings for that purpose. On the 12th of May was launched the new Atlanta, 29 feet by 8 ft. 8in.; and, a fortnight later a great race over a course of 8 miles was rowed by the crews of the Rainbow and Sun, two four-oared galleys, the latter winning by a minute of time. On the 26th of May a grand concert was held at the Hare-and-hounds inn, an old holstery(sic) just outside the borough boundary, which for many years, with its theatre on one side and its tea-gardens on the other was a favourite lounge with the Hastings people. Apropos of musical matters, a third concert by the Cecilian Society took place at the Kings Head on June 5th, the instrumentalists being Majors Ryall, Hart, Wood Wyborne, Fleming, Stewart, Kidd, Campbell and Elliot, all of whom, save one, were occasional performers with the present writer.
In anticipation of as good a fashionable season as was the last, three more houses were added to those already built on Pelham Crescent, and a new coach was started for Battle, Hurst Green, Cranbrook and Maidstone.
At 8.30 p.m., on the 3rd of July, the French coast was distinctly visible from Fairlight, succeeded at 10.10 p.m. by a violent thunderstorm. On the 5th of July, whilst Ewen's Exhibition of Wax-work was taking up position in front of Breeds Place, the Pelham Arcade resumed its promenade concerts under the conductorship of Mr. Joseph Hart, and the management of Messrs Powell and Diplock. At the same time, Mr Young?, a comic vocalist, who had previously been manager, opened a library in the Arcade and published a guide. Rock Fair was held as usual on the 26th and 27th of July, and on the following day, the fairground was the scene of a prize fight, when "Mike" Wood, a local athlete, fought 40 rounds with Fread Whiteman and was declared the winner.
On the day after the fight there was a conflict with the meteorological elements resulting in an appalling thunderstorm which continued for 3 hours, the hailstones from which were found, next morning congealed into swathes as large as cricket balls. The 14th of August witnessed the floating from Ransom and Ridley's Shipyard, the new cutter Diligence of 171½ tons.
Two days later an inquest was held on the body of a supposed smuggler, lost during the late gales, it being the third body similarly picked up. More curious it was that the mutilated remains of a fisherman were trawled up, and recognised by means of a particular seam in the sea-boots, as those of a man named Bumsted who was drowned 22 months before.
During the Hastings Races (a great annual event) on the 26th and 27th of September, the aeronaught Green passed over the course from Lewes. On the 11th of November, another Revenue cutter called The Bee was launched from Ransom and Ridley's yard, and a third one, of even larger dimensions was to be seen on the stocks.
Burglaries and robberies had become so numerous, that on the 1st of December, 160 inhabitants formed themselves into a body of night-watchmen to serve under certain regulations; yet, as though in defiance of the new movement, on the same night, combustibles were placed against several houses and the windows broken.
