a dose as to not require any other medicine for at least a fortnight.
Be it said, however, that, like men who could wisely accommodate themselves to accomplished facts, many of the influential residents of the old joined those of the new in a grand dinner at the St. Leonards Assembly Rooms on the 18th of September, to celebrate the passing of the Bill. Included with these were Dr. MacCabe (Mayor), C. Hicks, Esq., (Mayor of Rye), R. Hollond, Esq., M. P. H Elphinstone, Esq., M. P. J. Nash, Esq., (Chairman of the Railway Company), A. R. Briggs, Esq., Lieut-Col Williams, C. E., Capt. Mackay, James Troup, Esq., and about 100 other persons. Mr. Hutchings of the Saxon was the caterer, and Mr. Elford's band performed the music.
After this, two other meetings were held before the close of the year, to receive reports of the committee appointed to watch the progress of the South Eastern Company's Bill through Parliament.
Obituaries of Samuel Woodgate - E. A. Springett and William Shoesmith
Interpolatory Obituaries
Samuel Woodgate
Among the deaths recorded in Brett's Gazette of April 7th 1883 are those of several old inhabitants, and as it has formed part of my purpose to notice such as transpire concurrently with the time of writing, it thus behoves me, ere I further proceed with the historical details, to refer to at least three persons whose deaths are announced in the obituary column of the Gazette, The first is Mr. Samuel Woodgate, whose death took place on Tuesday last, and whose two surviving sisters and himself formed the oldest trio among the St. Leonards inhabitants. Mr. Woodgate would have reached the age of 81 years in July next, whilst the Misses Woodgate, I believe, are in their 88th and 86th year, respectively. The elder Miss Woodgate came to St. Leonards as maid to a lady named Bignell, in 1829 — one year after the town was begun. Miss Bignell and her maid occupied one wing of the North Lodge, while Mr. Thomas How occupied the other. In 1830 or '31 Miss Bignell and Miss Woodgate removed to 8 Marina (now known as the South Colonnade), and after Miss Bignell’s death Miss Woodgate took 19 and 20 Marina to conduct as lodging-houses, and where for at least forty five years she has remained. It was during her residence with Miss Bignell at North Lodge, and, consequently, before 1830, that her brother Samuel came to St. Leonards. As the finished houses were few in number, and the work-people had difficulty in getting a home nearer than Hastings or Bexhill, Mr. Woodgate was fortunate enough in finding one at North Lodge; and as showing the condition of the town at that time it may be mentioned that on Sundays Mr. Woodgate was accustomed to drive Miss Bignell over rugged roads and no-roads to the church of St. Mary-in the-Castle at Hastings, there being at the time neither church nor chapel at St. Leonards. At a later period the subject of this sketch was to be seen actively making his way as & carpenter and upholsterer, first by himself, then in partnership with Mr. How, and afterwards by himself again. The deceased was never solicitous of public office or honours, for on being chosen a member of the St. Leonards Commissioners in 1866, he allowed himself to become disqualified in the following year; preferring, perhaps, to serve both the Board and himself, as he had sometimes done, by accepting contracts. He was, however, an overseer for St. Mary Magdalen in 1852, and a member of the Assessment Committee in 1854 and 57. At 17 or 18 Marina was the widow Elizabeth Syrus, who, with her husband, had previously lived, respectively, as housekeeper and butler in the service of Lady Lavender at Hampton Court. Mr. Syrus was in delicate health, and did not live long after taking the house at St. Leonards. In course of time his widow was married to Mr. Woodgate, and the two lived happily together until the 19th of May, 1865, when Mrs. Woodgate was taken away by Death in her 65th year. Mr. Woodgate very naturally felt the loss of his partner, which, with increasing age, materially modified the business energy which he had theretofore displayed. This was further observed about three or four years ago, when his two nephews — engaged in the business — were taken away somewhat suddenly, and after which event the old gentleman became quite an invalid. After confinement to his bed for about seven weeks, Mr. Woodgate died, as before stated, on the 3rd of April, in his 81st year. His remains will be interred on Monday in the family vault at the Borough Cemetery.
J. L. Linney
The next person whose death is the occasion for a few remarks is the late John Lewis Linney. As an octogenarian he was even the senior of Mr. Woodgate, but he was not a townsman of so long a standing. I first knew Mr. Linney about the year 1857, when, in association with Mr. Horner, he took the bookselling and stationery business at 9 Robertson street which had been previously carried on by Max. Edward Pierce. Near the close of 1860 Mr. Linney succeeded Mr. Diplock at the Marine Library, while Mr. Horner, with the assistance of Mr. Giles, continued the business at 9 Robertson street. At a later date — about 1865 or '6 — Mr. Linney removed his business to 9 Breeds place, and afterwards, opened a shop in London road, St. Leonards, which is now conducted by his daughters. It was here, after spending some years of a more rural life at Pevensey, the old gentleman died on Monday last, in his 82nd year. Mr. Linney was a member of the Society of Friends, and was of a particularly quiet demeanour.
Mr. Springett
The next noticeable death is that of Mr. Edward Alldridge Springett, of St. John’s road and Norman road, St. Leonards. The deceased was a saddler and harness-maker by trade, and was a son of Mr. Robt. Springett, who carried on the same sort of business at 5 Castle street, Hastings, in the old coaching days. The deceased tradesman was & man of good business habits; industry, punctuality and probity being leading features in his character. He was a comparatively young man, having only turned the age of 46, when, after 2 few days' illness from a bronchial attack, his existence terminated. He leaves a widow, put no family, to mourn his loss; and we have reason to believe that his death is deeply regretted by many with whom he was acquainted.
Mr. Shoesmith
The oldest inhabitant was William Shoesmith, familiarly known as “ Daddy,” and who has died at the patriarchal age of ninety-five years and seven months. About six weeks ago Mr. Shoesmith, was seized with a paralytic fit, which rendered him all but speechless, and caused.a cessation of his customary daily walks about the town. On Thursday week, while attempting to go down stairs at his lodgings, he fell head-foremost to the bottom and sustained a severe wound, from the effects of which he died on the following Sunday. Mr. Shoesmith was a native of Bexhill, and in his younger days was a “ fair trader,” or, in other words, a smuggler. He was also at one time employed in the Battle Powdermills; and if such employment happened to be between the years 1811 and 1817, it might be that he was one of the fortunate men who escaped harm by explosions which were no fewer than six in as many years, But William Shoesmith’s more regular occupation was that of an agricultural labourer, in which capacity he worked separately for Mr Wm. Farncomb and his son Edward, of Filsham; Mr. Pocock and Mr Cooke, of Crowhurst; Mr. —— of Pett; and Mr. S, Putland and Mr. F. Tree, of St. Leonards. When about the age of 68 he cut more corn for Mr. Tree in a given time than any of the younger reapers. Soon after the founding of St. Leonards, Mr. Shoesmith was employed as beadle for the parish of Hollington, together with the outbounds of St. Leonards and St. Mary Magdalen. At a vestry meeting of the last-named parish on the 2nd of April, 1833, the sum of three pounds was voted to be paid to Hollington parish for the services of William Shoesmith as beadle for the next year. In the following year it was arranged that the money paid to Hollington for Shoesmith’s services should be taken from the highway rate, and that three tradesmen should be appointed special constables as a more efficient police, together with a fourth person whose stipend should be £4 per year In 1837 notice was given to Hollington parish that no more money would be contributed to Shoesmith’s salary as beadle; and hence, so far as concerned the town his services would cease. At some time subsequent to that year, while in the employment of Mr. Edward Farncomb as a carter, the subject of this notice was suddenly confronted with religious convictions, which, as he has told me, determined him to at once forsake the evil propensities and training of his earlier life, that he might im the future be prepared to meet death without fear whenever it should come upon him. He connected himself with the St. Leonards Wesleyans, and afterwards with the Temperance party, and to these bodies he has been ever since attached with unfailing fidelity. He was not a man of great intelligence, but his earnestness made him demonstrative, sometimes even to a fault; yet he was very much a favourite with those around him. His wife and a daughter having died many years ago, and his other only daughter living far away from St. Leonards, the old man provided Himself lodgings with another family. His great age has long precluded him from work, and he has therefore eked out his existence with the help of his religious and teetotal friends, together with a small pittance from the Guardians. His remains have been borne to their resting place in the Cemetery at the voluntary cost of those friends, who, it is said, intend also to erect stone to his memory. I have stated that Mr. Shoesmith was a native of Bexhill, and I may add that he was one of a family noted for longevity. A Joshua Shoesmith, born in 1753, lived to the age of 88; Hannah Shoesmith born in 1763, lived to the age of,90; Sarah Shoesmith, born in 1764, lived to the age of 87; Thomas Shoesmith, born in 1778, died at the age of 86; Stephen Shoesmith, born in 1791, lived to the age of 88; and William Shoesmith (the subject of this notice) born in 1787, has reached the age of 96 ‘Thus it will be seen that these six members of the Shoesmith family made up a total life of over 63) years, or an individual average of 89 years.
Mrs. Peters
Another nonogenerian and old inhabitant of St. Leonards was Mrs. Peters, who departed this life on the 1st of December, in the 91st year of her age, Eliza Peters was the widow of Mr. John Peters, who many years ago kept the Hare-and-Hounds Inn as a licensed victualler, She was also a sister of Mr. John West, formerly a farm-bailiff, who also died at St. Leonards. Mrs. Peters died at 21 North street, St. Leonards, where she had resided during the last twenty-one years. Beyond the interest which might be felt in a person of such. advanced age, I am not aware that the life of the old lady was anything more than ordinarily eventful.
