EAST DONYLAND​ / ROWHEDGE

THE ESSEX STANDARD - Saturday 7 December 1833 - “ESSEX ADJOURNED SESSION. The Session closed on Wednesday evening at six o’clock.... Thomas Simons was indicted for having unlawfully dredged upon the oyster-laying of Thomas Sanford, at Tollesbury, with intent to steal oysters therefrom. One month hard labour.”

THE ESSEX STANDARD - Friday 29 August 1834 - “COLCHESTER CASTLE - Saturday, August 23.- Thomas Cook applied to the Bench this day under the following circumstances. Having a short time since made application to the Magistrates for an order to have his indentures given up to him, he being twenty-one years of age, although by the indentures he had six months longer to serve, the Magistrates considered that he was entitled to the indentures, and granted the orders accordingly. The present application was on account of his master having refused to give up the indenture. A summons was issued to the master, [blank] Cheek, of Rowhedge, to appear at the next sitting.”

THE ESSEX STANDARD - 17 July 1835 - COLCHESTER CASTLE, Saturday, July 11. Robert Gage, Thomas Simons, and John Walford, were charged by Samuel Seaborn with assaulting him. It appeared that the parties are mariners, and live at East Donyland, and that in consequence of complainant’s giving evidence against the defendants concerning a robbery of oysters in which they were concerned, they committed the assault complained of. They were convicted and fined 9s 6d each, which they paid and were discharged.”

THE ESSEX STANDARD - Friday 21 August 1835 - “COLCHESTER CASTLE, Saturday, Aug. 15.- John Turf, shipowner, of East Donyland, complained against Philip Taylor, his apprentice, for absenting himself from his service for one week. The lad, in his defence, said that he did not leave his master of his own accord, but was taken away by his father, owing to the treatment he received whilst at Dieppe, from Samuel Harris, the captain of the smack in which he sailed. He stated that Harris often struck him on the head with a wooden shoe; also with a brush and a poker, and sometimes kept him without his victuals; he had complained of it to his master,  but the latter did not regard it. Samuel Harris stated that the headstrong disobedience which he (the apprentice) manifested provoked him to use him in the manner complained of. The boy was reprimanded by the Chairman, who told him that if he was brought before him for similar conduct again, he should send him to the treadmill. Upon his master promising not to send him to sea again with Harris, the affair ended.”

THE CHELMSFORD CHRONICLE - 4 March 1836 - “COLCHESTER. TOWN COUNCIL. THE COLNE FISHERY. The Council were summoned to appear on Monday last, to receive the opinion of Sir W. Follett, which had been obtained relative to the right of granting licenses to the dredgermen. Sir William’s opinion was found to be most unequivocal, that the power of granting the licenses was vested in the Mayor and Council, and not in the Mayor and Justices... The Court then proceeded to consider the different applications for licenses. The fresh applications were received first; viz. from those persons who had duly served their apprenticeship. Their licenses were £2.4s.6d. each, including fees, and the old dredgermen’s licenses were £1.3s.6d. including fees. The Court were engaged the whole of the afternoon in granting the licenses, of which there were upwards of three hundred.... John Root, of Brightlingsea, and Mr. N. Rogers, of Donyland, were also elected assistants to the Water Bailiff...”

THE ESSEX STANDARD - Friday 13 May 1836 - “COLCHESTER CASTLE, Saturday, May 7 - William Woodward (an apprentice) was sentenced to one month’s hard labour in the house of correction, for disobeying the orders of his master (Mr. John Everitt), a mariner, of East Donyland.”

THE ESSEX STANDARD - Saturday 15 July 1836 - “OYSTER FISHERIES’ BILL - The following Petition, numerously signed by smack owners and other interested in the Oyster Fishery, has been forwarded to the Right Hon. Lord Ashburton, for presentation to the House of Lords:-

To the Right Honorable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled.

The humble Petition of the undersigned Owners of Smacks, Fishermen, Oyster Dredgers, Tradesmen, and Inhabitants of Brightlingsea, Wivenhoe, and East Donyland, in the Port of Colchester, in the County of Essex, SHEWETH, That a Bill has recently passed the Honorable the Commons House of Parliament, “For the regulation and improvement of the Public Oyster Fisheries in England and Wales,” the provisions of which are of the most injurious tendency, and calculated to inflict upon your Petitioners  the most grievous consequences.

That there are in the various parishes adjoining the Essex Coast, in the Port of Colchester, upwards of 2,500 Dredgermen, who have always been employed in Dredging for Oysters’ Brood and Spat during the Summer Months in the open sea, upon the coasts of England and near the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, and Sark, and off the coast of France; and that the Oysters’ Brood and Spat so caught have been brought by them and deposited upon Oyster Layings or Grounds, both public and private, where they grow, fatten, and improve in quality and size, until they are fit for the London and provincial markets.

That the Bill, under pretext of protecting the spat and small oysters, prohibits Fishermen from dredging within one league of the shore or low-water mark, from the twelfth day of May to the fourth of August; which comprehends the particular period in which 2,500 Dredgermen, in the immediate vicinity of your Petitioners, exercise their calling; and will, by the provisions of the said Bill, be entirely thrown out of employment; those being the only months when they can, with safety, employ their smacks in dredging at sea.

That your Petitioners entreat your Lordships to reflect, that the oysters’ brood and spat caught in the open sea, and in the harbours, roadsteads, and havens, where Fishermen have from all times been at liberty and accustomed to dredge, are not fit for market - but are deposited upon layings and oyster grounds, for preservation; whence, after two or three years, having arrived at perfection, they are again caught and sent to London.

That if the Dredgerman is prohibited from catching these oysters’ brood and spat, as they have been accustomed, a very large proportion will be wholly lost to the public, by being smothered and buried by the accumulation of mud and sea-weed, and if they escape that mode of destruction, they will be killed by a severe frost.

That a Measure similar to the present Bill, has, for several years past, been brought into the Commons House of Parliament, but has invariably been rejected as an unconstitutional infringement of the rights, privileges, and liberties of his Majesty’s subjects, who have an unquestionable right to exercise their calling as Fishermen, in the public open sea.

That the cultivation of the oyster layings or oyster grounds affords great employment to the parish boys who are bound apprentice to dredgermen, and this extensive branch of the British Fishery is, in itself, a most valuable nursery for seamen, and whence, in time of war, the Royal Navy is supplied with its best and most adroit crews.

That many of your Petitioners have expended large sums of money in building and fitting out vessels adapted to the catching of oyster brood and spat at sea and far from the land, and have taken apprentices and others to man and navigate them, but which vessels will, by the enactments of the said Bill, become useless; and such your Petitioners and their crews will suffer extensive and serious distress.

And your Petitioners beg leave further to represent that the present measure has been introduced into the lower House of Parliament for the purpose of serving the interests of a few individuals or companies, who will be benefitted by the monopoly which it will establish, and by which the general good will be overlooked and destroyed, for it is impossible to deny that a very large proportion of the oysters which are now caught during the prohibited season, and nurtured till perfect for market, will be lost to the public; and there must be a very scanty supply at the London market, and that at a greatly increased price.

Lastly. That if the Bill should be suffered by your Lordships to pass into a law, it would throw out of employment and pauperize many thousands of sailors, and grievously oppress the parishes wherein they reside; and that it would materially curtail the putting out lads apprentice to the sea.

That the provisions of the said Bill are inconsistent with each other; the 1st clause prohibiting the catching oysters or brood within one league of the shore, between 12th May and 4th August, and all the subsequent clauses making it penal to dredge any where during the prohibited season, or to have any oysters on board, although they were not dredging, nor caught the oysters within one league of the shore.

That the powers given to peace-officers are most unconstitutional.

Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray, that your Lordships will be pleased so hear them by their counsel, agents, and witnesses, against the said Bill, and that the same may not pass into a law.”

THE ESSEX STANDARD - Friday 26 January 1838 - “A lad named Philip Taylor, complained that his master, John Tuff, of Donyland, mariner, did not furnish him with sufficient clothing, according to the terms of his indenture. On examination of the indenture, the Chairman discovered that no premium was mentioned, and not sanctioned by two magistrates, it was only a private agreement between the parties, and could be cancelled at any time they might think proper. There seemed to be considerable ill-feeling existing between the lad and his master, and a wish on both sides for a separation, and the Bench advised them to destroy the indenture, which they consented to. It was therefore burnt, and the matter summarily settled.”

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THE ESSEX STANDARD - Friday 4 May 1838 - “COLCHESTER CASTLE. Saturday, April 28 - “A lad, named John Watson, who had been bound by indenture as an apprentice to a mariner named John Powell, of East Donyland, was convicted of absconding from the service of his master, and sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment in the House of Correction, and to be kept to hard labour.”

THE ESSEX STANDARD - Friday 24 May 1839 - “COLCHESTER CASTLE, Saturday, May 18 - Jeremiah Easter, mariner, appeared in answer to a summons issued the previous week, at the instance of P. Havens, Jun., Esq., for obstructing the hardway in the parishes of Wivenhoe and East Donyland, by placing anchors thereon, to the danger of passengers upon it.- S. Brown, Esq. also complained of the obstruction, and stated, that besides the defendant’s vessel, he had seen above twenty others on the same hardway, offering great impediment. The defendant replied that it had been done without his knowledge or consent, as it was far from his wish to occasion the annoyance complained of; nor was his the only vessel that had done so. The Court told him that he was answerable for those whom he employed; but at that was the first case that had been brought before them, they would not inflict the full penalty of 40s., as imposed by law but confine it to the expenses which had been incurred, amounting to 12s. This the defendant paid, and left the court.”

“Last week, the smack Blue-ey’d Maid, of this port, was run foul of by a Brightlingsea vessel, whilst dredging off the coast of Jersey. She shortly after sunk, but not before the crew and some of the ship’s stores were saved. The loss of the above vessel will prove of serious consequences to Crickmore, the master and owner.”

THE CHELMSFORD CHRONICLE - 15 March 1839 - “Castle, Saturday, March 9 - A lad, named William Watson, an apprentice to a mariner, named Henry Cook, of East Donyland, was convicted of disobeying the orders of his master, and sentenced to fourteen days’ hard labour in the House of Correction. After the Chairman (T.L. Ewen, Esq.) had passed the sentence, the prisoner burst into tears, and promised his master that he would conduct himself better for the future, if he would intercede with the Court in his behalf. The complainant then stated to the Bench, that as the lad appeared penitent, he hoped they would remit the sentence, and he would take him again into his service. After consulting with the rest of the Magistrates, the Chairman told the prisoner, that as the charge had been so fully proved against him, the Bench felt rather surprised that his master should have interceded for him in the manner that he had, for it was evident that he was far from being a good boy, and had repeatedly misconducted himself; that the Magistrates had given the matter consideration, and had resolved to assent to the application of his master, trusting it would be a warning to him for the future; before, however, he was liberated, the Court would expect him openly to confess his error, and promise his master never to offend again.- The lad very readily gave the required promise, and left the Court with his master.”

THE CHELMSFORD CHRONICLE - 2 August 1839 - “COLCHESTER CASTLE, July 27.- Mr. Joseph Willet, ship-owner and coal-merchant, of East Donyland, preferred a charge against one of his apprentices, named John Fisher, for absconding from his service. The boy had stated that he did not like the sea, and his master consented to let him go, but afterwards finding he had engaged with another vessel he had him taken into custody. Under these circumstances the Bench refused to interfere, and dismissed the case.”

THE ESSEX STANDARD - Friday 9 August 1839 - “OYSTERS! OYSTERS! The first day on which oysters are allowed by law to be sold in the public market falling this year on Sunday, the commencement of the oyster season was postponed until Monday morning at six o’clock, when the hatches of the oyster smacks were opened at Billingsgate, and the sale commenced with great briskness. The market was crowded to excess, but owing to the very judicious arrangements made by Mr. Goldham, the yeoman of the water side, the greatest regularity was observed, and the noise and confusion, attended with accidents, which used formerly to occur, were completely avoided. There was 60 sail of vessels from Rochester, Whitstable, Colchester, and other places, including a few “over sea” vessels from Jersey, with oysters much inferior to those from the English coast. Of “natives” there was a very small supply, and these fetched as high as two guineas per bushel. The common oysters produced generally 12s per bushel, and the “over sea” ones as low as 10s per bushel. The quantity, as well as quality, of the oysters brought to market yesterday was below the average. One company, which formerly sent many sail of vessels to market, did not send any yesterday, and other proprietors of oyster beds find it more profitable to defer sending any to Billingsgate until September, when they are not only much improved in flavour but considerably larger. By direction of Mr. Goldham the names of the salesmen and the quality of the oysters were painted on a large board, & fixed in a conspicuous place on each smack, to prevent frauds on purchasers. At the early hour of half-past six the lord mayor visited the market, and was conducted over the various departments by Mr. Goldham. His lordship was surprised at the bustle, and expressed himself highly pleased with the arrangements and the good conduct of the people. The lord mayor also went on board the various smacks, and, before he left the market, took a dish of natives with Mr. Goldham, being instigated thereto by a vendor, who reminded his lordship of the old saying, “Those who don’t eat oysters on the first day will want money all the year.” The reformation of the morals and manners of Billingsgate is certainly complete, and the old watch house has been converted into a place for the sale of coffee, and other refreshments.- Morning Herald.”

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THE ESSEX STANDARD - Friday 16 August 1839 - “COLCHESTER CASTLE, Saturday, August 10. Benjamin Wood Ponder, a youth apprenticed to Henry Cook, mariner, at Rowhedge, made an application to the Bench, to recover various articles of wearing apparel from his master. He stated that he left his master in May last, when he told him that he had burnt his indentures, and would therefore give him his time out, but he refused to give him any more clothes than he had on at the time.- Mr. F.G. Abell appeared on the behalf of the master, and stated that from the bad conduct of the applicant to his master, the latter had been led to give him a verbal dismissal, provided he left the village of Rowhedge. But as he had not done so, his client had determined to recover him again into his service, and had taken steps to that end. To constitute a legal cancelling of indenture, the mutual consent of both parties must be obtained, and the same duly indorsed upon the indenture. In this case no such step had been taken, and therefore the applicant was still the respondent’s apprentice, and was liable to an information if he refused to enter his service when called upon to do so. In fact it was not till very lately that he had made this application for clothes.- Cook stated that the boy had behaved very ungratefully towards him, considering the kindness with which he had always treated him. His conduct had so irritated him, that in a moment of excitement he told him that he would give him his time out; but he had never agreed upon a cancelling of the indenture.- The Bench dismissed the application, and recommended him to return with his master and continue in his service.”

THE ESSEX STANDARD - Friday 11 June 1841 - “At the Castle, on Saturday last, Mr. J. H. Church made an application on behalf of John Ponder, a mariner, for the purpose of recovering the sum of £1, and some clothes. In this case the applicant had been apprenticed to Mr. H. Cook, a ship owner, at East Donyland. During the time of his apprenticeship he absconded for a week, for which he was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment, and his master now refused to pay him the above sum, as stipulated in the indenture, on the ground that applicant must serve that time after the date of his indenture (which expired on the 20th May last). After hearing Mr. Church for applicant, and Mr. Abell for respondent, the Bench were of opinion that he must make up the period of his absence in order to entitle him the amount claimed, and the Chairman put it to Ponder, whether being now of age he would avail himself of that and leave his master, or whether he would complete the period and enforce the claim he now made. Ponder declined returning to his service, and the parties left the court.”

THE ESSEX STANDARD - 29 July 1842 - “A fine sturgeon, eight feet in length, and weighing nearly a cwt., was exhibited in this town on Saturday last. It was captured by some fishermen in the Colne, near Rowhedge, on the previous evening.”

THE ESSEX STANDARD - Friday 4 November 1842 - “COLCHESTER CASTLE. Saturday, October 29th. - DISOBEDIENT APPRENTICE - A young man, named Daniel Taylor, apprentice to Mr. Thos. Mills, a smack-owner, of East Donyland, appeared to answer a charge of assaulting his master. Complainant stated that on Wednesday, the 19th of October, he went on board his vessel (which had returned a few days previously) and found 180 oysters concealed. He took them ashore, and in the afternoon the defendant came and abused him for doing so; he (complainant) pushed him away and told him to go about his work, when he knocked him down, and afterwards challenged him to fight. Since that time he had repeatedly ordered defendant to lock the vessel up at night, but he refused and laughed at him.- Taylor said in defence that his master knocked him down first.- The Chairman said the Court thought the charge fully made out, and considered it a case which ought to be made an example of, as it was too much the practice of apprentices when near the end of their time to consider themselves independent, and set their masters at defiance. The Court then sentenced defendant to one month’s hard labour in the County House of Correction.”