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JULY 1837
July 1837 The annual meeting of the Belfast Institution was held. A meeting was also held by the Belfast Committee for the Relief of the Distressed Poor. At this it was ascertained that upward of £460 had been expended leaving a balance of only £149. Because the sum is inadequate the poor of the town will be left in the extremist destitution.
It was reported that the first tea party of the Belfast Total Abstinence Society was held in the Lancastrian School in Frederick Street. It has also been reported that a dreadful robbery occurred at the brewery in Smithfield and a sum of money taken.
The Belfast Quarter Sessions the following sentences were imposed. Miles Conway, stealing ham, 12 months in the House of Correction. Bridget Loughrey, stealing two gowns, transported 7 years. John Cassidy and Charles Stewart, stealing a chemise, 12 months in jail and whipped three times. Thomas Ryan, stealing stockings, transported 7 years. Francis Harvey, stealing two grates, transported 7 years. George Warnock, assaulting a day constable, transported 7 years. This a the cripple who appears 65 times in the Black Book.
Ellen Brown and Ann Stitt, stealing a shawl, transported 7 years. George McCormick, Henry Green, John Cornwell and Eliza McKee, stealing from the dwelling house of John Rutherford in Donegall Pass one slice of bacon, transportation 14 years. Ann Murphy, stealing a shawl, transported 7 years. John Molony, stealing a handkerchief, transported 7 years.
At the County Antrim Assizes held in Carrickfergus a man from the town of Belfast named Little was returned to the Spring Assizes for the murder of his wife.
It has been reported that a boy aged fourteen years was drowned while bathing near the new bridge at Ballymacarrett.
At the Assizes the following sentences were imposed. John McAlister and John Ward, burglary, death John McClean, highway robbery, death Russell Abbott and Alexander Park, highway robbery, death James McCloskey, larceny, transported 7 years James Granny, larceny, transported 7 years John Moore, cow stealing, transported for life Edward Murphy, sheep stealing, transported for life John Downey, stealing a bullock, transported for life James McVeigh, stealing a cow, transported for life
Mr Gallaher arrived in Belfast for a number of performances on ventriloquism
A riot occurred on Donegall Quay when the steamer Rapid was about to sail to Glasgow with a load of potatoes. People of the poorer classes attacked the ship and dispersed on the arrival of the police.
A fire destroyed McRiley’s Veterinary Establishment in Chichester Street.
The body of James Bruce of Brown Square was found hanging from a tree at the Blackstaff.
August 1837 After the recent Belfast election it was reported in the London Standard that there occurred ‘dreadful rioting in Belfast.’ With the exception of a few minor skirmishes the election had mainly passed of peacefully.
Workmen fixing a roof in Caddell Entry left a ladder unsecured with the result being it knocked over by a dray. It struck a young man named McCann and when he was taken up he was not quite dead but so dreadfully injured that he expired while being conveyed to the hospital.
A man was found walking in a state of nudity at Forest Hill with several wounds to his person. He stated that his name is James Gibbon and that he was attacked. However, the surgeon who attended him, the master of the Poorhouse and the police have every reason to believe he attempted to commit suicide.
The Belfast Harvest Fair was held. A great number of horses were exhibited but the majority of them were of an inferior description.
It has been reported that extensive and daring robberies have been perpetrated in town with the following houses having been broken into. Professor Cairns, College Square Mr Arthur Hamill, Falls Road Mr William Gray, Wellington Place Dr McCluney, Chichester Street Through the active exertions of some of the constables nine fellows of infamous character have been apprehended.
It has been reported that two women, mother and daughter, residing in one of the courts off North Street, were burned in a manner so shocking by their bed taking fire. The latter died almost immediately after the calamity and the other lies in the Frederick Street hospital without any hope of recovery. Two boys from Hercules Street were attacked by a group of blackguards while driving sheep through Ballymacarrett. One fled and the other was severely beaten.
Work has finished on the new Seaman’s Chapel in Pilot Street which was erected by the committee of the Bethel Union.
A new Wesleyan Chapel was opened in Frederick Street.
September 1837 It has been reported that three body snatchers have taken up residence in the town from Scotland. The public have been informed to watch over graves as the three are now engaged in that profession. They have taken up residence around May’s Market.
William Hanna, a coal trimmer on board the steamer Rapid, was discovered sitting on the coals near the boiler quite dead. When last seen he was in a state of intoxication.
October 1837 The corpse of a man named Sturgeon, a weaver belonging to Ballymacarrett, was discovered in the River Blackstaff below the Cromac Bridge.
A meeting was held at 7 o’clock of the subscribers of the Ulster Female Penitentiary at the Rev Morgan’s Meeting House in Fisherwick Place.
A fire destroyed the premises of Mr Jones, a baker, grocer and spirit dealer, in Millfield.
A malicious and wanton outrage occurred in the Botanic Gardens when one or several ruffians, not yet discovered, cut and carried off a number of rare and valuable trees. This unprovoked depredation may be considered an outrage on the public of the town.
A meeting was held in the board room of the Poor House by the Belfast Charitable Society. The discussion was on obtaining a further water supply for the benefit of the towns inhabitants.
Mr John Campbell, a respectable tallow-chandler in John Street, met a sudden and most excruciating death. His soap boiling works are immediately in the rear of his shop and dwelling house. His children noticed that one of the large soap pans was boiling over and searched for their father but soon discovered that, to their surprise, he could not be found. Search was immediately made and the first person who looked into the large vessel of boiling liquid discovered his body almost boiled to a jelly. Mr Campbell has left a widow and seven children to mourn his premature and horrible death.
The Belfast Theatre opened for the winter season. November 1837
July 1837 The annual meeting of the Belfast Institution was held. A meeting was also held by the Belfast Committee for the Relief of the Distressed Poor. At this it was ascertained that upward of £460 had been expended leaving a balance of only £149. Because the sum is inadequate the poor of the town will be left in the extremist destitution.
It was reported that the first tea party of the Belfast Total Abstinence Society was held in the Lancastrian School in Frederick Street. It has also been reported that a dreadful robbery occurred at the brewery in Smithfield and a sum of money taken.
The Belfast Quarter Sessions the following sentences were imposed. Miles Conway, stealing ham, 12 months in the House of Correction. Bridget Loughrey, stealing two gowns, transported 7 years. John Cassidy and Charles Stewart, stealing a chemise, 12 months in jail and whipped three times. Thomas Ryan, stealing stockings, transported 7 years. Francis Harvey, stealing two grates, transported 7 years. George Warnock, assaulting a day constable, transported 7 years. This a the cripple who appears 65 times in the Black Book.
Ellen Brown and Ann Stitt, stealing a shawl, transported 7 years. George McCormick, Henry Green, John Cornwell and Eliza McKee, stealing from the dwelling house of John Rutherford in Donegall Pass one slice of bacon, transportation 14 years. Ann Murphy, stealing a shawl, transported 7 years. John Molony, stealing a handkerchief, transported 7 years.
At the County Antrim Assizes held in Carrickfergus a man from the town of Belfast named Little was returned to the Spring Assizes for the murder of his wife.
It has been reported that a boy aged fourteen years was drowned while bathing near the new bridge at Ballymacarrett.
At the Assizes the following sentences were imposed. John McAlister and John Ward, burglary, death John McClean, highway robbery, death Russell Abbott and Alexander Park, highway robbery, death James McCloskey, larceny, transported 7 years James Granny, larceny, transported 7 years John Moore, cow stealing, transported for life Edward Murphy, sheep stealing, transported for life John Downey, stealing a bullock, transported for life James McVeigh, stealing a cow, transported for life
Mr Gallaher arrived in Belfast for a number of performances on ventriloquism
A riot occurred on Donegall Quay when the steamer Rapid was about to sail to Glasgow with a load of potatoes. People of the poorer classes attacked the ship and dispersed on the arrival of the police.
A fire destroyed McRiley’s Veterinary Establishment in Chichester Street.
The body of James Bruce of Brown Square was found hanging from a tree at the Blackstaff.
August 1837 After the recent Belfast election it was reported in the London Standard that there occurred ‘dreadful rioting in Belfast.’ With the exception of a few minor skirmishes the election had mainly passed of peacefully.
Workmen fixing a roof in Caddell Entry left a ladder unsecured with the result being it knocked over by a dray. It struck a young man named McCann and when he was taken up he was not quite dead but so dreadfully injured that he expired while being conveyed to the hospital.
A man was found walking in a state of nudity at Forest Hill with several wounds to his person. He stated that his name is James Gibbon and that he was attacked. However, the surgeon who attended him, the master of the Poorhouse and the police have every reason to believe he attempted to commit suicide.
The Belfast Harvest Fair was held. A great number of horses were exhibited but the majority of them were of an inferior description.
It has been reported that extensive and daring robberies have been perpetrated in town with the following houses having been broken into. Professor Cairns, College Square Mr Arthur Hamill, Falls Road Mr William Gray, Wellington Place Dr McCluney, Chichester Street Through the active exertions of some of the constables nine fellows of infamous character have been apprehended.
It has been reported that two women, mother and daughter, residing in one of the courts off North Street, were burned in a manner so shocking by their bed taking fire. The latter died almost immediately after the calamity and the other lies in the Frederick Street hospital without any hope of recovery. Two boys from Hercules Street were attacked by a group of blackguards while driving sheep through Ballymacarrett. One fled and the other was severely beaten.
Work has finished on the new Seaman’s Chapel in Pilot Street which was erected by the committee of the Bethel Union.
A new Wesleyan Chapel was opened in Frederick Street.
September 1837 It has been reported that three body snatchers have taken up residence in the town from Scotland. The public have been informed to watch over graves as the three are now engaged in that profession. They have taken up residence around May’s Market.
William Hanna, a coal trimmer on board the steamer Rapid, was discovered sitting on the coals near the boiler quite dead. When last seen he was in a state of intoxication.
October 1837 The corpse of a man named Sturgeon, a weaver belonging to Ballymacarrett, was discovered in the River Blackstaff below the Cromac Bridge.
A meeting was held at 7 o’clock of the subscribers of the Ulster Female Penitentiary at the Rev Morgan’s Meeting House in Fisherwick Place.
A fire destroyed the premises of Mr Jones, a baker, grocer and spirit dealer, in Millfield.
A malicious and wanton outrage occurred in the Botanic Gardens when one or several ruffians, not yet discovered, cut and carried off a number of rare and valuable trees. This unprovoked depredation may be considered an outrage on the public of the town.
A meeting was held in the board room of the Poor House by the Belfast Charitable Society. The discussion was on obtaining a further water supply for the benefit of the towns inhabitants.
Mr John Campbell, a respectable tallow-chandler in John Street, met a sudden and most excruciating death. His soap boiling works are immediately in the rear of his shop and dwelling house. His children noticed that one of the large soap pans was boiling over and searched for their father but soon discovered that, to their surprise, he could not be found. Search was immediately made and the first person who looked into the large vessel of boiling liquid discovered his body almost boiled to a jelly. Mr Campbell has left a widow and seven children to mourn his premature and horrible death.
The Belfast Theatre opened for the winter season. November 1837