USK OBSERVER 1858
Actual date unknown – probably Spring 1858.
PONTYPOOL
WESLEYAN TEA PARTY. – The friends and members of the Welsh Wesleyan Society held a tea meeting on Monday evening last, at which about 500 sat down to partake of the cheering and invigorating comforts set before them. After tea, an adjournment took place to the British School Room, when the more intellectual part of the proceedings commenced. Mr. Ellis, house agent, was called to the chair, and stated that the tea meeting had been held for the purpose of liquidating the debt on their place of worship, and he was happy to find the exertions of their brethren had been found so successful. Mr. Morgan, minister of the chapel, Mr. John Morgan, scriptural reader. Mr. Rees Rees, Glascoed, Mr Morgan, Tabernacle, and other friends delivered very pleasing and suitable addresses. Before the meeting separated Mr. Rees Rees said that he had a piece of information to communicate to his friends, which he hoped they would receive in a favourable manner, and that was, that the birds had made such havoc in the roof of the chapel at Glascoed, that he thought the only way would be to have a new one, which he thought of obtaining by holding a tea meeting. The speaker trusted his friends would take the hint and encourage him in his undertaking. Mr. Smith, in acknowledging a vote of thanks proposed to him for the loan of the school, said he should be happy to accommodate them at any time, and concluded a humourous and eloquent address amid marks of approbation. Votes of thanks were given to the ladies for providing the tea, and to the chairman for his excellent services, after which the company separated.
SATURDAY 24th APRIL 1858
SMALL POX.
To the Editor of the “Usk Observer.”
SIR,- Will you allow your paper to be the medium of communication to the inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood respecting the disease which forms the heading of this letter? To some it is already known, but to others not, that the small pox is making rapid strides through all parts of the country. As the public vaccinator for this district, I think I am justified in directing the attention of parents and others to the necessity of warding off, if possible, such a severe and loathsome disease. Four persons have only just got over an illness of that sort in this town, and the disease is still in a neighbouring parish, one case ending fatally yesterday morning through no medical assistance having been obtained. The weather is unusually hot for the time of the year, and should it continue so, and the disease spread, we may reasonably expect it to assume a severe character; therefore, under such circumstances, I draw the attention of all classes to the importance of, and necessity for, vaccination. Even person who have already been vaccinated, would do well, if many years have elapsed, to have the operation repeated, as all the four cases before alluded to as occurring in Usk have arisen after a previous vaccination. If any farmer in the neighbourhood of Usk could furnish me with some lymph from a cow having the pock, I should be glad, because such lymph is far more satisfactory for the vaccine success. All that is required is to open the vesicle constituting the pock, and to place the lymph on two pieces of glass, and apply the two wet surfaces together, and when dry they will adhere.
I am, Sir, yours truly,
HENRY GREATWOOD
Usk, April 26, 1858. Surgeon..
(Dates don’t seem to tally with the published date I had – either the newspaper’s or my error!!)
SATURDAY JUNE 19th, 1858.
Court case (“Petty Sessions”?)
Thomas Hickey, Glascoed, Shoemaker, v. Edward Jones, Glascoed, labourer, claim £2 10 6 for rent, judgment for £1 16 5. To pay forthwith.
SATURDAY JULY 3rd, 1858.
LLANBADDOCK.—William Jones, for stealing a shirt the property of John Williams, Glascoed, and a knife belonging to James Morgan, Llanbaddock.—Bill ignored on first charge and acquitted on second.
SATURDAY JULY 24, 1858.
USK.
TOWN HALL. FRIDAY.
[Before G. R. G. RELPH and S. CHURCHILL, Esquires and the Reverend W. Evans.]
ASSAULT.- James Blakemore was charged by Walter Thomas, the younger, with assaulting him.
GLASCOED.- Henry Morgan appeared and pleaded guilty to committing assaults on James Williams, on the 12th instant. The parties were farm labourers together, and the complainant worked on the farm for defendant’s mother, and in consequence of some disagreement the assaults were committed by the defendant, who is a very powerful man. The bench in a very kind manner remonstrated with the defendant on his conduct, and let him off on paying 21s. fine and 10s. 6d. costs, on a promise that he would not offend again.
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WEBMASTER’s NOTE: I would imagine that the most likely people involved in this dispute would be the Morgan family of Little/Middle Wernhere (Head of family Elizabeth and son Henry) - and their next door neighbour in the following census of 1861, James Williams, the wood cutter. James was the eldest son of the Beech Farm Williams family. The men were of a similar age, lived next door to each other and were the only ones of those names who appeared on the 1861 census who were of full age.
SATURDAY AUGUST 7th, 1858.
USK.
PETTY SESSIONS. FRIDAY.
RIDING WITHOUT REINS. – William Rowlands, of Glascoed, was charged with being drunk and riding in a cart asleep, on the turnpike road, in the parish of Gwernesney, without reins, and not having any one in charge of the horse. Cautioned, and dismissed on paying 5s. costs.
NON-PAYMENT OF POOR’S RATE. – Edward Morgan, William Jacob, and William Stretton were summoned by the overseers of Glascoed for arrears of poor’s rate due. Defendants were ordered to pay the rate with expenses.
SATURDAY AUGUST 21st, 1858. (Also published 28th Aug).
Private notice from Front page of Usk Observer.
GAME NOTICE. – I hereby give notice, that all persons found TRESPASSING after this notice on the Lands or Woods of the GWERN HIR ESTATE, in the parishes of Glascoed and Llanbaddock, whether in Pursuit of Game or on any other pretence whatever, will be prosecuted.
LEONARD REECE.
Gwern Hir, August 11th 1858.
It seemed to start a trend – also on the 28th August we find in the paper . . .
I HEREBY GIVE NOTICE, that every person found Trespassing on UPPER WERNHERE FARM, in pursuit of game or otherwise, will be dealt with as the law directs.
MARY MORGAN
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25th, 1858.
GLASCOED.—MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHAPEL.—On Wednesday week last, a public tea party was held in the above place of worship, where nearly 600 persons patronised the meeting with their presence. After the tea meeting was over, a public service was held in the open air, (the chapel being far too small for the accommodation of the audience,) over which the Rev. R. Rees, minister of the place, presided. Addresses were delivered by Messrs. D. V. Phillips, G. Llewellyn, T. Clark of Pontypool College, and Rev. M. Davies, Goytre. The addresses were all marked with earnestness, and adapted to the occasion.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 16th, 1858.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
Usk.
PETTY SESSIONS, FRIDAY, before S. CHURCHILL, and F. McDonnell, Esqrs., and Rev. W. EVANS.
APPLE-STEALING.—Temperance Rowlands and Mary Ann Rowlands (two little girls) were charged with stealing apples and trespassing on lands the property of Henry Watkins, at the Glascoed, on the 15th of September. The case was proved by the prosecutor, who saw the children in the orchard taking the apples. After a reprimand from the bench, the prisoners were dismissed on paying 6s. Costs.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 6, 1858.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE
USK
MONKSWOOD –- INQUEST. --- On Monday last an inquest was held at the Beaufort Arms Inn, before C.M. Ashwin, Esq., deputy coroner, on the body of Mr. William Morgan, of Glascoed common, who died under the following circumstances. On the preceding Friday he left his home and attended Usk fair. On returning in company with his nephew (Mr. John Lewis), when near the Beaufort Arms, about seven o’clock in the evening, he had occasion to alight from his horse, and in attempting to remount, he fell down and expired on the spot. Mr. Lewis obtained assistance, and had him conveyed to the Beaufort Arms. Deceased was sixty-eight years of age, and had been subject to paralytic fits for some time. After the above facts had been adduced in evidence, the jury consulted for a short time and returned a verdict of “died by the visitation of God.”
