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Extracts from the notebooks of J E Smith by Kay Collins 2007
Datestones & Notes by J E Smith

This list of datestones and other facts about Rushden were noted by
J E Smith (local historian and Church Organist) in about 1909. He had copied
many notes on the history of Rushden, between 1908 & 1919 in preparation for writing a book.

His 30 notes books are lodged at Northamptonshire Record Office with the Church Records.


Book
Page
 Notes *editorial note
272
2
 1607 date on chimney - old farm house - occupied by Mr Bird
 
2
 1608 date on old barn - Whittimore's farm - Bedford Road
 
2
 1642 date on stone in stable yard Rushden Hall - which came out of old cottages & schoolroom facing the green
 
3
 1661 date on grainary door - Bird's farm house, Duck Street
 
3
 1805 - a boy killed by lightening in Rushden
 
4
 1831 - Oct 31 - John Packwood died - Parish clerk 16 years
 
4
 1843 - 17 Feb F U Sartoris came to Rushden
 
4
 1870/1 Rectory built
 
4
 1862 Joseph Packwood died Dec 9 - parish clerk 31 years
 
4
 1876 - April 14 - very deep snow - Good Friday
 
4
 1876 - Nov 30 - Toll gate on Bedford Road taken down
 
4
 1878 - Choral Society formed - Mr Warren conductor
 
5
 1877 - Trumpet stop added to Rushden Church organ May 24
 
5
 1879 - New Clock & Chimes by Gillett & Bland
 
6
 1880 - Oct 5 - A great flood at Rushden - water ran down High Street a foot deep.
 
6
 1881 - Mar 5 - foundation stone of Rushden Coffee Tavern
 
 
 1881 - Aug 14 - Rushden Band gained prize at Band Concert at Stanwick
 
 
 1881 - Extra line for goods at railway
 
 
 1882 - Mission built Higham Road
 
 
 1883 - Mr John Warren Schoolmaster N.S. resigned and Mr Ridpath appointed
 
7
 1883 - Infant School opened at Mission Room Higham Hill
 
 
 1887 - Jun 21 - Queen Victoria's Jubliee 1600 children had tea and 600 adults Meat Tea - Skinner's Field
 
 
 1888 - Sep 27 - Cemetery dedicated by Canon Barker - lovely bright day
 
8
 1890 Great Strike at Rushden
 
9
 1890 - Jun 12 - May Festival in aid of School building fund
 
10
 1891 - May Festival Procession headed by National School Band
 
 
 1891 - Fancy Fair Rushden House
 
11
 1892 Oct 08 Harvest Festival held for 1st time on weekday at R Church
 
12
 1893 Jun 15 Church Harmonic Society's picnic at Pavenham
 
 
 1893 Dec 04 Parachute Joe went up R Spire & put a flag on the weathercock.
 
13
 1894 Aug 01 Tenders received for St Peter's new church - Marriott's accepted - £770 (the first one)
 
15
 1898 Jun 15/16 First County Agricultural show at R - Wymington Road
 
17
 1736 Date on old Church Clock Rushden - now at Hargrave Church
 
 
 Parish Church re-opened after restoration cost £5000 - Feb 02 - a beautiful day
 
 
 1826 - population of Rushden - 1077 - 205 houses
 
18
 1861 Old Communion Table from Parish Church presented to St Peter's, now standing in North Chapel
 
 
 1875 April 25th - my birthday - played for first time at Rushden Church (trial Sunday)
 
 
 1875 Apr 28 Engaged as organist
 
 
 1875 May 23 Left Souldrop as organist
 
 
 1875 May 29 Practice for first time at Rushden Church
 
 
 1875 May 30 Commenced as organist at Rushden
 
 
 1875 Jun 05 Came to live at Rushden
 
19
 1900 Feb 22 I opened New Organ & gave recital at Independent Wesleyan Chapel - Thursday. Also composed a tune for the opening, set to words by John Mackness Choir Master.
 
 
 1900 Mar 01 News of Relief of Lady-smith - Elm trees planted between old ones in Churchyard
 
 
 1900 Mar 11 Fire at Mr Powell's photographer, Sunday 12pm
 
24
 1906 Sep 25 Stone laying at St Peter's - beautiful fine day
 
25
 1907 Dec 11 William Packwood died at Northampton Infirmary - clerk of parish
 
 
 1907 Dec 12 St Peter's large brick church opened by Bishop Glynn - very wet day
 
 
 1907 (no date) Second Agricultural Show at Rushden
 
 
 1908 Sep 27 to Oct 03 Magnificent weather from Sunday to Saturday - it was perfect, very hot, bright, clear, in fact summer weather.
 
44
 to 50 list of Incumbents of Rushden taken from Cole's History
273
 
 This book commenced in July 1909 by me, Joseph Enos Smith organist P Church Rushden, 22 Church Street.
 
*
 The book deals mostly with Church facts gleaned from several sources.
274
*
 Book Started 1909 - lists of churchwardens and oveseers etc. and extracts from the registers/accounts. (see Church records)
275
*
 Notes copied from Parish register and from various books at Peterborough Cathedral (p 5), notes from Higham Court Rolls. Also notes from Herbert Lack's Book 1910 "The Work & Workers of 100 years" of the Old Baptist Church, and from Cole's History 1838.
 
112
 Popular Biography - small book lent by Mr Payne - signed J Cole Sep 13 1839 - p12. John Baker of Rushden. What may be recorded as very remarkable in the life of John Baker an old shepherd, was that he lived 89 years and during their revolution, he never slept a single night out of his native village & the greatest distance he ever went from home was 15 miles. He died in December 1836.
 
75
 Notes from Cole's History of HF & R 1838.
Said of the Pembertons Galloping Goddard - furious state of driving, Swearing Robert - sad and distressing habit, Luring Lewis - attachment to falconry, Jerkin John - kind of waistcoat called a Jerkyn he used to wear.
 
63
 From Cole's History. April 12 1838 The Leeds Mail - up about half past 11pm down in the morning a quarter before 3. Peverel or Manchester coach - up about half past 2 in the morning, down same hour. Kettering up half past 10 in the morning, down 5 in the evening. (The people were in bed when the first two coaches went thro' Rushden but one old man told me he always used to watch the lights (from the coach) on the wall JES)
297
  

Charlie the Woolcomber - Monday July 3rd 1916 – Old Mr Joseph Darnell (opposite N Schools) told me this morning that there used to be a woolcomber’s shop in High Street South near where Chapman’s shop is: he was well known.
    1856 A Reading Room has just been established for the Farmers, Tradespeople and working classes. It is intended shortly to establish a Lending Library.
   

1908 Limerick won by Rev J C Dearden

“A Rushden man went on a spree
And returned in the morning at three
But his wife with a poker
Received the old joker

With a most striking welcome you see”
298 45

      “In the Fire Station is the old carved stone taken from the old houses which stood in the High Street where the present Co-op store stands”.

      “Further up on the left is Tythe Farm”.

Names of Fields in Rushden

I received the following on a Postcard from the Rev W G Croft of Greatworth Rectory, Northampton on Aug 29th 1916.

Mr Smith, Organist, 22 Church Street, Rushden.

In the will of Thomas Margetts senior of Rushden made 17 Feb 1586, contained in Book V fo.217 (1st Series) at Northampton, you will find almost a page full of Rushden field names. If you know this already, please pardon my troubling you with this P.C.

W G Croft
Greatworth Rectory
Northampton 23 August 1916
I had copied the will but it was very kind of him to send to me as I do not know the Rector. J E Smith.

Annual Tea Treat In Churchyard, Rushden

About the year 1850, I have been told by two old people who remember the Children’s Tea Treat being held in the Churchyard under the old Elm Trees close to the High Street & that it was supposed that the then Schoolmaster, Mr Phillips, caught a chill at that tea & died soon after.

The Rev Downe was Rector at that time. Old Mrs Brightwell told me that this on Wednesday, Sept 1 1915 when I was showing Mr & Mrs Brightwell round the church & I pointed out to her Mr Phillips’ stone.

J.E.S.

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