1916 May 6. The Round House.

I have just been up to see old William Clayton, Harboro’ Road, who helped pull down the Old Round House to ask what it was built of and he at once said bricks, it had also a brick roof with a ball on the top and that the bricks were carted up old Margets Yard (Saturday May 6^th 1916. J. E. Smith.)

Mr. Jonathan Austin told me the same that it was built of bricks, with a brick roof.

Mr. Michael Mason, presented the Chestnut tree in the centre of the green and Mr. John Odell Whitehead planted it before Oct. 30^th. 1853.

Mrs. Mary Whitehead buried 1865. Oct 22^nd aged 83. (Church register)

John Odell Whitehead buried October 30^th 1853 aged 56. His name is crossed out in register. No clergyman signed his name.

“The Stock” C.V.  Psalms.

17^th verse. But he has sent a man before them, even Joseph who was sold to be a bond-servant.

18^th verse. Whose FEET they hurt in the STOCKS, the iron entered into his soul.

Old Mrs. Margetts told me on Sunday June 18^th 1916 that she remembered the Old Round House & that it stood a little nearer the front than the tree does, she thinks it was a stone building with a thatched roof, & that it had a great big lock.

Rushden “The Round House.”

Mr. Sargeant Knight, son of the late Ebenezer Knight says that he remembers the Round House, about where the chestnut tree stands.

The ‘stocks’ were at the apex and the whipping post was part of the same structure as the stocks. Chestnut tree planted in 1861 a few years after the Round House was demolished according to an entry in the notebook of Ebenezer Knight. An old inhabitant William Clayton, helped to pull down the Round house; still lives in Harborough Road. Harry Wright (does it mean Knight).

(My notes on Round House follows the above in Rushden Argus dated Friday April 28^th 1916, page 8, 2 columns. Joseph Enos Smith, Rushden.)

Another writer says that the Round House stood about 10 to 12 feet inside the railings on Green just opposite Church gates, the old stocks stool about 10 feet away, south. He remembers the Old Poste standing, Turnpike was narrow then and about 10 feet of the green thrown into it.

He remembers the Old Iron Gates of Spinney Gardens being taken off, the gates about six or seven feet square and heavy, they were put on the roof of Round house, on Mop Pail day. The ‘Pound’ was on the green & kept by Parker & charge 4d. If damage done by cattle they had to pay expenses too.

From “Argus” dated April 28^th 1916. (All this page - I have cutting from paper)

1916   The Round House.  July 1

Old Mr. George Garley says that the Round House was built of brick & if it stood on the Green now (1916 July 1), the tree, Chestnut would almost cover it. He says the stocks were in front of the Round House, opposite church gates, he also says that the Round House was very full of prisoners, one morning & someone called him up to go down and see but when he arrived the prisoners were gone, the blacksmith having drawn the staple and let the lock off, but he got into great trouble through it & was  summonsed.  Garley says he has been inside the Round House scores of times. He also says that Michael Mason presented the Chestnut tree (on Green in centre). William Clayton dug the hole & John Odell Whitehead planted it.

Whitehead died in 1853 so that is settled fairly well & position of Round House, but some says the stocks were at the corner of green near Skinners the butchers – (it says on page 75 of my notes that John Odel Whitehead was buried Oct 30^th 1853 aged 56)

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Mr. Adam Ginns died Sunday evening July 27^th 1929 at Wellingborough.

Service at church with choirboys & Scott & Parker at 2.30 Thursday Jany 31^st 1929.

I played “I know that my redeemer liveth” Psalm 24, 277  “Nearer my God” 200 “Lo... … … & … .

Nunc Dimitus & Fisher [sang out]

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1831 Nov 26  -  Rushden (an old man)

There is now living at Rushden an old man, aged 85, hale & strong, who has worked hard all his life and drank hard and to use our informants words, feels none the worse for it.  He was left a widow 35 years ago with 9 children, all living, seven of them have 7 children, the aged veteran to this day wears the same coat in which he was married 60 years ago.

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1831    Dec 24.  John Ager of Rushden (From Northampton ‘Herald’ dated Mar 26 1831)

For two calendar months unless the sum of £1.13.4 is sooner paid for breaking windows & shutters of Henry Baker of Rushden.

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1832. Rushden -  Mr. Whiting’s ‘mare’   (‘Herald’ Feb 18^th 1832)

To be sold 5 year old mare, nearly full blood in foal to Cricketer, perfectly gentle, will carry a lady.  Particulars to Mr. Whiting at “Coach & Horses” Rushden.                              

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1832.  Chief Constable of Rushden. (from Herald dated 1832. April)

Death on the 4^th of April 1832, suddenly at Wollaston, aged 67  Mr. Joseph Walker, a respectable farmer & grazier and Chief Constable of The Hundred of Higham Ferrers.  (Rushden being in the Hundred of Higham, he would be head of this place. J.E.Smith)

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           Thomas Campion.  Rushden.

Land in Rushden, late in the tenure of William Blossom.

                         John Gobby,  Acorn Rise, Sawtry. Cambs.

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The Old Church Clock’s appeal.

Why am I doom’d to rust away, in silence & neglect?
I ought to tell the hours of day, in striking loud effect,
But now I’m hid from all the world in this dark dreary place,
I really think my lot is hard, & hard too in my case.

I know there’s many blunders made all through my silent state,
Some rise too early in the morn, and others very late,
But set me going once again, my striking voice would shout,
“Ye would be early ones may stay, ye lazy drones turn out.”

The farmers man I often think, must now be in a fix,
He might start off to work by five, when thinking it was six,
And then he might go on at night if no right-time is given.
Through me not striking, he might strike, but not till it was seven.

’Tis just as bad for those in trade, ye men who deal in leather,
Know that your hands go struggling in but seldom altogether,
There’s Colsons men sometimes too soon, & Cave’s are often late,
And Denton’s all are out of tune, thro this my quiet state.

Those who should work nine hours a day, do nearer relish ten,
I’m sure the numbers very small among the best of men,
Then men, lest ye should work too long, subscribe to put me back
And, masters, lest they work to short, put me on my old track.

My Rushden friends, who long to hear the tones so many like,
All know I never work so hard as where I am to strike,
But if I am to silence doomed, I’ll tell you very plain,
I hope some Squire and Parson both may be too late for train.

Then men who live in houses large, ye men who live in small,
Now ‘put your shoulder to the wheel’ I now appeal to all
You leather men, & farmers too, your hearts & purse unlock,
And send me striking, striking on, so pleads your old church clock.
                         

(From page 7 ‘Mercury’ dated ---)

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1875 Rushden. (From Northampton Mercury, dated Saturday June 5^th 1875, page 7, 2^nd column.)

The Church.  Mr. J. E. Smith of Stanwick and for some time past organist of Souldrop Church, Beds has been appointed organist at Rushden Church and entered upon his duties last Sunday. (I was organist at Souldrop from March 1873, until May, Trinity Sunday (also Souldrop Feast)

1875. I commenced at Rushden Church the very next Sunday, without any holiday or gap.  (Joseph Enos Smith)

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1869.  Ecclesiastical Sales & Exchanges (Copied from Northampton Mercury dated June 26^th 1875, p7, col 3, bottom of page. Copied here Thursday April 27^th 1916.)

On the 23^rd of March 1869, the—Advowson—of Rushden,. Northamptonshire with a population of 2,122 and gross annual value of £386, with an incumbent aged 42 was sold for £2.400 to the Rev. J. T. Barker.

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1805 Rushden & Chas. Drawbridge.

Chas Drawbridge, the Baptist preacher at Wellingborough & Rushden.

Mr. Drawbridge was born in the borough of Southwark, on June 15^th 1805, three months before the Battle of Trafalgar. Educated at the School of St. Mary Overy and was apprenticed to a grocer. At an early age he commenced preaching around London, his first sermon being delivered in Waterloo Road, in 1823.

During his itinerary his visited Raunds and from there was invited to preach for the Rushden Old Baptists at the “Top Meeting” afterwards he was invited to preach at Succoth Strict Baptist Church.  At the age of 21 he accepted the pastorate of the latter Church. The church prospered again & again.  In 1864 the present chapel was built & opened by the Rev. James Wells, of Surrey Tabernacle. Whilst holding the pastorate of Rushden chapel, he was for a time evening Lecturer at Zoar Chapel, Wellingborough.

He married Miss Ann Dulley, daughter of William Dulley of Wellingborough, founder of the firm of William Dulley & Sons.  He had one daughter Dorothy Mary, who married Mr. G. R. Mather, engineer of Cambridge, at Wellingborough. Lived for the most part at Wellingborough, & drove to Rushden to preach, he continued the duties for 40 years, never missed on Sunday through incapacitation, an able  preacher. In doctrine Calvinistic, became mentally affected in autumn of 1867,   

He died in 1871 aged 66, buried in the Old Cemetery at Wellingborough. A tablet in Succoth Chapel: This tablet is erected as a mark of esteem by the members & congregation of this chapel.

From the Rushden “Argus” paper dated Friday October 27^th 1911. Special paper on Wellingborough & its history.