Chronological Retrospect of the History of Yarmouth and Neighbourhood from A.D. 46 to 1884. William Finch-Crisp
Table of Contents
Aldermen’s wives compelled to wear velvet hats up to this date, when the ordinance was annulled.
1637.
Thirty-four brewing-houses in Yarmouth.
1639.
Miles Corbet, Esq., re-elected, with Edward Owner, Esq., as members of Parliament.
The East and West Flegg granted to the family of Cornwallis.
1642.
Oct. 12th. A ship, with 140 armed soldiers on board, through stress of weather, put into Yarmouth port; she was seized by the townsmen, and her crew and soldiers imprisoned on behalf of the Parliament.
1642.
Sept. Earl of Warwick, Lord High Admiral, visited Yarmouth, and was entertained by the Corporation.
Dec. 23rd. A rate of £1,200 assessed upon the inhabitants for the fortifications.
The town collected £136 for the relief of distressed subjects in Ireland.
1643.
Feb. Lord Grey of Werke required Yarmouth to send 80 dragoons to Cambridge.
1644.
The number of “tippling-houses” increased to 80, besides great inns and taverns; and in 1705 augmented to 120.
Letters between Yarmouth and London only passed once a week.
Twenty Iceland fishing barques belonging to Yarmouth merchants taken by pirates, only three escaping.
1645.
Additional fortifications made. Breastworks and platforms built at the seaside, and ordnance mounted on them.
The Earl of Lauderdale visited Yarmouth, and was sumptuously entertained at the town’s expense.
1648.
Sep. 9th. Lord Fairfax marched into Yarmouth, and the town was converted into a garrison.
Three men-of-war ships sent to convoy the fishers and guard the coast.
The Burgesses raised 600 foot and 50 horse soldiers, in lieu of having other forces marched into the town to do garrison duty.
1649.
Four Aldermen and 16 Common Councillors resigned office in the Corporation; 6 were afterwards reinstated.
1650.
The Puritans removed a fine old organ from St. Nicholas’ Church.
The Presbyterians made a doorway in the north wall of the Parish Church, and opened the north aisle of the chancel for public worship.
1651.
Up to this date prayer was always used before the commencement of public business.
1652.
Admiral Blake sent several ships to Yarmouth, which he had captured from the Dutch.
Dr. Thomes Soame died. He was the son of a fisherman at Yarmouth, but related to a wealthy family of the same name at Burnham. He lived in the reign of Charles I., and having entered holy orders he became minister of Staines in Middlesex, and Prebendary of Windsor. During the civil wars he was so zealously attached to Royalty that he sent all he had to the King, so that when the rebels came to plunder him he had nothing, for which he was imprisoned, first in Newgate, and afterwards in the Fleet Prison, where he died.
1653.
June 6th. Yarmouth sent 5 members to the “Little” Parliament summoned by Cromwell. Resigned Dec. 12th.
Aug. 29th. General Monk granted a warrant to free Yarmouth fishermen from being pressed into the service of the State.
Lord Henry, youngest son of Oliver Cromwell, High Steward of the Borough.
1653–4.
Norfolk sent ten members to Parliament.
1654.
Dec. 16th. Oliver Cromwell proclaimed in the Market Place Protector of the Commonwealth of the United Kingdom.
Colonel William Goffe and Thomas Dunne, Esq., were elected Burgesses to Parliament by 3 Aldermen and 26 Common Councilmen.
1656.
William Burton and C. G. Cock, Esqs., elected to Parliament.
1659.
W.