Thursday, 6 July 2017

DEATH OF AN OLD NORTHWICHIAN

Very exciting news today – findmypast has just uploaded The Northwich Guardian newspaper.  We have many Palins that lived in that surrounding area in our family tree.   There were 1378 articles listed when I did a general Palin search, so who knows what I may come across.

Today’s article comes from May 19, 1910.  I have uploaded a scanned image of the article, but it is hard to read and so the transcript follows.


DEATH OF AN OLD NORTHWICHIAN

A Prominent Wesleyan Methodist

Mr. John Palin Passes away at 80

By the death of Mr. John Palin, which occurred on Thursday last week at his residence in Beeston Street, Castle, Northwich, there has passed away one of the stalwarts of Wesleyan Methodism in the Northwich circuit.  The deceased gentleman, who was 80 years of age, had the distinction of being, perhaps, the oldest member of London Road Wesleyan Church,, having been a continuous member since the year 1874.  He belonged to an old Methodist family, and it is a noteworthy fact that his grandfather went from Northwich to Widnes and started the Wesleyan cause there, the services being held for some time in his house. 
The deceased worked for many years as a flatman on the River Weaver, and in his early days it was quite a common thing for flatmen to wear knee breeches and buckled roes.  They formed at that time a very important section of the community, and their resting pace was usually the Town Bridge.  They used to assemble there in such large numbers that pedestrians had to take the middle of the road, when passing to and from across the bridge.
The last Mr. Palin remembered the days of bull baiting at Northwich and he often spoke about the time when such hard winters were experienced that the river Weaver was frozen up for so long a period of nine, ten and eleven weeks.  Old Northwich worthies of the type of Mr. Palin are being removed one after another and his death means the severance of another link in the chain that binds the Northwich of today with that of sixty or seventy years ago.
The late Mr. Palin’s sister acted in the capacity of chapel keeper for the old Independent Chapel that was formally at the bottom of Winnington Hill, and continued in that position for some time after the opening of the beautiful church in Castle.  She was prominently identified with the Congregational church for more than half a century and died at the age of 83.
The deceased had been ailing for some time past and thought the end was not unexpected, his death was nevertheless deeply mourned by numerous relative and friends.

The Funeral
The remains of the deceased were laid to rest in Witton church yard on Sunday afternoon.  A short service was conducted at the house by the Rev. J. Irvin, pastor of Landon Road Wesleyan Church and the revering gentleman also officiated at the graveside.  Amongst those who attended were the widow, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Palin of Cheetham, Manchester, son and daughter-in-law; Mr. John Palin and Mr. Robert Palin, sons; Mr. G. Egerton, son-in-law; Mr. W. Palin Hulse and Mr. Joseph Hulse stepsons; Mr. W Egerton grandson; Mr. John W. Palin, Mr. Alfred Palin, Mr. J Howard and Mr. J Bryon, nephews; Mr. J. Cross, Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. T. Mills, Mrs. J Hulse, Mrs. W. Walton, Mrs. T. Noden and Mrs. J. Howard.
A deputation of officials and members of the Wesleyan body were also present, including Messrs. W. Platt, H. Platt, G. Wilkinson, C. Bratt, A. Eaton, T. Eaton, J. Davenport, G. Mills and Worrall.
Floral tributes were forwarded by relative and sympathizing friends.  These included a large artificial wreath from the widow and family, wreaths from Mr. R.W. Palin, Mr. J.W. Palin, and Mrs. Walton, a harp from Mr. and Mrs. J. Hulse, wreath from Mr. and Mrs. Howard, spray of flowers from Baby Evelyn, the deceased’s only granddaughter and a wreath from the members of the Wesleyan Society to which the deceased belonged.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Crawford and Hulse.




fyi - I had to lookup what exactly Bull-baiting was.  As per Wikipedia  Bull-baiting was not only practised as a form of recreation. In early modern England, many towns had by-laws regulating the sale of meat, which stipulated that bulls' flesh should be baited before any bull was slaughtered and put on sale. It was believed that baiting improved the flesh. These laws continued in operation during the eighteenth century. By the early nineteenth century, they were starting to die out, mainly because the baiting caused a public nuisance rather than because of new ideas about animal cruelty




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