From the Kentish Gazette, Friday 22 March, 1793.

CLUB AND CHOICE SPIRITS.

"Old Par's head," City of Rochester.

At a meeting of this Club, on Saturday the 16th March, 1793, the following Resolutions were unanimously entered into:-

1st Resolution, that the sum of Ten Pounds be transferred by the Treasurer of this Society, out of their Fund to the Society Instituted at the "Crown and Anchor" in the Strand, who may die or be killed in his Majesty's service during the war.

2nd Resolved, that the same be inserted in the Kentish Gazette, Kentish Chronicle, and Maidstone Journal, and signed by the Chairman of this Meeting.

W. Gillman, Chairman.

Rochester, March 18, 1793.

Kentish Gazette, 4 March, 1806.

DEATH.

A few days since Mr. W. Ashenden, aged 63 many years Master of the "Old Parr's Head," Rochester.

From the Kentish Gazette, 11 March 1845.

Fire at Rochester and Loss of Life.

On Saturday morning last, about half-past eleven o'clock, a fire was discovered at a house situate in Saint Clement's-lane, in this city, commonly called Horse Wash-lane, by smoke issuing from the window of a chamber in the occupation of a waterman, named Edward Macpherson.

The house was occupied by three distinct families. In the lower part resided a family named Gratwich; and on being informed of a quantity of smoke pouring out of an up-stairs’ window, Gratwich went up stairs, and on entering the apartment he found a cradle blazing on the right of the fire-place, in which there was a small fire. With much presence of mind he threw a mat on to the cradle, which had the effect of smothering the flames. He then pulled out from the cradle a child which was dead, the head and shoulders of which were burnt nearly to a cinder. In the room was also another child, that was nearly suffocated.

The fire had taken hold of the wood work round the chimney place and was burning furiously. With assistance and a plentiful supply of water, it was extinguished.

There was standing in the room about two feet from the foot of the cradle, a bed used by the parents. It appears that the mother that morning had gone out on an errand, leaving her infant, three months old, named William John, in the cradle asleep, and her little girl, two years old, in the room. Before she left the room there were two napkins hanging on the fender; and to prevent any accident she removed them, and placed one on each side of it. The napkin nearest to the cradle, by some means, took fire and set light to the cradle. She left her girl sitting at the window.

Mrs. Macpherson was absent from her room about a quarter of an hour. Mr. James Lewis, the city coroner, held an inquest on the infant, at two o'clock on Monday, at the "Parr's Head" public-house, Parr's Head-lane.

The Jury, after hearing the evidence of John Gratwich, and the mother of the unfortunate child, returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

Some of the Jury stated they had known the mother for years, and they always knew her to be a respectable, well-behaved, and sober woman. The poor woman, in giving her evidence, was much distressed in mind at the calamitous event.

Kentish Gazette, 19 April 1853.

COUNTY COURT.

(Before J, Espinusse, Esq., Judge.)

In Re Thomas Rolfe, formerly of Crow-lane, Rochester, grocer's assistant, &c.; then of the "Parr's Head," Parr's Head-lane, St. Nicholas, Rochester, licensed victualler, &c.; and then and late of No. 20, Queen-street, St. Margaret's, Rochester, out of business and employ. Mr. Dowse, barrister, appeared in support of the insolvent. Mr. Knowles King, solicitor (instructed by Messrs. Leney), opposed on the ground of undue preference.

To be discharged when he had been imprisoned for the space of six months from the date of his meeting order.