Kentish Gazette, Saturday 29 September 1781.

LOST. (Supposed to have been Stolen).

On Wednesday Evening, the 19th of September, From SHEERNESS HARBOUR.

A SKIFF, fifteen Feet Keel, seven Feet wide, painted Black and Yellow, with a bright Bottom, and has been in use about two years.

Whoever can give Information of the Boat to Mr. Darly, "Union Flag," Chatham or Mr. W. Wharton, Sheerness, shall be amply rewarded for their Trouble.

Canterbury Journal, Kentish Times and Farmers' Gazette 10 December 1836.

Dec 1st at Chatham, Mr. Vincer, of the "Union Flag."

Kentish Gazette, 10 December 1839.

Death of a Woman Unknown.

About 5 weeks ago a fine looking middle aged woman went into the "Union Flag" public house, Chatham, and inquired of the landlady, Mrs. Ward, if she could have a lodging. The answer was in the affirmative.

On Thursday morning last she gave birth to a full-grown female child. She seemed to be doing very well, and every comfort and attention was paid to her by the landlady that the circumstances of her case required; she however complained of pains in her back, and the landlady procured some medicine for her.

On Tuesday morning she went into a fit and instantly expired.

To a question which had been put to her by the landlady as to who she was and what was her name, she said she would not tell anyone; but be impressed she said her father's name was Ray, and was a captain of a collier in Cornwall, and she had a sister living in London.

After her death her boxes were searched and some letters were found, from her lover, whose name appears to be John Bullock, a private in the 56th company of the Royal Marines, and who is on board her Majesty's Ship Winchester, dated Portsen. In one of Bullock's letters it stated that if she (the deceased) would apply to his uncle, Mr. William Hay, Little Ponton, near Newark, Lincolnshire, she would be well-received - dated July 17th, 1839.

The marine directed his letters to Louisa Robinson, "Little George," Chatham, a public house. The poor woman was buried on Wednesday, in Chatham churchyard. The child is doing well, and is placed in the Union.

Kentish Gazette, 11 November 1851.

Brutal Assault and Robbery by Soldiers —

On Wednesday Stephen Wheatley, John Dover, and Donald Livingstone, private soldiers belonging to the Royal Marines, were brought before the county magistrates, severally charged with having, on the 25th ult., at Chatham, feloniously stolen from the person of George Brown, three half-crowns, two shillings, a knife, and tobacco box, and at the same time with beating and striking him.

The prosecutor is a labouring man belonging to Town Malling, and is at present in employ at the lime works at Cuxton. His appearance proved that he had been most shamefully treated in addition to being robbed, his face being cut in several places, and his frock bearing several marks of blood.

It appears that on Saturday night, the 25th October, he went into the "Union Flag" public-house, Chatham, at which time he was quite sober, and after partaking of a pot of beer with two other men, he left the tap-room to go into the back yard, and in the passage he met the prisoners, who followed him and asked him to buy a pair of shoes of one of them. He refused, however, telling them that if be did so he might be sent to Maidstone gaol, when one of the fellows aimed a violent blow at him, knocking him backwards over a stool, and whilst Dover caught him by his neckerchief and twisted it so tightly round his neck as almost to choke him, another of the party tore away his pocket, in which there was 8s. 6d. in silver. They then kicked and beat him most cruelly about the head and body, until his cries of " Murder” brought some one to his assistance. The cowards then made off, and the landlady (Mrs. Ward,) meeting one of them in the passage, held him by his side belt, and struggled to detain him, but he broke away and escaped. On going into the yard, Brown was found in the skittle ground, lying on his face, in a pool of blood, in a state of insensibility, and still bleeding, and near him there was a military stock and a shilling.

He was removed into the tap-room, when it was seen that he had several bruises about him, and from the effects of the ill-treatment he vomited blood.

About midnight the prisoners were brought to the "Union Flag," two of whom ordered beer, for which they gave in payment a half-crown and a shilling, the former of which was identified by Brown as his property, having a hole in it, and one which he had received in change at Cuxton. An escort was sent for from the barracks, and the prisoners given into custody, and on placing them in the guard room, Dover, it was observed, had his jacket unbuttoned and a red handkerchief tied loosely round his neck. The stock found in the skittle ground was shown to him, but he disowned it, and said he had lost his own in a fight with a man whom he bad beaten and kicked. The prisoners, it was stated, were sober at the time and fit or duty. On searching them 1s. 9d. was found upon Dover. and 6d. upon Livingstone, but no money upon the other prisoner. The side belts worn by the prisoners on the night of the robbery were each stained with blood, more particularly the one belonging to Dover. The knife belonging to the prosecutor, which was afterwards found in Chatham, was produced and identified, and the prisoners, who denied the charge, were committed for trial at the next assizes.

South Eastern Gazette, 2 October, 1860.

Wednesday. (Before the Rev. G. Davies and T. H. Day, Esq.)

John Jones, a private in the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was charged with stealing a brooch, the property of Harriet Mills. The robbery took place at the "Union Flag" public-house, Chatham, where the prosecutrix and another female lodged.

Mr.' Davies sentenced him to one month’s imprisonment, remarking that for a man to rob an unfortunate female was one of the most heartless acts that could be committed.