Above photo, date unknown, kindly sent by Jason Kemsley.

Above photo, showing the 1847 Queen Victoria's Coronation Flask supplied by Patty Braddy, landlady of the "Britannia." Kindly sent by John Ault.

Above photo showing the rear base of the flask, kindly sent my John Ault.

From an unknown paper, circa 1830.

GRAVESEND.

Fatal Practical Joke.

An inquest was held on Saturday last, at the Town Hall, before C. J. Carttar, Esq., on the body of Thomas Reamer.

The first witness examined was a man named Tailor, a waterman, who said he was at the Britannia, public house, in company with William Casson (who is engaged in one of the prevention vessels, and had taken some prize money), and who was treating Reamer, came in and called for half a pint of beer. They were drinking Scotch ale. Capon gave Reamer a glass, which he drank, and went out; and something was put into his glass of ale. Witness did not know what. He was at the other end of the table. He (Reamer said, "You have put spirits in it.” They said it was not. He took the glass and said, “here goes,” and drank it off.

Juror:— How much do you think he drank?

Witness:— I think about three pints; he afterwards had a glass of rum, and then some more ale.

Miffing, a waterman, was next examined. He spoke to the same effect as the first; but said it was the brandy put in the ale.

Jessup, the acting landlord, said he knew nothing about the ale — he was in the cellar; but he served a quartern of brandy.

Mrs. Braddy, the landlady, said she served four pints of ale.

A Juror (to Tailor):— Did you see anything the matter with deceased?

Witness:— I saw he could not sit on the seat. I went up to him, and saw he was black round his mouth. I laid him on the floor, and put a charpet under his head, and sent for a doctor who gave him a powder, and we look him home.

Juror:- Do you think what he drank caused him to be ill?

Witness:— I think it did; he lived very badly, having a large family and could get nothing to eat. I believe he has been half starved all the winter.

The inquest was then adjourned till Wednesday.

When the adjourned inquest was held in the Town Hall, Mr. Dunn, assistant to Doctor Saunders, was examined, who said he was sent to the "Britannia" public house, about Wednesday fortnight, where he saw the deceased lying on the floor, in a state of insensibility I believed he had been drinking; gave him a powder, and he was removed home he was not sensible for nearly two days. I attended him till he died, which was on the Wednesday following. Treated him as having inflammation in the stomach. Have since opened the body, and found the stomach very much inflamed, and injured, likewise the abdomen was much inflamed.

Juror:— Do you think the inflammation in the stomach was caused by what deceased had drank?

Witness:— I cannot tell; inflammations proceed from various causes. If it did not cause the inflammation, it very much aggravated it.

Juror:— What is your opinion as to the deceased’s death?

Witness:— Inflammation in the stomach.

The Coroner then said:— "Gentlemen, there is no evidence of any violence having been used to cause the deceased’s death, neither is there evidence that the deceased refused, and was forced to drink the ale and brandy. It is for you to consider how deceased came by his death.”

The Jury retired for about half an hour, and returned a verdict of "Died from inflammation in the stomach and not from any violence from any person.”

They wished the coroner to make known to William Capon, who gave him the liquor, that the jury censured him in the strongest possible terms, for giving the deceased the brandy and ale, likewise all that assisted him. The Coroner promised it should be done, and quite agreed with them in their verdict and censure.

A correspondent says, Mr. Arnold. the officer, who attends upon the coroner said to the jury, “This inquest was called for by the parish officers to exonerate Mrs. Braddy from any charge respecting Reamer's death." We are sorry the parish officers fall so short of their duty. If that is the only motive for calling an inquest, we may suppose if Mrs. Braddy had not in some way been concerned, there would have been no inquest at all.

Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, Monday 15 January 1866.

Gravesend Single Accident.

On Sunday morning last as a young man, named George R. Harley, about 22 years of age, employed as pot man at the "Britannia Inn," was engaged in his duties in Bath Street, between 10 and 11 o'clock, he accidentally slipped off the curb-stone and fell into the roadway. Some persons passing went to his assistance, when it was discovered that one of his legs was broken. A stretcher was immediately procured, and the unfortunate man was at once conveyed to the infirmary, and Dr. Hind being soon in attendance, he received every attention, and is now progressing as favourably as can be expected.

From an email received 26 November 2016.

John Braddy (1782-1834) had the pub until 1834 when he died.

His will was proved on 22 December 1834 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury and he willed the pub and all its contents to his wife Patty should she choose to run it and, if not, to his daughter, Sophia (1804-1871), should she choose to buy it - the proceeds to be used to support his widow.

The 1841 census shows Sophia's first husband James Goodhugh Jessup, whom she married in 1824, as the Licensed Victualler.

After his death in 1843 she continued in her own right.

In 1855 she married Charles Pannell, the 3rd victualler in your list.

James Goodhugh Jessup was a cordwainer prior to John Braddy's death so not a licensed victualler. No idea about Charles Pannell.

Vivian Warren.