Kentish Gazette, Tuesday 1 December 1840.

We, the undersigned, being Landowners or duly authorised agent of Landowners, within the Parish of Sheldwich, in the county of Kent, whose interest is not less than one fourth part of the whole value of land subject to Tithes in the said Parish, do by this Notice in writing, under our hands, called a Parochial Meeting of Land-Owners and Tithe-Owners, within the limits of the said Parish, for the purpose of making an Agreement for the general Commutation of Tithes within the limits of the said Parish, pursuant to the provisions of an Act passed in the 6th and 7th years of the reign of his late majesty, intituled, "An Act for the Commutation of Tithes in England and Wales." And we do hereby also give notice, that such meeting will be held at the sign of the "Lion," near Badlesmere Lees, in the said Parish, on Monday, the 4th day of January next, at the hour of 11 in the forenoon.

Given under our hands this 7th day of December, 1840.

George John, Baron Sonds, by John Neame, his agent.

Charles Hilton, Thomas Grayling.

Faversham Gazette, 6 September, 1856.

SHELDWICH.

Some little excitement was caused in this village a few days since, upon a report that the death of a little child, named George Kirby, which took place on Monday, had been caused by neglect on the part of the mother. An inquest was held on Tuesday morning, at the "Red Lion," by Mr. Delasaux, and it will be seen by the evidence given, that no blame attaches to the mother whatever.

Isabella Spillett was the first witness called; she said that about two months ago she had seen deceased, who was then nearly two months old; he looked at that time healthy — like other children looked, but his mother could only suckle it with one breast. Some little time ago the mother had moved next door to the witness, and consequently she had frequent opportunities of observing the child from that time until its death. The mother of the deceased told her that she had taken the child to the doctor, who, directly he saw him, said that she had given him a cordial, which was true. Witness had also, on one or two occasions, seen the mother administer some cordial to the deceased. The mother did not ill-treat the child; she treated it as other mothers usually did.

Hannah Videon was then examined; but perhaps we ought to state, before giving this woman's evidence, it transpired in the course of the investigation that she had recently had a quarrel with the mother of the deceased, and was not, therefore, perhaps altogether free from bias. Her statement was to the effect that she first saw the deceased about four months back; he then appeared to be in good health. The mother gave him a little nourishment, but not sufficient, or so much as he could have eaten. She also gave him a great quantity of sleeping cordial, and on one occasion she told witness that the infant slept from nine in the morning till eleven o’clock in the evening. Witness had herself seen the mother administer as much as a tea-spoonful to the deceased at one time. The infant was not properly supplied with food; often when it craved for more, none was given. On more than one occasion, witness saw the deceased vomit, because his food was not broken up or prepared as it should have been. On the whole, it was witness’s opinion that the child was not attended to by the mother as it ought to have been.

The jury returned a verdict of "Natural death."

From the Kentish Gazette, 11 August 1857.

FAVERSHAM.

DIVISIONAL PETTY SESSIONS. August 6.

David Jenkins and Alfred Jenkins, brothers, were brought up, charged with stealing £1 12s. 8 1/4d. from the person of Mark Britta, a native of the Emerald Isle.

It appeared from the evidence that the prisoners and the prosecutor had been at work together in a gang. On the 4th instant they were drinking at the "Red Lion," at Badlesmere Lees. The prosecutor went out of the house and laid down under some sheaves in the wheat-field, where they had been working. The prisoners went out in about an hour after that, and the prosecutor stated that they came and asked him to go back and have some more drink, and that they squeezed him, and then cut a hole in his pocket and took his money.

The prisoner David Jenkins, in his defence, said that he did not take the money, and that they were all "beery" together.

Committed to St. Augustine's for trial at the next Quarter Sessions.

From the Kentish Gazette, 27 October 1857.

EAST KENT QUARTER SESSIONS.

These sessions were held at the St. Augustine’s Court House on Tuesday last, before J. B. Wildman, Esq., Chairman.

David Jenkins and Alfred Jenkins were charged with stealing £1 12s. 8 1/4d. from Mark Brett, at Badlesmere, on the 4th August.

Mark Brett deposed that he was working opposite the "Red Lion," when the two prisoners asked him to go into the "Red Lion" and have some drink, which witness did, and afterwards he "felt a change coming over his stomach." He went out into a shed, when one of the prisoners caught hold of his arms, and the other "lay across his belly." They then went into the public-house to drink; but witness found that they had robbed him, and he followed them into the public-house, and asked them for his money, when they both "pitched into him." A man in the room took his part, and followed one of the prisoners while he held the other. He could swear to a farthing of the money, which was marked; as to the rest, he only knew it was round. The money was found partly on the prisoners, and also at the place where they were searched.

Two witnesses corroborated this testimony.

A verdict of guilty was returned against both prisoners.

They were each sentenced to three months' hard labour.

The Chairman drew attention to the fact that offences of that nature rendered them liable to penal servitude for eight years.

East Kent Gazette, Saturday 23 September 1922.

Veteran Kent Licensed Victuallers.

Mr. Walter George, of the "Red Lion," Badlesmere, Faversham, has been established there for nearly 50 years, being first granted the licence in November, 1872. His father was a licensed victualler before him at Selling. ("White Lion") Another Kent licensed victualler of long-standing is Mr. Alfred Goord, who has been holder of the licence for the "Chequers Inn," Higham, for 47 years.