Kentish Gazette, 8 October 1839.

DEATH.

Sept 28. After a long illness, Sophia, wife of Mr. Henry Hills, of the "Ship Inn," Maidstone, aged 53.

South Eastern Gazette 8 February 1853.

Henry Baker was charged with stealing two Cochin China fowls, the property of Jesse Kirby. The prosecutor, who is landlord of the "Ship Inn," keeps a number of fowls, which, on Monday afternoon, were fed by John Down, the ostler, in a yard behind the house. They usually roosted in the stable, the door of which was not locked. On Tuesday morning, two of them, of the Cochin China breed, were missed. Prisoner had formerly been in prosecutor's employ, but had left about a month since, and on Monday night he went, between seven and eight o'clock, and asked Mr. Dungey, of Stone-street, to purchase two fowls, which were produced and identified by the ostler. Prisoner said he wanted 3s. for them. Dungey, not knowing the breed, said he could not give more than 2s. 3p., which prisoner took, and went away. He exposed the fowls at the door for sale, and afterwards sold one to a person named Pattison for 1s. 9d. Prisoner said the fowls were his own. On the question being put to him by Dungey, he admitted having sold him the fowls, the value of which was 30s Committed for trial.

Kentish Gazette 16 October 1855.

Destruction of a Public House by Fire.

On Tuesday morning, about half-past four, as police sergeant Sunnucks was passing down Gabriel's Hill, be heard a noise as of the cracking of glass, and soon perceived a great light between the shutters at the "Ship." On looking through an opening between them, he saw that the bar was in a blaze. He immediately endeavoured to arouse the inmates, and asked several persons passing to give an alarm at the engine stations, but not one would do as he wished. He, however, gave the alarm himself at two offices, and when he came back found the landlord, Mr. Kirby, at the door. Kirby then returned into the house to save the children and alarm the sleepers, of whom there were fifteen including lodgers. Fortunately they all escaped uninjured, though the ostler had to be rescued by the escape ladder of the police station. As the alarm spread, seven engines were brought to the spot; they were plentifully supplied with water from the River Len, in Watery Lane, and, in addition, the police had got all the neighbouring plugs ready. A large body of men from the barracks, with several officers, also arrived with their engine, and three of the large engines were soon set to work, manned by relays of soldiers, who, as might be expected, worked most willingly and strenuously, though the civilians applied to would not work at the engines. The house was one of the old buildings in the town, and almost entirely composed of wood and plaster. The vast quantity of water poured upon the burning house soon stayed the progress of the flames, and prevented their spread, although the greater portion of the lower side of the house is completely destroyed, and most of the rooms throughout are partially burned A great number of the floors and rafters are burned through, but the walls of the house still stand, though it will he necessary to take them down. The contents of the house are also destroyed either the fire or water. The property was insured.

Kentish Gazette, 7 January 1851.

DEATH.

Turney:— Dec. 25, at Barming heath in the 55th year of his age, Mr. James Turney, late of the "Ship Inn," Maidstone.