Kentish Gazette 2 January 1844.

DEATHS.

Lately, at Preston next Faversham, Mrs. Ruckwood, landlady of the "Windmill" public house.

From the Faversham Gazette, Saturday 3 November 1855.

OSPRINGE.

A very daring act of highway robbery, accompanied with great violence, was perpetrated about nine o’clock on Thursday evening, the 25th ult., between the "Windmill" public-house on the Canterbury road, and Ospringe. It appears from information which we have gathered, that a marine, named Henry Gibbs, lately returned from the Crimea, was on furlough from Chatham, for the purpose of visiting his friends at Ramsgate, whither he was proceeding by omnibus. When he arrived at the top of Preston, being much intoxicated, he threw his bundle into the road, and then jumped off the omnibus after it. He, however, left his bundle, and entered the "Windmill" public-house, when some one of the party charged him with being a deserter, upon which he immediately knocked the person down. He afterwards treated them with some rum and very foolishly displayed his money; four sovereigns of which he placed in his neckerchief. Upon leaving the "Windmill," he turned in the direction of Ospringe, and when near a field leading to Perry-court, he was attacked by three or four men, who knocked him down, and kicked him on the head and face in the most savage manner; and after robbing him of his money, left him in an insensible state. In a little while he partly recovered, and wandered on to Chapel-house, where he caused great alarm, to the inmates by knocking and calling for help, who supposing some one was attempting to break into the house sent for the police, who upon their arrival found him lying in the shrubbery, very much injured. The next morning he was conveyed to Chatham, by his own desire, and placed in the hospital, where he still remains in a precarious state. We understand that the Superintendent of police is acquainted with the parties concerned in this attack.