DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Dover, October, 2021.

Page Updated:- Friday, 15 October, 2021.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Barry Smith and Paul Skelton

Earliest 1840

Crispin

Latest 1869

Adrian Street

Dover

 

Another of the beer-houses, Abel Moon setting them up in 1840 and his wife Susannah following in the fifties. John Cordwell was licensee in 1866 but apparently was dealing in foreign tobacco that the customs did not approve of, however the pints were still being pulled in 1869 but beyond that I cannot say.

 

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 7 January, 1843. Price 5d.

CORONER'S INQUEST

An inquest was held on Monday, at the "Crispin," before G. T. Thompson, Esq., Coroner for the borough, on the body of John Taylor, a railway labourer, aged 43. From the evidence of William Pratt, a miner of the S. E. Railway Company, it appears that on Friday morning, about 6 o'clock, deceased was proceeding with witness and three other labourers to work, along the narrow benching formed at he face of Abbot's cliff, and deceased struck his shoulder against the face of the cliff, and losing his balance, fell over to the beach, of about 60 feet. Witness on going down to him, found him so much injured and with the assistance of the other men, took him to the "Crispin" where they lodged. Deceased and the whole of the party, who were just going to work, were quite sober.

John Coleman, junr. surgeon, deposed, that he was sent for to attend the deceased, and found him suffering from severe wounds of the head, and on his left leg. He had four of his ribs broken, and, from the difficulty of his breathing, there was no doubt his lungs were lacerated, which caused death.

Verdict - "Accidental death."

 

South Eastern Gazette 21 March 1848.

DEATH.

March 8, at Dover, Mr. Abel Moon, landlord of the "Crispin," aged 48 years.

 

Dover Express 21 November 1863.

DEATH.

Nov. 16, at 1, Pearce's Court, Dover, Mrs. Susannah Moon, aged 64 years.

 

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 9 March, 1866.

CUSTOMS INFORMATION

John Cordwell, the landlord of the "Crispin" public-house, Adrian Street, was charged on the information of the Collector of Customs at this port for having in his possession 14oz. of foreign manufactured tobacco liable to fortitude.

Mr. C. S. Saunders, the Collector, appeared to support the information, and Mr. T. Lewis defended Cordwell.

Mr. William Leeming, a Customs officer, on being called and examined by Mr. Saunders, said he was directed on the 21st of February, with the assistance of other officers, to search the house of the defendant. In the prosecution of that search 14oz. of tobacco were found - eleven of cut tobacco and three of cavendish - of foreign manufacture. He afterwards searched the whole of the premises, but no other contraband goods were discovered. He inquired of Cordwell if he had any bill of the cut tobacco, and he said "No, I do not keep my bills." Witness asked him where he purchased it, and he said he did not know.

The defendant: I said I did not know how long I had had it.

The Magistrate's Clerk told the defendant he had better hold his tongue. He was very well represented by Mr. Lewis, and he could not improve his own case by anything he might say.

By Mr. Lewis: The 11oz. of cut tobacco was found in a cupboard in the bar.

Mr. Lewis: It was not concealed, I believe?

Witness: It was under some clothes.

Mr. Lewis: Where were the 3oz. of cavendish found?

Witness: In a pantry. I found it. It was lying open in a paper.

Mr Lewis: Now, did not Mr. Cordwell tell you that he purchased that tobacco of a sailor?

Witness: He did not tell me anything, nor did he say he purchased it, but he told Mr. Boddy, an excise officer, in my presence, that a sailor had given it to him.

Police-sergeant Barton said he was called in on the 21st February to assist the Customs' Officers in searching the "Crispin," and was present when the tobacco referred to by the previous witness was found. He heard Mr. Leeming ask the landlord where he had got it, and the landlord said he did not know.

By Mr. Lewis: The defendant said a sailor had given him the "hard stuff." It was the cut tobacco he said he did not know where he had got it.

George Boddy, an officer of Excise, said he assisted in the search of the "Crispin." The landlord in reply to a question, said he did not know where he bought the cut tobacco. The cavandish tobacco, he said, was given him by a sailor chap.

Mr Lewis: The landlord said that he sometimes bought his cut tobacco of Mr. Chidwick, did he not?

Witness: He said something about Mr. Chidwick.

Magistrates' Clerk (to witness): Is this (taking up the cut tobacco) foreign tobacco or English?

Witness: I don't know.

Magistrates' Clerk: Can you tell one from the other?

Witness: Bot cut tobacco. I am not sufficiently well acquainted with the cutting of tobacco.

Magistrates' Clerk (to Mr. Leeming): Can you tell - are you well acquainted with the cutting of tobacco?

Mr. Leeming: I am.

Magistrates' Clerk: And can you tell foreign from English?

Mr. Leeming (pointing to the cut tobacco): That is foreign. I have had eighteen years experience.

Mr. Lewis: Can you point out the difference to us?

Mr. Leeming: That is a thing I am not supposed to divulge to everyone. (A laugh.)

Mr. Lewis: Then may not the differences exist in your own fancy?

Mr. Leeming (emphatically): That is foreign tobacco.

Mr. Saunders said that this was the case on the part of the Customs' authorities.

Mr. Lewis submitted, then, that there was no cause for him to answer. The Custom's Consolidation Act was provided that in cases of this sort proof should be given that the information was laid by Her Majesty's Commissioners of Customs. Now no proof whatever of this had been offered, and he should therefore submit that his client had nothing to answer.

Mr. Saunders (handing up a paper): Here are the instructions of the Board of Customs.

Mr. Lewis: I understood you to say that your case was closed, and I must object therefore to any reopening of it.

Mr. Saunders: But I have sat with these instructions under my hand. The Magistrates would assume that I should not appear here without the Board's authority.

Mr. Lewis: The Magistrates must assume nothing. There is a special provision in the Act of Parliament, it is in the 308th section, which necessitates the production of his authority; and as no proof of its existence has been given; I must press my objection and ask the Magistrates to dismiss the case.

The presiding Magistrate (to the Magistrates' Clerk): Is it to late?

Magistrates' Clerk: I take it that it is, if Mr. Lewis presses his objection. The matter is in the hands of the Bench, but technically there is an end of the case.

The Magistrates, after a brief consultation, seemed to think that the defendant was entitled to the objection raised by his solicitor on his behalf, and dismissed the information.

Mr. Lewis, subsequently applied, as a matter of form, that a certificate of dismissal might be granted, and his application was arcaded to.

 

 

LICENSEE LIST  

MOON Abel Barton 1840-Mar/48 dec'd Pigot's Directory 1840

MOON Susanna 1851-Apr/63 dec'd (widow age 62 in 1861Census)

CORDWELL John 1866-69

 

Pigot's Directory 1840From the Pigot's Directory 1840

 

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