Registered at the Post-Office as a NewspaperPrice One PennyBrindlemere & the Fens

The Brindlemere Courant

“What the tide brings in, and what the town makes of it.”

—Est. 1822 · A. Gale, EditorOne Penny

The Residents

all 38 souls of Brindlemere, ordered by how much the week had to say about them

Peter Gull · 22 · fisherman

sweetheart of Letty Crumb — an understanding, not yet announced; Widow Pennyfarthing disapproves

Mon Peter Gull landed 6 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Mon Peter Gull was seen walking Letty Crumb the long way round Market Square, an errand of no more than eighty yards taking half an hour.
Tue During the gale Peter Gull carried sandbags to the bakery door unasked; Widow Pennyfarthing observed this from the window and said nothing.
Tue Peter Gull and Dorcas Mereview were heard at the Gilded Eel in long dispute over the Wisbech packet.
Wed Peter Gull landed 8 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Thu Peter Gull landed 8 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Thu Widow Pennyfarthing spoke privately with Peter Gull in the bakery back room for the better part of an hour; he left pale but walking on air.
Fri Peter Gull landed 6 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Sat Peter Gull landed 13 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Sat The betrothal of Peter Gull and Letty Crumb was announced at the Gilded Eel, Widow Pennyfarthing having given her blessing; Gideon Stoup stood a round of the house.
Sat The Michaelmas eel-boat regatta was sailed in a fresh breeze before the better part of the town; Barnaby Moot took the silver eel trophy and the purse of 15s., Harbormaster Wake presiding.
Sun Peter Gull lost a hat to the wind off the mere, not recovered.

Nathaniel Okes · 43 · fisherman

kin of Ned Okes — father and son; rival of Josiah Brant — disputed net pitch off Spurn Point, three seasons running

Mon Nathaniel Okes landed 4 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Mon Nathaniel Okes and Josiah Brant came to hot words on Herring Quay over the disputed net pitch off Spurn Point; Okes called Brant's claim 'three seasons of brass-necked thievery'.
Wed Nathaniel Okes landed 2 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Wed Constable Truncheon took statements from Brant and Okes regarding the cut nets; Okes swore he was at the Gilded Eel until closing, which Gideon Stoup confirmed.
Fri Nathaniel Okes landed 2 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Sat Nathaniel Okes landed 7 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Sat Okes and Brant shook hands on Herring Quay, each having suspected the other falsely for three days.
Sun Nathaniel Okes subscribed 6s. to the chapel roof fund (standing at 119s.).

Josiah Brant · 36 · fisherman

kin of Flora Brant — father and daughter; rival of Nathaniel Okes — disputed net pitch off Spurn Point, three seasons running

Mon Josiah Brant landed 5 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Mon Nathaniel Okes and Josiah Brant came to hot words on Herring Quay over the disputed net pitch off Spurn Point; Okes called Brant's claim 'three seasons of brass-necked thievery'.
Wed Josiah Brant found his nets cut through at the pitch off Spurn Point; he named no man, but looked hard at the Okes boat.
Wed Constable Truncheon took statements from Brant and Okes regarding the cut nets; Okes swore he was at the Gilded Eel until closing, which Gideon Stoup confirmed.
Thu Josiah Brant landed 12 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Sat Josiah Brant landed 12 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Sat Okes and Brant shook hands on Herring Quay, each having suspected the other falsely for three days.
Sat Dorcas Mereview and Josiah Brant were heard at the Gilded Eel in long dispute over the Wisbech packet.

Davey Spume · 24 · fisherman

Mon Davey Spume landed 4 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Tue Davey Spume bought a winter shawl at market for 4s.
Wed Davey Spume landed 4 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Thu Davey Spume landed 10 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Fri Davey Spume landed 5 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Fri Davey Spume subscribed 2s. to the chapel roof fund (standing at 48s.).
Sat Davey Spume landed 8 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Sat The Michaelmas eel-boat regatta was sailed in a fresh breeze before the better part of the town; Barnaby Moot took the silver eel trophy and the purse of 15s., Harbormaster Wake presiding.

Widow Pennyfarthing · 56 · baker

Tue During the gale Peter Gull carried sandbags to the bakery door unasked; Widow Pennyfarthing observed this from the window and said nothing.
Tue The flour barge from Wisbech, due this day, did not come — held below Cross Keys by the weather. Widow Pennyfarthing has flour for three days' baking, no more.
Wed Rev. Quire opened a subscription for the repair of the chapel roof; Harbormaster Wake gave 20s. and Widow Pennyfarthing 10s. to open the list.
Thu Widow Pennyfarthing spoke privately with Peter Gull in the bakery back room for the better part of an hour; he left pale but walking on air.
Thu Pennyfarthing's baked half-loaves only and raised the quartern to 8d.; a line stood at the door before seven.
Fri The barge Persistence came up on the morning tide with flour from Wisbech; the quartern loaf returned to 6d. by evening.
Sat The betrothal of Peter Gull and Letty Crumb was announced at the Gilded Eel, Widow Pennyfarthing having given her blessing; Gideon Stoup stood a round of the house.

Ezra Tarbottom · 54 · fisherman

kin of Pip Tarbottom — grandfather and grandson

Mon Ezra Tarbottom landed 3 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Wed Ezra Tarbottom landed 2 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Thu Ezra Tarbottom landed 7 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Fri Ezra Tarbottom landed 6 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Sat Ezra Tarbottom landed 12 cran of herring at the Harbor.
Sat The Michaelmas eel-boat regatta was sailed in a fresh breeze before the better part of the town; Barnaby Moot took the silver eel trophy and the purse of 15s., Harbormaster Wake presiding.

Silas Fenn · 34 · eel-catcher

debtor of Cornelius Wick — owes 30s. for tackle on credit

Mon The eel-catchers brought in 5 stone of silver eels from the fen traps.
Fri The eel-catchers brought in 8 stone of silver eels from the fen traps.
Fri Constable Truncheon, watching the quay by night, found Silas Fenn with a net-knife at Brant's moorings; Fenn claimed he was 'seeing to his eel lines'.
Sat The eel-catchers brought in 4 stone of silver eels from the fen traps.
Sat Silas Fenn confessed to cutting Brant's nets, saying he had hoped the feud would drive one man off the pitch so he might take the eel grounds below it; his debt of 30s. to Cornelius Wick is noted as pressing him hard.
Sun Silas Fenn subscribed 6s. to the chapel roof fund (standing at 113s.).

Const. Wilfred Truncheon · 48 · constable

Wed Constable Truncheon took statements from Brant and Okes regarding the cut nets; Okes swore he was at the Gilded Eel until closing, which Gideon Stoup confirmed.
Thu Const. Wilfred Truncheon subscribed 6s. to the chapel roof fund (standing at 38s.).
Fri Constable Truncheon, watching the quay by night, found Silas Fenn with a net-knife at Brant's moorings; Fenn claimed he was 'seeing to his eel lines'.
Sat Silas Fenn confessed to cutting Brant's nets, saying he had hoped the feud would drive one man off the pitch so he might take the eel grounds below it; his debt of 30s. to Cornelius Wick is noted as pressing him hard.
Sun Constable Truncheon and Jeremiah Reed traced the fen lights to a party of eel-poachers out of Saltfleet working the north traps by dark-lantern; two men fled leaving nets, a punt, and a quantity of eels.
Sun Const. Wilfred Truncheon bought a pair of sea-boots at market for 9s.

Barnaby Moot · 30 · eel-catcher

friend of Flora Brant — long acquaintance

Mon The eel-catchers brought in 5 stone of silver eels from the fen traps.
Fri The eel-catchers brought in 8 stone of silver eels from the fen traps.
Sat The eel-catchers brought in 4 stone of silver eels from the fen traps.
Sat The Michaelmas eel-boat regatta was sailed in a fresh breeze before the better part of the town; Barnaby Moot took the silver eel trophy and the purse of 15s., Harbormaster Wake presiding.
Sat The Michaelmas eel-boat regatta was sailed in a fresh breeze before the better part of the town; Barnaby Moot took the silver eel trophy and the purse of 15s., Harbormaster Wake presiding.

Letty Crumb · 18 · baker's girl

sweetheart of Peter Gull — an understanding, not yet announced; Widow Pennyfarthing disapproves

Mon Peter Gull was seen walking Letty Crumb the long way round Market Square, an errand of no more than eighty yards taking half an hour.
Tue During the gale Peter Gull carried sandbags to the bakery door unasked; Widow Pennyfarthing observed this from the window and said nothing.
Thu Pennyfarthing's baked half-loaves only and raised the quartern to 8d.; a line stood at the door before seven.
Fri Letty Crumb subscribed 3s. to the chapel roof fund (standing at 51s.).
Sat The betrothal of Peter Gull and Letty Crumb was announced at the Gilded Eel, Widow Pennyfarthing having given her blessing; Gideon Stoup stood a round of the house.

Constance Eelwife · 42 · eel-catcher

friend of Goody Bramble — forty years of shared opinions

Mon The eel-catchers brought in 5 stone of silver eels from the fen traps.
Fri The eel-catchers brought in 8 stone of silver eels from the fen traps.
Sat The eel-catchers brought in 4 stone of silver eels from the fen traps.
Sun Constance Eelwife subscribed 5s. to the chapel roof fund (standing at 107s.).

Cornelius Wick · 57 · chandler

debtor of Silas Fenn — owes 30s. for tackle on credit; friend of Miss Araminta Birch — long acquaintance

Mon Cornelius Wick lost a hat to the wind off the mere, not recovered.
Tue The flour barge from Wisbech, due this day, did not come — held below Cross Keys by the weather. Widow Pennyfarthing has flour for three days' baking, no more.
Thu Cornelius Wick, having laid in flour, offered it at 26s. the sack — a price the Market Square called by shorter names.
Sat Silas Fenn confessed to cutting Brant's nets, saying he had hoped the feud would drive one man off the pitch so he might take the eel grounds below it; his debt of 30s. to Cornelius Wick is noted as pressing him hard.

Tabitha Spool · 29 · seamstress

Mon Tabitha Spool advertises: winter mending taken in; sailors' oilskins a speciality.
Thu Tabitha Spool subscribed 2s. to the chapel roof fund (standing at 32s.).
Fri Tabitha Spool bought a winter shawl at market for 4s.
Sat Tabitha Spool bought a sack of onions at market for 2s.

Rev. Obadiah Quire · 49 · curate

friend of Verity Hymn — the chapel and its music

Tue The gale stripped lead and slates from the chancel roof of St. Ethelburga's; rain entered upon the organ loft.
Wed Rev. Quire opened a subscription for the repair of the chapel roof; Harbormaster Wake gave 20s. and Widow Pennyfarthing 10s. to open the list.
Sat A sacred concert was given at St. Ethelburga's in aid of the roof fund; Miss Hymn at the organ, 34 attending; 40s. raised, bringing the fund to 102s.
Sun Divine service at St. Ethelburga's was held under tarpaulins, the chancel roof yet open to heaven; Rev. Quire preached on Nehemiah and the rebuilding of walls, and the roof fund closed the week at 119s.

Harmon Wake · 54 · harbormaster

Tue Harbormaster Wake ordered every boat to stay in harbor; no catch landed at Brindlemere this day.
Wed Rev. Quire opened a subscription for the repair of the chapel roof; Harbormaster Wake gave 20s. and Widow Pennyfarthing 10s. to open the list.
Sat The Michaelmas eel-boat regatta was sailed in a fresh breeze before the better part of the town; Barnaby Moot took the silver eel trophy and the purse of 15s., Harbormaster Wake presiding.

Mrs. Hepzibah Quill · 58 · boarding-house keeper

debtor of Jeremiah Reed — owes 8s. board; friend of Caleb Mereview — long acquaintance

Fri Talk at the Gilded Eel and the boarding house has settled into two camps on the fen lights: corpse-candles, or the Dutchman's ghost. Wagers have been laid.
Fri Mrs. Quill advertises: a warm front room to let, suit a quiet gentleman; no theatricals.
Sun Old Tom Herring, who had wagered a shilling on the Dutchman's ghost, paid up at the boarding house with poor grace.

Mordecai Sod · 66 · sexton

friend of Gowdie Nets — dominoes at the Eel

Tue The gale stripped lead and slates from the chancel roof of St. Ethelburga's; rain entered upon the organ loft.
Fri Mordecai Sod subscribed 8s. to the chapel roof fund (standing at 46s.).
Sun Divine service at St. Ethelburga's was held under tarpaulins, the chancel roof yet open to heaven; Rev. Quire preached on Nehemiah and the rebuilding of walls, and the roof fund closed the week at 119s.

Dorcas Mereview · 45 · farmwife

spouse of Caleb Mereview — of Mereview Farm

Tue Peter Gull and Dorcas Mereview were heard at the Gilded Eel in long dispute over the Wisbech packet.
Thu Dorcas Mereview gives notice: the strayed sow is found, having been living well in the chapel glebe; the shilling stands paid to Ned Okes.
Sat Dorcas Mereview and Josiah Brant were heard at the Gilded Eel in long dispute over the Wisbech packet.

Old Tom Herring · 78 · retired mariner

friend of Mr. Aldous Gale — chess at the boarding house on wet evenings

Fri Talk at the Gilded Eel and the boarding house has settled into two camps on the fen lights: corpse-candles, or the Dutchman's ghost. Wagers have been laid.
Sun Old Tom Herring, who had wagered a shilling on the Dutchman's ghost, paid up at the boarding house with poor grace.

Prudence Mallow · 44 · apothecary

friend of Miss Araminta Birch — botanising on the fen on Sundays

Wed Prudence Mallow bought a sack of onions at market for 2s.
Thu Prudence Mallow bought a sack of onions at market for 2s.

Verity Hymn · 33 · organist

friend of Rev. Obadiah Quire — the chapel and its music

Sat A sacred concert was given at St. Ethelburga's in aid of the roof fund; Miss Hymn at the organ, 34 attending; 40s. raised, bringing the fund to 102s.
Sun Divine service at St. Ethelburga's was held under tarpaulins, the chancel roof yet open to heaven; Rev. Quire preached on Nehemiah and the rebuilding of walls, and the roof fund closed the week at 119s.

Miss Araminta Birch · 29 · schoolmistress

friend of Prudence Mallow — botanising on the fen on Sundays; friend of Gideon Stoup — long acquaintance; friend of Cornelius Wick — long acquaintance

Sat A sacred concert was given at St. Ethelburga's in aid of the roof fund; Miss Hymn at the organ, 34 attending; 40s. raised, bringing the fund to 102s.
Sun Constable Truncheon and Jeremiah Reed traced the fen lights to a party of eel-poachers out of Saltfleet working the north traps by dark-lantern; two men fled leaving nets, a punt, and a quantity of eels.

Jeremiah Reed · 40 · fenman

debtor of Mrs. Hepzibah Quill — owes 8s. board

Tue Jeremiah Reed reported pale lights moving on the fen past midnight, where no honest business takes a lantern.
Sun Constable Truncheon and Jeremiah Reed traced the fen lights to a party of eel-poachers out of Saltfleet working the north traps by dark-lantern; two men fled leaving nets, a punt, and a quantity of eels.

Abel Tarrow · 55 · boatwright

debtor of Gideon Stoup — owes 12s. for cellar repairs

Wed Abel Tarrow advertises: a sound clinker-built punt for sale, 30s., seen at the boatyard.

Uriah Lamp · 64 · lighthouse keeper

Thu Uriah Lamp reported pale lights moving on the fen past midnight, where no honest business takes a lantern.

Gideon Stoup · 47 · publican

spouse of Meg Stoup — keep The Gilded Eel together; debtor of Abel Tarrow — owes 12s. for cellar repairs; friend of Miss Araminta Birch — long acquaintance

Sat The betrothal of Peter Gull and Letty Crumb was announced at the Gilded Eel, Widow Pennyfarthing having given her blessing; Gideon Stoup stood a round of the house.

Gowdie Nets · 67 · netmender

friend of Mordecai Sod — dominoes at the Eel

Sat Gowdie Nets subscribed 8s. to the chapel roof fund (standing at 59s.).

Mr. Aldous Gale · 56 · editor of the Courant

friend of Old Tom Herring — chess at the boarding house on wet evenings

Sat Mr. Aldous Gale subscribed 3s. to the chapel roof fund (standing at 62s.).

Goody Bramble · 50 · midwife

friend of Constance Eelwife — forty years of shared opinions

Fri Talk at the Gilded Eel and the boarding house has settled into two camps on the fen lights: corpse-candles, or the Dutchman's ghost. Wagers have been laid.

Caleb Mereview · 45 · farmer

spouse of Dorcas Mereview — of Mereview Farm; friend of Mrs. Hepzibah Quill — long acquaintance

Mon Caleb Mereview gives notice: a black sow is strayed from Mereview Farm; a shilling to the finder.

Pip Tarbottom · 11 · schoolboy

kin of Ezra Tarbottom — grandfather and grandson

Sat The schoolchildren's punt race ended with Pip Tarbottom in the water and rescued by boat-hook, to general applause.

Flora Brant · 12 · schoolgirl

kin of Josiah Brant — father and daughter; friend of Barnaby Moot — long acquaintance

Sat The schoolchildren's punt race ended with Pip Tarbottom in the water and rescued by boat-hook, to general applause.

Ned Okes · 12 · schoolboy

kin of Nathaniel Okes — father and son

Sat The schoolchildren's punt race ended with Pip Tarbottom in the water and rescued by boat-hook, to general applause.