In the course of the late Mr. William Sutton's inquiries he found near the Boat-house, a silver coin of David King of Scots, who was taken prisoner near Durham, at the battle of Neville's Cross, 1346.

A copper coin, or rather tradesman's token, was found a few years ago in the river near Stockton, and formed part of a collection in the possession of the late Mr. John Ayers, of the Custom-house, Stockton. Marks were used by merchants and others not entitled to bear arms.-"Nothing can be more fanciful than their form, composed of lines joined together in shapeless figure which defies description, but in which the distorted initial letters of the merchant's name who used them may be distinguished.*"

"In digging the foundation of a house (hodie " Brunswick Hotel”) in a grass field now covered with new buildings, at the depth of two or three feet beneath the surface, a medal or ornament of brass, weighing 24 oz. was discovered. It is oval, and represents the profiles of two heads one within the other; the nearer, from the heavy eyebrow, snub nose, and thick lips, is evidently African; the other, handsome and perfectly Grecian. The reverse is smooth. The medal is perforated at the top, as if intended to be worn as an ornament or badge." It is in the possession of John Hickson, Esq., solicitor, Stockton.

* Dalloway's Heraldry.

CHAPTER XL.

Local Occurrences, &c. since 1700, 12 Anne

church by the Rev. Thomas Rudd.

Aug. 21. The new church was consecrated by the Right Reverend Nathaniel Lord Crewe, Lord Bishop of Durham: the sermon on the occasion was preached by the Rev. John Smith, D. D., Prebendary of Durham. 1713. Rev. George Gibson, M. A. appointed the first vicar of Stockton,

1714. 1 Geo. I. An act for explaining the first act.

1716. A lease granted by the vicar and vestrymen of the waste ground for 1000 years, on which Silver-street, Bishop-street, &c. now stand.

1717. First order of the corporation for paving the

streets.

1721. The charity school founded.-See before.

1724. July 24. Ann Wilson, widow, standing between the front and back door of a house belonging to Mr. John Burdon, parish clerk of Stockton, was killed by lightning. This house stood immediately behind the church; it was a thatched cottage, and the last of that description in Stockton. It was rebuilt in 1788.

1739, 40. The winter of this year was noted for its extreme severity. Gay, in his "Trivia: or the Art of walking the streets of London," says of it,

"Recall that wondrous year

When Winter reign'd in bleak Britannia's air;
When hoary Thames, with frosted oziers crown'd,
Was three long moons in icy fetters bound."

Its "pretty handmaid Tees" (see page 159) experienced the same rough treatment; and unhappily felt its effects. The price of grain rose considerably, and a great scarcity was apprehended. The consequence was a very serious and long continued riot at Stockton, and other northern ports where there was an exportation of corn. Mr. William Baker, a considerable corn merchant at Stockton, gives the following account in his private letters.

May 20th, 1740. We have now a great mob, and the riot will suffer no more corn to be shipt, that at present we are in the utmost confusion.-May 23. The ship is not laden, the chief reason is, the mob continuing in a most outrageous manner, and have broke my windows, and will not suffer any wheat to be shipt by any, and how they will end God knows, for I dread the consequence, though the sheriff is coming with assistance; all the town is in the utmost fear.-May 25. Our mob seeing no corn offered to be shipt, are pretty quiet; and as we have sent express to the Duke of Newcastle for soldiers, expect them here in a few days; and then we hope to do what we please, and once more enjoy liberty and property, neither of which we have at present: we have had a dreadful week.-May 30. Our mob still continue in a riotous manner, and strole about the streets night and

day, but as we have not a sufficient force we keep all quiet till the soldiers come, which I hope will be this evening. June 1. I cannot ship till the soldiers come, but as we sent express on yesterday sen'net to the Duke of Newcastle, they sure will be here tomorrow."-This delay in procuring a proper force is explained by a letter from Andrew Stone, secretary to the Duke of Newcastle, to Messrs. Hedworth and Vane, members for the county, dated Whitehall, May 29; in which he informs them, that his Grace had laid the affidavit relating to the riot before the Lords Justices, who had given directions for a company of foot to march from York, but upon inquiry, it appeared that there were no troops at York, and therefore orders were sent for a company of the regiment quartered at Berwick, there being none of his Majesty's forces at any place nearer to Stockton.-June 8. We have now a company of soldiers just come to town. Last Friday I had a shocking day; for the mob seized my boat with 7 lasts of wheat, on which I went on board and was glad to get on shore again, being stopped by them at landing, and twice thrown down within a yard of the river, and I had certainly been put into the river had not two lusty fellows of the heads assisted me, and many of the women turned on my side, so that to save my life I had a majority; but all were against my property. They carried my boat to the quay, landed the wheat, and are still in possession. They put a broom to the mast head, and put her up for sale, declaring her a legal prize, before Admiral Haddock, their commander. The ingratitude of our people is intolerable, for the

The Regency; the king being at that time in Hanover.

buyers lodged 1000 bushels to be sold to the poor at 4s. per bushel, which is full as much as they can all consume before harvest.-June 10. We took six of the principal yesterday, who were all rescued before night. They are so resolute that they do not fear a musket, being encouraged by several telling them that they dare not fire. Though I had two justices, and eighty soldiers in arms, I could not carry off my wheat they had seized. The justices sent a warrant to the High Sheriff, ordering him and the Posse Com. to attend, so expect him with Messrs. Hedworth and Bowes this day, to carry them to gaol, I have a most terrible time of it, for I dare not lay in my own house; hundreds threaten to murder me, and God knows what will be my fate.-June 13th. This day we have had the Sheriff and above 2000 horse, and a number of foot, and have got six rioters sent to gaol; all is now quiet and hope will continue so.-June 15. The tumulttuous spirit here is not to be expressed, and if the government do not suppress it, the insurrection will be general, for they are hourly afraid of their rising at Newcastle and Sunderland, and God knows where it will end. As the prisoners were carrying to gaol, the Durham mob rescued them all, and beat two bailiffs and the undersheriff miserably; however, after two hours fight, they were all re-taken but one, who was the principal; and I am told the mob committed great outrages in Durham market yesterday, and all the ringleaders still disappear. -Nov. 30. A turbulent spirit is in every town in those parts, and some disturbances have been at Darlington and Barnard castle, and a little here." Some of the rioters mentioned in this account were punished by transportation for seven years to America.