Cracking heads

Matrimonial miseries – The Ipswich Journal, 3 September 1836: Mary Bird, the woman who on Monday was charged with an assault upon her mother-in-law Mary Mann, attended to prefer a charge of assault against her husband, William Bird, a coal-porter, and in...

Making hay

Longevity – Bury and Norwich Post, 15 September 1847: There is at present a woman named Mary Benton, living in the village of Elton, near Stockton-on-Tees, who has attained the great age of 107 years, and is at present in possession of most of her...

Canine conversation

Speaking of dogs – Newcastle Courant, 13 February 1731: Edinburgh, Jan. 16. Both City and Country having been for several Days past amused with different Accounts of the late Apparition in the Shire of Perth, we have thought proper to publish the...

Tears at the altar

Jilted curate’s agony –  Nottingham Evening Post, 3 July 1925: Unites to his rival the girl who rejected him – M. Arna, a Swiss Protestant curate who had been jilted by his fiancee, was called on in his professional capacity to...

Makes for a big reunion

Daniel Aitken died aged  120 – Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 1 May 1847: A man named Daniel Aitken lately died in Wexford, Canada, at the age of 120 years; during his life had contracted seven marriages, and he has left five hundred and seventy...

Hear, hear, here

Speaking of silly – Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 11 March 1848: At the Lancaster assizes, on Monday, a witness was called to verify the signature to a deposition. Being rather tardy in entering the witness-box, Mr Baron Alderson inquired the cause...