Family History Research–and Friends of Hastings Cemetery– case history

M’Clelland, John and Sophia Swaine - a very busy man, spent most of his life in India. He was a surgeon with wide ranging interests, including metallurgy,  geology and biology.  Sophia was his widower, and although remarried, was buried with him.

Inscription on grave clearly reads McClelland, though this could be an error by the mason. Sophie’s name also is variously given elsewhere as Sophy and Sophia.

  Note: This involved a lot of research amongst records variously giving the name Sir John McClelland (Wikipedia) John McLelland, John McClelland, and his name as given by him on his publications, John M’Clelland.  All later records record it as John McClelland, but whether he changed this himself on his coming to England is uncertain, as I haven’t seen any original census records.  Another problem was Sir Joseph Hooker’s assertion “John McClelland, “a persevering Scotchman,  without  much  ability,  or  power  of  perception”.  Other records, correctly, show him as born in Ireland.  Birth and death dates also vary!  Initially it was thought two people had been conflated, as it seemed unlikely one man could have achieved so much.

This idea was put to rest when coming across the following:

“Dr. M'Clelland forgets that he holds, or did then hold, three offices,  Namely Deputy Apothecary; Assistant Opium Examiner and Secretary to the Coal and Iron Committee - all salaried appointments; - a short time before this discussion he was Curator to the Museum also, to which he had no objection to be re-appointed [sic].  The first of appointments above requires actual attendance at office from eleven to four daily. ….”  Books on Google Play - Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Volume 8, Asiatic Society, 1840

The Observer Building - new hope!

Hastings developer reveals plans for former Observer building

A neighbourhood developer has vowed to turn the former Observer building into a community asset after its offer to purchase the building was accepted. White Rock Neighbourhood Ventures – the owner of neighbouring Rock House – secured the purchase of the empty Cambridge Road site on Monday (November 12).

Read more at: https://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/business/hastings-developer-reveals-plans-for-former-observer-building-1-8705646

New Story

• Hogg, Mary Louisa - Suffragette, & seller of suffragette newspaper - in all weathers

  

Exhibition

From 1st November there will be an exhibition at the History House, 21 Courthouse Street, -

Remembrance - “How We Bury Our Heroes”

Exploring some of the history and mysteries of the cemetery during the First World War and after, including the input of the Imperial War Graves Commission (Now Commonwealth War Graves Commission.)

Friends of Hastings Cemetery Update

Burial Database A - G

Database of extant memorials in A - G, based on the work

 done by R A Longley.

 (For an explanation of some anomalies, see 

 http://friendsofhastingscemetery.org.uk/77order.html )

Converted to a searchable pdf file by Alan Jeffries (to 

whom many thanks)

To arrange a Cemetery Walk

email Anne Scott

'The Hastings Show' 

Visitor Centre on Hastings Pier
9th - 23rd September, 
open every day 10am - 5pm.

Entry is free and accessible. Suitable for all ages but children must be supervised at all times. 
Everyone is welcome 

On display will be a collection of unique decorative mirrors, all inspired by the town of Hastings.  Many of these mirrors are created using wood and metal salvaged during the refurbishment of Hastings Pier following the devastating fire of 2010, breathing new life into these pieces of history which would otherwise have been lost forever.

Each one has been individually designed to reflect the imagery, atmosphere and colourful history of the Pier, from crumbling Victorian ironwork and evocative 1930's lighting to the modern post-fire refurbishments.

Also featured will be work from John Cole, official photographer for the Pier restorations, and Stewart Walton, watercolour artist and creator of much of the wooden furniture on the Pier.

There will be a programme of associated talks, workshops and a 'Creation Station' where you can get involved by drawing pictures, taking photos, writing stories and poetry about Hastings. These will be put on display and there will be prizes for the best ones!

Petition to save Isobel Blackman Centre

Petition at History House, 21 Courthouse Street – and other places around town.

West Street Party

As part of the year-long project to research and celebrate West Street, a new, free publication the ‘West Street Chronicle’ will be launched at the  street party on Sunday 29th July from 2-5pm.

The road will be closed to traffic and West Street will be celebrating with a range of activities, open studios, children’s workshops, refreshments and games.  It will feature live music from Thomas Truax.

Everything is free and everyone is welcome.

Hastings Country Park

HASTINGS COUNTRY PARK – Going up – Hastings Independent Press
www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/news/hastings-country-park-going-up/
4 days ago - Straw Bale Build to Start in August at Inflated Cost. Building of the long planned “Interpretive Centre” at Hastings Country Park is hoped to start ...

HASTINGS COUNTRY PARK – Going Nowhere – Hastings
www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/news/hastings-country-park-going-nowhere/
3 days ago - No Current Plan to Reinstate Ecclesbourne Glen Footpath. As many readers will know, the main walking route into Hastings Country Park from ...

FREE TALK AT BRIGHTON UNI ON REGENERATION, Featuring HASTINGS PIER!

You are invited to attend this talk in Brighton at the Bevy Pub, the town’s only community owned pub.
Brains @ The Bevy
Wednesday 27th June
The People’s Pier - Regeneration, community, and popular culture heritage
Olu Jenzen, University of Brighton
This free talk features 2 case studies by Dr. Jenzen, covering Hastings and Clevedon Piers

HASTINGS &; ST. LEONARDS SOCIETY - Open Meeting

Promoting Our Heritage and Civic Pride
Website: www.hastingsandstleonardssociety.org.uk
Secretary’s e-mail: hstlsoc@gmail.com

The next H & St. L Society Open Meeting is on Monday 2 July, 6 pm start, at
the HAVELOCK ROAD Building of the University Campus (Room 415). (Note change of building from  usual location.)
Meeting to be chaired by Dr. Deborah Madden
There are two main topics on the agenda:
1. Discussion of trading at Queen’s Road, Hastings
2. Discussion of the future of the Harold and Edith Statue (West Marina Gardens)
All welcome

, but please advise in advance if you are attending and agenda will
be issued by e-mail.

‘For Crying Out Loud’: The Story of a Town Crier

HASTINGS & ST. LEONARDS SOCIETY

Promoting Our Heritage and Civic Pride

Special Event at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery,

Sunday 8th July, 2 pm.

‘For Crying Out Loud’: The Story of a Town Crier

Illustrated talk by Jon Bartholomew

Admission Charge: £5 (children under the age of 14 free, if accompanied by adult) Pay on the door; no advance booking Proceeds are being donated to provide prize money for the National Champion Town Criers' competition in ‘Hastings Week’

Women March! Saturday, June 23rd 11.30am

St Mary in the Castle

FREE EVENT

Doors: 11:30am
Show: 12pm

Women’s Voice invites you to dress as a suffragette and join the great women’s suffrage procession on Saturday 23 June.

10am: Assemble at Warrior Square Gardens.
11am: Setting off: we will march along the seafront to the town centre, then back to St Mary’s in the Castle.
12.30pm: Speakers, films, theatre and a massed women’s choir singing songs from the suffrage movement. All events are free.

Speaking for Women’s Voice, Ann Kramer says: ‘the march will be one of the highpoints of the events we have organised to celebrate one hundred years since (some) women won the parliamentary vote. Local suffragists and suffragettes processed along the seafront and through the streets of Hastings more than a hundred years ago in their fight for the vote, so we decided it would be good to honour their struggle and re-create one of their processions.’

A visit from Hawaii– Friends of Hastings Cemetery Update

After posting the fascinating story of a Dr. Makalua on the website, a faculty member at the University of Hawaii contacted us to say she is bringing a group of students over in July to retrace the steps and tours of a study abroad program from Hawaii between 1880 and 1892 which includes the student,  ​Matthew Makalua,

New Stories

• Dewar, Rev. David Erskine - there are a number of Dewars and Parrys in the Cemetery, but we are not currently aware of any connection (watch this space!) But we do know that he was the father of Annie Clementina Makalua. (See below)

Updated Story

• Makalua, Matthew M (Dr), MRCS, LRCP & Annie Clementine - First ethnic Hawaiian to qualify as a doctor; practised in Hastings

St Mary in the Castle Tour Wednesday, June 27th 12pm FREE ENTRY

Meet in the cafe just before 12pm.

Join us for an informative and historical tour of the 19th century church and it's crypt.

The tour is free but donations are very welcome.