1750 Robert Sherwood See also 1742 and 1756
1751 Edward Rigden See also 1744 and 1757
From the chamberlain’s account lamps to light the streets first erected at the expense of the corporation
1752 Stephen Parker See also 1747 and 1763
Also written as Parton
1753 Robert Lukyn See also 1748 and 1764
From the chamberlain’s accounts the foot paths of the town first began to be paved with flat stones, which is now nearly completed
1754 Edward Jacob See also 1749, 1765 and 1775
Portrait of Edward, from painting at the Fleur Museum.
1755 Samuel Shepherd See also 1733 and 1739
Running the brewery, by now Samuel was also leasing part of Kingsfield to grow his hops.
From the chamberlain’s accounts the middle tower and roof of the body of the church were taken down, and the latter greatly improved. A new mace was purchased for the second serjeant, only one having been carried before the mayor ever since the two which were altered by order of the commonwealth, were reduced into one at the restoration
1756 Robert Sherwood See also 1742 and 1750
There doesn’t seem to be any surviving monument to Robert, but he is mentioned in those of his wife and daughter.
On the north side of this Tomb is buried ye Body of JOYCE Wife of ROBERT SHERWOOD Jurat of this Town She died Decr. 30th 1749 Aged 65 Years Also here under in a vault lieth the Body of JOYCE TAYLOR Daugr. of ye above Mr ROBERT SHERWOOD and of JOYCE his Wife who died July ye 19th 1754 Aged 38 Years
1757 Edward Rigden See also 1744 and 1751
Edward was buried in the parish church in 1771 and is commemorated with a ledger, south end, central aisle, south transept.
Here lies interred the Body of MARY TASSELL relict of ARTHUR TASSELL late of Homestall in this parish Gent who died the 7th of Novr. 1737 aged 72 years She left issue two daughters viz FRANCES and MARY
Here lies EDWARDUS RIGDEN Generous three times mayor of the town 30th Novembris 1771 at age 59
1758 John Parton See also 1769
1759 William Hills
1760 John Clare
From the Kentish Gazette 11 October 1775, there is a notice…. FAVERSHAM, TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION. On Saturday, the 21st of October, at the "Dolphin-Inn," between the Hours of Three and Four in the Afternoon, in one Lot. One Messuage, with the Appurtenances; situate on the West Side of Court street, in the Town of Faversham; some Time since in the Occupation of Mr. John Clare, Surgeon, deceased, and now untenanted. The Premises consist of a Shop, three Parlours, Kitchen, Wash-house, Cellars and Garrets, Stable, Hayloft, and other Out-buildings, with a good Garden Spot, and Outlet by a Back-gate to any Part of the Town.
1761 Thomas Kennett See also 1770 and 1779
1762 Joseph Joachim See also 1771 and 1800
1763 Stephen Parton See also 1747 and 1752
1764 Robert Lukyn See also 1748 and 1753
Robert died in 1784 and is commemorated by a stone ledger, partly covered by the alter in the south chancel. This indicates that he was a surgeon.
In Memory of MARY wife of ROBERT LUKYN Surgeon she died on the 2nd of October 1774 aged 70 years
Here also lie interred the remains of ROBERT LUKYN of this Town Surgeon who died April 20th 1784 aged 82 years
1765 Edward Jacob See also 1749, 1754 and 1775
Another portrait of Edward, this time an engraving.
1766 William Gilbert See also 1776
1767 Richard Hall See also 1777
1768 Carless Franklin See also 1778
Carless was a friend of Edward Jacob and customs house officer. Two of his daughters and his wife are commemorated in the parish church.
1769 John Parton See also 1758
1770 Thomas Kennett See also, 1762 and 1779
A printing press was first used in Faversham.
1771 Joseph Joachim See also 1762 and 1800
1772 Richard Lushington
According to the will of Edward Jacob, he had bought his house in Preston Street from Richard.
1773 Stephen Jones
Stephen's grandfather held the same office in 1698.
From the chamberlain’s accounts this year will always memorable for the commendable exertions of the corporation and the inhabitants in improvements in public utility. The town was laid open to the London Road by a spacious avenue from thence into Preston Street, at an expense of £300; in prosecuting this laudable undertaking, the town was much beholden to the kind assistance of several of the neighbouring principal farmers. A bridge was also erected over the river at the bottom of West Street, and a road cast up from thence towards Davington, so that horses and carriages, which before were obliged to pass thro the water, now pass on dry land; these very beneficial improvements cost £80. The coach from West Street to Ospringe Street, hath also received very considerable improvements
1774 John Downe See also 1787 and 1796
Edward Jacob's "History of Faversham" was published.
1775 Edward Jacob
Edward resigned as deputy mayor in 1783.
Edward died in 1788 and is buried in the parish church. He is commemorated by a ledger near the lectern, transept crossing.
Here lyeth the Body of MARY FRIEND widow who dyed ye 16th of October 1662 leaving issue one daughter ELIZABETH
Here lyeth the Body of STEPHEN LONG, Gent who closed a well spent life the 20th day of Feby 1756 in the 74th year of his age Leaving issue one daughter MARY the wife of
EDWARD JACOB one of the Jurats of this Town
EDWARD JACOB died the 26th of November 1788 aged 75
MARY his wife died the 7th of March 1803 aged 80 MARY daughter of the above EDWARD and MARY JACOB died [the] 3rd of September 1840 aged 80 years.
From his will of 1782 he left his mansion Lorenden, plus two new cottages, barn, stable yards, orchards, land, pasture and woods totally 54 acres around Ospringe. He had another house, where he lived in Preston Street and 60 acres in Egerton and Eastchurch. Also, to son Edward, his large silver cup presented to him by the Corporation of Faversham and all stock in trade, bottles, gallipots, drawers of his shop and other utensils of his business and all his drugs and medicines and surgical instruments, medical, surgical, anatomy and botanical books and all debts owed to the business, either on his account or the joint account with son Edward.
This is Edward’s bookplate which includes his coat of arms
1776 William Gilbert See also 1766
William’s will tells us he was a tanner and died in 1778.
1777 Richard Hall See also 1767
Edward Jacob's "Plantes Favershamienses" was published, which gave a list of uncommon plants found in the local area.
1778 Carless Franklin See also 1768
1779 Thomas Kennett See also 1761 and 1770
Thomas was the landlord of the Swan Inn, 6 Market Street
1780 Thomas Bennett See also 1790
In this and the next two years, three members of the same family were mayors. They were elected again, in the same order in 1790, 1791 and 1792. Thomas was a shipwright of Standard Quay and died in 1795 aged 72.
1781 Bartholomew Bennett See also 1791
Cases concerning the election of common councillors half by the mayor and jurats and half by the common council; with papers of Edward Jacob concerning the election and renewal of jurats and commoners | The National Archives
1782 William Bennett See also 1792
Imprisonment for killing a trout seems very harsh to us nowadays!
Release to the mayor concerning an illegal conviction and imprisonment for killing a trout in an enclosed stream [see also Fa/J/P/1/1] | The National Archives
1783 Richard Hornton
Certificate by the mayor that Thomas Jennings was convicted of burglary at quarter sessions, and that John Monger who apprehended and prosecuted him was entitled to £40 reward; petition to the Crown on behalf of Jennings, a negro, sentenced to death, and a free pardon signed by the King and Lord North | The National Archives
1784 John Hall See also 1793 and 1803
John was a gunpowder manufacturer,
1785 George Beckett
George was mayor three times, see also 1794 and 1804. Shown here is the oil portrait that hangs in the Town Hall.
From the following, Guy Fawkes celebrations sounds like a lively affair!
Draft minutes of a meeting of the mayor and other inhabitants for the suppression of bonfires and fireworks on 5 November, the apprehension of rioters, and the readiness of the fire-engines | The National Archives
1786 William Trice
Only mayor once, according to William's will, he was a woollen draper who died in 1793.
1787 John Downe See also 1774 and 1796
1788 George White
After 50 years, John Wesley was back again. He seems to have had a better reception, he noted in his diary "after a long winter, the seed seemed to be springing up. The congregation was very large and deeply attentive”.
1789 Robert Collier See also 1797 and 1805
A Faversham bank was established, by Bennett, Tappenden & Co. It failed in 1814, to the great loss of many inhabitants.
1790 Thomas Bennett See also 1780
Thomas was one of the founding members of the Faversham Porter Club in 1793.
1791 Bartholomew Bennett See also 1781
Described as a gentleman in his will of 1815, he made many bequests but one where he divided his silver plate between his two grand-daughters indicates that he dined in some style.
That is to say one Silver Tankard marked B H K one Silver Tankard marked J B E one Silver Salver marked B-B one Silver pint Mug marked B-B one Silver half pint pot marked J S R C one Silver Spout Cup marked R Q B one Silver Cup marked M:H one pair of Silver Salts and two spoons marked B-B one Silver Milk pot marked M J O two large Silver Spoons marked M T E 1736 two large Silver Spoons marked R:E one large Silver Spoon marked M:E one large Silver Spoon marked R E B two large Silver Spoons marked E:W one large Silver Spoon marked JM one large Silver Spoon marked J H S one large Silver Spoon marked A:C one large Silver Spoon marked J.O one large Silver Spoon marked E F H 1736 one Silver Marrow Spoon not marked (as I know of) one small old Silver Spoon one Silver Strainer Eleven Silver Tea Spoons and Case with two dozen of Silver Handled Knives and forks.
1792 William Bennett See also 1782
William was described as a banker who lived in Market Street, in his will of 1797 and left a considerable estate. He is commemorated with a white marble tablet, topped with an urn, on a black base. On the west wall of the north transept.
In a vault near this place are deposited the remains of WILLIAM BENNETT, Esq. one of the Jurates of this Corporation he died the 3rd of November 1797 aged 71 years Also MARY daughter of the above died the 8th of June 1809 aged 52 years Mrs ELIZABETH BENNETT relict of the above died November 24th 1817 aged 82 years
1793 John Hall See also 1784 and 1803
1794 George Beckett See also 1785 and 1804
1795 Thomas Bennett junior See also 1806
Thomas Junior was a later member of the Faversham Porter Club, joining in 1794, after his father.
When Napoleon's activities across the Channel were causing alarm on this side, Volunteer Companies were raised by the Cinque Ports, among them being three Faversham Companies under Captain Thomas Bennett, Captain James Bennett and Major Finlay. These were disbanded when the scare passed, but they were reformed in 1803 when Napoleon was threatening to invade us.
Captain Thomas Bennett wrote to the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports on August 8th that year informing him that 114 men had been enrolled and that the offices chosen were Thomas Bennett and James Shepherd (captains) and Francis Perkins, William Kemp, Henry Wreight and Samuel Shepherd (lieutenants).
A week later the rank and file had been increased to 166 and in November William Pitt came here to inspect them. The flags of "Bennett's Loyal Volunteers", as they were called, and of the Companies as units of the 1st Battalion Cinque Ports Volunteers can still be seen in the parish church where they have hung for 150 years.
1796 John Downe See also 1774 and 1787
1797 Robert Collier See also 1789 and 1805
1798 Byng Baker See also 1807
Edward Hasted's 'The Parish and Town of Faversham' dated this year, describes vessels of eighty tons burthen and upwards (of which size are the common corn hoys) come now up to the keys close to the town, at common tides, and even those which draw eight feet of water, at common spring tides. A constant attention has always been paid to the preservation and improvement of the navigation of this creek, by the corporation, who take the whole expence of it on themselves.
1799 John Horton
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