In January 1819 The Morning Post in London reported a particularly unpleasant assault that occurred in Hatton Garden. A chicken seller from *Saffron Hill and an accomplice were found accused of biting the nose off Matthew Donovan (* “In 1850 it was described as a squalid neighbourhood, the home of paupers and thieves“).
Although this seems a fairly insignificant and minor news story, for descendants of those mentioned in this report it could well add a little colour to their family research. Because of course although this was an unpleasant event a great deal of news that was reported in the press was of course relatively insignificant but rather like gold dust for historians and family researchers to centuries on.
Not all the news related to our relations was about murder, violent crime, theft or those regular highway robberies. The insignificant in the 1800s and the early 20th century can be as valuable to the genealogist as the massive well covered stories.
The Morning Post, Monday 4 January 1819:
Hatton Garden. Brutal And Savage Assault
On Saturday Daniel Donovan, a man who gains his living by selling fowls around town, and Michael Hayes, both residing in a court in Saffron Hill, were brought up in custody of John Limbrick, charged by Matthew Donovan with having a bit his nose off, as stated in our paper on Saturday. The prisoner Donovan was then committed to prison, and ordered to give 24 hours notice of bail. Hayes was ordered to find two good sureties in 20 shillings each, which he sent for, and very being approved of, he was liberated.
Ian Waugh
Old British News
