Interesting article taken from The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jun/18/british-library-newspaper-archive-online|

British Library publishes online archive of 19th-century newspapers

• Maev Kennedy
• The Guardian, Thursday 18 June 2009

Bad news is never new, but anyone overwhelmed by today's political scandals, wars, financial disasters, soaring ­unemployment and drunken feral ­children can take refuge in the 19th century – and its wars, financial disasters, political scandals, soaring unemployment and drunken feral children.

Over two million pages of 19th and early 20th century newspapers go online today, part of the vast British Library collection.

The 49 British national and regional titles cover events including the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815 – "Vague reports have been made of the numbers slain on both sides ... We should not quote them if our silence could prevent the spreading of disastrous intelligence", the Morning Chronicle reported. There was also the banks crisis of 1878, the first FA Cup final in 1872, and the triumph of the music hall star Vesta Tilley in a talent contest.

On 18 June 1859, the papers were reporting the political turmoil after the resignation of the Cabinet, as Palmerston struggled to put together a government in coalition with his former deadly rival Lord John Russell. As the Oxford Journal put it: "For the moment an event in our domestic politics eclipses in national interest the ever varying phases of the struggle in Italy." The Ipswich Journal reported passionate speeches in the House of Commons: "Their policy tended to ruin the people of England, and when they were turned out of office men slept more quietly in their beds. (Cries of "Oh! Oh!")"

Half a century earlier the news was no ­better. On June 18 1809 the Examiner warned of the alarming advances of the Emperor Napoleon against the Austrians, while its correspondent in Bohemia reported the confident prediction of Archduke Charles: "The days of the 21st and 22nd of May will be eternally memorable in the history of the world."

The shocking spectacle of drunken working men, women and even children was a recurring concern, but there was rare good news in 1840, when a correspondent to the Leeds Mercury reported the success of Father Mathew's temperance crusade in Dublin: "We still have abundance of poor, but our streets are not filled with the haggard and bloated faces they once were."

The site – http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs – holds journals including the True Crime of its day, the Illustrated Police News which covered the Jack the Ripper murders. The British Library worked in partnership with the Joint Information Systems Committee and Gale, part of Cengage Learning, to create the service. Searches are free, but users can pay to download information.

JESSIE RACHEL ANN LIGHTFOOT THORNTON

Born on 18 October 1898, in Killarney, Queensland, Australia,
Parents:
Robert Thornton Lightfoot and Sarah Annie Clara Dawson.

In 1904, aged about 5, she was educated in Killarney State School, Killarney, Queensland, Australia
In 1908, aged about 9, she was educated in Tannymorel State School, Tannymorel, QLD, Australia
Jessie is no longer living but her date of death and Burial/cremation are not known.
The following information is also recorded for Jessie.
Electoral Roll in 1922, aged about 23, in Geck Street, Allora, QLD,Australia;
Electoral Roll in 1925, aged about 26, in Geck st, Allora, Queensland, Australia;
Electoral Roll in 1930, aged about 31, in Geck St, Allora, 4362, Australia

The article is from January 1931 - The last time Jessie was seen or heard of. This was in the QLD police Gazette.

SYLVESTER THORNTON

 Some info about my great great grandad Robert Thornton Lightfoot's uncle SYLVESTER THORNTON

Sylvester was born on 14 June 1809, in Yorkshire, England, UK, to Thomas Thornton397 and
Esther Armstrong399. He was christened on 9 July 1809, in Saint Peters Church, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England.
Sylvester died on 14 April 1845, aged 35, in NSW, Australia. He was buried on 16 April 1845 in St Lukes Anglican Church, Scone, NSW, Australia.
The following information is also recorded for Sylvester. Crime in 1824, aged about 15, in Lancashire, England, UK; Crime on 12 October 1824, aged 15, in Lancashire, England, UK; Convict on 13 September 1826, aged 17, in Sydney, NSW, Australia;
Ticket of Leave on 19 November 1836, aged 27, in NSW, Australia; Free Pardon on 9 September 1841, aged 32, in NSW, Australia; Insolvency in 1843, aged about 34, in Muswellbrook, NSW, Australia; Publican License on 30 June 1843, aged 34, in Muswellbrook family hotel, Musswellbrook, NSW, Australia; Publican License on 18 June 1844, aged 35, in Musswellbrook Family Hotel, Muswellbrook, NSW, Australia; Description: Height: 4ft 8 in, Hair Colour: Brown, Eye Colour: Grey.

GUSTAVE GEORGE DETLEF KANN

born on 6 January 1858, in Wohrden, Germany, to
Hans Kann and Anna Margaretha Paulsen.
He was christened on 26 January 1858, in Wohrden, Germany.
In 1883, aged about 25, he was a Teamster in Ayr, Queensland, Australia.
In 1884, aged about 26, he Built his own saddlery business as well as a livery stable. His sales motto was "G.G. Kann can do what a GGs can't undo. in Queen St, Ayr, 4807, Australia.
In 1886, aged about 28, Gustave was an Assisted in the building of Ayr State School in Ayr, Queensland, Australia. He was an Auctioneer in Ayr, Queensland, Australia.
About 1908, aged about 50, he started the mail run to bowen. Then later when
the rail came he took over the mail runs for the towns of Seaforth, Clare, Bobbawabba, Maidavale through to Brandon.
Terminated in 1912 in Ayr, Queensland, Australia.
Gustave died on 4 December 1920, aged 62, in Townsville General Hospital, Townsville, QLD, Australia. He was buried on 6 December 1920 in Ayr, Queensland, Australia.
The following information is also recorded for Gustave. Music in Ayr, Queensland, Australia; Justice in Ayr, Queensland,
Australia; Masonic in Ayr, Queensland, Australia; Electoral Roll in 1903, aged about 45, in Herbert, QLD, Australia; Religion:
Lutheran in Ayr, Queensland, Australia; Will: in 1920, aged about 62, in Ayr, Queensland, Australia; Nationality: German.

Joseph William Laycock 1825 - 1905

I love the funny stories you find while researching family..
I came across this beauty


Joseph enjoyed good health and was proud of the fact, but then he had to have one of his teeth removed. This tooth was hung on the verandah and he would tell everyone that it was the only tooth he had ever lost. His eye sight began to fail and 2 of his sons replaced the tooth with one from a horse. Joseph continued to tell people it was the only tooth he had ever lost..

My great great Grandma. Mrs Ellen Stockley