A TRAVELLER’S TALE FROM THE PAST

This traveller’s tale is in deed a heavenly one, for it starts in King’s Lynn Norfolk, with the Rector Thomas Edward HANKINSON born in 1805. A reference is made to him in “in "The Dictionary of National Biography"  (Vol VIII From earliest times to 1900) Oxford Press.

Founded in1882 by George Smith. Edited by Sir Leslie Stephen and Sir Sidney Lee.

It is thought that his brother was also a Rector and this is displayed in the 1881 census under Edward F.E. HANKINSON aged 70 (Rector of Bircham Newton & Tofts, Norfolk) living with his sister Catherine E. Parry widow of Admiral Sir G.E. PARRY KCB.  

Thomas was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1828 and proceeded M.A. in 1831. He was curate of St. Nicholas Chapel, King’s Lynn and afterwards incumbent of St. Matthew’s Chapel, Denmark Hill. He published various sermons and lectures. One of these discourses, a sermon on the ‘Faithful Steward,’ appeared in a collection of sermons by ‘eminent divines,’ entitled ‘The Church of England Preacher,’ in 1837; others were issued in pamphlet form. His views were strictly orthodox and in a sermon published at King’s Lynn in 1834 he denounced Unitarians as ‘blasphemers’ He occupied his leisure in writing for the Seatonian prize at Cambridge for English verse, of which he was nine times the winner between 1831 and 1842; for each of his poems in 1831 and 1838 he was awarded an extra prize of 100l. He died at Stainley Hall, Ripon, on 6 Oct. 1843. His prize poems have rather more than the measure of merit usual in such effusions. They were published severally during his lifetime and collectively after his death with some other fugitive pieces in a small volume of his ‘Poems,’ London, 1844,8vo. A volume of his sermons appeared the same year.

Thomas had a son Edward who became a Naval Captain. Edward served in the Crimean and Baltic campaigns for which he received the Crimean and Baltic medals in 1854. Eventually Edwards settled down in New Zealand and became a sheep farmer. He raised a family which included his son Halmond.

Halmond moved to Australia, got married and raised a family of 4 daughters and 2 sons. Today one daughter and one son survives and both are in their eighties. That daughter is Bertha who married a Mr Burton. Their son, Harry Burton is the contributor of this information.

The following poem was penned by Thomas Edward HANKINSON 1805- 1843

Les Hankinson Feb 2003

THE MIDSUMMER WALPOLE SCHOOL FROLIC, 1817

There was singing and playing on Walpole Green,

Such frolic before had never been seen;

There were bats, balls, and skip ropes, and other like

Which, packed in a basket, from Lynn mamma brings.

In the midst of the game the thunder came on;

For bonnets and ribbons ran every one;

There was racing and chasing fast into the barn,

There was scouring and scamp’ring to get out of harm.

When the barn had been gained, there was nothing all day,

But singing and dancing, and romping and play;

For the rain came so fast, that they ne’er could get out,

So beneath a dry roof they kept playing about.

But hark! do you hear yon alarm that rings?

There is tea and plum-cake in the sound that it brings;

On the forms round the lawn each one takes his seat,

And a grassy green carpet lies under his feet.

Large trays of plum-cake were brought to them there,

The sight of which banished both trouble and care;

Blue jugs of hot tea next came into view,

With slopping and mopping¾mishaps not a few.

When tea was all over, the tea things all cleared,

Blue bonnets and other rewards then appeared;

While those, who were thinking of bonnets so gay,

Had faces as smiling as Phoebus in May.

But those that were bad, and had nothing to claim,

Went away in disgrace, with sorrow and shame.

With piping hot pies all their fingers they burn,

Sing a finishing hymn, and to bed they return.

.From T.E. Hankinson’s first attempt at verses.