The Original KAS?
Editor's Note: I do not usually approve of a KAS Newsletter Editor filling up space in the Newsletter with material of his or her own but as several interesting articles dealing with the early days of the KAS have been published in past issues I felt that the following notes might also be of interest to readers.
From NOTES & QUERIES 2nd. Series Vol.X pl54, August 1860.
A letter from Alfred John Dunkin (son of the Dartford historian and author of a History of Dartford) replying to a letter in N & Q. Vol. IX p.101 on 'Horn Books'
'Pocock the printer of Gravesend,1 was a very clever and industrious man. He was the founder of the first Kent Archaeological and Naturalist Society. He died at Dartford and is buried in Wilmington churchyard. His son, who served in Portugal under General Evans gave me the following information which may serve as a clue to the extinction of the Horn book etc. etc . .... . '
This letter was answered in the next issue (Sept. 1860 p.189) by someone using the initials J.G.N.2 who wished to know when the Society was founded. J.G.N.'s letter was answered by Dunkin in the N & Q. October 1860 issue, p278.
' .. Kent Archaeological and Naturalist Society: The only member, I believe, now alive of the Society is William Crafter Esq. who for many years was Chief Clerk (sic) of Tilbury and Gravesend Forts. He is very aged and infirm. I believe the Society was founded about 1790. I know that its meetings were held at the Leather Bottle, Northfleet, for the founder told me so. One of the publications was the Charter of the Gravesend Corporation, which I have; that is to say the members subscribed together for its printing. The printing of this charter gave great offence to Mr Cruden and the close Corporation of that epoch; and Pocock told me, that the Corporation took all their business from him and ruined him for this heinous offence! The Society embraced geology and particularly turned their attention to the collection of fossils from the chalk in the adjoining chalk pits where there dwelt a peculiar race of men whose trade was knapping flints, i.e. making gun flints. As Mr Pocock was a contributor to the Gentlemans Magazine, I think it not improbable that notices of the Society will be found in that periodical. Alfred J. Dunkin'
1. Dunkin's History of Dartford was based on many of Pocock's original notes which John Dunkin acquired after Pocock's death.
2. I have looked through all early volumes of Arch. Cant. to see if 'J.G.N.' eventually joined the present Kent Archaeological Society but cannot find anyone under those initials. I have also looked through many early volumes of the Gentlemans Magazine to see if I can find any article, note or letter contributed by Pocock. At present have found nothing.
Nesta Caiger,
Hon. Editor KAS Newsletter