Friends
Of
Hastings
Cemetery
Tilden Tolhurst AI E26
In affectionate remembrance of
Tilden Tolhurst
Of Hastings
Who departed this life
August 22nd 1881
Aged 71 years
Thy will be done
Also
Anne
Wife of the above
Who died May 9th 1884
Aged 59 years
Loved and respected by all who knew her
Tilden Tolhurst and his wife Ann are buried in Hastings cemetery among the retired military men, the daughters of gentlemen, and the servants of empire. Tilden, who was a local publican, had led a more interesting life then his respectable resting place might lead one to suppose.
He was born in about 1810, in Westfield. In 1839, at the age of 29, he makes his first appearance in records, appearing at Lewes Assizes accused of sheep stealing, one wether-
Tilden, described as a butcher, and his relative John Tolhurst, a huckster from Hastings, were seen driving a borrowed cart containing cuts of meat.
Tilden and John Tolhurst were sentenced to ten years transportation. However they were not sent to the colonies to serve their sentence, but spent the term on a prison hulk, the Leviathan, at Portsea Town. Tilden was listed as an inmate on Census night 1841, and prison records note that he was pardoned on October 30th 1844. No reason was given for this pardon.
