The age of George Horspool was given as 81 when he died in 1926, therefore fitting with the Civil Registration of Births for the 4Q of 1844, Oakham District, Vol 15 page 649, (Incorrectly listed as "Cookham" District in FreeBmd.), this also corresponds with the place of birth (Burley, Rutland) that he gave in the 1911 census. At the time of his retirement in 1895 George Horspool had served 28 years meaning that he joined the Police Force in 1867.
When he first went to Hong Kong is uncertain but he was back in England in 1872 when he married Selina Elizabeth Hogg in the Woolwich District of London. His son Frederic Horspool was born in the Bury St Edmunds District in 1873. The first mention of George Horspool in Hong Kong is in the newspaper article below:
Hong Kong Times, October 10th, 1874
"EXECUTION OF A PIRATE (From the Hong Kong Times, October 10th, 1874). YEONG-CHAN-YING, the Spark pirate, was executed at 6 o'clock this (Saturday) morning, at Victoria gaol. The circumstances of the crime for which he has paid with his life are too recent and fresh in the recollection of all to need detailed recapitulation. Prisoner was convicted at the Criminal Sessions held last week. He was one of a numerous gang, who on the morning of the 22nd August last made an attack on the Spark, whilst voyaging between Canton and Macao, and murdered Captain Brady and others and then plundered the vessel. His identity was clearly established at the trial; and, though it must be regretted that most of his companions escaped, it is some satisfaction to know that at least one of the desperate ruffians has met his well-deserved fate. Prisoner was a seaman; he was only four feet ten and three-quarter inches in height, but he had a well-knit frame, and it was evident that be was a man of considerable strength and determination. The scaffold was erected in the usual place, on the eastern side of the gaol. Two files of police - Chinese and European - were drawn up outside; whilst inside were stationed a further number of European and Sikh policemen under the command of Inspector Horspool. There was a good number of European residents in the gaol yard, near the scaffold, and a sprinkling in the road below; but very few Chinese - not more than forty in all - had been attracted to the spot. Amongst those assembled in the gaol yard were the Sheriff (Mr. Creagh), the Acting Governor of the gaol (Mr. Tonnochy), the colonial surgeon (Dr. Ayres), and other officials. A portion of the Chinese prisoners were brought out to witness the execution. At a few minutes to 6 the gaol bell began a funeral toll, and almost immediately after the procession left the main building. The executioner first mounted the scaffold. In England almost every execution gives the opportunity of sketching part of Calcraft's biography, and any little incident that can be picked up regarding his past history is eagerly seized and devoured. But surely it is a matter of no public concern who performs the thankless though necessary office of executioner. The individual who now discharged this duty took, we believe, bit first practical lesson this morning. He had taken the precaution to veil his face, and probably those who bad not seen him previously would not he able again to recognise him. Better, perhaps, that he should be forgotten till the next occasion when his services may be needed. The prisoner, whose arms had been pinioned before he left the gaol, walked up the scaffold steps quietly and firmly, and took his place beside the executioner. His youth - he was only 22 - his slight form, and small stature made him seem at first glance almost boyish. It seemed difficult to realise that such a one had belonged to a desperate, reckless, and bloody band of pirates. But a nearer, closer, and more careful view changed one's opinion. That firmly knit though slight frame showed strength, and he was evidently a man of considerable power. So too did his firm though quiet step indicate physical strength. The final preparations were few, and were got through quickly."
Source: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13341520
In 1875 George HORSPOOL was promoted to Chief Inspector of Police of the Hong Kong Police Force. He was the first person to be appointed to this post.
Source:http://www.info.gov.hk/police/offbeat/769/eng/highlight.htm#news
Between 1887-1889 in Letters regarding Hongkong Fire Insurance Co. Ltd, George Horspool is listed as Acting Superintendent, Hong Kong Fire Brigade.
Source: http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/
Between 1884 and 1895 a Mrs G Horspool is listed in the Ladies Directory as being resident at the Central Police Station, Hong Kong.
Source: gwulo.com
There are many newspaper articles with connection to George Horspool.
The China Mail, 2nd May, 1879.
PASSENGERS - Arrived. Per Glenartney from London, Mr and Mrs Horspool and son for Hong Kong.
The China Mail, 15 July 1879.
A successful raid, directed by Inspector Horspool, was made to-day on seven gambling houses connected with the Walsing Lottery, and a large number of arrests were made. The accused have been released on bail of $200 each. It is said that a sum of $6000 fell into the hands of the Police.
The Hong Kong Telegraph, 4 Nov 1882
We hear that Mr Horspool, Chief Inspector of Police, has been appointed clerk and accountant to the Government Fire Brigade, in place of Mr Parker, who is about to proceed home on twelve month's leave of absence.
The China Mail, 29 Nov 1886.
Mr G. Horspool, Chief Inspector of Police, after being absent on leave over a twelve months, arrived here this morning in the French Mail Steamer, Melbourne.
The Hong Kong Telegraph, 11 Dec 1894
MURDER AND SUICIDE AT THE "CENTRAL." . At the Magistracy this morning Mr. H. E. Wodehouse continued the Inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Serain Singh, 25 years of age, who as reported in these columns on the 7th, shot a Chinese constable at the Central Police Station on Thursday last and then committed suicide. With the exception of the statement made by Mr. G. Horspool, Acting Captain Superintendent of Police, that the deceased Sikh applied to him twice on the 6th instant for thirty round of ammunition which he refused to grant owing to the form of application being irregular and that he knew of no reason why the Sikh should have shot lukong No.140, very little light was thrown upon the subject by any of the witnesses examined. The evidence of Dr. Marques, who examined the bodies of the deceased policemen shortly after life was extinct, was interesting in so far as it showed that the Chinese constable must have been instantly killed owing to his being shot through the head, while the body of the Sikh who caused bis death had several bullet wounds in it, the one that proved fatal evidently having been fired by himself into his stomach at very close quarters. That appeared to the witness to be certain, because the man's clothing was singed in the immediate vicinity of the wound below the chest. His Worship closed the Inquiry at 3p.m. - He said— I find that the deceased Chinese constable No. 140 owed his death to the effects of a bullet fired intentionally at him by the deceased-Seraih Singb, who at the same time met with his death by inflicting a bullet wound on his own person with intent to commit suicide. There is no evidence to show whether the deceased Serain Singh was or was not in his right mind at the time, and there is no evidence forthcoming to explain the reason of his action towards the deceased Chinese constable No.140.
Note: Mr H.E.Wodehouse was the father of the author P.G.Wodehouse.
The Hong Kong Weekly Press, 14 March 1895
PRESENTATION TO DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT HORSPOOL.
AN INTERESTING RETROSPECT.
Mr. George Horspool, Deputy Superintendent of Police, retires from the Hongkong Police Force this week, and on Tuesday afternoon (5th inst) he was made the recipient of a very handsome carriage clock and an address from the officers and men of the Force. The presentation was made in the Deputy-Superintendent's room in the presence of a large number of the members of the Force. Chief Inspector Mathieson, in making the presentation, said - Deputy Superintendent Horspool, I am requested by the members of the Police Force to-day to ask you to accept from us a small souvenir in the shape of an address and a carriage clock on the eve of your departure on leave and retirement from the service. We are quite aware of the fact that the Hongkong Police Force is going to lose an able, zealous, and painstaking officer, and an honest, straightforward, and conscientious man. You came here twenty-eight years ago from a good old school, the Metropolitan Police Force. You came here with a thorough training in Police-work, and you have given the benefit of that training to the public and Government of Hongkong. We know you have had to send in your papers at this time on account of Mrs. Horspool's health, but we hope that the return to the old country will enable her to regain her health. I now ask you to receive this carriage clock and address on behalf of the Police, which we will take as read (applause). The clock bore the following inscription : - "Presented to George Horspool, Esq,; JP., Deputy Superintendent of the Hongkong Police, by the members of the Force on his retirement after twenty-eight years' service, as a token of esteem and regard. 6th March, 1895." The following is the text of the address "To George Horspool, Esquire, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Assistant Superintendent of Fire Brigade. "We, the undersigned members of the Hong-kong Police Force, in view of your retirement from the service after a lengthened and meritorious career of twenty-eight years' service, desire to give expression to the great esteem in which we have always held you, for the success with which you have held your various responsible appointments, and the justice with which you have carried out the duties of those positions. We one and all heartily concur in giving expression that to you is due in many respects the efficient state of the Force at the present time.
" We have invariably found in you a most conscientious and straightforward officer in your duties both to the Force and the Public, and although the Force is composed of various nationalities, yet the whole has worked harmoniously together under your supervision on the several occasions when you performed the arduous duties of Captain Superintendent of Police. "We cannot allow you to depart from the colony without expressing our great sympathy in the cause which necessitates your leaving, and we sincerely hope that Mrs. Horspoolj will soon regain her health after a short stay in the old country. "In conclusion, therefore, may we hope that wherever you may chance to reside, you and your family will enjoy such peace and happiness as will compensate you for the length of years you have spent, in the trying and enervating climate of this colony of Hongkong. (Here follow the signatures of the whole of the European, Indian aud Chinese members of the Police Force,) Mr. Horspool said - Chief Inspector Mathieson, Officers, and Men of the Hongkong Police Force — I have to tender you, on behalf of Mrs Horspool and myself, our heartfelt thanks for this very flattering address and very handsome clock you have just presented me with. I cannot attempt to describe with what pleasure I accept them. I was always a poor hand at making a speech. I have had, during my service, many difficult tasks set me, but I cannot remember one half so hard as this, for I think, if there is one time more than another calculated to cause a sort of fulness in the throat, it is when one is called upon to say good-bye to something they prize very highly. That is exactly my position now, for I prize very highly indeed the Hongkong Police service, and I am very proud of my position in it. I particularly regret having to leave just at present when ourl respected Chief is about to take a well-earned holiday, and when I should, in all probability, have the honour once more of commanding the Force and if my own health was the only consideration I should remain. But I am sorry to say — and I feel sure you will be sorry to hear — that my wife's health has completely broken down. It is urgently necessary that she should go home at once, and I feel it to be my duty to accompany her and acting upon medical advice, I have asked for permission to retire on pension. I must tell you that when in England two years ago I was strongly advised by two eminent medical men not to venture through another summer in Hong Kong. You remember what last summer was. The colony was visited by that terrible plague epidemic and when so much hard and disagreeable and dangerous work was thrown upon this department, I could not think, for a moment, of asking to leave. You will doubtless expect me to say something about the Force as I found it twenty-eight years ago and the changes which have since taken place. I will try to do so but rnust confine myself to the European Force. Well, I found the Force a very unpopular one. With the exception of the Assistant Superintendent and three or four Inspectors and Sergeants, there was not a man who bad been five years in the Force. Recruiting was done locally, and the Force was composed of men of nearly every nationality — principally from merchant ships and old soldiers. The pay at the time was considered to be very small — from a third-class Police Constable at $24 to a first-class Inspector at $70 per mensem, — but considering that the dollar was worth 4/4 or 4/6, I must say it compares favourably with the present rates. There had been cases in which men recently discharged from gaol for deserting from their ship or something of that kind, had been taken on the Force. Very little, if any, attempt was made to instruct them in their duties; they were put in suits of old uniform given a truncheon, which they used to carry in the hand, and sent into the streets "on duty". At night these men carried loaded muskets, and I have been told that it was customary for them, from all parts of the city, to meet each morning before going off duty at a public house, known as Portuguese Joe's at Queen's Road Central, pile arms outside on the side-walk, then go inside, to break their fast, i.e., drink (laughter). You can imagine what would, in all probability, become of such policemen, especially, if they, unfortunately, came across any of their old drinking chums in the neighbourhood of the grog-shops, where the policemen could get almost unlimited drink. The old soldiers, as a rule, did not last long, drinking being their terrible stumbling block. If a man got over the first month he might possibly stay two or three years, but the average length of service, I should say, was about a year or eighteen months. It was a comfortless sort of place. There was no library, no reading rooms, no billiard room, no mess room, or even bath rooms. Each man catered for himself and took his food on his bed or his box. Of course, to a young man; of ability and good character, promotion was very rapid. I remember one or two cases of men being promoted from Police Constable to the rank of Inspector in less than two years (laughter.) This state of things continued up to the end of 1871, when, with the exception of the Captain Superintendent, there were only three men who had fire years' service, Since then all has been changed. In the fourteen months, from January, 1872, to March, 1873. sixty-five trained police constables arrived from home; forty-five from Edinburgh in January and February, 1872, of whom only four remain, and twenty from London in March, 1873. of whom also four remain. One is Chief Inspector, six are Inspectors, and one is Acting Inspector. These officers received $40 per month; the pay of a 1st Class Inspector was increased to $100 per month and the pay of the other grades increased in proportion. Since then batches have been sent out from home from time to time, as required and only a few men - for the Water Police - have been enlisted in the colony. The comfort of the men is now studied by the heads of the department, You have a library, reading-rooms, billiard-room mess-rooms, &c., &c., tennis-courts, and a ....... range. The pay - in dollars - has also been again increased; and men of good character get "Home leave" every five years and passage paid. The result is that the force has.become popular. Of the 12 Inspectors - including the Chief Inspector - no less than 9 have upwards of 20 years' service. Of the 12 Sergeants no less than 9 have upwards of 12 years' service; one has served 22 years. These facts speak for themselves. There is one thing I should like to say. If at any time, any of you have considered that I have dealt a little harshly with you, that 1 have refused you anything it was in my power, as Acting Captain Superintendent or Deputy Superintendent, to grant, rest assured it has never been done unkindly. 1 have looked upon the Police Force as public property and on myself as one of the custodians of that property, and I have always striven to do my best for the good of the service in the interest of the public whose servant I am. (Applause) I have now to express to the officers my sinoere thanks for the manner in which they have always 'so loyally assisted me in carrying on the duties of the Department. I have only to add my of the Department. X have only to add my sincere hope that as long as any of you remain in the Force, you will, whatever your rank may be, do your very best to maintain the present popularity, the present good name of the Force to which during the last twenty-eight years I have had the honour to belong (applause). Mr. F. H. May, Captain Superintendent, afterwards entertained the Inspectors to tiffin to take farewell of Mr. Horspool. Deputy Superintendent, and Mr. Mathieson. Chief Inspector.
BIRTH:
Civil Registration Index of Births 1837-1983.
Births registered Oct/Nov/Dec 1844
Horspool George
District: Oakham
Vol 15 Page 649
Listed as "Cookham" District in FreeBmd."
MARRIAGE EVENT:
Civil Registration Index of Marriages 1837-1983.
"Marriages registered Jul/Aug/Sep 1872
Hogg Selina Elizabeth
Horspool George
District: Woolwich
Vol 1d Page 1288.
DEATH:
Civil Registration Index of Deaths 1837-1983.
Deaths registered Apr/May/Jun 1926
Horspool George
Age: 81
District: Steyning (Sussex)
Vol 3b Page 323.
CENSUS:
1851 British Census.
Name Rel Mar Age Sex Occupation Birthplace
John HORSPOOLE Head M 51 M Groom Burley, Rutland
Elizabeth HORSPOOLE Wife M 46 F Belansthorpe Rutland
Elizabeth HORSPOOLE Daur U 14 F Burley Rutland
George HORSPOOLE Son U 6 M Burley, Rutland
Address:
Census Place: Burley, Rutland, England
PRO Reference: HO107 Piece 2092 Folio 91 Page: 3."
1861 British Census.
Census Place: Burley, Rutland, England
Source: PRO Ref RG9 Piece 2305 Folio 11 Page 16
Household:
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
John HORSPOOL
Wid 61 Male Burley, Rutland
Rel: Head
Occ: Groom
George HORSPOOL
U 17 Male Burley, Rutland
Rel: Son
Occ: ....... Midland Railway
Harriet SHARPE
U 30 Female, Grantham, Rutland
Rel: Serv
Occ: Housekeeper.
1901 British Census.
Dwelling: Hotel Metropole, Christchurch Road
Census Place: Bournemouth, England
Source: PRO Ref
Household:
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
long list including:....
George HORSPOOL
Widr 54 Male Burley, Hants? England
Rel: Visitor
Occ: Living on own means."
1911 British Census.
Name Rel Cond Sex Age Occupation Where Born
HORSPOOL, George Visitor Wid M 66 Private Means Burley Rutland
RG number: RG14 Piece:577
Address: Great Central Hotel, Marylebone Road, London.
WILLS 1926 - HORSPOOL George of The Grand Hotel Brighton died 14 April 1926 at 7 Wilbury-road Hove Sussex Probate London 17 June to Frederic Horspool civil engineer. Effects £10871 4s. 1d.
Source: Ancestry.com/England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations),1861-1941