264 



me " Flint Jack " liegged of his father, ]\Ir. W. E. Snare. Previous 

 to this visit, " Flint Jack " had been charged hy Mr. Tennant of 

 London Avith making spurious implements, and had confessed the 

 imposture. From that time his trade became very precarious, and 

 he gave way more and more to dissipated habits. On January 6th, 

 1862, there was a meeting of the Geologists' Association, ia their 

 rooms in Cavendish Square, when a ]iaper was read by the Rev. 

 T AViltshire, on " The Ancient Flint Implements of Yorkshire 

 and the modern fabrication of similar specimens." "Flint Jack" 

 was present, and demonstrated his simple method of manufacture. 



"Flint Jack" again visited Salisbury in 1863, when his 

 photograph was taken by Mr. TreUe A full-page engraving from 

 this appeared in the "People's Magazine" and the " Rehquary." 

 Lower and lower did he sink in vice and misery, imtil at length, in 

 April, 1867, he stole some goods at Bedford, while in an intoxicated 

 and half-starved condition. He Avas sentenced to twelve months' 

 imprisonment, and was conKned in Bedford Gaol, where John 

 Bunyan had preceded him in durance vile. It was, however, 

 stated in January of that year that " among antiquarians he could 

 generally raise a trifle for pressing needs — a proof of their placable 

 disposition, but when jiossessed of a little cash he drank without 

 ceasing until it was gone." At that time many archseologists had 

 hanging in their residences a ]iortrait of " Flint Jack " framed in 

 spurious flint im])lements of his making. In the " Reliquary " 

 for October, 1867, the editor appeals for help to assist " Flint 

 Jack " when he came out of prison, and says : " The man possesses 

 more real practical antiquarian knowledge than many of the leading 

 antiquarian writers of the day ; and he is a good geologist and 

 palseontologist " The pity is that his talents were not put to 

 better use. The " Newcastle Daily Journal " of May 1 4th, 1868, 

 says : " The celebrated ' Flint Jack ' has been released from ])rison, 

 and is engaged in his old trade of fabricating flint arroAvheads." 

 * A feAV years later he ajipeared in Stamford, and remained there 

 for some time. 



Mr. A. C. Elliott, of XeAvark-on-Trent, Avrites :— " He 

 frequented Savage's lodging-house in St. ]Martin's, Stamford, and 

 used a passage or cellar of the mona.stery, a fine old groined ceiling 

 and arches aAvay from everybody. I visited him there, a dreadful 

 liole, but I Avas ahvays Avell received. ' Flint Jack ' Avas not the 

 poor miserable imbecile some state. He was well spoken, Avell 

 behaved, badly dressed, a fair scholar, a clever craftsman, and 



* Tlie concluding paragraphs of this article liave been added hy the 

 author, and did not appear in the Transactions of the Norfolk and 

 Norwich Society. 



