Marsh had an assistant; his Great Dane named ‘Seeker’. While Marsh tried the doors of the local merchants, Seeker would stand and wait. If there were any sign of trouble, Marsh would let Seeker in to investigate. He then would follow and make an arrest if need be.
The beat back was in reverse; Seeker would lead the way down the alleys behind the stores, followed by Marsh. If something unusual was found, Seeker would ‘utter a deep growl and stand guard' until Marsh arrived with his gas lamp to investigate and make an arrest if necessary. If someone [a drunk/vagrant] had to be placed in the lock-up, located in the cellar of the town hall, Marsh would lead the way, followed by the culprit and Seeker bringing up the rear. . . In the morning, the prisoner would be freed.
Marsh was also a member of the Woodstock town fire brigade until the fire department was made a permanent one and moved to the fire hall on Perry Street. . . . Marsh retired in 1925, and was granted a pension for life by the Woodstock Police Commission.
Sources: Local History Collection, Woodstock Public Library; Doug Symons, ‘The Village that Straddled a Swamp’, 1997; Williams & Baker, ‘Woodstock Bits & Pieces’, 1967."
Extra Information From Quiz Committee: Starting (3rd job!) as a Dundas area night watchman from May, 1883, every evening after 9 p.m. Marsh patrolled with his first dog, Duke, a large, smart
Newfoundland. They formed an effective team - until Duke was poisoned when 11 years old. Marsh continued his night patrols with another smart dog,
Seeker, a Great Dane. After over 40 years service as a night watchman, Marsh retired aged 81 in 1925. Made ill by his coal-gas oven in 1932, he died in
hospital.
Ed Bennett, our local historian, tells us that when his father, Bill Bennett Sr., first arrived by train in Woodstock as an immigrant in 1904, it was
nearly 2 a.m. in the morning. He met Marsh while walking and asked him where he could find a hotel that might still be open. The night watchman turned
and led Ed’s dad to the County Jail, offering him a bed in the section of the jail normally used as a hostel by prisoners’ dependants (a custom at that time).
It’s cheaper than a hotel!” Marsh said, in kindly encouragement. By then very tired, Ed’s Dad accepted and spent his first night in Woodstock as a
guest of the County Jail. In the morning, Bill moved to the Oxford Hotel.
Born in S. Norwich in 1844, by 1871 Marsh was farming a rented property near Burgessville with his first wife Sarah and 3-year-old daughter Frances. In
1881, having just moved to Woodstock, Marsh joined the Fire Department, leaving in the mid 1890s. Between 1888 and 1891, Marsh also worked as a policeman
or guard, and was present when Reginald Birchall was hanged for murder in the yard of Oxford Jail, one November day in 1890.
Sources:
- 1871, 1881, 1891 Censuses for North Norwich and Woodstock (Oxford Branch OGS, Old Registry Office)
- 1881 to 1904 Woodstock Directories (Oxford Branch OGS, Old Registry Office)
- The Sentinel-Review Inaugural Edition, July 1-2 (Oxford Historical Society; Woodstock Public Library)
- Sentinel Review, Feb. 5, 1932 (Woodstock Public Library, microfilm records)