Great grandson of Thomas Estcourt Cresswell MP for Wootton Bassett (1754-1774) who was found to be a bigamist as well as fathering at least four illegitimate children
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Son of the Rev. Sackville Cresswell, vicar of Bibury, Gloucestershire. Nicknamed 'Bishop of Bibury'.
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1849
Assistant to Dr. Beattie for 10 years until his death
Mr. Beattie
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1863
John File, sen., and John File, jun., appeared to summonses, the former for assaulting Mr. Thomas Bourne, of Elham, and the latter for assaulting Mr. D. S. Cresswell, of the same place.—The evidence shewed that on the 18th June, about half-past 10 at night, Mr. Bourne was on his horse near the Rose and Crown Inn, Elham, when John File, sen., went up to him, and after referring to some reports alleged to have been circulated by Bourne, he began to abuse him, and caught hold of him, and pulled him off his horse on to the ground, and thumped him on the ground; he cut his head upon, and both his hands and bruised him. Just at that time Cresswell came up and going up to File pushed him off Bourne. File then tried to strike Cresswell, and as the latter was endeavouring to ward off his blows, File's son came behind him and struck him on the side of the head and knocked him down.—The bench fined the elder defendant 5s. and 13s. 6d. costs, and the younger one 10s. and 13s. 6d. costs.—An application by John File, sen., that Bourne should find a sureties to keep the peace, was dismissed.
Kentish Gazette - Tuesday 14 July 1863
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1869
Mr. Danzey Somerville Creswell, of Elham, was summoned before Thomas Deane, Esq., on Wednesday, on an information laid by James Sprinks, of the same place, charging him with using threatening language towards him. It appeared that the complainant, who is a grocer and draper, and the defendant, were in conversation on the previous day at Elham, and according to the statement of the complainant, the defendant said to him in a rather excited manner, "If I had my gun with me I would blow out your brains." The complainant now asked for protection, as he feared that the defendant would carry out his threat. Defendant said he was rather excited at something that was said to him by the complainant; but lie did not use the language imputed to him, neither had he any intention of doing the complainant any bodily injury. Mr. Dense said he mast bind him over to keep the peace towards the complainant —himself in £40 and one surety in £20, for six months. Mr. Cresswell said he brought no friends with him. Mr. Dense asked complainant if he would be satisfied with the bond of Mr. Cresswell alone, but he declined. Mr. Cresswell ultimately obtained a surety in Mr. Thomas Cloke, prior of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Hythe, who was accepted.
Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 08 May 1869
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1871
The quiet of our peaceful parish has for a long period been frequently disturbed by the wild vagaries of Danzey Summerville Cresswell, pseudo "doctor," but it is to be hoped that a wholesome check has been put upon his movements by the decision of the magistrates assembled in petty sessions last Monday, whereby "Dr." Cresswell was mulcted in the penalty of £5 and costs. The circumstances from which the magisterial proceedings arose have long been the subject of our village gossips, but readers of this paper elsewhere may like to know something of the doings of this modern example of ruffianism. It seems from the evidence given on Monday that some time in January last a man named Castle was at work with a horse and cart upon the road just outside Elham, when Cresswell approached riding a horse at his usual rapid pace, and called out to have the road cleared for him. Now as it happened that a waggon, and several gentlemen on horseback had just previously passed the spot where the horse and cart were still standing, Castle did not immediately obey the order, which it is said was given in language not fit for ears polite, whereupon Cresswell without further ado commenced to belabour the head and shoulders of the disobedient curter with blows from the butt end of a heavy hunting whip. A scuffle ensued; the doctor got unhorsed, and commenced " squaring " up for an engagement. Castle, however, quickly felled his antagonist to the ground, and when opportunity offered repeated the performance. The doctor thus got the worst of the encounter, his eyes were blackened, his lips cut and bruised, and the "bridge" of his nose broken. Next morning Mr. Cresswell invoked the majesty of the law, and obtained a summons against Castle for an assault. The simple carter, too, objecting, it is to be presumed, to the Legree style of castigation practised upon him, like-wise obtained a citation to appear against the " doctor," and when the cross-summonses came on for hearing, Mr. Cresswell, by virtue of his having placed himself in the position of the original complainant, had his " say " first. Nothing doubting, Mr. Cresswell stated (upon oath, of course) his version of the affray, but happily for Castle, whose tongue the law now kept silent, he had "free and independ.ent " witnesses to bring forward whose testimony clearly convinced the bench of Magistrates which of the parties was the actual aggressor, and without waiting to hear the evidence in detail they at once dismissed the case. The tables had now turned; the man of the horse and cart was complainant and the soi disant professor of the healing art, defendant. Castle (not only by his own testimony but by the evidence of others who evidently spoke without favour or affection for either party) clearly demonstrated to the bench that a brutal assault had been committed upon him, and the magistrates—most righteously we think—ordered the "doctor" to pay a penalty of £5 and costs. It is said that at first the administrators of justice were inclined to commit the defendant to prison without the option of paying a fine. Who would have regretted it but himself?— From a Correspondent.
Whitstable Times 11th March 1871
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1875
Mr. C. File lost last week a valuable cart horse, the mate having given it a quantity of peas that remained over from the previous day's "seasoning." Mr. Crouch, jun., of Exted, went as usual on Saturday morning to his sheep fold, where he found two dogs, the property of Mr. D. S. Cresswell, worrying the sheep. He instantly shot both dogs, and found many of the sheep much torn. Mr. Bowes's sheep close by, were first attacked, and many of them seriously torn, one being dead and partly devoured. We are informed that the police found a large piece or fat in the throat of one of the dogs corresponding with a piece torn from the carcase. Many of our readers may recollect what serious losses the farmers of the neighbourhood have suffered on previous occasions, especially at this season of the year.
Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 03 April 1875
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1880
On Thursday, at the County Petty Sessions, Mr. D. S. Creswell a surgeon practising at Elham, was summoned for being drunk whilst in charge of a horse and carriage in high-street, Elham, on April 15th. Police-sergeant Lyons said on April 15th lie was on duty, when defendant came driving down the street, and endeavoured to drive over him twice. The Bench dismissed the charge of being drunk whilst in charge of a horse and chaise, but considered the case proved of being drunk and disorderly, and sentenced the defendant to 14 days' hard labour. Notice of appeal was given.
Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 22 May 1880
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1880
At the Hythe County. Petty Session, on Thursday. Mr. Minter made an application in the case of Dr. Creswell, of Elham, who a few weeks since was sentenced to I4 days' hard labour for disorderly conduct. At the hearing the defendant gave notice of appeal, but Mr. Minter now applied to the Beach to reconsider their decision and to inflict a fine instead of imprisonment as the defendant was unable to meet the heavy expense attendant upon an appeal. The Bench unanimously refused the application. At the Court of General Sessions, on Thursday, the Chief Constable was authorised by a resolution of the justices to undertake the expense of defending the appeal.
Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 03 July 1880
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1880
Dr. Creswell concluded his term of imprisonment in St. Augustine's gaol on Tuesday in last week, and upon his release' met with a somewhat remarkable demonstration. It seems that a two-horse load of his friends had been conveyed from Elham to Canterbury early in the morning, and they awaited the appearance of the doctor in the vicinity of the gaol. Immediately upon Dr. Creswell passing the gaol gate he was vigorously cheered by his friends and escorted to a carriage and four horses which had been in waiting. This was driven off amid cheers, his progress being heralded by the blowing of a post-horn.
Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 24 July 1880
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1889
A well. known inhabitant of Elharn passed away last week in the person of “Dr. Cresswell." Although he had no diploma, yet he had a most extensive practice, among farmers, and labouring classes. His reputation reached every part of East Kent, and some astonishing cures have been reported under his treatment. Such was his reputation for skill, that several held his abilities in great reverence, and would trust in no other than Dr. Cresswell, who was in many things a most eccentric man. A large number who placed implicit faith in his skill will mourn his loss.
Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 13 April 1889
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1900
Death of wife Jane
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