Edward Cook's Dog, a Togston tail?
 

Hodgson (History of Northumberland) relates a story about Edward Cook's dog from the 18th century.


Mr. Edward Cook, after having lived some time with his brother at Togston in Northumberland, went to America, and took with him a pointer dog, which he lost soon afterwards while shooting in the woods near Baltimore. Some time after, Mr. and Mrs. Cook, who continued to reside at Togston, were alarmed at hearing a dog in the night. They admitted it into the house and found it was the same their brother had taken with him to America. The dog lived until his master returned home, when they mutually recognised each other. Mr. Cook was never able to trace by what vessel the dog had left America, or in what part of England it had been landed.



Now how did it manage that? in the age of sail when it would take weeks to cross the atlantic too.

.....And a fishy tail from Hauxley :



On Monday last, [2nd July 1821] a haddock was caught by Ralph Dawson, a fisherman of Hauxley and sold with five others for 3d to a neighbour, whose daughter, on opening one of them, found in the gut a gold ear-ring with jewel suspended, in addition to the bargain.


[from the Caledonian Mercury 9th July 1821]