John Christopher Farndale The Elder
3 January 1802 (Baptised) to 5 February 1837 (Buried)

The Whitby 4 Line

FAR00244

A painter, farmer and then master mariner in Whitby who died aged 35.

Dates are in red.

Hyperlinks to other pages are in dark blue.

Headlines of John’s life are in brown.

References and citations are in turquoise.

Context and local history are in purple.

Overview

John Christopher Farndale the Elder was probably the grandson of John Farndale (FAR00136) who sailed colliers with James Cook out of Whitby. It is likely John Christopher Farndale was the son of Robert Farndale, also a master mariner, and buried in the churchyard of Dracula fame at Whitby.

John Christopher Farndale the Elder was a painter when he married Ann Ling in 1825 and until the birth of his third son in 1830. But by 1836, he was a master mariner of Whitby, captaining a coal brig called the William and Nancy with cargos of coal largely between Whitby and the north east and Wisbech in Cambridgeshire and the southeast.

Of his family of five, John’s eldest son, William Farndale (FAR00289) also became a master mariner and continued to captain the William and Nancy. The third son, John Christopher Farndale the Younger (FAR00308) captained other ships. They all lived lives of adventure, perils at sea, and travel. His second son, Thomas Farndale was a ship’s broker’s clerk who died aged only 31. His daughter, Mary Farndale, was a straw bonnet maker and married a master mariner in Whitby. His fifth child, James Farndale, died an infant. This was a family of mariners at the heart of the maritime coal industry in the mid Victorian era. The second generation ventured widely around the North Sea (often called the German sea at the time) and the Baltic and further south. But John died young, at the age of only 35.

A brig is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig. It had two masts which were both square-rigged. Brigs originated in the second half of the eighteenth century and were a common type of smaller merchant vessel or warship from then until the latter part of the nineteenth century. In commercial use, they were gradually replaced by fore-and-aft rigged vessels such as schooners, as owners sought to reduce crew costs by having rigs that could be handled by fewer men. In Royal Navy use, brigs were retained for training use when the battle fleets consisted almost entirely of iron-hulled steamships. Brigs were prominent in the coasting coal trade of British waters. 4,395 voyages to London with coal were recorded in 1795. With an average of eight or nine trips per year for one vessel, that is a fleet of over 500 colliers trading to London alone. Other ports and coastal communities were also be served by colliers trading to Britain's coal ports. In the first half of the nineteenth century, the vast majority were rigged as brigs, and that rig was retained for longer in the northeast of England.

The Mary, a Brig of South Shields painted in 1855

The Traditional Song, the Collier Brig: Oh, the worst old ship that ever set sail, Sailed out of Harwich on a windy day. Chorus: Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys, When the wind blows the barge will go. She was built in Roman style, Held together with bits of twine. Skipper’s half Dutch and he hasn’t got a clue, The crew were fourteen hands too few. Cook spilt the dinner on the galley floor, Skipper caught his hand in the wheelhouse door. Off Orford Ness we sprang a leak, Hear our poor old timbers creak. We steered our way round Lowestoft next, The wind backed round to the sou-sou-west. Through the Cockle to Cromer Cliff, Steering like a wagon with a wheel adrift. Up The Humber and up to town, Pump, you devils, pump or drown. Then on a sandbank we got stuck, Skipper’s drunk in the Dog and Duck. Up come a mermaid covered in slime, We took her down the hold and we had a good time. We kept on course all through the night, Nearly went aground at the Apex light. Coal was shot by a Keadby crew, Bottom was rotten and it went right through. So when we saw the brig was sunk, We went to the Barge and we all got drunk.

A master mariner is a licensed mariner who holds the highest grade of seafarer qualification. He is thus given an unlimited master's license, with no limits on the tonnage, power, or geographic location of the vessel that the holder of the license is allowed to serve upon. A master mariner would therefore be allowed to serve as the master of a merchant ship of any size, of any type, operating anywhere in the world, and it reflected the highest level of professional qualification amongst mariners and deck officers.

The term master mariner has been in use at least since the thirteenth century, reflecting the fact that in guild or livery company terms, such a person was a master craftsman in this specific profession, such as were also a master carpenter, master blacksmith etc.

In the British Merchant Navy a master mariner who had sailed in command of an ocean going merchant ship was titled “Captain”, although a professional seafarer who held a restricted or limited master's certificate who had sailed in command of a ship could also be titled captain.

Where the movements of ships were recorded in the shipping news and other media, the name of the ship was followed by the name of the Captain.

For the maritime expeditions of John Christopher Farndale the Elder, see also the Maritime Adventures of John Christopher Farndale The Elder.

The Traditional Song, the Collier Brig: Oh, the worst old ship that ever set sail, Sailed out of Harwich on a windy day. Chorus: Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys, When the wind blows the barge will go. She was built in Roman style, Held together with bits of twine. Skipper’s half Dutch and he hasn’t got a clue, The crew were fourteen hands too few. Cook spilt the dinner on the galley floor, Skipper caught his hand in the wheelhouse door. Off Orford Ness we sprang a leak, Hear our poor old timbers creak. We steered our way round Lowestoft next, The wind backed round to the sou-sou-west. Through the Cockle to Cromer Cliff, Steering like a wagon with a wheel adrift. Up The Humber and up to town, Pump, you devils, pump or drown. Then on a sandbank we got stuck, Skipper’s drunk in the Dog and Duck. Up come a mermaid covered in slime, We took her down the hold and we had a good time. We kept on course all through the night, Nearly went aground at the Apex light. Coal was shot by a Keadby crew, Bottom was rotten and it went right through. So when we saw the brig was sunk, We went to the Barge and we all got drunk.

1802

John Christopher Farndale was baptised at Loftus on 3 January 1802, the son of Robert and Hannah Farndale (FAR00169) or of John and Dinah (nee Boyes) Farndale (FAR00198). There is a separate record which shows he was born on 3 January 1802, but as he was certainly baptised that day, it seems more likely he was born prior to that, probably at the very end of 1801 (Loftus PR & IGI).

1825

John Christopher Farndale, bachelor, painter and Ann Ling, both of Whitby Parish, were married at Whitby by banns, on 24 February 1825.The witnesses were Christopher Harland and Ralph Greenberry. John was aged 23 (Whitby PR & IGI).

William Farndale, son of John Christopher and Ann Farndale, painter, was born on 11 November 1825 and baptised on 17 November 1825 (FAR00289) (Whitby PR).

1826

The following articles all relate to “William and Nancy, Farndale” sailing generally between Whitby or to the northeast and Wisbech in Cambridgeshire. In the following newspaper extracts, personal names after Ship Names are the names of the ships' captains. A later article evidences that this was the older Captain John Christopher Farndale, born 1802, who became a master mariner in Whitby.

The Cambridge Chronicle and Journal, 18 August 1826: WISBECH SHIP NEWS. ARRIVED … William and Mary, Farndale … from Sunderland, with coals.

The Bury and Norwich Post, 23 August 1826: WISBECH, AUGUST 21. ARRIVED. … William and Nancy, Farndale … from Sunderland, all with coals.

The Cambridge Chronicle and Journal, 6 October 1826: WISBECH SHIP NEWS. ARRIVED … William and Nancy, Farndale… from Sunderland, with coals.

The Stamford Mercury, 6 October 1826: WISBECH SHIP NEWS to the 4^th October. ARRIVED … William and Nancy, Farndale … from Sunderland, all with coals.

1828

Thomas Farndale, son of John Christopher and Ann Farndale, painter of Whitby baptised 3 Mar 1828 (FAR00300) (Whitby PR).

The Stamford Mercury, 5 September 1828: WISBECH SHIP NEWS to the 3^rd September. ARRIVED … William and Nancy, Farndale … from Sunderland, all with coals.

The Huntingdon, Bedford and Peterborough Express, 6 September 1828: WISBECH SHIP NEWS. ARRIVED … William and Nancy, Farndale … from Sunderland, with coals.

The Cambridge Chronicle, 10 October 1828: WISBECH SHIP NEWS. ARRIVED. … William and Nancy, Farndale … from Sunderland, with coals.

1829

The Cambridge Chronicle and Journal, 19 June 1829: WISBECH SHIP NEWS. ARRIVED. … and William and Nancy, Farndale, from Sunderland with coals …

The Huntingdon, Bedford and Peterborough Express, 19 September 1829: WISBECH SHIP NEWS. ARRIVED. … William and Nancy, Farndale … from Sunderland, with coals.

1830

John Christopher Farndale, son of John Christopher and Ann Farndale, painter, baptised Whitby 10 Nov 1830, born 18 Oct 1830 (FAR00308) (Whitby PR).

The York Herald, 13 February 1830: WHITBY SHIPPING. COASTERS ARRIVED … and William and Nancy, Farndale, from Stockton …

1832

Mary Ann Farndale, daughter of John Christopher and Ann Farndale, baptised Whitby 24 Dec 1832, born 26 Sep 1832 (FAR00320) (Whitby PR).

1833

At Yarmouth on 14 June 1833, The William and Nancy, of Whitby, slipped anchor and chain, lost stern boat, and received other damage, off the North Foreland on Tuesday. The Morning Advertiser, 17 June 1833: YARMOUTH, JUNE 14. The William and Nancy, Farndale, of Whitby, slipped anchor and chain, lost stern boat, and received other damage, off North Foreland, on Tuesday … Bell’s New Weekly Messenger, 23 June 1833: YARMOUTH, 14^th June. The ‘William and Nancy’, Farndale, of Whitby, slipped anchor and chain, lost stern boat, and received other damage off the Foreland on Tuesday …

In August 1833, John captained a brig called the Felicity off the west coast. The Sun, London, 24 August 1833: LANCASTER, OCT 22. Arrived the Felicity, Farndale, and Fame, Wright, from Archangel.

1835

The Morning Post, 25 March 1835: DEAL, March 23 – NE fresh breezes. … Arrived, the William and Nancy, Farndale, from Newcastle, and remains. The Evening Chronicle, 24 March 1835: SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. THIS DAY. DEAL, MARCH 23. Wind NE, fresh breezes … Arrived, the William and Nancy, Farndale, from Newcastle, and remains. The Morning Advertiser, 25 March 1835: FROM LLOYD’S BOOKS OF MARCH 24, 1835. … Arrived, the William and Nancy, Farndale, from Newcastle, and remains.

The Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, 28 March 1835: SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. DOVER. Arrived … William and Nancy, Farndale, from Shields …

The London Courier and Evening Gazette, 6 June 1835: SHIP NEWS (From Lloyds). DEAL. June 5. Wind, NNW. … Arrived and remain, the William and Nancy, from Stockton … The Morning Advertiser, 8 June 1835: DEAL JUNE 5. … Arrived and remain the William and Nancy, Farndale, from Stockton …

The Sun, London, 14 July 1835: FROM LLOYDS. DEAL JULY 11 AND 12. Wind WSW, fine … Arrived … William and Nancy, Slacklin for Deal …

1836

James Farndale, son of John Christopher and Ann Farndale, farmer, Master Mariner and formerly painter of Cragg Whitby, baptised Whitby 21 Oct 1836, born 24 Oct 1836 (FAR00336) (Whitby PR). James died an infant in 1837 and was buried at St Mary’s, Whitby.

So John Christopher Farndale was a painter, but by the time of his fifth child, James’ birth in 1836, he was a farmer and Master Mariner. The sailing records suggest that he was a merchant seaman by 1826. He was described as a farmer and Master Mariner, formerly a painter, of Cragg, Whitby. The Cragg is an area along the waterfront on the River Esk in Whitby.

1837

John Christopher Farndale of Cragg, Whitby aged 35, was buried, Whitby, on 5 February 1837 at St Mary Church, Whitby (Whitby PR). The York Herald, 4 February 1837: On Wednesday, at Whitby, Captain John Farndale, master and owner of the William and Nancy, in the prime of his life. John Christopher Farndale Senior, aged 35, was buried at St Mary’s, Whitby on 5 February 1837.

John Christopher Farndale of Whitby – estate £600. February 1837. Prerogative and Exchequer Courts of York, Probate index. Will (Borthwick Institute York, Document reference vol.195, f., Index reference 1834051837060108.tif/6, Date 1837, FEB, Prerogative & Exchequer Courts Of York Probate Index, 1688-1858).

1841

His widow Ann, became a ship owner.

(Pigot & Co’s Directory of York, 1841)

After John had died, the Census of 1841 for Whitby Cray listed his widow, Ann Farndale, age 45; born in Yorks (ie 1796); Thomas Farndale, age 13 (FAR00300); John Farndale, aged 10 (FAR00308); Mary Farndale, aged 8 (FAR00320);

1851

The Census of 1851 for St Ann’s, Snaith, Whitby listed Ann Farndale, head; aged 55; painter’s widow; born Whitby; Thomas Farndale, son; age 23; unmarried; shipbroker clerk; (FAR00300); Mary Farndale, daughter; aged 18; unmarried; shawl and bonnet maker (FAR00320) and also Isaac Harland; nephew; aged 13; unmarried; scholar.

1861

The 1861 Census for 8 George Street, Ruswarp, Whitby listed Ann Farndale, a widow, head of the household, with Mary Chambers, her daughter aged 25 (Mariner’s wife and house lodger), and Sarah Ann Chambers, presumably her granddaughter, aged 7, a scholar.

1873

Ann Farndale, of Guisborough aged 71 was buried at Brotton on 3 February 1873 (Brotton PR).