The Kilton 1 Line

 

 

 

 

 

 

A very large line which in many ways is the hub of the Farndale family into which many other family lines link

 

 

 

  

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General Sir Martin Farndale KCB

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The Story of the Kilton 1 Line

The Kilton 1 Line is a very significant hub of many members of the Farndale family, that runs from 1680 to the late twentieth century. Many other Farndale lines derive from the Kilton 1 Line, which in turn then traces back to more ancient lines to 1512.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Liverton 2 Line

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Farndale

27 June 1680 to 5 October 1757

Married Elizabeth Bennison and Catherine Jackson

Householder of Brotton, perhaps the first Farndale at Kilton

Kilton, Brotton, Liverton

FAR00116

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Farndale

5 December 1708 to 28 February 1789

Married Abigail Gear (Goar?)

Brotton, Kilton

FAR00130

 

Elizabeth Farndale

7 February 1710

Brotton, Kilton

FAR00133

Elizabeth Farndale

23 December 1716

Married Thomas Pickering

Skelton, Brotton

FAR00139

 

Ellin Farndale

23 May 1720

Married Christopher Cuthbert

Brotton

FAR00141

 

 

 

 

The Cuthbert Family

 

John Farndale

28 February 1724 to 24 January 1807

Married Grace Simpson

“Old Farndale of Kilton”

Farmer, alum house merchant, yeoman and cooper

Kilton, Brotton

FAR00143

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Samuel Farndale

Image result for cabinet maker victorian

4 April 1735 to 1797

Marred Elizabeth Hutton

Cabinet maker and joiner, Wesleyan of Kilton

Kilton, Brotton

FAR00149

 

William Farndale

13 July 1743 to 27 April 1777

Married Elizabeth Barry

Master mariner of Whitby

Whitby, Brotton, Skelton

FAR00157

 

The Pickering Family

John Farndale

24 March 1750 to 23 October 1825

Married Jane Pybus

Farmer at Brotton

Kilton, Brotton, Skelton

FAR00167

George Farndale

13 May 1753 to 19 November 1782

Married Mary Stephenson

The butcher of Brotton

FAR00170

Hannah Farndale

17 September 1755 to ?

Married James Jackson

Whitby (Lythe), Brotton

FAR00174

Elizabeth Farndale

17 September 1955 to ?

Married Thomas Hall

Whitby, Brotton

FAR00175

Sarah Farndale

21 January 1758 to 17 August 1759

Kilton, Brotton

FAR00178

William Farndale

30 March 1760 to 5 March 1846

Married Mary Ferguson

Farmer of Kilton and a merchant of wood, rods, coals, salting bacon; a churchgoer

Kilton, Brotton

FAR00183

Mary Farndale

Born 26 April 1761

Married nee Frankland

Skelton, Brotton

FAR00185

 

 

 

 


The Frankland Family

Grace Farndale

Born 2 December 1764

Married nee Fawcet

Skelton, Brotton

FAR00189

 

 

 

 

The Fawcet Family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Whitby 3 Line

 

 

 

The Brotton 2 Line

The Jackson Family

The Hall Family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Farndale

Image result for wheelwright

17 August 1777 to 2 October 1863

Married Mary Davidson

Wheelwright and cartwright

Guisborough, Brotton, Great Ayton

FAR00200

Martha Farndale

6 April 1779

Married Francis Earl

Kilton, Brotton, Loftus

FAR00203

Elizabeth Farndale

22 July 1781 to ?

Married William Smith

Kilton, Skelton

FAR00204

 

 

 

 


The Smith Family

Abigaile Farndale

2 May 1784 to ?

Kilton, Brotton

FAR00205

John Farndale

4 May 1788 to ?

Married Ann Nicholson

Whitby, Danby, Brotton

FAR00210

Joseph Farndale

25 October 1795 to 20 April 1877

Married Mary Hill

Cartwright of Great Ayton

Great Ayton, Middlesborough (Nunthorpe), Kilton, Brotton, Guisborough

FAR00228

Henry Farndale

Image result for agricultural labourer 1800s

25 October 1795 to 28 December 1857

Agricultural labourer of Great Ayton

Great Ayton, Middlesborough (Nunthorpe), Middlesborough (Stainton), Kilton, Brotton, Stokesley

FAR00229

George Farndale

1 December 1789 to 8 May 1858

Married Mary Armstrong

Agricultural labourer of Brotton after living at Richmond (Easby) and Middlesborough (Marton) and who was born and died at Kilton

Kilton, Richmond (Easby), Middlesborough (Marton), Brotton

FAR00215

John Farndale

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15 August 1791 to 28 January 1878

Married Martha Patton

Yeoman farmer of Skelton, Corn Merchant, Insurance Broker

 

 John Farndale wrote extensively about Kilton and Saltburn by the Sea

 

Kilton, Brotton, Skelton, Coatham, Stockton, Danby

 

FAR00217

William Farndale

30 September 1793 to 23 October 1831

Twin of Matthew

Kilton, Brotton

FAR00223

Matthew Farndale

A close up of text on a black background

Description automatically generated

30 September 1793 to 8 August 1884

Married Hannah Thompson

Farmer of Kilton who then emigrated to Australia

Birregurra, Kilton, Brotton

FAR00225

Mary Farndale

24 July 1796 to 31 July 1817

A young girl who died at the age of 21 and was commemorated by a tea pot given to her by a sea captain

Kilton, Brotton

FAR00232

Martin Farndale

11 April 1798 to 22 June 1885

Married Elizabeth Hours

Farmer of Kilton of 200 acres and later 600 acres

No Children. He had various children of John (including Charles), his brother living at Kilton at times. He appears to have farmed Kilton Hall Farm, and since he had no children it was then John’s son Charles who then took over farming at Kilton Hall Farm

Kilton, Brotton

FAR00236

Anna Farndale

19 April 1801 to 22 November 1867

Married William Phillips

A farmer’s wife in Skelton after living in Brotton until she was 40

Kilton, Brotton, Skelton

FAR00242

Elizabeth Farndale

10 April 1804 to 19 May 1822

She died at the young age of 18

Kilton, Brotton

FAR00246

 

The Earl Family

Hannah Farndale

1 March 1802 to 1 March 1802

Born to ‘unmarried’ Elizabeth? Was there a separation?

FAR00245

Harriet Farndale

20 January 1805 to 29 June 1833

Also born to an ‘unmarried’ mother

Married William Whitelock, a shoemaker, 27 July 1827

FAR00249

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Birregurra (Australia 1) Line

 

 

The Phillips Family

 

 

 

 

 

The Whitby 5 Line

The Great Ayton 2 Line

The Great Ayton 3 Line

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Farndale

30 June 1817 to (after 1901)

Married Jane Richardson and Hannah ?

A mine labourer in Loftus area (ironstone miner)

Loftus, Richmond (Easby), Hilton, Margrove Park, Broughton

FAR00260

Martin Farndale

17 December 1818 to 12 July 1862

Married Elizabeth Taylor

The Taylor Family

Agricultural labourer of Skelton 

Skelton, Kilton, Hutton Lowcross, Great Ayton, Easby

FAR00264

George Farndale

15 April 1820 to 25 December 1891

Married Mary Bell

Tile maker, ironstone worker and then brick-layer of Middlesborough

Middlesborough, Hartlepool, Great Ayton

FAR00271

Thomas Farndale

17 February 1822 to 28 March 1854

Married Isabella Bowes

Miner in Bishop Auckland, who had a son, but died at the age of 32

Bishop Auckland, Kilton, Easby

FAR00280

John Farndale

8 February 1824 to 14 February 1824

Died aged 1 week

FAR00287

Matthew Farndale

27 June 1827 to 7 January 1905

Agricultural labourer and then Foreman at East Coatham

East Coatham, Stockton, Kirkleatham, Redcar, Coatham

FAR00297

Robert Farndale

16 May 1830 to 1875?

A carpenter from Brotton 

Brotton, Loftus

FAR00307

William Masterman Farndale

24 March 1831 to 1913

Married Jane Brownbridge

Customs officer of Middlesborough

Middlesborough, Skelton, Ormesby, Knaresborough, Long Newton, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Whitehaven, Harrogate

FAR00312

Mary Farndale

1832 to 1862?

Long Newton, Stockton

FAR00316

Elizabeth Mary Farndale

15 August 1832 to 12 April 1905

Confectioner

Married Joseph Douthwaite Blackburn on 21 August 1853

Skelton, Stockton

FAR00319

 

 

The Blackburn Family

Teresa (Theresa) Farndale

5 December 1833 to 22 December 1896

Married Thompson Featherstone

Tailor’s wife and lodge keeper

Skelton, Stockton

FAR00325

Annie Maria Farndale

9 June 1835 to 2 March 1907

Lived at Kilton Hall with her uncle Martin until she married

Married Thomas Hall

Kilton, Skelton, Middlesborough, Brawith Farm, Skutterskelfe, Stokesley, Hutton Rudby

Farmer’s wife (200 acres) with ten children

FAR00334

John George Farndale

A group of people posing for a photo

Description automatically generated

26 October 1836 to 21 February 1909

Married Elizabeth Sanderson

Printer’s apprentice and served in the Crimean War before he emigrated to Ontario (possibly via Australia) where he farmed

Ontario, Stockton, Skelton

FAR00337

Charles Farndale

A person looking at the camera

Description automatically generated17 January 1838 to 18 March 1914

Married Ann Dale

Took over the farming of Kilton Hall Farm where he farmed 577 acres

Kilton, Stockton

FAR00341

Emma Farndale

2 December 1839 to 20 December 1839

Stockton, Long Newton, Coatham,  Brotton

FAR00346

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bishop Auckland 1 Line

 

 

 

The Coatham Line

 

 

 

 

The Hall Family

The Ontario 1 Line

 

 

 

William Farndale

16 December 1842 to 9 June 1854

Died aged 11

Holly Haugh, Skelton

FAR00356

Martin Farndale

A black and white photo of a person

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19 September 1845 to 17 January 1928

Married Catherine Lindsay

The Lindsay Family

Farmer of Tidkinhow

Tidkinhow, Skelton, Brotton, Kilton, Tranmire, Tancred Grange, Boosbeck

FAR00364

John Farndale

A black and white photo of a person

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26 June 1848 to 10 May 1914

Married Elizabeth Featherstone

Railway Signalman and platform porter

Loftus, Skelton, Liverton, Moorsholm

FAR00376

Matthew Farndale

A vintage photo of a person in a suit and tie

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25 June 1850 to 27 February 1927

Married Mary Liverseed

Craggs Hall Farm, Skelton, Stockton, Brotton

FAR00383

 

 

Charles Masterman Farndale

25 December 1857 to 1889

 A ship broker’s clerk who died at 31 in Cockermouth

Stockton, Runcorn, Cockermouth

FAR00429

Ann Maria Farndale

26 August 1861 to 26 December 1938

Ormesby, Runcorn, Whitehaven, Seamer, Great Ayton, Harrogate

FAR00444

William Henry Farndale

10 July 1865 to 8 September 1892

A rail clerk who died aged 27

Ormesby, Cleveland Port, Brotton

FAR00466

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tidkinhow Line

 

 

The Loftus 2 Line

The Craggs Line

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joseph Farndale

1875 to 1921

Bricklayer and labourer

Married Elizabeth Hannah Abbott in 1900

Eston, Margrove Park, Guisborough, Stockton, Darlington

FAR00524

Miggil (Maggie) Farndale

1877 to after 1881

Margrove Park, Broughton

FAR00550

 

 

 

 

John Martin Farndale

1873 to 3 February 1876

Died aged 2 years and 11 months

Guisborough, Kilton, Brotton

FAR00520

William Farndale

25 April 1875 to 6 February 1948

Married Ada Fawell in 1899

Farmer of Gillingwood Hall

Gillingwood, Richmond, Kilton, Saltburn

FAR00531

George Farndale

A horse standing on top of a grass covered field

Description automatically generated24 August 1876 to 14 February 1970

Farmer and partner of Kilton Hall Farm

Kilton, Redcar, Saltburn

FAR00540

Mary Elizabeth Farndale

A vintage photo of a group of people posing for the camera

Description automatically generated

1877 to 1938?

Married William Hodge in 1927

Dairywork

Kilton

FAR00560

Grace Farndale

A vintage photo of a group of people posing for the camera

Description automatically generated

14 April 1880 to 1 March 1966

Dairywork

Kilton, Redcar, Saltburn 

FAR00566

Albert Farndale

1881 to 19 December 1918

An architect of Guisborough

Kilton, Guisborough

FAR00574

Ernest Farndale

1883 to 4 September 1885

Died aged 2 years and 6 months

Kilton, Brotton, Guisborough

FAR00589

Sophia Farndale

23 August 1884 to 23 August 1973

Married Maxwell Foster in 1909

Family of 8+

She lived at ‘Kilton’ in Greatham

Kilton, Greatham

FAR00601A

 

 

The Foster Family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Richmond Line

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evelyn Mary Farndale

31 December 1900 to 1978

Domestic Servant

Married Richard Green in 1930

Eaglescliffe, Stockton, Eastgate, Marton

FAR00703

Lilly Farndale

21 December 1902 to 1976

Married Stanislaus Tempest in 1929

Stokesley, Marton, Darlington

FAR00718

Doris Farndale

1905 to 1919

Died aged 14

Eaglescliff, Stockton, Marton

FAR00730

William Farndale

23 August 1907 to 18 December 1991

Nurseryman

Ingleby Greashaw, Darlington

FAR00744

Hilda Farndale

23 May 1909 to ?

Married Frederick W Parker in 1934

Ingleby Greashaw, Marton, Darlington

FAR00756

 

The Parker Family

Ethel Farndale

4 December 1911 to 1976

Omnibus conductress

Married Joseph Hall in 1946

Normanby, Darlington, Richmond, SW Durham, Barnard Castle

FAR00777

Elsie M Farndale

1918 to 1931

Died aged 13

Darlington

FAR00844

Kenneth Farndale

1920 to 1922

Died aged 1

Darlington

FAR00857

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ancestry of the Kilton 1 Line

The Kilton 1 Line can trace directly back to 1512 from John Farndale to Nicholas Farndaile as follows:

John Farndale, (FAR00116), 1680-1757

 

The Liverton 2 Line

 

Nicholas Farndale, (FAR00082), 1634-1693

 

The Kirkleatham Skelton Line

 

Georgins Ffarndayle, (FAR00073), 1602-1693

 

George Ffarndayle, (FAR00067), 1570-1606

 

William Farndale, (FAR00063), 1539-?

 

Nicholas Farndaile (FAR00059), 1512-1572

 

You can then follow details of Farndale in the medieval period who were almost certainly earlier ancestors at Volume 1 of the Farndale directory.

 

You can then explore Yorkshire prehistory to give you a further perspective of the distant ancestry of the people of Farndale.

 

 

Chronology of the Kilton 1 Line

 

The Golden Age of Kilton

 

Kilton formerly belonged to the Twings and Lumleys, who were lords of the manor. Dr Waugh, Dean of Carlisle, and Miss Waugh, into whose hands the estate came, sold it to Mrs Wharton, and this lady made a present of it to the late J Wharton, Esq., of Skelton Castle, MP for Beverley, a gentleman of memorable name. Here was built a neat hall, much admired, and when the sun early n the morning cast its beams upon it and lit its vast windows with Nature’s glory, it was a sight to affect the heart and raise the thoughts to the Great Source of all beauty and splendour, both in nature and grace. A spirit of jealousy led to this fine structure being pulled down, and now not one stone on another remains to tell where it once stood, except stables, granaries and coach houses, yet in good preservation. In this township too stands an old Norman Castle. Few ruins in England can vie this venerable relic of Norman architecture. There is also a fortress here, which in the olden times must have been impregnable. This baronial fortress was no doubt the most powerful one in Cleveland, and in the days of cross bows, broad swords, and battle axes it would be quite secure. But when Cromwell, that inveterate foe to all Roman edifices, came near, he heard and was led by the bell at noon, to the opposite mount, levelled his destructive cannon against this structure, and brought it to the ground.

 

Kilton formerly contained a few tradesmen – namely two joiners, two coopers, two weavers, one butcher, a publican, a water miller, a rag merchant, an old man with nine children, two sailors, and a banker’s cashier. At one time it had four sailors – one was taken prisoner in the French War, an old man, aged 87, and yet living – another, a missionary to the French prisoners, died in France, aged 87, a noble fellow, was formerly in the Life Guards. Seventy years ago Kilton had eight farmers; it now has only one. It had then fifty four children, now only seven – then twenty four parents, now only five – and then nine old men and women rom eighty to one hundred and five years of age. The inhabitants of this village, as may be expected, were long lived; most of the old men were of the giant tribe, their ages averaging at death eighty seven years. My children’s children comprise the sixth generation of our family that has lived at Kilton estate upwards of two hundred years.

 

In former days the inhabitants of this district were Jacks, and Toms, and Mats; now they are either Misters or Esquires, and thick as mushrooms around us. In those days there were no Mistresses or Ladies among them, they were all Dames – there were no silk gowns, no veils, no crinolines, no bustles; but home spun garments, giving employment to the inhabitants, warmth and comfort to the wearers, and lasting for fifty years. Specimens at home.

 

Kilton stands unrivalled for its antiquity, and its beautiful scenery cannot be excelled. The brightest and fairest scenes in Italy cannot be compared to the lovely prospects which Nature displays in this secluded part of Cleveland. This place stands on a ridge of rich loomy land, with Huntcliffe on the north, known to all sea-men. On the east is the beautiful bay of Skinningrove and the hall of AC Maynard Esq, formerly the residence of F Easterby Esq. Skinnngrove was once a noted place for smuggling. On the north west is Old Saltburn which was formerly considered the King of the Smuggling World. Near which is New Saltburn, about to become one of the most fashionable sea bathing places on the eastern coast, thanks to the enterprising gentlemen who conduct the railway operations in this neighbourhood, and who are the public’s benefactors, in a commercial, social point of view, and are indeed, in every sense of the word, the friends of the people.

 

I might go on for ever to dwell on the beautiful scenery around New Saltburn and the interesting associations with it, but I am afraid of trespassing on the forbearance of my readers. The age we now live in is for raking up riches – for there are so many Demas like so living in the world that they have lost all relish for simple details of former times delivered by a grave man like me; but in drawing pubic attention to those hitherto hidden hamlets, dear to every old fashioned Yorkshireman, and which will probably very shortly create more notice, I hope that some ambler pen will take this subject up and do justice in describing this part of the country.

 

When only four or five years of age I remember my father’s father telling what was done in those days and the old time before them. Many things then told were deemed most important to those of us who then lived together in a state of primitive simplicity, far removed from the occurrences which now surround us. I can refer back to what might have ended in death, but which by over-ruling Providence was otherwise ordered. It was ordained that even to me was given an errand to fulfil, which I am at this time feebly endeavouring to discharge:- namely, to do good in my day and generation.”

 

 

Kilton Hall was a very neat building, with stables, coach houses, lawns and plantations, and the old castle adjoining had a fine bowling green and excellent fish ponds, fed by a rivulet running through a field close by, and which was in a good state of preservation until it was lately filled up and ploughed. Contiguous to the old castle walls there was a fine orchard, which I had the management of about fifty years ago. But this has nearly gone into decay – the towering pear and other fruit trees have become leafless and dead, and withered like an old man ripe from the grave. Such are the changes which a few years make. Thus, it is with inanimate things, so it is with us. We must all fade as a flower, we must all die, for all flesh is grass. “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of the Lord endureth for ever”.

 

Here, let me not forget to notice that, in this enchanting park, rich preserves of game of all kinds, especially that most beautiful bird the pheasant, are numerous, and almost all other game. I have seen rise out from new sown wheat, in my father’s castle field, no less than eighty pheasants at one time. Fifty years later, on my last visit to the old castle, I saw rise out of the same field fifty beautiful pheasant cock, when they soon buried themselves in the vast forest around the old castle. It was here Redman, the poacher’s gun burst and blew out his eye. It was also here Frank, the keeper, shot a large eagle near the old castle, which is now preserved.

 

The picturesque scenery, however, in this neighbourhood still retains its loveliness, and the late John Wharton, Esq., of Skelton Castle, dd much to improve its beauty. On every side where there was any waste land he planted it with wood to a great extent, and a large number of larches and oaks then planted, I planted with my own hands. On visiting this place lately, what was my astonishment on perceiving that many of these larches were cut and measured fifty cubic feet, while the oaks were in thriving condition and measured twenty four cubic feet. The site of these plantations is delightful, as they are finely sheltered from the piercing north winds.”

 

(John Farndale, 1864)

 

Vincent Grainger worked with the Farndales at Kilton in the early 1900s. In about 1985 he made a sound recording about Charles Farndale and his family and Kilton at that time.

It is worth bearing with the recording as there is some description of Kilton at the time, and the Farndales in the 1900s, as the recording goes on.

 

 

A vintage photo of a person in a suit and tie

Description automatically generated                                         A vintage photo of a person in a suit and tie

Description automatically generated

 

Vincent Grainger aged 16                                                     Vincent Grainger August 1985 (aged 93)

Vincent Grainger worked on the farm at Kilton Lodge as a member of the family

 

 

The First and second generation

 

27 June 1680

John Farndale was baptised at Liverton, the son of Nicholas ffarndale.

 

5 February 1705

John Farndale married Elizabeth Bennison at Skelton.

 

We think John was the first Farndale to move to Kilton.

 

His great grandson later wrote of the eighteenth century Kilton, looking back in time from 1870: The Emigrant’s return after a long series of years to his nativity, as well as the missionary from the continent; the soldier from his long campaign; the life guard from the city of London – all these we have hailed with joy to their dear home – Kilton, which was formerly proverbial for the multitude of children. Now, strange to say, there are no little boys and girls playing there. Is this well-pleasing to kind Providence, who said to our first parents, when he put them into the Garden of Eden, “Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth”? Would it not be advisable to divide, and subdivide, and divide again this great continent – this farm, and obey our Father’s commands, being fruitful and multiplying, and what a noble race of young boys and girls would then be playing in this Jerusalem, as in the olden time. We are not surprised to hear the above, on their return from a far country, saying, “No place can equal Kilton for loveliness”, standing as it does, in the midst of sylvan scenery, beautiful landscape and woodland scenery, and what a perfume of sweet fragrance from wild flowers, particularly the primrose-acres that would grace any gentleman’s pleasure ground for beauty and for loveliness. Kilton, as it is situated, is fitted only for a prince.

 

He added, after listing the many farmers of Kilton, including several Farndales, Here we have chronicled something like a genealogy of a race of people once throng the streets of Kilton, but where are they now to be found? Many of them have gone to their everlasting reward, yet a few, a small few, remain unto this day. We believe Kilton had the pre-eminence of many of its neighbouring villages. We knew no poachers, no cockfighters, no drunkards, or swearers. Kilton people were church-going people, yet, on a Sunday afternoon, what hosts of young men and young women mustered for play, their song was: There is little Kilton, lies under yon hill, Lasses anew lad, come when you will; They’re witty, they’re pretty, they’re handsomely bound, A lo! for the lasses in Kilton town.

 

In his memoirs, John Farndale described Kilton "of great interest with a great hall, stable, plantation and ancient stronghold in ruins (Kilton Castle)". "It is still a small place" he says and he describes how many have left it and made their name.

 

In Impact of Agricultural Change on the Rural Community - a case study of Kilton circa 1770-1870, by Janet Dowey, she wrote The most predominant family at Kilton was the Farndales, their ancestry ages old. Its most distinguished member John Farndale wrote numerous books on the area. Kilton, the village itself had been a thriving community consisting of a public house, a meeting house, two lodging houses and a schoolhouse, from which sprang two eminent schoolmasters. A butcher's shop, a London tailor and his apprentice and eight others, a rag merchant, a shop which sold some books, pens, needles, tape and thread. Five sailors, two soldiers, two missionaries plus a number of very old people. The picture John Farndale paints is of a peaceful rural community who boasted of no poachers, no cockfighters, no drunkards or swearers. A church going people who met together on a Sunday afternoon. Kilton at that time had nearly 20 houses and a population of 140 men, women and children, a Hall, stables, plantation and the old Castle plus 12 small farms stop when John wrote these books he was speaking of a time long since gone (the early nineteenth century), he listed each family that lives lived within the village. Robert Jolly was a farmer and a staunch Wesleyan. After his death his farm was carried on awhile by his sons. This being the time of Nelson's death (1805), John goes on to say that there was great reformation in Kilton estate, "the little farms were joined together, about 150 acres each. Every farmer had to move to a new farm. The sons of Robert Jolly each moved away at this time, one became a lifeguard to George III and the other eventually became a minister. William Bulmer was another native of Kilton and married with nine children, he made his living buying and selling, but all his children moved away into 'respectable' situations."

 

Over time to the period when John Farndale wrote his works in 1864 to 1870, the Kilton John Farndale knew and loved changed beyond belief. Janet Downey wrote that Several of the very old and larger states were less crowded than they had been; where a better cultivation had taken place, the small cottages had given way gradually to shape a farm worthy of the person having such money to improve it. A lot of the field structures and hedges were still in place, only some of the hedges had been taken out to make bigger fields. The hedge structure at Kilton was probably there 50 years before John Farndale was born. In one instance a hedge appears to have been put in to divide a field. Some of the reasons for the demise of Kilton were the industrial revolution, which was the need to centralise craftsmen from the small villages, a revolution in farming methods and farming machinery, a wholesale destruction of the village for the town. The Napoleonic Wars had an influence on the price of farm produce, the price of food was kept at a fairly high level during the war but after the war finished the price of grain fell to one of its lowest levels along with falling meat prices, and disastrous harvests. Farming methods were needed to get the harvest in quicker. This finally led the landlord to enlarge the farms and bring in a farmer with money to modernise the farm. The mechanisation of farming policies on the one hand and the progressive quantity of urban factories on the other, combined to drastically alter that rural life. Taking into consideration also the turnpike roads, the invention of the railway and the canal networks it is obvious that economic and technological forces were bringing far reaching changes. During the period when enclosure was in progress, "the revolution in agricultural methods", there was moderately steady process of new village creation, a considerable upsurge within the 18th century. Enclosure or amalgamation of the Kilton village farms, probably happened in the late 1860s, thus was the complete destruction of the village.

 

By 1870, Kilton became a victim not only of the "Monstre farm" but also of the Industrial Revolution:

 

"And now dear Farndale, the best of friends must part,

I bid you and your little Kilton a long and final farewell.

Time was on to all our precious boon,

Time is passing away so soon,

Time know more about his vast eternity,

World without end oceans without shore."

 

John Farndale. 1870

 

But we have jumped ahead and this is still all to come. We return now to the early eighteenth century …

 

5 December 1708

William Farndale was baptised in Brotton. William married Abigail Gear at Brotton on 22 September 1733 and they had two sons. William, later a farmer of Craggs, was buried at Brotton on 21 February 1789.

 

14 January 1710

Elizabeth Farndale was baptised in Brotton. She must have died young.

 

About 1712

Could there have been a Mary Farndale born about 1712?

 

There is an article in the Bolton Guardian, 3 March 1883, concerning longevity in Lincoln, which includes:

 

Farndall (Mary), of Kilton, near Guisboro’, died 1810, aged 98 years.

 

23 December 1716

A second Elizabeth Farndale was baptised in Brotton. Elizabeth married Thomas Pickering in 1741.

 

23 May 1720

Ellin (Eleanor) Farndale was baptised in Brotton. Eleanor Farndale married Christopher Cuthbert in 1749.

 

28 February 1723

John Farndale was baptised in Brotton. He lived at Kilton and became known as ‘Old Farndale of Kilton’. More about him to come.

 

1 May 1726

Elizabeth Farndale was buried at Brotton.

 

8 October 1730

John Farndil married Catherine Jackson at Brotton.

 

16 April 1750

 

John Farndale (“Old Farndale of Kilton”) married Grace Simpson at Brotton.

5 October 1757

John Farndale was buried at St Margaret Anglican Church, Brotton, aged 77 years.

 

1773

John Farndale (“Old Farndale of Kilton”) was a tenant farmer of 31 acres at Cragg Farm, on the Wharton Estate.

 

1779

 

In the late eighteenth century, the Skinningrove coastline was raided by an American privateer captained by Paul Jones. A privateer was a privately owned armed ship which could be commissioned by a Government to fight in wartime. Some owners were little more than legalised pirates but at the time - 1779 - America was at war with England, seeking independence.

 

Paul Jones was a Commodore in the American navy, born in Scotland. After raiding the Cumberland coast he was determined to plunder Whitby, then a wealthy port. He appeared off Skinningrove, fired into the village and then sent his men ashore on a raiding party before heading for Whitby. His ship was fired upon by soldiers who manned a battery above where the Spa now stands, but their cannon exploded and hurled two soldiers to their death onto the rocks below.

 

On 20 September 1779, the bailiffs of Scarborough sent an urgent message to Bridlington to say that a hostile squadron of ships, captained by the notorious Paul Jones, had been sighted. Three days later four vessels - Bonhomme Richard, Alliance, Pallas and Vengeance - entered the bay off Sewerby between Bridlington and Flamborough Head, causing the local people to hide their valuables and take shelter. But Jones was not interested in small gains - he was after a much bigger prize.

 

A fleet of English merchantmen was moving along the coast, protected by two men-o'-war, the Seraphis and Countess of Scarborough, and they were trying to reach Scarborough harbour for protection by cannons positioned in Scarborough Castle. They didn't make it.

 

In spite of Jones' superior strength and firepower, the two English ships fought bravely and indeed, the Seraphis was more manoeuvrable than Jones' Bonhomme Richard. Crowds stood on Filey cliffs to watch this most remarkable of sea battles, with Bonhomme Richard ramming the Seraphis until the two were locked in what was described as a deadly embrace. The crews then engaged in hand-to-hand fighting and close cannon fire.

Although the Countess of Scarborough was beaten, the gallant Seraphis continued to inflict severe damage on the Bonhomme Richard, so much so that the ship's master gunner hauled down her flag. But Jones fought on until fire from other American vessel, followed by a cruel explosion on Seraphis caused her master, Captain Pearson, to surrender.

 

Jones then abandoned the Bonhomme Richard with many injured crewmen still on board, and commandeered the Seraphis to claim victory. For more than 36 hours, Jones tried to save his stricken ship but, badly holed and damaged by fire, she sank on September 25 with her pennant still fluttering. Paul Jones watched her sink, thus making this the only known occasion when a maritime commander won a battle and then left the scene in a beaten ship. Some reports say Jones left his injured crew members to go down with her.

 

28 February 1789

 

William Farndale, farmer of Craggs, died and was buried at Brotton.

5 May 1789

 

Grace Farndale, wife of John Farndale (“Old Farndale of Kilton”), was buried at Brotton.

1791

 

John Farndale (“Old Farndale of Kilton”) moved to How Hill Farm, also on the Wharton Estate to farm 83 acres. He paid £66 9s and 8d for the tenancy.

1795

John Farndale (“Old Farndale of Kilton”) disbursed money to the poor.

 

He was a Kiltonian and employed many men at his alum house. His grandson son John recalls that he told tales of smugglers.

 

John Farndale later wrote: Some years ago Old Saltburn imported lime, lime stones, and coal, and also exported oak timber, prop wood, corf rods, alum and corn. It had a coal yard and lime kilns, and there was a large alum house near Cat Neb. My grandfather, who was a Kiltonian, employed many men at this alum house, and many a merry tale I have heard him tell of smugglers and their daring adventures and hair breadth escapes. The lime kilns and coal yard were kept by old Mr William Cooper, whose sloop, “The Two Brothers”, was continually employed in the coasting trade. Behind the alum house, Thomas Hutchinson, Esq., late of Brotton House, made an easy carriage road from Saltburn to that place, which road will always be a lasting monument to his memory. In former days, there were frequently seen lying before Old Saltburn three luggers at a time, all laden with contraband goods, and the song of the crews used to be:- “If we should to the Scottish coast hie, We’ll make Captain Ogleby, the king’s cutter, fly”. The government, however, being determined to put a stop to this nefarious traffic, a party of coast guards, with their cullasses, swords, spy glasses, and dark lanterns, were sent to the Blue House, at Old Saltburn. This came like a thunderbolt upon the astonished Saltburnians. They made, however, two more efforts to continue the trade – one proved successful, the other not. The last lugger but one bound to Saltburn was chased by the King’s cutter, and running aground at Marske, she was taken by the coast guard, and all the crew were made prisoners, and put into the lock up. While the coast guard were busy enjoying their prize, all the prisoners escaped except one, who was found in Hazlegrip, and whom the King’s officers sadly cut up. Lord Dundas, of Marske Hall, threatened to bring them to justice if the man died. The last luggar that appeared on the coast was successful in delivering her cargo. Two of the crew, fierce lion-looking fellows, landed, and they succeeded in capturing two of the coast guard, whom they marched to the other wide of Cat Neb, where they stood guard over them till the vessel got delivered. While these jolly smugglers had the two men in custody, they sent to the lugger for a keg of real Geneva, and at the point of the sword they compelled the poor fellows to drink of that which was not the King’s portion. After releasing their prisoners, and then telling them to go home, the smugglers returned to their vessel, setting sail, they left the beach with light hearts and a fair breeze. Since the merry days alluded to the glory of Old Saltburn has departed – its smuggling days have passed away – its gin vaults have disappeared – and the gay roysterers who were wont to make Cat Neb and the adjacent rocks resound with laughter, now rest in peace beneath the green hillocks in the retired grave yards of Brotton and Skelton.

 

Regarding the sloop, the Two Brothers, there is a gravestone in Bosham Church, Sussex which reads: ‘In memory of Thomas , son of Richard and Ann Barrow, master of the sloop Two Brothers who by the breaking of the horse fell into the sea and was drown’d October the 13th 1759 Aged 23 years’. (in this context a 'horse’ is a type of rope used in the rigging of sailing ships.)

 

A Bill of sale shows Robert Schoolfield selling the sloop the Two Brothers to Hampton and John Rownd for three hundred and sixty pounds on 19 Apr 1787.

 

The Farndales became the most numerous family in Kilton and lived on the estate for many years.

 

Once a year, at Christmas, as the estate accounts were balanced over a bottle of Hollands gin, the squire would rise and say “Johnny, when you are gone, there will never be such another Johnny Farndale.”

 

1801

John Farndale (“Old Farndale of Kilton”) made a significant contribution in stock and crops for defence of the realm under the Defence Act 1801.

 

24 January 1807

John Farndale (“Old Farndale of Kilton”) died aged 83 and was buried at Old Brotton Churchyard on 27 January 1807.

 

John Farndale, his grandson, later wrote Amongst the centenarians in this district may be noticed Henry Parr, died at York, aged 169 years; William Sedman, died at Whitby, aged 116 years; Ann, his wife, died at Whitby, aged 111 years; Dolly Page, died at Kilton, aged 105 years, John Farndale, died at Kilton aged 90 years; William Farndale, died at Kilton, aged 86 years.

 

 

The geography of Kilton from 1767 to 1856

 

I am very grateful to Dr Tony Nicholson who provided me with the following geographical history of Kilton.

 

Joseph Tullie provided an estate plan of Kilton dated 1767.

 

 

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The area which Tony has kindly highlighted with a red square shows the village of Kilton at that time. So this was Kilton at the time of John Farndale (“Old Farndale of Kilton”).

 

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The smaller red square shows Kilton Hall at the end of the street. The oblong red shapes show the five houses on each side of the street, which are described by John Farndale in his writings. The yellow squares highlight other houses, scattered elsewhere across the village.

 

John Farndale published a drawing of old Kilton Hall, as it stood in 1795:

 

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We don’t know when it was destroyed.

 

By the time of the first O.S. map in 1853, (attached) it seems to have disappeared, and so too had most of the village.

 

 

So it seems likely that the village fell into decline in the 1843-53 period when the new owner of Skelton estate, John Thomas Wharton, took over. That said, the 1841 census records only 10 houses in the village so it seems it was declining even then.  By the time the next census was taken in 1851, there were about seven buildings left, so the village’s decline seems to have been slow and organic.

 

In other words John Farndale, who wrote in the mid Victorian era of change and industrial revolution, looked back in his writings to the Kilton of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century, “No place can equal Kilton for loveliness”, standing as it does, in the midst of sylvan scenery, beautiful landscape and woodland scenery, and what a perfume of sweet fragrance from wild flowers. The Kilton of that earlier age, the age of Old Farndale of Kilton, was a time when Kilton flourished, and where our family that has lived at Kilton estate upwards of two hundred years were living in Kilton in large numbers. Indeed as well as the Kilton 1 Farndales, there were other Farndales of the Kilton 2 Line and the Kilton 3 Line.

 

The third generation

 

4 April 1735

Samuel Farndale, son of William and Abigail Farndale, was baptised at Brotton.

 

13 July 1743

William Farndale, son of William and Abigail Farndale, was baptised at Brotton. William became a Master Mariner at Whitby and is Founder of the Whitby 3 Line.

 

24 March 1750

John Farndale Junior, son of John Farndale (“Old Farndale of Kilton”) and Grace, was baptised at Brotton. John was a farmer at Brotton (probably Kilton) and married Jane Pybus in 1795. He died in 1825.

 

13 May 1753

George Farndale, son of John Farndale (“Old Farndale of Kilton”) and Grace, was baptised at Brotton. George Farndale became a butcher in Brotton (probably Kilton) and is Founder of the Brotton 2 Line.

 

17 September 1755

Hannah Farndale, daughter of John Farndale (“Old Farndale of Kilton”) and Grace, was baptised at Brotton. Hannah married James Jackson at Lythe in 1775.

 

Elizabeth Farndale, daughter of John Farndale (“Old Farndale of Kilton”) and Grace, was baptised at Brotton. Elizabeth married Thomas Hall at Whitby in 1782.

 

21 January 1758

Sarah Farndale, daughter of John Farndale (“Old Farndale of Kilton”) and Grace, was baptised at Brotton. She died aged 1 and was buried at Brotton in 1759.

 

20 March 1760

William Farndale (William of Kilton), son of John Farndale (“Old Farndale of Kilton”) and Grace, was baptised at Brotton.

 

26 April 1761

Mary Farndale, daughter of John Farndale (“Old Farndale of Kilton”) and Grace, was baptised at Brotton. Mary married John Frankland in Skelton in 1785.

 

2 December 1764

Grace Farndale, daughter of John Farndale (“Old Farndale of Kilton”) and Grace, was baptised at Brotton. Grace married William Fawcet in Skelton in 1785.

 

23 May 1776

Samuel Farndale married Elizabeth (Betty) Hutton at Brotton.

 

They had seven children and Samuel was a cabinet maker and joiner, and he had some land at Kilton.

 

20 September 1789

William Farndale (William of Kilton) married Mary Ferguson at St Margaret’s Brotton.

1797

Samuel Farndale died probably at Kilton.

1798 onwards

William Farndale (William of Kilton), a farmer, made regular payments for poor relief in Kilton.

 

1804

William Farndale (William of Kilton) was a tenant farmer of 100 acres. William was a farmer and merchant of wood, rods, coals, and salting bacon. He was a church goer. He used to load corf rods (hazel rods were woven to make corfs, which were baskets to carry coal) onto sloops (sailboats with a single mast) at Cat Nab on the coast, by Saltburn. Cat Nab was also the centre of the smuggling trade!

 

John Farndale the Writer later wrote: We now with much pleasure return to Saltburn by the Sea, where we again view the broad expanse of the ocean, with its ever restless waves rolling towards the shore. Here stands the conic hill, Cat Neb, where formerly many ship loads of contraband goods, of every description, were landed. Round this hill my father used annually to bring thousands of corf rods to ship for the coal pits in the north, where they are not now used. What activity there was then at this place, when a vessel lay on the beach to be loaded with rods, which were brought to the seaside in waggons accompanied by eight or ten men, under the superintendence of my father, William Farndale, well known to John Wharton Esq., who by the sale of these rods received many hundreds of pounds.

 

William pulled down the old Kilton Lodge, which was connected to the castle, to build a new house.

 

John also wrote of his father, Pigs also, both strong and smaller breed, for many years have been improved. Sir Lawrence Dundas introduced into his district a fine small Chinese breed, and JH Wharton, Esq. presented his tenants with one each. My father’s was a fine boar pig.

 

1809

The Skelton and Kilton Terrier in 1809 provided a detailed record of William Farndale and John Farndales’ tenanted farm.

 

William Farndale grew wheat and oats and had fields to pasture and paddock and his farm was enclosed into the homestead, Garth, Harry Duck Stank, Stank Head, Ward Fece, Carter Fence, Fece, High Pasture, Pond Close, Near Pasture, House Stank, Stank Head, Stank Head Close, Kilton Hill, Long Moor, Beck Close, Square Close and Long Pasture.

 

John Farndale grew wheat and oats and had fields to pasture and paddock and his farm was enclosed into a stack yard, Broad Garth, Farndale Barf, Bu;lmer Barf, Swales Barf, Ward Barf, South and North Cow Pastures, Chapel Long Close and the Lane from Kilton to Kilton Thorpe.

 

6 September 1826

On the misty gale-torn morning of 6th September 1826, crashing surf and screeching winds brought about the end of the Whitby whaler Esk. Grounded just below the low water line at Marske-by-Sea in Cleveland, 17 miles from home, less than seven hours saw her a total wreck. Spars, rigging, timbers and cargo were strewn for miles along the coast.

 

1 March 1843

Mary Farndale, wife of William Farndale (William of Kilton), died and buried at Brotton, after she had a spiritual vision ‘caught in rapture at the gates of the new Jerusalem’.

5 March 1846

William Farndale (William of Kilton) died of the infirmities of old age at Seamer, aged 86.

 

The fourth generation

 

17 August 1777

William Farndale, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Farndale, was baptised. He married Mary Davidson at Ormsby in 1810 and was a wheelwright and cartwright at Nunthorpe. He died aged 86 in 1863.

 

6 April 1779

Martha Farndale, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Farndale, was baptised. She married Francis Earl at Lofthouse in 1803.

 

22 July 1781

Elizabeth Farndale, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Farndale, was baptised. She had two children out of marriage although this appears to have been after her marriage to William Smith at Skelton in 1801, so perhaps they separated.

 

2 May 1784

Abigaile Farndale, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Farndale, was baptised.

 

4 May 1788

John Farndale, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Farndale, was baptised. He married Ann Nicholson in 1813 at Danby and was Founder of the Whitby 5 Line.

1 December 1789

George Farndale, son of William Farndale (William of Kilton), was born at Kilton. George was the eldest son of William and Mary Farndale of Kilton Hall and was born on 1 December 1789.

 

15 August 1791

John Farndale (the Writer), son of William Farndale (William of Kilton), was born.

 

He later wrote "My first remembrance began in my nurse's arms when I could not have been more than 1 1/2 years old; a memory as vivid as if it were yesterday. She took me out on St Stephen's Day 1793 into the current Garth (a small enclosure) with a stick and 'solt' to kill a hare. A great day at the time”.

 

He remembered "an old relation of my father" (there were several in Kilton at that time) remarking that his elder brother George was a "prodigal son", while John was the son at home with his father. But he describes how he got up to many frolics and had some narrow escapes, although he was no drunkard or swearer.

 

His parents, he said, "were strict Church people and kept a strict look out. I became leader of the (Brotton) church signers, clever in music" and he excelled his friends. He had a close friend, a musician in the church choir. One day he met him and said he had been very ill and had been reading a lot of books including "Aeleyn's Alarum" and others "which nearly made my hair stand on end." His friend told him that he was going to alter his way of life and if John would not refrain from his revelries, he would "be obliged to forsake your company.". "That was a nail in a sure place. I was ashamed and grieved as I thought myself more pious than he. Now I began to enter a new life as suddenly at St Paul's but with this difference, he was in distress for three days and nights but for me it was three months". He fasted all Lent and describes his torment. "How often I went onto the hill with my Clarinet to play my favourite tune."

 

His companion lived one mile away (at Brotton perhaps?) and they met half way every Sunday morning at 6am for prayer. He remembered well meeting in a corner of a large grass field. George (Sayer) began and he followed. When they finished they opened their eyes to see "a rough farm lad standing over us, no doubt a little nervous. Next day this boy said to others in the harvest field 'George Sayer and John Farndale are two good lads for I found them in a field praying.' " On the following Sunday they moved to a small wood and met under an oak tree and met an old man who wanted to join them. As usual George began and John continued when the old man began to roar in great distress.

 

3 November 1793

William Farndale, son of William Farndale (William of Kilton), was born. He died, aged 37, on 21 October 1830 of typhus fever and is buried at Brotton Old Churchyard.

 

Matthew Farndale, son of William Farndale (William of Kilton), was born at Kilton. He married Hannah Thompson in 1829, and they had two daughters, Mary Ann Farndale and Elizabeth Farndale. He farmed at Kilton from 1838 to 1850. Then at the age of 57, he emigrated to Australia. On 8 October 1852, he left on the Argo from Liverpool with his wife, two daughters and his son in law. It is hard to reconstruct what happened, all the feelings and emotions and the excitement of their departure. They would know little of Australia - had they met a returning emigrant? They were not looking for gold or a fortune, but simply a new life. They knew of the perils of the journey, but for whatever reasons, they left. Forever. Aboard the Argo were 242 passengers, each with a cabin trunk of tin or timber, a port-monteaux and hand luggage. The ship was small; only 967 tons. The master was Sammuel Macadock. We know nothing of the voyage but conditions would have been primitive, food simple and sickness rife. They would be well out into the Bay of Biscay before they were used to the ship's routine and much relieved to get their feet on dry land at Cape Town, their likely first port of call, probably some four weeks later. The voyage took 103 days or just over 14 weeks. We do not know if they called into port again - perhaps Freemantle in Western Australia or Adelaide in South Australia before they sailed up the Yarra Yarra river to Melbourne. It was 19 January 1853, a midsummer day, as they disembarked to a new life in a new world and to establish the Farndale family in Australia. They must have first spent some time in Melbourne, first renting a house, hut or tent; there were only a few permanent buildings. Here they would enquire after land. They would have heard much of gold - the gold rush was in full cry. However they decided against it. Someone advised them to move west to Western Victoria around Colac. There was not much there; it was a risk; but they took it. It was a land of bush, huge gum trees, scrub, native wattle huts and bracken. There were no roads so they must assemble stores, equipment and prepare to move. They would probably have had a large wagon hauled by bullocks and a few horses. They would have found their way across country, crossing rivers where they could, until they came to Geelong - perhaps 60 miles the way they would have to go - this would have taken about a week. They would camo outdoors listening to the strange sounds of a strange land., particularly the birds. The most unusual would be the kookaburra with its hearty laugh, but magpies would remind them of Yorkshire. The land and the sky, with the southern cross would all be new, strange and different. They would see signs of aborigines who still lived in the area and were not always friendly to the white invaders. The heat of the day would be much more than anything they had ever experienced before and the terrible insects and flies. They would have been dirty and weary, the women in their long skirts sweeping the ground when they rested at Winchelsea. Then on to Colac where they must have stayed sometime looking for land. For whatever reason they ended up at Birragurra and selected land. Their first task was to build a house which they did made of earth, grass and water. They must then have planted crops and collected animals, in particular sheep. Sometime later, perhaps a year or two, they built a small house of timber with a tin roof. They called it "Hawthorne" from the hawthorne they had planted on arrival. Hawthorne stills grows there. As the years passed the farm grew. William Martin would take their produce to Ballarat and Geelong and buy provisions; a long cross country journey lasting many days. Cows and pigs were added and the farm buildings extended in size until it resembled a Yorkshire farm house. Sadly the whole property was destroyed by a bush fire in 1901 when all Western Victoria was set alight. The Martin's first child was born on 19 December 1853 - Elizabeth Clarissa Teresa. Marion Amelia Susanna followed in 1856 and Anna Maria in 1858. Their first son John Matthew was born in 1860 and Alfred Miro Vitericus in 1863. Ada Melinda was born in 1864, Mary Matilda in 1867 and Martin Edgar, the youngest in 1869. John and Alfred took up farming in the Booma Noomanah area. Old Matthew was to see his second daughter Elizabeth marry William Darby and several of his daughter Mary Ann's family marry before his death making him a great grandfather. In 1870 the railway reached Colac and Birregurra in 1877. Matthew died at Birregurra on 8 August 1884 aged 90 and Hannah, his widow, died on 9 December 1892 aged 85 years. Their memorial stands today at Warncourt, Birragurra, Australia. But they also have a memorial in Yorkshire, England when their nephew Charles added Mathew's name to the memorial of his twin brother William. In a letter Marion Hall wrote: "Matthew Farndale died on 8 August 1884 at his home in Birregurra aged 91 leaving his widow of half a century, his faithful loving wife to lament his loss, and his friends to tell of his earnest and gentle Christian life. He left behind him a blessed memory bequeathing to his children and their children the priceless legacy of a holy Christian example. Ann, wife of his nephew Charles Farndale of Kilton Hall put his name on the family tombstone, beside the name of his twin brother, William, in Brotton churchyard which states: "Memorial of William, son of William and Mary Farndale died 21 October 1831 aged 33 and also to Mathew Farndale twin brother of the above of Birregurra, Australia who died 8 August 1884 aged 90 years. Also Hannah his widow who died Dec 9 1892 aged 85 years." A much more recent newspaper article reads: "He was Not Too Old. In these days when so much emphasis is being placed on the importance of youth in business and national affairs, it is interesting to quote an example of earlier history of this district of a man whose enterprise, courage and energy had not become extinguished at an age when people now regard them as worn out. This man was the late Matthew Farndale one of the very first trustees of the Warncoort Methodist Church referred to in the recent ceremony at Warncoort. From the Dales of Yorkshire, where his ancestors had been on the land for centuries, Mr Farndale made up his mind to come to this distant southern land, thenin its infancy. And so, more than a century ago, accompanied by is two daughters, his wife and his son-in-law he sailed twelve thousand miles in three months to make a new home. The son-in-law married one of his daughters at the last minute when he decided also to take part in the great adventure. Mr Farndale was buried in the Warncoort cemetary in 1882. He was aged 90 when he died. He left England when he was 62 years of age. At Warncoort on Sunday a descendant placed a wreath on the grave of a great-grandfather she had never seen." Matthew was the Founder of the Australia 1/Birregurra Line.

 

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Matthew Farndale of Birregurra, Australia

 

25 October 1795

Joseph Farndale, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Farndale, was baptised. He married Mary Hill at Great Ayton in 1817, where he was a cartwright and they had ten children. He was Founder of the Great Ayton 2 Line.

 

Henry Farndale, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Farndale, was baptised. He married Elizabeth Appleton in Great Ayton in 1819 and they had six children. He was an agricultural labourer. He later married Ann Richardson in 1854 and they had a daughter. He was Founder of the Great Ayton 3 Line.

 

24 July 1796

Mary Farndale, daughter of William Farndale (William of Kilton), was born. Mary Farndale, sister of George Farndale died at Easby Hall in 1817 aged 21 while staying with her brother. A teapot with her name and a verse on it, given her by sea captain friend who was lost at sea, recalls her memory.

 

1796

More radical rearrangement of the main Luttrell estate took place from 1796 onwards as the ancient tenements mostly centred on Kilton village were absorbed and let at rack rents, creating units to match the distinct holdings at Moorhouse and Woodlands. Thus Kilton farm of 534 acres was formed in 1815 out of at least twelve smaller units.

 

24 July 1798

Martin Farndale, son of William Farndale (William of Kilton), was born. Martin married Elizabeth Hours in the Chapel at Brotton on 18 May 1833, though they had no family. He was a farmer.

 

19 April 1801

Anna Farndale, daughter of William Farndale (William of Kilton), was born. She married William Phillips in 1841. She died on 22 November 1867 at Stokesley.

 

10 April 1804

Elizabeth Farndale, daughter of William Farndale (William of Kilton), was born. She was buried at Brotton, aged only 18, on 19 May 1822.

 

1805

John Farndale the Writer was saved by his buckle:

 

I remember a draw well stood near the house of my father’s foreman. One day I was looking into this well at the bucket landing, when I fell head foremost. The foreman perceiving the accident, immediately ran to the well to witness, as he thought, the awful spectacle of my last end. I had on at the time a pair of breeches, with brass buckles on my shoes (silver ones were worn by my father and others), and to his great astonishment, he found me not immersed in water at the bottom of the well, but dangling head foremost from the top of a single brass buckle, which had somehow caught hold.

 

Anyone directly descended from John, therefore owes their existence to a shoe buckle! There is a story that this incident arose when John was celebrating the victory at Trafalgar, but as he was only 14 at the time, we can perhaps put it down to a childhood accident!

 

About this time John Farndale recalls: There was another servant of my father’s, named Ralph Page, equally as singular as Willy Swales. As Ralph was once busily ploughing, a French Privateer, threatening land at Skinningrove, fired into the town. Those in the district who had guns assembled on the cliffs and fired a volley in return. To intimidate the enemy the women mustered strong and attired in red cloaks and shouldering sticks, to represent a body of soldiers, they stood far away in the distance. Ralph took little notice of the privateer, not bothering his head either with the French or the English, only they let him be, when a young woman passing in haste, cried out “Ralph, French is landing.”. Ralph, turning round, with the greatest coolness replied, “Then run yam, and sup all’t cream,” and unconcerned he ploughed away as though nothing was the matter.

 

1815

John Farndale the Writer celebrated the Battle of Waterloo in Brotton. By now he was 24 and was up for a celebratory party.

 

After the great battle of Waterloo, and Buonaparte had been taken prisoner, that glorious event was celebrated at Brotton by parading his effigy through the street and burning it before Mr R Stephenson’s hall, amidst the rejoicings of high and low, rich and poor, who drank and danced to the late hour. The author formed one of a band of musicians that played on the occasion, and he composed a song commemorating the event, which became very popular in that part of the country. Brotton never before or since saw the like of that memorable day.

 

John’s song celebrating Waterloo went as follows:

 

Hail! Ye victorious heroes,

England’s dauntless saviours, ye

Who on the plains of Waterloo,

Won that glorious victory.

 

It was a day the world may say,

When Napoleon boldly stood,

Upon the plains of the Waterloo,

There flowed rivulets of blood.

 

Before the foe he bravely fought,

And when he’d all but won the day,

Would it were night, or Blucher up,

Our hero Wellington did say.

 

But now behold in effigy,

Him to whom kings such homage paid,

Napoleon mounted on a mule

As though he were on grand parade,

Behold with joy all England sings, Brotton too is up and gay,

The band, the flag, the ball, the dance

Ne’er ceased till the break of day.

 

22 November 1816

George Farndale married Mary Armstrong at Stokesley. Mary was 20 and George was 21, so George had special licence to marry a minor.

From 1816

George Farndale farmed at Kilton Hall Farm, but it was his younger brother, Martin who then continued to farm there and the farm then passed on to his other brother, John’s family. He appears to have moved to Easby Hall where he farmed until about 1825 and then moved to Marton, near Ormsby and Great Ayton before moving back to Brotton, by which time he was working as a labourer.

 

By 1820

John Farndale was a Yeoman Farmer.

18 May 1829

John Farndale (the Writer) married Martha Patton at Yarm. They had 8 children.

1829

A day and a Sunday school were started in 1829 and by 1835 8 children attended during the week and 16 on Sundays. The schools were supported by the vicar of Kilton and a clerical neighbour. By 1847 8 boys and 8 girls attended both during the week and on Sundays, and 2 girls attended on Sundays only, when the schools were said to be supported by subscriptions. About 1860 a cottage in a terrace in the village was adapted as a school by the lord of the manor. After improvements it was reconstituted as Kilton-cum-Lilstock National school in 1892, supported by a voluntary rate, and in 1903 had 30 children on the books. By 1920 numbers had fallen rapidly, and the school was closed in 1921. In 1977 it was a private house.

 

9 December 1839

Martha Farndale, wife of John Farndale (the Writer) died aged only 39.

 

Dec 6th. At Coatham-Conyers, in Stockton Circuit, Matha, the wife of John Farndale. She was truly converted to God in the twenty sixth year of her age; and from that period she was a consistent member of the Wesleyan Society. Her death was rather sudden but she was found ready. Aware of her approaching dissolution she said, ‘This is the mysterious Providence; but what I know not now, I shall know hereafter.’ Some of her last words were, ‘Tell my dear husband for his encouragement, that I am going to Jesus. How necessary it is to live life for God? Oh Lord help me that I may have strength to leave a clear testimony that I am gone to Jesus.’ It was enquired, ‘Do you feel Jesus present?’ She replied, ‘Yes,’ and soon fell asleep in Him.’ MJ.

 

1846

In his will in 1846, George’s father William of Kilton bequeathed £100 to his other sons John, Matthew and Martin to provide lodging, clothing ad medical attention for George. So presumably George was not in good health and needed support and hence it was not he, as the eldest, who continued to farm at Kilton.

 

His brother John described George as a ‘prodigal son’.

 

By 1851

Martin Farndale was a farmer of 207 acres with 8 employees at Kilton Hall Farm. We are not sure where he was living, perhaps at the old Hall.

 

8 May 1858

George Farndale died of pneumonia at Kilton, aged 68 and was buried at Brotton Old Churchyard.

13 April 1861

Poor Law Union. The following are newly elected guardians of the poor for this union for the ensuing year … Mr Martin Farndale, Kilton.

 

Yorkshire Gazette

 

1 March 1862

Annie Maria Farndale married Thomas Hall, a farmer of Nunthorpe.

 

(York Herald, 8 March 1862)

 

So is this a possible link between the Kilton 1 Farndales and Craggs (see also the Craggs Line)?

 

20 August 1864

Sneaton Foal Show. This show took place at Sneaton for the third time, on Tuesday last. This show was considered superior to any of its predecessors. The judges were … The following were the awards of the judges … Coaching colt, Martin Farndale, Kilton.

 

York Herald

 

1864

John Farndale published A Guide to Saltburn by the Sea and the Surrounding District With remarks on its picturesque scenery, Fifth Edition, Dedicated to John Thomas Wharton Esq of Skelton By John Farndale, Late of Skelton Castle Farm, Darlington, Printed by Charles W Hird, 1864.

 

It is a record of Victorian modernisation and the birth of the seaside resort of Saltburn and includes many references to the Farndales and to Kilton.

 

John Farndale wrote How often here on a fine summer’s eve have I strolled to this most retired and enchanting retreat, Huntcliff, with my gun, to enjoy a sport of shooting the sea bird darting up the cliff over-head; an advantageous sport, when an ordinary marksman need not fail to bag a brace or two. This retreat was part of my Huntley Hall farm, and is only a short drive from Saltburn-by-the-Sea.

 

8 April 1865

 

The Leeds Times, 15 April 1865:

 

A SQUABBLE BETWEEN RIVAL AUTHORS. At the Stockton Police Court, on Thursday, William W C Seymour, quack doctor, of Middlesbrough, author of “Who’s Who?”, “The Gridiron”, and “other “popular works” was charged with an assault on John Farndale, author of “A Guide to Saltburn by the Sea” and an unpublished work, to be designated “Goliah is Dead”.

 

The plaintiff, in narrating his complaint, said that defendant, a person to whom he had never spoke in his life, and with whom he had no connection whatever, assailed him on the previous day in the Market place. He used the most abusive language to him, charged him with being the author of a certain handbill entitled “Shortly will be published, the Life of the notorious Seymour”, and alleged also that he had been actively employed in circulating copies of that bill. Exasperated by the language which defendant had used he, (plaintiff) did call him a “wicked brute” when he (defandant) lifted his foot and kicked him behind (Laughter). The kick was a severe one; in fact it had inflicted a wound (Great Laughter). He had undergone a medical examination that morning, and intended to be examined again (Roars of laughter).

 

Defendant then addressed the magistrates at considerable length, premising that the charge was of such a paltry description that he had not thought it necessary to avail himself of professional assistance. He then proceeded to say that he had at one time been brought before the magistrates for using the language of an eminent statesman; the next day for reading Thomas Hood’s lyrics; a third time for calling a man a cobbler; and that day for inflicting a serious injury upon that eminent and distinguished, that moral and pious man, John Farndale. He then proceeded to enumerate his own publications – “Who’s Who” &c; stated that complainant, who was John Dunning’s protégé, had charged him with giving 2s for a dishonoured bill of a Middlesbrough magistrate; had circulated placards professing to give his (defendant’s) history in connection with certain electioneering matters in the county of Warwick, charging him with seducing a publican’s daughter, with sending his son away to die in a foreign land, &c. So far as electioneering matters were concerned, everything was fair, from kissing a man’s wife to knocking him down; but as regards the other charges they were totally unfounded, and while what he wrote was public property, parties who commented upon it must adhere to the truth. As regarded the assault, complainant first laid his hands upon his shoulders and called him a blackguard, and he then raised his foot, but did not strike complainant. Complainant called him a liar, and that was a monosylable he would not submit to from any man in the country; neither would he suffer those who were dear to him to be held up to public ridicule by a contemptible nondescript like that.

 

Complainant “wished to say a dozen lines” but was told the case was closed.

 

The magistrates, by a majority, decided to inflict a penalty of 5s and 11s costs, the Mayor observing that but for the provocation the penalty would have been heavier.

 

Defendant: I bow to the bench. Such things generally prove a very excellent investment and are returned a hundredfold. Having paid his fine, he left the court, observing that a great statesman had said that there were only two ways of dealing with a rogue – one was a whip and the other something else. The Mayor said that might be so; but it should not be adopted if other means could be used.

 

 

The Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 8 April 1865:

 

EXTRAORDINARY ASSAULT CASE AT STOCKTON. Yesterday, at Stockton, before J Byers, Esq. (mayor), W Richardson, P Romyn and R Craggs, Esqs., Mr W W C Seymour, a gentleman of considerable celebrity, was charged by Mr John Farndale, of Stockton, with assault.

 

The plaintiff, in narrating his complaint said that the defendant, a person whom he had never spoke to in his life, and with whom he had no connection whatever, assailed him on the previous day in the Market Place.  He used the most abusive language to him, charged him with being the author of a certain handbill entitled “Shortly will be published the Life of the Notorious Seymour”; alleged also that he had been actively employed in circulating copies of that bill. Exasperated by the language which the defendant had used he (the plaintiff) did call him a “wicked brute”, when he (defendant) lifted his foot and kicked him behind. (Laughter). Had been labouring in great pain ever since and was almost unable to sit in consequence. Never gave the man any offence. To the bench: The kick was a severe one. In fact it had inflicted a wound. (Great laughter). He had undergone a medical examination that morning, and intended to be examined again. (Roars of laughter). Defendant charged him with writing some kind of circular but he (the plaintiff) knew nothing about it. The assault took place at the Shambles ed.

 

The plaintiff was further subjected to a severe examination by the defendant, the cross fire kept up between the two creating considerable merriment in court.

 

Two witnesses, William Artian and George M’Naster, were called as witnesses by the plaintiff, and from their evidence it appeared that an assault had been committed.

 

Defendant, in addressing the Bench, enumerated several grievances, mentioning inter alia the fact that he (plaintiff) had called him a liar, a monosyllable he would not take from any man in the country, and he held that the assault, not nearly so severe as had been alleged, was in some sort excusable.

 

The Bench, after consulting for a short time, said they were of the opinion that the assault had been committed, although doubtless here had been some provocation, therefore they fined defendant 5s and costs.

 

John Farndale may have been the author of an unpublished publication called Goliah is Dead.

 

William White Collins Seymour accused John of writing a defamatory work about him (possibly Goliah is dead) and assaulted him in Stockton.

 

William WC Collins was the author of "The Evil Genius of Middlesbrough or Town Council Decadence. An epistle to Gabey Tyke" and Who’s Who. How is Middlesbrough Ruled and Governed, 1864 and The Middlesbrough Pillory or Tommy Tommyticket’s Disqualification for a magistrate with a satirical epistle to King Randolph on Brute Force, 1965.

 

Perhaps as a fellow author in the same area at the same time, the two struck up a rivalry?

 

6 November 1869

Martin Farndale had been summoned for permitting eleven heifers to stray on the highway, in the township of Kilton, but he claimed to have a right of 28 years standing, the case was dismissed, the bench having no jurisdiction.

 

(Report of Petty Sessions, York Herald, 6 November 1869)

 

1870

 

John Farndale, The Writer

 

John Farndale the Writer published The History of the Ancient Hamlet of Kilton-in-Cleveland, printed by W Rapp, Dundas Street, Saltburn 1870.

 

Publication of The History of Kilton With a Sketch of the Neighbouring Villages, By the Returned Emigrant, Dedicated to the Rev William Jolley, Toronto, Canada, America. Middlesborough. Burnett & Hood, “Exchange” Printing Offices, 1870.

 

I’m grateful to the local historian Dr Tony Nicholson, who agrees that regarding The Returned Emigrant, “I am sure you are right to say that John Farndale produced it, even though the 1787 birthdate of the so-called ‘Emigrant’ doesn’t correspond with his actual birthdate (1791). There are so many personal stories and anecdotes that appear elsewhere in other publications, that it has to be him. For what it’s worth, I think he adopted a heightened voice and used the idea of the anonymous emigrant to capture something of the modern experience of change and movement, and in many ways it's a defining feature of modernity.”

 

By 1871

John Farndale, the Writer, was an insurance agent and corn merchant.

 

Martin Farndale was a farmer of 600 acres with 16 employees at Kilton Hall Farm.

 

KILTON, a small neat village, 6 miles NE by E of Guisborough, has in its township 80 inhabitants and 1,510 acres of land, all the property and lordship of John Wharton Esq and formerly belonging to the ancient family of Thweng, who had a castle here, of which some traces still remain. Directory: Jph Newbegin, vict; Thos Robson, miller; and Matthew and Martin Farndale, George Jennings, George Moore, Thomas Raw & Joseph Thompson, farmers.

 

1 February 1873

 

(Whitby Gazette, 1 February 1873)

 

26 July 1873

Whitby Gazette, 26 July 1873:

 

LOFTHOUSE AGRICULTURAL SHOW

 

CATTLE … Coaching filly foal … 2, M Farndale, Yearly Coaching colt …

 

CHEESE … Best three cheeses … 3 Mrs M Farndale, Kilton Lodge …

 

9 October 1873

 

One of the female Farndales by this time was running a Temperance Hotel in the emerging Saltburn:

 

(Redcar and Saltburn News and multiple other papers)

 

5 November 1873

 

Police News. Guisborough Police Court. Night poaching. John Julyan, keeper to Mr J T Wharton, of Skelton Castle, charged John Taylor, with having about midnight of 3 November, captured a rabbit upon the farm occupied by Martin Farndale, at Skelton.

 

Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough

 

21 February 1874

 

Thomas Burgess, of Carlinghow, was charged with wilfully setting fire to the fence of a field in the occupation of Martin Farndale, of Kilton, farmer. Fined £1 8s including costs.

 

York Herald

 

13 January 1877

 

Loftus District Ploughing and Hedgecutting Matches. These increasingly popular matches, despite the incessant rains lately experienced, came off on Thursday. Owing to the rather unfavourable weather, the number of spectators was not large. … The following being the list of winners … Class 1, open to all England, with either wheel or swing plough – John Atkinson, Bilsdale, 2 – Martin Farndale, Kilton.

 

Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough

 

27 October 1877

PRESENTATION TO TWO GUARDIANS – The proceedings at the ordinary general meeting of the Guisbro’ Board of Guardians on Monday afternoon were diversified by ne of the most interesting ceremonies which has ever taken place in connection with the union. Mr Thomas Petch, of Liverton and M Martin Farndale, of Kilton, who, with the exception of a slight interval, have been members of the Board since its formation thirty eight years ago, were each made the recipient of an illuminated address and a piece of plate, the gift of their brother guardians, and both addresses, which Mrs J Pease, of Hutton Hall, had generously undertaken to have executed in London at her own cost were beautifully mounted and finished. Admiral Chaloner made the presentation.

 

The Yorkshire Gazette

 

28 January 1878

John Farndale the Writer died at Kilton of senile debility and is buried at Old Brotton Churchyard.

 

30 October and 1 November 1878

 

Pleuro-pneumonia in Cleveland. At the Gainsborough petty sessions on Tuesday ... a report was read from Inspector Allen, of Loftus, and also from William Barker, veterinary surgeon, under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, stating that pleuro-pneumonia had broken out on the farm of Mr Martin Farndale, at Kilton, and one kyloe beast had been destroyed … Mr Farndale bought 35 beasts at Carlisle Fair, and observing one of them was wrong put it into a shed situate in a field belonging to Mr Proud, which adjoined his farm. After discussion it was resolved to put Mr Martin Farndale’s farm and Mr Proud where the beast was slaughtered into quarantine as an infected district for the 56 days required by the Act.

 

Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough

 

Pleuro-pneumonia in Cleveland. Pleuro-pneumonia has broken out on the farm of Mr Martin Farndale, at Brotton-in-Cleveland. One cow has been killed and buried. The farm has been officially declared to be an infected district.”

 

The Leeds Mercury, Newcastle Courat

 

By 1881

 

Martin Farndale of Kilton Hall Farm had retired and his nephew Charles (son of John Farndale, the Writer), then aged 42, was farming 577 acres with 9 employees at Kilton Hall Farm. By way of reminder Martin had married Elizabeth Hours, but they had no children of their own.

 

By this time Martin and then his nephew Charles had consolidated much of the land that was previously farmed by several smaller farmers. Dr Tony Nicholson has raised the interesting question, given John Farndale’s sense of grief at the loss of his village culture, whether this would have created family tension between John (the idealist writer) and his brother Martin and son Charles (the practical farmers).

 

6 June 1881

Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough:

 

SKINNINGROVE WESLEYAN SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY

 

On Sunday the anniversary of the above school was celebrated … Today the teachers and scholars will hold their annual picnic in a field at Kilton, kindly lent for the occasion by Mr W Farndale

 

22 June 1885

 

Martin Farndale died a farmer of Kilton of chronic bronchitis and senile debility aged 86, on 22 Jun 1885; Charles Farndale, nephew was present at the death at Kilton. Martin Farndale buried, Brotton aged 86, 25 Jun 1885. James Bell, the Rector performed the ceremony.

 

Martin died in 1885 with an estate of £1,625 (which would convert to about £107,000 today) and whilst I have not found a copy of his will, Charles was an executor.

 

 

The fifth generation

 

30 June 1817

William Farndale, son of George Farndale, was baptised at Easby, near Stokesley. William married Jane Campbell in about 1855 and probably Annie in about 1878. He worked in the mines at Margrove Park, Stanghow. By 1891 he was a farm labourer and he was also a gardener.

 

17 December 1817

Martin Farndale, son of George Farndale, was baptised at Easby, near Stokesley.

15 April 1820

George Farndale, son of George Farndale, was baptised at Easby, near Stokesley. George married Mary Bell at Marton in 1845. He was a tile maker, and ironstone maker and later a bricklayer in Middlesbrough. He died on 25 December 1891, aged 70.

 

17 February 1822

Thomas Farndale, son of George Farndale, was baptised at Easby, near Stokesley. He married Isabella Bowes in 1850 and they had a son and daughter, but he died at the age of 32 in 1854. He is Founder of the Bishop Auckland 1 Line.

 

8 February 1824

John Farndale, son of George Farndale, was baptised at Easby, near Stokesley. He died aged only 1 week and was buried on 14 February 1824.

 

22 July 1828

Matthew Farndale, son of George Farndale, was born at Marton in Cleveland. He married Ann Readman in 1855 and they had a family of six. They moved to Coatham and he is Founder of the Coatham Line.

16 May 1830

Robert Farndale, son of George Farndale, was baptised at Brotton. He became an apprentice joiner and cartwright. He may have died in Birmingham in 1875.

 

24 March 1831

William Masterton Farndale, son of John Farndale (the Writer) was baptised at Skelton. He became an officer of HM Customs and he married Jane Brownbridge in Middlesbrough in 1858. He died in 1913, aged 82.

1832

Mary Farndale, daughter of John Farndale (the Writer) was born. She probably died aged 30 in 1862.

 

15 August 1832

Elizabeth Mary Farndale, daughter of John Farndale (the Writer) was baptised. She married Joseph Duthwaite Blackburn (a confectioner of Middlesbrough) in 1853 and they had three children. She died in 1905, aged 76.

 

5 December 1833

Teresa Farndale, daughter of John Farndale (the Writer) was baptised. She married Thomas Featherstone in Stockton in 1854 – he was a tailor and she was later a lodging housekeeper.

 

9 June 1835

Annie Maria Farndale, daughter of John Farndale (the Writer) was baptised. She lived at Kilton Hall with her uncle Martin Farndale, until she married Thomas Hall in 1862 and then a farmer’s wife (200 acres) who had family of ten children. She farmed at Brawith Farm, Stokesley herself after her husband died. She died in 1907, aged 71.

 

27 November 1836

John George Farndale, son of John Farndale (the Writer) was born. He was a printer’s apprentice before he took part in the battles of Alma, Balaclava and Inkerman and was at the Siege of Sebastopol. He then settled in Ontario where he was a labourer and then farmed. He is Founder of the Ontario 1 Line.

 

17 January 1838

Charles Farndale, son of John Farndale (the Writer) was born.

 

20 December 1839

Emma Farndale, daughter of John Farndale (the Writer) was baptised. She was buried at Stockton on 20 December 1839.

 

27 February 1842

Martin Farndale married Elizabeth Taylor in Skelton.

By 1851

Charles appears to have taken over Kilton from Martin Farndale who was his uncle, since Martin had no children of his own. Martin was a farmer at Kilton of 207 acres by 1851, with 98 employees. By then Charles his nephew was also living at Kilton. By 1871, Martin was farming 600 acres at Kilton at the age of 73, with 16 employees. By 1881 Martin had retired and Charles was shown as a farmer of 577 acres with 9 employees.

 

 

1853 to 1856

John George Farndale took part in the Crimean War and was engaged in the Battles of Alma, Balaclava and Inkerman and the Siege of Sebastopol.

 

12 July 1862

Martin Farndale died aged 43 Guisborough from empyema; Elizabeth Farndale was present at the death. There is a family story that Martin was kicked by a horse. Empyema is the medical term for pockets of pus that have collected inside a body cavity. They can form if a bacterial infection if left untreated, or if it fails to fully respond to treatment. The term empyema is most commonly used to refer to pus-filled pockets that develop in the pleural space. He is buried at Skelton Old Churchyard.

 

1870

John George Farndale emigrated to Canada and settled in Ontario.

 

A group of people posing for a photo

Description automatically generated

John George Farndale

 

1872

Charles Farndale married Ann Dale of Danby in 1872, and they had nine children.

 

Charles Farndale

 

21 March 1914

Charles Farndale died.

 

 

The Sixth Generation

 

14 December 1842

William Farndale, son of Martin Farndale, was born. He died aged 11 at Skelton of inflammation of the chest on 29 June 1854.

19 September 1845

Martin Farndale, son of Martin Farndale, was born at Fogga Farm, near Skelton. His father, Martin, was working on the farm which belonged to James Taylor, his father-in-law. His mother, Elizabeth (nee Taylor) seems to have been James' only child and heiress. Martin was in fact the second son of Martin and Elizabeth. At the time of the 1851 census the young Martin is listed as grandson to the owner of the house he was living in (ie to James Taylor of Fogga); he was aged 5 and born at Skelton. Certainly his birth is recorded in Skelton Parish Register as "Born September 19th 1845 and baptised on October 20th 1845 as son of Martin Farndale." Although all his brothers recorded at Somerset House, Martin's birth is not recorded there. The family consisted of four boys, William (b1842), Martin (b1845), John (b1848) and Matthew (b1850).

 

Martin's eldest brother died at Skelton, aged 11, of inflammation of the chest on 29 January 1854. Martin was aged 9 at this time. He was probably going to school at Skelton. His father died at Guisborough on 12 July 1862 of empyma and at this time Martin was 17. There is a family story that his father had been kicked by a horse.

 

For the next 14 years it appears that Martin grew up in the Skelton /Brotton area. He probably went on working for his maternal grandfather for some time, taking on the responsibility of looking after his two younger brothers and his mother.

 

Martin is Founder of the Tidkinhow Line.

 

4 April 1846

 

An employee of Martin Farndale (b1798) was involved in a fatal accident.

(York Herald)

 

26 June 1848

John Farndale, son of Martin Farndale, was born at Skelton. John married Elizabeth Featherstone n 1881. They had six children. John worked on the LNER. He is Founder of the Loftus 2 Line. He died on 13 May 1914.

 

                                              

 

25 June 1850

Matthew Farndale, son of Martin Farndale, was born at Fogga, Skelton. He married Mary Ann Liverseed in 1884. Matthew farmed at Craggs Hall near Brotton. There is a story that, while living at Tranmire (or possibly before, in August 1879, according to one record), Martin asked Matthew to go and take Craggs Hall for him. On his return Matthew said that he had taken it, but for himself! It was said that when Matthew came back and told Martin what he had done, they both walked back to Kilton Thorpe without saying a word. Martin however always spoke highly of his brother who helped him to get to Tidkinhow, a farm on Wharton estate. It is said that Matthew later lent Martin some money to acquire Tidkinhow Farm and that Martin took this in part as repayment of his previous 'loan' and for the rest, Matthew used to come to Tidkinhow each year for many years to claim the three best lambs as part repayment.

 

Matthew Farndale

 

10 December 1853

Martin Farndale (b 1798) provided a testimonial for a calf drink.

 

10 December 1853, York Herald

 

5 August 1854

In 1854 Anna Farndale raised a suit disputing the will of her father in law, William Phillips, supported by her brother, Martin against Elizabeth Hume who had married William Phillips’ niece. When the competency of the case was allowed, the defendant withdrew their defence. They suggested that they had to dispute the will because there was questions of its competency

 

(Leeds Intelligencer, 5 August 1854)

 

10 April 1857

In 1857, William Farndale, the tide surveyor (son of John Farndale the writer), saved a steamer at Hartlepool:

 

(Newcastle Courant)

 

25 December 1857

Charles Masterman Farndale, son of William Masterman Farndale, was baptised at Stockton. He became a ship broker’s clerk and died at Cockermouth, Cumbria in 1889, aged 31.

 

26 August 1861

Ann Maria Farndale, daughter of William Masterman Farndale, was baptised at Ormseby. She died aged 77 in 1938.

7 March 1862

Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser:

 

 

26 June 1865

William Henry Farndale, son of William Masterman Farndale, was born. He was a rail clerk who died aged 27 in 1892.

10 July 1872

Northern Weekly Gazette, 25 July 1872:

 

I, the undersigned MARTIN FARNDALE, of Brotton in Cleveland, in the County of York, one of the Churchwardens of the Township of Brotton aforesaid do HEREBY GIVE NOTICE that a Meeting of the Owners and Ratepayers within the township of Brotton, aforesaid, duly convened and held on 21st day of June 1872, at Half past six o’clock in the evening,

 

IT WEAS RESOLVED that the Local Government Act 1858 be adopted in and for the said Township of Brotton. And I do HEREBY GVE FURTHER NOTICE, that a COPY of the above NOTICE was forwarded by me to the Local Government Board on the 10th of July 1872.

 

Given under my hand this 10th day of July 1872

MARTIN FARNDALE

Churchwarden of the Township of Brotton aforesaid.

 

The 1848 Act was replaced by the Local Government Act 1858 (21 & 22 Vict. c. 98). The act came into force in all existing local board of health districts on 1 September 1858. The act made some changes to the procedure for constituting a local board and gave them some additional powers. There was also a change in nomenclature: the authorities created by the 1858 act were simply entitled "Local Boards" and their areas as "Local Government Districts".

 

16 October 1872

 

Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, 16 October 1872)

 

1873

John Martin Farndale, son of Charles Farndale, was born. He died aged nearly 3 in 1875.

3 November 1873

York Herald, 8 November 1873:

 

Guisboro’

 

Police. At the Langbaugh Police Court on Tuesday … John Taylor, miner, was brought up charged with night poaching, on the 3rd November, upon the farm of Matin Farndale, of Kilton. John Julyan, keeper of Mr J T Wharton, of Skelton Castle, heard a rustling in a stubble field when on duty about midnight. A lurcher dog with defendant killed a rabbit, which he picked up and put in his pocket. Julyan followed him and the rabbit was immediately given up. Defendant, when requested, went home with Julyan, and subsequently to the police station. The offence was admitted, To be imprisoned for seven days with hard labour, and to give them security, two in £5 and himself in £10, for keeping the peace. …

 

1 December 1874

Assignment of the Lease from George Coates of Lackenby, yeoman and John Harrison the younger of Darlington in Duham, to Martin Farndale of Kilton, of a parcel of land 135 square yards and the fourstone houses built on it as marked on the map for the remainder of the term of 99 years.

 

1874

Joseph Farndale, son of William Farndale, was born. He was a bricklayer and agricultural labourer. He married Elizabeth Hannah Abbott in 1900 in Stockton. They had eight children. He died in 1921.

25 April 1875

William Farndale, son of Charles Farndale, was born at Kilton. He became a farmer at Gillingwood Hall and married Ada Fawell in 1899. He is Founder of the Richmond Line.

24 August 1876

George Farndale, son of Charles Farndale, was born at Kilton. He became a farmer at Kilton Hall Farm.

1877

Maggie or Miggil Farndale, daughter of William Farndale, was born.

 

7 July 1877

 

Martin Farndale, miner, aged 31, son of Martin Farndale, farmer, married Catherine Jane Lindsay, a spinster, aged 23 of Darlington, daughter of Andrew Lindsay a shoemaker, at St Cuthberts Church, Darlington, 7 Jul 1877. Catherine was born at Alnwick, Northumberland on 28 Jul 1854. Her father was a shoemaker living in Queen's Head Yard, Alnwick.

 

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Martin Farndale about the time of his marriage.               Catherine Lindsay on 29 October 1875

 

It appears that the newly wedded couple moved to a cottage at Kilton-Thorpe. According to Brotton Parish Register, their eldest son John was baptised on 17 February 1878 having been born 24 December 1877. He was born "to Martin and Catherine Jane Farndale of Kilton Thorpe, a miner." Their next child, a daughter, Elizabeth Lindsay was born two years later on 11 December 1879 and baptised at Brotton on 25 January 1850. Martin and Catherine were still living at Kilton Thorpe, but he was now described as a farmer. Their third child, Martin, was born on 8 June 1881 and was baptised at Brotton on 31 July 1881 and his parents were still at Kilton-Thorpe and described as farmers.

 

1877

Mary Elizabeth Farndale, daughter of Charles Farndale, was born at Kilton. She married William Hodge in 1927. She died in 1938, aged 62.

 

14 April 1880

Grace Farndale, daughter of Charles Farndale, was born at Kilton.

 

1880

 

Matthew Farndale of Craggs Hall aged about 30, 1880.

 

1881

Albert Farndale, son of Charles Farndale, was born at Kilton. He became an architect in Guisborough and died in 1918, aged 37 – he committed suicide.

 

10 September 1881

 

Cheshire Observer, 10 September 1881 (of Charles Masterman Farndale)

 

Runcorn Police Court

 

Charles Farndale, a young man employed as a weigher at the Weston Works, who had been apprehended at Liverpool on a warrant, was charged with criminally assaulting a girl named Emily Joynson, aged about 15 years of Rock Savage, Clifton, with whose parents he had been lodging. The prisoner was remanded, and admitted to bail. On Wednesday Charles Farndale was again brought up, and the magistrate said he did not consider the evidence sufficiently satisfactory to justify him sending the prisoner for trial, and he would be discharged.

 

Runcorn Examiner, 10 September 1881

 

SERIOUS CHARGE AGANST A WESTON YOUNG MAN

 

Charles Farndale, a rather good looking young man, employed as a weigher at Weston works, and son of Mr W M Farndale, custom house officer, Runcorn, was charged on remand with criminally assaulting a girl about 15 years of age, named Emily Johnson. Mr Swift Senior appeared for the defence. Complainant, who did not know her age, said she lived with her parents at Clifton. Prisoner had lodged with them about five weeks, but had left before the day of the alleged offence – the 22nd ultimo. On that afternoon, her mother went to Frodsham about half past two, and at half past three Farndale came to the dwelling and said he wanted his flannel, singlet and drawers. She told him that he could not have anything out of the house whilst her father was away. He then took hold of her and carried her upstairs, but she managed to escae and get away. He a second time caried her upstairs, and assaulted her. He was in the house from half past three to quarter to five. She resisted him whilst he was carrying her up the stairs. She went out after the prisoner had left and saw a Mrs Didsbury, but did not tell her what had taken place, although the woman asked her what she was crying about. Her mother returned home about seven o’clock, but she did not say anything to her as she was frightened; neither did she tell her father. On the following Friday she spoke to her mother on the subject. In cross examination witness said she had been away from home, at Chester for 12 months and Birkenhead seven weeks. She was turned away at Chester. Though the prisoner had left their house before the day of the offence, he had not taken his box.  As soon as her mother returned she went upstairs into the lodger’s room and asked who had been there. She at first said “nobody”, but afterwards stated that the prisoner and a Mrs Clarke, who was a neighbour, had been there. On the night of the offence the prisoner slept at the house with another lodger. Between the Tuesday and the following Friday her other found out what she had said about Mrs Clake was a lie, and thrashed witness for making the statement. She then admitted to her mother that prisoner had assaulted her. Dr McDougall gave medical evidence . Ellen Joynson, the mother of the complainant was next called. Betsy Foster, the wife of a neighbour, said if complainant had knocked at the wall she could have heard her. In fact she had frequently done so on former occasions. PC Cooper proved the apprehension of the prisoner. Mr Swift made a long speech for the defence, and contended that but for the observations of the mother, the case would never have been heard of. The magistrate said he did not consider the evidence of such a character as to justify sending the case for trial, and discharged the prisoner.

 

1882

Martin Farndale moved to Tranmire Farm near Whitby and his next two children were born there. There is a family story that Martin asked his brother Matthew to go to make a bid for Craggs Hall Farm near Brotton. The story goes that Matthew returned saying that he'd taken the farm - for himself! True or not that is where Matthew went and Martin went to Tranmire, a farm some ten miles along the road to Whitby - a poor moor farm near Ugthorpe situated on Roxby Moor. The other brother John spent his life working on the railway at Loftus. It was at Tranmire that their next son George was born in January 1883 and also their next daughter, Catherine Jane, named after her mother and always known as Kate; she was born on 16 June 1884.

 

Tranmire Farm

 

1883

Ernest Farndale, son of Charles Farndale, was born at Kilton. He died in 1885, aged 2.

1884

By the time James Farndale was born on 22 December 1885, the family of Martin Farndale had moved to Tidkinhow farm on Stranghow Moor near Guisborough, an improvement on Tranmire. Eldest son John recalled driving sheep from Tranmire to Tidkinhow when seven years old; this would mean 1884.

 

The young family were brought up at Tidkinhow and the other six children were born there. William was born on 22 June 1887, but died only two years later on 19 July 1889. By this time Mary Frances had been born on 22 January 1889 and another son also to be called William, in January 1891. Two and a half years later came Grace Alice, named after her mother's sister and her mother's mother, Alice Lindsay. Then two years later Dorothy Annie was born on 24 May 1895 to be followed by the last and youngest child, Alfred on 5 July 1897.

 

23 August 1884

Sophia Farndale, daughter of Charles Farndale, was born at Kilton. She married Maxwell Foster in 1909. She died in 1973.

 

 

1890

 

 

Four sisters perhaps at time of Charles' family at Kilton Lodge about 1890

 

 

3 May 1899

(Northern Echo, 4 May 1899)

 

1900

 

 

Tidkinhow Farm, near Guisborough, about 1900 - Kate, Catherine, Alfred and Elizabeth (Lynn) - Martin and Catherine moved here in 1887

 

By now Martin was 52 and his wife, Catherine still only 43. They continued to work the farm at Tidkinhow and the eldest sons and daughters were now starting to work helping to look after the youngest who were going to school at Boosbeck. On 23 August 1903 Lynn (Elizabeth Lindsay) married George Barker and went to Tancred Grange near Scorton to live. John worked on the farm and in 18? Martin went to try his fortune in Western Canada, soon to be followed by his brother George in ?. The Canada bug hit the family hard and Kate went in ? to join her brothers; she never returned to England. In ? James followed though he was to spend his late life in the United States. Mary remained at home until she was married to George Brown in ? and went to live at ?. Meanwhile William had become a butcher at ?, but soon the Canada bug hit again and he went off to join his brothers in Canada, settling in Regina (?) in ?

 

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Matthew Farndale and his wife Mary Ann (nee Liverseed) at Craggs Hall in about 1900.

 

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Matthew and Ann Farndale and their family at Craggs Hall in about 1900.

 

 

1908

 

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Picnic at Kilton Lodge about 1908. Vincent Grainger, Ann and Charles Farndale, George Farndale, Grace Farndale, ? and Mary or Sophie Farndale

 

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George Farndale in about 1908

 

 

Grace Farndale

 

1910

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Kilton Tea Party about 1910 - Mrs Ann Farndale, Charles Farndale, visiting vicar, Vincent Grainger (who worked on the farm) and Grace Farndale

 

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Kilton Lodge about 1910 - Back row: ?, George Farndale, ?, Grace Farndale, Charles Farndale   - Front row: Ann Farndale, ?, ?, ?, Vincent Grainger

 

 

The boys of Tidkinhow in about 1910, John, James, Alfred, Willhe boys of Tidkinhow about 1910 - John, James, Alfred, William, George, Martin (inset)

 

The girl Farndales of Tidkinhow with Barker children - Willie B, Dorothy F, Mary F, Mary B, Kate F, Grace F, Margaret B, John B - about 1910

 

 

14 July 1911

 

On 14 July 1911, Catherine Jane Farndale died at Tidkinhow aged 56; she was buried at Boosebeck Parish Church. Martin was now alone at the farm, but surrounded by his family, though now five were in Canada, two (Lynne and Mary) were married and one, the first William, had died. John the eldest was on the farm and Grace, by now 18 and Dorothy 16 were there to help bring up the youngest, Alfred, aged 14.

 

When the war came in 1914 three of the boys became soldiers. James joined the American forces and fought in France. Soon he was joined by William, serving in the Canadian Army who was wounded near Ypres in 1917 and then by Alfred who served from 1916 to 1920 as a British soldier in the Machine-Gun Corps in France and Mesopotamia.

 

After the war James returned to America where in September 1917, he had married Edna Adams. William returned to Canada where he too intended to marry, but tragically he died on 20 November 1919 from the flu, contracted when he was still weak from his was wound. Alfred returned to Tidkinhow in March 1920. But George Barker, Lynn's husband at Tancred Grange had died in ? and their young family wee unable to cope alone.

 

1912

 

Buck Rush Farm about 1912 (it was part of Kilton Lodge Farm under Charles Farndale)

 

1920

Kilton Lodge Farm about 1920

 

Martin Farndale harvesting at Tidkinhow about 1920

 

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Ann Farndale in front of Craggs Hall in about 1920

 

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Matthew Farndale, Ann Farndale, Robert Farndale and Ruth Farndale, in front of Craggs Hall, about 1920

 

Mary Ann Farndale (FAR00397had vivid memories of holidays at Cragg Hall Farm. (Mother is adamant that she knew it is Cragg & not Craggs as on your site?)  Matthew (FAR00383), affectionately called Mattha by Mary Ann was an elderly widower by then and he appeared to enjoy her fussing over him.  My mother remembers a beautiful rose garden hidden at the back of the farm seen only by those at the farm,  fruit bushes dripping with berries, taking the farmworkers lunches out to the fields at midday, being allowed to go shopping on her own to Carlin How or Brotton (an example of the changes in society as she was only 5 or 6 at the time) and reading Pilgrims Progress in the rarely used ‘front room’    A special treat was to be taken for rides in the side car of Herbert’s (FAR00652) motor bike.  Herbert, Matthews’ son was presumably running the farm by this stage. (Record from Judith Bremner)

 

 

About 1925

 

 

A photograph of George on horseback at Kilton Lodge (written on the back of the photograph was: "Cadbury Bournville, employees 11000, ground space 35 acres, estate 72 acres, gardeners 35, commenced with small grocery store") - the photograph is marked as taken about 1925, but we wonder whether it was earlier than this?

 

 

A photograph of George and Grace Farndale (Sitting), about 1925

 

1927

Matthew Farndale died at Brotton, aged 76.

 

It is believed that this is a photograph of Mary Farndale's wedding at Kilton Lodge in 1927.

 

 

17 January 1928

Martin Farndale died on 17 January 1928, aged 82, of pneumonia. Martin is buried beside Catherine Jane at Boosbeck Parish Church where there is an inscription which says "Catherine Jane Farndale, Died 14 July 1911 aged 56 years, also MARTIN, Beloved Husband of the above, Died 17 January 1928 aged 82 years of Tidkinhow Farm."

 

By 1939

Brother George Farndale and Sister Grace Farndale, were living at Stank House, Kilton and George was farming there.

8 March 1940

(Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, 8 March 1940)

 

1 March 1966

Grace Farndale died and was buried at Saltburn cemetery.

 

14 February 1970

George Farndale died and was buried at Saltburn cemetery.