William Farndale

9 March 1859 (baptised) to 16 February 1909

The Whitby 5 Line

FAR00435

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Related Family Stories The story of the Bakers of Highfields, the Chapmans, and other related families

Railway porter on NE railway and Methodist local preacher, then town missionary, and later baker and confectioner

Dates are in red.

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Headlines are in brown.

References and citations are in turquoise.

Context and local history are in purple.

Geographical context is in green.

The York Years

1859

William Farndale, son of Joseph and Margaret (nee Brown) Farndale (FAR00285) was born in York District in 1859 and baptised on 9 March 1859 (York PR). William Farndale’s birth was registered in York District in the fourth quarter of 1858 (GRO Vol 9d page 42). The family lived at St Nicholas and his father was a carter.

1861

1861 Census – Brick Yard Lane, St Nicholas, York

Joseph Farndale, 36, labourer

Margaret Farndale, 37, his wife

Jane A Farndale, 13

Hannah Farndale, 6

William Farndale, 2 (born 1858)

1871

1871 Census – Porter Lodge, Newton on Ouse, Easingwold

William Farndale, 12, was a servant to the Styan family

1880

William Farndale marred Mary Jane Peacock at York in the fourth quarter of 1880

1881

1881 Census – 25 New Begin Street, St Maurice in the Suburbs, York

William Farndale, 23, born York 1858, a goods porter and Methodist local preacher (Railway)

Mary Jane Farndale, wife, 20

York Herald, 7 June 1881: PICKERING. RAILWAY SERVANTS CAMP MEETING. On Sunday the annual meeting was held in the Avenue Field, Pickering. At seven am there was a prayer meeting, conducted by Mr Pennock of York; at nine the people met at the railway crossing, Bridge St, where a procession was formed, and several short addresses were delivered en route. The service on the ground was conducted by Messrs W Farndale, goods porter, York; J Acey, goods foreman, Malton, and W Jackson, platelayer, Potts. In the afternoon the addresses were by W Potter, platelayer, Malton; R Ezard, station master, Earswick; T Boynton, platelayer, Garton; and T Pennock, joiners’ waggon department, York. At six pm there was an experience meeting in the Primitive Methodist Chapel, conducted by Messrs Boynton and Pennock.

William Edward Farndale (FAR00576) was born in York on 24 September 1881. Their son, William Edward Farndale would become President of the Primitive Methodist Conference.

York Herald, 29 August 1881: THIRSK. UNITED RAILWAY SERVANTS CAMP MEETING. A meeting was held at Thirsk yesterday, and being favoured with fine weather the services in the Market Square were largely attended. On Saturday evening special prayer meetings were held in the Wesleyan Chapel school of commerce and St James’ Green, conducted by J Lawn, and yesterday morning in the Primitive Methodist schoolroom, conducted by T Ferguson. At nine a procession was formed on the Little Green, conducted by Mr W Farndale, of York, and a service was held in the marketplace, and addresses were delivered by... In the Wesleyan Chapel, the same speakers being also present during the afternoon in the Market Square … and at five W Farndale also delivered an address, and in the evening and experience meeting was held, conducted by T Calvert.

1883

Joseph Farndale (FAR00593) was born in York on 14 July 1883.

Yorkshire Gazette, 7 June 1884: THIRSK. UNITED RAILWAY SERVANTS CAMP MEETING. The above meeting was held at Thirsk yesterday, and being favoured with fine weather the services in the market square were largely attended. On Saturday evening special prayer meetings were held in the Wesleyan Chapel schoolroom, St James’s Green, conducted by J Lawn, and yesterday morning in the primitive Methodist schoolroom conduct conducted by T Ferguson. At nine a procession was formed on the Little Green, conducted by Mr W Farndale, of York, and a service was held in the marketplace, and addresses delivered by... In the Wesleyan Chapel, the same speakers being also present during the afternoon in the market square; And at five W Farndale also delivered an address, and in the evening and experience meeting was held, conducted by T Calvert.

York Herald, 21 July 1885 and the Yorkshire Gazette, 25 July 1885: PRIMITIVE METHODIST CAMP GATHERING. On Sunday a camp gathering of the York and District Primitive Methodists took place on the Bootham Stray, near this city. At the early hour of six o’clock a meeting was held in the vestry room at Ebenezer Chapel, Little Stonegate, and at nine o’clock the friends met in the body of the Chapel for prayer. Shortly afterwards a procession was formed, starting from Stonegate, and along Davygate comment to Pavement, where an address was delivered by Mr. J Brough. Addresses were also given in King’s Square by Mr Hopwood and opposite the exhibition by Mr W Farndale. The procession then preceded to Bootham Stray, where...

1886

Ellen Farndale (FAR00612) was born in York in 1886.

North Star (Darlington), 2 August 1886: PRIMITIVE METHODIST SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY. In celebration of the anniversary of the Duke of York Street Primitive Methodist Sunday School sermons were preached in the Mission room, on Sunday, by the newly appointed minister, the Rev W L Spooner. In the afternoon, Mr Spooner gave an address to the parents, teachers and scholars. Yesterday evening the annual meeting was held in the Mission room undfer the presidency of Mr Mansfield. There was a good attendance, and the large gallery was occupied by the Sunday school children. Addresses were given by the chairman, the Rev W L Spooner, and Mrs Joseph Croft, W Farndale, and others. Many recitations, dialogues and hymns were given by the school children in their credit creditable manner. Collections were made at each service in aid at the school funds.

THE DUKE OF YORLK STREET Primitive Methodist Sunday school anniversary was celebrated on Sunday, when sermons were preached in the Mission room, by the Rev W L Spooner. In the afternoon the Rev Gentleman also gave an address to parents, teachers and scholars. The annual meeting was held on Monday night, Mr Mansfield in the chair. There was a good attendance. Addresses were given by the chairman, Rev W L Spooner, and Mrs. J Croft, W Farndale, and others. The collections were on behalf of the school funds.

Sadly the Rev W L Spooner, who William Farndale spoke alongside, is not the same person as the famous W A Spooner who lived at the same time. William Archibald Spooner (22 July 1844 – 29 August 1930) was a British clergyman and long-serving Oxford don. He was most notable for his absent-mindedness, and for supposedly mixing up the syllables in a spoken phrase, with unintentionally comic effect. Such phrases became known as spoonerisms, and are often used humorously. Many spoonerisms have been invented and attributed to Spooner.

RAILWAY SERVANTS CAMP MEETINGS. Yesterday these annual gatherings took place at Thirsk where a procession was formed which perambulated the principal streets to the Market Square where service was held and addresses delivered by Mr G Scott, of Boroughbridge, and Mr Thomas Boynton, of Wetwang. In the afternoon another service was held, when Mr W Farndale, of York and Mr Thomas Boynton, addressed a large congregation. A meeting was also held at Sowerby, addressed by Mr William Farndale, and at half past six an “experience” meeting was held in the Primitive Methodist chapel, Castlegate.

The Manchester Years

1887

By 1887, he had moved to Manchester:

York Herald, 17 September 1887: PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPEL LEEMAN ROAD YORK. The anniversary services of this place of worship were commenced on Sunday last, when Mr G Barker of Kippax, near Leeds was the preacher. On Monday evening Mr Barker gave an interesting and instructive lecture in which he held his audience in rapt attention for an hour on “An hour with the Scottish Covenanters.” On Tuesday afternoon the anniversary tea was provided, after which the annual public meeting was held under the presidency of Mr W R Romford, and suitable addresses delivered by Mrs. J Powell and G Imeson, of York, Mr W Farndale, of Manchester, formerly a resident in York...

The Macclesfield Years

1889

Macclesfield Times, 23 December 1938: Thus it was, and in this building, that a new venture of faith was started in Macclesfield when the town mission was opened and on the 14th day of January 1889. The first missionary was Mr Farndale, who is still remembered by some of the older members. He and those who have followed have established a fine tradition of Christian service.

1891

1891 Census – New Hall Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire

William Farndale, 33, born York 1858, town missionary

Mary Jane Farndale, 30

William Edward Farndale, son. 9, born York 1882

Joseph Farndale, son, 7, born York 1884

Ellen Farndale, daughter, 5 born York 1886

Blackpool

1893

York Herald, 4 April 1893: PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPEL, LAVERTHORPE, YORK. On Good Friday the anniversary team meeting was held in the afternoon at this chapel and was well patronised. A public meeting was held in the evening. There was a large attendance. Mr I Boland, circuit steward, presided. Mr R Neilson, secretary, read the financial report, which showed that the proceeds of the anniversary were £18 12s 1d; £5 in advance of last year. Addresses were given by Mr W Farndale, home missionary, from Blackpool...

Blackpool Gazette and Herald, 10 November 1893: I have received as letter from Mr Wiliam Farndale, the late missionary in the Queenstown district, in which he desires to acknowledge the deep gratitude to the timely gift of £40 from Blackpool, especially mentioning the “loving generosity” of his friends at Queen’s Park. He adds the fervent hope “May He who suffers not the cup of cold water to pass unnoticed richly reward or givers and collectors.”

Widnes Examiner, 9 May 1896: EARLESTOWN MISSION SUNDAY SCHOOL. In aid of the above, special services were held in the Cooperative Hall on Sunday afternoon and evening. The services were conducted by Mr W Farndale, of Manchester, and they were remarkably well attended, especially in the evening, when the hall was crowded. A feature of the service was the reed and string band, which under the conductorship of Mr S Dring, played several selections in excellent style... The collections amounted to £6 10s.

South of Manchester (Chorlton-cum-Hardy and Disbury)

1901

1901 Census – 18 Cavendish Road, Withington, Chorlton, Lancashire

William Farndale, 41, baker and confectioner

Mary Jane Farndale, 38

William Edward Farndale, 19, clerk

Joseph Farndale, son, 17, clerk

Ellen Farndale, daughter, 15

Passman family of three who worked in the bakery

Chorlton-cum-Hardy is a suburban area of Manchester, three miles southwest of the city centre.

1909

William Farndale, died age 50 at Chorlton District in the first quarter 1909 (DR).

Manchester Evening News, 18 and 19 February 1909: FARNDALE. On February 16^th, WILLIAM FARNDALE Of 21 Hesketh Ave, Didsbury, internment southern cemetery, Saturday, 20th at 3:30 PM.

Didsbury is a suburban village in Manchester, on the north bank of the River Mersey, five miles south of the city centre.

Bradford Telegraph, 20 February 1909: DIDSBURY GROCER’S SUICIDE. A pathetic letter was read at an inquest on the body of William Farndale, 50, a grocer, who lived at in Hesketh Avenue, Didsbury. He was found hanging in the cellar of his shop in School Lane on Tuesday.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, 20 February 1909: Before hanging himself in the cellar of his grocer’s shop in Didsbury, William Farndale wrote a note in which he said he was past living. “My mind has gone, and the hope of life has died out. I have tried and failed. Misfortune has seemed to follow me.”

1911

1911 Census – 13 Albion Road, Rushmore, South Manchester

Mary Jane Farndale, 49

Ellen Farndale, 25, single

Joseph Farndale, 27, single, clerk

Two others

Postscript

Macclesfield Times, 23 December 1938:

INSPIRING THOUGHTS.

“No wonder that today the Town Mission finds itself one of the most beloved religious institutions in Macclesfield, with its activities and opportunities greater than ever in its history. Surely, those are inspiring thoughts for the jubilee which is to be celebrated in January next.

How came this mission to Macclesfield where it has wrought so much good? The answer is that prior to the year 1888 Mr C H Johnson, a member of the board of management of the Manchester City Mission and father of the present Dean of Canterbury, Dr Hewlett Johnson, took up residence in Macclesfield district. It was at Mr Johnson's request that the secretary of the Manchester City Mission visited the town to explore the possibilities of beginning a branch of the work here. Providentially, the very premises that were needed were vacant; Appropriately enough, they had previously been used for religious purposes, having been the meeting House of the Quakers.

Thus it was, and in this building, that a new venture of faith was started in Macclesfield when the town mission was opened and on the 14th day of January 1889. The first missionary was Mr Farndale, who is still remembered by some of the older members. He and those who have followed have established a fine tradition of Christian service.

Mr Farndale was succeeded by Mr. Wilson Croft and Miss Stead; then in 1898, Mr and Mrs N B Storey entered upon their long ministry. On their retirement, the torch was handed on to Mr and Mrs Valentine and Miss Kauser who were followed by Mr and Mrs Wallace and Miss White. Next in the goodly succession came Mr A Holt and Miss Townsend, the latter continuing when Mr and Mrs Brown took charge. Since January 1932, Mr and Mrs J James were at the helm, succeeded in November, 1938, by Mr and Mrs George E Pybus.