INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
to his
Notes on Various Occasions
REMINISCENES
- of -
JOHN WILLIAM HALL
3/23/l925 -
I seldom feel inclined to write anything, but occasionally am very spry in
such desires. I feel very generally that what
I write is not worth much. To-day I feel to be recovering from pains and aches not
previously experienced; to-day my right
shoulder complains. I am concluding to
write about what immediately concerns me.
7/17/1924 -
I am beginning to write early recollections, nothing in this for any but the
family, only matters of family interest. x x
What I may write down is what I remember of early days and what was spoken to
me by Father, Aunt Sarah, cousin John Grieve, and lastly my sisters Hannah and Mary.
July 11, 1925 - “I
find I can only write scrappily what turns up at the time. “
“I will now go on with a history
of my own times. If I get through with this I may be able to speak more of my family. After looking through what I have written, I
have an impression that what I write is not of much value and only fit for the waste paper
basket.
Dec. 28, 1928 - recollections spring up at odd
times
The name of Hall is very common in
Northumberland and the history of the County shows that it was over-run by Norsemen and
Danes and was under their dominion for a long period.
The pronunciation of the name of HALL
was more like HAAL. I was very much
astonished at that, and it shows how the country was peopled by Danes. A large family of that name was resident at
Mamborough, Otterburn, Berwick, Embleton and in that district, and one of that name
espoused the cause of the Pretender and lost his life.
Many of them made their way southwards and joined up with the Quaker preachers, and
some became “Public Friends”.
The dalesmen of this part of England
have strong characteristics of their own. The
Cheviot Hills are the feature of the northern part of the County, and the rest of it is
cut up by the Dales running North and South to join the Tyne Little grain is grown in these hill regions, and
the farmers might be described as ‘pastoral’ farmers, many as ‘yeomen’
farming their own land.
There was at one time a
Northumberland Quarterly Meeting which included Newcastle itself and extended as far as
Berwick. But these meetings of the Northumberland dales have long been joined to
Cumberland Quarterly Meeting. Meeting
Houses were built, and still exist, at Alston, Coanwood, and Allendale Town. At the latter place the first building used by
Friends was dated 1600, this was rebuilt in 1753, and the one now standing is the one
which I well remember being put up in 1857. These
three meetings belonged to Allendale Monthly Meeting and their members were almost
exclusive1y farmers.
The earliest record we have of any of
the Halls is of Isaac Hall, who lived at Aske Hall and Hagg House, near Berwick, and
joined Friends in George Fox’s time. He
is reported to have visited the Friends in prisons at Morpeth, Newcastle, Hexham and
Berwick. His two sons Joseph and
Benjamin removed to Allendale from Embleton, near Bamborough Castle. The former was employed by the Allendale
Town Brewery Company to introduce the use of malt in brewing. The latter kept a school on
the Heating House premises, afterwards removing to Manchester and we have no further trade
of him Joseph died in middle age, leaving a son Isaac and a daughter. They lived on a
small farm called Moorgate. The widow
carried on hand-loom weaving for her living, the son when very young began to attend
Brampton, Alston and Allendale Markets to dispose of their goods. From accounts given by his oldest grandson
the young man led a very busy life, farming, attending markets, starting very early in the
morning and working late. He was so
tired when he went to bed that his Mother shaved him as he lay asleep; John Grieve tells
of this. But evidently hard work suited
his constitution, showing that it is not hard work but worry that kills. Eventually he
took up visiting the markets with a horse and cart and sold or carted for other people. Later in life he undertook contracts for Mr.
Beaumont and transported; wood from the shire and Slaley across the fell to Allenheads for
Mr. Beaumont’s lead mines. His
contracts must have been profitable for in due time he was able to buy High Studdon and
moved there to live. At High Studdon
you still may see the water trough which was brought from Moorgate. It measures 6 feet by 3 by 2 and is
hewn out of a solid block of stone. It
is kept full by a little stream of water and to all appearance is as imperishable as the
hills themselves. High Studdon is a farm two miles South of Allendale Town, and stands
1400 feet above sea level. The farm
lands extended from the river Allen to the enclosed lands on the hillside; and there
were two small holdings belonging to it. From High Studdon itself, and from the fells near
it, there is a very magnificent view of the surrounding hills stretching away to
Scotland and the Border heights. The valley
of the South Tyne can be followed with the eye as far east as Newcastle. The nearest town of any size is Hexham, on
which converged, every market day, processions of dales-people who had started from their
homes on the high fells early in the morning and would only get back again in time for
bed.
Cousin Hannah Wilkinson
My grandfather was an only son. His one sister married a Mr. Brown of
Newcastle. My grandfather and father
lost heavily with the Browns. Their
daughter Hannah, after-wards Hannah Wilkinson, who lived in Hexham as a widow to a great
age and died in her 103rd year, was the only satisfactory cousin that Father
had. She told him she wove her own
linen and sheets and bed-tick when she married.
She had only one daughter who died in early life, and her husband did not live to
be old, so she was left a widow for many years.
She joined the Church of England with
her husband. She was very active and well known in Hexham both for her public and private
work. She had many kind interested
friends in her later life. She told me she
had means of her own and also her husband’s fortune left her well cared for. Thinking
she could live without her husband’s money, she divided it out in shares as she
considered best. She called these relatives
together and with the help of her kind friend and solicitor, L.C. Lockhart, gave each
their share, and they all kissed her and said good-bye.
She lived in a quiet little house in Hexham with one servant. My father and all our relatives never missed
calling to see her. One day when I called in
passing through, she remarked on the poor quality of servants now-a-days. “I thought I would engage my niece to live
with me, and do without a servant, but she was just like the rest, a lazy inactive hussy,
so I sent her home.’ “How old
was she, Hannah?” I asked. Her reply was, ‘Why only 75 and as slow as you like. I could not do with her ways any longer.” Thus she confirmed the saying that we are
only as old as we feel. She told me that
Louis Lockhart read the Church prayers to her every Sunday and his sister twice weekly. Accidentally many years after in a train
between York and Thirsk I met a clergyman who told me that he was formerly a curate in
Hexham and when H.W. died the Vicar was from home, and he had felt it a privilege to read
a service over so good a woman.
Isaac Hall 1741-1822
Married Hannah Shield whose family
lived at Sinderhope and previously at Woolley Burnfoot and are relatives of John H. Shield
who now lives at Burnlaw. They had two sons and three daughters, most of these born before
they moved to High Studdon. The children were Hannah, Joseph, Sarah, Isaac, Jane.
Joseph died unmarried at about the
age of 35. He helped his father in the contracts for leading wood, and later was employed
in the grocery business of Daniel’ Oliver (Sen.) of Newcastle. He was once chased by the press-gang, but, being
an athlete, he escaped them and running into a house with the door open, he was safe from
capture. He died of pneumonia from overwork and exposure whilst on a visit to North
Shields. Our father often talked about his elder brother.
The eldest daughter, Hannah, married
John Grieve, a Friend from Cumwinton, Cumberland, who settled on one of the small holdings
on Studdon estate. Having some means of his
own, he simply assisted my father on the High Studdon farm.
Sarah and Isaac lived together always
at High Studdon and Jeanie married George Roddam.
My grandfather was a middle-sized man
of a very active nature and very healthy. He
died in 1822 and left no will. He had
had uninterrupted good health until he was 84 years old, when one day my Father saw some
change and offered to stay near. “No”,
said his father, “go and do your work as you have planned it.” When my Father came back next the old
man had passed away. As the only son he
heired all the house property and farms but thought it right to pay his brothers-in-law
and sister what he considered to be their portion.
It all came back (i.e., the Grieve share) to our family on the death of John and
Thomas Grieve (our cousins) being about £790 to each of my brothers and sisters including
myself. In his business transactions he
always declined to take advantage of the troubles of others, and in making additions to
High Studdon always paid full value for the land he bought.
Isaac Hall 1793-1861
My father was about 28 years of age then his father died and, with
the help of a married man, he farmed High Studdon.
In the cottage at High Studdon lived John Grieve and his two sons Thomas and John;
at the birth of the latter his mother, my Father’s eldest sister Hannah, died. John Grieve ever after engaged housekeepers for
him-self and his two sons who built stone walls all over the farm. The walls to-day show little sign of decay: they are soundly built the stone, sandstone grit,
remains perfectly hard. My father was
clumsy with his hands and had to rely on his head for good management, hence his
brother-in law and his nephew were invaluable, indeed the nephews might have been sons,
and they were so attached to father and all the family.
J. Grieve afterwards bought a farm in West Allen-dale “Black Cleugh”
which he and his own sons carried on. Thomas was interested in all passing events as far
as his surroundings and education permitted; his strong sense of humour, accounted for the
liberality of his views. John was intensely
methodistical and a great supporter of that body. Their affection for our father was very
marked, as boys they were with him on the farm always.
Wigton School was not in existence in their time, my sister Hannah who was 10 years
their junior being the first of the family to be favoured by that great enlightenment for
the children of Cumberland and Scotch Friends.
Uncle John was fond of shooting and grouse was very plentiful so they kept the
larder replenished with the gun - it was a flint gun.
I remember well the old man with his long grey hair growing down his shoulders, and
his giving me half-a-crown when I went off to Wigton School after each vacation.
After my grandfather’s death
John Grieve with his two sons bought Black Cleugh farm in West Allen and they farmed there
until the death of Thomas Grieve when the remaining brother, John, sold out the stock and
let the farm. John removed to High Studdon
to the cottage were he was born, and there he died in his 66th year and was
buried in the Allen dale Friends’ Burial Ground as was also his family.
(The Wedding at Gretna Green is more
interesting when the circumstances are gone into)
Frank Philipson was a miner and a
small tenant farmer; a man of strong character but hasty in temper, a kind father and
thoughtful for his children. He bought
for every child a quart size fancy jug with name and date of birth duly burnt into the
pottery. These are carefully preserved
by the family and my sister Mary has my mother’s jug.
Thinking of my mother this morning,
her mother was a Friend, the family name was Green.
They were dyers at the Peckridding by the Allen Water. One of the family emigrated to the
United States and was a notable minister among Friends.
Frank Philipson married Mary Green and she died at the birth of her only child, my
mother Mary Philipson. Frank Philipson
married again and had a family of 6 daughter and 7 sons with his second wife, so my mother
had many (step) relatives of the name of Philipson.
The sons became lead miners with their father.
My grandmother was old and Aunt Sarah
always in delicate health, so when Aunt Jeanie left home Mary Philipson aged 16 came to
take her place in the family. She was
described as a very bonny girl with bright red cheeks and black hair, and little wonder
that in course of time my father was overcome with the fascination of youthful
loveliness and personality of character, My
grandmothers and aunt were disturbed, and Mary with our father’s consent went to live
with a neighbour at Throstle Farm (a house on the Studdon property just below the
“new road”.) Her father who
lived 5 miles away hearing of this immediately came along in much warmth to take her home. By chance M.P. was in the garden some 700
yards away near the river so a daughter of the house ran to the garden and informed M.P.
who fearing the wrath of her Parent bolted into a wood near by and from it to another dark
fir plantation and made her way up the hill to High Studdon. Communicating her plight to I.H. apparently
she hid amongst the hay in the barn Her
father sought for her in vain and returned home at night.
That night 2 horses were saddled. The
farm man I.H. and Mary P. rode off for Gretna, M.P. riding behind the man. The setting off was not without incident for
my Grandmother in protesting kept back part of the Coat Tail of T.H’s Quaker coat as
a memorial protest. They rode through
the night to Gretna and the couple were married early in the morning. The marriage certificate is a document beautifully
written and inscribed in foolscap partly hand printed.
On the way home my mother rode behind her husband, and on their arrival let it be
said that the whole family were immediately reconciled and lived happily. Mother1s father had sought her
erring daughter without avail, returned to his home miles away and renewed the search on
the second day. But it is said all’s
well that ends well.
My mother was perfectly happy, and
she and Aunt Sarah were truly sisters ever afterwards, living together in the same house
and our Aunt Sarah a second mother to us all.
My Mother was not a Friend, her
Mother having been disowned for marrying Francis Philipson.
When she came home from Gretna Green the Rector of Allendale came to see them and
he insisted on their getting properly married but charged them no fees for the ceremony. My Father agreed that Friends should disown
him for marrying a non-Friend, but said that he and his wife would attend Meeting all the
same. So he was disowned, and afterwards re-instated, and my Mother joined Friends at the
same time.
My Mother had a beautiful face. She was loving yet strict with the children
and excellent in her love of law and order. It
was beautiful to see her attachment to our Aunt Sarah and how they were able to look so
closely after the family.
Mother died as the result of an
accident, in 1853 when I was 11 years old and somehow father never was the same man again;
he lost interest in life and died eight years after in 1861. He and I were greatly attached to each other
and after I left school I only saw him for 13 days every July.
Still all my life was centred in the thought that I must do
nothing in life contrary to his own desires. This I carried out to the letter.
Our Father, Isaac Hall, 1793-l86l
I ought to write something special
about our father. He was a very affectionate father; I never remember an unkind word from
him. Each day as he went over the farm
he liked all the children at liberty to go with him.
We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, often four or more of us were trying to be
helpful, running round among the cattle and sheep.
Although we kept a dog, Father did not care for rousing either sheep or cattle,
which certainly is the case when a dog is sent round barking, and forcing the stock. It was much better to go quietly among them,
counting them or driving them to another pasture. There
was a little hill where four fields met and we could have a good view of the animals in
all directions, also the converging walls gave shelter from any wind that blew, so it was
a good place to sit down on the grass, and father used to teach us to repeat Scripture or
some interesting poetry. Sometimes we
would learn about the plants and the flower2, birds, butter~1ies and all animated
nature, we learned their names and their habits.
Father was strongly built with
powerful hands and arms, and, I might say, legs, for in the hayfield he seemed to do work
equal to two ordinary men. In those
days there were no grass cutters or other modern machinery and the cutting of’ the
grass was done by scythes. The hay
season lasted through July, August and even September and was a trying time. We usually paid three men from Hexhamshire
who would mow 21/2 acres per day. They
were followed by haymakers, Father, Mother and all the children. Aunt Sarah was at home cooking. We spread the swathes, gathered them into cocks,
spread them again in the sun. Then, if
dry, the hay was rowed up, put on sledges and drawn to the barns, turned over to the
forker to fork into the barn to the stack-maker.
The horse with empty sledge made speed back to the field to be filled. When six years old I was tied to the
horse’s back given a stick and reins, and having acquired a knowledge of language
understood by Diamond, the work was at once both engaging and exhilarating, and to those
eventful days my memory is green.
When my grandfather bought High
Studdon the property included the Throstle Farm so that it extended from the Allen to the
fell. My father bought the Holmes Lot
of Mr. Lowe also the Far Lot of someone else. He
let off the Throstle to John Graham the man who accompanied the couple to Gretna
Green. The Hall
children went to school with the young Grahams.
Some sixty years later J.W.H. knocked at the door of William Graham at Sinderhope,
and asked “do you know me?” Without
any hesitation Mr. and Mrs. Graham replied “Why it’s John Willie.’ Come in.”
My father also let a portion of the
property, with house attached, to John Grieve, his brother-in-law, and the family kept the
High Studdon house and farm going for many years without either a man or women servant,
excepting occasionally employing a man for draining or dyking (building walls) at 15/-
per week.
My grandmother inherited a farm at
Sinderhope which she gave to Aunt Sarah. This
farm and also Throstle was exchanged with Mr. Beaumont for land at Low Studdon.
The status of a farmer is little
understood by outsiders. He requires
excellent judgment. In his livestock
he must fully understand what to keep, what to sell and when to sell. He must have an inherent qualification as to
values, and expert knowledge of foods suitable for growth or fattening. He requires a chemical knowledge of soils
and of fertilisers suitable for the various qualities of soil. Then there are weather conditions to meet;
decision of character is needed to act for the best at the psychological moment. Perseverance and patience are most
necessary. It is a common proverb
“If a farmer is to be successful he must marry the dairymaid - a trained wife well
trained is necessary for success.”
My father had a large share of these
qualities. His judgment was excellent, he was
most conscientious in his attention to all his animals and his stock was much sought after
and could always command a good price. He
considered it a waste of time to attend markets unless he had business because it meant
neglecting the farm. He said his duty
lay in close attention to breeding and rearing his animals. It was an entirely pastoral
farm; cattle, sheep and horses were the stock kept.
In dealing and trading he told me he never took advantage of a seller obliged to
sell, but ever gave them the full value.
His father left no will and lawfully
all the land and houses fell to him by inheritance.
However he could not rest but had all valued and engaged to pay his two sisters
(and their husbands) one third each. He
paid them out as he was able from his savings, and after his mother’s death the
family at High Studdon settled down to a life of simplicity and economy.
There was a division of part of the
moors into en closed allotments according to the claims of the various owners of land. My father owning four farms, his share was
considerable and he bought other shares. John
Grieve and his sons put up the enclosing dry walls, strong and extremely well built. My father tried his hand, but was so faddy
and the building got on so slowly that he gave it up.
His wall to-day shows his painstaking method.
They quarried the stone themselves on their own land.
A kiln was built for burning the
mountain limestone The lime was spread over the ling which then died and was followed by
rich grass and clover. Very often the
ground was drained with two inch tiles previous to liming.
To-day in these fields you cannot find a trace of ling but instead valuable feeding
grass and white clover, and the ground will carry nearly double the stock. There was a plan of turning the sheep during
the day on to the moor for a change to eat heather or bent grass. The owners still had shares called
“stints” on unenclosed moors.
These stints could be bought or sold and each allowed the owner pasturage for 5
sheep on the moor.
My father had not opportunity for
much education; his only schoolmaster was the vicar of Allendale who later performed the
church marriage ceremony.
He was entirely in agreement with the
principles of the Society of Friends, and read all the early journals of Friends that he
could lay his hands on. In dress and
use of plain language he was very particular: his
sister and my mother wore Friends’ bonnets, and his daughter’s bonnets were
neatness itself and perfectly plain Father
did not approve of the disagreement common in that that amongst Wilburites and Gurneyites: what he approved was the fellowship of worship
with or without utterance.
When my father was a young man he
went to Newcastle, about 35 miles, with two others.
In returning they called at a public house and had a glass of ale before they got
out of the town. Further on his
companions got two glasses additional and as it was hot, the alcohol took effect on them
and they both lay down by the roadside, helpless, and went to sleep. My father was so struck by the incident,
that, when he reached home, he turned out all alcoholics and refused ever after to drink
or “treat” anyone else. In
his necessities to make use of inns for business he always paid the landlady generously
for the accommodation required. Thus he
became an abstainer years before Temperance Societies arose; and the fact that both his
father’s and mother’s relatives were given to consuming alcohol (indeed it was
then rum) only strengthened his determination to neither take it himself nor allow it in
the house.
As a Liberal, my grandfather actively
supported the party at elections, and my father used to tell stories of his early
adventures in politics. When an
election came on his father used to say, “Now, Isaac, get the galloway (Dales pony
from 14 to 15 hands, very hardy and high spirited animals) saddled and be off; come back
when all is over.” These yeoman farmers, numbering seldom less than 500 horsemen
rode as escort to Mr. Beaumont. As they
rode along from town to village, and village to town, they took possession of every
public house, and turned them into committee rooms.
These journeys were a great success. Every
body was roused by this well-equipped bodyguard of supporters, with blue flags flying,
and brass bands playing with deep sounding drums.
My father relates how he was with Mr. Beaumont and his agent Mr. Crawhall after his
successful campaign. Mr. Beaumont was
completely floored then he found the total cost was £100,000 and said it would be his
ruin. Mr. Crawhall replied gaily
“Cheer up, Mr. Beaumont, last year we made £100,000 out of the Allendale lead mines.
You have only spent one year’s income and you have won the election”.
My father had at least two severe
illnesses, each time inflammation of the lungs.
He got an eye much dam-aged by a cow’s horn and was some time at Newcastle
Infirmary.
Between J.W.H. and his father there
was a very intimate friendship, and he felt it deeply when in l86l his father died while
he was at Sunderland and had no word that his father was ill.
Aunt Sarah 1790-1860
Aunt Sarah was born at High Studdon
in 1790 (or 1788?) and father in 1793: they
lived through the whole of the 22 years French war.
After the peace in 1815 intoxication became rife, as at the conclusion of the
Franco-German war everyone began to smoke.
From a child Sarah Hall was the light
of the house and the special favourite of her father.
Wherever she moved her presence was always felt.
After my father’s marriage she continued to live at High Studdon and was much
beloved by her nephews and nieces. The
parlour had been built on to the house and this and the bedroom above she claimed as her
own. My mother and she were great
friends I never remember my father
being anything but kind to his children and we all loved him but Aunt Sarah was an
indulgent aunt and apt to spoil us. She
had a wonderful recipe for ginger snaps which were used as bribes or otherwise as
required.
Aunt Sarah kept the house lively
although she reckoned to be delicate and got her breakfast in bed strong Coffee, an egg and hot buttered
toast. Mother was the centre of law and
order in the house, and she and Aunt Sarah were delightful together. My Aunt Sarah was clever and good looking
and a very attractive personality from every point of view, and had a wide circle of
friends. She used sometimes to ride to
Newcastle, through Hexham, to pay them visits. I hardly like to say she was a flirt but
she certainly was an attraction to aspiring young men.
She inherited a little property from her mother, which no doubt added to the
attraction. She had a host of admirers,
and received twelve offers of marriage but remained single.
I think her natural attractiveness and desire to be sociable must have led the
young men to expect better treatment than they got. I remember stories about some of her
suitors. One of them said: “I have come a long time to see thee Sarah. She
only replied “Well, I never asked thee to”
A second retired without incident. A third was accepted and the wedding was
arranged, but at the last moment she backed out. Yet another was accepted and the wedding
day was approaching when her father said to her “I don’t know Sarah but that we
may see thee keeping a little shop and baking tea-cakes for sale”. “I never will
bake tea-cakes for anybody” she raged, and
no wedding took place. Again - ‘”That
little bowdiekite actually asked me to get married to him as we walked through the
plantation. But I said “Have
I lived so long to be married to a little
bowdiekite like thee” . Her eleven nephews and nieces at High Studdon had
good reason to rejoice over her steadfastness; and
her cheerfulness and humour ever kept our house a home to be remembered
My aunt was fond of horses and took
many journeys on horseback, visiting relatives at Newcastle, attending Quarterly Meeting
at Carlisle and Cockermouth and Monthly Meetings.
She refused to ride in a conveyance or train, her safe way of travel was on
horseback, A story is told how on one
occasion she set off to Q.M. wearing a complete outfit of new clothes, every single thing
new. She was lifted on to the horse so
that her new boots might remain unsoiled and set off along the told road which comes into Allendale town down a very
steep bank called Lonkley. The road was muddy
and slippery at this steep place; the horse
could not keep its feet but fell, throwing the rider and her new clothes down into the
mire. In complete disgust, she mounted
the horse and rode home again - no Q.M. for her that time.
She was attractive at home as well as
among the Quaker young men, and kept the whole house alive so that it was interesting to
all comers. There was a perpetual
controversy between her and her brother - my Father.
She had a theory that she suffered from several ailments; her brother on the
contrary used to say that there was never any illness in the Dale until the Scotch doctors
made their appearance. She bargained with the
doctor to pay him £10 a year to feel her pulse every Saturday, and look at her tongue,
and keep her constantly supplied with medicine.
It was fortunate that she was usually content with only smelling the bottles. She
never encouraged anybody else to be ill. The
listening children enjoyed these doctors’ visits very much, especially as the doctor
was the nicest man, a quack doctor. “I
see, Madam”, he said on one occasion, “that you will probably die at
the rise of the sap, but if not, then certainly at the fall of the leaf. So I will say good-bye to you”. She lived several years longer than
any of her brothers and sisters.
Aunt Sarah was the first person in
the Dale to be the proud owner of an umbrella.
Whether she used it is questionable, for the story goes that when a shower came
on, she hid the umbrella under her cloak to keep it dry, or possibly she felt shy of
making herself a spectacle.
Allendale Mining
The length of the Dale is about ten
miles from Allen heads on the south to Catton on the north, and at that time it was
thickly populated quite unlike the present time. Lead mining was extensive and very
prosperous, and houses were scattered everywhere.
High Studdon had 3 miners families, Low Studdon 6, West Studdon 2, Scotch Hall 10
families, Sinderhope 18 families. The
Beaumont family owned all the land in the neighbourhood, as well as the mines, and they
cut up their estate into small holdings for the miners.
Working four days a week, or even only three, a miner was an old man at fifty, the
work was so unhealthy. So his little
farm occupied him the remaining time. The
miners stood in water up to their knees more often than not, and the mines were
ill-ventilated. A complaint of the
breathing was very common. Boys began
at the age of ten to wash the ore outside the mine. I
remember going to see the ore being washed. The
boys called me “the little Quaker” for
I never said 1”Monday” but
“Second Day” and used “thee” and
“thou”. The boys with whom I
went to school were sons of miners for the most part.
The miners would keep two or three
cows on their land and usually each family had a fell pony.
Every family in April or May cut peats on the fell, each about 18 inches long and 4
inches thick, enough for about fifty cart, loads They were left to dry and in July, August
or September, the men would lead then home and pack them in large stacks. Coals were
little known in the district in the early days, so the miners had considerable occupation
in leading twelve months supply. They
were allowed to cut their peats for nothing on the moors, and these ponies of theirs were
often called “peat leaders”.
The Primitive Methodists were very
strong in the district and quite a number of chapels were erected. The miners were distinctly religious, and betting
and gambling were unknown. Several
fairs were held through the year and these were a great opportunity for friendly
greetings, also for a display of horsemanship with these spirited “galloways”
or mountain ponies there was furious
riding and all manner of sports. As
these ponies lived on the fells and went in droves, it was not uncommon to borrow without
leave a neighbour’s horse and ride off to the fair before the rightful
owner had reached the fell. Mountebanks
and all manner of sights could be met with and a good deal of treating and drinking was
everywhere apparent. To-day these fairs
are things of the past. At Christmas
they had much feasting and had “toffee joins” at each other’s
houses. Toffee was made from, say, one
stone of black treacle and some butter, and when cooked everyone had a share.
These mines were very productive
yielding Wentworth Blackett Beaumont £100,000 per annum.
I went to the day school when I was six years old - viz. in 1848. At that time Mr Sopwith, the mining agent
for Mr. Beaumont, brought young Wentworth to visit the school and introduced him to the
children as 17 years of age. Last week the son of this seventeen-year-old died aged
63 bearing the title of Lord Allendale. His
father was described as the wealthiest commoner in England and used to say he could walk
thirty miles in a straight direction without stepping off his own land.
The mines now employ only forty or
fifty men. The rest are scattered, the
county of Durham getting a large number. Many
went out to Australia to the gold mining there, including several of Frank
Philipson’s sons, step-uncles to the High Studdon family. Probably the men went first and their wives
and children followed. One little boy
called Harland Philipson ran away and hid when his family were ready to start, not wishing
to leave Allendale. In later years he
corresponded with J~W.H. and sent a Photograph of his family, and soon after the war
brought over two of his boys, Ralph and Thompson, whom we were glad to know. They were total abstainers and non-smokers,
neither swearing nor gambling: they carried
their convictions into the army and returned to their home pure, and untarnished by the
temptations placed in their way.
At the time of King George’s
coronation, Sarah Ann Richardson nee Philipson was over from Australia, a charming and
beautiful woman; a niece of my mother. She
told me that there were 75 of her father’s relatives, a clan of Philipsons out in
Queensland; that they were all Methodists and
total abstainers and not one had disgraced the family. Some are poor, some are wealthy,
and one is a millionaire. Many are taking a useful part in public and church life in the
township of Charters Towers, Queensland.
Some Early Recollections
I was born on Jan. 26th,
1842. The day was to be remembered all
over the north of England and Scotland as one of the heaviest snowstorms on record. The doctor -Armstrong by name - who attended
my birth rode on horseback and found the greatest difficulty in reaching High Studdon
and was utterly benumbed with cold on arrival. In meeting George Collings of Carlisle many
years after and comparing notes of ages, he informed me that he was born in Carlisle at
the time of a terrible snowstorm on Jan. 26th, 1842!
Doctors were of recent introduction
into Allendale in these days; my father used
to say he had no recollection of illness in the Dale until two competing Scotch doctors
arrived on the scene and then pains and aches began to multiply.
My earliest recollection was the
death of my next sister Sarah at 6 mos. Old.
I remember seeing Marmaduke Forest in his hat, carrying a box out of a room
in our house, which I knew was a coffin containing the remains of my young sister. My second remembrance was lying bed with 12
black leeches on my chest, a perfect horror to me.
I had inflammation of the lungs and judging from the effects in after years in
getting rid of the poisons I had imbibed makes me feel I must have inherited a strong
constitution. At the time of my
illness hay harvest was in full swing. I
was so ill that the family gave me up and mother and sister Hannah made me - by the
evening - a burial robe, but in the middle of the afternoon my father left the hay and
walked to see the doctor bringing back a medicine which he said would either kill or cure;
it was two or three years before I threw off the effects of that medicine.
As a family flannel was little worn
and not until I had been at Wigton three years were my parents asked to send me flannel
vests.
I was ever a prattler and when very
young I became more and more a talker, and also learned quite a lot of poetry each year. Negro slavery was the great theme of
conversation and I could repeat no end of Negro hymns.
My mother took great interest in babies and I went with her on her numerous visits
to farm houses to see how the mother and child fared, my talkativeness made me ever
welcome. Mother was extremely active and executive.
When I went with mother visiting round the district, afternoon teas and girdle
cakes with currants had a special interest to me.
As mentioned before I was taught
negro slave rhymes which I have never forgotten discanting on the little nigger boy
“bathing in the river like a brisk water rat and at night sleeping soundly on a
little piece of mat”. “But there
came some wicked men who stole him far away, they took him from his house and home and his
mother dear” etc. I could repeat whole lines of such: - lisping in my speech, trying
to be eloquent in rhyme and repeating with pathos.
From S.A.Haydock’s recollections of life at High Studdon from
a letter dated Oct. 19, 1923 to J.W.H.
I am trying to see how I can help in
thy early recollections. Really I
remember very little of mother really nothing worth while, previous to her death. I do remember well thy (J.W.H.) being very
late in coming home from school one day and mother became very anxious and then she and
the 3 of us younger sisters, myself, Maggie, and Susie, made our way down the fields to
the Throstle (the farm house let off with 5 fields) to see if thou was with the Graham
boys, and sure enough we found thee there with a beautiful bunch of wild flowers which
thou said thou had picked for Sarah Ann. Of
course I was immensely pleased but dear mother far otherwise, she ordered thee home at
once and we followed. Mother supplied
herself with a birch rod which she used very freely ~to our sad grief) as soon as we got
home. Dear father was so patient, I
never remember a harsh word, how we children loved him and how we never wished to grieve
him, we followed him everywhere to the high Allotments to look after the cattle and sheep,
to the fells for peats with old Diamond the mare, and to the lower fells for rushes. No children were happier. On first days it was a great joy to go to
Meeting. I can recall sitting by dear
mother and see the tears slowly trickling down her cheeks and wondering why.
We loved every bit of ground at High
Studdon and to-day I love (in my imagination) to go all about through all the fields and
“lots” as we used to do and over Holmes Bank with dear Aunt Sarah for a walk by
the old quarries, and sitting down where we could watch the Sinderhope folks come out of
the chapel. I just love to go over all
that - to me - sacred ground, for I seem to recall every part so clearly. Very few of our
old dales people remain I should think. I never loved any place so dearly all my life. I have enjoyed going to Meeting all my
life and realise the great privilege in so doing, and I trace it back to my happy
childhood’s experiences. Dear
Father was no talker but his actions how loudly they spoke. After going to Wigton School I found Jane R.
Choate (Brockbank) a steadfast friend, my schooldays were very happy also my time with
John Grubb Richardson and family of Moyallan and afterwards at John R. Proctor’s of
Low Lights, North Shields where I was governess at each place.”
In the year before I went to school I
was sent on a visit to Uncle John Grieve who had 2 sons - Thomas and John. Some years
previously their father had bought the Black Cleugh farm in West Allendale. It was a very wet soppy farm joining up to
the Fell. The Fell itself was valuable
as excellent herbage for sheep. They
kept a large number of sheep which were on the fell winter and summer. The sheep were under the management of
Thomas, John looked after the cattle. Every
attention was paid to the wants of the stock which when sold commanded high prices. The housekeeper was Milly Armstrong who was
certainly a treasure. At night Milly
occupied the Parlour. Uncle John and
his father slept in the kitchen whilst John and I slept in the attic above. Four-posted beds were in each room, all
carefully covered in with hangings of stout cloth. The roof in the house was covered with
thick grey tiles, and to keep the wind from coming through the quantities of dried moss
were wedged in during the summer; but all the same on a starry night I have seen the stars
peeping through. We slept in
wonderfully warm blankets and the fresh breezes were delightful especially on a
windy night. As I said before we had a large rainfall, and I found it impossible to keep
my feet dry, and I soon got used to enjoying wearing stockings constantly wet. We lived in splendid simplicity, rising
when light in the morning. Milly made a
splendid peat fire - we had peats galore, we should probably burn at Black Cleugh 100 cart
loads yearly, no coals when the kettle boiled, Thomas and John made each an oatmeal crowdy
and one for me. It consisted of medium
but highly roasted oatmeal, a little salt, boiling hot water poured on the meal, stirred
quickly to a nice consistency; then splendid butter milk poured on and it made a meal
fit for a king. About 9.30 we had a cup of tea, bread and butter and old home-made milk
cheese. For dinner a leg of mutton was
boiled on Sunday, potatoes, bread and broth galore. Through
the week we had bacon fried for dinner and also suet puddings, plain or with currants or
raisins; also rice pudding. Tea was an
extravagant meal; very strong coffee fresh
ground, cream, bread and butter (always brown rye bread).
They tended their flocks and herds
with assiduity, every animal was a pet, and when any were for sale, they had numerous
buyers. Their mare was a great
favourite but when my uncle died in 1850, the sons had to part with her as she was
difficult to handle. In the hay season,
the dried hay was taken to the stack-yard on a sledge.
The mare objected to have anything to do with the sledge, the only plan was to yoke
her in, in a cart and fasten the sledge behind.
In other ways too she was headstrong and at last was sold to younger men to manage.
The simplicities of their lives were
an example. There was no clock in the house but three watches hung in a row over the
kitchen dresser. The kitchen was their
living room. Their ~ants were simple
and few, and they gave generously to religious objects.
Of cheerful, humorous dispositions, they were frequent visitors to High Studdon
where they were ever welcome. The
brothers Thos, and John looked on their uncle as their second father.
Our Life at High Studdon
The house when bought by my ancestors
consisted of a kitchen and a back kitchen with a bedroom over each. They call such a house “tufoad”
two-fold. When I first remember the
house it’s size had been doubled by the addition of a parlour with a bedroom above
it, and attics. It was a grey stone house, with a roof of grey slates or heavy flag
stones. There were trees planted on
three sides of the house, chiefly ash trees but with a few firs among them. It stood about midway between the bottom of
the valley and the moor, so that the ground rose steeply above it. The fields were divided up by dry stone
walls, built without mortar or lime and six feet high;
the cost in wages at the time they were built was not more than 2/6 a day. The farm work as I remember it included
draining the fields, and getting mountain limestone from the bed of the Allen, burning
it in a kiln at the farm, and spreading it upon the land, where its beneficial effects
were soon seen in replacing the ling by good grasses and clovers.
Father and Mother slept in the
kitchen, in a “box” bed such as is used in Scotland. The parlour had also one of these beds in
it; indeed there was not a room in the house without a bed in it.
The chief work of the farm was
raising sheep. On the moors we kept
Black-faced sheep, and in the lower pastures Border Leicesters. My father was bent on improving the class of
Shorthorn cattle in the Dale, and he always gave his neighbours the benefit of anything he
had for this purpose. At the present
time the stock in that valley is as good as anywhere in the kingdom.
High Studdon is some distance from
the main road~ there is a steep winding rough road up through the fields to the house,
which is some 1200 feet above sea level. The
farm land and especially the fell where the sheep grazed is 200 ft. higher. One of Father’s chief
occupations was to see the stock every day, but I think that at certain times of the year
the sheep on the fell were neglected and we should lose at least 20 every year; they strayed away from their usual tracks and were
seen no more. In the winter all the cattle
were housed at night but turned out about 10 o’clock into the pastures. I was usually expected from quite an early
age to drive the stock to the pastures. The
dog Moss, a spotted animal, was my own age, a half breed -part fox-bound, part sheep dog -
and was my constant companion. Moss’s
growl was fearsome in meeting strangers, not that it ever led to biting anyone, but still
his manners and deportment commanded respect.
Hedgehogs made him furious, his mouth bled with the pricks. I once found a hedgehog with a nest of very
small young ones the mother growled audibly and I made a quick retreat. Moss could not catch a hare on his own. Thanks to Uncle John and his two sons all
the stone walls were high and solid and there was only one gate into a field so if a net
were placed against a gateway, if a hare was in the field, and Moss roused it, of course
it made for the gateway and flew right into the net and was caught. Hare pie was the correct thing and helped
the family dietary after the weekly leg of mutton had been consumed.
It was when I went out with Moss that
I got the habit of collecting birds’ eggs.
Moss put on a severe habit if strangers came in our way. I had no fear of bulls or other cattle, and
we would wander over the fells making new discoveries.
Often in these journeys I would stay out all day fairly famished with hunger, and I
had to reckon with mother for these delinquencies.
We always kept a bull, and this animal was a source of danger, but with Moss at my
heels I had no fear. I had to open the
gates and cross the high road on the way to the high pastures and managed as well as I
could. In seasons when the crop of hay
was short and the animals were turned out on the fell, it was extraordinary the distance
the cattle travelled, browsing all the day and returning as the day darkened to find a
large bundle of hay to go at. Each
animal knew their stalls and each in turn were tied up to a strong upright. It is extraordinary how to be able to look
back and remember the name and colour of each animal.
I had an ambition to ride all
animals, including horses, cattle, sheep and pigs.
I began to ride the mare when 5 yrs. of age, was tied on to its back and with a
stick in my hand led the hay on sledges from the field to the barns.
Cutting the grass was an exciting
time. The mowers were often cutting into the nests of the brown humble bee. I often looked
after the honey and though stings were painful, honey was sweet; we children made the most of the honey season. My
father made a practice of going to Hexham every 2 or 3 months for a supply of groceries
etc., and as a boy I used to accompany him. We
kept two Dales horses about 15 hands, high spirited, and when they had been on holiday for
2 or 3 days, were, to say the least, difficult to keep in order. They were extremely hardy
and could live if necessary on heather, brackens, and strong fibred grass. A special favourite was “Diamond”,
a mare who was apt at times to appear human, seeming to understand all we said. Her eyes, ears, face, were expressive. Frequently she had to draw the cart over
moors wet and soppy on which she could hardly walk without sinking. It was then she looked for help, and if a
supply of ling was thrown in front of her, she could stealthily move forward so long as it
was safe. We cut and dried about
60 cart-loads of peats which had to be led home for winter.
The journeys were beset with difficulties. Father talked to the mare and she seemed
to understand him. If very serious she would
give vocal expression to her fears. She was a great favourite with all the family.
The start for Hexham was usually at 7
o’clock in the morning. We
travelled across the fell in an ordinary cart: there were only tracks and to avoid large
stones deep holes and hills required care, so progress was slow. On a bright April morning as we entered upon
the fell all was life -~ the peewits wheeling round us, the golden plover’s plaintive
cry; the snipe was on the wing and the curlew
very nosy, but most noisy of all the grouse, the gorcock (male grouse) strutting round
most defiant in his call. As we got
further on the moor, the curlew flying round with his well known cry would follow us for a
mile or more. In two miles we came to
Baxton Cleugh where a few stunted rowan trees grew, and on one of these could always be
seen a carrion crow’s nest. All these sights kept me alert. In another two miles we came to a large wood
where we left the fell and entered upon Hexhamshire.
There for the first time I saw a red squirrel running along a wall top. At once I laid chase, but the little animal
sprung on to a Scotch fir and was soon safe at the top of the tree. The country became quite new to me then.
There were two cottages in one of which lived a man called “Old Nick”
who kept bees, and in the other a gamekeeper lived and had a family of children who
even to us seemed very wild and shy, like the wild animals.
We saw furze for the first time, we were not familiar with that. I used to take little plants of it home, but
they always died. Here I saw the
blackcock and the grey hen. The cock
was handsome, a splendid tail, black all over; the
hen, grey like a hen pheasant, only shorter, smaller and stumpy, they perch on trees. This bird is shy, of little use for shooting
drives, he simply makes for high heaven and flies in the direction he chooses irrespective
of the shouts of the beaters.
On the way to Hexham on our left we
saw Staley and Father told me that when he was young, he and his older brother Joseph and
his father led - in wood waggons - years after year fir wood from large plantations at
Staley to the mines at Allenheads. We
passed through a village called Doton (i.e., Dalton) and soon after reached the crest of
the hill and then saw Hexham two miles away down a steep hill. There I saw the Tyne valley
for the first time, looking N.W. to Haltwhistle along the South Tyne and looking far north
the Cheviot Hills seemed no great distance.
Then the valley of the North Tyne with Chollerford and the Roman Wall were visible,
the two Tynes joining up at Hexham to become at times a formidable river. Besides the Moot Hall in Hexham I was
greatly struck with the Abbey and old archways. One
thing I particularly remember was that people called my father Mr Hal instead of Hall (the
old Danish pronunciation) and the Tyne burr was quite new to me. In the dales no “burr” is known,
but the Dales people were slow in speech and the Tyne burr much quicker. My father bought a 20 stone sack of flour a mixture of barley, rye, oats and wheat
meal and made a dark loaf - also 20 stones of rye meal and 5 stones of white flour. We bought the oatmeal at home, there were no
less than 4 mills in the dale for oatmeal grinding.
We bought all ordinary groceries, not forgetting raisins and currants and coffee
and tea to last 2 or 3 months. The we
got the groceries from was that of John Grey and curiously enough when my father-in-law
Bartholomew Smith went to live at Weston-super-Mare he made the acquaintance of
descendants of this John Grey living there. After
feeding the mare and getting some dinner we yoked her into the cart and. went to Grey’s
to load up. I think my father took 3
mos. credit. I was constantly reminding
father not to forget the raisins which were used in rice puddings or suet puddings for
Sunday dinner, and it was always a moot point with me, whether raisins were more plentiful
in pudding ends or in the middle I don’t think I ever reached a decision.
Diamond was always most brisk on her
homeward journey and as she was heavy laden I had to walk quite a lot. Of course the younger children were on the
look-out for our re turn and expected fairings, indeed I looked at Mr. Grey with deep
meanings expressed in my eyes. We were
disappointed if father did not bring home a big package of brown bullets.
Our fuel at High Studdon consisted
mainly of peats. We should cut and lead about 20 loads in the year though of course the
cart loads were not large as the improvised roads across the ling were apt to be
treacherous after a day or two of rain. Railway
coals had to be led ten miles, small “cat” coals used for burning lime could be
obtained nearer, but all householders cut peats.
These peats were well dried and light by September~ and we led 5 cart loads daily.
Before I went to Wigton, I helped my father quite a lot in filling the light,
specially-constructed cart.
Before I went to Wigton whenever I
was not otherwise needed, Moss my large spotted dog used to go with me on to the fells,
and I knew very part thoroughly well. In
the vicinity of Bleaberry Cleugh on the moor, there were quite a number of springs of
water bursting out. In severe
weather wild ducks and geese gathered round these springs which never froze. In later years my brother Isaac brought
these springs and unfluctuating streams to the notice of the Hexham authorities, and now
they supply Hexham with abundant water.
In looking back on these years I feel
struck with awe, then the country thickly populated - to-day thinly populated. remains of
houses everywhere, either pulled down or in ruin. The inhabitants used to cut peats on the
moors universally no coals in those days; now
not a peat cut, only the shepherd is seen on the moors;
the road across to Hexhamshire is no more, the railways, buses and motors have
taken the field. The dales pony is fast disappearing and everything is changed. Even the
fells are altering, once there were only black ling moors with gor-cock (grouse) calling
loudly, and now grass is usurping the land and the heather is disappearing. Only one new bird I discovered the other
year that was the stone curlew, a real chatterbox.
Possibly the solitariness of the fells at present accounts for this. Ravens were often seen in my Father’s
time, and also hen-harriers who lived on the grouse which were so plentiful on the fells. We became familiar with a large number of
birds and animals which make their home on the wild fells, and the list which I can think
of is a long one and includes the following:
Curlew, Stone Curlew, Green Plover,
Peewit Common Snipe, Ring Ousel, Stone Chat,
Wheatear, Whin Chat, Meadow Chat, Titlark, Yellowhammer, Various Owl, Cushat (Wood
Pigeon), Ringdove - Seagulls, flock of wild Geese and other visiting birds came round in
severe weather, the common Wren sheltered among the ling, Missel Thrushes were very common
but the Song Thrush did not live there, Wild Duck bred there. And of animals there were Squirrels, Foxes,
Weasels and Stoats. My Father never
carried a gun so we had a good chance of seeing all the creatures. The rabbits did not increase, being kept down by
the other beasts; Hares we killed whenever we could, Father was ever in the habit of
taking the children with him round the farm or on the fell.
One day he took Hannah with him on the fell carrying her part of the time. When he found that he had to go some
distance over the carrs, a part of the moors where great boulders of millstone grit was
scattered everywhere. He wrapped Hannah
up warmly and told her to stay there until his return, however when he came back she was nowhere to be seen. He covered the ground all round and called
out loudly, but no reply, he rushed home and called out Uncle John Grieve and his two
sons, also calling at two farmhouses, getting all possible help they soon found her half a mile away in a
sound sleep. In working his farm he would make us do our share of
the work as far as we were able; and on his
rounds of the farm would take with him the younger children and so teach them many things
by the way. He taught us Scripture, and
reciting hymns and poetry and we learnt a great deal of wild Nature on the high pastures
and the moors, on those never-to-be-forgotten rounds.
I used to sit on the moor above
Studdon, or on Sinderhope Carrs, which was the highest point, and look away into Scotland
and wonder who lived there, and what the country was like so far away. Near home was Catton Beacon, on the other
side a beacon at Allenheads where on occasion huge fires were lit giving warning to Durham
and Teesdale. Near Catton Beacon is Slaward
Peel a four-sided building with immensely thick walls, standing on ¾ acre of ground
where people could drive in all their stock of cattle etc., and thus secure them from the
attacks of raiders. Within 2 miles of
the Peel is Langly Castle - a strongly built castle secure from any attack so that the
Scots could be entirely checked in this particular direction. Stories of invasion by these Scotchmen were
common in those days.
Southwards we could see Kilhope Law,
the highest mountain in the district. It
is situated at the junction of three counties - Durham, Northumberland and Cumberland -
and its slopes lie in all three. There
grew knout-berries galore not so bad for jam, about the size of a garden strawberry,
pink and white in colour. We were very
fond of them.
Our parents had eleven children, and with Aunt Sarah there were fourteen persons to
feed. We made about a score of cheese
every year, and that was always on the table but it was made of skimmed milk. We creamed all the milk, and the butter was
sold, at about 8d. a pound in those days. Beef was not sold by the butchers, only mutton;
the beef all went to the town. For
breakfast we children had porridge and skim milk - no sugar or treacle - and coffee and
bread and butter. “Crowdie”
was much used in the Dale; you pour boiling water on the oatmeal, and eat it with milk,
but we made porridge in our family. This
was our bill of fare along with fresh air and water. I
have eaten scores of Crowdies; when I was
with my cousins the Grieves I never had anything else.
For dinners, we always had a boiled leg of mutton on Sundays, went on with that as
long as it lasted, and then had bacon. In
the winter we cured half a young beast, a neighbour taking the other half. We treated it the same way as bacon, and it
was very good. For tea there was bread
and butter, but the butter was put on very thin. Sometimes it was dry bread and cheese. The bread was brown, made with leaven, the
meal being a mixture of rye and wheat in which rye predominated. It was made in loaves weighing about ten
pounds. Sister Hannah learned how to
make pastry when she was in Newcastle and brought her art with her to High Studdon. I indulged in currant and raisin cakes and
loaves, and dumplings on every possible occasion.
High Studdon had two cottages
occupied, one with grey slate roof, the other with a ling-thatched roof, this was tenanted
by Tommy Stobbs and his wife Tabitha, the other by Marmaduke Forest - both were lead
miners. Aunt Betty, as we called
Forest’s wife, was evidently his second wife as she had one son and tvwo daughters
called Joseph, Jane and Sally Philipson, all three married during my reco1lection. Aunt
Betty farmed 5 fields let off from High Studdon, her house was a place of constant resort
for our children, I always had Sunday dinner with them until I was six when I started to
go to Meeting. Our dinner was always
suet dumplings cooked with raisins to which I was always partial.
Our clothing was not luxurious in
quality or quantity. In the neighbourhood there was a mill to which we took our fleeces to
be spun into “gairn” (yarn) which was spun in the winter evenings into wool, and
from that they knitted the stockings and other things for the household. I remember the spinning wheel standing in
the kitchen, but it was put in the garret when not in use;
it was found in the garret when my brother left the farm, and Emmeline Cadbury has
it now. Scotch “pethers” (Pedlars) used to come round
to the houses with bundles of cloth, and sell a good deal I believe; but our family usually bought from the shops. My sisters wore what they called
“Tuscan” bonnets, with ribbons from the ears to the front, but on no account
were they allowed ribbons round to the back; afterwards this was admitted. My Mother wore long “scuttle”
bonnets. There were dressmakers. John Hewitson married Hannah Watson, whose
son settled in Leeds and became an engineer. These
Watsons made dresses for my sisters and Aunt. I
remember carrying a fleece over to the mill with my Mother, calling on friends till it was
done, and carrying it home.
The Brothers and Sisters
1. Hannah born 12 mo.2.1825
married Matthew Henderson in 1851.
5. Mary born
8 mo.13.1835 married Thomas Little of Alston 7 mo. 1860
6. Jane
born 8 mo.18.1838 married Joseph Pickering 7 mo.5.1860
died 1911.
8. Sarah
Ann died young (aged 6 mos.)
9. Sarah
Ann born 9 mo.1845 married Richard Haydock 7 no.15.1868.
R.H. died 1900.
10. Margaret
born 11 mo.19.1848 married Samuel C1emes in Switzerland 12 July 1884 (2nd wife)
11. Susannah
born 4 mo.21.1851 married Samuel Clemes
When I was born, my father would be
50, my mother 36. My mother hugged me with many a hug, and lullabies galore,. her
affections were unstinted., but she was executive in a high degree, my father was quiet
and when sitting by the fire there was competition for one knee or even two - no
fault-finding. Aunt Sarah often had a
heated wordy argument - the brother and sister were near akin - on these occasions
never a syllable from mother. As an
elder daughter Hannah was a great help to her mother.
When I can first remember my two
older sisters and two older brothers had left Wigton School.. Hannah was a nursery governess with Wm.
Pattison of the Felling, Joseph was with Chas. Bragg a Friend of Newcastle - a draper in
Pilgrim Street. Isaac and Elizabeth
remained at High Studdon. Jane was the
next older and my younger sister died at 6 mos. old.
The next sister Sarah Ann was four years my junior, then followed Margaret and
Susan.
JOSEPH
My oldest brother Joseph was a great
success at Wigton, he was head boy. He
took great interest in natural history, both in birds and flowers, and botany was a great
subject with him. Daniel Oliver,
afterwards Prof. Oliver of Kew, keeper of the Herbarium was a great friend of his and they
carried on a correspondence after leaving school, botany being a great link between them. Joseph made a large collection of
birds’ eggs~ some 50 different kinds, amongst others were some jackdaws eggs which he got by descending a chimney. Many years afterwards I attempted the same
chimney with adventures which are related elsewhere.
Joseph brought home rabbits and guinea pigs,
he made a special run for the rabbits, collecting a large quantity of
branches of trees and covering them with soil.
Years afterwards my father in
memory of his son - objected to the killing of the rabbits, but our neighbours managed to
get them at night. After leaving
school Joseph went on as an apprentice teacher at the School. The then superintendent Robert Doeg and the
teacher Samuel Hare were no disciplinarians. There
was a rebellion in the school and the superintendent and teacher were put into the area by
the boys. Joseph rescued them,. but
left the school and went to Newcast1e~on~Tyne to Chas.. Bragg as mentioned before.
Joseph made me a little wicker
carriage with wheel. I remember how once he took me off to Uncle John’s in West
Allendale carrying me most of the way over the long heather which it was not easy for me
to walk amongst. It would be seven miles
there and of course we had to come back. Probably
this would be the same year that he died as I was only four years old at the time of his
death; he was of a very affectionate loving nature.
We have still some of his letters in our possession.
Letters were costly to send in those days, so writers contrived to send a lot of
news when they wrote.
In his 18th year a severe
epidemic of malignant typhus fever from the Continent raged in Newcastle. He died of it after two or three days’
illness, without our parents seeing him, in fact the doctor and housekeeper were the only
ones who did see him after being taken ill. His remains were brought to Allendale Meeting
burial ground. Joseph had black hair
and dark complexion like our mother.
HANNAH
My sister Hannah married Matthew
Henderson, she had several suitors, but my father much approved of Matthew Henderson. I well remember the wedding morning. Matthew
came with a dogcart, there was a grand breakfast, and then they drove off to Hexham to be
married
In early life Matthew was a Sunday
School teacher at the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Allendale.
He was reserved in manner, extremely kind-hearted and very fond of his children. He was very particular to keep Sunday as a
day of rest and as an opportunity for religious thought4. He was much in sympathy with the Society of
Friends though he never joined the Society as they grew up.
Matthew live~ to his 87th year and it was a pleasure to see how
peacefully he and my sister spent the last few years of their lives - she survived him a
few years. Hannah like Joseph was dark
complexioned. Like all her sisters
she had a strong will and managed her family with great discretion; a tower of strength to
her husband in his very active life as he was never Slow to acknowledge. She died in her 86th year. After my father’s death I
often spent my holidays with my sister Hannah. She was looked up to and loved by all. One of my holidays when I was l8 I found the
parents in the deepest distress and despair, their twin boys only a few months old were
very ill. The doctor had just left the house giving slender hopes of recovery, and as we
sat looking at the two infants in their double old-fashioned cradle I suggested, “Why
not put them both into a hot bath up to their necks and then straight back into bed?” I retired for the night with little hope of
success from our venture. In coming
downstairs in the morning, I faintly enquired if they were both dead, and received the
joyful reply that they were both alive and lively; so we thought the hot water bath a
marvellous cure.
ISSAC
My brother Isaac had not good health in his early life. One winter father and he were caught on the
fell in a terrible snowstorm. When they
arrived home both my father and Isaac were nearly perished with cold, from the immediate
effects of which my brother Isaac took four or five years ~ recover and as a consequence
only got one year’s education at Wigton School.
It had the effect of making him nervous and irritable and had some effect on his
memory, he however gradually outgrew this and lived to be 90 years of age.
JOHN WILLIAM
J.W.H.
writes of himself that he was a “spoilt child”. On one occasion his
brother Isaac, twelve years older than the little boy, thought well to administer
chastisement. The youngster promptly called the dog Moss and set him on Isaac. The dog caught hold of Isaac’s clothing
and he could do nothing. Hold on,
Moss, hold on.” said the little boy, and Moss held on till Isaac had undertaken to
forego the threatened thrashing, and then at last Moss received the order to leave go. One can imagine an interested family
watching these proceedings.
Isaac and his wife lived for some
years at High Studdon, afterwards settling at Ashington.
Here his interest in engineering found scope for his energies. The-re his son Joseph was, and still is, a
head engineer for that large group of collieries where 12-13,000 Miners are employed.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth married Matthew Stephenson,
who was a local preacher amongst the Wesleyans.
She had brown hair, had the sweetest of tempers and was easy going, but difficult
to read and had a way of her own. In
disposition she was like her father. In
after years she joined the Wesleyans.
MARY
Mary.was a handsome brilliant girl
full of determination missing no
points, and especially devoted to her young brothers and sisters, arranging for their
education and future prospects. She
became a pupil teacher at Wigton after leaving school.
We four youngest children were her special and constant care, and she lived a long
life to be loved by her children and all who knew her.
JANE.
Jane was at Wigton with Mary,
afterwards coming home to live at High Studdon.
She was not so clever as her sisters at school but perfectly true and conscientious
-no deceit in her nature. She married
Joseph Pickering of Garrigill on the same day as Mary married Thomas Little of Alston; the double wedding took place at Allendale Meeting
House, both the bridegrooms being “Friends” and the dinner was held in the town
inn.
Five of my sisters at some part of
their lives were engaged in teaching, two Where at Home
engaged in domesticities. I consider that the five had distinct advantages over the
two They got further education which
was all to the good.
Further Notes on Brothers and Sisters.-
Of the three youngest sisters J.W.H.
has not written specially in these sets of notes, for he seemed to have looked back for
the most part to earlier days. They
were young children when he went to Wigton and after leaving school he lived at
Sunderland, then on their father’s death the home at High Studdon was broken up. Their sister Mary Little, then living at
Alston, took charge of them and they were always welcome at the home of their eldest
sister Hannah Henderson. After the
marriage of J.W.H. another home was open to the three, but Sarah was married shortly after
her brother, and went to live in Ireland.
SARAH ANNE HALL
Was born 9.26.1845 and was at Wigton from 6 mo. 1855 to 9 mo. 160
so she was at school with J.W.H. for nearly two years, and left a few months before her
father’s death. She writes - “After going to Wigton School, I found Jane R.
Choat (later Brockbank) a steadfast friend. My
school days were very happy, also my times as governess with John Grubb Richardson’s
family at Moyallon and afterwards at John R. Procter’s home, Low Lights,
North Shields. After my marriage to
Richard Haydock (1868), I received every kindness from Friends in the North of Ireland,
and here in New York can say the same.”
MARGARET HALL
Was born 11.19.1848. She
spent five years at Wigton and two at the Mount School - York, and in after years studied
at Edinburgh and in both France and Germany, so was well qualified for her work as a
teacher, and had a Wider education than most young women of those days. She acted as governess in a Hodgkinson and a
Pease family, and was on the Ackworth staff for a year.
In the intervals she was a much valued aunt to a large circle of nephews and
nieces.
She took the post of governess at
Wigton School in 1882 when Samuel Clemes (retired from the mission field) was engaged as
first class master. The death of her
sister Susan Clemes gave her the double jobs of governess on the girls’ side and
housekeeper at the cottage for S.C. and his three motherless children. After trying this for a year, she gave up
the teaching and found plenty of occupation otherwise.
At one time she was knitting knees into the stockings of Maggie and Willie every
week. In the summer holidays of
1884 Margaret Hall and Samuel Clemes were married in Switzerland.
Samuel Clemes came of a Cornish
family with excellent brains and more than a touch of genius, and he had his share of
both. He was naturally a Pioneer, ready
to open new ground. He said that as
long as any boy or girl stayed at school he would teach them any subject they
In 1886 after four years at Wigton,
he was off with his family to Hobart to found the long-desired Friends’ School there. It was the same missionary spirit which had
led him to Madagascar, desire to serve others and no thought for what would by most people
be considered his “own interests”.
SUSAN HALL
The youngest child, known in the family as “Susie”, was
a very sweet and lovable person. She
was born in 1851 and went to school at Wigton three months before her father died, after
which Alston was her home. After four
years at Wigton, she spent two years as scholar at Ackworth and then went on there as apprentice.
Samuel Clemes was a student at the Flounders College, somewhat older than most of
them. A storm arose when he and
Susan announced their engagement, for “apprentices” were not allowed to make
matrimonial plans till their time was up. J.VT.H.
went over to Ackworth to interview George Satterthwaite the superintendent and the young
man, but all came right and before Susan was twenty-one she was married at Thirsk meeting
from her brother’s house, to S. Clemes. Among
the Flounders students who were present was Geo. Wilkie and this was his first meeting
with Sarah Henderson, the bride’s eldest niece.
Directly the wedding was over S. and S.C. set off to take up their work in
Madagascar as missionaries under the F.F.M.A. and there they stayed for ten years. During that time M.A.H. was their agent in
England, and from Thirsk went out lead-lined tea boxes with boots and clothing and toys
for the children and all sorts of necessaries, and to Thirsk came brilliant sashes, quaint
little woven baskets and horn spoons of Malagasy make a
Furloughs come more frequently now-a-days, and ten years in Madagascar was too
long. In 1882 they came home and in May
of that year Clemes died at Thirsk in the little house prepared for the family to live in,
and was buried in the Friends’ graveyard.
My Education
The only schools in the dale were
private schools, in which little was taught except reading, writing, arithmetic
and spelling. Illiteracy was almost
universal. In Allendale about 1844, Mr.
Beaumont built schools at Allendale, Sinderhope (Planting End?) and Allendale town, and
provided masters practically at his own expense, the parents paying a trifling sum.
As the children of our family arrived
at school age, they went to the Planting End day school two miles away, and when ten years
old they were sent to Wigton School for four or five years, with only one holiday in the
year, in the summer time. When about 7
years of age I went with my sister Jane to Planting End school kept by a master who used a
crutch. His learning was not extensive
but his crutch settled his avocation; in
after years he became a butcher. I have
great recollections about this school. I took my dinner with me each day, but
unfortunately got little of it, all sorts of boys came begging it, so that often I
returned home faint and hungry. I had
my first and last fight at this school, the boys called for fair play and I finished. the
fight by throwing the boy into a cow midden, when he got out he left one clog behind, I
was so conscience-stricken about the whole thing, that I made my way into the midden and
restored the clog - but I was most unhappy about the whole transaction.
I will describe a day, going to
school at Planting End. We had to be at
school by9 o’clock. Next to High
Studdon was the Holmes farm, the house was near to the Waterside close to the Holmes Lynn,
a semi-circular waterfall which was a fine sight in flood.
There are 30 to 40 acres of meadow land by the Waterside and on rising ground were
30 acres of pine woods joining the road the whole length of the dale; and across the road very hilly pasture land about
400 acres, The farmer kept a number of
black polled cattle and with these cattle was regularly kept a black bull, who took strict
charge of the herd, anyone appearing in sight could be at once followed by terrible roars
and often a gallop. I had to cross each
morning this field ¼ mile across from wall to wall, if I could get half way across before
I was seen I would run with all speed and climb the wall before the bull could gallop up;
if not, then I had to make a long detour and get into the old high road and so back to the
footpath. The return journey was also to be considered,
When we arrived at the village of Sinderhope a number of children would meet, and
we together would follow the high road to the school.
As mentioned elsewhere I found it difficult to keep my dinner for myself but as I
got older I learned to smuggle my food into various pockets, rush out of school, clear a
6-barred gate and run down to the plantation as fast as I could and then get my dinner in
peace. I don’t know whether the
children who tried to get my dinner from me were underfed or not, but I think my sisters
very often gave me tastier dinners than some of the children would have. The schoolmaster, Robert Dixon by name, was
distinctly bad-tempered, and used his leather “tawse” freely - I made
acquaintance with it at times. The bane
of my school life came under the heading of “disobedience”, if a master wanted
to pay off an old score he understood how to work his ends, only to tell me to do
something he knew I would not do, and then he got his opportunity. My different schoolmasters soon got to know
not to rub me up the wrong way. Once at
Wigton School I had to write “disobedience” 5,000 times; I did it but the teacher had the worse time of it
in the end. Indeed many years after
Martin Lidbetter said that “Allendale boys could be led, but they could
not be forced against their will.” Possibly
the trouble raging between the Northumbrians and Scotch for generations might have
developed certain family characteristics. Robert
Dixon was not learned, he had a long leg and a short leg and had a crutch. One day he accidentally fell: I was some distance away, but he saw a smile on my
face and when he got up he showed a lot of temper.
On assembling the school he called me up amongst others (I was about 7 ½ yrs. of
age) and told me to hold out my hand -his
tawse descended but my hand had disappeared, so I had to hold it out again, and this time
with the ruler he caused yells and screams. Justice
having been administered, school began as usual.
The leather tawse had a wooden handle and was used for minor offences - a round
ruler for severe cases, I had experience of both.
Towards winter we had a “barring
out” day - that is we all came early, took possession of the schoolroom locking the
master out; he of course made demonstrations
but we all called out “Toffy stick”: he
would then get say half a stone of treacle from the shop, which he carried home and in the
afternoon returned with the treacle stick~ -distributing two to each scholar and away we
started for home for the day We were
taught very little at Planting End.
When I appeared at Wigton at the age
of 9 ½ years, I felt that I had arrived at a new world and that the brightest. In the entry book where the attainments of
new arrivals are recorded, I am described as “very ignorant.” I was least boy for 2 ½ years and when I
left at the age of l4 ½ years I still sat among the little boys. On the playground I was mostly tossed about
on big boys shoulders, and was nicknamed
Anak. I was very short in the leg, but
strong built.
My sister Mary was a pupil teacher at
Wigton when I went, and the way she looked after and helped me then (and from that day
till her death in her 86th year) I can never forget. Jane who was three years my senior was also
at school with me.
Being the smallest boy I had to sit
next the teacher, and was much occupied in holding up the plates while he carved. In consequence I had less time to get on
with my own rising appetite and possibly was led to bolt my food. One occasion when we had
cherry pie deserves a remark -there was an
enormous crop of cherries that particular year. I got a plate of cherry pie, but on the
table there were two narrow tins, one holding gravy, the other treacle sauce.
Unfortunately I poured the gravy upon the cherry pie, a terrible affair! Quick decision led me to bolt the gravy and
cherry pie and hand up for another helping, and this time treacle sauce was added. Wasn’t this delicious?
The Committee of Wigton School were
ever most kind and thoughtful for the children.
The food given was plentiful and nourishing.
For breakfast we had porridge and milk ad. lib. (the favourite meal of the day),
for dinner suet or rice pudding served first, followed by neat and potatoes, for supper
dry bread and milk as much as we liked.
At that time the charge for a child
at Wigton was £12-£20. This included
a pair of shoes, a black jacket and vest, a pair of dark cotton cord trousers; all repairs to clothing and shoes were free.
I had a happy tine at the school and
on the whole got along well, but was always shy and dreaded being too near the top of the
class. At the end of nine months, I was
top of the lowest class, the next year I was second in the second class, and for three
years was in the first class - in each of the three years the same lessons were gone
through as the year before. I frankly
wrote home to say I was wasting time. The
teaching we got was moderate. Each year
we went through Lindley Murray’s grammar, our geography was good, we were well
grounded in English History; our Arithmetic
was poor, never further than mensuration, reading was well taught and poetry was much in
evidence. We spouted Milton, Cowper,
Byron, Oliver Goldsmith, Mrs. Hemans, and for prose Earl Chatham’s
denunciation of the American War. Slave
subjects engaged our attention, and “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was all the rage at
that time. Scriptural information was
well to the fore, and many portions of Scripture were learned by heart and much poetry.
Frederick Rous was superintendent for
five years. He had great influence with the
boys and raised the tone of the school to a high pitch.
Above all things he trusted the boys, and could not bear to think that they could
be anything short of truthful, and I believe there was not such a thing as untruthfulness
in the school. When he left, H.B. Smith
from Croydon took his place and he was a very suspicious man, always skulking about. The boys in a body addressed him on the
subject and assured him that they were accustomed to be trusted and were quite
trustworthy. Shortly after that I wrote
asking our people to bring me home, which they did. H.B.S. left the school a year or two
afterwards.
The second class teacher was Henry
Jones, brother to William Jones (the peace advocate). Wm. Jones was married whilst I was
at school and he and his bride called at the school on their wedding tour and gave the
boys a grand spread for tea. Henry
Jones afterwards went to Australia where he was the head of a state school. Charles Elcock came on, after Jones left,
and Richard Graham also came for a time,but was a failure.
There is a cry now of children being
unmercifully forced with their lessons. I
have all pleasant recollection~ of school life, especially the games and walks and
drill. The boys were ever full of every kind of game according to season. Frederick Rous thought the boys were too
round-shouldered, stooping and walking awkwardly, so fifty poles of the nature of broom
sticks were brought into requisition and these we used in all manner of exercises of arms
and shoulders. Then there was marching under the charge of the junior master. On one
occasion the marching boys suddenly charged across their playground, then across the
girls’ playground and finally cleared the beech hedge into the garden’. This caprice led to toeing the line for
twenty minutes’ reflection.
Early in school life I proved to be a
very quick runner, and in all games where running and dodging were important I was always
difficult to catch. There is a good
deal of jealousy and competition in games and races,
I usually let one or two boys keep ahead, then pushed to the top speed in the last
few yards and with a good spurt I would pass them.
Our walks on Wednesday and also on
Saturday afternoons were simply delightful. Old
Carlisle, High Pow, Catlands and Wedholme Flow were ever a source of interest. Natural history was most absorbing but we ever
found at the Catland Hills the most variety in plants and other specimens At Wedholme Flow harmless snakes were
very common, appearing to live on frogs, &c.
There we seemed to be nearing the Solway, and sea birds were numerous, summer bird
visitants were also plentiful. I once
found a grasshopper warbler’s nest, the only nest of that bird found whilst I was at
Wigton. The nest and eggs were sent to
Newcastle-on-Tyne to a Natural History Collection.
I was much interested in collecting wild birds’ eggs in season, and found and
collected 40 distinct kinds. In one
case I had an adventure. It was
handed down to me that my eldest brother Joseph when at school had got Jackdaw’s
eggs out of a chimney at a farmhouse near Old Carlisle.
I found the farmhouse but could only get up by climbing a cherry tree against the
wall; this I did, and crawled along the green
Cumberland slates till I got to the chimney. I
found it was wide at the top so I could descend to where it narrowed, and there I saw
two nests - one with fledged birds. Unfortunately
they fluttered out of the nest and fluttered down into the farm kitchen and I heard a fine
row. The family were evidently getting
dinner, and presently they came outside, the dogs barked
and there was no end of loud talking from members of all ages in the family. I kept quiet and out of sight for 20 minutes
until all was quiet, and got out as quickly as possible, down the cherry tree. No-one saw me, and I got clear away, but no
eggs. I ventured again in a few days,
this time getting eggs, and said good-bye for all time to this farmhouse. Boys are usually full of courage in
pursuit of hobbies but if I had been caught by the farmer I should have been well
thrashed.
Our family each in turn were sent to
Wigton School and the education they got there was simply invaluable in the formation of
character and the brightening of their lives. Many
parents imagine that only through the parents’ spectacles can children
develop, a most preposterous and conceited conception.
Children from their early days can drink in life and character, and if their
surroundings are good they cannot but receive an impetus that is all for the good. I consider that the years at school and the
succeeding years up to 21 are the most important opportunities in life. Young People are very susceptible at that
age, and character is both formed and fixed and the outlook in life becomes settled. Youths begin to smoke early and if the habit
is acquired it is almost impossible to get rid of it.
So again with intoxicants, gambling and other vices, they can best be resisted in
early life. If, for instance, you
encourage a love for God, a love for your fellow man, an overcoming desire to live a
righteous life in harmony with God and Man, you escape the dangers of worldliness and the
passion for gain. My two most successful
apprentices shortened their lives by 25 to 30 years by intense action to make money.
The daily family reading of the
Bible, especially the New Testament, is most helpful in the daily round and task of life. A prayerful consideration of your duties to
your Maker and to your fellow men, the chief desire to follow after righteousness, all
tend to prolong life and make life truly worth living.
Allendale Meeting
Our father and mother were so much of
Friends and Bo impressed their children with the same spirit that when afterwards one of
our sisters married a non-Friend, she brought her children up as Friends. Father had a religious influence over every
member of the family and his influence was in favour of Quakerism.
Meeting was held on First Day at 11
o’clock in the morning and 3 o’clock in the afternoon, and also on Fourth Day at
11 o’clock. We all went to
meeting~ It was fully two miles each
way and on Sunday we only had time to get our dinner and start back again, and we children
were apt to be drowsy in the afternoon. I
never remember any of us refusing to go the long walks to meeting but they were time of
great interest - so much variety in people, houses, landscapes, the Kirk bells were
pleasant to hear on First Day and we saw numbers of people wending their way to their
respective places of worship. I
remember on Fourth Day begging for a penny to buy shortbread snaps at a little shop, or
in the summer I got threepence from my father and went down to the Peck Riding Mill and
bought rhubarb from the new garden there.
In later days father got John
Hewitson of Newcastle to buy a second-hand dog-cart for him from Isaac Lowthian Bell,
which would carry five of us to meeting on
Sunday morning. This was quite an event
for it was the only gig in Allendale except one belonging to Mr. Beaumont’s agent. So
after this we children trotted away to meeting in style with the horse Diamond.
The meetings were ever silent unless
a strange minister came to visit us. I have
often thought since that sitting still from 60 to 90 minutes is advantageous in training,
and we believed that we were associated with good men.
My father and mother always made a
great fuss over ministering Friends when they came to see us, and we were very pleased to
welcome them. Father once entertained
Stephen Grellet and drove him over to Coanwood meeting.
He was struck by the fact that S. Grellet called lambs “little moutons”.
S.A. Haydock writes, “One
meeting I remember was when Sarah Ann Doeg from Carlisle, wife of Robert Doeg, was
present. Another time Mary Nicholson
of Whitehaven and her cousin Hannah Maria Peile (afterwards H.M Wigham of Dublin) visited
the meeting, and Isaac drove them over to Whamlands to our sister Hannah (then married),
and I pointed out to them various houses we passed on our way. Our Burnlaw yearly gatherings used to be
great days, with Abraham Shield and his wife, also Hugh Shield and his wife, and in these
early days Thomas and Jane Hall from Cumberland were often visitors at Burnlaw. At the first meeting I remember, Jacob
Watson, a grey-headed little old man, sat at the head of the meeting. Bill Wilson, a shoemaker, sat next to him,
and then father, facing the meeting; Abraham
and Hugh Shield, Joseph Pattison and Joseph Wilson were also leading Friends. Many of the small farmers living near the
school I attended at Sinderhope, were apparently Friends There is a grave stone - now
surrounded by iron railings -at a farm called the “Hay Rake”, which records that
the occupier spent 11 years in prison for not paying tythes -his name was Thos.
Williamson. When a child I remember
Joseph Bevan Braithwaite spending 2 days at High Studdon, my father and he spent the time
deciphering the writing and cutting out with their knives the words nearly erased.
The advices about “the
unnecessary frequenting of taverns and other public houses
was given a large margin of liberty. Jacob
Watson kept a respectable public house, and his eldest son was manager of a brewery. William Wilson, his neighbour in the
minister’s gallery, was a keen temperance man and a personal teetotaller; and so in this meeting (as at Thirsk) Friends were
divided on this question. Jacob Watson
is reported to have said to William Wilson, “Thou makest my trade not respectable,
I’ll not deal with thee at thy shop any more”.
No doubt many Friends left the Society or were disowned. in the dales as a
consequence of drinking. In my early
days I saw three men under the influence of drink who were closely connected with Friends. The lack of ministry in the meetings was
fatal. Friends met together in silence
which in itself is an opening for utterance. The
Bible was not allowed to be read and the meetings frequently lasted an hour and a half. If a minister from a distance visited our
meeting, three or four notices were written out end posted in the town. I remember, when a boy, asking our older
members, if it would not be well to ask our neighbours to come. The reply was given to me, “Those whose
hearts are moved by the Lord will come, it is not our part to interfere”.
Allendale M.M
This
Allendale M.M. included Allendale Alston and Coanwood where Meeting Houses existed from C.
Fox’s times. The first Meeting House became a stable, the second Meeting House was
built 1733; this again was rebuilt in l866.
Meetings were held at Tedham near Allenheads, Alston and in West Allendale. The Meeting House at Alston has been closed
for many years except for M.M. The
Meeting at Coanwood is now composed entirely of 2 members of the Wigham family.
Of Friends composing the Allendale
meeting formerly, the Watson family were most numerous.
Members of the family attended both Tedham and Allendale meetings. Afterwards the Watsons removed to Newcastle,
almost in a body; Robert Spence Watson was a
representative of the family in later years. Isaac
Hall, my brother, married Margaret Wigham whose mother was a Watson, and her grandfather
Jacob Watson was brother to Joshua Watson the grandfather of R.S. Watson
My father related that John Hewitson
of Sparty Lea was a fine specimen of a dalesman who began to attend meeting in his
youth, and laid himself open to persecution not easy to bear. He married Esther Watson of Tedham and was
accused by his follow miners of marrying for money. Quakers had the name for being
wealthy. We were once having the
Meeting House repaired, and a conversation between some men on the roof was overheard
– “Get on with your work.” No
need, Backhouse’s Bank you know” So it used to be in Allendale, Friends
in those days were accused of industrious and economical habits.
Eventually the young pair made their
way to New-castle and J. Hewitson opened out a business as cheesemonger and butter
dealer. They afterwards moved to Leeds.
Their family were -William who became an engineer and two daughters Mary Ann and Hannah who lived in
an oldfashioned house named Woodlands in Headingly and were very interesting old
Friends, wearing their Quaker bonnet and cap to the end of their lives;
Another interesting family also
sprang from Allanda1e - the famiIy of Wilsons.
Wm. Wilson was a shoemaker greatly esteemed; he
had two children Wm. and Mary. Members
of that family removed first of all to Cotherstone, then to Staindrop and finally Caleb
Wilson settled in Sunderland carrying on various businesses; he married Ann Hall from near Wigton a,,nd their
four sons, under the name of “Joshua Wilson Bros.” carried on an extensive business in Sunderland.
The Shield family were numerous living at Woolley Burnfoot and
Burnlaw.
In the early days of the Society
Friends were numerous but declension must have set in quite early. The lack of education through ministry
deadened the church and alcohol claimed its victims.
The M.M. is held regularly at
Allendale and Coanswood and occasionally at Alston.
Practically all are farmers, their solidarity of character is most
noticeable and their attachment to the meetings held by their fathers is an incentive to
their continuance. Wigton School is an
incalculable boon for the education of their children who in this way keep well in touch
with the Cumberland Q. Meeting.
Sunderland .
David Blair, a Friend living
in Carlisle, got me a situation at Sunderland, and I was apprenticed to Caleb Stansfield
Wilson the youngest of four brothers. I
went there a perfect stranger but soon felt at home with the Wilson brothers. The work undertaken by the oldest brother
Joshua Wilson was practically only clearing tea, coffee, and tobacco out of bond as
required. He was however engaged in
public work which kept him fully occupied he was on the town council and the River Wear
Commission. Henry Wilson, the second brother,
acted as ledger clerk and was thus constantly
occupied: the day books and small ledger were
under the care of the clerks in the downstairs office. He
as also cashier and paid out for all Purchases, so his work was onerous. He was a bachelor, took long walks in the country and was a constant bather in the
sea. Charles looked after the tobacco
business. Henry and Caleb bought all
the groceries between them. We mostly
sold Derbyshire cheese which Henry went to buy.
The brothers all dressed in black Quaker attire and used the plain language also
for days and months. They were
painfully conscientious in their business, no two prices and their word was yea and
nay.Their example was never lost upon me but again my own father was equally conscientious,
and my wife was the same.
Besides their wholesale and retail
grocery business, Wilson Brothers were tallow-chandlers and supplied the candles to the
colliery owners. Half-a dozen men were
employed in making clay pipes, from short pipes to 22 inch ones. These were exported to India and China and indeed
wherever the firm’s ships sailed. We
supplied many ships with stores and it was quite a business to get rebate for all duty
paid on such articles as tea, tobacco &c., for the customs officers were none too
easy to please. Wine and spirit
merchants supplied any alcohol that was required, for our people refused to make a
single penny out of alcohol.
Our five ships went sometimes to New
York and St. Petersburg, but usually to India and China a year’s voyage,
from which they returned with tea and rice or timber.
Sufficient water was taken to last 12 months for cooking and drinking and
it was astonishing how well the water kept. I
remember once when some water was left over, the captain wanted to take the same water out
again. When the ships set sail or when
they returned, I usually was at liberty to watch them put to sea or to go out on the
steam-tug which brought them into port. There
were exciting times coming into port, but in going out the sailors liked to be cheered up
by alcoholic inspiration. Shipping has
to be profitable because a ship does not last very long.
We had a ship called the “Malvern” which cost £9,000 and in 3
years returned that sum to the owners, but after this repairs and replacements became
necessary. A Friend, Robert Gayner,
began the business of buying up second-hand ships (the smaller vessels) which he sent
out as trading vessels to South America. They
traded all round the S. American states from Rio to Chili and Peru, and eventually he made
a fortune of £50 - £60,000 in that way. Sunderland
has grown to three times the size it was in those days and many of its citizens have
become rich.
One new ship of the Wilsons was named the “Allendale” and
I liked to take it as a compliment to myself, but the Wilsons came from Allendale
originally removing to Cotherstone, then to Staindrop and finally Sunderland.
About twelve assistants and
apprentices lodged in the house. A
housekeeper and two servants were in charge. We
had separate beds and the young men were mostly Friends. After shop hours we followed our
own inclinations but we had to be indoors by 10 pm.
We spent twenty minutes over our breakfast of porridge, coffee and bread and
butter.
As the youngest apprentice I had the
duties each morning of cleaning brass scales and weights, washing the counter and sweeping
the shop. I had thirty minutes to do
this in and not a minute to spare.
My work was behind the counter as a
salesman. Also we had to weigh up 5,000
half-ounces of tobacco and a thousand ounces every week - to be sold retail over the
counter; this occupied three days. Then tea
into quarter and half ounces one, four and eight ounces, two hundred of each. There were three individuals behind the
counter and a constant run of customers. I
developed as a salesman but was no use as a clerk.
They had three elderly men to weigh up all other groceries such as sugar, fruit and
spices. We seldom took less than £60
each day and on Saturday two or three clerks out of the office helped behind the counter.
I soon fell in for extras such as
Posting letters and carrying the money to the bank.
The money was put into a sack which I carried thrown over my shoulder. Joshua Wilson often walked behind me,
nervous and pressing me to walk faster. This
walk of 15 minutes up the street at quick pace left me breathless. Edward Backhouse Mounsey was youngest in the
bank and had to count the silver over. Protests were given with smiles, and chaff from the
senior clerks was refreshing. Thomas
Hodgkin was in the bank at that time, a tall man with healthy face and always
interesting. As I grew older I took
Henry Wilson’s Monday’s journey when he was away from home say Ackworth School
Committee or other meeting. I had to
call on chemists and also grocers for their weekly orders.
They used to pay very often in silver as well as gold and notes. One day I remember filling all my purses,
trouser, coat and waistcoat, every pocket I had, so I had to walk back to the bank to
empty my pockets and check the receipts, then again returning to my labours. I liked selling goods, suggesting cheap
lines, prospects of rising prices and so I have often thought since that if I had been put
to travelling for orders, I could have been a very profitable apprentice.
The last two years of my
apprenticeship I took charge of the tea department.
We sold 130,000 lbs. annually, all Chinese tea in those days. The business was not good for health and
trying for the nerves, as I was often tea-tasting from 9 in the morning till 4 in the
afternoons. Weighing and blending tea, clearing it out of the bond warehouse, paying the
duties, &c., &c., kept me hard at work.
I had an Irishman, a porter, to help me each day. I got to understand the tea trade
thoroughly which has ever been a great advantage in my business. Only China tea came into England then. Now China teas are little consumed and
Ceylon and Indian tea are entirely to the fore. Nearly all our coffees came from India,
Ceylon and Arabia, now South Africa and the Soudan have the principal coffee plantations.
Tobacco was a very expensive article
to clear. The cases of tobacco were
very heavy. Possibly I am repeating, but I
was a man to fill up temporary vacancies such as clearing teas and tobacco from bond, in
such cases I carried the money in gold and notes to the custom house~ Once, carrying over £1,000, I took £100
short in error; it was not discovered until
balancing at night, when the treasurer rushed into the shop in terror saying he would lose
his situation. After balancing our cash, I found £100 to spare so that crisis passed over
happily.
Those years of business were an
excellent training and the great variety of occupation and responsibility was not lost
upon me.
The tobaccos sold by our firm were
high class tobaccos, and went
mostly to London to the high-class retailers. Some of our apprentices smoked; I never did nor did any of the four Wilson
brothers. I always had a strong
objection to smoking and drinking, indeed I saw the waste of money, and I never had
pocket money to waste. To-day in 1925 I
notice ordinary people, and even poor people, spend say 6/- weekly on tobacco, 6/- on
alcohol, and 6/- say on horse-racing, how they mount up’. If you give way to any of these things they
become a comfort which cannot be denied. Such
things as food and clothing, rent and rates are most trying expenses, and as a magistrate
I notice what a hardship it is to pay rent and rates.
The year after I left the Wilsons
gave up this profitable tobacco business from conscientious motives. Indeed all the brothers lived the life of
endeavouring to have & conscience void of offence toward God and man. Ever since I
lived with them I have never ceased to remember the influence for good that I received
from them, and in my life since I have endeavoured to live up to their standard of
rightness in business transactions and dealings with my fellow men.
Prom a business point of view we had
the opportunity of learning to take a wide o~t1ook on life which is so necessary for
every man, enabling him to meet the changing conditions of life, for instance it is wise
early to remember in competition in business that everyone has the same right to live as
yourself.
I had a number of associates. William Sykes, a native of Pontefract, had
served an apprenticeship at York with a Friend who was short of capital and they had
difficulties to contend with. William
was always planning to be on his Own and make the most of his small capital. Eventually he started business at Bishop
Auckland where I went for 3 days to give him a hand.
He did well but was attacked by consumption and died after five years business
life on his own.
Isaac Stephenson Neave was an
intellectual man. He got me to study English
history. I took up Harriet Martineau’s
“History of the 30 years Peace” that is from 1815 to William the Fourth’s
reign. This led me in the end to
interest myself in Liberal politics and had the tendency to temper my zeal for business. All through my life I have busied myself
much in politics, which may have lost me much trade, but broadened and strengthened my
character, and led me eventually into association with some notable politicians
including the first Marquis Of Ripon (who appointed me a county magistrate), the Hon.
George Lascelles, Lord Helmsley, E.R. Turton, Hon. Geoffrey Howard and many members of
parliament. All this variety modified
my life. I got a larger view, a widened
outlook and was more fitted to help my fellow men.
The winters were unusually severe
those years. At Cleadon three miles
from Sunderland, we had abundance of skating. One
year the frost lasted over two months. The
river Wear was frozen within two miles of the sea: the
ice, being lifted by the rise of the tide and falling down with the receding tide, made a
noise like thunder one night we
skated four miles up the river getting home at three in the morning; it was very rough ice, in some place there were
hills of “cat” ice blown up into quite large heaps. It was a night never to be forgotten, weird
and exciting. In the season we bathed
in the sea at the Hendon shore from June to
October. We bathed very frequently. I got to be a good swimmer; this led to over confidence on one occasion, for I
got outside the pier, and had the greatest difficulty in getting back, however the idea of
drowning never occurred to me When
I got within shouting distance from the shore I called for help which soon came. When I came to shore, I lay for
some time before I was able to get up. It
was early in October and the water was
cold. I have noticed that swimmers are
often dangerously venturesome and that experience was not lost on me. There were many people walking on the
seashore on half-holidays.
My life in Sunderland was most
interesting. I got to know a wide
circle of Friends in Durham Q.M. and became great ly interested in the Society of Friends. I never missed at tending morning and
evening meeting on Sundays and also went on 5th day morning. I taught a class of boys at the Sunday
School in the morning and E.B. Mounsey took this class in the afternoon. At least once every year our class had a
sumptuous tea at John Mounsey’s house and a most jolly time. E.B. Mounsey was special in legerdemain,
indeed all his life he was ever in excellent spirits.
Some three or four years before his death, I met E.B.M. and his wife in Darlington
station and we were talking over our early days in the Sunday School when he remarked that
he heard we had a flourishing Adult and Children’s Sunday School and Band of Hope at
Thirsk. I replied “It is no credit to me - all owing to the stimulus of Mrs.
Mounsey’s plum-cake which created those
enthusiasm of days gone by which are unforgotten memories to-day.” This
sort of answer just suited him. I
notice his family, like their father, are much engaged in all good works.
One story is interesting to relate. When I went to Sunderland I wore a Quaker
jacket and suit, and always used the plain language in speech. The only families who dressed their boys in
this way and used the plain language were the Mounseys and Backhouses. After meeting on Thursday, I called in at a
barber1s shop to get my hair cut. The
barber took me to his special room, making a great fuss over me, besmearing my head with
special bear’s grease and odours and charging me 1/-, which I paid. I reported my adventure to the young men,
hence a rush to the barber’s to hear in exultant tones his experiences with the
young Backhouse, the very summit of his dreams and ambitions~ explaining my gentlemanly
manners, etc. In course of time he was
undeceived, but it was so good a tale that it became a Quaker public adventure and I was
invited thereafter Lo aristocratic gatherings in Quaker Society. As time went on I retired from Quaker
costume and language.
The Wilsons
were kind but especialIy Henry the bachelor was very kind to me, taking me with him to
Darlington Q.M. also Newcastle and paying expenses, indeed whenever I went with him he
paid all costs Once he took me to
Ackworth. I don’t know
whether he did so with others but as I said before I did not associate much with the young
men, neither having money to spend nor inclination to join up with their evening
adventures, Once I was asked to go to
North Shields to M.M. but excused myself on
account of costs. Stephenson Wilson
said - “Oh! I’ll pay costs “ and gave me a
penny telling me to walk to South Shields and cross the Tyne by the halfpenny ferry. I
went and enjoyed the walk by the sea past Marsden Rocks and so on to South Shields and
across the ferry. I had dinner with
Charles Brown the father of Dr. Vipont, Wm.,
and Alfred Brown. Their mother was
first cousin to my wife, she being a niece of Bartholomew Smith C.B. was a beautiful character and
his wife was above all things large-hearted. Q.M’s took me to Darlington; one time Dinner at John Pease’s and tea at
Joseph Pease’s. John Pease’s two daughters were not then married - the elder
afterwards married T. Fry, the younger J.B. Hodgkin.
My sister Margaret later became Governess to the six children of Henry Pease of
Pierremont.
In my life in Sunderland I was
painfully aware of my father’s critical health.
I heard of him regularly from my sisters but 13 days each year was the only
opportunity I had of seeing him and at the time of his death by some misunderstanding I
did not even hear of his illness in time to get home to see him, indeed I only reached
home on the morning of the funeral. It
was a great trouble to me and I became morbidly affected:
for we always were greatly attached to each other.
He died in 1861.
I was sorry to leave Sunderland and
the meeting. I enjoyed the spiritual
addresses of Henry Binns and his brother Watson Binns.
Edward Backhouse was a large -hearted man of faith holding evangelical views I have always thought since, and even
then, that the acknowledgment of ministers did not help meetings. I think it ought to be the duty of most men
and women, at one time or another, to give expression to the Spirit of God working in
their hearts. The greater the variety of ministry the better and especially helpful is
the ministry of young people in keeping the ministry healthy
Some who get into a habit of
frequently taking part in meeting often get beyond their message, and thus are without
life. I often hear of fault finding
with the ministry and I always think the reason is that some Friend or Friends are
unfaithful to messages distinctly put before them to give, but they quench the Spirit.
When we meet for worship, the whole
meeting should be as one man, bearing each other’s burdons and so fulfilling the
law of Christ. How is It that sometimes we
feel the meeting to be cold and lifeless and other times full of life and of the Spirit of
God.
When first going to Thirsk (1863)
and then returning to Thirsk (1868)
I left Sunderland when twenty-one and
stayed with my relatives in Allendale for three months.
Then owing to the illness of a man at Thirsk I took a three months’ engagement
with B. Smith; the young man died and I was asked to remain.
My coming to Thirsk was as follows
My special friend was Isaac S. Neave
of Manchester, he was an assistant at 74 High Street, Sunderland and was behind the
counter with me. He was my senior by 3
or 4 years. He was cousin to John S. and
Joseph Rowntree. I often talked with
him about my chances after my apprenticeship was over, and when I left Sunderland I wrote
to John S. Rowntree to know if they had a vacancy.
The reply was no vacancy, but a few days later I heard that Bartholomew Smith had a
3 mos. vacancy to offer through the illness of his assistant. On hearing this I went at once to Bishop Auckland
to consult William Sykes who advised me to write and offer my services for 3 mos. for £10
and my keep. This was accepted and I
came at once by Stanhope, and Darlington to Thirsk.
My belongings were all packed in a carpet bag, the fashionable equipment of the
day. On arriving at Thirsk station, I
apprehended I was in the town, but found I had to walk for half an hour through the fields
adjoining the road. Of course I had to
rest a time or two as my bag was heavy. I
soon found the shop and walked in - Mr. Smith was out so I went to the grocery department,
opened out my carpet bag for an apron. fastened It
on and went behind the counter and began wrapping up sugar along with two apprentices. In an hour’s time it became known to the
household that I had arrived, and soon M.A. Smith came to ask if I would come and have
refreshment. I declined saying that tea-time
would meet the case. When I went
upstairs, I was shown my room and afterwards came tea, but first of all In the drawing
room I was introduced to Mrs. Smith and her daughters Eliza Harris, Mary Ann and Gulie,
also a small boy of eight named Arthur. I
was greatly taken with the welcome accorded to me, but felt awkward, never having been
much in the company of young people. I
did not go back in the shop that evening but stopped and talked to the mother. In the
evening S. Smith arrived from York and the next morning I was shown over. Two apprentices and myself had to do all the
work. Not having had any warehouse
experience in handling puncheons of treacle or cleaning currants and raisins, I found
myself in a hole at once, On the quiet
I gave the lorry-man silver to help me with the treacle putting into the cellar &C until I had picked up the
elementary warehousing work. I soon
picked that up, but again - the small business I could not grasp, being before only
engaged in a large way. It was very trying. B.Smith had the eye of a panther (?) and liked
the goods packed in the fixtures smart. Here
I had all to learn, and except for the kindness of the ladies I should have fled.. I ever had such a high opinion of my
sisters, I verily believed there were no women like them and I was bound to my sisters by
the closest brotherly love. During the
whole of my apprenticeship I associated almost entirely with my elders, both men and
women. In coming to Thirsk I found
another sister and talked with her, never for a moment assuming anything beyond. The first
disturbing element arose from an old lady Friend, Jane White, over 80 years of age, sister
to Thomas Richardson, the great London banker, who left large sums of money to our
Friends’ Schools. His niece, Mary
White, married John Baker of Thirsk. Jane
White being very old was taken care of by John Baker’s sister and they lived in
Thirsk. Jane White never came to
meeting and people used to say she was a witch. I never spoke to her in my life. How ever she set the story going that I was
to marry M.A. Smith and take over the business, - which came true in course of time. I thought little of it at the time and so
did everyone else, it was only considered one of her vagaries. Nevertheless another prophecy of hers came
true which I heard from the people themselves.
The next happening was that Thomas
Smith came home from York school suffering from suppressed measles which at once became
serious. He sent for me, and I went to
his bedside (he was 17). He at once
told me he was not going to live, and he gave me his blessing and said we should marry and
be happy - this was a shock to me.
A definite engagement came about in
this wise. One evening B. Smith desired
to see me and spoke about the close intimacy I had with Pollie. I was shocked and said at once,
“We are only brother and sister - there is much in common
between us.” But he added
“Something more might come of it and asked what were my prospects. I managed to say that my father left me
£800 which I could have when I wanted it. I still would not consent to any publicity and
I never said anything to my friends, however I thought I had better leave Thirsk and I
went back to Allendale. A month later I went to see the (Smith) family at Borrowdale and
while there I saw an advertisement in the “Carlisle Journal” a business to be sold. Of course I made no decent enquiries; it was
really a bankrupt business and two people previously had been bankrupt. However I took the stock in trade, fixtures,
&c, &c., and had it fitted out to the latest.
To commencing business, I advertised
strongly. The advertised prices were taking,
and my personality had its advantages. I
lost £140 the first year and in the second I c1eared £100 and got married on the
strength of business returns. Our
marriage was on August 1st, 1867.
About the end of that year, my
father-in-law found that his manager had got greatly into debt and must leave, and I was
asked to join up in the business at Thirsk.
William Baines of Sunderland, who was with me there, took my business, and his sons
continue with my business to this day in Carlisle.
His Wife - Mary Anne Smith.
She intensely disliked the family
name of Mary Ann and was usually called Pollie.
From the first day of my coming to
Thirsk between M.A.S. and myself there was much in common - our tastes in poetry and
prose, and the love of nature and natural scenery.
The whole family seemed to be often roaming over the Hambleton Hills: Rievaulx Abbey, Fountains Abbey and other places
of interest in the neighbourhood fell in for visits.
It was a fact that we were never
parted in the evenings. Books of interest
were read: Mrs. and Robert Browning’s
poetry - Carlyle was a great hero, Longfellow’s poems, and those of Mrs. Hemans were
in vogue. Besides I had taken up
Harriet Martineau’s “History of Thirty Years’ Peace”
1815-1845. I spent months over this
history and became very political, reading the “Morning Star”, Bright’s
paper. I went three times to hear John
Bright. As I said before, I had begun to read quite a lot.
I found that M.A. Smith had strong literary tastes, which had been fostered by her
aunt Mrs. John.Davies of Birkenhead, also her aunt and’ cousin (both Jane Oddie) at
whose schools at Birkenhead and Southport she had spent some happy years. She was head
girl at Ackworth School when only 13 so left there for Southport. Our mutual literary tastes led up to a
strong friendship and then to an engagement, so that I found myself engaged to be married
before I was 23 years of age. This
engagement I kept from my relatives until in the summer (1865?) we both turned up in
Allendale and I have no reason to suppose that it was otherwise than acceptable as our
welcome was (to say the least) great.
M.A.H began married life with the
idea that poetry reading would play a large part, but she had not al1owed for hens, which
were never in her line. However at one
time, they got through some reading in bed in the morning
two volumes of E.B. Browning’s letters, and two more of the letters which
passed between E.B. and Robert Browning the
latter person familiarly spoken of by J.W.H as
“Robert” and held up as the model man.
J.W.H. often told in early life he made up his mind that he would never marry a
“doll , for his sisters had taught him to appreciate women with brains and sense.
J.W.H. was a pure Northumbrian of
Quaker descent. His wife’s ancestors include early converts to Quakerism
in Yorkshire, Cumberland, and Lancashire. A
forefather on the Smith side joined Friends through the Preaching of Wm. Dewsbury while
imprisoned in Crayke Castle, near Easingwold, and his daughter Mabel Barker nee Robinson
travelled in the ministry acceptably, throughout Yorkshire. M.A.H’s grandmother
Elizabeth Smith nee Harris was of the Harris family. of Cumberland, and her father Captain
William Harris of the ships “Friend” and
“Christian” of Maryport was the e1dest of six brothers who all married and had
families so Elizabeth Smith had many first cousins, one of whom, Isabella Harris Jun., was
the mother of the gifted Lord Lister who did so much for surgery.
M.A.H’s mother Isabel
Smith nee Oddie was a descendant of John Ecroyd of Fold’s House,
Briarcliffe, Lancs, who joined Friends about 1670.
His daughter Mary Ecroyd married William Oddie in 1711 and Isabel Oddie who married
B. Smith of Thirsk was their great-grand daughter.
Thirsk Nov. 25th 1923. Had my dear Pollie been living yesterday she
would have been 82 years of age, She died the 29th of September
1911.
My wife was ever my mentor for she as truly conscientious in her
whole life. Of all the Books she read
E. Barrett and Robert Browning’s writings appealed most to her. Their robust faith appealed to her sense of
rightness and righteousness. On her
deathbed we only felt we were losing a joyous soul, and she died with a loving smile on
her face.
Carlisle
The business at Carlisle turned out a
success after the first 6 months; from that
time I had a good trade keeping an assistant and an apprentice.
On August 1st, 1867 we got
married at Thirsk It was a great day, the
church bells rang peals the whole of the day, two outriders dressed in scarlet carried us
to and from the meeting house to Stoneybrough - the new house that the bride’s father
had built and just moved into, in time for the wedding.
I may say here that these unusual additions to a “Friend’s”
wedding were arranged for by Harry Jacob who with his wife Eliza, the bridees eldest
sister, were over in England from Zanzibar.
We went to Scotland for a ten days honeymoon~ and then settled in a newly-built
house in Carlisle.
After settling in Carlisle, sister Margaret, who had been one of the
bridesmaids came to assist us. My wife brought c little maid from Thirsk
with her, but house-keeping was all new and cooking a curiosity. One day in making soup some pepper was
spilled on the table, and economy being the order of the day Maggie said “It’s a
pity to waste it”, and put it into the soup.
This soup was indeed economical, for a little went a long way, and it lasted us
several days; it was a joke for many.
My first efforts in the furnishing
direction had been to buy a set of china: it
was “Worcester” green and white, and very expensive, Jane Little a maiden lady
of Carlisle meeting assisted me and advised; the
price was a shock, and after that economy in furnishing became the first thought, indeed a
purchase of chairs we reconsidered and re-sold them in the market Carlisle Friends were extremely kind
and M.A.H. much appreciated the welcome they gave her and when afterwards we had to remove
to Thirsk we were both very sorry to leave.
About the time I began business many
other interesting young Friends were starting business life: some businesses were
failures. In my business I stuck closely to
it never leaving it, I arrived at a cash trade and did a good business, my successor Wm.
Baines went in for high class trade.
I had (Adventures, my shop was
burglared, but there was no money left there to rob, a footpad attacked me on a Saturday
night on my way home, I dodged him in his attack and by extra agility I left him behind
me. My landlord was a curious
personality although I did not. suffer at his hands, yet his grasping propensities led to
his death by an old soldier whom he had cheated soon after our leaving Carlisle.
I found the Carr’s
very good supporters and indeed most of the Friends supported me in trade, and I had every
reason to think well of Cumberland Friends. I
never could have done other than a small trade in Carlisle, the premises were so cramped,
and I preferred a more promiscuous business.
Before leaving Carlisle I ought to
name that there were 7 young men - not including the Carrs - all engaged in business, four
of these were unsuccessful and three succeeded, the difference practically was this, the
four took holidays and did some spending, the three were glued to their work and no
temptations would take them away, business at all times is difficult, and you must enjoy
and be interested in your occupation, a real love of it is necessary for success.
The young Carrs were most
enthusiastic in whatever they became connected with.
Before and after that time a strong
wave of Evangelism swept through our Society - it was a protest against a practice and
belief which became rampant even in Geo. Fox’s time and caused that man much anxiety
to combat the Quaker belief that a spark of God is inherent in every soul, which if
allowed will lead to Christ and the acceptance of His love, and life given for His
children. Large numbers of Friends took
up the belief that ”that of God in them” would
reveal to them every action in life necessary, so that they would not even send their
children to school, maintaining that God would teach them.
This went on for about ton years and the children turned out little rascals; Geo.
Fox started at once the idea of the necessity of schools, and an excellent education. Still the thought of guidance without effort
has been a stumbling block to Friends in every generation since, hence the smallness of
numbers. How many Friends speak highly of the Society’s practice of not proselytising
as a virtue, but Geo. Fox and the early Friends far otherwise. Of course any human plan more or less has
weakness.
Experiences as a Magistrate.
It is now 19
years since I promised to be loyal to my King and country and to dispense justice without
fear or favour. The whole business
connected with it was very trying to contemplate.
First of all) under Sir Wm. Harcourt’s wing,
the temperance party were induced to hope for a large measure of temperance~ reform, and
temperance people all over the country were advised to consent to accept nominations for
justice of the peace. When I was asked,
I shrank from it, mostly from natural shyness and also from a certainty that I should be
sure to lose much trade. When it became
known that my name was being brought before the Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding (then
the first Marquis of Ripon) Wm. Turton spoke to me of the impropriety of my ambitions as
the County bench was only meant for County people, and I was only a tradesman. It was not natural for me to fall in with
such an argument, and naturally I resented it strongly.
I should have been only too glad to write to Lord Ripon (and refuse?) but instead I
told Turton that I would not withdraw. Liberals
from Harrogate, Ripon and York stood by me; the Liberal agent C.H. Parkinson was unceasing
in keeping me up to the mark; Robert Spence
Watson as a friend of Lord Ripon was called in on my behalf. On the other hand Lord Ripon received
numerous local North Riding letters, some of which were abominable, alluding for
instance to mental incapacity.
Some time later Lord and Lady Ripon
celebrated their golden wedding and, as I had been very active in the Worth Riding Liberal
Association, I was appointed with others to present an illuminated address to them. We went to Studley Royal, lunched with Lord
and Lady Ripon, and in presenting the address we each had to make a short speech to which
he replied. Afterwards the others
scattered over the Fountain Abbey grounds and the park but I chose to stay at the house
and it was a most interesting day for me. Lord
and Lady Ripon both took to me amazingly, and he gave me a history of his life from
childhood. He was born at 10 Downing
St. when his father was Prime Minister. From
his childhood he was filled with the determination that his life must be spent in the
interests of his country and for his country. He was descended on his father’s side
from Oliver Cromwell and on his mother’s side from John Hampden and he longed to
follow in their footsteps. He went on
to day that he adhered closely to the Liberal and Radical party and was a member of all
Gladstone’s governments. I queried
whether he was sacrificing the social aspirations of his wife since Tory social functions,
so thick on the ground around them, would be denied to them, and whether this was fair to
Lady Ripen. She was quick to reply that
if she lost anything, she gained more; that
after the marriage of Alexandra with King Edward, then Prince of Wales, they visited Studley Royal and stayed some
days, and with animation Lady Ripon went on to say “From the time of that
visit we have addressed each other as sisters and have never failed to write to each other
every week once” Their son
afterwards 2nd Marquis acted as Treasurer of Queen Alexandra’s household.
Lord Ripon explained to me that he
had two large estates managed by two separate land agents
He found that through drink and extravagance some of his tenants came to grief; he then gave orders for them to have a sale, never
troubled them about back rents, but let them retire with what they had. In conclusion he said – “I am
thankful that I never sold a tenant up”.
The first year I came to Thirsk, June
1863, was the month of the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and in July their
visit to Studley Royal was undertaken. Thirsk and Ripon with numerous other places
determined to unite in giving a welcome to the newly-married couple. Shops wore all closed
at Thirsk and I went with the rest to Ripon~ Princess Alexandra planted a young tree in the Abbey grounds, which we both
(i.e., J.W.H. and M.A.S.?) went to see after it was planted, and always afterwards took an
interest in it. It is now a huge tree
at least 30 to 40 feet high. while at Studley Royal I alluded to this tree and this gave
rise to the conversation previously narrated.
We had afternoon tea and then Lord
Ripon told me he liked me and would I write to him as often as I liked, and he would
always write himself in return. I had
little time to write but whenever I did I always get a good long reply.
At that time the Tories were in
office and it was conveyed to me that he could not forward my name to the Lord Chancellor
as the Thirsk local magistrates were so much opposed to my nomination that it would
certainly not be accepted by the Chancellor.
But when Campbell Bannerman became premier, I came in at once, the first Quaker and
the first Liberal on the Thirsk bench.
The Thirsk magistrates appeared to be
doubtful what I would do with regard to licensing and with drunks. I told them I loved a publican and loved a drunk,
and that as circumstances permitted I would help all I could. They were afraid I would dislike signing
papers and &c., however they were soon disabused. The fact of Quakers keeping themselves
hidden from the public gaze in their meeting houses, and usually assuming an apologetic
air for being a Quaker and acting as if they were individuals not belonging to the common
herd, brings me to the opinion that the largest infusion possible of new blood is
necessary to get rid of this feeling. I was
once most seriously asked how long an aspirant to membership had to sit behind the door
before being admitted. Front these ideas arose the magistrates’ fears as to my
usefulness.
I have ever been successful in not
taking offence at slights or, worse still, attention addressed with a desire to wound. On such occasions to be dense or thick is an
admirable possession.
I soon made friends and it was
remarked by one of the magistrates to myself, that trio of our colleagues were quite
jealous of me. My reply was that possibly I
had had a superior training. I did not feel
troubled about such matters
Vagrants soon came in for my
attention. It was thought that the best way
to get rid of vagrants was to give them imprisonnents from 14 days to 28 days or longer,
but the more prosecuted the more they increased. At
the casual ward there was a bed, a bath, clothes stored every night, and a hundredweight
of stones to break in the morning. This
treatment had varying effects but you had to deal with hardened villains and likewise with
innocents not specially mentally competent. Often we had to deal with men who had known
many years imprisonnent. In all these cases a
magistrate ought to be most painstaking in dealing generously and justly in administering
the law. There is a certain amount of the
superior air combined with a lack of education in its broadest sense in some magistrates. There should be a sense of generosity, a strong
desire to do the right between man and man, for which one needs to have a large share of
discrimination. Above all things it is desirable to help to give hope to your fellow man;
even in the worest cases, occasion should be found to point to the better way. On the whole the position of a magistrate is or
ought to be an opportunity to be helpful to, and a desire to help, his fellow man and
the community at large. Abundant opportunity
is given for helping in all the relations of life. Advice
is often asked for, and advice should be given on Christian lines.
A few times I have stood in a
minority of one as to judgments given which is necessary at times in order to keep a clean
conscience. The withdrawal of some two or
three alcohol licences have been personal achievements, and I have taken a prominent part
in quite a number of cases. I have always
endeavoured to look on the best side of everyone and make no enemies. It is a great point attained when you have learned
neither to take nor to give offence. Life is
then truly worth living and one should always try to bring out the best side of a
man’s life and never descend to the low. For
instance it is not always wise to see a coarse joke;
it is better to be thick on the point.
Note:
On J.W. Halls 83rd birthday the chairman of the bench - E.R. Turton
M.P., later Sir Edmund Turton said “he wished to perform the pleasant duty of wishing
Mr Hall many happy returns of the
day. He hoped he would be able to wish Mr. Hall the same in ten
years time, and they trusted he would enjoy health and happiness.
J.W.H. was on very friendly terms
with Sir Hugh Bell the Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding and they had a great deal of
correspondence and conversations chiefly on the appointment of new magistrates. On one occasion when J.W.H. and a
daughter were at Rownton Grange, Sir Hugh’s home, on a visit of this nature, Sir Hugh
told him that he must never cease to take his place on the bench as long as it was at all
possible to do so. J.W.H’s
increasing deafness was making it more and more difficult and in the end he had to
discontinue his attendance for that reason. Sir
Hugh is a North countryman and he is descended from Friends; this was one link between them.
Various Reflections on Quakerism.
The continuous religious excitements
and revelations springing up had little effect upon me, and I could have nothing to do
with sensationalism. I believed
in miracles and my own life was a miracle. I
was always sorry to see people go off at a tangent, and then perhaps to lose all faith. If people would only stand and wait with
their spiritual difficulties, they would see a light that would lead them. I am glad that the salient points of George
Fox’s life and experience are coming to the front now with great power, and again
study is revealing the character of our Lord Jesus Christ as never seen before because of
the mystifications of our prelates.
I was never afraid of Biblical
criticism. Take for instance the gospel
of John: read it critically, read it
prayerfully, read it honestly - I am sure you want no more to lead you to the Kingdom of
Heaven.
When I was twenty I went with my
brother Isaac to the Yearly Meeting (1862) and was pained to see some of these dear people
charging each other with being unorthodox. Neither then or since have I cared for
dissension. What I would say is –
“ Do you feel it helpful to yourself to worship together in our meetings, in a
silence which often leads to utterance?’~
This gives people the opportunity of experience, and they may in the long run
either leave or see their way to applying for membership.
I think it is wrong to rush people into applying ~or membership.
Our meetings should be made
attractive for children and young people. Strangers
should be encouraged to attend and our mode of meeting together explained to them. No
hard and fast lines should be required of our new members. Freedom, love and forbearance, and sound
liberality ought to be extended. We
should remember that the sign of a healthy church are seeking for unity in essentials, and
in all things charity. We ought to look
upon the church with the widest of vision and extend our love to all those who love the
Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. The
Society of Friends is not a sort of Freemason’s lodge with its secret signs, but with
both arms extended is reaching to embrace the whole world.
George Fox and his friends had full
faith in what they taught. Is it
possible that the major number of Friends think that the religious beliefs we held are
only suitable for the few? Many
apologise for being Friends, say for in-stance that their forefathers were Friends, simply
because they themselves have never been instructed in childhood or later in our faith. I think we want mere of a teaching ministry
in our meetings, a teaching that would encourage the young seeker. I have often felt that the religious views
held by Friends are so suitable for all, that all our meetings should be large live
meetings.
I was often warned in my early days
against “creaturely activity.” This
advice was well when addressed to thick-skinned natures, but if addressed to the most
numerous class, modest and timid souls, the effect of such advice was killing. I wonder how many young Friends interpreted
the meaning of “creaturely activity” to be “keep your mouth
shut” - always a safe course to take.
The Friends of former days thought
that dress and the plain thee and thou, the first and second day were safe-guards against
worldliness. The following is an
account narrated by B. Smith of a visit of my wife’s uncle David Smith to London
Yearly Meeting and the 1851 Exhibition. He was accompanied by his eldest daughter Rebecca
Smith who wore a Friends’ bonnet, his son Jonn Wilson Smith and his nephew Samuel
Woodhead Smith both dressed in Friends’ clothing including hats with broad brims. After attending Y.M. they went on to the
Exhibition. Their first sight on entering was
some statuary to which D.S. objected, and they moved on to a large apartment in which
people were gathering.. The four sat by a door in order to be ready for exit in
case of necessity. Presently behold! women
came on the platform with low dresses and men with musical instruments. David Smith, seeing this preparation of
worldliness arose and made for the door of exit and found it locked. It was a sight for all present - the dapper little
Friend walking first and elbowing the Company as he passed saying - “Make way, make
way.” He was followed by his beautifully
and plainly dressed daughter, and the two young men duly attired in broad brims surely
upheld the correctness of attire. They departed from the room and from the building to
their lodgings. When the time for evening
reading came, David Smith happened to open his Bible at Psalm 152 and began to read -
“Lord, remember David in all his afflictions” but he got no further, for the
humour of the situation appealed to him as well as to the young people.
Surely to-day Friends have got
further enlightened and see the truth of the passage in the book of Samuel “Man
looketh at the outward appearance, but God looketh at the heart.”- We must hope that now and in the future,
Friends as a Society will prosper as they dwell on realities and their faith leads up to
works.
For several years our Father occupied his spare time in writing down his recollections end was always wanting us to arrange these various writings for him into a straight story. Unfortunately we could not then find ourselves free to tackle what has proved to be a piece of work demanding both time and space.
Now we have been glad to set to work and go right through all the manuscripts and note books; and with the help and encouragement of our cousin Henry Haydock we have finished our transcript;
WinifredHall
Isabel M. Hall.
Sunnymead
Thirsk.
20 March, 1930
The Thirsk Family of Halls.
John William Hall born at High Studdon 26. 1. 1842 Mary Anne Hall Born at Thirsk 24. Xl. 1841
married at Thirsk Friends' Meeting House 1. VIII. 1867.
M.A. Hall died Sept. 29th. 1911. J.W. Hall died March 2nd. 1929. both buried in Thirsk cemetery.
Their children all born at Thirsk:
1. Winifred b. 24. Xll. 1868 d. 9. 1. 1934
2. Allan Bartholomew b. 9. Vll. 1870 d. 10. 1. 1945
3. Isabel Mary b. 12. Xl. 1871 d. 31.12. 1949
4. Mabel Susan b. 18. lX. 1873 d 1949
5. John Edward b. 5. lX. 1875
6. Marion b. 20. 11. 1878
Allan Bartholomew Hall m. Rose Gilling of Thirsk at Sowerby Church
27. VII 1898. Rose d. Sept 10 1946
Mabel Susan Hall m. Benjamin Walker of Harrogate at Thirsk Friends' Meeting House 24. VII. 1901.
Their children all born in London S.E.
1. Isabel Hall b. 25. VIII 1902 m. at Woolwich F.M.U. 10. lV. 1926. to Harry Davis of Singapore b. 11.11.1902
Their children Randall b. at Batavia, Java 21. 11. 1927, Bryan b. at Bombay 7. VI. 1929
2. Madeline Winifred b. 1. 1. 1904
3. Benjamin Claude b. 1. 111. 1906
John Edward Hall m. Helen Grubb of Fingringhoe, Sussex at Sidcot F.M.H. 31. VIII. 1904.
Their children all born at Thirsk.
1. Margaret Helen b. 3. XI 1905
2. John Philipson b. 13 XII. 1907
3. Roderick Smith b. 17 Xll. 1909
4. Mary Lecky b. 24.IV. 1902
5. Christabel b. 20. X. 1914
Marion Hall m. John Edmundson of Gateshead b. 22. IV 1879 at Thirsk F.M.H.28 VII. 1903
J.E. Edmundson d. at Hawick 17. lx. 1920 and was buried in Jesmond Cemetery, Newcastle.
<
Their children are: -
1. Kathleen Mary b. at Scarboro' 28. 11. 1905
2. Norah Gertrude b. at Grantham 22. Vl. 1906
5. Joan Wigham b. at Grantham 8. X. 1907 d 2.5.1944
4. Arnold Watson b. at Grantham 6. 11. 1911
THE HALL FAMILY.
Information from John Hall Shield's study of old minute books.
The registers of the Society of Friends state the Benjamin Hall a member of Embleton Meeting son of Isaac Hall of Haghouse married Margaret Pescod at Burnfoot on the 7th. of 11th. mo. 1740. This is the earliest register I have any account of in this family.
The Hall family has been numerous in Northumberland. The first Q. Meeting of the Society of Friends in Northumberland was held at Otterburn 28th. day of 8th. mo. 1680 at which George Hall and Edward Hall are present. George Hall in 1694 was a representative from Otterburn at the Q. M. held at Brunton.
At the marriage of John Chisam and Mabel Dood (Dodd) at Otterburn in 1685 Edward Hall, Seth Hall and Elspeth Hall are amongst the witnesses at Otterburn when the Q. M. censured Francis Shield the younger and Mary Shield for their marriage, being first cousins Seth Hall, Edward Hall, Joshua Hall and George Hall sign the document testifying against them.
Isaac Hall and Robert Christin are the representatives from Embleton for the Quarterly Meeting held at Newcastle 8 mo. 3lst. 1706 and from that time forward Isaac Hall is frequently mentioned in the Q. M. minute Book.
At that date he was one of a committee to consider the purchase or hire of a meeting house at Hexham. He is frequently representative from Embleton meeting, John Doubleday being also another frequent representative. I. Hall being representative in 1720 and in 1751 Q.M. at Alnwick Abbey 5 mo. 31. 1712, this meeting being informed by Isaac Hall of the necessity of some poor belonging to Barwick meeting to whom he gave 2s. 6d. which the meeting has refunded and given him 5/- more to distribute to you as he may see occasion.
Q. M. at East Allandale 8 mo. 30th. 1712.
Isaac Hall or such other frds. belonging to Embleton Meeting as may have an opportunity are desir~d to make a further inspection into the state of Barwick Meeting and may contribute sixpence a week to Margaret 3tanton and ninepence a week to Ann Rilbon on this meeting's account. The meeting at Barwick appears to have suffered from dissensions amongst its members. Isaac Hall though a member of another meeting was appointed some-times to look after the poor members and also the Meeting House and provision for Friends travelling in the ministry.
It is supposed that Benjamin Hall mentioned on the 1st. page had a brother Joseph married to Hannah Brown (I have no documentary evidence at present.) The Friends Register says that Isaac Hall son of Joseph and Hannah Hall of High C1ose was born 2 mo. 25th. 1741.
Isaac Hall of Studdon, married Hannah daughter of Abraham and Hannah Shield of Thornley-gate
2 mo. 4th. 1782.
Children of Isaac and Hannah Hall of Studdon were:
1. Sarah who died at High Studdon 29.3.1861 aged 72 unmarried.
2. Joseph Hall died unmarried.
3. Isaac Hall 7 mo. 1st. 1793 married Mary Philipson about 1824 died 11. 29. 1861 aged 68 Mary his wife died 7 mo. 8th. 1853 aged 46.
4. Hannah married John Grieve of Brampton parish 16. Feb. 1808.
John Grieve died 4. 12. 1855 aged 73. They had two sons,
Thomas who died 16.12.1872 aged 62 years and John who died
27.8.1877 aged 65. Both unmarried. They lived at Black
Cleugh West Allendale and the latter died at Studdon.
5. Jane married George Roddam 1824 and had children viz.
William married - Mary married George Pearson of the Steel
and had children George, William Hall, John Hindmarsh &
Francis. George Roddam died in 1858.
Susan Hall Teaching at Ackworth 1871
From Mary J. Taylor's account of her Schooldays at Ackworth 1869 to 1875.
Our teacher (in the 4th. class) was Susan Hall. She was at that time almost engaged to Samuel Climes who afterwards went as a missionary to Madagascor. He was then a student at the Flounders College and we were delighted when we could bring a blush into S. Hall's pale face by mentioning his name in her presence.
Susan Hall was kind, conscientious and firm and was attentive to us out of school as well as in. In the winter evenings she used sometimes to come in and sit with us round the fire, and she used to talk kindly to us, or sing pieces to us that we could learn. She taught us "Little Nell". We loved her very dearly though we sometimes transgressed rules.
On one occasion Ida Brayshaw got into trouble with her. We were waiting for S. Hall to come into Scripture school on Thursday and she did not come, so, to improve the time, Ida got into the bin (window seat holding slates and work) shut down the lid and told us to tell her when we heard S. Hall's step that she might jump out and get to her place in time. Unfortunately we were so highly amused and engrossed by the seputchral grunts and groans coming from the bin that we were not aware of S. Hall's near proximity till she entered the room. There was a dead silence, no one knew what to do. S. Hall seated herself at the desk and was about to open her Bible when bang, bump, came from the bin as Ida pounded the lid with her fist and then proceeded to utter a mournful muffled howl. S. Hall stared and Stared, and we all choked and chuchled. "What ever is that?" said S. Hall. No answer but renewed signs, Groans and chuckles. S. Hall rose and went to the bin, opened it and disclosed to view a burrowing creature, which, startled by the sudden influx of outer light, worked itself round and looked up. In vain did S. Hall retain severity of countenance, but though one smiled a little one did not laugh and recovering herself she ordered Ida to go at once upstairs to bed and not to appear again that evening. Alas! I soon had to follow for I could not get over Ida’s ridicutous position, and choked and chuckled audibly until my dismissal.
Not long after this we two again got into trouble. S.Hall had been drawing up the quarterly report of each girls conduct, and had written them down on a large sheet of foolscap paper. After tea she went away leaving the sheet lying, writing downmost, on the desk. We knew that it was the report for S. H. had told us, and the temptation to look at our own characters was great, but we felt it would be underhand to look. However we gather around the desk, and suddenly, in fun, I shut my eyes and lifted up the sheet so high that Ida read 4 or 5 characters, amongst others hers and mine which were both p. g. (pretty good) and Ellen Elgar's which was v. g., (very good). As soon as we had done this we felt a mean little pair of sinners and retreated humiliated, to sit at our desks. After a few minutes pondering, I felt we ought to tell S. Hall, so we agreed to go to her after Scripture school and tell her. Accordingly when it was over and the other girls filed out into the passage for a walk in the playroom or to go straight up to bed, we lingered and conversed in dire confession what we had done.
S. Hall was very kind and quiet, and said she was glad we had come to tell her, and that she hoped we should not yield so easily to temptation another time, and she sent us off comforted to bed.
S. Hall loved and encouraged singing and learning poetry and often on sewing afternoons, she allowed us to play at "Capping Verses" when one said a verse and any one might then repeat a verse beginning with a letter of the last word. One favourite verse was.
Evil is a rolling stone
upon a mountain top
Which a child may first impel
But a giant cannot Stop. S.T.O.P.
We learnt while in S. Hall's class "The Loment of Richd. I over his father's body at Fontebrand Abbey" and "Pilgrims of earth who are journeying to heaven" and etc.
S. Hall used to read us poetry and I still remember the delight with which we listened to "Evangeline" and the intense anxiety with which we longed for her to find Gabriel her Beloved", and the hush which crept over us when we heard of her wish being granted so late.
In May another change was made in the classes (moved to the 3rd. class). Though we were pleased with the promotion we were very sorry to leave Susan Hall. Here we two newcomers enjoyed ourselves on the whole, though we missed S. Hall's kind care and pleasant ways.
(This girl by her own showing was a naughty girl and tiresome and rude with most of the teachers. She does not write of anybody else as she does of Aunt Susie.)
L.M.H
Copied. May 18. 1965 at Brighton.