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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Westmorland => Topic started by: willgen on Tuesday 17 February 15 13:12 GMT (UK)
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My G.Grandfathers eldest brother William FLEMING wrote a 'DIARY' from 1869- 1899. William was a Mine Agent with the London Lead Company, covering Dufton & Alston moor. He was also a Methodist lay preacher. He lived at Chapel House in DUFTON until his death in 1899.
He wrote in a leather bound notebook his daily happenings, both work & personal. He also recorded the events for others in the village, near surroundings & NENTHEAD (where he had relatives).
I am willing to trawl the diary for anyone who may have an interest in this localality.
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Sounds fascinating - is it interesting enough to be published?
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I find it fascinating as there is so much info for my own family.
It does only cover a small geographical area so would there be many folk who would be interested?
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Possibly. It depends on what he writes about - often the mundane things and day to day life are appealing. Even better if he adds some historical context and saucy anecdotes. ;)
I don't think the small geographical area matters.
Obviously if he writes well and tells a good story that will be of interest. There are quite a lot of diaries which have been published. There is also the possibility of publishing it in blog form though that is a huge task which you would have to be committed to. I have seen this done with a couple of diaries, with today's date corresponding with the appropriate diary entry.
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Hi Willgen,
Fascinated to learn of your Dufton diary. A number of my maternal ancestors (Ellwood's & Parker's) were born in Dufton and living in the village during the period you mention.
If you come across any 'snippets' concerning them I would love to hear.
Jolyon
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Hi Jolyon
Had a quick look at the index for the diary & found refs to:-
John ELLWOOD
Nancy ELLWOOD
Margaret ELLWOOD
Henry PARKER
John PARKER
Mary PARKER
Thos. PARKER
Any of these of interest?
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Willgen,
Fancy I know most on your list though one or two a puzzle at the moment.
Related, but not in my direct lineage, are John Ellwood (1795-1872) & wife Nancy [nee Bell] (1804-1876). Their numerous children also included a Nancy.
I'm curious about the John Parker in your list, as that was the name of my grandfather, though by 1876 he was living and working in Manchester.
But I'd like to know what you have if you don't mind.
Jolyon
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Hi Jolyon
This is what I have on John Parker:-
''At Witton Park Weslyan Chapel on the 12th Aug 1872. Mr John Parker married to Miss Annie Burnip of Hondon. John Parker belonged to Murton, Westmorland.''
'' Mary, the beloved child of John & Mary Parker died on Sunday March 11th 1894. Aged 11 years.''
Maybe two different John Parkers as the wives weren't the same?
Regards
Willgen
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Hi Willgen,
Thanks for that but your John Parker not my grandfather I'm afraid.
Will do a little more research and see what I can come up with.
Regards
Jolyon
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Hi Willgen,
I would be very interested to read what is said about:
John ELLWOOD
Nancy ELLWOOD
Margaret ELLWOOD
Thanks very much in advance,
Gillian
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Hi Gillian
This is what I've got:-
John Ellwood,Dufton Hall died on Wed. am the 18th Sept. 1872, aged 77 years gone Christmas day.
John Ellwood & Jane Hind both of Dufton married on Brough Hill, Sat. 3rd Oct. 1874.
Died at Dufton 20th Oct 1876 aged 72 yrs, Nancy wife of the late John Ellwood.
Died at Knock on 3rd June 1893 Margaret widow of the late John Ellwood. Aged 73 years.
Nancy only daughter of the late John Ellwood,Dufton aged 14 years on 3rd Feb 1895.
George Forbes & Nancy Ellwood married at Dufton church on the 8th Dec.1898 & their first child born on the 15th.
Regards, Willgen
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Thanks very much!
Gillian
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Hi, My interest is in the Liddle & Blenkarn family. I was wondering if there was any mention of the Dooley's, Mary Liddle's married name, and anything about the Blenkarn's in your diary. What an amazing resource. Many thanks.
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i wonder if there is any reference to robson. Thomas's daughter, i think, married into chambers, my gt grandfather was Matthew Robson, of green howe farm. kind thanks. tom robson
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Hi Tom
Items from the Diary :-
Mrs Robson of Greenhow died 21st June 1875 aged 85 years;Robsons 2nd sale at Greenhow 17th Feby 1876; Mathew Robson and Mary Sissons married 25th April 1877; John Chambers and Mathew Robson 1st sale 1st Feby 1884; John Chambers and Mathew Robson 2nd sale on 5th March 1884 and left on the 6th for Warwickshire.
There are refs to the following Chambers:- Edward;John;Mary;Thomas. Let me know which,if any, are of interest.
As Mathew Robson married a Sissons are you interested in the entries for them?
Regards W.
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sir,
what amazing record, I cant thank you enough. He obviously kept copious records.
I was always given to understand that farming suffered badly, which resulted i the sale. But I guess we will never know. and I presume that details of "Mrs. Robson" and husband Thomas, death apart, would have lived most of their lives before he was writing so there would be scant if any other detail, which is sad ( I have photos tho :) )
two land sales is intreguing, so i would guess, and it is a guess, that the "mrs" Chambers was Thomas's daughter, sister to Matthew ( My Gt. Grandfather) Matthew , btw, married Sarah Sisson not Mary, unless he was a bigamist. they ended up in Kent where he died, she then went to live with her eldest daughter who had, by then, married a Deighton and, I was given to understand from my grandfather, her father had been the HM at Dufton school, ( Greenway Deighton). I still have Matthews pocket watch which has been passed down, and his son, my grandfather , sat with me as a boy to share the history, of the Robsons and Sissons, most of whom emigrated to Australia aroud the same time. I have a few dozen photos, many of whom I can name, many I cant.
Please, yes detail on the Sissons would be fabulous. I do know, of course, that one of the girls went on to mother Cecil Beaton, who spent his life denying that his grandfather had been a Temple Sowerby blacksmith.
Chambers too as I know nothing of this family but i do see that theys till are int he village and still farmers.
very kind regards and again Huge thanks for your effort
Tom Robson
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Hi Tom
Will have a look for entries for Sissons and Chambers & send them on in a day or so.
In my experience of farm sales I believe that the normal procedure would be to have a sale of 'live stock' -all the animals on the farm on one day. At a later date all the equipment would be sold also possibly the land & buildings, if auctioned (not sold by private treaty). They may of course have been tenants in which case the second sale would have just been equipment.
William Fleming was a man who took a great interest in the area using his notebook for his trips round the various mines he was responsible for as well as recording any happenings of interest in Dufton village.
Have you ever been to Dufton?
Will be in touch , W.
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I visited the village some 35 yrs ago, and was able to see the church and the farmhouse GreenHow, but it was a logn time ago. I now live overseas but plan to revisit this or next year.
I do know they OWNED the farm,. seems the old boy was in with the in corwd too, as they pointed him first to warwickshire and then on to Kent where he was the estate manager. MAtthews wife appears to have been very "posh" for a farmers wife, Matthew meanwhile, so i am told, never lost his westmoreland style of language and in kent had problems being understood with various expressions he used.
I tried once or twice to contact the chambers inthe village but with no luck, as I have a lot of those old old photos from pre and just post turn of the century that I was hoping to share with them too.
I dont know anything about the mining, at that time the village was very sedate without any place with info, the church with its lovely pumped organ was the only place ope with any history back then.
Re the sales, that makes sense, as my Brother had a similar series of sales when he sold his farm too, thanks.
So any info is very very welcome , Thank you in advance.
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Hi Tom
Chambers extracts:- R. Gardener esq, Mr Phiilipson of Alston,John Chambers & I,William Fleming were on Dufton Fell looking for iron ore on the 31st July 1872; A very tall tree stood beside John Chambers was blown down on the morning of 28th Oct 1880; Hodgeson Clarkson & Mary Chambers of Knock were married at Dufton Church on Thurs 21st May 1885; Thomas Chambers late of Dufton died on the 15th Feby 1896 aged 76.
The London Lead Company were quite influential in shaping Dufton as it is today. They had the ethos of benevolence that other Quaker Companies held (eg Cadburys). They provided housing,schools & other facilities such as water supplies well in advance of the times.
Regards W
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Hi Tom
Sissons extracts:- Died at Dufton on 19th May 1873 Ann wife of John Sissons Blacksmith.Ages 49 yrs; Robert Sissons married 19th May 1877; Thomas Birkbeck came from Milburn to Dufton on Tuesday 14th June 1881 Blacksmith. (David Sissons) leaving his smithy; David & John Sissons left Dufton on Friday evening 9th Nov. 1883 for Australia; John Sissons Dufton sale on Friday 12th June 1896; John Sissons removed from Dufton to Coney Garth 11 th Mar 1897.
Hope these are of interest.
Regards W
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sorry for slow reply here as I hadnt seen your replies.
amazing tid bits there and many many thanks. I have the sisson story from Dufton to Oz so that all makes sense too
Tom Robson
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Hi,
I have just bought a property in Dufton - Dufton House.
Documents left with the property show that the house was sold by William Fleming in May 1870 at auction in Appleby.
I would be very interested to know if the diary makes any mention of Dufton House or its sale.
many thanks, Kevin