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Anthony Metcalfe was born in 1733, he was baptised at St Oswald's Church Ravenstonedale on October 13th:- "Anthony, illegitimate son to Agnes Meckow". The Bishop's Transcripts add that he was "o Brackenber", which is a farm North West of, and close to Brownber. The odd spelling of Metcalfe is difficult to understand, as far as I am aware this spelling of the name occurs nowhere else.

The parish registers up to this time contain few Metcalfe entries. Notably on February 9th 1582/3 "was baptised Maybell the daughter to John Medcalfe fornicator". No mincing of words here! There were no further entries until 1639 when Isabell, a daughter of Roger Medcalf was baptised, he had two more children, Mary in 1650 and and Willyame in 1652. In 1679/80 Christopher Medcalfe was baptised, he was the son of Mr. John Medcalfe, who I believe was the schoolmaster. Over in the neighbouring parish of Orton in March 1715/16 George Metcalfe married Isabel Morland.

AGNES METCALFE

It is likely that Agnes Metcalfe came across the border from West Yorkshire, it is unlikely that she wandered in on her own. Parishes were wary of unattached females who might become a burden upon the parish. It is possible that she was connected to Thomas and Margaret Metcalfe whose names occur for the first time in an entry in the Ravenstonedale register of baptisms on August 12th 1733,  "Thomas Metcalf was baptised on August 12th, the son of Thomas and Margaret Metcalf, o Brounber". .

 There was a baptismal entry in Aysgarth Parish Registers for 28th August 1715 for Agnes, daughter of John Metcalfe of Carperby, a township in Aysgarth, which would tie in very well with Agnes, the mother of Anthony. I have subsequently discovered that there were two John Metcalfe's of Carperby, one made a will in 1738, which does not mention Agnes amongst bequests to his other four daughters.

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I now believe that Muker is the most likely birthplace for Agnes, although it must be born in mind that there may well still be parishes whose registers have not yet been transcribed or filmed. Muker is geographically the nearest Yorkshire village to Ravenstonedale. There were many Metcalfe families living there. In a document dated 1538, which listed all the holders of lands and tenements there were 8 Metcalfe men listed, second only to the Aldersons who numbered 17. It is clear from the Muker Parish Registers that Agnes was a popular Christian name, whereas in other places it is comparatively rare. Of the three Agnes Metcalfe’s baptised in Muker between 1700 and 1711 the most likely, age wise, was the Agnes Metcalfe baptised  on 13th May 1711, daughter of William Metcalfe of Gunnerside.. Ideally the most convincing scenario would be if this Agnes had a brother called Thomas. Unfortunately this was not the case, Thomas was a fairly unusual Christian name in Muker, I have found only one baptism for the relevant period, Thomas, son of Thomas Metcalfe of Gunnerside, which was a township of Muker, who was baptised on the 26^th August.1708.There is a propinquity of place, ie. The township of Gunnerside, it is possible that they were cousins, no marriage or burial has been found for Thomas in Muker, he would be too young to be the Thomas who married in 1717.

Because this Agnes was born in 1711 and would have been aged 22 when her illegitimate son Anthony was born I feel that she is presently our front runner. For this reason I thought that it was worth recording what is known about this family. I have included all references to William Metcalfe of Gunnerside as there is probably more than one William. It is possible that some of these refer to a son, not found in the baptismal registers as there were gaps in the early years.  

24.6.1707 Bap. My (Mary) dau of  William Metcalfe of Gunnerside.

21.10.1707 or 1709  Bur. Mary wife of William Metcalfe of Gunnerside.

1707 or 1709  Mar. William Metcalfe of Gunnerside.  No bride’s name given.

07.02.1709/10  Bur. Mary dau of William Metcalfe of Gunnerside.

13.05.1711  Bap. Agnes dau of William Metcalfe of Gunnerside.

14.11.1714  Bap. James son of William Metcalfe of Gunnerside.

17.11.1717  Bap. Margrett dau of William Metcalfe of Gunnerside.

02.10.1720  Bap. Mary dau of William Metcalfe of Gunnerside.

20.10.1723  Bap. Samwell son of William Metcalfe of Gunnerside.

16.07.1734  Mar. William Metcalfe and Mary Clarkson  (Both of Parish of Grinton.)

April 1745  Mar. William Metcalfe and Eleanor Metcalfe

10.06.1740  Mar. William Metcalfe and Elizabeth Guy, B.P.G.

07.02.1740/41  Bur. William Metcalfe of Calverthouse Householder.

14.02. 1742  Mar. William Metcalfe and Elizabeth Clarkson. B.P.G.

.17.06.1743  Mar. James Metcalfe and Anne Atkinson. B.P.G.

06.04.1746  Mar. Samuel Metcalfe and Isabel Harker. B.P.G.

19.07.1747  Bur Elizabeth wife of William Metcalfe of Dikehead.

31.01.1749/50  Bur. Elizabeth wife of William Metcalfe of Muker.

18.11.1750  Bur. William Metcalfe of Lodgegreen.

11.07..1751  Bur. Agnes Metcalfe of Lodgegreen Widow.

24.03.1753  Bur Elizabeth Metcalfe of Calvert House. Widow.

17.08.1754  Bur. William Metcalfe of Muker. Poor.

04.03.1766  Bur William Metcalfe of Calverthouse.

10.02.1774  Bur  Samuel Metcalfe of Gunnerside Heits Householder.

1778  Bur. James Metcalfe son of William Metcalfe  Miner  Calvert House.

The last entry relating to James Metcalfe which gives his father’s name and James’ occupation and abode at the time of death allows us to speculate that Agnes’ father William married 3 times, first to Mary who died in 1707 or 1709, then to an unknown woman who was the mother of most of his children. She does not appear in the burial Registers as one would expect between the birth of her youngest son Samuel in 1723 and 1740 when it is supposed that William married Elizabeth Guy. He died the following year and was shown living at Calvert House, his widow Elizabeth died in 1753, also from Calvert House. The next Metcalfe to be buried from Calvert House was William in 1766, who could have been William’s eldest son by his first wife Mary. Finally William’s middle son James was buried from Calvert House. Because Agnes disappeared from Ravenstonedale after the death of William Adamthwaite, either as Agnes Adamthwaite or Agnes Tarleton, (an Agnes Adamthwaite married John Tarleton at St. Oswald’s Ravenstonedale in 1757) I have always wondered if she might have returned to her family home. It is worth another look at the burial register.

 William Sen. did not leave a will, but his presumed son, also named William, who died at Calvert House in 1766 did. I sent off for this Will because it is possible that this hypothesis could be proved one way or the other. Disappointingly the Will only mentions William’s children, Richard and Mary. His brothers Samuel and James, who were both still alive, received nothing, and neither did his sister Agnes. One interesting bequest to his daughter Mary was one eighth part of a lead mine that he owned “at a place commonly called Bellehill.” His brother James was described as a miner in his burial record. On a positive note this Will does not prove that ‘our’ Agnes was not the daughter of William Metcalfe Sen., baptised in 1711, but it does not prove that she was.

Calvert House is still shown on the present Ordnance Survey Map ( Outdoor Leisure 30, Yorkshire Dales Northern and Central Areas.)  It is now known as Calvert Houses and is situated near the Northern bank of the River Swale between Gunnerside and Muker itself.

There is another avenue of research regarding Agnes’ origins. There is a possibility of links with the Quaker Meeting at Ravenstonedale. The Rev. John Breay has done a study of land tenure and religious dissent called Light in the Dales. The first volume consists of The Quaker Registers of Grisdale, Garsdale and Ravenstonedale – Births 1650 - 1836, Marriages 1656 – 1834, Burials1659/60 – 1840. Disappointingly he comments that there was a total absence of recorded births at Ravenstonedale between 1702 and 1717, this he believes was due to slackness during this period. However it was also the likeliest period for the birth of Agnes. (Light in the Dales Vol. 3, page 83) There are a few more pointers however. On page 59 Vol 3 – “In 1700 – 1701 Anthony Metcalfe and Wm Shaw of the parish of Kirkby Stephen were presented as Quakers.” His reference for this was Kirkby Stephen parish regs, CRO Kendal and B.T.s 1700 – 1 CRO Carlisle. Rev. Breay goes on to add that William Shaw was left 3s in 1710 in the will of Anthony Robinson of Dovengill. Anthony Robinson was a prominent early Quaker who started the first Quaker Meeting at Ravenstonedale at his home in Dovengill. (Ref. C & W trans, N.S. XXIX Quaker Wills etc. no 18.) John Robinson of Dovengill stood guarantor for Anthony Robinson of Brownber in the bastardy proceedings concerning Agnes Metcalfe’s unborn child, (for further details see page 3.) It would be worth investigating this family, it is possible that the two Anthony’s are related. If Anthony and/or Agnes were Quakers they were likely to have been expelled for fornication.  In the List of Sources at the end of this account are some of the References from the Rev John Breay’s book that will probably be worth consulting at some future date.

On July 26th 1742 Agnes married William Adamthwaite of Adamthwaite, he was born in 1706, the son of Thomas Adamthwaite of Adamthwaite who died in 1745 at Steps Beck. William was first maried to Dorothy (surname unknown), by whom he had two daughters. Dorothy died in 1742, the year that he married Agnes. William and Agnes had three children, Margaret who was baptised on the 14th June 1743, she married Thomas Garnett on the 22nd February 1764 at Saint Oswald's, Ravenstonedale's Parish Church, he may have come from Kendal. Their only son, who was inevitably called William, was born the following year in 1744. A daughter Sibella, or Isabel, was born at Ravenstonedale in 1747, presently nothing further is known about her. There were as many as four dwellings at Adamthwaite, which is in a rather isolated part of Ravenstonedale. It is believed that two Adamthwaite families lived there at this time. One of these was another Thomas Adamthwaite who had no children. He died in 1739  and left his Ravenstonedale property to his two nephews, father and son Thomas and William Adamthwaite. It appears that these Adamthwaites were prosperous yeomen, or 'statesmen', as they were called in Westmorland. For more information concerning this Will and much more concerning the Adamthwaite family, visit their excellent website - www.adamthwaitearchive.org.uk  Adamthwaites have also been associated with the Quaker Movement in Ravenstonedale. William Adamthwite died in 1756.  I did think that Agnes may then have married a John Tarlton, both of Town, on November 15th 1757. This was in the rather flimsy belief that there were unlikely to be two Agnes Adamthwaites living in Ravenstonedale during this period. Recently I thought it might be prudent to check this supposition  in Family Search and discovered that there was indeed another Agnes Adamthwait, the daughter of Elizabeth Adamthwait who was baptised at Ravenstonedale on 28th december 1736. Jno Tarleon was born in 1723, he married Agnes Adamthwait on 2nd May 1757, she would then have been aged 21, a more suitable age than 'our Agnes' who would then have been in her forties. Also the different spelling of Adamthwait was consistent in both her baptismal and marriage entries. John Tarlton (B.T.’s Tarlington) was buried in 1807 at St Oswald’s Ravenstonedale, but there is no record there for Agnes, either as Agnes Adamthwaite or as Agnes Tarlton. She is as much of a mystery at the end of her life as she was at the beginning. It is possible that she could have gone back to the place of her birth or she may have gone to live with one of her children in a neighbouring town or village.

William Adamthwaite Junior married Jane Stephenson at Ravenstonedale on 6th January 1767, according to the IGI - www.familysearch.org.uk . When I was looking at St Oswald's Registers in Kendal Record Office I noticed that some of the entries were made by William Adamthwaite - curate.

There is now a website that lists early clergy - www.theclergydatabase.org.uk I have recently looked up William Adamthwaite. There are two entries,  the first is his licensing and ordination as Deacon on the 31st August 1777. This took place in the chapel, Rose Castle, the Bishop of Carlisle Edmund Law officiating. The Curate of Ravenstonedale, Robert Mounsey was his patron. A year later, on the 13th September 1778 he had evidently moved to Cheshire, he was licensed and ordained by the Bishop of Chester, Porteous Belby, his patron was Thomas Burroughs, the Rector of Pulford. Pulford is south of Chester, close to the Welsh border. I wonder if Agnes may have gone to stay with her son and died at Pulford? it is worth investigating. There were actually two William Adamthwaites on the Clergy database. The second entry was dated 1805 - 6. It was much less detailed, the only information given was that this William was ordained deacon and then priest at York. It seems very likely however that William followed his father into the priesthood.

MUKER IN THE 17TH & 18TH CENTURIES

Judging from the names of its main townships, Kisdon, or Keisden,  Oxhoppe or Oxnop, Thwaite, Angram, Keld and Birkdale. Muker was originally a Viking settlement. It is surrounded by hills and must have been very isolated until recent times. Lord Wharton received the Manor of Muker from Henry VIII in 1544, it was held by the Wharton family for 200 years. Between 1560 and 1564 The Swaledale tenants had to bring an action to safeguard their rights. This successful action was led by 6 yeomen Jeffereye Metcalffe amongst them. As these articles are typical of the Tenant Rights and Customs of West Yorkshire and Westmorland they have been reproduced in the appendix. Also reproduced from a book about Muker by Edmund Cooper, published in 1948 are 2 lists, The Holders of Tenements and Lands in the Manor of Muker in 1538 and also in 1618. These two lists can also be seen in the appendix. There are 8 Metcalfes in the 1538 list, chiefly based in Muker itself, 15 in the 1618 list, again the majority in Muker, though there are 3 at Oxnop and 1 at Thwaite. Later in the 17th Century and in the 18th century it can be seen from the parish registers  that the Metcalfes are represented in all the townships, Gunnerside, by the River Swale and East of Muker  was particularly popular. Forenames were unvarying, at least until 1800. For the men James, William, John, Ralph, Christopher, George, Richard and Anthony were the most popular, with a sprinkling of Alexanders, Jeffrays, Leonards, Edwards and Symonds. The most common names for women were Elizabeth, Mary, Margret, Agnes, Alice, Eleanor, Jane and Hannah.

The church of St Mary the Virgin was founded in 1580 as a chapel of ease for the parish of Grinton. The registers begin in 1638 and they are quite clear until about 1665, sometimes even giving the place of abode, they are missing however, until 1700. Bishop’s Transcripts commence in 1679, but after 1688 they do not give the place of abode. The registers are fairly continuous after 1700 but the B.T. marriage register only gives the groom’s name until about 1716. I have appended a table showing every entry for Agnes Metcalfe between 1700 and 1800, including wives and widows, as there were occasions when Metcalfes intermarried. So far I have not found any entry for an Agnes Adamthwaite or Agnes Tarlton

Metcalfes have been involved with matters relating to Muker on several occasions. A case called The Hollow Mill Cross Murder was tried before Sir Joseph Cradock and James Metcalfe at York Castle in 1666. Two years earlier a stocking buyer called Smith was murdered at Hollow Mill Cross. Suspicion fell on a Westmorland miner called Hutchinson; he in turn accused James Alderson and his two sons, with whom Smith had spent the night previous to the murder. A petition was drawn up in defence of the Aldersons signed by 106 people; amongst them were the names of 33 Aldersons, 18 Milners, 11 Harkers and 7 Metcalfes.

In 1678 Anthony Metcalfe left 12 acres of land at Whitaside in his will to endow a grammar school at Muker. The ministers of the chapelry frequently acted as master of the school. Although it generated only a small income the school continued until it was enlarged and became a National School in 1870. It continues, as far as I know, until the present day.

John Metcalfe signed the register as church warden for the year March 1697 - March 1698.

A poor – house seems to have been in existence early in the 18th Century. An old account book still exists dated 1743 – 1745. James Metcalfe was the Master of the Workhouse at a salary of £1 per annum. From his accounts for July 13th 1743 we learn that Layzers Metcalfe supplied 1lb of butter costing 41/2d, James Metcalfe some beef at 9d, James Metcalfe coal at 1s. In May 1743 James Metcalfe supplied wort, price 3d; James Metcalfe supplied milk at 41/2d and coal as before. I wonder if he himself was the supplier, or another James, or even several. James was a common Metcalfe forename.

Farming was the principal occupation until the second half of the 18th Century when lead mining predominated. However, by the end of the 19th Century the industry had died out

ANTHONY METCALFE'S FATHER

Who then was Anthony's father? Until fairly recently it had been thought that he was of Nappa Hall descent. In fact there is a book entitled, “Family Notes and Reminiscences", by Mary A. Metcalfe Gibson, published in Kendal in 1899 which has several allusions to the Nappa Hall connection. In particular there is a description of the Arms and Crest of the Metcalfe family which was inscribed on the tombstone of Frances Metcalfe, who was the second daughter of Anthony Metcalfe of Park House Ravenstonedale. She died on November 18th 1880, aged 59, and was interred at St Peter's Church, Halliwell, Bolton le Moors. But the Anthony in question was born at a different time, so the dates did not fit.

The Reverend Robert Weston Metcalfe, Vicar of Ravenstonedale, and his wife Margaret Wearing Sewart discovered the truth sometime after their marriage in Sedbergh, in 1875 . They investigated their respective family trees and discovered that they were distantly related. Their common ancester was Anthony Robinson. However they discreetly kept this information to themselves, merely hinting at the relationship in a letter which Robert wrote to his brother Edward Parr Metcalfe.

ANTHONY ROBINSON

Anthony Robinson was a blacksmith, who lived at Brownber in 1733. He had already married Elizabeth Wharton in February 1732/3, she had their first child, Anne, in 1733, baptised the 8th of October. This was within a few days of the baptism of Anthony Robinson,s unofficial son, Anthony Metcalfe. Margaret Metcalfe was descended from the legitimate line, the Rev Robert Weston Metcalfe from the illegitimate line. No one would have thanked him for revealing the truth at that time.

The proof of all this can be found in the records of the Westmorland Quarter Sessions held at Michaelmas in 1733. Kendal Record Office has a series of volumes which contain synopses of these records, commencing in 1726 until 1810. The original record is in beautiful handwriting which is perfectly easy to read. Here it is:-

            MEMORANDUM that on the third day of September one thousand seven hundred thirty and three and in the seventh year of the reigne of our Sovereigne Lord King George the second Anthony Robinson of Brownbarr Blacksmith and George Jackson of Dovengill slater and John Robinson of Dovengill yeoman, all in the Parish of Ravenstonedale and county aforesaid personally came before me Robert Lowther esqr one of his majesty's justices of the peace appointed in and for the said county and acknowledged themselves indebted to our Sovereigne Lord the King, namely the abovesaid Anthony Robinson in twenty pound and the abovesaid George Jackson and John Robinson severally in ten pounds of good and lawfull money of Great Brittain separately to be made levied of their goods and chattles land and tenements to the use of our Sovereigne Lord the King,of his heirs and successours, if the aforesaid Anthony Robinson do not perform the condition below writt, the condition of this recognizance is such that whereas the above bounden Anthony Robinson is charged by Agnes Metcalfe of the parish of Ravenstonedale and county of Westmoreland singlewoman, that he had the carnall knowledge of her body at severall times and that the said Agnes Metcalfe is now by child by him the said Anthony Robinson which when born will be a bastard. If therefore the said Anthony Robinson shall personally appear before his majesties justices of the peace at their next general quarter sessions of the peace to be holden at Appleby for the county of Westmoreland then and there to abide and receive what shall be enjoined by the said court concerning the premisses and in the meantime to be of good behaviour that then the condition of this recognizance to be void or else to remain in full power force and virtue.

                                                                                                            Rob: Lowther

Some scribbled writing under is difficult to read but appears to make a note that he will appear in "sessions next after this".

What I believe it means is that Anthony Robinson, together with a relative  and a friend, had to pledge  forty pounds to the court as a bond or surety that he would appear at the next Quarter Sessions and abide by the conditions imposed upon him. By this time the baby would have been born. However if it had died, or been stillborn, presumably, no further action would be taken.

I could find no further reference to this in the next session, but this will have to be rechecked as I was in haste.

Anthony Robinson (1707 - 1783) was the son of John Robinson, born 1665, and Anne Alderson. He received £10.00 in the will of his great uncle Anthony, paraphrased below.

The will of Anthony Robinson March 7 1710

Anthony Robinson of Ravenstonedale, yeoman; to his nephew John Robinson 20 shillings yearly for life at midsummer, £10 at 6 months and £10 at 2 years after my decease “and if my said nephew J.R. be not content with what I have herein given him but give disturbance or trouble my executors ….then he shall have no benefit.” Ralph Robinson and John Robinson sons of my nephew the tenant right estate at Dovingill in Ravenstonedale, equally divided, and “the cupboard great table and dishbench almery and 4 bedsteads or bedstocks.” William, Ralph, John, Oswald, ANTHONY and Jennett Robinson, children of my nephew John Robinson £10 each; to John Perkin my servant his messuage, etc. at Wandale in Ravenstonedale of 3 shillings ancient rent conditionally on allowing his father and mother to have the mean profits for 3 years; to my servants Isabell Perkin £15, Mary Perkin £6: to Henry Perkin and his sister Margarett Perkin £4 each. To Isabell Pears 10 shillings, to Margaret wife of Mathew Breaks £15, and to Maudlin and Ann Breaks £5 equally betwixt them. To James Townson 10 shillings and to his two daughters Isabell and Elianor £5 equally betwixt them. To George Townson 10 shillings, Isabell Knewstubb 50 shillings, Margaret Adamthwaite  5 shillings, George Thornburrow of Longdale £3, Wm Shaw of Mallerstang 3 shillings. Poor of Ravenstonedale £5 to be added to the poor stock.

Executors Ralph Alderson of Narthwaite, Gilbert ffawcett, John Perkin all of Ravenstonedale and George Thornburrow of Longdale who are to share the residue equally and to manage what I have given to my nephew’s children till they are 21 or married. Dovengill to be let at once and profits put to interest for Ralph and John Robinson or to spend on their education; the two £10 I have given them to be employed for their fines when they are admitted tenants of Dovengill. “And I desire them to provide a book and to enter therein all receipts and disbursements,” etc.”and I do authorise Abraham Dent and Godfrey Milner yearly… to examine ye said accounts.”

Witnesses, John Rogerson, Abraham Dent, Anthony ffawcett, John ffawcett.

This transcript of Anthony Robinson’s will was first published, along with other Quaker wills in the CWAAS Transactions of 1929. It was supplied by Kendal Record Office.

Anthony Robinson was the youngest son of John Robinson Senior and the younger brother of John Robinson Junior who inherited Dovengill and who stood surety for Anthony at Appleby Michaelmas Sessions, concerning the bastard of Agnes Metcalfe.

The Executor Ralph Alderson of Narthwaite was either the father or brother of John Robinson Snr.’s wife Anne.

I have recently received some further information about Anthony Robinson the writer of the 1710 Will from Colin Metcalfe margandcol05@yayoo.com

He has discovered from the transcript of St Oswald's registers that Anthony was baptised at Ravenstonedale in 1643, his father was Henery.

In addition a brother named William had been baptised in 1632, also with father Henry.

Brother William married Jennet Waler in 1664 and they had son John in 1665. This John was Anthony's nephew and a bit of a trouble maker in the eyes of his uncle, so although he received money the property of Dovengill went to his (John's ) sons - Ralph and John, the latter being the father of 'our' Anthony Robinson. 

It should be mentioned that 'an Anthony Robinson' was buried at Ravenstonedale in 1644 but as three other Anthony R's lived at Ravenstone during this period it was more likely to be one of them(!)

In addition Colin has discovered an ebook "Friend William Edmundson". He was a prominent Quaker of the period, having been born in Westmorland, fought with the parliamentary army and was involved with George Fox. He made an account of a journey that he undertook which brought him to Ravenstonedale and thence to Sedbergh, Little Musgrove, (where he was born, )Appleby and Strickland Head "Here Anthony Robinson came to us, he being newy arrived from Ireland."  Later the account mentions that they rode on into Yorkshire accompanied by Thomas Pearce and Anthony Robinson. There is no proof that this is 'our' Anthony Robinson' but again, it is likely.

Dovengill was the Meeting House for Quakers in Ravenstonedale and the surrounding area at that time. I believe that there had always been more than one dwelling there. Today Dovengill itself is a ruin but just up the road there is another house which was extended in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, nearby is an old barn which may once have been a dwelling. This house is still inhabited and there are datestones which may be worth investigating.

Anthony Robinson and his wife Elizabeth Wharton had ten children altogether. He died at Garshill in 1783, aged 76, a pauper.           

There has always been speculation concerning the origins of Anthony Metcalfe. One interesting recollection is contained in a letter from Mary Fothergill to Rupert Metcalfe - Gibson. It is simply headed, "Brownber, January 20th 1921". Mary Fothergill's mother was Eleanor Metcalfe, who was the grand daughter of the first Anthony. They would not have known one another however, as Anthony died in 1798 and Eleanor was not born until 1823.

Here is the relevant part of the letter. "My mother knew nothing of Anthony Metcalfe beyond his coming from Yorkshire and being educated at the Ravenstonedale Grammar School and marrying Mary Fothergill youngest daughter of Anthony the author who was not suited with the wedding as he had intended her to take a wealthy, blind doctor of Newcastle who had made her an offer, but she preferred the handsome impecunious young militia man."

The Fothergills were an extremely prominent family in Ravenstonedale. Members of the tribe were well represented in most of the villages of South Westmorland, also Sedbergh and its environs. The Rev. John Breay in his study of land tenure and religious dissent, “Light in the Dales” postulated that the Fothergills originated from Southwaite in Mallerstang. There is more information concerning the Fothergill Family in a separate account.

 Rev. Breay sought to link the famous Quaker family of Fothergills at Carr End Wensleydale with the Metcalfes of Countersett, in the parish of Askrigg. His contention was based on the general practise in the dales at that time of calling an eldest son after a grandparent. John Fothergill senior was established at Carr End, which was in the parish of Aysgarth, by 1667, by this time he was a Quaker. The parish registers for this period are unfortunately lost. His only son was called Alexander. The name may have come via the Birkbeck family of Mallerstang or, if John Fothergill’s wife was a Metcalfe, related to Alexander Metcalfe, Senior or Junior, of Countersett. Rev. Breay favours the latter for the following reasons:-

John Fothergill made his will in 1683 and empowered his son Alexander to nominate 1 or more to administer his estate. The letters of Administration dated 22 May 1684 are signed by Alexander Fothergill and Alexander Metcalfe. (West Yks Archives, Leeds District Archives.)

If Carr End had originally been a Metcalfe farm Alexander Metcalfe may have been an uncle or cousin.

When Alexander Fothergill and Ann Langton were married at Brigflats on 8.1.1673/4 amongst the immediate family witnesses were Thomas and Alexander Metcalfe. Among the secondary witnesses were John and Francis Blaykling. (Journal of Friends Hist. Soc. Vol 33 1936 P. 68.)

When Alexander Fothergill made his will in 1695 he committed the guardianship of his son John “to my cozen James Metcalfe of Countersett.” (W. Yks Archives, Leeds.)

Alexander Metcalfe of Countersett married Margaret Langton of Height of Winder in the house of Francis Blaykling at Height of Winder 3rd May 1684. (Q.S. PRO RG6/1246)

ANTHONY AND MARY METCALFE

Anthony and Mary Fothergill were married by license on February 16th 1757. He had evidently moved from Brownber and was "of Adamthwaite". Mary was "of Newbegin" which was a property her father Anthony had bought from his father in law, Christopher Todd in 1723. (Kendal Record Office WDX 94 No 11.)

Militia Lists for this period have not survived, so it is impossible to verify the militia man story. Anthony Metcalfe's son, Anthony was in the militia. His uniform has been donated by the Metcalfe - Gibson family to Carlisle Museum, where it is on display. The family rift between Anthony Fothergill and Anthony and Mary Metcalfe may have been permanent however, despite the fact that they called their first son Fothergill. Mary Metcalfe's epitaph reads:-

                        1786

            Here lies a wife

            Mary Metcalfe

            Where I was born or when

            It matters not

            To whom related

            Or by whom begot.

Her grave lies close to the porch on the North side.

Religion could also have caused antagonism. Anthony and Margaret Fothergill were Presbyterian Dissenters and had all their children baptised in the Presbyterian chapel. Without the benefit of a university education, Anthony had never the less published several religious works which were intended to be thought provoking, he also wrote poetry. Edward Parr Metcalfe copied out some of his satirical verses on the building of Ravenstonedale Church, The original of which was in the hands of Th. J. Fawcett of Sedbergh. It is dated December 2nd 1857. There is also an entry concerning him in the Dictionary of National Biography. Anthony and Mary Metcalfe had their children baptised in the parish church, Saint Oswald's.

There was an age gap of 27 years between Mary's eldest brother, Thomas, who was born to Anthony Fothergill's first wife, Sarah Pinder in 1708, and Mary herself, who was born in 1735. 13 years separated her from her nearest sibling, Ruth.  Her mother Margaret died when she was only 4. Anthony Fothergill died in 1761. I have been unable to find a will.

There may be a Quaker connection with Sarah Pinder. At least one branch of the Pinder family were prominent Quakers. There is a receipt that was dated 7.11.1689 in the CRO Kendal by Anthony Pinder of Parrackmoor on behalf of John Pinder who was on a missionary journey to Maryland U.S.A. The receipt was part of the Metcalfe – Gibson M.S.S.

BROWNBER

Brownber was not just one farm; it was like a hamlet, with several farms, a blacksmith's shop, and various dwellings. The main house was substantial. Today it is a nursing home. In 1736/7 the estate was divided. (KRO, Recital, WDX 94. No 30.)

1 parcel went to John Fothergill

1 parcel went to Thomas Fothergill junior of Brownber

1 parcel went to Anthony Fothergill of Brownber

1 parcel went to William Fothergill of Kendal

1 parcel went to George Robinson of Tranmoor, Ravenstonedale

1 parcel went to Ann Whitehead and husband William of the parish of Great Ormside. I have yet to establish what the relationship was between these people, or whether George Robinson was related to Anthony Robinson, the father of Anthony Metcalfe. At some point Anthony Metcalfe moved back to Brownber, as that is where he died. His youngest son Anthony (ii) also farmed there until he moved to Park House in 1818.

THE CHILDREN OF ANTHONY AND MARY METCALFE

The two sons of Anthony and Mary who are well documented at present are James, who was baptised at Ravenstonedale on December 31st 1759, and Anthony who was baptised there on February 8th 1765. The eldest, Fothergill, who was baptised on January 18th 1758, was buried on December 13th 1783, aged 25. An index of army records to be found at Kendal Record Office refers to a book of miscellaneous records concerning Ravenstonedale, (WDX 94 No.?) which gives a list of all the inhabitants of Ravenstonedale between the ages of eighteen and forty five. There is no date, just a note, "This list is to be returned on Saturday the 23rd of October, all persons who think themselves aggrieved may then appeal and that no appeal will afterwards be received." It is unsigned. In the synopsis is written c1880, and in brackets someone has written 1779. There are just three Metcalfe names, Anthony, James and John, no Fothergill, so the date could be after his death in Dec. 1783.

WILLIAM METCALFE

Anthony and Mary Metcalfe were also supposed to have had a fourth son, William. There is no baptismal record at St. Oswald's concerning him and presently no mention in the IGI for that period in either Westmorland or Yorkshire. He was supposed to have married a Miss Fisher of Kendal but there is no evidence for that either at the moment. However there survives a letter, written by Anthony Metcalfe II to his brother James, parts of which are sufficiently interesting to reproduce here.

            To James Metcalfe   No 1, Pall Mall.  Liverpool.

                                                                                    Brownber Feby 26 1817.

Brother James,

                        At last I have made out that my br. William is dead.

Ld. Lowther has taken a deal of trouble; I suppose he has made a demand from the French Government. In his letter to me are the folling words { I find about two years ago that your Brother died at Chantilly - he left a son who is a cotton manifactuer - and whom sometime since married the daughter of a French General he still lives in Chantilly} Since the above I have recd. a letter from Sharnal, not knowing wheather we were living or dead, he says nothing of the death of his father. -I suppose he will have informed me of it in some former letter, as he says he has wrote to me several times but recd. no answer. His whole letter is full of his great wedding - and great it appears to me to be - her name is {Mademoiselly Ursule Denisa de Geney} older daughter of Baron de Geney Lieut General in his Majesty's Army, Knight of the Royal Order of Saint Louis, Knight Commander of the Royal Order of the Legion of Honr. - I shall give you directions to Sharnal, who says he will be at Brownber this summer - he is Br William in all respects - and may wish to show himself a great man - amongst some persons in this neighbourhood that troad a little upon his toes - he allways tauld them when 10 years old - you will not behave so bad to me when I come from France as I am sirton I shall be a gentleman.

            It appears that Sharnall has taken the name of de Geney -

                        Monsieur S(??) Metcalfe de Geney,

                                                Chantilly,

                                                            Dept. d'Oise,  France.

The prospecttive Glas (eyeglass / telescope?) you mention may --------  useful to me, if it be none to you, I perhaps see a porcher (poacher?) shouking from Hagg to Little Fell is about 3 miles - and may save me miles in a year.

            I have wrote to Sharnall and expects his answer in a few days - he says nothing about the box you have.

                                                                        Am your well wishing

            If he wants it                                                     Brother  A. Metcalfe

            let him fetch it.

It is clear that William Metcalfe existed, but was he blood brother to James and Anthony? In the above letter one gets the impression that William was closer to Anthony than to James and I wondered if he could have been a brother in law, related to Anthony's wife Frances Wilson. But in that case Sharnall would not have retained the name Metcalfe when he added de Geney. I also wondered whether it was possible that Anthony Metcalfe remarried after Mary's death in 1786, but even if he had, there was insufficient time to produce two adult generations. It is possible that Anthony and Mary returned to the Presbyterian faith and had William baptised at the chapel, they could even have become Quakers. This will have to be investigated. It is also possible that William was a cousin, brought up closely with Anthony, who regarded him as a brother. He is not listed with the inhabitants of Ravenstonedale between the ages of eighteen and forty five, so perhaps he had already gone to France

ANTHONY METCALFE 1765 - 1844.

Although Anthony Metcalfe was the youngest of Anthony and Mary's four sons, in the absence of his brothers he did in practise take on the mantle of head of the family. He continued farming at Brownber, Ravenstonedale after his father's death and then moved to Park House in 1818. There are one or two stories about him in Revd W. Nicholls "History and Traditions of Ravenstonedale, Westmorland." which suggest that he was a shrewd and capable farmer who built up a reputable dairy herd which may well have laid the foundations for his son, Anthony Metcalfe III' s,  famous herd of Shorthorns. 

He married Francis Wilson of Crosby Ravensworth in 1815. It was through her that his family became connected with Richard Gibson; eventually Anthony took his name and inherited his considerable fortune which he had made as a corn merchant in Liverpool. Anthony and Francis had five children, Anthony, born 1817, was the only son. Mary, born 1815, and Francis, born 1820, did not marry. Elizabeth, born 1822, married John Smith of Bolton, Lancashire. The youngest, Eleanor, born 1823, married John Fothergill of Ravenstonedale. Anthony's wife Frances died in 1827.                                                                         

JAMES METCALFE 1759 -

At present it is not known why James Metcalfe left Ravenstonedale in Westmorland. He was there in the early 1780's when he was listed as one of the (male) inhabitants between the ages of 18 and 25. The next   known fact is that he had married Ann Parr. Their first son Anthony was baptised on the 28th October 1792. There was then a gap until 1797 when their daughter Mary was baptised. Their second son Edward Parr Metcalfe was baptised  on the 20th January 1799 at St. Peter's Church, Liverpool. This entry could give us information as to where they lived and what James did for a living. Another son, James, was baptised on the 27th February 1800. There may also have been two daughters; both called Elizabeth, born in 1803 and 1807.

So far there is very little information concerning Ann Parr except that she was born in 1761. Her grandson, Edward Parr Metcalfe (II) was convinced that she was connected to the family of Queen Katherine Parr, but on what he based his evidence is not known.

Whatever James did in the intervening years, ultimately he did not prosper as well as his younger brother Anthony, who remained in Ravenstonedale as a farmer. There is a letter in the possession of Joan Gribbon, which, it is believed, was from Lord Lowther's agent in Westmorland, confirming his appointment as a tidewaiter, or customs official. It is short, and can therefore be reproduced in its entirety. It is wrongly addressed to Mr. John Metcalfe.

                                                                                                Storr's Hall,

                                                                                                            24 Novemb 1816.

            Mr. John Metcalf,

                                                            Sir,

            I have the pleasure to inform you, I have at last obtained for you, the office of Tidewaiter; and I have no doubt your commission will be sent down to Liverpool in a few days;

            I trust you will do credit to my recommendation; & wishing you your health to enjoy the appointment.

                                                            I am Sir

                                                                        Your hble servant

                                                                                    J.Bolton.

            James Metcalfe would then have been about 56 years old.           In another part of the letter concerning brother William, dated February 26th 1817 and addressed Brownber, we can see that James' brother Anthony was probably instrumental in getting him the appointment.

This is part of the letter.

"I was glad to be informed by your sister that you were fixed in your activation in the customs. There will be some chance for preferment - had you lived in Cumberland, or Westmorland you might abeen raised at any vacancy - but Liverpool is out of the way of the great power of my friends but some plan will be found to make you more comfortable - in a few ..... (hole in paper.) I shall write to Lord L. with Mr B. .... wh.....atel your sallery £200 pr year.        

            Supposing you were engaged every day th ...........

                                                            Am your well wishing brother

                                                                        A. Metcalfe."

It is clear from the letters which still exist that there was an affectionate interchange of letters and visits between the Metcalfe family in Liverpool and the Metcalfe family in Ravenstonedale. James' son Edward poured out the story of his elopement in a long letter to his uncle Anthony in Ravenstonedale, dated October 12th 1825. Written across this letter was another, dated a week later, in which he writes:-

            "My father wishes me once more to press you and father in law to come here this back end provided my aunt's health will permit it - when he (my father) will be enabled to go to Westmorland 'tis difficult to say, as they are so very particular in the Customhouse, he has now been one month and upward upon a vessel from the East Indies & has only been home about 4 times and only been able to stop 1\2 an hour each time - whenever a ship comes in of great trust he's almost sure to be sent to her which gives him a deal of extra trouble without having extra pay."

James would by then have been 65 years old.

In March 1827 Edward thanked his uncle for his last letter "which was received in a keg of butter," commiserated with him because he had had to sell off stock due to a shortage of hay and again passed on his father's invitation to visit the Liverpool family in the spring. In the event, Frances, Anthony Metcalfe's wife, died on the 25th April 1827.

James Metcalfe died at some time between then and 1831. This is what Edward wrote to his uncle about his father and mother.

            " You will in some measure be acquainted with the cause of my not writing to you before now by the newspaper which I sent you and which announced the death of my mother, a change which she had long and ardently wished for ever since the melancholy death of my father; she died with my sister at Walton after having been confined several weeks to her bed; she left us when she found herself getting worse, having a great wish to die with my sister, and took to her bed almost immediately afterwards - she retained her faculties to the last, and died resigned to the will of the Almighty, with full hope of a happy resurrection and in the 71st year of her age.

            Throughout the whole of my mother's life she always had a great desire to survive my father, she felt, as she had been his protector through life, that should it please the Almighty to take her first my father's loss would be too great for him to bear, as he would have been reduced to great misery through despair and would never have looked up after it - my mother was a woman of great natural endowments - high spirited, possessed of a mind capable of enduring great affliction, of which she was never free from, her attachment to my father and her family is almost without example; her personal sacrifices were great for the welfare of her children, she cared not what she endured if her family was benefited - to her we owe almost everything - for what is a family without an attentive and industrious mother? I trust we will receive instruction from the good examples we had from both father and mother bearing always in mind the honesty and uprightness of the former and the true religion and piety of the latter;"

Whatever James' shortcomings, he must have ensured that his sons received a good education, all appeared to do well. In Edward's letter dated October 17th 1825, he mentions that James was very comfortably situated, and Anthony was thinking of beginning business in Spring. Edward himself was in business as a printer.

I have written about the Liverpool branch of the family in an article published in the April 2007 edition of the Mecca News which is the journal of The Metcalfe Society, entitled From Ravenstonedale to Lancashire.

James went back to Westmorland to find a wife; he married Elizabeth Winder at Orton on the 30th May 1834. There is no record of any offspring. As has already been recorded Mary married William Butcher and lived at Walton. In Robert Weston Metcalfe's letter to his father, dated 1842 he mentioned how particularly delighted his Uncle William would be when he learnt that Robert had been promoted into a higher class to learn the uses of science. "For he told me that every boy should get knowledge of science at school and he hoped that I would pay attention to what my teacher said on the subject." There is no record of any children from the marriage, but a James Butcher is mentioned twice in the correspondence. Once in 1839, disparagingly, by Anne Gorst when she wrote to her daughter Martha Kaye Metcalfe  "...however I hope you will come and reside here, it is and will be for your benefit, and receive the rents yourself and not let a youth like James Butcher meddle with it. The second time was when Martha Metcalfe arranged for James Butcher to deliver the money for her brother Thomas.

EDWARD PARR METCALFE 1799 - 1867.

Edward Metcalfe was baptised in Saint Peter's Church Liverpool. He was the second son of four children born to James and Ann Metcalfe. In 1817 the family were living at No. 1, Pall Mall. According to Pigot & Co.'s Directory of Cumberland, Lancashire and Westmorland of 1828 - 9 he was a printer at Lord Street Chambers. He gave Lord Streetas his address when writing to his Uncle Anthony in Westmorland.

MARTHA KAYE METCALFE  1809 - 1867

Edward married MARTHA KAYE GORST in 1825. She was probably born on the 13th April 1809, and baptised on the 14th May 1810 at Liverpool Brunswick Chapel, Moss Street Wesleyan. She must have been barely sixteen when they eloped. There are two very descriptive letters concerning this elopement, one written by Edward himself to his Uncle Anthony in Ravenstonedale, the other written by his friend Charles Critchley.

ROBERT WESTON

Martha was a minor heiress; she had lived for most of her life in Cheshire with her grandfather, Robert Weston, who had since died. According to Aunt Waddingham, who was the daughter of Martha Kaye’s brother Thomas Lowe Gorst, and whose “Family Recollections” were written down by a nephew, Robert Weston had married Anne Lowe whose mother was Miss French from Kent whose father was a builder, and also, according to Aunt Waddingham, had given his name to French Windows. Robert Weston and his wife had had three daughters, only one of whom, Anne, had survived. His will was dated 2nd May 1821 and although I have only seen a synopsis, (I now have a copy of the will which is extremely long winded.) It would appear that he had left his house in

In his letter to his uncle he wrote, "I believe my father told you of her expectancy - if she pleases she can sell her interest in her property when she's 21 for 3000 and have her income which she has now till she's 30 - but its better to wait the time and have 300 a year - she's likely for life - if she was delicate it might perhaps be advisable - the property's made to her and children -." Of Martha's grandfather, Robert Weston, he wrote, "- till lately I thought (he) was a man of a most unforgiving disposition, in consequence of him making the whole of his property over by will, to Martha, but I believe he was perfectly justifiable, for if he had not left the property to her I believe 'ere this a good portion of it would have disappeared."

THE ELOPEMENT     

Edward laid his plans carefully. He received advice concerning the legality of his marriage from a lawyer friend, P. Gandy, who had his office in the same chambers as Edward had his printing business.

He chose the most obscure and private of the churches in the parish, the banns were published unnoticed. Unfortunately he did not actually state which church it was, and it is only recently that the staff at Liverpool record office have finally tracked it down. It was St Michael's Toxteth.

He booked the service for 9.30am and arranged a rendezvous to meet Martha, "disguised in dress," and his two friends, Charles Critchley and a friend of his called Thomas Whittingham, who were to act as witnesses. I imagine that the meeting place would not have been far from Martha's home. (In a methodist hymnal which belonged to Martha and her sister Anne, now in the possession of Margaret Pounce, there is an address,

From the letter which Charles Critchley wrote to his friend, Edward, the following day, we find out what happened when Martha was missed.

"Mr. and Mrs. G. were at your house as early as ten minutes past nine yesterday morning enquiring for you and when told that you were gone out and would not be in until evening he immediately ran down to the office and almost breathless asked the Boy where you were gone! "Out of town," was the reply. "The bugger I'll out of town him." From thence they returned to your house and used the most gross and insulting language to your mother, and Mrs. G. forced her way upstairs to look for Martha's clothes - stating that you were a scoundrel, villain and fifty other such epithets - and had robbed the house . That a coach was seen in the neighbourhood at two o'clock that morning by which means you had eloped with her daughter. They have also been at Walton and abused your sister in the same extreme of BlackGuardism. Mr. G. even daring to challenge your brother in law to a combat which William would have accepted but for the persuasions of Mrs Shaw and other neighbours. But I cannot pretend to particularise the whole of the transactions as it took your mother an hour to relate what had occured in her presence - therefore it will be sufficient to say it far exceeds our utmost anticipations as regards brutality and violence."

.......The letter goes on, "Your mother as well as myself think it decidedly incumbent for Mrs. M. (Martha) to remain where she is until the storm subsides for vengeance upon her and revenge upon you are solemnly avowed.

Your father and mother are quite invigorated and have withstood the torrent of slander and misrepresentation wonderfully - for my own part I am very dull (but that you observed) because I have not been attacked by the revolutionists." He does say at the beginning of the letter however, that he has a black eye "as a remembrance,” but he does not say how he got it.

Edward went on to relate how, after they were married, they headed North towards the North Shore Coffee House. On the way they were stopped by a stranger, they anticipated a scuffle but Edward's friend Charles Critchley managed to hide Martha and the stranger went on towards the church they had just left. They were to see him again, heading towards the coffee house, but they were not hindered. Eventually they all caught the steam packet to Runcorn, where Charles and his friend left them. Edward and Martha went on to Manchester where they stayed for a fortnight at

LETTERS FROM ANNE GORST AND MARTHA METCALFE.

The cause of the bitterness between Martha and Edward, and Martha's family was Martha's inheritance from her grandfather, Robert Weston, who was her mother, Anne Gorst's, father. Anne Gorst's view was that Martha should have been prepared to share it with her family. Martha, who was probably strongly influenced by Edward, said that if it had not come to her it would have been lost to the family completely, and implied that it would have been squandered through her family's improvidence.

Joan Gribbon has given me copies of two letters which illuminate the dispute very interestingly. One was written by Anne Gorst to her daughter, Martha Metcalfe, addressed Liverpool, and dated May 31st 1839. The other was the draft of a letter written by Martha Metcalfe to her sister Anne, it is undated and there was no address.

ANNE GORST'S LETTER TO HER DAUGHTER MARTHA DATED 1839

Anne Gorst's letter runs to four long pages, it is an impassioned outpouring, full of indignation and self justification. The date is significant, as 1839 was the year when Martha became 30 and gained control of her inheritance, it is likely that the 13th April was her actual birthday. Anne Gorst wrote, "I fully expected a letter from you as soon as possible after 13th of April offering me some portion of the estate from a rentall of 300 pounds pr annum. All my friends and yours thought you could not think of offering for your life less than one hundred to your mother to whom all belongs. I did not expect so much generosity, these three houses adjoining to our own house would suffice me and I do expect them. Your repeated promises of making us Comfortable Demand them."  Anne Gorst had inherited her father's house in Duncan Street St. James, together with the contents, so this is probably the house to which she refers.

There was no reference to her husband, Thomas Gorst, so she may, by now, have become a widow, with young children still living at home. There was one daughter, Eliza, who was older than Martha. A son, Thomas, who may already have married, but appeared to need fairly regular support. There were also four more daughters who may all have been alive and living at home. She mentioned that Eliza was "going to trade," even though Edward had made her some kind of offer. In another letter to Martha dated 1846 she wrote that "Margaret is never very well," and she was apprehensive that Thomas had consumption.

In the 1839 letter she presented a piteous picture of  poverty:- " Our income is very small and often uncertain which causes many privations. I have been six years past not able to attend to any place of worship. My family have eaten potatoes ... three and four times a day for many weeks together. We have not tasted butter for three months at once. We have been nine months and not once tasted butcher's meat. I was brought nearly to the grave but God has raised me up and strengthened me for the sake of my family."

The main thrust of her indignation is directed at Edward. She wrote bitterly, "If Edward had even earned the whole he could not have behaved with more selfishness, with regard to his father’s debts they were never my concern..."

"I suppose it grieves Edward to see me so healthy. He tells me I have sold the furniture that there is nothing in the house. You know very well that we brought three carts loaded besides a great deal carried. Many since that time are worn out and have been replaced. Many your grandfather sold. What I sold in Harrington were the last that was sold but they was all my own before you was born three years. Neither the furniture nor James Hamilton's will had any business in your Grandfather's will...." There follows a rather involved argument concerning £300 which she claimed that James Hamilton wanted her to have and ended rather intriguingly, "... but James dieing abroad and having left his ship no ...  was ever sent to Liverpool so that his share and papers respecting his adventure ... out has never come to hand."

She wrote that Edward had accused her of robbing the estate of a hundred pounds, that she also owed a further £38 and had wrongly received Herbert's and Mrs Beard's rent. (These could be the rents for the houses adjacent to her own.) She goes on, "I dare say Critchley (could this be Charles Critchley?) that defrauded the estate of £80 was not insulted as your mother was by one that is so many hundreds of pounds in debt to their estate and nothing to pay with. My money passing through your hands must of course pay them for him. It would become him better to work at his Business to support his family than live as an independent man and none working to support him. I had always a better opinion of him but Pride seems to overcome him."

Anne Gorst's letter of 1846 was mainly a long pious homily intended to comfort Martha for the loss of the first Robert Weston Metcalfe. She wrote revealingly, "Your sister Margaret informs me that he was the nicest child you had." which seems to indicate that although Anne's children may have been welcome in Westmorland, she herself was not. She also commented that she was very grieved to hear that Martha was going to take her eldest daughter Martha to the theatre.

A LETTER FROM MARTHA METCALFE TO HER MOTHER ANNE

The undated draft of a letter which Martha Metcalfe wrote to her sister Anne, concerning Thomas, has a crisp businesslike tone. It transpires that Thomas had had cholera and was, once more, unfit to work. Martha was arranging to leave money for him via James Butcher who seems to have acted as their agent in Liverpool. It is not clear from my copy of the letter whether she had given £20 or 20 shillings. She has this to say about Thomas and his wife Elizabeth (nee McIver.)  

"I have had a good deal like yourself and Eliza to do with Thomas since his marriage and I think in no instance can he say that I ever refused assisting him. I have given him money several times to commence with for himself but somehow or another it has never lasted long and I am sure from what Edward (.....) that he is no drinker, nor is his wife given to habits of that kind, but there is certainly a want of thriftyness somewhere, or something would be put by for a day of adversity. I am of your opinion that Thomas is now without a shilling - he informed me that he had 28 per week, that he always made full time - if he had to wait a little in the commencement of a week he made it up by overtime before the end and that if he did not get all his wages on the Saturday night that it was still given to him -that his master was never a full week behind. If Thomas's wages were husbanded in a careful way he should never be without a few pounds. Elizabeth applied to me when in Liverpool to let her have money to enable her to take a larger house and open a shop, so they would not be entirely dependent upon Thomas's wages. I, without any hesitation refused to comply, for if she cannot out of 28 or say 25 per week, save something towards it herself I should have a poor opinion of her succeeding."

Twice in the letter she alludes to the prejudice existing against her in the family, in respect of her grandfather's will. She reminded Anne that if it had not come to her it would have gone out of the family completely. She relates, "At my grandfather's death I was not likely for living - had I died his property would have gone out of the family - indeed I well remember when the window blinds were not drawn up as early as usual there was rejoicing by the party who was to succeed me in the will, who conceived, no doubt, that I had made a place for them."

She also minimised the amount which was left. "Had it (meaning the property,) been sold at his death then there would only have been a small sum left after paying all demands, you may think so when I tell you that after being in the hands of an executor for nearly 17 years there is not £300 accumulated which will be divided at my death, provided I survive my mother, between 7 children. And this will most likely be nearly all from my grandfather's property - for in twelve or 14 years nearly all the leases will have expired, and the other property if it be then as now, will bring in very little indeed. Cavendish Street and Maguire streetdo very little scarcely keeping themselves, both neighbourhoods being entirely filled with the lowest Irish. The expenses of sewerage and continually cleaning under the directions of the board of health is really greater than the rents and if we could be sure of them taking no harm, they would be better shut up entirely for the present."

When Martha mentioned an executor I presume she referred to the Trustees. Robert Weston appointed three, John Robinson, the younger, gentleman, James Hoods Tanner and Thomas Kaye, stationer and printer who had premises in Castle Street. The latter may have been a relation after whom Martha was named - Martha KAYE Gorst. He could also, because of his trade as a printer, have been the means by which Edward met Martha.

WESTMORLAND      

Even at the time of his marriage Edward mentioned to his uncle their plan to "end their days in Westmorland." In the same letter of October 12th 1831 in which he wrote about his mother's death he revealed his ideas:-

"We are still of the same opinion of our final settlement in Westmorland, nor are we likely to alter unless it be in going earlier than we first intended, our present intentions are to be with you in less than eighteen months from this period, it all depends on selling my business; should I meet with a good offer about that time I shall take it, but nothing will induce me to sell to a disadvantage, I would rather remain in business till Martha's 30 than do so. Will there not be some difficulty in procuring a small house with a garden, or rather a bit of land for agricultural purposes, say about 2 or 3 acres; I dont mind how small a house it is, or how far from another house, as you must understand I am not houseproud in the country but here you must live in a respectable looking house or you lose your respectability - I should not like it to be so small as a pig - sty, but something neat - I intend to keep a cow, a pig, poultry etc, to grow potatoes and other vegetables, what would the rent of such a house be in Ravenstonedale or as near there as possible."

This letter is simply headed "Liverpool," at present I am not sure where they actually lived. Edward's daughter Martha, my great grandmother, was born about 1830, when they were still living in Lancashire and always put her place of birth for the census returns, as Walton. We know that Edward's sister Mary lived at Walton (on the Hill) with her husband William, so perhaps Edward and his family lived there as well. The parish registers for Walton may tell us.

There is a belief, but no evidence, that Edward and his family lived at the Manor House, Back Lane, Ravenstonedale when he first arrived in Westmorland. This is where Caroline Morris, nee Metcalfe - Gibson now lives. He then moved to Ashfield as a tenant farmer. There is a story told about him in Rev. Nicholl's "History and traditions of Ravenstonedale." It concerns peat moss rights on the fell, which each man had zealously guarded in the past, but by the 1830's they were common to all.

            "Mr. Edward Metcalfe, who had newly come into the parish, had been ordered by his landlord, the Rev. Arthur Gibson, to look after his peat - moss rights. Soon after this he saw John Law, whom he did not know, trespassing, as he deemed it, and asked him for his name, to which he made reply, "My name is Law." The farmer thinking that Law was an assumed name, and an intimation of how he would act if he were disturbed, withdrew."

It is possible that Edward did not sell his business before removing to Ravenstonedale. The evidence for this comes from the first Robert Weston Holme's letter to his father from Ravenstonedale, which implies that his father was somewhere else, possibly Liverpool. There were also hints thrown out in Anne Gorst's letter to her daughter in 1839. Perhaps he had not found a satisfactory purchaser.

MARTHA AND EDWARD METCALFE'S FAMILY.

Martha and Edward had 10 children all told, although three of them died in childhood. ELIZABETH their eldest child was born in 1826 but died when she was four. The next child, MARTHA, was born in 1830. She married the Revd. Thomas Holme when she was 17, in Ravenstonedale. The witnesses were Anthony Metcalfe and Elizabeth Metcalfe who were Martha's first cousins. More information concerning Martha is to be found in the Holme family history. Edward and Martha called their third daughter ELIZABETH after the first. She was born in 1832. She married a schoolmaster, William B. Birch. Below is a photographs of  Elizabeth and one of her husband William with some of the boys in his sshool. He and Elizabeth had two  daughters, Mary Elizabeth, (Cissie) and Eleanor Martha, (Mrs Hill.)

ELIZABETH METCALFE

WILLIAM BOWKER BIRCH WITH SOME OF HIS PUPILS

Edward and Martha's first son, JAMES, was born on January 5th 1833, he followed in his father,s footsteps, eventually becoming a yeoman farmer at Ashfell in Ravenstonedale. He married a local girl, Sarah Hunter. They had nine children,  Edward, born 1864, Jane, born 1865, William, born 1866, Robert, born 1868, (he died in 1809,) James, born 1870, Richard, born 1872, (died 8 months later,) Martha Annie, born 1873  who married someone called Horne, Mary Elizabeth Metcalfe, born 1875 who died in Capetown January 14th 1807. The youngest was Anthony W. Metcalfe who was born in 1879. Joan Gribbon remembers Jane, who, she said, was treated as something of a dogsbody by the rest of the family. I should not be in the least surprised if there are descendants of at least one of James' sons still living in the dale. Joan believes that relations between the Metcalfes and the Metcalfe - Gibsons became somewhat strained some time towards the end of the 19th century due to a disagreement concerning the drains between the Vicarage and Elm Lodge. However that is a long time ago now. James Metcalfe died on the 10th of September 1898. Letters of Administration were given to his wife Sarah, he left £783 16s gross, £705 12s net.      

A second son, ROBERT WESTON METCALFE was born in 1834. He was the first of their children to be baptised in Ravenstonedale, so the move must have been made between 1833 and 1834. He showed great promise as a scholar and there remains a beautifully written letter from Ravenstonedale which he wrote to his father in December 1842 describing his teacher's pleasure in his progress. Sadly he died when he was 12 years old and was buried at Ravenstonedale on the 30th March 1846. There is a list of all the people who were invited to his funeral, the first name was that of Mr. Holme, who was probably Thomas Holme, master at Ravenstonedale grammar school, who later married Robert's elder sister, Martha. Other names included were Anthony Metcalfe, Richard Gibson and Uzzie Robinson who was Anthony Robinson's grandson.

ANNE METCALFE was born two years after Robert Weston, however she only lived until 1838, when their next daughter was born, whom they also called ANNE. She grew up to maturity and married first, Thomas Buck Shaw, and then the Revd. Henry George Day, who was headmaster of Sedbergh School for a short period.

EDWARD PARR METCALFE was born in 1842, he too was gifted academically. He attended Sedbergh School, starting in August 1854, aged 12. He left in October 1861. He was head of school; gained the sixth form and mathematics prize. In 1861 he went on to Christ's College, Cambridge, he gained a B.A. (30th Wrangler) in 1865, second class Classical Tripos 1865; Second class Theological Tripos in 1866;  M.A. in 1868;  He was assistant master at Malvern College from 1868 -1872. He then went out to India, becoming Head of Rajahmundry School and acting Inspector of Schools for the Madras Educational Department from 1872 - 1877. In 1877 he became Pricipal of Rajahmundry College and Fellow of Madras University in 1880. He retired to "Uplands",

MARY METCALFE was baptised at Ravenstonedale on the 27th October 1844. Metcalfe women, given the name of Mary, seem destined not to marry. She may have accompanied her brother Robert to Sussex when he became Head Master at Worthing College, and remained there. She died at her home, No 55, Denmark Villas, Brighton, on the 18th February 1892. Her estate was valued at £2433 gross. She left no will, but her brother Robert was appointed to administer her estate, which presumably was shared between her brothers and sisters.

The youngest son, named after the brother who died was ROBERT WESTON METCALFE, he was born on the 23rd of November 1848 and christened on Christmas Day that year. He entered Sedbergh School in April 1859, left December 1868. First XI 1867, 1868.

The following is his entry in Venn's alumni of Cambridge.

Metcalfe, Robert Weston. Adm. Pens. at St. John's, July 8, 1869. S. of Edward, farmer [and Martha Kaye]. B.[Nov 23, 1848], at Ravenstonedale, Westmorland. Bapt. Dec. 25, 1848. School Sedbergh Matric. Michs. 1869; B.A. 1873; M.A. 1877. Ord. Deacon [Chichester] 1873; Priest 1877. Second Master and Chaplain, Clergy Orphan School, Canterbury, 1873 -4. Head Master of Worthing College, 1874 - 8. Curate of St. George's Worthing, 1877-8. Senior Assistant Master at Richmond School Yorks., 1878 - 80. Inc. of St. Thomas, Ootacamund, Madras, India, 1881 - 84, and Principal of the Collegiate School, Ootacamund, 1880 - 4. Chaplain of  Berar,1884 - 8. Examiner to Madras Uncovenanted Civil Service 1881/85.Vicar of Ravenstonedale, Westmorland, 1888 - 1908. Editor, The Parish Registers of Ravenstonedale. Died Sept 7th, 1908. Brother of Edward P. [1861] Sources Sedbergh Sch Regs.; Crockford.

Robert married Margaret Wearing Sewart, they had two daughters, Annie Constance Metcalfe who was born in 1875, but  died whilst they were in India, aged 7. Her sister, May Weston Metcalfe was born in 1884 and lived until 1971. She married Blakely Rinder Gribbon, an architect, Joan Gribbon was their only daughter.

Robert Weston Metcalfe was a subscriber to the Rev. W. Nicholls History of Ravenstonedale when he was living in Worthing. Thomas Holme's youngest son born in 1867 was named after him. - Robert Weston Metcalfe Holme.

Robert Weston Metcalfe died 7/9/1908.

Edward was buried on the 15th January 1867 in Ravenstonedale churchyard. His wife Martha died within a fortnight on February 1st 1867. The inscription on their tombstone reads, "They were lovely and pleasant in their lives and in their deaths they were not divided." Edward Metcalfe made his will in 1854 when he was still farming at Ashfield, it is a very simple will, and he left everything to his wife Martha. His estate was valued at under £1500. Martha did not have time to make a will, dieing as she did just two weeks after Edward. Letters of administration were granted at Wakefield to "James Metcalfe of Ashfield in the Parish of Ravenstonedale in the county of Westmorland yeoman and Edward Parr Metcalfe of Sedbergh aforesaid Gentleman, two of the natural and lawful children, and two of the next of kin of the said deceased ..." The effects were valued at under £1500, no leaseholds. Sureties were given by the Revd. Henry George Day of Sedbergh who was their son in law and John Robinson of Ashfell, yeoman. I wonder if he was distantly related to Edward?  (Ie Anthony Robinson the natural father of the first Anthony Metcalfe.)

In 1888, my grandmother, Kate Holme was given a Birthday Book by E. Metcalfe Day who was the daughter of Anne Metcalfe. The book contains six Metcalfe names, Jane Metcalfe, M.E.Metcalfe, James Metcalfe, M.A. Metcalfe and R. Metcalfe. These were all her first cousins, the children of James and Sarah Metcalfe of Ravenstonedale.

We are also fortunate that we have been given, by Caroline Morris, photographs of Edward and Martha Metcalfe, together with three of their children, Edward, Mary and Elizabeth.

Birks Mill as it is today.

Edward and Martha Metcalfe ended their days at Birks Mill at Sedbergh. There is an interesting article by C.G. Hollett  (occasional newsletter No 5. of the Sedbergh  and District History Society,dated February 1984) concerning Birks.  The first mention of a mill at Birks occurs towards the end of the 18th Century , when money was being raised to build the mill factory. The owners were John Holme and Charles Holme, senior and junior, they were Quakers and as far as I know unrelated to the Holme family of Tebay and Orton. The mill was mortgaged and changed hands several times. It was burnt down in 1826. From 1820 until 1845 the mill was owned by John Johnson who left it to his nephew John Holme. In February 1867 the Factory House was “then in five dwellings, now occupied as three, formerly occupied by Lt Inman, then by Mrs Martha Kaye Metcalfe and others.” The whole property was owned by Thomas Wearing J.P. of Sedbergh who died in 1884. It is possible that Margaret Wearing Sewart, the wife of Revd Robert Weston Metcalfe was connected to him.

             A WALK TO BIRKS MILL ON THE EVENING OF JULY 2nd 2000.

The walk to Birks is to be found from Loftus Hill, Sedbergh. The road runs down towards the River Rawthey and turns sharp right towards Dent. On the right hand side, above the bridge there is a house, in front of which, at that season, many foxgloves grew. Just before the house there is a footpath, the sign, TO BIRKS almost completely obscured by trees.

I walked through a meadow, then through some crumbling, but once grand gates, into woods. The footpath led me past some of Sedbergh School’s extensive playing fields, over a hill, where cattle and sheep grazed, finally the path emerged at High Birks, On the right there is a large house which may be the residence of the Headmaster of Sedbergh School. There is a cluster of cottages, but the road runs down to the river, and clearly this would be the place to find the mill.

The situation is beautiful, the River Rawthey is quite wide as it makes its turn, running quickly over stones and rocks. The mill is a disappointment, the water wheel was dismantled in 1948, and the building bought by James Metcalfe Pratt who is currently using it as a frozen food depot. The side of the building bristles with warnings and security cameras, a generator hums, all the first and second floor windows are boarded up, the only signs of life come from fluorescent lights on the second story. An ugly extension has been added to the far end of the building.

By this time dusk was descending, which perhaps explains why the building should appear so threatening and forbidding. It seemed strange that only the top floor should be in use, my imagination suggested all kinds of odd activities in that isolated spot. I took some photographs, although it was really too dark and retraced my steps.

FROM RAVENSTONEDALE TO LIVERPOOL

ANTHONY METCALFE

Anthony Metcalfe, who was born in 1792, was the grandson of  the first Anthony Metcalfe (1733 - 1798.) and Mary Fothergill who were the founders of the Ravenstonedale branch of the Metcalfe Clan. Anthony's father, James Metcalfe, had moved to Liverpool and became a tide waiter in the Customs Service there. Anthony married Sarah Danvers, possibly in St Peter's Church, Liverpool. Anthony, Sarah and family were shown to be living in Gravel Lane, Salford in the 1841 census, He was a gilder by trade. However I have been unable to find the family in the 1851 census for Lancashire, and neither Anthony, nor his wife Sarah appeared subsequently. It is possible that Anthony died at Chorlton in December 1848, (Free BMD Vol. 20 page 153.)

MARY ANN METCALFE

Anthony and Sarah had four children, the eldest was Mary Ann, who was probably born in about 1827 in Manchester. Mary Ann never married, but all her life she remained close to, and even protected by, the Metcalfe Family. The 1861 census found her staying at 79, Clarence Street, Little Bolton. She was visiting Elizabeth Metcalfe, who was her aunt by marriage. Elizabeth, who was born Elizabeth Winder, was connected to Anthony Metcalfe of Ravenstonedale, (1765 - 1844,) through her mother, and had married James Metcalfe, Anthony Metcalfe of Liverpool's younger brother. James was a cabinet maker, he and Elizabeth had no children, they were shown living in Bolton in both the 1841 and 1851 censuses, but by 1861 James was dead. Elizabeth was living with her younger sister Eleanor Bradburn, who was also a widow. Both ladies must have been comfortably off as they were shown respectively as 'landed proprietor' and 'propietor of houses.' Mary Ann Metcalfe was described as a seamstress. Agnes, another of Elizabeth and Eleanor's sisters, also lived in Bolton, she married Thomas Nicholson and when she died in 1886 she left Mary Ann 15 shillings a week, which must have helped her considerably. Bolton was quite a Metcalfe stronghold, we know some of the details of these Metcalfes through Charles Edward Smith who kept a notebook. He was the son of another Elizabeth Metcalfe, who was the younger sister of Anthony Metcalfe - Gibson of Ravenstonedale, (1817 -1855.) Elizabeth had married John Smith, a saddler from Bolton. There are several references to Mary Ann in his notebook, in 1893 he mentions that she visited him with her nephew J.W. (John William) Metcalfe, aged 6 years. In 1895 we know that she was living at 52, Leaf Street, Hulme, because he had reported that he had sent her a Certificate of Recovery of Income Tax. It was through him that we know of her death on April 14th 1900 - "Mary Ann Metcalfe died at 8, Watson St., Clarendon St., Hulme. I have paid her 15 shillings a week since 27th December 1886 under the will of Mrs. Agnes Nicholson  of which I am trustee." April 18th 1900 "Received certificate of death of Mary Ann Metcalfe. Sent Annie Metcalfe £5 to help about funeral." I  think Annie was a niece, the daughter of Mary Ann's brother, William. Annie was aged 15 in 1881, so she would have been aged about 34 when Mary Ann died.. There is a photograph of Mary Ann, wearing a close fitting dark bonnet tied under the chin, she has the look of a poor relation.. I have been unable to find any of this family in the 1871 census, but the 1881 census showed Mary Ann living with her brother, William in the St. John's district of Manchester. They were actually living in a boarding house at 1, Lower Irwell St, together with William's two youngest children Arthur aged 13 and Ann aged 15. William described himself as married but his wife Elizabeth was absent. All of this family appear to have been woodworkers. Father Anthony Metcalfe was a gilder, his younger brother James was a cabinet maker, Anthony's son William was a carver and gilder and here was poor Mary Ann shown as a gold size manufacturer, clearly she must have prepared the gold size for her brother's gilding opperations. The 1891 census showed Mary Ann living with her nephew Arthur and his wife Susannah, she was 'living on her own means', the legacy of 15 shillings a week which Mrs Agnes Nicholson had kindly left to her. They were living at 4, Ferneleys Buildings, which is in the Medlock Street area of Hulme. John W. Metcalfe aged 3, described as a nephew, was living with them. He would be the same J.W. Metcalfe who visited Charles E. Smith in 1893. In an effort to discover to which family he belonged I looked in free BMD, the only candidate was a John William Metcalfe, born 1888 in Gisburn, Preston. However the 1891 census said he was born in Manchester. I also looked up the marriage of Arthur Metcalfe to Susannah, this time on www.lancashirebmd.org.uk. It is likely that she was Susannah Moore, They married at Holy Trinity, Hulme in 1890. (Ref. 64.5.88.) This was the last census in which Mary Ann Metcalfe appeared.

WILLIAM METCALFE

William, who, as mentioned above, was the second of Anthony and Sarah Metcalfe's children followed Anthony's trade as a gilder, which he combined with being a carver. He is first mentioned in the 1841 census, with his family, aged 12, so he was likely to have been born in 1829. In the censuses he is always described as having been born in Salford. His next appearance was in the 1861 census aged 31, living with his wife Elizabeth, who was aged 25. She was described as a dressmaker and born in Bishop Auckland, Durham. I looked for a possible marriage in www.lancashirebmd.org.uk and came up with a marriage in 1860 at St. James' Church, Kirk Preston between William Metcalfe and Elizabeth Jackson. (Ref. SGCK/3/58.) As I have mentioned previously I have been unable to find the family in the 1871 census and in 1881 William was living in a boarding house in Manchester with his sister Mary Ann and his two known children, Arthur and Ann. He probably died in Manchester in 1885, aged 57. (Ref. Free BMD 8d 173 or 175.) There may have been older children who had already left home by 1881. William's daughter Ann, or Annie, married Frederick Turner in 1890 at St. Mark's Church, Hulme. (Ref. Lancashire BMD/Manchester/5/5/441). She must have been close to her brother Arthur. They married in the same year and the 1991 census showed that they actually lived next door to one another in Ferneleys Buildings. Frederick was a general labourer and Annie was a silk hat trimmer, Frederick's sister Alice lived with them. By 1901 Frederick and Annie were still living in Hulme, at 24, Silk Street and their family consisted of William Turner, aged 14, James, aged 8, Alice, aged 7, Annie, aged 4, and Lillian aged 1. William is the mystery here, he is described as a son, but he predates the marriage and he did not appear to be living with them in 1891. I was sufficiently interested to check him out in the 1891 census and found him living as a boarder with Marion Turner, also a boarder at 7, Stamford Street, Hulme. The mystery thickened, could Marion have been Frederick's sister? I found Frederick in 1871 living with his widowed mother Ann and his sister Alice, but no sign of a younger sister called Marion. There I let the matter rest.

Annie's brother Arthur Metcalfe and his wife Susannah also stayed in Hulme. Arthur was described as a warehouseman in both the 1891 census and the 1901 census when the family were living at 13, Dixon Street. They had four children, all boys, William Arthur, aded 9, Albert Walter, aged 8, Ernest, aged 5 and Robert Harry, aged 1.

MARY METCALFE . BORN 1797

Mary Metcalfe was the only daughter of James Metcalfe who had left Ravenstonedale in Westrnorland and settled in Liverpool, with his wife Anne Parr. Of the four children of this marriage, Anthony remained in Lancashire, Edward returned to Ravenstonedale. James lived in Bolton, with his wife Elizabeth Winder; they had no children. Mary Metcalfe married William Butcher who was a cooper by trade. They were involved in the elopement of Mary's brother, Edward Parr Metcalfe, to Martha Kaye Gorst in August I825. ( See my article “A lcve Story?" in Mecca

News, Issue 70, August 2003.) At that time they lived in Walton - on - the - Hill and it was there, in I83l, that Mary's mother Ann Parr Metcalfe died. At some time between 1831 and 1841 they must have moved back to Liverpool for when the census was taken in 1841 they were living at  Rose Place with their 6 children. Both their ages were given as 40; Mary would actually have been aged about 43. Neither of them appeared in the 1851 census, their youngest son William was living with one of his sisters so it seems likely that Mary died in the summer of 1848 (Ref. Free BMD Vol. 20, Page 273) and her husband William probably died a year later in 1849. (Ref. Free BMD Vol.20 page 296.)

JAMES AND ESTHER BUTCHER were the two eldest children and they may have been twins, born in 1820. I have found out very little about Esther, she may have married John Lloyd who was a licensed porter, nine years older than herself, although I have not found the marriage. Both disappeared after the 185I census. An Esther Lloyd died at West Derby in the last quarter of I861. (Ref. vol. 8b page 227 .)

JAMES BUTCHER was a printer, he may have been apprenticed to his cousin Edward Parr Metcalfe and we know from letters written by Martha Metcalfe's mother, Anne Gorst that he collected rents for Martha after the family moved to Ravenstonedale. James married Mary Ellen Grimshaw early in 1849 (Ref.Vol. 20 Page 256.) She had been married before and had a 3 year old son, Nicholas; she also brought her mother, Ellen Cropper, to live with them. In 1851 they were living at 4, Melvile Place, Liverpool, and James was working as a licensed victualler, they had a 1 year old son, James M. Butcher, and they were prosperous enough to employ a servant. By the time of the 1861 census the family were living at The Leeds Arms, in Leeds St.but James had returned to work as a printer and his stepson Nicholas was an apprentice printer, James' mother - in - law was still living with them. They had another son called Robert who was born in 1852. After that they disappeared from the censuses, even though I tried various names. James may have died in 1864, or they could all have emigrated.

MARY ANN BUTCHER. Mary Ann married Henshaw Stubbs in 1845 at St. Philip's Church West Derby. (Ref. 2024WD/6 1237.)  In 1885 they were living at 210 Scotland Road in the All Saints district of Liverpool. They had a one year old son, also called Henshaw. Henshaw senior was a butcher employing two men, they were also prosperous enough to employ a 23 year old house servant. After 185 I they disappeared from the censuses. Mary Ann may have died in 1858, (Ref. Liverpool vol.8b page 27.) Henshaw may also have died in 1870. (Ref. West Derby vol.8b page 561.) In the census of l88l HENSHAW STUBBS JUNIOR re - emerged as an unemployed butcher. He had married Ann Watkinson at Liverpool in December 1873. (Ref- vol. 8b page 454.) He and his family were living at 84, Elias St House in Everton. They had three children, third generation Henshaw Stubbs, aged 7, and two girls, Sarah A. aged four and Jane, aged twelve months. I could not find the family in the 1891 census but in 1901 Ann, now widowed, was the head of the household. She, Henshaw and Jane were living at 5, Camden Street, Bootle, Henshaw was working as a dock labourer. Their fortunes waned with each generation. This seems to have applied to most of the members of the Butcher family and may have been true of many Lancastrians as the century drew to a close.

ELIZABETH BUTCHER was the third daughter, she was bom in 1827. She married Peter Smith at St. Peter's Church, Liverpool in 1852. Ref.2122LP/24/340-) The 1861 census showed them living at 8 and 10 Collingwood Street,