Stathers Family Story

STATHERS

FAMILY STORY

Hornsey, Hereford, Hurstville.

The journey of a Family over 260 years.

Village Blacksmith, Farm Labourer, Pauper, Farmer, and Migration to Australia.

Author George Meredith Stathers

STATHERS FAMILY STORY ISBN 978-0-9756801-2-4 NLA CiP: Dewey Number: 929.20994 Subjects: Stathers family; British – Australia; Hornsey (Hereford, England) - genealogy; Australia _ Emigration and immigration; Hurstville (NSW – genealogy; Great Britain – Emigration and immigration; Australia – emigration and immigration; Australian Author: Stathers, George Meredith OAM, FRACP Photos by Lois Joy Stathers. First Published 2015 Subjects: Stathers Family History - 1750 to 2008. Social and Historical details of Yorkshire in this period. Australian migrant experience in 1900s.

Contact for information George Stathers [email protected].

Frontispiece: photo of Robert John Stathers, Emily, and family on arrival in Australia 1915

Cover design and Self-Publication through

CREMORNE1.COM Self-Publishing

PO Box 305, CREMORNE NSW 2090 www.cremorne1.com .

Stathers Family Story HERITAGE AND HISTORY Journey of 260 years

Hornsey, Hereford to Hurstville.

Compiled and Written by George Meredith Stathers

Dedication

To our forebears who emerged from poverty and enabled the present generations to live a better life.

The legacy from our Forebears fashions our Present life and

allows us to create possibilities for Future generations. As such, it is important to understand and preserve knowledge of

our roots.

CONTENTS

Page

Contents 5

Introduction, Preamble & Format 7

Genealogy Stathers-Moore 14-19

Meredith-Crump-Harris 20-22

Chapter 1 Our Name 23

Chapter 2 Heritage 31

Burton Pidsea 33

Preston, Yorkshire 45

Keyingham 55

Chapter 3 Mappleton-Cowden 58

Chapter 4 Welsh-Hereford Families 72

Chapter 5 Harris Family 102

Chapter 6 Market Weighton 114

Chapter 7 Voyage to Australia 126

Chapter 8 Migration to New Land 134

Conclusions Memories & Afterthoughts 153

Photo Gallery 158

Index 167

Acknowledgements Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database rights 2010.

John and Dorothy Harris for helping us to find our heritage, and for re-establishing our family ties and hospitality in 2007.

To family members who have kindly given access to their information.

Archives at Beverley Treasure House, Yorkshire.

Margaret Szalay for invaluable help in proof reading and the journey to publication. To Evelyn, my son Ian’s partner, for introducing me to the mysteries of Indexing and final preparation of the text.

To my wife and best friend Lois - for support, patience, company and photography.in this enterprise of the last 10 years - I am deeply thankful.

Introduction - where did we come from?

At one time or another we all wonder about our past. Where did our forebears come from? What were the circumstances of their leaving their homeland, the hardships endured, the characters of the people?

For families whose forebears migrate to another country their original roots often become obscured over time and distance. Prior to very recent days communication was basically by means of letters or spoken word. The old and new worlds are not only separate in a distance sense, but in traditions forged over the centuries. These traditions tend to slowly change or disintegrate as new identities develop in adaption to new environments and circumstances.

For our family of Australian Stathers the English roots have become tenuous. The first generation that migrated to Australia in 1915 has now passed on. So it becomes important for future generations to try and record what knowledge we have because it will be rapidly lost in the clouds of time. In fact this has already started - the NSW Register of Deaths records as “unknown” the names of Emily Stathers’ mother and father. Knowledge of the past may not enhance our lives in a monetary sense but it leads to a better understanding of who we are and where we came from.

This is a record of the story of the branch of the Stathers family who emigrated from England in 1915 - John Robert and Emily nee Crump, their three sons - George Alfred, Edgar Meredith, John Robert, and daughter. Dorothy. Frank and Bettina were later born in Australia, Frank dying in early infancy in 1920 at Manly.

In addition our remaining UK family roots through the Harris family in Herefordshire are explored and expanded in a personal sense.

The story emerges from records made from several sources including George Alfred Stathers - “uncle George” - the eldest son of John Robert and Emily - who had tried over the years to maintain contact with the UK family members. Added to his role are recollections from family tradition, genealogy research, and from personal conversations and observations made during a trip to the United Kingdom in 2007. This enabled a reuniting with the Harris family in Hereford who share a common ancestry through the Crumps - John Harris’s grandmother was the sister of Emily, our grandmother.

This account is not meant to be a recitation of achievements or even of a complete genealogy record. The intention is to record events and people so that in subsequent times others may research their own story. In chronological terms the research covers the events, real and suspected, from 1750 up until the early 2000s. A sketch of the first generation in Australia is made but no attempt is made to broaden this in detail or to record the life course of the current living generation - this is for a later project or for others to record in a more objective manner.

Out of this background comes family traditions and narrative. In turn this becomes a new story in a new land which owes its existence to the past and present. The future will run its own course but influenced significantly by the inheritance from our forefathers. This is important knowledge and why this task is undertaken.

Preamble

The period covered by this family history encompassed massive change in the political and social environment. There were the French and American revolutions in the period 1770-80 which began to break the traditional social order with concepts of freedom, liberty, and democracy. These events represented a potential massive transfer of power from a landed elite to a newly emerging urban based population. The embryonic Australian nation was given birth by these events in 1788. In Ireland these movements led to the revolution of 1798 which also shaped the future makeup of our family.

In the midst of this were the Napoleonic wars which lasted until 1815 - and was followed in England by severe economic depression particularly in the rural countryside. On 16 August 1819 in London the cavalry charged a crowd of 80,000 people that had assembled in London to hear a reformer talk about giving everyone the right to vote. 1 Nine were killed and over 400 wounded. There were other disturbances of like nature and a major political conflict between the governing power block and the population at large was evolving.2 This lasted throughout the 1800s with periods of greater or lesser effects on society. The paradox was that this was in the phase of expansion of English imperial and industrial might with large scale growth and restructuring of populations. There was dislocation of the rural life patterns which had been relatively stable for centuries - factors such as the steam engine, railways, urbanisation, and changing

1 “William Charles Wentworth”, Tink, Andrew. 2009. Allen & Unwin.

2 Also Poor Law Amendment Act 1813.

9 concepts of liberty and social order initiated hope as well as fear. There were other empires developing, especially German, with the inevitable clash for dominance as experienced in 1914 with World War 1. The after effect of that conflict, besides the huge human cost, was the beginning of the breakdown of traditional land ownership in England.

At a village level life in the early phases of this story life followed the patterns of many ages. It is difficult to conceptualise life as it existed on an everyday basis. The horrors for those on the lower levels of society are exposed in books such as “Useful Toil” by John Burnett.3 From an Australian perspective Geoffrey Blainey offers a parallel insight - there was no electricity until the mid-1850s, transport was horse based, there were few comforts for the average person. The fruits of the rapidly evolving scientific revolution were still to be realised.4 Between 1800-1900 London increased in population from one to six million with consequential breakdown in public health and living standards.5

Similarly with personal relationships, the world was small and local, especially for the average person. Marriage prospects must have been limited but it seems from this family history that children were baptised, marriage preceded by the issuing of Banns, and divorce was virtually unknown. Life expectancy initially in the 1800s was around 40-45 years and illnesses such as tuberculosis were rife. This was the period before Pasteur had identified “germs” as a cause for disease

3 “Useful Toil” Burnett, John.Penguin. 1984.

4 “Black Kettle and Full Moon.” Blainey, G. 2003. Penguin

5 “Sophia”, Anita Anand. 2015. pp. 80-81.Bloomsbury.

10 and the era of antibiotics was still many decades away. Maternal and infant mortality was a major factor in family life. Inheritance patterns continued in the old ways with the eldest son inheriting and the daughters being dependent on marriage matches. So it was inevitable that with this scene individuals and families looked for greener pastures. Australia with its apparent opportunities and freedoms was very enticing especially once transport became a viable option through such schemes as the Bounty movement. This story then needs to be read with this précis in mind and to interpret the various personal decisions made in a different societal context. It is presented as a progression of personal and family identities through the spectre of a genealogical approach. In this journey the family had come from pauperism to prosperity over a relatively small number of generations. Their decision making was limited and directed by circumstance - chance, tradition, and social conditions such a land tenure, climate, health, politics and economics.

Format

The information presented in this account is factual as far as the records and family traditions allow. Where possible the origins of this information have been referenced but verification is not always possible. If mistakes have been made due apologies are appropriate but they appear without any malice.

The story lines hopefully are clear. Background history and geography is included for general understanding in order to indicate the social and economic conditions pertaining over the 200 or so years.

The first section looks at origins from the derivations of the Stathers name. Whether this relates to a specific geographic description or from an occupation base is debatable.

Then follows the emergence of the family in the late 1700s with Francis being a village blacksmith, his early death, and subsequent family struggles. His son Francis, as are most of the male family members, is an agricultural labourer. This is a rural existence where life is short and hard. He dies a pauper in the 1850s.

Then comes a circuit breaker. Francis’ son George establishes himself outside of this cycle of poverty. He dies apparently a relatively prosperous man with property and well connected. This covered a period from 1840s to 1920.

The next generation is very mixed in outcome. There is wealth in land for the eldest son, the second son, my grandfather is a poor or bad farmer - marries a Hereford girl - and migrates to Australia.

The marriage brought a new dimension and tradition to the family. His wife, Emily, origins were Welsh and patterns of life were those of small acre farming, constant moving in terms of lease hold, and with the young women finding occupations as servants in larger households. Education was barely above the age of 12 years.

The final section from 1915 to around 1950s describes a yet to be completed cycle of an English migrant family in Australia. My generation demonstrates the fruits of this slow transition. Higher education now is the norm, occupational opportunity enormously enhanced. I believe that my university education was the first time a member of the family had formal education of this type. This was

12 enabled by a complex number of events but the decisions of the past certainly played an enormous part in this outcome.

Thus the justification for writing this account is to give thanks and provide insight into these events.

Finally a short photo gallery has been provided to link the present with the future - this is not complete but can be added to by the individual families.

In September 2015 it will be the centenary of the arrival of the family in Australia.

This photo of Pop and Nan in later years characterises their personalities and life experiences.

Genealogy Table Stathers/Statters Yorkshire Origins

(In bold - indicates direct line)

First Generation Francis (1) b.1762 m. Sarah Jackson 1784

8 children. Born Burton Pidsea, Yorkshire.

Mary c. 2 Feb. 1785

Nanny c. 6 May 1787

Sarah c. 24 May 1788

John c. 9 May 1790

Francis c. 7 Jun 1792

John c. 25 Sept. 1794

Elizabeth c. 25 Feb. 1796

George c. 29 Dec. 1799

Second Generation

Francis (2) b.1792 m. Ann Moody 1822 6 children. Born Owthorn & Preston YKS.

Sarah b. 1824, Owthorn Elizabeth b. 1829 Jane b. 1832 Moody b. c. 1835 or 1839 (male) Mercy b. 1837 George b. 1842

Third Generation George Stathers b.1842 (1) m. Jane 1869 3 children Elizabeth b. c. 1870, Keyingham, YKS Anne, E. b. 1874, Cowden, YKS Edith b. c. 1876, Cowden YKS (2) m. Emma Moore 1879 George Alfred. b. 1880, Cowden. m. Jane Loftus -1913. (d. age 85) John Robert b. 1882, Cowden. (d. age 76 – Sydney, NSW) Elinor b. 1885, Cowden. m. W.E.Smith Elsie b. 1887, Cowden. m. H. Gibson (died ‘flu age 32) Florence b. 1887, Cowden. m. Mr. Harnies Kathleen b. 1890, Cowden (d. age 74) Laura b. 1891, Cowden Frank b. 1893, Cowden Note 20/4/2016- Emma Beatrice b 1889. See p64 and 115.

Fourth Generation John Robert b.1882 m. Emily Crump 1903

George Alfred b. 1905, Cowden. m. Lilian Janet Blain Smith 1937. d.1984 Dorothy b. 1906, Cowden. m.(1) Steel B. Ross 1932. m. (2)William Loisidis, Leeds, 1948. d.1972 Edgar Meredith b. 1909, Allensmore, Hereford. m. Isabella Edward, 1936. d.1982 John Robert b. 1910, Hereford. m. Olive Edith Marion Malkior, 1937. d. 2007 Frank b. 1920, Manly, Australia. d.1920 Bettina b. 1923, Australia. d. 1958

Fifth Generation

Children of George Alfred Stathers and Lillian Smith. Paul Anthony Stathers b. 1943. m. Barbara Knight David Stathers b. 1947. d. 25.6.2014. m. Pamela Ann Ross Children of Edgar Meredith Stathers and Isabella Edward George Meredith Stathers b. 1938. m. Lois Joy Tasker Peter Alfred Stathers b. 1940. m. Patricia Dorothy Rooke Children of John Robert Stathers and Olive Malkior John Francis Stathers b. 1938. m. Mavis Harrison d.21.05.2015 Lynette June Stathers b. 1944. m. Peter James Bannister Child of Dorothy and William Leeds Geoffry Child of Bettina and Emile Pirchan Eric c. 1957. m. Dorothy. d.

Sixth Generation

Children of George Meredith Stathers and Lois Tasker Kathryn Joy b. 1963 Ian George b. 1964. m. Samantha John.ni. (p) Melissa Cameron Alison Claire b. 1969. m. David Morgan Clare Lois b. 1974. m. Troy Manson Children of Peter Alfred Stathers and Patricia Dorothy Rooke Jenny Patricia b. 1967. m. Terry Delahenty Philip Meredith b. 1968. m. Chantelle Stegliatis Children of John Francis Stathers and Mavis Harrison Ryan James b. 1972. p. Ruth Dyson Regan John b. 1980. m. Sarah Horn Leigh Michelle b. 1970. m. Craig Spillane Children of Lynette June Stathers and Peter James Bannister Craig William b. 1968 Megan b. 1971. m. Craig Sheppard Adrienne b. 1972. m. Mark Birdsall Children of Paul Anthony Stathers and Barbara Knight Leanne Jane b. 1968. m. (1) Keith Brennan (2) Jean Laut Emma Louise Anne b. 1973. m. Peter Robin Oake Children of David Stathers and Pamela Anne Ross Belinda Anne b. 1980

Seventh Generation

Grandchildren of George/Lois

Child of Ian Stathers and Melisa Cameron Jared Cameron Stathers b. 20/2/2006 Children of Alison Claire (Stathers) and David James Morgan Jessica Clare Morgan b. 11/11/1995 Lucy Beth Morgan b. 2/3/1998 Children of Clare Lois (Stathers) and Troy Manson Evie Clare Manson b. 10/12/2008 Taylor Jess Manson b. 29/2/2012

Grandchildren of Peter/Patricia Stathers

Children of Jenny (Stathers) and Terry Delahenty Jayme Peter Delahenty b. 1994 Ryan Delahenty b. 1997 Olivia Delahenty b. 2001 Children of Philip Meredith Stathers and Chantelle (Stegliatis) Aiden Peter Stathers b. 2003 Kyle Philip Stathers b. 2003

Grandchildren of John/Mavis Stathers

Children of Regan Stathers and Sarah (Horn) Christian John Stathers b. 2006 Abigail Mae Stathers b. 2008 Children of Leigh (Stathers) and Craig Spillane Jade Amber Spillane b. 2004 Josh Raymond Spillane b. 2006 Children of Ryan Stathers and Ruth (Dyson) Elizabeth Veroniqua Stathers b. Nov 2014

Grandchildren of Lynette and Peter Bannister

Children of Craig William Bannister and Trudy Marcus William b.2008 Ashton James b. 2010 Taytum b. 2012 Children of Megan Bannister and Craig Sheppard Evangeline Olivia b. 2007 Alexis Elise b. 2008 Children of Adrienne Bannister and Mark Birdsall Jack Tully

Grandchildren of Paul /Barbara

Children of Leanne Jane Stathers and Jean Laut Benjamin Thomas Laut b. 1991 Children of Leanne Jane Stathers and Keith Brennan Alexander Ian Brennan b. 1999 Lachlan Brennan b. 2001 Sophie May Brennan b. 2002 Children of Emma Louise Stathers and Peter Robin Oake Dylan Daniel Oake b.1999 Aiden Michael Oake b. 2001 Hannah Rose Oake b. 2005

Grandchildren of David/Pamela

Children of Belinda Stathers and Luke Bramley Lila Grace Bramley b. 2014

Meredith-Crump-Harris Welsh-Hereford families

First Generation Edward Meredith b. 1811. m. Elizabeth, 1847 Second Generation Children of Edward and Elizabeth Meredith

Elizabeth b. 1848 m. Charles Crump, 1877. d. 1907 TB Sarah b. 1850. m. T. Dillingham. ni Susannah b. 1852. m. Cole. One son Robert Edward. nm. Robert b. 1854. nm

Third Generation

Children of Elizabeth and Charles Crump 6 children Sarah b.1879. m. John Arthur Harris, 1908. d. 1917 Jessie b.1881. m. Holbrow, 1909 n.i. Emily b.1883. m. John Robert Stathers, 1903 Mary Elizabeth b.1889 (Liz). m. Shankland Migrated to Canada. n.i. Julia b.1890. m. Dennis. d. 1928 TB Alfred c.1888. Migrated Canada. n.m.

Fourth Generation

Children of Sarah and John Arthur Harris James Edward b. 1887. m. Annie Florence Betty m. Mr. Winney Julia Gertrude d. 1928 Jessie Rebecca Arthur Francis Children of Emily and John Robert Stathers See Stathers Genealogy

Children of Julia Crump and Arthur William Dennis Elsie (known as Joy) b. 1926. m. Fullerton Mary b. 1927. m. John McKenzie Seale. d.2006

Fifth Generation

Children of James Edward and Annie Florence Harris John Arthur b.1936. m. Dorothy Lewis Margery. b.1940. m. Clive Davies. d. 2000 Child of Mary Winney Margaret Child of Elsie (Joy) & Dennis-Fullerton. Bernard Children of Mary & Dennis-Searle

Sixth Generation

Children of John Arthur and Dorothy Harris Janet b. 1963. m. Martin Henderson Catherine b. 1965. m. Hamish Tetlow Mary b. 1966. m. Rob Becker

Children of Clive and Margery Davies Christine m. John French. 2 children Adrienne. n.m. One child Neil m. Elaine. 3 children

Seventh Generation

Children of Janet and Martin Henderson James John Children of Catherine and Hamish Tetlow

Eleanor William Isobel Children of Mary and Rob Becker

Anouk Mia Lara Children of John and Christine French Sarah Stephen Child of Adriene

Claire Children of Neil and Elaine

Mathew Christopher Sam Harris Family - See in text Chapter 5

CHAPTER 1

What’s in a Name?6

Names link the individual with the tribe. There is continuity with the past. They give an identity. So it is important to explore our roots via our name.

There are several similar spellings of the surname - which we pronounce with a short “a”. There is Stather which is very common around the North Cave - Hull area of Yorkshire, Stothers - an Irish equivalent, Statters as seen in Parish records. Strath in Scotland is different and indicates a valley.

“A Dictionary of English Surnames” by Reaney & Wilson and the Penguin dictionary of surnames indicate the name Statheman means “a dweller at the landing place.” There was a major Scandinavian influence in the north eastern area of England- especially Yorkshire, going back to the Viking era. These origins are memorialised in names and places as seen in the following examples. The origin of the name "Bickerstaffe" the references agree that “staffe", "stad" or "stath" come from the Norse word "s'tad'r" meaning "place". 6 The place name is composed of Old Saxon stath ‘shore, bank’ plus the suffix denoting affiliation. This name is also found in Sweden. Farrar says that "staffe" comes from "stath".

Parish records at the Beverly Records Office, Yorkshire, show that the name has varied between Statters, Stather, Stathers with a final agreement as to Stathers for our family tribe somewhere around 1800- 1850.

Many or most of the parishioners were illiterate and the process of recording names by the Church was very much dependent on the competence or otherwise of local persons. As we understand the process, baptisms-deaths-marriages were recorded at the church on a board with chalk during the week. At the conclusion of evensong on Sunday this information was transferred by the church warden to paper or parchment and later still to a more permanent record.

Another problem related to the accuracy of transcribing information. For example when looking at the Parish record for the 1743-1840 Burton Pidsea Register in the Beverley records Office one could be excused for believing that it was the original - but it had been transcribed in 1804 because of the tattiness of the old original record. So in this process room for error was very considerable.

We can thank the much maligned King Henry VIII for these Registers. In September 1583, his chief minister Thomas Cromwell issued a set of instructions to the parish clergy. Together with the removal of images and the setting up of the English Bible in every Church, he instructed clergy in each parish to keep a record of every baptism, marriage and burial with the names of the people concerned. The entries were to be made each Sunday after service in the presence of one of the church wardens. The records were to be kept in a “sure coffer” with two locks, the parish priest with one key and the church warden having the other.

The first records were usually written on single pieces of paper, and naturally they often did not survive to the copying onto parchment and book form.7

The name of Stather is mentioned in the Parish Register of Howden in 1703. There is also a wedding in Howden in 1692 of a Jane Stather. In Doncaster UK 1571 there was a wedding of Thomas Stather to Isabel Oxeleye on 12 February 1571.

There are often geographical relationships between places and names as seen in the possible relationship of the river Stather to our name. The river is a tributary of the Trent linking the River Ouse to form the Humber estuary.8

Did the Stathers name originate from around the River Stather or was Stather an independent description?

The town Burton-upon-Stather is described in the web site, History on Line.9

“Burton-upon-Stather- For centuries the Trentside village Burton- upon-Stather was a bustling port on a busy river.

Steamers and ferries went back and forth from Hull and in 1315 it was developed as a trading port for North Lincolnshire complete with a market and two fairs. In the 1800s the waters were packed with boats, which faded out after the advent of railways, but in the mid 1930s the

7 “The Parish of Tintagel-some historical notes.” Canner, A.C.1982. p36.

8 www.history.ac.uk/cmh/gaz/lincs.html

9 ibid ref. 7

25 wharf sprang back into life when a petroleum company built storage tanks there.”

Towns index reference and Genuki10,11 gives some idea of the ancient usage in reference to Burton upon Stather.

BURTON UPON STATHER 4870 4179. 1334 Subsidy £37.44. Burton upon Stather was associated with the soke of Kirton, the administrative capital of the west riding of Lindsey (Alecto Historical Editions, The Lincolnshire Domesday (London, 1992), p. 23) The nearby settlement of Flixborough was a site of specialised production and trade from the seventh century onwards. Burton upon Stather was called ‘Market Burton’ in 1403 (K. Cameron ed., The Place-Names of Lincolnshire, vi (Nottingham, 2001), p. 43). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 474).

10 http://www.history.ac.uk/cmh/gaz/gazweb2.html

11 Genuki:Burton on Stather.

M (Prescriptive) recorded 1086, in Thealby, Darby and Burton upon Stather, K Wil I had half a market, belonging to Kirton in Lindsey (Alecto Historical Editions, The Lincolnshire Domesday (London, 1992), p. 23, f. 338v). Darby was once a hamlet just east of Burton upon Stather; Thealby was approximately two miles to the east. Although belonging to the soke centre at Kirton, this market was probably at Burton upon Stather, which was conveniently situated for trade on the bank of the river Trent close to its confluence with

the river Humber. In 1199x1216, the day of the market was changed from Sun to Tues. Half of the market was held by the count of Boulogne, quarter by Richard Wascelin and quarter by Richard of Chester. Richard of Chester made a fine of ¼m. (Abb Plac, p. 71). ). By 1202 Richard Wascelin's quarter was in the possession of the Abbey of Roche, Yorks (D.M. Stenton ed., The Earliest Lincolnshire Assize Rolls, 1202-09, Lincolnshire Record Society, xxii (1926), p. 123). This was probably the market associated with the vill of Burton in 1241–2 (PR, 26 Hen III, p. 76).

M (Charter) Fri; gr 6 Oct 1314, by K Edw II to Thomas, earl of Lancaster, the king’s kinsman and Alice his wife. To be held at the manor of Burton Stather (CChR, 1300–26, p. 242). Market recorded here in 1329 (K. Cameron ed., The Place-Names of Lincolnshire, vi (Nottingham, 2001), p. 43).

F (Charter) vf+13, All Saints (1 Nov); gr 6 Oct 1314, by K Edw II to Thomas, earl of Lancaster, the king’s kinsman and Alice his wife (CChR, 1300–26, p. 243). To be held at the manor of Burton Stather.

F (Charter) vf+13, Holy Trinity (Easter dep); gr 6 Oct 1314, by K Edw II to Thomas, earl of Lancaster, the king’s kinsman and Alice his wife (CChR, 1300–26, p. 242). To be held at the manor of Burton Stather.

Another reference to Burton on Stather indicates that the name means “fortified farmstead” by the landing places, from a combination of the Old English Burth+tun and the Old Scandinavian stothvar. The village is referred to in the Doomsday Book as Burtone and in the 13th Century as Burtonstather.12

The problem is that there seems to be in recent years a concentration of the Stather/s name in Yorkshire, especially around Hull and the Humber, rather than the adjacent Lincolnshire where Burton on Stather was. But maybe the Stat/h is common to the region rather than the County.

In the East Yorkshire Family History Society’s magazine “The Banyan Tree” issue of April 2011 there is a book review which records as follows: “The folk of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, the

12 A.D.Mills. “A Dictionary of English Place Names.” Oxford University Press, 1991.

Yellow Bellies and the Tykes, have always been closely associated with each other. In the early days of the railways and the boom days of Hill’s docks, thousands of Yellow-Bellies crossed the water seeking a personal slice of the riches on offer ‘over the water’.” The migration was not just limited to those seeking work in the new industries either. The East Riding lost many of its agricultural workers, blacksmiths, gamekeepers and labourers to the rails and docks, many of these jobs were filled by the workforce of Lincolnshire.13

Then there is the small town of Staithes, north of Whitby, where Captain Cook was apprenticed as a grocer. At Boulby Head, to the north of Staithes, are the highest sea cliffs in England. Down on the harbour are coble craft - clinker built and said to be descended from the Viking longboats.14

The Old Norse word Stodh means harbour. The noun Staithes refers to a fixed structure where ships land, especially to load or unload.15 There is a small annotation in an advertisement for the Sheffield Arms Hotel B&B which states that “stather” is a corruption of staithes and represents a landing stage for a ferry - in reference to Burton upon Stather.

This is confirmed in a Google digitalisation of a “History of the County of Lincoln from Earliest Period to the Present Time, vol.11”

13 “Memories of Lincolnshire Farming.” Alan Stennett.Banyon Tree. April 2011

14 “Exploring the Captain Cook Country,” Dalesman Books, 1978.

15 Wiktionary.org

29 and written by John Saunders jun. in 1834, page 220. He states that the word Staithe, meaning wharf, converts into the name Stather. Distribution of the name

In 1880 according to the internet site Ancestry.com there were between 59-115 Stathers families in Yorkshire, 20-58 scattered elsewhere in nine Counties and 1-19 in the remainder of England and Wales. Their occupations were distributed between woolen mill workers, shoemakers, a physician, mining coal, farms and farming. This does not cover the alternative spellings which also follow a similar distribution.

Some had immigrated to the USA between 1854 and 1890 - settling mainly in the north eastern States - but also to California. As by 1920 this distribution had widened. Three persons were noted to be veterans of the Union forces in the Civil War. One of these, William H. Stathers was a private in August 19, 1861. He died at Cumberland, Md in February 27, 1862. Perhaps he was the William Stathers, aged 33, who arrived in New York from Hull on 26 May, 1854.16

There was also migration to Canada in the 1880s 17 and perhaps before.

16 Ancestry. Com -New York Passenger Lists 1851-1891.

17 Ref. www.histpop.org/org

CHAPTER 2

Ordinance Survey giving an overview of East Riding of Yorkshire in localities relating to the Stathers Story.

OUR HERITAGE Francis Statters. 1760-1809 Burton Pidsea- East Riding, Yorkshire

Ordinance Survey Maps to illustrate towns mentioned in the following history - Preston, Burton Pidsea, Keyingham, and Owstwick.

In 2007 we (George and Lois) visited Yorkshire in order to understand better the history of our family, the landscape, and times in which they lived. The sighting of original documents and visiting the old family sites enabled us to sift myth from reality.

Previously the earliest information that we were able to trace related to Francis Stathers who, in the 1841 English census, was recorded as living in Preston, Yorkshire. He was aged 50 - an agricultural labourer. His family consisted of wife Ann, aged 35; Elizabeth, daughter 12; Jane, daughter 9; a son aged 6; and Mercy, daughter, aged 4. His place of birth was Burton Pidsea. They were very poor as were most of the agricultural labourers in the 1700-1800s and perhaps for time immemorial.

The Yorkshire Dictionary describes Burton Pidsea as being “ a small parish town, in the middle-division of Holderness, liberty of St. Peter, 4 miles from Hedon, 8 from Patringham, 11 from Hull, 49 from York. The population in 1822 was 378.”18

A Transcript of the entry of "professions and trades" for BURTON PIDSEA in Baines's Directory of 1823 gives an insight of the village class and occupation structure in 1823. • Clapham Wm. yeoman

• Harland Wm. yeoman

• Jones Robert, Lieut. R. N.

• Raines Isaac, surgeon, &c.

• Rev.Joseph Lightfoot Blacksmiths Grasby Thos. Rotsey Walter Farmers • Carter John

18 The Yorkshire Dictionary. A topographical dictionary for the year 1822 by Thomas Langdale. Transcribed by Colin Hinson.

• Clapham Robert

• Cook Samuel

• Duke John

• Ford Wm.

• Ford Thomas

• Harrison Watson

• Hastings Richard

• Hopkinson Joseph

• Salmon Thos.

• Spencer Wm.

• Wright John

• Brown John Tailors Brown Thos. Pool Charles

Wheelwrights, Miscellany of trades • Stamford John Walgate, John Brown George, bricklayers

• Dibney Wm. parish clerk

• Ford Thos. grocer and schoolmaster

• Rotsey Walter, victualler, Black Bull

• Spencer Geo. cabinet maker

• Wood James, butcher

• Brown David, plumber, etc Carriers, Peter Drew and David Tavender to Hull every Tu. dep. 4 mg. ret. 7 evg.

From “British History on Line” there is an excellent description of Burton Pidsea. 19 This description demonstrates the rural cycle of farming within numerous small allotments until the enclosures of the mid1700s. Of the 1,994 acres of allotments there were 43 proprietors and eight were given 100 acres plus each - only three of whom were local owners. The church received 168 acres for the rectorial glebe plus £143 a year for tithes. There were six allotments of 50-99 acres, ten of 20-49 acres, fourteen of 5-19, and five under 5 acres. The majority of the population received no distribution and were tenants or labourers on the farms - or merely left to their own devices. 20

More recently a fascinating overview of the agriculture of the East- Riding of Yorkshire compiled by Henry Eustasius Strickland in 1812 has become available.21 It is worth restating some of his information as it offers an invaluable insight of Yorkshire at that period.

19 British History on Line. Publication: A History of the County of York East Riding: Volume 7

Year published: 2002

Supporting documents: Note on abbreviations Pages: 27-40

Citation: 'Middle division: Burton Pidsea', A History of the County of York East Riding: Volume 7: Holderness Wapentake, Middle and North Divisions (2002), pp. 27-40. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=16126. Date accessed: 03 April 2007.

20 From: 'Middle division: Burton Pidsea', A History of the County of York East Riding: Volume 7: Holderness Wapentake, Middle and North Divisions (2002), pp. 27-40. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=16126. Date accessed: 03 April 2007.

21 “A general view of the agriculture of the east-riding of Yorkshire.” Henry Eustasius Strickland Esc. 1812. Reproduction by Nabu Public Domain Reprints.

Burton Pidsea had a population of 299 on the 27th May 1811.There were 52 houses. Farming was the main activity – the Genuki site gives an extensive description of other trades and professions. The years of 1801-2 were times of great scarcity in UK. There was a war with France and often rural wages were made in kind with cheap corn rather than money for those on public support.

A carpenter might expect three shillings one pence per day, a thatcher 2s1d per day - a wheel right with board from 2s.6d –without board

3-4s.

The blacksmith appears to have been somewhat better off. He might charge by the type of work - e.g. wheel tyre 4d per lb, chains 8d per lb.

A head man on a farm might expect £35 per year and second in charge £20-26 in 1811. This had risen from £14-18 in 1794 and included victuals, lodging, and washing.

For a farm labourer in 1811 the wages varied according to time of year. On average this was around 10 to12s per week and included board. During harvest rates rose to 16-24s but so did the hours of work. The day labourer worked from six-six in summer, light to dark in winter, and in harvest another 2-3 hours. If they were employed in carrying corn, in fine weather and moonlit nights they might work through great parts of the night, starting later in the day when the dew had dried.

The workers were allowed half an hour for breakfast, one hour for lunch, and one hour for dinner at all times of the year.

Because of the high costs of labour much of the work on farms was carried out by yearly servants kept in the farmer’s house - and their hours were at the call of the master at a fixed rate.

The following gives an idea of the basic daily provisions costs (in 1794): Beef 3 ¼ d / lb Mutton/Pork 4d/lb Veal 4 ½ d /lb Fish 3 ¾ d/lb Butter 1s per lb of 18oz Milk/ quart 3d Wheat per bushel 5s9d

“The food for farming servants and labourers is invariably milk for breakfast and supper, with cold meat or fruit-pies, or cheesecakes; and for dinner hot meat-pie or boiled meat and dumpling, with small beer. No ale is given except during harvest, or occasionally as a reward for any extra or severe labour; nor is beer given, except to those who are boarded in the house.

The labourers, who supply food for themselves and their families, live also comfortably in general compared with those of many of the southern counties.”22

“Their bread comprehends the whole of the wheat… and is home made. This they eat with butter, or bacon, and potatoes, and they have commonly one meal in the day of fresh meat, or meat –pie. Barley-cake, or a mixture of barley and wheat, is sometimes adopted when wheat is very dear.”

22 ibid

A cow was a great asset for families as was the availability of small plots of land to sustain a cow and or a pig.

For farm labourers and servants the yearly contract was to be completed on the 23rd November when they were allowed a week off to visit relatives. Prior to this date for about 3-4 weeks they were hired at Statutes or “Sittings” when negotiations concerning what we might call award conditions were held in conjunction with magistrates. This was considered by many as a waste of the Master’s time as well can be imagined.

There was much discussion about cottages and their upkeep. This involved the landowner, the tenant, and the subletting and subsequent returns in rent. The problem was put that high wages led to decreased ability of the farmers to maintain cottages or ability to pay their rent to the full value. “To this cause may be attributed, the extreme difficulty which the labouring class experience in marrying and settling in life and the consequent laxity and dissoluteness of manners characterising the servants in agriculture.“23

At a National level there was considerable inflation and lack of a free market in goods e.g. corn laws, salt tax. In the period 1794-1804 labour costs, rent, taxation had doubled. Prices for farm products had remained the same or reduced in value.

There was in addition the complex and highly vexatious system of tithing. Anne Tarver has described this in detail. 24 Following the

23 Ibid.pp.41-44.

24 The due tenth: problems of the Leicestershire tithing process 1560-1640. Anne Traver. Trans. Leicestershire Archaeol, and Hist. Soc. 78. (2004)

Dissolution of the monasteries, between 1536 and 1540, many monastic houses were sold to the laity along with the tithe rights. This produced a system where property, produce, animals, were subjected to the tithe gatherer and distributed to often absent landlords as well as the church. As an example of the complexity the year was divided into Lammas day, 1 August when payments for wool and lambs were settled. Then Martinmass, 11 November, which was the day of reckoning for hay, milk, sheep, calves, foals, bees, wood and garden produce. There were direct payments, in kind, and ways around the whole system. Disputes were settled by the ecclesiastical courts which harkened back to the medieval period.

The work load of an agricultural labourer was severe. In an unpublished autobiography by a Tom Mullins25 he describes starting work at age 10 in a village near Burton-on-Trent around 1870. His reward was £3 per year. He later was a carters help where he led the horses for ploughing. He was always hungry. On Sundays he walked 10 miles home to have dinner with his parents - and then walked 10 miles back to start milking. There was little farm machinery.

“Little wheat bread was eaten. We lived mainly on oatmeal which was made into flat, sour cakes shaped like gramophone records. A cream-sten filled with oatmeal and water with a little sour dough to start it fermenting was left to stand for twenty-four hours. From this was made a thin cake. A baking allowed enough cakes for 7-10 days. There was little meat, rabbits helped fill in for

25 See John Burnett ibid. “Useful Toil”

39 the extra need for meat, plus fish from the farm pond. At 16 he was earning £16 per year with keep - the ‘highest wage a man could get.”

Into this background emerges our family. 26 The IGI describes a family of Statters living in Burton Pidsea, Yorkshire in the late 1700s. This information is confirmed by the actual Parish records for the eight children born to Francis and Sarah and with their baptismal dates as follows.

Mary c. 2 Feb. 1785 Nanny c. 6 May 1787 Sarah c. 24 May 1788 John c. 9 May 1790 Francis c. 7 Jun 1792 John c. 25 Sept. 1794 Elizabeth c.25 Feb. 1796 George c. 29 Dec. 1799

All had a father with the name Francis. George was the first where the surname was definitively Stathers. The remainder were notated as Statters.

George’s baptism is written as “Son of Francis Statters, Blacksmith by Sarah his wife. December 29 1799.”

The marriage of Francis and Sarah was found in the Parish records.

“Banns of Marriage between Francis Statters and Sarah Jackson - both of this Parish were published three several Sundays.. (difficult to read)

26 IGI and Parish records kept at Beverly Records Office in Yorkshire.

Francis Statters of this Parish, Bachelor and Sarah Jackson of this Parish Spinster

Married in this Church by Banns

This Twenty sixth Day of November in the Year One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eighty four by me John Dixon Curate.”

It appears that Francis signed his own name but Sarah signed with her mark.

Parish record of Marriage of Francis Statters and Sarah Jackson 1784

A record of the birth or baptism of Francis was not found - or of the death of his parents in these Parish records - further research may reveal that Francis came from an adjacent Parish or County.

The GENUKI information for 1822 confirms the name of the curate "BURTON PIDSEA, a parish in the wapentake of Holderness, and liberty of St. Peter's; 4 miles E. of Hedon. A neat and pleasant village, the houses of which are well built, and afford an extensive prospect of the surrounding country. The church is a small building, patrons Dean and Chapter of York, with a lofty tower apparently of great antiquity. The incumbent is the Rev. Jonathan Dixon, vicar; here is likewise a Methodist chapel, built in 1820. Pop. 378." 27

George outside the old pub at Burton Pidsea in 1995

Burton Pidsea-Church of St Peter - Baptismal font.

It would seem that the village of Burton Pidsea was quite a pleasant rural place with the typical structure in terms of people, land ownership, and trades. A Carrier travelled from the village to Hull once a week leaving at 4am and returning at 7pm - a distance of 22 miles. A blacksmith would have been quite an important person in the era of horses and farming and economically in a slightly higher place on the ladder.

However as was typical for the time, life tended to be short and hard. Francis lived for 43 years and Sarah 52. This was about average for the rural countryside in this era. The deaths of Francis and Sarah are recorded as -

Francis Statters. Blacksmith aged 43 years. June 29th 1805. (which gives a birth date of about 1762).

Sarah Statters aged 52 years. Widow of Francis Statters March 15th 1809 (approximate birth date 1757).

Sarah had been a widow for some four years when she died, aged 52 years, in 1809. Her youngest child George was 10 and Francis junior was 17. The situation would have been precarious at best. She had lost one son John in infancy at 8 months on Feb 12, 1791 and a daughter Mary aged 19 on October 9, 1804.

There were no social services and the loss of a bread winner was potentially disastrous. Parish support was available but at minimal levels.

[Two further Baptisms are recorded - George. Baptised on 29 Nov. 1813 - mother Ann Statters - she was a spinster and thus the child was illegitimate. Was this Nanny? Then there was William, christened 28 Oct. 1809 - mother Elizabeth Statters and no father recorded. Both of these associations are open to doubt.]

PRESTON 1822 - 1851

Francis and Ann

The next episode in the lives of this family is the marriage of Francis Stathers to Ann Moody on January 5, 1822 at Preston by Hedon. Ann was about 16 years of age and Francis 30. The Parish record states- 28

“Preston in the Holderness. County of York 1822

Francis Stathers, Labourer of the Parish in the County of Diocese of York, Bachelor and Ann Moody of this Parish were married by Banns in this Church legally published this 5th day of January, 1822.

In the presence of Mercy Burnham and Joseph John Dixon Vicar. ? Signed by their Mark-Francis Stathers -Ann Moody.”

It is interesting that Rev. John Dixon is now the Vicar at Preston- he would have known Francis from Burton Pidsea. Thirty eight years before he had married old Francis and Sarah Jackson in Burton Pidsea when he was a young curate and probably baptised Francis as a baby – in the font as in foregoing photo.

It has to be remembered that people were not as mobile as now - it was the age of the horse, wagon, and foot. Preston and Burton Pidsea were adjacent Parishes.

Francis was described as an agricultural labourer in the marriage and later census documents. Work on farms would have been related to the agreements as previously described. There were various categories

28 IGI Individual records.

45 which included Day-labourers and “by the piece” which included a range of activities with varying rewards. For example hoeing turnips twice, per acre, 10s to 13s, mowing grass, per acre, 3s. to 4s. Sometimes board was included at a determined rate.

Following their marriage they moved to Owthorn where their first child Sarah was born and who was Baptised on 22 February 1824. Owthorn was a small rural village close to Keyingham in the South Holderness. It had a population of 74 in 1811.

Then the family moved back to Preston where Francis would have worked on local farms as a labourer.

The children of Francis and Ann appear to be as follows – all except Sarah were born in Preston. Sarah born 1824, in Owthorn Elizabeth b. 1829 Jane b.1832

Moody, b.c 1835 or 1839 (male), presumably after his mother’s maiden name. Mercy b.1837 George b.1842

Preston was a parish town, in the middle-division of Holderness, a part in the liberty of St. Peter, 1 mile from Hedon, 8 from Hull, and 46 from York. Population in 1822, 828.29 There were 169 families, 128 houses, and activities were farming based in 1811.

29 Genuki UK and Ireland Genealogy. From Yorkshire Parish Registers- Colin Blanshard Withers.

On checking the Preston Parish records for 1750-1800 there were no Stathers or Statters found - but there were numerous deaths from consumption, fevers, smallpox and epilepsy noted which gives some indication of the social circumstances. It appears that there may have been links to the Jackson family who were the family of Francis’s mother. (see later)

By the time the last child George was born, Francis was about fifty and the census of 1841 notes he was born in Burton Pidsea. His wife Ann was 35 and they were living in Main Street, Preston. With them were Elizabeth, 12; Jane 9; Moody 6; Mercy 4. Sarah, the first born, would have been 17 years of age by 1841 and more than likely she would have left home for work.

The most likely scenario is that Francis had Jackson family links in Preston. On the death of his parents he went there, married and worked on the adjacent farm or farms. By the 1851 census Francis and family were living in Preston at a location called Blenkins Yard.30 This address probably consisted of a number of small hovels attached to an adjacent farm owned by the Blenkins or Blenkinsops. On our 2007 trip we went to Preston and followed the description given in the census - not expecting to discover any remnant buildings between Back Lane, Townsend, and Main Street. However to our amazement it is still possible to determine the site. Lois spoke to an older lady who had l ived all her life in Back Lane - now Church Lane. She, after

30 However in the 1841 census this area was known as Blenkenld Row.

47 some hesitation, scratching of her head, said that in her young days the farm at the end of the street was owned by a Mrs. Blenkinsop.

Francis Stathers was now aged 61 –a widower- Head of family - formerly Agricultural labourer - now a pauper - born Burton Pidsea. Also living there were Mercy Stathers - Daughter - aged 13 - Scholar - born Preston and George Stathers - son - aged 9 - Scholar - born Preston.

Francis’s estimated year of birth was 1790, Mercy 1838, and George 1842.

This George is the father of our grandfather John Robert.

In the 10 years between these two census collections, Francis’ wife Ann had died at an age of approximately 45 years. Francis had become a pauper and was now living in Blenkins yard as mentioned previously - perhaps dying soon after Ann in 1851. Their social circumstances seem to have significantly deteriorated. Living in Blenkins Yard in 1851 was a family of Rattles, Agricultural Labourer; Mr. and Mrs. Padler - Agr. Lab; Francis, Mercy and George Stathers- Francis formerly Agr. Lab. - now Pauper; a large family of Jacksons - Agr. Lab; and an Elizabeth Jackson, Pauper, aged 84 years.

So it is likely that they were the labour force for the farm or in a type of Alms House arrangement for paupers, as the Blenkins Yard was in the shadow of the ancient church. It has to be remembered that the social structure had not materially changed from the Middle Ages in terms of the rural countryside. There was very limited freehold land and certainly not for those on the bottom of the social order.

Was this Elizabeth Jackson a sister or cousin to Sarah, the wife of old Francis? The fact that Francis is living next to a family of Jacksons in Blenkins Yard is possibly more than co-incidence.

The 1851 Census records that in the Main Street there were other Jackson families and also a family of Crawforths. David Crawforth, the head of the family, was an agricultural labourer. Also living there was his wife Sarah, a three year old son Thomas, and a house servant Jane Stathers who was a sister-in law. Jane is most likely the younger sister of Sarah Crawforth nee Stathers, daughter of Francis and Ann, now 18, and working in her sister’s home.

The 1851 Death Index for England and Wales (April-June) records the deaths of an Anne Stathers in Preston and Francis Stathers in Sculcoates which was a registration district incorporating Preston.

Paupers

The designation ‘Pauper’ linked the person or family into an age old system going back centuries. Elizabeth 1 initiated the codification of the Poor Laws. Prior to this time the indigent poor were catered for by the monastries which had been dissolved by her father Henry VIII.31 There were many players in this system of dealing with an ever expanding and unpleasant social problem. Parishes had to provide the monetary support through rates. Naturally this was not popular to those who had to pay. There were the functionaries whose job it was to supervise the processes, reduce numbers, and move people on if

31 Paper on Poor Laws by G.Stathers “The Future from the Past- Elizabethan Poor Laws”. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference 2003.

49 indicated. This meant trying to return the possible recipient of support back to their Parish of origin. The social situations of these people were difficult at best. There was also the problem of poor relief funds under the control of the local vicar. Often he was incompetent or disinterested. Block grants of small amounts or in kind would be made at special times such as Christmas. During the 17th century and perhaps later the pauper had to wear an insignia on their sleeve to stigmatise the wearer. Strickland’s observations32 of the Poor rates in 1812 give an excellent local insight of the system. His is a record of 130 years of data analysed and collected by the vicar of Hunmanby, Rev.Francis Wrangham. The rates for payment were first instigated in 1686 at 1s6d per week. Over the years they varied with an average around 7s6d per week for paupers, half of whom were widows. For the year 1786 they comprised £8 15s per person for the year. Poor Houses were becoming more usual as a means to service the poor. In 1803 in a report to the House of Lords relating to the East Riding of Yorkshire, 86 Parishes or Places had Work Houses encompassing 614 persons. These cost £12-9s - ¾d per person per year. There were in the same region 8867 persons relieved but not in Work Houses and these cost per year £3- 15s-7 1/2d. One quote is pertinent:- “pauper-palaces must indeed be prisons with a milder name. Which few inhabit without dread or shame – Mr. Crabb.”. The head of a Work House was paid around 1s-6d per head per week which would encourage the taking in of potential customers

32 “A general view of the agriculture of the east-riding of Yorkshire.” Strickland, Henry Eustasius. ibid

50 as it were. Overall in-out costs together were £4-13s-2 1/2d per person per year. This covered some 7 out of 100 persons living in the region. In terms of rates, £9-9s-2d per head of population were raised to cover these costs. The costs also were related not only to payments to individuals - but also in law suits, removal of paupers to other parishes, expense of overseers and expenditure on materials for employing the poor. Many of the out of Parish recipients were vagrants who received not more than 2s per week. So old Francis living with his children in Blenkins Yard might have received around £3 15 shillings per year or around 1s-4d per week. Interestingly this was very close to the 1686 figure above and significantly below that of an agricultural worker in usual times. But both were at the mercy of inflation, depression, wars, and general scarcity of goods. On the scene also was the emergence of Friendly Societies which began to address the wider problem of support for the working poor in times of adversity.

Old shack under shadow of ancient church, Blenkins Yard, Preston.

George Stathers or Statters In the 1861 census George, now 19, was living on a farm in the parish of Hollym in the district of Patrington which was an extensive agricultural area. Patrington itself was a small village about three miles S-E of Keyingham. It had a population in 1811 of 229, 33 families, and 43 houses.

The farmer was William Day who had a wife and two daughters. There were 280 acres and George was an unmarried servant with the trade of Carrier.33

It also notes that he was born in Preston, Yorkshire.

PATRINGTON: 34

“The parish is of considerable extent, comprising 3,500 acres, of which two-thirds are arable, and the remainder pasture, except 40 acres of woodland. It was for a long time held by the Archbishops of York, but after the Norman Conquest it became a distinct manor. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture, and a considerable trade is done in coals, lime, & c., which are imported from the West Riding. There are steam flour-mills, malting-houses, and breweries; and to the W. of the

33 The trade of Carrier apparently covered both carrying goods plus ploughing.

34 THE ANCIENT PARISH OF HOLLYM- GENUKI [Transcribed information from the early 1820s] "HOLLYM, a parish in the wapentake and liberty of Holderness; 2 miles NE. of Patrington. This village is pleasantly situated on a small eminence.

town are extensive flax-mills, with gas-works on the premises. About a mile from the market-place is a navigable branch of the Humber, which communicates with the town of Havenside. The streets are partially paved and lighted with gas from works belonging to the Provincial Gaslight and Coke Company.”

Following the death of his parents George had found employment and a trade as a carrier. This description of the district shows that opportunity existed for a carrier either in agriculture or products such as lime.

His sister Mercy seems to have married in this period. There is a marriage recorded for a Mercy Stathers in 1866 also in the district of Pattrington, East Riding of Yorkshire and South Holderness - possibly to a Smith.35 This was a somewhat larger town of 1016 persons and 224 houses.

His brother Moody also has moved, but not very far. He is recorded in the 1881 census as living in Owstwick as an agricultural labourer, is aged 46 and married to Mary J. They have five children - four daughters and a son John aged 1. Between 1851 and 1881 he moved around the district according to the birth places of his children. This village was in the district of Patrington.

The next record of note is in the 1871 census of England.

George Stathers, 29, was now head of a family. Occupation - Carrier. He was born in Preston and was living at Keyingham, YKS.

35 Ancestry.com- England and Wales Civil Registration Index 1837-

In the same household was Jane, his wife - aged 27, born at Bonby, Lincolnshire; Elizabeth, daughter, aged 1, born at Keyingham, William C Jenison (scholar) aged 7, visitor, born at Bonby; and William Winker, boarder, a groom aged 21.

The surname of George was written Statters - there is some difficulty whether the second letter is t or h. This commences some of the problems experienced over the years with exact spelling.36 Some write the name as Strathers- but this is a Scottish derivation. There is also Statters, Stothers and so on.

1871 Census of England and Wales. George Statters and Family

36 Ancestry. com.uk- 1871 census of England –for Keyingham.

Ke(a)yingham was a village between Burton Pidsea and Preston. It had a population of 639 in 1822, was 5 miles from Patringham and Hedon, 13 from Hull, and 51 miles from York.

There has been some difficulty in understanding this phase of George’s life. It was still basically the age of the horse although rail was gradually coming to Yorkshire. Villages were close together - by walking or by horse. Carriers were important and horse based - thus the need for a groom in his household.

The marriage registration to Jane (possibly around 1869) has not been found to date but she was born in Bonby, a very small village in adjacent Lincolnshire. The young 7 year old visitor is intriguing - was he the son of a previous marriage by Jane?

Also in Keyingham was another family of Stathers and they had been there a considerable time.

The 1851 census describes brothers John Stathers aged 30, Robert 29, Samuel 18, as being agricultural labourers and unmarried, their sister Mary, 26, and mother Elizabeth, widow, who was the House Keeper. Also living there was Robert Gray- cousin aged 26 - an agricultural labourer.

Was Elizabeth married to one of old Francis’s brothers?

The 1881 census notes that Samuel aged 47 had married, and was a general labourer. In the household were his wife Elizabeth 44, and two daughters - Ann E. 11 and Adelaide 6.

His mother Elizabeth was a widow aged 79. She lived with her son John aged 60 - an agricultural labourer, Robert 59 - a groom, and his wife Hannah.

It is very likely that this family was related. On the death of old Francis it would be natural for the young children to migrate towards family – and Keyingham was quite close by to Preston.

The recent visit to Beverly Records 37 has helped to clarify this question.

From the Parish records of Keyingham is recorded:

George Stather of the Parish of Halsham and Elizabeth Gray of this Parish were married by Banns with consent on Sixth Day of May, 1820. Solemnised by their Mark, George Stathers and Elizabeth Gray. Witness Thomas Latin and Peter Burritt.

One year later their first child John was born.

Elizabeth died at Patrington aged 79 in 1881.

The Halsham Parish was situated between Burton Pidsea and Keyingham. Birth records show that Elizabeth, daughter of John Gray, weaver, was born there in 1801. There were no baptisms recorded for a George Stather in Halsham between 1790 and 1803 suggesting that he was born elsewhere - in an adjacent Parish which was Burton Pidsea.

I suspect that this George is the younger brother to Francis, father of our George. Thus the family in Keyingham would have been uncles and cousins.

George, husband of Elizabeth in Keyingham, does not live long enough to be recorded in the 1841 census.

37 Beverley Treasure House

CHAPTER 3

GEORGE STATHERS – Farmer and Victualler

Mappleton-Cowden 38

The second half of the 1800s brought major changes to English society. The industrial revolution was in full swing with significant consequences to rural life. Two major influences played a role in our story. Firstly it must have been apparent to George that the introduction of the railway would influence his carrying business. Secondly there was a progressive enclosing of common land which excluded many and advantaged a few. It is likely that George was in a position to tender for land and had the necessary skills with his background of farming and carrying. In that period there was considerable rural depression and land was cheap- however it is unlikely that George was able to actually have freehold title given the complicated ownership situation.39

38 Mappleton FHS at the East Riding Archives and Local Studies Service. The Bayan Tree October 2010 No 124.pp 25-6. Background resources and history.

39 Bill Bryson in his book “At Home,” 2010.Transworld Publishers, describes the radical social changes evolving. There was a major rural depression beginning in the 1870s. Harvests were abysmal in seven out of ten years prices

The 1881 British census 40 indicates that George had relocated to Cowden, Yorkshire which was in the East Riding of Yorkshire and not too distant from Keyingham.

The census said he was 38 years of age, a farmer of 156 acres, and had been born in Preston by Hedon in c.1843.

His wife was now Emma, aged 24, born at Cowden. The 1881 English census records that in the household were Mary Elizabeth, born at Keyingham, YKS aged 11, c.1870; Anne, E. 7, born Cowden, YKS c.1874; and Edith 5, born Cowden c. 1876 all from the first marriage to Jane.

Also living in the same household with George and his new wife Emma, was a son George Alfred, born in 1879. The household included an elderly servant James Fetherby, born 1794 and James Johnson, born Mappleton, c.1864.

At the time of Jane’s death the children were only 8, 4, and 2 years of age.

The family had moved to Cowden in around 1874. Jane, his first wife, had died on the 23rd May, 1878, aged 32 years, and was buried at

collapsed, and death duties taxes introduced. Church properties were placed under great strain.

40 www.familysearch.org

Mappleton All Saints Anglican Church where the head stone remains today. There were at least three children born to George and Jane.41,42

Addendum However there perhaps was another child- William. A forgotten source suggested that William had three children and migrated to Australia. This needs confirmation- No proof however has emerged by 2012. The 1871 census records a seven year old boy-William Lefnson (? spelling)- who was a visitor in the household of George and Anne and he was from Bonby- the birthplace of Anne. Also there was a Sydney family of Stathers-unrelated.41

There were also several Stathers families living in Sydney in the late 1800s-early part of the 1900s. In fact a lady contacted me (GS) from Caringbah in the 1970s and said she was related. This has now been largely clarified.42

Thomas James Stathers married Emma Mary Flynn in the district of Sydney in 1876. They had several children one of whom, Thomas William, born 1881, married Catherine Matilda Mary Aird in 1906.

Another, John born 1885, married Annie Brown in 1916 at St. Barnabas’s church in Sydney. The marriage certificate noted that Thomas James was deceased and his occupation had been a Blacksmith’s striker. John was a Boilermaker and lived at Balmain. John later died in 1924.

Emma M. Stathers died in Sydney in 1896- her father was William Flynn and mother Ellen Flynn. Her husband Thomas also died in 1896. His father was also a Thomas.

Thomas William and Catherine Matilda had a daughter Catherine Mary Stathers. She in turn married Maxwell Raymond John McGregor at St Bedes Church of England at Drummoyne in 1933. This was the lady I had met in the 1970s. She lived until 2000.

Her son Maxwell McGregor married Doreen and in turn their daughter became Leigh Widdowson.

The original Thomas apparently came from Yorkshire but more is to be learnt about other relationships.

Mappleton All Saints Anglican Church. 2007 photo LS

Headstone for Jane, first wife of George Stathers. Mappleton Church Yard. 1878.43

43 English bdm April-May 1878- Jane Stathers aged 32 died Skirlaugh.

Following the death of Ann in 1878 it seems that George married within the year - there is a marriage recorded at Hull for September, 1878 - as mentioned before the daughters from the first marriage were still very young.

Emma Stathers, nee Moore, George’s second wife was born in Cowden about 1857. Her father was Robert and mother Mary. In 1881 there were Moores who were neighbours to George Stathers - but they were Richard and wife Annie. Other neighbours were the Giles.

MAPPLETON and COWDEN

The district consists of three adjoining villages - Mappleton, Greater and Little Cowden - the latter two combining to form Cowden Ambo, and Rolston. They are of great antiquity and the history of Mappleton and Cowden is ancient.44 In 1377 there were 100 poll-tax payers at Mappleton, 56 at Rolston, and 86 at Cowden Ambo.

Over the centuries the North or German sea has consumed the coast progressively and continues its devastation even today. In the late 18th century it was decreasing the land area by about one acre per year at Little Cowden. The 630 yards between Mappleton Church and the sea cliff in 1786 had almost been halved by 1956.

A little further south is the village of Aldenbrough.

More recently the incursion of the North Sea has continued as seen in the following photos taken in 2007.

44 www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=16155

Sea Cliff eroding near Mappleton 2007 photo LS

Debris, gravel, and attempts to protect sea edge - Mapleton 2007. photo LS.

The current Mappleton village is built along both sides of a long street. The buildings are almost all of brick and date mostly from the 19th century.

Great Cowden developed as a linear settlement with common lands to east and west. It is said that the choice of site was probably influenced by the springs there. By the mid19th century the north end of the main street was less than 150 yards from the cliff edge.

In the mid19th century several farmhouses were built inland on former common land, among these were Cowden Magna, Manor, and Mill Hill farms between 1829 and 1852, and Glebe farm between 1852 and 1882. It is assumed that these developments were in conjunction with enclosing the properties. Actual ownership related to both church and manor.

At the time George Stathers was farming on the Glebe farm it is likely that the land was owned by a Mary Whyte – she had bought the freehold of most of the rectory, and the c. 200 acres of former glebe land at Mappleton and Great Cowden in 1883-1898. This complicated story is documented in the British History Online publication.45

However George would have paid fees as a tenant and possibly tithes to the church or Mary Whyte as well. Apparently it was customary to change farms or renegotiate leases on a certain time or day within the rural cycle - say every 3-5 years - probably relating to the productivity outcomes.

Henry Strickland discusses this situation at some length 46 . “The tenure by which the lands of this Riding are held is, with few

45 British History Online-North Division-Mappleton. A History of the County of York East Riding, Vol.7, 2002. Holderness Wapentake, Middle and North Divisions pp 306-21

46 “A General View of the Agriculture of the East-Riding of Yorkshire.”Henry Eustasius Strickland.1812.

63 exceptions, freehold. Those belonging to the church, or other corporate bodies, are usually let out upon lease for three lives, renewable on the fall of each, at the rate of a year and a half, or a year and three quarters’ improved rent; and the lessees commonly let them to the occupiers by a year, according to the tenure of the country.” The advantage of this system of lives led to promotion of improvement of the farm.

The 1891 English census shows that George was still at the Glebe farm. Their family had increased. George was now 48 years and Emma 34.

There was Annie E. 17, Edith 15 - both single and from the first marriage to Jane. However the third daughter Elizabeth, aged 21, was living at the Mappleton vicarage as a domestic servant. The vicar, Thomas W. Kelly, aged 60, was single and born in Ireland. There was another domestic servant at the vicarage, Charlotte Taylor, aged 46.

Seven children had been born since the 1881 census. In addition to George Alfred who was now was 11, there was John Robert 9; Eleanor, 6; twins Elsie and Florence aged 4; Emma B, 2; Kathleen 1; and Laura 3 months.

Henry Croft was a farm servant aged 21, single.

The census records neighbours- Abraham Giles, Withernwick Road, farmer. Thomas Randall, Mappleton Road, farm labourer. Luke Simpson ditto. Farmer. George Stathers. Ditto. Glebe Farm. Thomas Giles. Village Black Grange. Farmer Stephen Giles. Village farm house. Cow keeper. 64

John Manning. Village Hotel. Inn Keeper.

The Census shows some of the Mapleton village structure - Most of the birth places were local.

It consisted of The Mill, Manor House, Vicarage, School House, Post Office, Shop, eleven cottages, smith’s shop, the Glebe House, a private house where Thomas Ake, the wheelright and his family lived, and five farm houses.

Consistent with the times there were few who we would call “old people.” In the Census there were 62 males and 62 females. The age distribution was as follows:

Age distribution Mappleton 1891:

Age 0-9 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-79

Male 14 16 11 8 5 2 6

Female 14 15 11 9 8 4 1

Total 28 31 22 17 13 6 7

No paupers are registered. Children were scholars until about 11 years. The three elderly men in their 70s were working - two as farm labourers and one as a shoemaker. There were many single men and women in their late teens and 20s - it appears that early marriage was not occurring.

Mill Hill farm - Opposite to Glebe Farm. Photo LS

Foregoing 47 Maps of Mappleton 1848 and Cowden Ambo 1855 - Mill Hill and Glebe Farm.

Arrow points to Glebe Farm in lower photo. Dotted line shows sea incursion in lower photo.

47 http://www.british-history.ac.uk

There is a “Transcript of the entry for the Post Office, professions and trades for MAPPLETON and GREAT COWDEN “in the Bulmer’s Directory of 1892.48

Under Miscellany of trades were • Butler George, blacksmith • Giles Stephen, cow keeper • Markham William, property owner • Moore Robert, cottager • Needler William, bootmaker • Thompson Martin, cottager farmer

Farmers • Cooper John • Giles Abraham • Giles Thomas • Manning John C., and vict., Cross Keys Inn • Simpson Luke • Stathers George, Glebe farm • Swift George, HenrySwift • John,Yarley John

The postal address was Great Cowden, Skirlaugh, Hull. The nearest Money Order Office was at Aldbrough, and Telegraph at Hornsea.

Baine’s Directory also gives a list of trades and farmers for Mappleton and Cowden in 1823. There is an Electoral Roll for the parish of Mappleton in 1834. The names of persons “entitled to vote in the Election of Knights of the Shire for the East-Riding of the County of

48 www.genuki.org.uk.

York, and the County of the Town of Kingston-upon-Hull” are noted. Edward Moore has a Freehold house and 150 acres of land in the Parish of Mappleton.

The 1892 Miscellany of Trades gives an idea of the needs of a small country village. There was a joiner and wheelwright, blacksmith, tailor and shop keeper, carrier, vicar, schoolmaster, corn miller, and coachman.

In the 1901 England census the family of George Stathers senior was living in Mapleton Road, Cowden Ambo, Parish of Aldborough, Rural District of Skirlaugh, Parliamentary Division of Holderness Yorks. The residents of his household were as follows: George Stathers, Head, age 59, born Preston Yorkshire. Emma Stathers, wife, 43, born Cowden George Alfred, son, 21, born Cowden, working at home. Married Jane Loftus -1913. (Registered Bridlington vol.9d page 739) (died age 85) John Robert, son19, born Cowden, working at home. (Married Emily Crump (died. age 76) Elinor, daughter, 16, born Cowden, worker, working at home. Married W.E.Smith Elsie, daughter, 14, born Cowden married H.Gibson (died ‘flu age 32) Florence, daughter, 14, born Cowden, married Mr. Harnies Kathleen, daughter, 11, born Cowden (d. age 74-arthritis) Laura, daughter, 10, born Cowden. Frank, son, 8, born Cowden.

There was also at the same address William Bainton 17, cattlehand- worker; Albert Gardham 56, worker-servant; William Jennison 36, cattleman-worker; and Christopher Sowersby 17, horseman-worker. Interestingly all were single men.

Elizabeth, Annie, and Edith, from the first marriage of George senior, had left the family. Edith was a servant working as a cook in the household of Harold Wade at Ferriby- Sculcoates.

Trying to piece together the movements of the family in the early 1900s is a little difficult. Owing to the foresight of Paul Stathers a clearer picture emerges. He interviewed his father George Alfred six months before he died and what follows reflects the memories of George. He was born at Cowden in 1905 and was the oldest child born to John Robert Stathers and Emily nee Crump.

The family had been living and farming in Cowden for over 30 years and his own father John Robert had been born there in 1882. Grandfather George by now was about 63 years of age. His wife Emma seems to have had a chronic illness of some type and was an invalid.

John Robert was the first of the children to marry - in 1903 to Emily Crump. He was still living and working on the family farm - it must have been rather cramped given the number of adults, teenagers, and workmen residing there. There is some indication that John Robert and his new family were living in a rundown cottage which ultimately disintegrated owing to the onslaught of the sea. They were still there in 1906 when a daughter Dorothy was born.

Frank and Florrie - on Frank’s farm at Beverly in 1968

CHAPTER 4

The Welsh-Hereford families MEREDITHS - CRUMPS

MEREDITHS

Our grandmother Emily Crump had her family origins in Wales and Herefordshire. She was small in stature with twinkling eyes. Her husband John Robert was a tall and solidly built man as were his brothers. He had a broad Yorkshire accent which as a child I had difficulty in understanding. In temperament they were quite different with Emily seemingly carrying the burden of the family.

For the sake of clarity it is best to start with the Merediths whose name was carried on as a patronymic through three subsequent generations- my father Edgar Meredith, my second name, and now my brother Peter’s son, Philip Meredith.

The traceable family tree begins with Edward MEREDITH born 1811 in Cfn-Llys, Radnorshire, Wales. He later married

Elizabeth born 1819, also from the same village or area.

They had four children.

Elizabeth Sarah Susan Robert

Born 1848 1850 1852 1854

Birth Place Clifton Cusop Cusop Cusop

Married C. Crump T. Dillingham Cole Not married

In 2007 John Harris took us to the small village of Cefn-Llys where the Merediths had originally come from. A beautiful custom is now followed in the little Parish church at Cefn-Llys where visitors are offered a pebble in remembrance of their visit to the ancient church. A local lady paints these river pebbles. Above the church on the high ridge are the remnants of the ancient Mortimer castle.

The Genuki internet site gives some idea of the area in the 1700s. “Radnorshire and Cliss or Cfn-llysor is 90 Miles in circumference, contains about 310000 Acres, Town privileged with sending 1 member

73 to Parliament like ye rest of ye Welsh Boroughs, 52 Parishes & about 3158 Houses. The Air is sharp, the Soil barren & mountainous, abounding in Woods, Rivers & Moors, intermixed with some fruitfull Valleys. Its chief Commodities are Cheese & Horses." [Emanuel Bowen, Britannia Depicta, 1720]

In “A topographical Dictionary of Wales” by Samuel Lewis, 1833, there is the following description.

“Kevenlleece ( Ceundred of Kevenlleece), County of Radnor, South Wales, on the road from Newtown to Builth. 1 ½ mile ( S.A. by S.) from Pen Y Bont, containing 367 inhabitants. This place, the name of which signifies the ‘Palace Ridge,’ or ‘Hill’, is of considerable antiquity, and consists of the Borough and the Out-Parish.

A castle of considerable extent and great strength was erected here, about the year 1242, by Ralph Mortimer, which is sometimes called ‘ Castell Glyn Ithon’ from its occupying an elevated and commanding site on the banks of the Ithon, by which it was nearly surrounded : the ruins form an interesting object amid the surrounding scenery. The parish is extremely hilly, and, being for the most part, destitute of wood, is in general of dreary aspect: the tops of some of the hills, however, command prospects of striking interest. Lead-ore and coal are supposed to exist within its limits, but all attempts to procure these minerals have proved fruitless.”

The foregoing is a helpful Internet site which describes the situation in Cefn-llys in the 1800s.49 In the year 1841 there were 370 people living there. Apparently until the late 1860s Cefnllys (Welsh derivation - Cfn - ridge Llys - court.) was a large rural parish without even a village. Most of the people would have been involved in farming or working the land. This would have been a tough life by any standard. In the 1860s however everything changed when a rough wet common was enclosed and the town of Llandrindod Wells built on it. This became a popular resort. A marriage was recorded in Hay, Herefordshire, in the April-June quarter of 1847 for an Edward Meredith.

This could have been our Edward. 50 After their marriage the Merediths initially moved to Clifford in Herefordshire. Their first child Elizabeth was born there in c.1848.51

CLIFFORD is a large parish, extending to the borders of Breconshire and Radnorshire, and distant about 3 miles N.E. of Hay, 9 S.W. of Kington, and 18 W.N.W. of Hereford, in Huntington hundred, Hay union and county court district, Dorstone polling district, and Bredwardine petty sessional

49 http://history.powys.org.uk/schoo1/Llandrindod/cefnpop.shtml

50 BDM Vol. xxvi p.565

51 Clifford, Herefordshire.Description from Littlebury’s Directory and Gazetteer f Herefordshire. 1876-7. Transcription by Rosemary Lockie 2002

75 division. The river Wye enters Herefordshire near this place, and glides beautifully between orchards, meadows, and corn-fields, till it reaches the abrupt and commanding eminence of Mawbech hill. The Hereford, Hay, and Breton branch of the Midland railway and the main road from Hereford to Hay intersect the parish. The population in 1861 was 895; in 1871, 921. The soil is sandy; subsoil, sandsfone; principal crops, wheat, barley, beans, and roots. On a bold eminence, rising from the banks of the Wye, near its entrance into this county from Breconshire, stand the picturesque remains of Clifford castle, for nearly two centuries the baronial residence of the Lords de Clifford, who obtained it by the marriage of Walter Fitz-Richard (a descendant of Richard, second Duke of Normandy) with Margaret, daughter and heiress of Ralph de Cundy. It was built by William Fitz- Osborne, Earl of Hereford; but at the time of the Domesday survey was held by Radulphus de Totenie. The venerable ruins are mantled with ivy and surrounded by graceful trees, and the neighbouring country is richly wooded. The celebrated but unfortunate Jane de Clifford, commonly known as "Fair Rosamond", daughter of Walter de Clifford, was born in this castle. She was the favourite of Henry II., and on account of her beauty was called Rosa Mundi, the "Rose of the World". In the time of Henry I., Simon Fitz-Walter founded a cell of Cluniac monks in this parish, subordinate to the Priory at Lewes, in Sussex. It was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, and its revenues at the period of the Dissolution were estimated, according to Speed, at £65 11s. 11d. per annum. Clifford is in the diocese and archdeaconry of Hereford and rural deanery of Weobley; living, a vicarage; value, £340, with residence and 60 acres of glebe; 76

patron, Mrs. Elizabeth Trumper; vicar, Rev. T. W. Walwyn Trumper, M.A., S.C.L., of Pembroke College, Oxford, who was instituted in 1874. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient stone edifice, with square tower, in the Norman style, in a fair state of repair, and containing five bells. The interior has nave, chancel, porch, font, organ, and several monuments and tablets. The earliest register is dated 1100 [Ed: somehow, I don't think so, but this is what it says!]. The charities amount to about £10 yearly. There is an endowed national school for boys and girls, under Government inspection. The Presbyterians have a chapel at Priory wood.

The subsequent life course of the Merediths appears to be related to regular moves to different small farms in relative close proximity to each other.

The 1851 census describes Edward Meredith as being 40 years of age, a farmer of 60 acres. By then they had moved to Cusop, Herefordshire in around 1849-50. It was here that the next three children were born - Sarah, 1850; Susan, 1852; and Robert 1854.

The farm was called Tillay - to date the exact location has not been identified. However in the 1891 census for Clodock there is a family of Tilleys - perhaps there is a link.

Besides the family of Edward, Elizabeth, and daughters Elizabeth and Sarah there was in the house John Lloyd, 14, agricultural worker - he was born in Leominster, Hereford. Subsequently there was a close relationship between the Lloyd, Harris, Crump families which continues to the present time.

In the 1861 census the older Merediths are missing. 77

However a Sarah Meredith is living with a family of Lloyds at Newton, Herefordshire. She is only 13 and is a House servant. William Lloyd, head of family, is a cordweaver. He and his wife Ann were born in Clodock.52

Interestingly this Sarah says she was born in Wormbridge. This is a little hard to understand - perhaps we have the wrong Sarah Meredith. However the Lloyd association is intriguing and in addition Newton is close to Michael Church - where the Merediths had moved to.

By 1871 they had moved again, this time to Michael Church which is near Craswell - and the Black Mountains were three miles away.

There Edward farmed 34 acres – he was now 71 years of age. The farm was called? “Old Gates.” (The writing is difficult to decipher)

The Census shows that living with him were his wife Elizabeth, now 56; Susan, unmarried and 18; Robert, son aged 17.

Sarah, 22, was working at the Hall’s farm at Yarkhill, a village east of Hereford, as a housemaid. The Halls were farming 350 acres and it was quite a large household.

Elizabeth, the eldest daughter, was working as a house servant with a farming family at Blakemore. Henry Haywood was the husband aged 50; Jane 48 - wife; and four children from 4 to 17.There were two domestic servants and one farm servant.

52 Schedule No.43: Harpfield Cottage St Devbereaux 1901 census James LLOYD : Head : M : 43 : Labourer General : Worker : Crasswall : HEF Mary LLOYD : Wife : M : 54 : Old Radnor : [RAD] Annie B W LLOYD : Dau : S : 20 : Abbeydore : HEF Charles CHARLES : Boarder : S : 26 : Labourer General : Worker : Pontrilas : HEF

Blakemere was a small village adjacent to Madley or Eaton Bishop where Charles Crump, her future husband, was born.

By 1881 the Merediths had again moved - but not far away - to Peterchurch parish. They had a small farm of 76 acres - “Old Tay.” Robert 27 and Susan 28, were still at home. Edward was now 87 years and Elizabeth 65. It is apparent that Edward was still farming but Robert was in all likelihood running the farm.53

The older Merediths lived on into old age. Between 1881 and 1891 Edward had died living into his late 80’s. In the 1891 census Elizabeth Meredith, widow, now aged 72, was living independently next to her daughter and family at Clodock.

The following Ordinance map shows the proximity of these locations - Peter Church, Blakemere, Madley, Eaton Bishop, Craswell, Cusop - all within about a ten mile radius.

53 There are disparities in Edward’s age- and therefore date of birth- 1801-1811.

Life Course of Meredith Daughters

Elizabeth Meredith marriage to Charles Crump

Charles Crump was born in Madley, Hereford, where there were many Crump families. His father was Richard Crump.

The marriage of Charles to Elizabeth Meredith took place on 28 April, 1877 at Eaton Bishop, Hereford.54 Elizabeth would have been 29 and Charles 25.

Their first child Sarah was born in 1879 at Dorestone - nearby to Madley and Blakemere. In the 1881 census the second child was 9 months old and was born at Crasswell. Perhaps they had moved to Crasswell to be close to Elizabeth’s parents who were then at Michaelchurch - or a farm had become available there which would be consistent with the tenancy patterns.

The census address in Craswall was Tebobo, Crasswall, Herefordshire. The name of the farm should be TYBUBACH and had been Anglicised to Tebobo although the Ordinance survey map uses the correct spelling.

Craswell was situated near the source of the river Monnow, at the foot of the Black mountains - it was a small village in the civil parish of Clodock situated on the boundary between Herefordshire and Brecknockshire. This was 12 miles west from Hereford. The population in 1871 was 345.55 The Tybubach farm was situated near

54 IGI Individual Record. M138792. 1813-1885. Source Call No. 1040198

55 Genuki. From Littlebury’s Directory and Gazetteer of Hereford.

80 the Black Hill, and the pathway of the old Mercian Offas Dyke 56 was just over the mountain. In 2007 we were very fortunate to be able to visit the old farm cottage which is still standing and being lived in. The current family has occupied it since the Crumps left.

Ordnance Survey Map – showing Craswell and Blackhill. Offa’s Dyke is to the left

56 King Offa, king of Mercia in 757, tried to delineate a secure border between Wales and Mercia by building the dyke running from Prestatyn on the Dee to Chepstow on the Severn estuary.

Ordnance Survey of UK showing Tybubach (or Tebobo as Anglicised).

In the 1880s conditions would have been rather primitive. A fictional account about a family living at Blackhill farm in the 1890s has been published and a film made. This farm adjoined Tybubach.57 As was common at the time, the barn at Tybubach was part of the house. Floors were possibly earthen and heating negligible. Obviously there was no electricity, cars, modern facilities. The farm of 13 acres would have been relatively self-sufficient but basic.

From the Blackhill book it is apparent that there was a local small village. It had a church and chapel, a school attached to the church,

57 “On the Black Hill,” Bruce Chatwin. Picador.1982.

82 market days, and the lord of the manor controlled the land and much of the local life. A village school was built in 1876.

The small booklet outlining the history of the St Mary’s church at Craswall gives some idea of the life in the 1800s. 58 The church itself has origins going back at least to the 1200s. It was linked to a priory which was founded in Craswall by Walter de Lacy Lord of Ewyas Harold. The name Craswall or Cressewell meant “the cress well.” The booklet describes a roughly square depression against the wall of the church which was used as a fives court. There was also evidence for a cock pit in the northwest corner of the church yard used for fighting cocks. Farmers in the 19th century also stored wool in the church before going to wool fairs.

The Genuki site gives details of Craswell in 1860-70 period.59

Lacy hundred, Dore union and petty sessional division, Hay county court district, and Michaelchurch Eskley polling district. The population of the township in 1861 was 356; in 1871, 345; inhabited houses, 76; families or separate occupiers, 76; area, 3,848a. 1r. 3p.; annual rateable value, £2,051 10s. The Marquess of Abergavenny, who is lord of the manor of Ewyas Lacy, Penry Williams, Esq., and Miss Rawson are the principal landed proprietors. The soil is sandy; subsoil, sandstone; chief CRASSWALL, CRASWELL, or CROSSWOLD, is a chapelry, township, and small village in

58 2002.St Mary’s Church, Craswell

59 Genuki site for Craswell and Clodock

83 the parish of Clodock, situated near the source of the river Monnow, at the foot of the Black mountains, which here form the boundary between Herefordshire and Brecknockshire. It is distant 7 miles S.E. of Hay, 16 N. of Abergavenny, 20 W. of Hereford, and about 8 N.W. of Pontrilas station on the Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford branch of the Great Western railway (West Midland section); is in Ewyas produce, wheat, oats, barley, and roots. Crasswall forms a part of the parish of Clodock for ecclesiastical purposes only; for civil purposes it has its own officers, and maintains its own poor. It is in Hereford diocese and archdeaconry and Weobley rural deanery; living, a perpetual curacy; value, £65, including 25 acres of glebe; patron, the vicar of Clodock (Rev. Charles Proberts, of Bacton); incumbent, Rev. Charles Lionel Eagles, M.A., of Wadham College, Oxford, who was instituted in 1852, and resides at Longtown vicarage. The register begins with the year 1703. …The township is included in the Longtown district school board. New school buildings, to accommodate 75 children, are about to be erected from the designs of Messrs. Haddon Brothers, of Hereford and Malvern. The Primitive Methodists have two chapels here. Among the Black mountains, near the rise of one of the branches of the Monnow, and between 1 and 2 miles from the borders of Brecknockshire, formerly stood a small priory dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and subordinate to the order of Grandmount, in Normandy. It contained a prior and ten monks, who were established here about the end of the reign of King John.

St.Marys and St Davids Church at Craswell where the Crump children were probably baptized - but no grave yard it being too rocky.

Black Mountains behind Tybubach - 2007

Tybubach farm house 2007- modified over years with the addition of an upper storey - note barn at right end.

Oak beams in farm house - 2007. Photo of current farm on wall.

The 1891 census shows that Charles and Elizabeth Crump are now in the Clodock parish but the Ancestry.com.uk site says that they were in a small parish called Treville. This was one mile west of Thruxton and close to Allensmore. There were six children living at home and Elizabeth Meredith 72, mother-in-law, widow, was still living with the family and of independent means. The eldest daughter Sarah was now 13 and the youngest Julia 1.60

In the 1901 census the family had now moved to “The Ferns” Thruxton. Charles, a farm labourer, was 50 and Elizabeth, mother, was fifty three years of age. With them were Jessie 20; Mary Elizabeth (Liz) 13; Julia 11. Jessie was a domestic servant at Thruxton.

Emily, 19, was at Hornsea in Yorkshire working in the hotel owned by her uncle and aunt, Thomas and Sarah Dillingham (nee Meredith).

Sarah, 22, was working at Ledbury as a housekeeper for Thomas Daires aged 52 and his wife Mary M. aged 73 - Thomas was an organist and teacher of music, but also blind from birth, and Mary was deaf from childhood.61 This must have been a great challenge.

Alfred was not found in the 1901 census but in 1911 is living in Saskatchewan, Canada- where he lived out his long life. The exact

61 National Archives Ref. RG13, Oiece 2471, Folio40 Page 31, Schedule number211

87 date when he went to Canada needs to be determined but it seems to be in his mid-teens. He never married.

The 1901 census also notes that Jessie was born in Craswall, Hereford, Mary Elizabeth and Julia were born at The Ferns, Thruxton, Hereford - which was also the address of the family recorded at the time of the 1901 census. This appears to be incorrect as the 1891 census records that they were all born in Crasswell. There could be another explanation but this seems incorrect.

62THRUXTON is a small parish situated on the road leading from Ross to Hay, about 6 miles S. W. of Hereford, 14 N. W. of Ross, 16 S.E. of Hay, and 2 W.N.W. of Tram Inn station on the Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford branch of the Great Western railway. It is in Webtree hundred, Dore union and petty sessional division, Madley polling district, and Hereford county court district. The population in 1861 was 65; in 1871, 68; inhabited houses, 13; families or separate occupiers, 13; area of parish, 437 acres; annual rateable value, £755. The Rev. Archer Clive, of Whitfield, is lord of the manor and principal landowner. The soil is a stiff loam; chief crops, wheat, barley, roots, clover, &c. The parish produces excellent limestone for agricultural purposes. There is an ancient tumulus in the parish.

The grave memorials in the Thruxton church yard record Elizabeth Crump, died age 59, on 8 November, 1907. Her husband Charles lived

62 Thruxton, Herefordshire. Description from Littlebury's Directory and Gazetteer of Herefordshire, 1876-7.

88 until 77 years and died on 6 April, 1928. Their daughter Julia, 38 years, died July, 1928 - from tuberculosis.

Returning back again to the Meredith Daughters.

Sarah Meredith to Thomas Dillingham - and Hornsea.

We last met Sarah when she was working as a servant at Yarkhill in the 1871 census.

The next clear view is in the 1901 census. She had married Thomas Dillingham and they owned the Marine Hotel at Hornsea, Yorkshire. As mentioned previously, Emily Crump, Sarah’s niece aged 18 was working for them.

Sarah and Thomas did not have any children.

Thomas was born in Weldon, Northamptonshire. Tracing his background is difficult. There was a Thomas Dillingham born in Weldon to Thomas and Elizabeth Dillingham in 1850. Old Thomas was an agricultural labourer as was his son, aged 12, in 1861.

In the 1881 census there is a Thomas Dillingham, aged 36, born in Weldon, and he was a coachman. He had a wife Ann but no children. Perhaps he became a widower and remarried to Sarah Meredith.

Sarah died in the late 1930s in Yorkshire. The properties were inherited by her niece Jessie Holbrow nee Crump and subsequently by her adopted daughter Mary, second daughter of Julia Crump-Arthur Dennis.

In 2009 the Hornsea hotel was still trading with different owners.

Susannah Meredith to Mr. Cole.

In the 1881 census, as mentioned previously Susan was living at home and unmarried. She then married a Mr. Cole. However in the 1901 census she is a widow and a farmer, has a son Robert Edward, aged 10 who lived until 5 September, 1960. He did not marry.

Robert Meredith

In the 1881 census Robert is a farmer of 76 acres. He is living with his sister Susan aged 28, and parents Edward 87 and Elizabeth 65 at Peterchurch – the farm was named Old Tay.

Meredith-Crump-Harris Welsh-Hereford families

Summary of Relationships.

Edward Meredith b.1811 m .Elizabeth 1847 Four Children Elizabeth b.1848, m. Charles Crump 1877. d. 1907 TB Sarah b.1850.m.T Dillingham. ni. Susan b.1852.m.Cole. One son Robert. n.m. Robert b. 1854. n.m.

The Meredith line therefore continued only through Elizabeth and Charles and subsequently through the Harris-Stathers-Dennis lines.

The six Children to Elizabeth and Charles Crump were:

Sarah b.1879.m. John Arthur Harris1908.d.1917. Jessie b.1881.m.Holbrow 1909.ni.

Emily b. 1883.m. John Robert Stathers 1903.Migrated to Australia 1915

Mary Elizabeth b.1889. (Liz) . Migrated to Canada. m.Shankland.ni.

Julia b. 1890. d. 1928 TB. m. Arthur Dennis Daughters Elsie, Mary. Alfred b. c.1888. Migrated Canada. nm.

Short life stories of Crump sisters.

Sarah nee Crump - Harris – born 1879. See Harris family.

Jessie nee Crump - Holbrow - born 1881. Jessie married Alfred Holbrow in July 1909. Alfred was from the Hay parish and Jessie from Thruxton. Alfred Holbrow died in World War 1 during the influenza epidemic of 1916. Jessie never remarried but went to Hornsea in later life to care for her aunt, Sarah Dillingham nee Meredith. This was around 1930. She had also adopted her niece Mary Dennis following the death of her mother (Julia) three years before. It appears that she was close to Julia who died with Tuberculosis.

We met Jessie in 1968 when she was living in a house opposite to where the Marine Hotel, Hornsea, stood.63 There was an elegance about her which pointed to an earlier era.

Jessie Holbrow nee Crump, Hornsea, Yorkshire c 1968

63 55 New Road, Hornsea, E.Yorkhire

Emily nee Crump –STATHERS

Emily was born in 1883 at Craswall, on the border of Hereford- Monmouthshire - under the “Black Mountains’, on the border of England and Wales. Her father was Charles Crump - born 1852 in Burghill or Madley, Herefordshire. Family legend has it that he was a tough character - a boxer, drinker etc. Charles’ father was Richard Crump.

Her mother was Elizabeth, nee Meredith, born 1848 in Clifford, Herefordshire.

Young Emily Crump left- ? Young sister Julia on

right. (courtesy John Stathers)

The 1901 census indicates that Emily was working in Hornsea, Yorkshire. Her aunt Sarah Dillingham (nee Meredith), for whom she was working, was born at Peterchurch, Herefordshire in about 1852. 94

Her husband was Thomas Dillingham, b.c.1851 in Weldon, Northamptonshire, England. The hotel in Hornsea was the Marine Hotel - it was built by the Dillingham family. At the time of her marriage Emily was still working there. The Dillinghams had no children of their own. It was situated on the promenade and must have been in its heyday, a popular venue for tourists. At this time her future husband John Robert Stathers was living on the family farm at Greater Cowden just south of Hornsea. From all accounts he was a handsome man, lover of racing, and he most probably met Emily at the hotel.

Emily married John Robert Stathers in the December quarter of 190364. Banns for the marriage were legally issued on three separate Sundays in October, 1903 in the Parish of Allensmore, Hereford. The marriage was registered in the district of Hereford, County of Herefordshire-Monmouthshire as seen in this transcript from Allensmore.

Their first child was George Alfred (junior), was registered in the March quarter, 1905 at Skirlaugh, Yorkshire - and born February at Cowden where the couple were now living.

The second child, Dorothy, was registered in the December quarter, 1906 at Skirlaugh. (but on Dorothy’s later Air Force record the Date of Birth is 10 November,1907 at Howden.) It is probable they had moved from Cowden to Howden around 1907.

The third child Edgar Meredith was registered in the March quarter, 1909 at Hereford (date of birth 9th January, 1909). But the address of their home on the Birth certificate was Newfields Farm, Howden,

64 Ancestry.com-England and Wales, Civil Registration Index: 1837-1983

Yorkshire. Emily had probably travelled by train to her family living in Herefordshire for the birth of the child. When the fourth child John Robert was born on 25 August, 1910 they were still at Newfields farm, Howden - but he may have been born in Hereford as was Edgar.

Howden was in the south-western area of the East Riding and 21 miles from York. It was famous at this time for its horse fairs, pubs, and history. Newfields was a small hamlet a mile or so out of town. Given John Robert’s personality it perhaps sounds an attractive place for farming! As usual it would have been on a tenancy basis.

Marine Hotel in distance, Hornsea.

Card sent by Emily to son John from Montreal 1938.

Alfred Crump

The events of Alfred’s life are sketchy. It appears that he migrated to Canada in his late teens. He never married but was a farmer. He was involved in support of the local school in his town in Saskatchewan.

Letter from Alfred Crump to author - George - 1940s

Mary Elizabeth Shankland65

Liz was born in 1889. She married a Mr. Shankland and lived in Vancouver, British Columbia. There were no children.

65 Previous address Mrs M.Shankland, 13081 Old Yaleka, Nth Surrey, BC, Canada.

Julia nee Crump - Dennis

Julia’s first child, Elsie (known as Joy) was born out of wedlock on 16 February1926. The Birth Certificate records that Elsie was born at the Royal Infirmary, Bristol on 11 January, 1926. The father was “Arthur William Dennis and mother Julia Dennis, formerly Crump”. Arthur was falsely said to be a farmer of Bristol. The state of the relationship was disguised and incorrect information given. Apparently the couple went to Bristol for the birth of the child. Dennis was a pillar of his local village in Shelwick, lay reader in the church and a member of the Parochial Church Council - however he was also a widower.

Julia later married Arthur Dennis on 26 April, 1927. Julia was then living at The Ferns, Thruxton, aged 35, and Arthur was 57 and living at The Hawthorn Farm, Shelwick.

One of the witnesses at the marriage was Jessie Holbrow and the ceremony was at the Register Office, Hereford. Tragically Joy was fostered out prior to this.66 It appears that Joy was never told about her parentage - the fostering situation was said to be cruel. Arthur Dennis seems to have given some financial support behind the scenes.

66 Source- John and Dorothy Harris 2006- Joy Fullerton is alive and well in 2014- brought up in Bristol, but lived in Carlson, London, all her adult life prior to later years- is now widowed- has one unmarried son Bernard.

Mary Dennis, the second daughter, was born 13 November, 1927.67 Her birth certificate states that she was born at Hawthorn Farm, Shelwick and named Mary Monica.

Julia died from Pulmonary Tuberculosis on 12 July 1928 – she was 38 and was buried at Thruxton with her parents on 28 July 1928.

The Death Certificate records that she died at Chepstow, Sub-district of Sydney, Gloucester on 12 July, 1928 in the District Hospital. She was 37 and the wife of Arthur William Dennis, farmer at Hawthorn Farm, Shelwick. In attendance was her step daughter K.Ping. Mary Monica was only 8 months of age when her mother died.

It is sad to note that Julia’s own father had only just pre deceased her on 6 April, 1928. Her mother Elizabeth also had TB and had died in 1907 aged 59.

The marriage to William Dennis must have been a time of great trial - they were only officially married for about 15 months before she died -Mary was born after 7 months of marriage and there must have been great anguish previously about fostering out Elsie (Joy). Julia in addition was dying from Tuberculosis, Dennis was no longer young, and they had a new baby. The real tragedy was in the hypocrisy of the situation, the falsehoods and the loss of Joy to her real family. It seems unimaginable today that illegitimacy carried such a stigma and led to these types of human tragedy.

67 Mary died August 27, 1997 from a cerebral aneurism.

100

Mary Searle nee Dennis, Julia’s second daughter, was adopted by her aunt, Jessie Holbrook, on the death of her mother and was then brought up at Beverley, Yorkshire from age three.

She was married to Harry John Mackenzie Seale 24, a student engineer, on 25 March, 1950.

The Marine Hotel owned by the Dillinghams in Hornsea was later inherited on Sarah Dillingham’s death by Jessie Holbrow. Jessie had looked after Sarah in her later years. Jessie’s husband had died in France during World War 1 and she never remarried.

Emily our grandmother, had returned to Hornsea from Australia in 1938 with her daughter Dorothy following Sarah’s death - there was the possibility of her inheriting the Hornsea properties but she decided to return to Australia where her family was. In addition war had been declared. It is difficult to know the details about such matters - Emily’s older living sister was Jessie Holbrow - but she had also worked for the Dillinghams prior to her marriage. In the event Mary Searle later inherited the properties on the death of Jessie Holbrow.

Joy and son Bernard with George and Lois at John and Dorothy Harris’s home. 2007

101

CHAPTER 5

THE HARRIS FAMILY

Farm, Allensmore, Hereford. Ordnance Survey Map of Allensmore. Note Church House and Tything Barn ford.

The Crump and Harris families have been closely associated over the period of this story. The association is centred around the village of Allensmore and the district lying south west of the city of Hereford. John and Dorothy Harris still own the old Tything Barn farm although

102 they live down the road at Court Plocks. In 2014 John is 77 years and actively involved in the farm and village life as is Dorothy. He is also an International judge for ploughing competitions. Their immediate neighbour is a Lloyd nephew and these two families have been close for well over a hundred years. My father Edgar Stathers was born at the Tything Barn Farm, Allensmore farm in 1909.

Dorothy and John Harris on either end, Joy, George and Lois. Allensmore 2007.

Allensmore is situated 6.4 km south west of the city of Hereford. It is situated in the very beautiful Wye River valley. The city of Hereford is said to “occupy a pleasant and sheltered situation on the banks of the Wye, being surrounded on all but the West side by hills.”

103

The region is enveloped in history going back at least to its first Bishop in A.D. 542.68 There is a magnificent cathedral in Hereford which dates back to the Middle Ages.

The Tything Barn at Allensmore received the tithes from the harvest in the district. The farm land was owned by the manorial family until recent times when it became freehold. This was the arrangement of leasehold and tenancy which was the custom for generations or centuries.

John’s grandfather John Arthur Harris married Sarah Ann Crump on June 25, 1908. She was 28 and John 23.

Banns of Marriage certificate for John Arthur Harris and Sarah Ann Crump. Courtesy John Harris.

68“ Hereford,Herefordshire,and the Wye.” D.R.Chapman..

104

Tracing the Harris family via the census records reveals the following picture. As in all such searches there is room for false identification of families and individuals. Harris is also not an uncommon name.

So with these provisos the following can be put forward as a reasonable story.

Looking at the Harris background, the 1841 census records that James Harris, aged 1, was living at St Devereux. His parents were James 35, and Mary 25.69 James the father was born in Kilpeck.

[This small village has a wonderful historic old church, the Parish Church of St. Mary and St. David. It’s fascinating history is recorded in a small booklet produced by James Bailey and the Parish Council. It records that Kilpeck lies in what was the small Welsh kingdom of Ergyng. The name of Kilpeck “is probably derived from kil (cell or little church) with Pedic or Pedoric - the cell of St Pedic.”

The actual site relates back to about AD 650 and it spans Saxon, Viking, and Norman times.

Of interest is that the estate passed to Alan de Plugenet in 1273 “who did much work at Allensmore.” In 1349 the area was devastated by the plague. There is much more of interest in the booklet.]

[St. Devereaux was 6 ½ miles southwest of Hereford near Madley. The name St. Devereux derives from the “Church of Saint Dyfrig” a

69 IGI- Notes- James was living in Abbey Dore in 1881 at Newbrook as a lodger with son James who was a farm bailiff.

105 well known Anglo Saxon Saint who is thought to have been born at Madley.70 There are several ancient sites in the area.]

The 1861 census records a Harris family living in Abbey Dore. This appears to be the same family as noted in the foregoing 1841 census. There was James Harris-Head, 56, labourer - born Kilpeck. His wife Mary, 47, born Abbey Dore, Sarah, daughter, 25, b. St Devereaux James, son 21, Lodger, b. Thruxton Annah, daughter in law, 20 - wife of James. David, son, 19, b. St. Devereaux George, son 10, b. Much Birch Mary, daughter, 6, b. Abbey Dore Sarah Crinard, widow, 72, b. Abbey Dore

The 1871 census records James Harris 31, and wife Hannah, 30, living in Shippen Croft at Treville - he was an agricultural labourer. This is presumably the son James noted above in 1861.

The 1881 census records that James Harris, born Thruxton, was living at Newbrook, Abbey Dore - aged 41 with wife Anna, 40. There were no children. He was a farm bailiff. However in the next house was James Harris, 76, agricultural labourer, born Kilbeck.

It is likely that Anna died around 1884 and James was remarried to widow Elizabeth Lloyd. James first marriage was without issue. This again indicated the associations between the Harris and Lloyd families.

70http:// www. smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/castles/castlesdata_az/st_devereux.htm

106

The 1891 census returns indicate that the Harris family was living in the Church House at Allensmore. This has been confirmed by John Harris in 2007.

James, the head of the family, was then 49 years of age. He was born in Thruxton, Herefordshire, giving a birth year of c.1842.

There was Elizabeth his wife, 38, born in Bethws Disserth, Radnorshire, James D. George, 6, Scholar; John A. 4 ; Stanley, 1- all born in Allensmore. Charles Lloyd 12 - born in Tupsley.

In the Alms House nearby was an Elizabeth Crump aged 54, widow and Laundress - she was born in Allensmore.

Elizabeth Harris had been married previously to Charles Lloyd and they had at least one son - Charles who was born in Llanvareth, Radnorshire in 1879 according to the 1901 census - although the 1891 census said it was Hereford. Charles, his father, had possibly died soon after his birth as Elizabeth was remarried to James Harris in the mid-1880s.

In the 1901 census the Harris family was living at Tything Barn Farm, Allensmore, Hereford. The head of the family was James aged 62 and he was born in 1839 at Abbey Done. His wife Elizabeth, aged 46, was born in 1855 in Bettws, Radnorshire, Wales.

Their children in 1901 were: James D. George, b.1884 (he had left home by 1901).d.1946. married Bertha. John Arthur b.1887. see Tything Farm below. Stanley b.1890. Stanley Harris b 1890- never married. d. 1961 aged 73 years.

107

Reuben Lloyd b.1892- d.1954 - married Minnie Gertrude died 81years-1970.Two children: Colin b.1923 and Mary b. Frank b.1894. Two sons. Moved to Shrewsbury and contact difficult. Sidney b.1896. Four daughters. Annie Elizabeth b.1898. d. 1991 (?) married W H Kinsey 1898-1991. Four children Gordon, Harry, Doris, Margaret.

Tything Barn Farm and Harris Family

John Arthur Harris b.1887 married Sarah Crump on 25 June, 1908. John was 23 and Sarah 28. They continued to live in Tything Barn farm at Allensmore.

Five children were born there. James Edward (Jim) born 1910. Betty. Betty married Mr. Winney and their daughter was Margaret Twins Julia Gertrude and Jessie Rebecca Arthur Francis.

It was at Tything Barn Farm in 1909 that my father Edgar was born- and later possibly his brother John. It was also where John Robert and Emily stayed prior to migration to Australia in 1915.

There was great sadness when Sarah died after only nine years of marriage. She died from tuberculosis on December 27, 1917 and was buried in the Allensmore church yard. Her husband John Arthur Harris, died 24 May, 1963 aged 76, and was also buried there.

108

The curse of tuberculosis was scattered throughout the family. Sarah’s sister Julia died from TB in 1928 aged 38. Sarah and Arthur’s twin daughters Julia and Jessie both succumbed to the disease and are also buried in Allensmore.

Jessie Rebecca died of drowning (suicide) on 2 October 1937 aged 23, and Julia Gertrude died in 1941, aged 26. As mentioned above both sisters had tuberculosis.

The son of Arthur and Sarah, James, also had TB and was in a sanatorium for six months. This placed great pressure on their son John who in his teens had to run the farm. However James lived until 1991- and his wife Florence to 1997.

John Arthur and Sarah Harris. Courtesy John Harris

109

Harris Family- James Edward (Jim), Annie Florence and John c.1968. At Tything Farm, Allensmore, Hereford.

Buried in the church yard at Allensmore is Charles Lloyd who died October 2, 1939, aged 60 and his wife Dora, who was 94 and died in 1983. Also their son Colin Lloyd aged 52-1979 and daughter Mary aged 67, 1988.

The surviving two children of John Arthur Harris and Sarah Crump were:-

1. James Edward and Annie Florence Harris (photo above) who had two children- John Arthur and Marjery.

John Arthur Harris was born on April 1, 1936. He married Dorothy Lewis (b. June 1, 1939) on September 11, 1962.They had three children:

Janet Elizabeth b. 1963. m. Martin Henderson. Two children: James b.1995: John b.1998.

110

Catherine Mary b.1965 m. Hamish Tetlow. Three children: Eleanor b.1993: William b. 1994: Isobel b.1996. Mary Elaine b. 1966 m. Rob. Becker. Three children: Anouk b.1999: Mia b. 2003: Lara b. 2005.

The second child of James Edward and Annie was Margery b. 23 April 1940- died 2000. Married Clive Davies. They had three children;

Christine m. John French: 2 children - Sarah and Stephen. The family migrated to New Zealand Adrienne. One child - Claire Neil m. Elaine : 3 children - Matthew, Christopher, Sam.71

71 2006. Daughters of John and Dorothy.Janet-Teacher.Food ecology,Fashion,Textiles. Catherine-teacher. Husband Lt.Commander,Royal Navy.Mary-Business consultant-McKinsey. Studied Oxford and Harvard.

111

2. Arthur Frances Harris was John Arthur and Sarah Crump’s last child. He married Nancy Hitchcock. They had four children. Robert m. Nancy. Children : Richard and Catherine Brian m. Heather. Children Emma and Tim Joy m. Brynley Jenkins. Children: Paul, Caroline, Stephen Brian and Joy have shops in Hay-on- Wye, 2007.

Top centre:-Brian Harris and lower centre Joy Brynley-Jenkins- Hay-on-Wye 2007. Both pictured with George Meredith Stathers - left, and John Arthur Harris - right.

112

Dorothy and family on John’s 70th

113

CHAPTER 6

STATHERS – Market Weighton, Yorkshire

Ordnance Survey map of Hull –Beverley region.

114

FUNERAL of Emma STATHERS-nee Moore

The next important document comes from a newspaper obituary for “The Late Mrs. Stathers- Funeral of a Market Weighton Lady.”72

It is worthwhile to record the entire report. The date of her death was 18 April, 1911.The newspaper is probably local.

The internment of the remains of the late Mrs. Emma Stathers, wife of Mr. George Stathers, of High Grange Farm, Market Weighton and formerly of Cowden (where he farmed for a large number of years) took place yesterday afternoon.

Deceased, who was the youngest daughter of the late Mr. Robert Moore, of Cowden, had been an invalid for a considerable time, and died after illness on Tuesday last, at the age of 54.

The funeral was largely attended; much sympathy being shown to the family in their bereavement.

Amongst the mourners were George Stathers, senior (husband), Mr. George Stathers junior. (son, High Grange), Mr. John Robert Stathers, son ( The Cottage, High Grange), Mr. Frank Stathers ( son, High Grange), Mrs. W. E. Smith ( daughter, Leven ), Mrs. H. Gibson (daughter, Patringham), Miss Emmie Stathers (daughter, Nafferton), Miss Katie and Miss Laura Stathers (daughters, High Grange)73 Mrs. F. Dukes ( step-daughter, Hull), Mrs. W. Crawford, ( step-daughter, Humbleton, Hull),

72 Courtesy of John Stathers- source newspaper not recorded.

73 One of the sisters migrated to USA- Mrs Beresford, 6226-27-NE, Seattle, 15, Washingtton.

115

Mrs. F. Peckitt (sister, Wharram), Mrs. J. Berlou sister, Cowden, Mrs. F. Erodius (sister, Hull), Mrs. L.R.Stathers (daughter in law, Leven-JR), Master G.A.Stathers (grandson) The Cottage, High Grange, Master G.E.Smith (grandson, Leven), Mr. R.C. Moore (brother, Hilston), Mr. K. Kilvington (brother in law, Hedon), Mr. J.R., Mr. A. Peckitt and Mr. H. Peckitt (nephews, York), Mrs. A. Peckitt, (York), Mr. Peckitt (nephew, Stamford Bridge).

Then followed various other friends and family names- the Vicar, the Rev. Westmooreland officiated. The coffin was of pitch pine, with brass furnishings and bore the inscription:

Emma Stathers, died April 18th, 1911 aged 54 years.

From this obituary, it appears that George and Emma had left Cowden sometime after 1906. He had been a farmer and perhaps for some time a victualler- which would be consistent with his past carrying trade. Emma had a long and debilitating illness and perhaps wanted to be closer to family networks. In addition there was the advance of the sea in Cowden. George Alfred junior had a memory that there was a coal freighter wrecked on the beach near their house in Cowden. ( This memory can be confirmed- on the wall of the Marine Hotel at Hornsea is a photo of the freighter on the rocks around 1905). It is possible that John Robert and Emily were living in a cottage near the Glebe farm but nearer the sea. Their house had no electricity or gas – which is probably very likely given the rural situation. “And probably ended in the sea” as per George’s description- perhaps unlikely if it was the Glebe farm house.

116

The address of the new farm, High Grange, was at Market Weighton as per the funeral notice in 1911. However it was more likely to be in the Shipton parish. The funeral and burial took place at All Saints church, Shipton. The vicar was Rev. Thomas Charles Westmorland, M.A., St. Peter’s College, Cambridge74. (He was later buried in the same church yard at Shipton next to George and Emma ).

The town of Shipton-Thorpe was in 1892 a distinct parish but prior to 1876 was a chapelry under Market Weighton. The railway had joined the town with York and Beverley in the mid 1800s. Shiptonthorpe was and is about 2 km west of Market Weighton. In the Langdale Topographical dictionary of 1822 Shipton is in the Parish of Market- Weighton, Holme-Beacon division of Harthill, a part of the liberty of St.Peter, 2 miles from Market Weighton, 4.75 from Pocklington-pop. 369.

It was an agricultural area- soil was a variable mixture of sand, gravel, and clay- the chief crops being wheat, barley, and turnips.

The chief land owners were the Earl of Londesborough, who was lord of the manor; trustees of Mr. William Quarton; Anthony Berriman, Pocklington; John Henry Smith, Esq., Shipton; William Smith; Thomas Coates, Esq., Full Sutton; and the Misses Mary and Elizabeth Boyes, York.

George A. remembered that he went to school at Shipton which would fit with his living on the High Grange farm.

74 Genuki. Shipton-Thorpe 1892

117

[The close by Market Weighton was a small market town- especially for corn- connected to the Humber by a navigatable canal and later to York by the railway.75 It is situated at the western foot of the Wolds between Beverley and York as is Shipton. All of these small villages were within the same district- between Beverly and Driffield north is about 12 kms, with Hutton Cranswick in between on the same road. Market Weighton is about 16 km west of Beverly - Leven 6 km north east of Beverly on the road to Hornsea. They are of great antiquity and at Driffield are numerous tumuli which tell of its occupation by the ancient Britons. Some believe these were Danish graves following their defeat by the Saxons but this is open to question.]

It appears that the sons - George Alfred (32), John Robert (30), Frank (19), and sisters Katie (22) and Laura (21) were living there at the time of the funeral of their mother Emma. The obituary says that Mrs. J.R. Stathers, daughter in law, was at Leven- where her in-laws the Smiths were living- but George Alfred (jun), the son of John Robert and Emily, was living at The Cottage, High Grange. However Edgar was only 15 months old, John Robert 6 months, and Dorothy 5 years - living with in-laws nearby was possibly more supportive than living at the Cottage, High Grange.

The farming at Howden possibly had lasted about three years at most and John Robert was back with his family. It is more than likely that he was not a successful farmer.

So at the time of the funeral Kathleen and Laura were not married, Frank was 19, Emma was living at Nafferton, not married, Florence

75 Genuki: Market Weighton History

118 was not at the funeral according to the notice. William Edward Smith had married Eleanor Stathers in 1904 and registered in Skirlaugh. Their son George was at the funeral. It is possible that the Smiths mentioned in the funeral notice were related to the chief land holders list.

Elsie had married a Mr. H. Gibson from Patringham.

Two of the daughters from George’s first marriage had married- to Dukes and Crawford.

Old George, given Emma’s poor health and his increasing age (66 years), most likely retired to Market Weighton or Shipton. The younger daughters were not married and given the chronic poor health of their mother were needed for family support.

This makes the story a little less complicated- at the funeral of Emma were several people from Shipton - Mr. and Mrs. Moore, Nurse Holmes, Miss Lilah Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Smith, Mrs. H.J. Smith, Mr. W. Snipley, Mr. W. Wilson, Mrs. Blackburn. The Smiths and Moores were relatives.

In this list of persons were Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Smith (Shipton), Mrs. H.J. Smith (Shipton) - was this the wife of John Henry Smith Esq?

There was also Eleanor, daughter of George and Emma Stathers who had married a W. E. Smith and who lived at Leven - and with whom Emily was staying. Were these Smith’s related by marriage to each other and to the Stathers and Moores?

119

So the funeral would seem to indicate that the family was now well connected socially and economically.76

Grave of Sidney and Florence Smith- Shipton All Saints Church-2007

76 At Shipton there was a National school built in 1872 - for the accommodation of 70 children, with average attendance of 56. There were places for 10 disadvantaged children. Perhaps this was the school that George A. jun. attended.

120

Birth Certificate Information.

On the birth certificate of my father, Edgar Meredith Stathers, is the following information- Born Ninth January, 1909. Where born- Tything Barn Farm, Allensmore. Father - John Robert Stathers. Mother - Emily Stathers - formerly Crump. Occupation of Father - Farmer. Signature, description and residence of informant - Emily Stathers, Mother, Newfields Farm, Howden, Yorkshire. Registered in District of Hereford, Sub-district of Dewchurch in the County of Hereford.

On 25 August, 1910, another child was born - John Robert, born at Newfields Farm, Howden, Yorkshire.

It most likely that John Robert, now 28 years of age and with a young family, had left Cowden sometime after 1906 to try his hand at farming. But by 1911 he was back working and living on the family farm, High Grange.

The plot now becomes vague. From George A. junior’s history, John Robert ran a pub with 50 acres attached at Humpton around 1911/1912. This didn’t work out as John Robert was said to be “ no good at business.” There is also the report by George that they also lived at the Grange Farm, Hutton Cranswick.id reference at centre - TA 004 594 GB Grid

We have been able to locate the Manor Farm at Hutton Cranswick. It is still farmed and the current owner said that in the early 1900s it would have been leased on a rotating basis - probably each three years. This was the then practice. The most likely scenario is that John

121

Robert didn’t own his farms but leased them- thus the family story of numerous farms.

If this were so then the period of three years between 1912 and 1915 could have been spent at Hutton Cranswick. It is at this point that some family tradition comes into play. Someone has said that after failing at two farms John Robert was told to go to the colonies by his old father George who was not prepared to spend money on his spendthrift ways. It is at that point that a fire in the barn at Driffield destroyed the winter fodder and an argument ensued as to who lit the cigarette. This event contributed to their decision to leave. It is very likely that they then went to stay with the Harris family in Hereford for a few months before embarking for Australia.

There is also the story recorded that George Alfred the older brother of John Robert), owned 900 acres at Driffield, the Manor Farm. This must have been an “upper class property” as apparently Sir Frank Hoyle’s father used to shoot with George Alfred Stathers at Manor Farm. It was ultimately broken up into 9 farms of 100 acres each.

It is likely that George was able to obtain freehold title in the 1920s. This followed the breaking up of estates following World War 1.

It was here that the Dutch barn was burnt down losing the winter feed- this was around 1912.

George Alfred jun. was blamed but he said his cousin George Smith was smoking and caused the fire. This led to a family dispute and was one factor which led to our family coming to Australia.

122

This farm has again in 2008 been amalgamated into around 1000 acres as anything less is not viable. The old house is in need of rebuilding. The countryside around is very rural but the soil consists of much clay.

Death of George Stathers

Old George was born at Preston in 1842 - his father was poor, a rural labourer and died a pauper. George obviously had ability and enterprise. He worked on a farm in his younger days, learnt the trade of Carrier. This allowed him to marry and later to lease the Glebe farm at Cowden. He raised a family and farmed there for at least 30 years. His wife had a long illness - they relocated to Shipton- Market Weighton where he farmed the High Grange farm.

He died on 23 October 1920 and was buried at Shipton with his wife Emma. The death was registered at Bridlington 77 which raises the question as to where he was living in those later years - possibly at Driffield with son George.

In many ways he lived through a period of enormous change- from an almost mediaeval early life, to being a carrier in the horse days and then a farmer when rail transport became the predominant means of carrying goods. He was obviously respected and successful.

The family story to the time of John Robert and Emily leaving for Australia is now somewhat clearer- going back four generations to the mid-1700s. The first two generations probably reflect the situation which had pertained for many generations before - that of a rural existence in small hamlets and with conditions a little above

77 Death Register England. George Stathers. Bridlington.9d page 392 Oct-Dec. 1920 age 80.

123 subsistence level. George was able to escape because he was able to obtain a trade and probably accumulate a little capital. He also seems to have been enterprising. It is difficult for us to imagine the living conditions which faced Francis when he was living in Blenkins Yard, Preston, before his death. Similarly for our grandparents as they looked at the situation in Yorkshire in the period 1910-1914. They obviously were not going to inherit land as Robert was the second son and had not shown competence as a farmer. Land was available but only as a tenant farmer. There was a rural depression and war loomed. It must have been a major decision to take- with a young family, leaving friends and family, and with limited finances- but the alternative probably was bleaker. John Robert himself was probably not suited to farming or business.

The grave of Emma and George Stathers - Shipton, Yorkshire.

124

Photos of siblings of John Robert STATHERS

Frank and Florrie. Frank was a farmer in the Beverly region. He was married but no children. Physically tall and heavily built.

Frank, George, Kathryn, Ian. 1968.

Florrie Haries nee Stathers and family-and Kathryn. Nottingham 1968.

125

CHAPTER 7

Voyage to Australia-1915

George Alfred, Edgar Meredith, Dorothy, John Robert- before leaving England.

The Stathers family came to Australia on board the “Waipara”. 78 This later became a Cadet training vessel for the British India Steam Navigation Company in 1916.The route seems to have been London- Java-Brisbane via the Suez.

78 http://merchantnavyofficers.com/crow.html

126

The following information is from an article taken from a magazine written by a Captain Carter in which he reminisces about his time on board the Waipara as a Cadet.

“The ship was the "Waipara" where I was then doing my second voyage…. Life onboard was very pleasant, and we didn't take things too seriously…Her speed flat out was ten knots, and she did three voyages in two and a half years while I was on her.”79

. “Waipara.” 80 Many of these ships carried only a few passengers, and some carried native passengers on deck. Fares, c.1892, were £47 10s. to £52 10s. depending on accommodation. 81 The following information was obtained by Judy Webster who is a professional researcher in Queensland. She obtained the documents from the Queensland. State Archives; IMA 1/9 and IMM/137, pages 91-92

Copy of the indent form -The Agent General for Queensland, LONDON. 16th July, 1915.

Sir, I have the honour to report that the S.S.”Wiapara” left London on the 15th instant with the following Government emigrants:-

79 Internet-Captain CARTER in Apprentices, Origin & History. F.J.W.

Source- Dickie Collection: Alexander Turnbull Library. NZ. Built: 1904 by R&W Hawthorn, Leslie & Co., Ltd., Hebburn. Tonnage: 5,505grt, 3,512nt, 9,155dwt. Engine: Single screw, Triple expansion by North Eastern of Newcastle, 2,966 IHP, 12.2 Knots at trials. Launched as Port Jackson 19th November 1903, completed May 1904, Yard No. 391.80

81 The Ships List®™ -Last updated: June 25, 2006 and maintained by S. Swiggum and M. Kohli

127

Souls. Nominated………….. 174 Assisted…………….. 45 Domestic Servants….. 51 Full Payers…………… 8 Church Army Lads…… 4 Total 282 They comprise:- Married Men……………………. 30 Married Women………………… 33 Single Men……………………… 31 Single Women…………………… 94 Male Children between 1 and 12 years 44 Female “ “ 25 Male infants………………………….. 2 Female Infants……………………….. 3 282 Their nationalities are:- English 189 Scotch 43 Irish 27 Welsh 8 Dutch 8 Danes 7 Destinations :- Cairns3; Innisfail1, LucindaPoint3; Townsville18; Mackay1; Rockhampton 15; Hervey Bay 35; Brisbane 203. All of these passengers were assembled in London on the day before sailing where they were examined by Dr. Finlay and seen by me before tickets were issued. Nominated: The nominated emigrants are a clean, respectable looking lot of people, who will make good settlers.

128

Notes. Stathers, John R. Aged 33. Wife and four children. Farming on own account for some years. Wishes to get work on farm or station for a time, and eventually to take up land of his own. Deposit £ 50. Embarkation The passengers were conveyed by special train from Liverpool Street at 10.25 a.m. to the Royal Albert Docks where they embarked after the usual Board of Trade examination. Accommodation The accommodation on the steamer was fairly good, the families and single women being berthed aft in 3, 4, and 6 berth cabins, whilst the single men occupied similar compartments forward. Captain J.S.Hutchison is in command, and the single women are under the care of Maree Amee, who has had considerable experience in this work and has always performed her duties with ability and tact. I have the honour to be Sir, Your obedient Servant, Signed T.J.Whittington

John Robert and family were Assisted passengers. Judy Webster ( see before) says that these were granted by the Government to particular categories of immigrants (and their families) that were, from time to time, particularly required in Queensland. The categories included farmers, farm labourers, vine dressers, labourers, mechanics, and domestic servants. To be eligible they had to be unable to pay the full passage, they could not have resided previously in any Australian colony, and they must intend to reside permanently in Qld. (Ref. Qld. State Archives - Brief Guide to Immigration Records).

129

The list of Assisted Passengers records: Born Amount paid £ Stathers John R 33 Farmer Yorkshire 43 Emily 32 Wife Herefordshire 3 George 10 Son Yorkshire 1 10 Dorothy 8 Daughter “ 1 10 Edgar 6 Son “ 1 10 John 4 “ “ 1 10

They arrived in Brisbane on 18th September, 1915.The journey must have had some worries being undertaken during WW1. It took 64 days via the Suez canal.

Photo of John Robert Stathers, wife Emily, children- George Alfred (standing), Dorothy, Edgar Meredith, John Robert. Taken after arrival in Australia. 1915.

130

Interview with George Alfred Stathers by his son, Paul Stathers.

This is a précis of Paul’s interview with his father George in his later years concerning distant memories of family life.

Manor Farm - Fire there, winter feed - approx. 1912 - some insurance but not much 5 or 10 % of the value of the Dutch. Dad claimed it was lit accidentally by cousin George Smith - Dad claimed George Smith (Laura's son) falsely blamed him for the fire when in fact George Smith was smoking and caused the fire. This caused some dissention in the family and Dad believed that this was one of the main reasons for the whole family moving to Australia.

Dad said that (Sir) Frank Hoyle's father used to shoot with George Alfred Stathers at Manor Farm.

George Alfred's farm was split up into 9 farms - was originally 900 acres. Frank Stathers lived at Beverley

Dad went to school at Skipton (? Shipton)

In approximately 1905 - 1910 a Coal freighter was wrecked on the beach near house at Cowden-(free coal for winter) - The house had no gas or electricity - Dad believed that the house was taken by the sea.

Nan & Pop ran a pub at Humpton - 50 acres attached to pub - there approximately 7 years (?) around 1911/1912 - Pop no good at business so they left the pub.

131

Australia

Came to Australia in 1915 on board the “WAIPARA” - may be possible to verify by passenger lists held by the Mitchell Library in Sydney

1915 - Ran a guest House at Lemart for 1 year near Shamrock Hotel in Brisbane

Pop joined the army - made a butcher in Australia (2 shillings and five pence / week)

Dad came to Sydney by train in 1917 at the age of 12

Dad's first job with Port Jackson Steamship Company in 1919 - age 14 - there for 2.5 years

On the way to Sydney Pop got a job Tamamarell out from Warwick.

Got a job on a crane at Manly North.

Worked at Standard Insurance for - 2 years

1923 – had a shop at 100 Park Road Camperdown - good shop with 3 bedroom residence - next door to a pub (now owned by ANZ Bank).

While they owned the shop Dad & Pop got jobs with Dunmore Quarries near Shellharbour - worked there for 12 months.

Worked at Hatfield Steel for 6 months - 600 men in those days

Joined CBA in 1925 on December 7th - worked at CBA for 42 years

Rented a house at Sylvania in approximately 1925 - no bridge then only Punt - Pop worked on construction of the bridge. Aunty Bell’s father (George) ran the punt in 1925.

132

House in Hurstville bought in 1925 - also bought a house for 150 pounds on the North Shore Sydney - Estate Agent absconded with the money (name of Jackson).

This is the typical story of a migrant family. Things were not easy and adaptation by John Robert to the new conditions seems to have been very difficult - in fact he probably never adapted. Complicating the situation was the looming depression of the 1930s. They seem to have been able to obtain labouring type jobs - on low pay rates. John Robert never was able to become a farmer - from his past record he probably should never have been one. And yet he was apparently very good with machines. Emily, with her past early experiences in the Hornsea hotel was able to support the family by running a Guest House in Brisbane for a time.

In January 1916, approximately 3 months after arrival, John Robert enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force for service abroad. This was with the 3rd Rifles 49th BRIGADE- Joined 10-1-1916. He was 34 years 6 months. The papers indicate that he was discharged on 30 September at his own request.

This period coincided with the major battles in Europe and there must have been intense pressure for all able bodied men to enlist.

133

CHAPTER 8

Migration to a new land- Australia- 1915-1938

The interviews with George by Paul give an outline to these early years which were obviously quite difficult. John Robert had paid 50 pounds 40 shillings for a 6 berth cabin. The Queensland Government had subsidised the journey according to certain pre-conditions- that they had not resided in Australia previously, that they intended to be residents of Queensland and to take up agricultural employment, and that they could not afford the full fare. John Robert was 33 years of age, had a wife and a young family.

John Robert was a physically big man as were his brothers. He appears not to have any business skills and farming had not been successful. There were mechanical skills but if his later communication ability was any indication, he would have had problems in that area- he had a broad Yorkshire accent and was very sparse in conversation. However this may be too harsh a judgement as by then he was in his 70s. I think we all thought that he was lacking in initiative and that it was Emily who allowed them to survive.

In the house at Millet Street, Hurstville I cannot remember any evidence of family photos from England. The departure would have been full of emotion. It is very unlikely that John Robert with his

134 problematic track record in farming and being a second son would have inherited much of his father’s wealth. His elder brother George seems to have eventually owned the 1000 acre property at Drifield. His son in turn became an engineer and moved to Bristol.

Frank, his younger brother, became a farmer near Beverly.

Emily had close ties with the family in Hereford. In 1915 her father Charles Crump was still alive and living in Thruxton, Hereford. In later life she often spoke about her sisters and family.

It is very likely that her elder sister, Sarah Harris, was then ill with tuberculosis- she died in December,1917. This was a disease that had taken her own mother Elizabeth in 1907 and also her younger sister Julia in 1926.

Her younger brother Alfred migrated to Canada in his teens. Jessie, her younger sister had been married to Alfred Holbrow who died of influenza in 1916.

Emily was about 4ft 11inches tall, with dark brown twinkling eyes, and a mole on her cheek. Into her 70s she was full of energy. The tragedy was that dementia intruded into this beautiful personality in her last years. She maintained her Church of England ties into late life.

Life in the hotel at Beverly would have prepared her for many of the later life challenges. She actually was running the hotel before her marriage, for the Dillinghams. This must have given her people skills which her husband didn’t have.

So on arrival in Brisbane, even though there were intentions of farming, Emily was able to use her skills in running a guest house for two years or so. This was war time and great pressure existed for men

135 to enlist in the army. John Robert joined up on January 10, 1916 – Third Rifles.49th Battalion -but discharged himself in September of the same year. He was now 34 years of age.

The National Archives record two letters concerning this enlistment. On the 21st September, 1916 John Robert wrote to Major Hill of the Corporal School.

“I beg you to consider my application for immediate discharge from the Army on the grounds of my wife’s ill health. I have thought my position over as to my wife and family, in the first place I had no right to enlist as my wife was in a delicate state of health and she does not appear to improve much. We have not been out from England long and the change of climate has affected her health a great deal. I have thought seriously at times of sending her back since I have been in camp. She has a business in Brisbane and has a chance to sell out if I am going to send her down South. Hope you do not think I am cold footed. I am always willing to do my duty, but taking my wife’s health into consideration and family I think it is up to me to stay with them. I might say that my wife did not know I was going to enlist at the time I did. Trusting you will grant my discharge. Signed Private J.R.Stathers.”

Previous to this letter Emily had written to the authorities on 12/9/1916 from “Edwardsleigh,” 613 Leichhardt Street, Valley, Brisbane.

“ Dear Sir, I am writing respecting my husband Private J. Stathers I should like to know of if you would be kind enough to grant him discharge. I have not got at all good health since I

136

came to this country. The climate does not agree with me & I have young children & I’ve absolutely no friends in Australia at all. I am quite sure my husband has earned every penny that he has received from the military. I know that he has worked very hard for the army & and if he could do any good for the country by taking a single man’s place in the camp I would not object.

Thanking you in anticipation.”

The army requested verification by a medical practitioner.

A Dr P.F.Crowe from Fortitude Valley wrote on 27/9/1916,

“I have examined Mrs. J R Statatos and find that she is in a very low state of health being very neurotic and debilitated on account of the severe work she is undertaking of managing a boarding house. I have advised her to give up this business and to go for a long period off and from all severe work. Her condition is such that her state of health will reach a serious stage. She is also overburdened with the care of four children which is sufficient in itself.”

On receipt of this letter John Robert was discharged immediately on 28/9/1916.

Interestingly J.R. was said to be 5ft 71/2 inches, 164 lb., brown eyes and hair and of fresh complexion. He was C/E by religion and aged 34 1/2 years on entering the army. He also had 3 vaccinations.

This description was somewhat at odds with my remembrance.

By 1917 the family was on their way to Sydney - but according to George’s remembrance John Robert had a farming job near Warrick.

137

Perhaps this related to brother John’s memory of their having a small soldier settlement block in Queensland which predictably failed. By 1919 they were living in Manly where John Robert senior obtained a crane driver’s job and eldest son George a position with the Port Jackson Steamship company- age 14. He remained there for two and half years82 then went to Standard Insurance for a further 2 years.

At Manly in 1920 another child was born- Frank, but who died in infancy.

Meanwhile by 1923 the family had a shop at 100 Park Road Camperdown. Apparently this was a ‘good shop’ with a 3 bedroom residence. It was next door to a pub. It is difficult to get a feeling for their financial state. There must have been some capital but there was also a need to supplement with regular work. It would seem that Emily worked the shop as John Robert and George had jobs down the coast at Dunmore near Shellharbour, where they worked in the blue-metal quarries

The younger John Robert told me that they also worked in the Pyrmont docks which was very hard labour around this time. George also worked at Hatfield Steel for 6 months. This gives the impression that times were tough and they were obtaining labouring jobs as they became available.

Eldest son George joined the Commercial Bank of Australasia on December 7th, 1925 – and also worked there for the next 42 years.

82 See Paul’s letter page 108

138

The family was again on the move. In approximately 1925, they rented a house at Sylvania – Belgrave Street. Bettina also was born around this date.

At that time there was no bridge to Sylvania over the George’s River, south of Sydney –only a punt. John Robert worked on construction of the bridge. My maternal grandfather George Tindall Edward ran the punt in 1925. We understand that this is where Edgar met his future wife, Isabella Edward – on the bus to Hurstville. He was exceptionally shy and the courtship lasted until they married in 1937.

At about the same year the family bought a house in 16 Millet Street, Hurstville (and also a house for £150 on the North Shore, Sydney. However an Estate Agent absconded with the money). Emily and John Robert lived there for the remainder of their lives.

The 1930s set the life course for the family and perhaps for the next generation and brought many changes. It was the time of the great depression.

The Electoral rolls give a background of their lives through this period. Living at 16 Millett Street, Hurstville and of voting age were: 1930 John Robert (JR) crane driver, Emily-HD, George- Bank Clerk. Dorothy-HD, Edgar–copy writer ( but actually working at University of Sydney-see later). JR junior is noted as an apprentice fitter in 1933 but is not at Millett Street in 1936.

All appear to have been employed through this very difficult economic period.

Then there were marriages - the majority at the end of the Depression:

139

Dorothy was married to Stelle Ball Ross, an engineer, at Hurstville in 1932

Edgar to Isabella Edward at Hurstville. 1937.

George Alfred to Lilian Janet Blain-Sydney.1937.

John Robert to Olive Edith Marion at Hurstville.1937.

Betina Jean to Emil Edwin Pirchan at Hurstville.1946

Dorothy Ross (above) to William Loisidis Leeds –Sydney (St Stephens Presbyterian church) 1948.The Anglican Church would not marry them as Dorothy was a divorcee.

There was an element of multiculturism emerging in these marriages- Olive was of Norwegian heritage, Sheila, Danish or Finish, Emil, Austrian. His parents lived in Belgrave Street, Sylvania almost opposite to where the Stathers were renting. Uncle Bill or William Leeds was born in Alexandria, Egypt.

In 1938, Emily, accompanied by daughter, Dorothy, made her only return trip to England. This was in relation to the hotel property in Hornsea as previously mentioned. She made the decision to return to Australia - visiting her brother and sister in Canada on the return journey.

140

Photo- steps at 16 Millett St., Hurstville. Sheila and George (back row),Paul and David in lap of Sheila, Nan Stathers, Isabella, Olive (John’s wife), Bill Leeds (Dorothy’s husband), John and Lyn, Edgar and Geoff. Pop, Dorothy, cousins George, Peter, John jnr. missing.

141

Dorothy - her second marriage to Bill Leeds - St.Stephen’s Presbyterian Church, Sydney - Edgar Best Man.

Dorothy

Dorothy was married to Stelle Ball Ross, an engineer, at Hurstville in 1932.

A major scandal developed in 1937 when Steele Ball Ross tried to murder Dorothy by shooting a bullet at her head and then attempting suicide himself. This occurred at their home flat in Balfour Road, Rose Bay, Sydney. Neither would give evidence and the case was dismissed.83 There was another woman, Margaret Mills, who had been living in their flat for the previous two years and who gave evidence. Dorothy was of rather turbulent temperament, intelligent, a

83 Sydney Morning Herald. 20 August, 1937. p.8

142 good business woman who owned two dress shops in George Street Sydney, and mixed in societal circles. In the flat also was John Ross Lister, aged 14, who was said to be Steele Ball’s nephew. He was educated at Sydney Grammar school and is understood to have been adopted by Dorothy and Steele Ball.

Dorothy enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on 14 March, 1942. She was still married to Steel Ross but later divorced. She achieved the rank of Corporal and was later discharged on 8 August 1944 and then was posted to Point Piper, Sydney HQEA. It was through the air force that she met and married William (Bill) Loisidis Leeds who was 10 years younger and a fighter pilot in the War. The marriage was in Sydney’s St Stephens Presbyterian church, 1948.

They lived in Kings Cross. Our visits there were always full of excitement. We met a champion table tennis player, musicians, and there was an atmosphere of excitement being near Kings Cross. There was visit to Bowral for a short holiday with Dorothy and Bill. Nan loved this as she always enjoyed the colder climate. There are photos of a holiday to Katoomba where Nan is playing in the snow with me- fully 18 months of age.

Later in the 1940s Dorothy and Bill adopted a son, Geoffrey. For a while he lived with our family and later became a well known racing car driver.

Then later they bought a hotel in Bathurst, NSW- The Tattersalls.

Sadly her final years were tragic and she died a very lonely woman.

143

George Alfred

Eldest son George joined the Commercial Bank of Australasia on December 7th, 1925 – and worked there for the next 42 years. There are some stories of him working at the Bank during the day and following his passion of boxing at night. He must have been physically strong and fit after the previous labouring jobs. But there was an obvious conflict and the Bank won out. Bank people do not usually have black eyes! As children he taught us all to box.

He married Sheila and settled at Brighton-le-sands in Sydney. They later moved to the Woronora River where George lived out his dream of a perfect life.

George Alfred, wife Sheila and Paul

144

Edgar Meredith

Edgar Meredith left school at 14 and obtained a junior laboratory assistant position in the Department of Chemistry, University of Sydney in 1923. He stayed there four years and the reference said “he is honest, willing and obliging, and a very keen student of chemistry and electrical subjects.”

In August 1933, there is a letter appointing him to the position of Technician in the Deep X Ray Department of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney. The salary was £4 per week. Dr.Bye was the Medical Superintendant and it is interesting that he was educated at Miranda Public School where my brother Peter and I later attended..

Edgar stayed in that position for some 8 years before moving to the State Bureau of Physical Services- also at RPAH. This was a group of two- his co- worker was Mr. B. Scott and together they developed the embryonic discipline of nuclear medicine. Both remained there until retirement in 1973. Edgar had impaired health possibly related to the years of radiation exposure. In that position he prepared the radon seeds for cancer therapy and also developed early methods for thyroid gland investigation.

My father was a very intelligent and skilled person. Without a university degree he was inhibited in advancement but made significant contributions to medical diagnosis. The following letter was given on his retirement in recognition of his long service.

145

146

Edgar and Isabella at George and Lois’ wedding 1962

Nan and Belle-George and Peter- Hurstville 1940s

147

John Robert

John Robert junior married Olive in 1937. He was an engineer who had a colourful life in the 1930s. Like his son, he was a first class Rugby League player- probably to international standard. The following photo shows him in the team at Mount Isa

John Stathers sen.- Mount Isa Team- third from right-front row.

John told me that he was one of the first white men who had navigated up the Fly River in Papua New Guinea. On the 22nd July 1942 John enlisted in the Australian Army with the rank of Lieutenant. Discharge was on 20 Nov.1946. Full details of his service are available but the following photos indicate service in PNG, South East Asia and China

148

John Stathers- World War 2.Top four photos-New Guinea. Next Two- Surrender of Japanese in Kuching, Sarawak- General Mara with interpreter. Bottom- Soochow, China.

149

John, Olive, and young family.

Post war John joined the NSW Public Service and was highly regarded in the area of Public Works and procurement of heavy machinery. After retirement his contacts in Government were very valuable.

Bettina

In 1946 Bettina married Emile Pirchan. Emile was a Sydney University engineering graduate but in many ways was more European than the family had experienced. He ultimately became the engineer in charge of electrical substations in Sydney. There was later tragedy. Betty had a condition called polycystic kidney disease. This is often a heritable condition - as far as we can tell there were no other family members previously with the problem. But she delivered a child- Eric- who had mild intellectual impairment plus the polycystic

150 kidney curse. Betty died soon after birth from a cerebral haemorrhage. Emile later remarried but gave Eric the best of educations at Sydney Anglican Cathedral school and always supported him through a very difficult time. In turn Eric later married Dorothy- they had a wonderful marriage but Eric died early again from the kidney disease. He was a very gentle, happy person who inherited the best of his mother’s characteristics.

Wedding in 1946 of Bettina to Emile Edwin Pirchan. Mellita, Emil’s sister to left- Matron of Honour, Edgar to her left. John Stathers to Betty’s right. (Photo courtesy of John Woodham- Mellita’s son)

151

The story then begins to change again with the arrival of the next generation in the late 1930s. There is a lovely photo kept by John Harris in Hereford of the cousins.

Around 1948-50 John, George, Peter, Paul and David, Lynette, Geoff Leeds.

152

Conclusion Memories

The 1940s is when my generation began to retain memories of our families - or as Clive James says “unreliable memoirs.” These are remembered through the mists of time and their impact on our developing lives. We all have a different take on these memories. Mine concerning 16 Millett Street, Hurstville, probably go back to the later 1940s. It was an old rambling house with front steps going up to a long verandah. The front lounge room had an open fire place and Nan’s bedroom was to the right. The room had a piano which I was encouraged to play. There was a central passage way with a large curtain across. Down the passage way on the left was a small sitting room which had a side board containing lots of old photos and oddments and a table for eating. There was an old gramophone with a steel needle and which had to be wound up to play. Opposite was another room and then onto the back verandah area. On one end was a kitchen area and linked at the back with a wash house. To the right of the verandah was another room where “Pop” slept and smoked his pipe or chewed his tobacco. He was somewhat of a mystery to me as his speech was a broad Yorkshire dialect and he was seldom to be seen. In fact he would take to his bed for some weeks at a time.

In the back yard was a small garden where Pop would grow potatoes and broad beans. To the right a grape vine grew over an old tool shed - but the grapes never seemed to ripen.

We didn’t seem to visit them very often. There was the occasional family gathering especially at Christmas time. I understood that

153

George and John were the main supports to their parents, that Dorothy would appear at crises, and we would visit occasionally. But these were my memories and probably inaccurate.

Nan was a very warm person and it was understood that she maintained her Church of England connections. John Robert seemed to gradually depart further into the background. He died at Hurstille on June 19, 1957.

These later years were sad for Emily. She was living alone in the old house. It was noted that she was gradually becoming more forgetful and in today’s understanding she would probably have been admitted to a nursing home. After being found wandering from home Dorothy arranged for a house keeper to live with her. She died in 1965.

John Robert and Emily were buried in the Woronora cemetery at Sutherland.

This ended the family cycle commencing with Francis the Blacksmith in Burton Pidsea back in the 1750s. Looking back one could say it was George the son of Francis (2) who enabled the family to emerge from poverty. But equally it was Emily who kept the family together on the journey from England to Australia. My great regret is that this story was not known to me as a young person. Families are too close to the survival mode to really stand back and ponder where they come from and where they derive strengths.

154

After Thoughts.

This story does not attempt to describe the next generation. Photos are included in the appendix to bridge the years. Their story is for another time. However a brief summary of family movements will enable a taking up of the next documentation and therefore the following is included.

George and Sheila initially lived at Kyeema near the Kingsford Smith airport. They later moved to an idyllic spot on the Woronora River where they lived out their life. Sheila had Diabetes, required insulin, but lived a very active life. George was in his element near the river. He maintained his interest in real estate- especially English country houses which of course he never bought. Their son David lived with them until his marriage to Pam. George had a continuing hobby in the share market- his philosophy was to sell at 20% profit- this enabled him to have several South Sea holidays.

It was George who maintained contacts with England. Our second cousin Mary Searle made two trips to Australia and stayed with George and Sheila for a short time. It must be said that this contact was not particularly congenial.

Their sons David and Paul both worked for the Lucas Heights Nuclear Reactor organisation ANSTO- Paul as a senior technician and David as a professional glass blower. Sadly David died in 2014 from the side effects of this occupation.

Dorothy continued her business activities and later bought a factory. This was marginally successful and in the late 1940s she and Bill bought a pub in Bathurst, NSW. They were for many years active in

155 the community - Bill particularly in Rotary. However Dorothy developed various illnesses, the partnership dissolved and she died a lonely old lady in rather tragic circumstances.

John lived for most of his adult life at Connell’s Point, near Hurstville. He maintained his interests in football, engineering, and lobbying. Olive unfortunately died from ovarian cancer- John lived until nearly 100years. He was cared for in his final years at the Garrawarra Centre as his declining cognition led to several challenging exploits.

His son John was a member of the famous St. George rugby league team and he was later inducted into their Hall of Fame. By profession he was a school teacher and in his later career became Deputy Director of the NSW Department of Recreation and Sport.

His sister Lyn and husband Peter were managers for the Harvey Norman retail organisation. They moved around the State in this capacity.

Edgar and Belle initially lived in South Hurstville - later buying a house for £150 at 2 Harrow Road, Sylvania. It was a small 10 square fibro building. They never moved from there. Our mother had a fierce attachment to Sylvania- her grandfather had come there in 1878 and her father was one of the punt drivers prior to the Tom Ugly’s bridge being built. Belle was a good musician, cook, and loved company. Like so many women of that time she had basic primary education and her world was family and the local community. But this is another story.

My brother Peter became a Public and Chartered Accountant and in later life a well- known and talented painter. As for myself at 77 years I am still practicing medicine after 54 years and happily married 53 156 years to Lois who is still a registered double certificate nurse. I was awarded an OAM for services to Geriatric Medicine in 2002.

As to our roots, it is interesting to think that I am the first of our Australian family to go to University. This of course is so common today that it is hardly commented on. The Australia of today is vastly different to the years of our childhood. In turn we have been fortunate not to have experienced the traumas of migration, war, and depression. We all have had a good education with its opportunities and now see our children adapting to the new challenges of the computer age.

More importantly our marriages have been stable, supportive, and have enabled the following generation to build on a good family base.

Several of us have an interest in small acreage farming. Of course John Harris in Hereford still is a proper farmer. There are probably some hidden genes in our background to cause us to engage in such activities.

There are strong traditions of expertise with machinery and engineering – Old and younger John Robert, Edgar, Paul and David.

The Australian family followed a life story which was conservative but left a positive legacy for the following generations. The 1930s great depression plus the journey of a migrant family contributed to this conservatism. Dorothy was the enigma - business orientated, intelligent, non-conformist, risk taker - where were those genes hidden? Our generation and children will write their own story.

157

George’s 70th Birthday. January 27, 2008. Cousins-from left-Paul, John, Lyn, George, Peter, David. George Edward in front. Dorothy Machin missing. Eric Pirchan deceased.

158

George and Lois OAM 2001

Ian Stathers, Kathryn Stathers, Clare &Troy Manson,

Alison & David Morgan - January 2008

Peter & Patricia Stathers 159

Jessica and Lucy Morgan

Jared Stathers, Taylor & Evie Manson

160

David, Pam & Bellinda Stathers 2008

161

Philip Meredith, Chantelle, Aiden Peter & Kyle Philip Stathers

Terry, Jenny, Jayme & Ryan Delahenty.

162

Alexander Laut Lachlan & Sophie Brennan

Lianne Laut-Stathers Benjamin Laut

163

Hanah Oake Dylan Oake

Emma Oake-Stathers

164

John & Mavis Stathers’ progeny-or most of-c.2014 Back Row from right: John, Ryan, Lyn, Ruth, Craig, Leigh, Craig, Regan, Peter, Megan. Front Row from left: Christian, Jade, Abi, Eva, Josh, Lexi. Mavis –see photo on next page

165

Upper frame Megan and Craig Sheppard with Alexis and Evangeline

Lower picture Adrienne and Mark Birdsall with Tully and Jack

John, Mavis Ryan, Ruth Elizabeth Nov.2014

166

INDEX

Age distribution Table-Mappleton 65 Deaths- Francis- Sarah Stathers 44 Agricultural labourers 35-40, 46 Dennis, Arthur 99 Agriculture 36 Dillingham, Thomas 89, 95 Agriculture-Burton Pidsea 1800s 36 Distribution of the name Stathers 30 Alfred Crump 97 Dorothy Leeds/Stathers 16, 142 Allensmore, Hereford 95, 103 Driffield, the Manor Farm 123 Anglican Church-Mappleton 60 Elsie (Joy) Fullerton/Dennis 100 Ann Moody 47 Emily nee Crump –Stathers 94 ANSTO-David-Paul 155 Fire in the barn at Driffield 126 Artist-Peter Stathers 156 French and American revolutions 9 Australia- Migration 1915-1938 134 Funeral of Emma Stathers - nee Moore Australian Army-John Robert 1942 148 115 Australian Army Dorothy Leeds 1942 143 German sea - eroding coast line 61 Australian Imperial Force- John Robert Glebe farm 63, 68 1916 136 Glebe Farm Mary Whyte-Mappleton 62 Banns of Marriage - Francis Statters and Great depression 139 Sarah Jackson 40 Harris family 102-113 Baptismal dates-Francis-Sarah 38 Harvey-Norman Managers Lyn-Peter Bettina Pirchan 150 156 Bettina marriage Emile Pirchan 1946 150 Hay-on-Wye, 2007 112 Beverly Records Office 24 High Grange Farm, Market Weighton 117 Black Mountains,Wales 85 History of the County of Lincoln 32 Blacksmith 12, 40 Hornsea 96 Blenkins yard, Preston 51 Hurstville, Millet Street 139 Burton Pidsea 5, 16, 33 Indent for “Waipara.” 127 Burton-upon-Stather 25 Inflation-economic 38 Captain Cook 29 Interview - George Alfred Stathers by Paul Carrier Trade- George 53-55 Stathers 131 Census - Jackson family 48 1841- Francis-Ann 47 Jackson, Sarah 40 1851- Blenkins Row,Preston. 47-49 Jessie nee Crump- Holbrow 93 1861- Keyingham 52 John Lloyd 77 1871- Keyingham and Stathers family 54 John Robert and Emily Stathers burial place 1881- Cowden 57-67 154 1891- Cowden 68-70 Judge for ploughing - John Harris 103 1851-1871-1891 - Merediths 72-79 Julia nee Crump – Dennis 90 1881-1891- Crumps 80-89 Kevenlleece,Wales 73 1871-1891- Merediths/Crumps 92-101 Keyingham 55 1841- Harris family 100-113 King Henry VIII 24 Camperdown Shop 136 Late 1700s life 47 Cfn-Llys, Radnorshire, Wales (1811) 73-75 Life expectancy 10 Church House at Allensmore 107 Land Tenure 63 Church yard,Allensmore 108, 110 London departure 128 Clifford Herefordshire 75 Manly 132, 138 Commercial Bank of Australasia, George Mappleton 57-70 Alfred 138, 143 Mappleton -erosian of coast 61 County of Radnor, South Wales 73 Mappleton-village structure 67 Cowden 58-70 Marine Hotel Hornsea 94 Craswall 80-86 Market Weighton, Yorkshire 114 Craswall – Tebobo 80 Marriage Charles- Elizabeth Meredith 1877 Crump, Emily 72-94 70 Death of George Stathers Sen 123-124 167

Marriage of Francis Stathers to Ann Moody Searle, Mary 101 45 Shankland, Mary Elizabeth 98 Marriage Julia Crump to William Dennis 99 Shipton 125 Marriages Australia 1930s 140 Shop 100 Park Road Camperdown 136 Merediths, Marriage Clifford 72 St Devereux 105 Meredith, Edward – 1811 72-79 Staithes 29 Elizabeth Meredith 72 Stather River-Hull 28 Meredith, Robert 90 Stathers, Edgar Meredith (b.1909) 145 Meredith, Susannah 90 Stathers, Francis (1762) 33-44 Meredith-Crump-Harris 91 Stathers, Francis(1792) 40 Michael Church 78 Stathers,George (b.1840) 51, 57, 68 Mortimer castle, Wales 74 Stathers, George Alfred (b.1879) 15 Multiculturism 140 Stathers, George Alfred (b1905) 144 Napoleonic wars 9 Stathers, George Meredith(b1938) 156 Newfields Farm, Howden, Yorkshire 121 Stathers, John Robert (1882) 115, 118, North sea consuming coast 61 122, 128, 134, NSW Public Service - John Stathers 150 Stathers, John Robert( b.1910) 148- 150 Occupation- Carrier-George 53 Stathers, John Francis (1938) 156 Offas Dyke 81 Stathers, Lieutenant John 150 On the Black Hill film 82 Statters 40 Our Heritage 32 Stathers - other Australian families. 59 Paul's Interview father 131 Strickland, Henry Eustasis (1812) 35, Parish records recording 24 63 Parish records for Francis and Ann 45, 46 Sylvania – Belgrave Street 132 Parish Records-Francis & Sarah 40, 42 The Harris Family 102 Patrington 52 Thruxton 88 Paupers 49-51 Tithing 38 Poor rates in 1812 50 Treville 106 Preston 45- 49 Tuberculosis 100 Professions and trades for Mappleton and Tybubach- Crumps. Emily’s Birthplace 82 Great Cowden 1892-Bulmer Index Tything Barn, Allensmore 106 - 109 68 University of Sydney 146 Ross, Steele Ball 142 Viking era 23 Royal Prince Alfred Hospital -Edgar’s Voyage to Australia – 1915. 126 service 146 Waipara. Ship to Australia 126,127 Rugby League - Football 148 Welsh-Hereford families 71 Rural depression 57 What’s in a Name 23 S.S. “Wiapara” 130 Work on farms 39 Sarah nee Crump – Harris 92 Woronora cemetery at Sutherland 154 Scandal-Dorothy 142

168