William Fletcher (1889 - 1931) Fletcher Surname

WILLIAM FLETCHER (1889 - 1931) FLETCHER SURNAME

This famous northern family name is believed to have derived from the Germanic pre 7th Century personal compound name "Fulcher". The introduction into England was probably by the Normans, and the name translates as "people's army" from "folk", plus "heri", army. The development from Fulcher to Fletcher is both dialectal and academic, and may have arisen as a result of recordings being undertaken by a lay person of limited ability, rather than the original clerks or scribes. The name as Fletcher is normally associated with arrow making: however, this is not always an acceptable explanation, the Fletcher being responsible for the equipping of the bowman, a medieval supply officer. Representative recordings of the family name include John Fletcher, who married Elizabeth Allen at Tettenhall, County Stafford, on December 30th 1606, and Simon Fletcher, baptised at Old Swinford, County Worcester, on September 10th 1659. The Coat of Arms of this branch of Fletcher is given as sable, a cross patonce between four escallops or, on a chief gules, a lion passant and a crescent for difference, both of the second. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert le Flecher, which was dated 1203, in the "Assize Court Rolls of Staffordshire", during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216.

The Fletcher name is recorded 34,143 times in the 1881 census. By the time of 1998 electoral roll there had been a increase in the number to 41,612. More detailed statistics are shown below. The rate is expressed as Occurrences of the name per million names. On the distribution maps on the next page, the lowest distribution is in white and the highest distribution is coloured dark blue.

Frequency 1881 1998 Change Frequency 34143 41012 +6869 Rank Order 94 103 -9 Occurrences per million names 1262 1101 -161

International Comparisons Rate As % of GB rate in 1998 Great Britain Frequency (1998) 43688 100 Great Britain Frequency (1881) 34143 Great Britain Rate (1998) 1101 Great Britain Rate (1881) 1262 Northern Ireland 392.93 36.2 Republic of Ireland 15.64 1.4 Australia 925.53 85.3 New Zealand 913.98 84.2 United States 549.95 50.7 Canada 610.39 56.2 FLETCHER SURNAME

Fletcher - 1881

Fletcher - 1998 FLETCHER FAMILY TREE

Using the various genealogical resources we have been able to construct a family tree for the ancestors of William Fletcher back to 1750 with the birth of George Fletcher in 1750.

The tree back from William’s mother, Hannah Fletcher is speculative as not too much is known about Hannah and until we can see the Workhouse records for Helmsley, there is some uncertainty about the findings. However a detailed analysis of the census records would indicate that we have identified the correct Hannah Fletcher, this analysis is presented later in this chapter.

The Pedigree chart has been produced from the Family Tree Maker software (2012 edition) which now synchonises with the Family Tree on Ancestry.com.

The individuals on the Pedigree Chart are numbered from 1 for the primary individual through to 31 where there are five generations on the chart. These numbers are then referred to in the Ancestor report, roman numerals refer to children of a couple. FLETCHER FAMILY TREE

PEDIGREE TREE FOR WILLIAM FLETCHER ANCESTORS OF WILLIAM FLETCHER

Generation 1

1. William Fletcher (son of Unknown and Hannah Fletcher) was born on 27 Dec 1889 in Helmsley, Yorkshire, England. He died in 1931 in Helmsley, Yorkshire, England. He married Adelaide Smith (biological daughter of John Smith and daughter of Annie Simpson) in 1914 in Helmsley, Yorkshire, England. She was born on 08 Jul 1886 in Pickering, Yorkshire, England. She died in 1939 in Helmsley, Yorkshire, England.

Generation 2

2. Unknown. He met Hannah Fletcher.

3. Hannah Fletcher (daughter of John Fletcher and Mary Jane Atkinson) was born in 1864 in Bilsdale, North Yorkshire, England.

Hannah Fletcher and Unknown had the following children: i John Fletcher (son of Unknown and Hannah Fletcher) was born on 23 Dec 1879 in Stokesley, Yorkshire, England. ii William Fletcher [1] (son of Unknown and Hannah Fletcher) was born on 27 Dec 1889 in Helmsley, Yorkshire, England. He died in 1931 in Helmsley, Yorkshire, England. He married Adelaide Smith (biological daughter of John Smith and daughter of Annie Simpson) in 1914 in Helmsley, Yorkshire, England. She was born on 08 Jul 1886 in Pickering, Yorkshire, England. She died in 1939 in Helmsley, Yorkshire, England. iii Sarah Elizabeth Fletcher (daughter of Unknown and Hannah Fletcher) was born about 1895 in Helmsley, Yorkshire, England. iv Harold Fletcher (son of Unknown and Hannah Fletcher) was born in 1903 in Bilsdale, North Yorkshire, England.

Generation 3

6. John Fletcher (son of William Fletcher and Mary Chapman) was born in 1818. He died in 1902 in Bilsdale, North Yorkshire, England. He married Mary Jane Atkinson (daughter of John Atkinson and Mary Atkinson) in 1857.

7. Mary Jane Atkinson (daughter of John Atkinson and Mary Atkinson) was born in 1834.

Mary Jane Atkinson and John Fletcher had the following children: i David Atkinson (son of John Fletcher and Mary Jane Atkinson) was born in 1856 in Bilsdale, North Yorkshire, England. He married Mary Jane Wilson in 1882. ii William Fletcher (son of John Fletcher and Mary Jane Atkinson) was born in 1859 in Bilsdale, North Yorkshire, England. iii Mary Fletcher (daughter of John Fletcher and Mary Jane Atkinson) was born in 1862 in Bilsdale, North Yorkshire, England. ANCESTORS OF WILLIAM FLETCHER iv Hannah Fletcher [3] (daughter of John Fletcher and Mary Jane Atkinson) was born in 1864 in Bilsdale, North Yorkshire, England. She met Unknown. She married William Strickland on 31 Dec 1906 in Hawnby, Yorkshire, England. He was born in 1864 in Hawnby, Yorkshire, England. v John Fletcher (son of John Fletcher and Mary Jane Atkinson) was born in 1867 in Bilsdale, North Yorkshire, England. He married Hannah Champion in Jun 1892. She was born in 1871 in Hartoft. vi Elizabeth Fletcher (daughter of John Fletcher and Mary Jane Atkinson) was born in 1869 in Bilsdale, North Yorkshire, England. She married James Easby (son of William Easby and Anne Cornforth) in 1896 in Stokesley, Yorkshire, England. He was born in 1849 in Bilsdale, Yorkshie, England. vii Sarah Fletcher (daughter of John Fletcher and Mary Jane Atkinson) was born in 1872 in Bilsdale, North Yorkshire, England.

Generation 4

12. William Fletcher (son of George Fletcher and Jane Scaife) was born in 1777. He married Mary Chapman.

13. Mary Chapman.

Mary Chapman and William Fletcher had the following children: i John Fletcher [6] (son of William Fletcher and Mary Chapman) was born in 1818. He died in 1902 in Bilsdale, North Yorkshire, England. He married Mary Jane Atkinson (daughter of John Atkinson and Mary Atkinson) in 1857. She was born in 1834. ii Jenny Fletcher (daughter of William Fletcher and Mary Chapman) was born in 1798. iii Mary Fletcher (daughter of William Fletcher and Mary Chapman) was born in 1801. iv Sarah Fletcher (daughter of William Fletcher and Mary Chapman) was born in 1806. v Elizabeth Fletcher (daughter of William Fletcher and Mary Chapman) was born in 1809. vi William Fletcher (son of William Fletcher and Mary Chapman) was born in 1815.

14. John Atkinson (son of John Atkinson and Susannah Robinson) was born in 1790. He died in 1860. He married Mary Atkinson.

15. Mary Atkinson.

Mary Atkinson and John Atkinson had the following child: ANCESTORS OF WILLIAM FLETCHER i Mary Jane Atkinson [7] (daughter of John Atkinson and Mary Atkinson) was born in 1834. She married John Fletcher (son of William Fletcher and Mary Chapman) in 1857. He was born in 1818. He died in 1902 in Bilsdale, North Yorkshire, England.

Generation 5

24. George Fletcher was born in 1750. He married Jane Scaife.

25. Jane Scaife was born in 1750.

Jane Scaife and George Fletcher had the following child: i William Fletcher [12] (son of George Fletcher and Jane Scaife) was born in 1777. He married Mary Chapman.

26. Thomas Chapman was born in 1719. He died in 1793. He married Mary Hugill.

27. Mary Hugill (daughter of Thomas Hugill and Ann Metcalfe) was born in 1736. She died in 1783.

Mary Hugill and Thomas Chapman had the following children: i Mary Chapman [13] (daughter of Thomas Chapman and Mary Hugill). She married William Fletcher. He was born in 1777. ii Thomas Chapman (son of Thomas Chapman and Mary Hugill) was born in 1771. He married Mary Bowes. She was born in 1776.

28. John Atkinson was born in 1765. He died in 1846. He married Susannah Robinson.

29. Susannah Robinson was born in 1775. She died in 1840.

Susannah Robinson and John Atkinson had the following child: i John Atkinson [14](son of John Atkinson and Susannah Robinson) was born in 1790. He died in 1860. He married Mary Atkinson. ANCESTORS OF WILLIAM FLETCHER- LOCATIONS

The ancestors of William Fletcher as shown on the Pedigree Tree were all born in and around the Bilsdale area of North Yorkshire.

Bilsdale North Yorkshire Fletcher Hannah Fletcher John Hawnby Yorkshire Fletcher Hannah Helmsley Yorkshire Fletcher William WILLIAM FLETCHER. [1: Grandfather]

William Fletcher was born on 27th December 1889 in the Union Workhouse in Helmsley. Only his mother, Hannah Fletcher, a domestic servant, was listed on his birth certificate, and her residence was also the Union Workhouse in Helmsley. It appears that William didn’t stay in the Workhouse long because by the time of the 1891 census (15 months after his birth) he was living with John and Alice Thompson in Langdale Square which was located at the back of the High Street not far from the Workhouse. His mother was not listed at the Workhouse in the census but she was working as a Domestic Servant at the Black Swan in Helmsley. Two vital pieces of information were not recorded against her, age and place of birth.

Interestingly there was also a John Fletcher, aged 11 boarding with the Thompson family, John Fletcher had been born in Stokesley in 1880, his birth certificate shows that he was born in Stokesley Workhouse, and his mother was listed as Hannah Fletcher, a domestic servant. It seems likely that this was also William’s mother. John Fletcher was listed as a nurse child living with the Jackson family in Church Street, Helmsley in the 1881 census. There is also a Hannah Fletcher, aged 17, working as a domestic servant with the Chapman family in Hawnby. On this evidence it seems that Hannah Fletcher with her son John, moved to the Helmsley area soon after he was born. It is possible that verification of her movements could be obtained from the Helmsley Board of Guardians’ Records held by North Yorkshire County Council Library Archives, document ref BG/HEL. It seems highly likely that this was William’s mother, there was only one Hannah Fletcher listed in the 1881 census in Helmsley and from this we know she was born in 1864 in Bilsdale, North Yorkshire, midway between Helmsley and Stokesley.

Following the publication of the Admissions register for the Lady Feversham’s School in Helmsley, William was admission number 844 and that he started the school on 12th April 1896 and he left on 1st July 1898 to go to Helmlsey High School. His parent was listed as Hannah Fletcher and his address Smith’s Yard, Helmlsey.

In 1901 William was still living with the Thompson family in Langdale Square in Helmsley, by then John Fletcher had left Helmsley. William’s mother Hannah Fletcher had also moved from Helmsley but only as far as the nearby village of Harome. Hannah had another child in the Workhouse in Helmsley in 1893, Sarah Elizabeth Fletcher. Sarah was living with James and Ann Simpson as a Nurse Child on Rygate in Helmsley. It appears from the census that the Simpson's looked after a number of children, Louisa Yates, 15, was adopted and Ellen Hall, 7, another Nurse Child. In 1911 William was still living with the Thompson family, though the address was now Smith’s Yard, Church Street, Helmsley. His occupation was a Tailor, Journeyman. It also appears that Hannah WILLIAM FLETCHER. [1: Grandfather]

Fletcher had another child, Harold born in Bilsdale in 1902. By the time of the 1911 census Hannah had married and was living in Hartlepool.

After William left school he became an apprentice Tailor and by the time of the 1911 census he had finished his apprenticeship as he was now a Journeyman Tailor. He also played football for the Duncombe Park Football Club and was a member of the team which won the Scarborough & District Cup in 1911 and the Beckett Cup in 1912 and 1913. He appears in a couple of team photographs and we also have his Cup Winners medals from the 1910-11, 1911-12 and 1912-13 seasons’.

There are a number of other photographs of William from the period after he left school and prior to the First World War. These can be dated by the chain he is wearing. The chain also included a Silver Vesta case and a Silver shilling. A photograph of the chain , minus the 1910-11 medal, is shown in the photo album section later. The fact that William had a Vesta case on his chain means that he must have been a smoker, as these cases were used for carrying matches. The name ‘match’ was only used after the Nineteenth century, upto then they were called vestas taking their name from ‘Vesta’, the Roman Goddess of the hearth and home. It was essential to carry the vesta in a case because they were highly flammable and needed to be kept dry. The inside of the case was often gilded to protect the silver from the sulphur head of the match, which would otherwise tarnish the silver. The majority of Vesta cases were made and assayed in Birmingham, which was the case with William’s Vesta case, it has an assay date of 1911, also it was gilded on the inside. The most common design includes a jump link to attach an Albert’ chain, a sprung lid and a strike on its base. This chain is a useful means of dating the photographs of William. In other photographs from this period, William appears to be quite well dressed probably displaying his tailoring abilities.

William married Adelaide Smith at All Saints Church, Helmsley on April 19th 1914 with Henry Edward Newton officiating. The wedding was witnessed by John Smith, Adelaide’s father, Jenny Smith (Adelaide’s sister) and William Albert Beecroft. William Beecroft lived quite close to William in Church Street, Helmsley as shown in both the 1891 and 1901 census record. They must have been school friends because there was only a year between them, in fact we shall see other connections with the Beecroft family later The First War was looming as William and Adelaide got married, their first child, John, was born on 3rd September 1914 at 16 Castlegate, Pickering, the home of Adelaides parents, perhaps William was already away in the Army. WILLIAM FLETCHER - PHOTOGRAPHS

This photograph is of the Duncombe Park Football Club team, winners of the Rydale League in the 1911-12 season.

This photograph is of the Duncombe Park Football Club team, winners of the Beckett Cup in the 1912-13 Season. The player holding the cup is Harold Clark, the Grandfather of Nicholas Allenby, the God- son of John Goldsbrough (William Fletcher the Grand- father of John is standing behind Harold).

William’s cup winners medals, Scarborough & District Cup 1910-11, Beckett Cup 1911-12 and Beckett Cup 1912-13 WILLIAM FLETCHER - PHOTOGRAPHS

Photographs of events in Duncombe Park, Helmnsley, prior to World War 1. The picture alongside has been published on the Helmsley Archive website.

In the photographs from this period, William appears to be quite well dressed probably displaying his tailoring abilities.

In the picture on opposite we can see two football medals on the William’s chain which mean that the picture was taken between after the end of the 1912 football season and before he joined up to fight in the First World War. A more detailed analysis of the medal shapes on the photographs definitely identifies the medals as his first two medals. WILLIAM FLETCHER - PHOTOGRAPHS

William’s Vesta Case and chain with football medals and silver shilling.

The assay marks show that it was assayed in Birmingham, with an assay date of 1911. In addition it was gilded on the inside. HELMSLEY WORKHOUSE

This photograph shows the Helmsley Workhouse in 2006, now converted into flats.

Helmsley Poor Law Union (originally called Helmsley Blackmoor Union) formally came into being on 18th February 1837. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 47 in number, representing its 45 constituent parishes and townships as listed below (figures in brack- ets indicate numbers of Guardians if more than one):

Ampleforth Birdforth, Ampleforth (Oswaldkirk Quarter), Ampleforth St Peter, Arden cum Ardenside, Beadlam, Bilsdale Midcable, Bilsdale Westside, Bransdale West Side, Byland (Coxwold), Old Byland, Cawton, Cold Kirby, Colton, Great Edstone, Little Edstone, Fadmore, Farndale East Side, Farndale Low Quarter, Farndale West Side High Quarter, Gillimore, Gilling, Grimston, Haram, Helmsley (2), North Holme, Hutton-le-Hole, Kirkby Moorside (2), Laskill Pasture, Muscoates, Nawton, East Newton and Laysthorpe, Nunnington, Oldstead, Os- waldkirk, Pockley, Rivaulx, Scawton, Skiplam, Sproxton, Stone, Thorp-le-Willows, Wass, Wel- burn, Wombleton.

The population falling within the union at the 1831 census had been 11,207 with parishes rang- ing in size from Little Edstone (population 13) to Kirkby Moorside (1,802) and Helmsley itself (1,485). The average annual poor-rate expenditure for the period 1834-36 had been £3,789 or 6s.9d. per head of the population.

Helmsley union covered a large area, much of it thinly populated bleak moorland. Much of the union was owned by Charles, Lord Feversham of Duncombe Park, a man who disliked change. His son and successor, Tory MP William Duncombe, was also strongly at odds with the 1834 Act. As a result, Helmsley union continued to use the existing old and small workhouses at Helmsley and Kirbymoorside which were "nurseries of vice and idleness". The inmates were ill-disciplined and insubordinate, and contrary to regulations the Masters of the two establishments performed their duties on a part-time basis, both having other occupations. In 1842, Feversham finally agreed to the building of a new workhouse at the north end of Pottergate in Helmsley. HELMSLEY WORKHOUSE

However, it only accommodated 35 and the building was badly constructed. A brief attempt was made to place male inmates at Helmsley where they broke stone for highway construction, and the women moved to Kirbymoorside. By 1846, the Helmsley building had 17 beds in a cold dark garret occupied by the aged and infirm, both sane and insane, and the mortuary was used by two boys as a bedroom. No work was given to the inmates.

In 1843, because of the difficulties of travel across the union for both guardians and inmates, moves began to divide the union into two. This eventually happened on 6th March, 1848, with the formation of a separate Kirkby Moorside union.

A new Helmsley Union workhouse was erected in 1859-61 to accommodate 65 inmates. The building, located on the High Street in Helmsley, was designed by John and William Atkinson who were also the architects of many other Yorkshire workhouses including those at Bedale, Beverley, Easingwold, Guisborough, Goole, Howden, Kirkby Moorside, Pateley Bridge, Pockling- ton, Skirlaugh, Wetherby and York.

Its location is shown on the 1914 map below.

Helmsley workhouse location, 1914.

As was the case at Kirkby Moorside, the vagrants' ward at Helmsley provided neither food, run- ning water or work. CHARLES NORRIS GREY (Vicar of Helmsley 1870 - 1913).

The Reverend Gray was a man of strong opinions and he wasn’t shy of voicing these, whether it was on the state of the drainage in Helmsley, why people should take regular baths, or the style of ladies’ dress. His political opinions were also strongly expressed, above all, he would sermonize on items such as gossiping or giving alms to the church. The Helmsley Parish magazine covering the period of his period of office, has recently been published by the Ryedale Family History Society. Below are three extracts on topics associated with William.

Workhouse Children (May 1895)

Helmsley Apprentices (May 1880) CHARLES NORRIS GREY (Vicar of Helmsley 1870 - 1913).

Footballing on Good Friday (April 1906)

. WILLIAM FLETCHER IN WORLD WAR 1.

William left behind some clues as to his experiences in WWI which he survived.

1. A photograph in his army uniform. 2. A soldiers bible with his service number, 264107 on it. 3. Two medals, the British Medal and the Victory medal also inscribed with his name and service number. 4. A Christmas Greetings drawing of some wooden barracks, labelled North Russia 1918. 5. A couple of photographs of wooden crosses on wartime graves. 6. Some pre-revolutionary Russian bank notes including a 25 Rouble note. 7. A photograph from his days in the army.

See later for copies of the photographs,

Using his service number of 264107 we have been able to locate his medal record card which shows his entitlement to the British Medal and the Victory Medal and also records the fact that he was a Sapper in the Royal Engineers. He doesn’t appear to have served in France as he wasn’t entitled to the 1914/15 Star Medal. It does seem that he served in North Russia around 1918/19. As children, we were often told that he was fighting with the White Russians against the Bolsheviks.

The British War Medal - 1914 - 1920.

This medal was awarded for service overseas. The medal is round, silver, and bears the sovereign’s coinage head. The reverse design by W. McMillan is of St. George trampling on a skull and crossbones.

The Allied Victory Medal.

This medal was awarded in conjunction with the British War Medal, however it was awarded only if the recipient was on the strength of a unit in a theatre of war. The obverse depicts a winged Victory, while on the reverse are the words: “The Great War For Civilization 1914-1919”.

The photograph showing William with his army colleagues may have been taken before he went to Russia. William is seated on the floor on the right. It is interesting to speculate that his colleagues included Asbury and Holden, at this stage there is no way of knowing, but if contact could be made with their descendants then it may be possible to place them.

Examination of the wooden crosses in the grave photographs shows that the men commemorated were both L/Corporals in the Royal Engineers, the same regiment as William. They were 262808 L/Cpl H. T. Asbury and 231628 L/Cpl J. W. Holden. The photographs of the graves of Holden and Asbury must have been taken in the early summer as there was no snow on the ground, as we shall see later snow can be around for 250 days in the year in Murmansk. Both men died on 1st February 1919. As these photographs were in the possession of William, it seems extremely likely that he knew both these men and that they were in the same RE Company. BULNITSCHE BARRACKS FIRE

The Commonwealth Graves Commission web site gives more information about the location of the graves of Asbury and Holden. The cemetery shown in the photographs is the Old British Cemetery in Murmansk which was used by the No 86 General Hospital in 1918 - 1919. Subsequently the burials were moved to the New British Cemetery in Murmansk. Following the recent (2008) release of WW1 service records by Ancestry, we now more details about the deaths of L/Cpl Asbury and L/Cpl Holden, as both their service records are available on-line.

This is quite fortunate as around 60% of the records were destroyed in a WW2 bombing raid. From a detailed study of the papers it soon becomes clear that both men lost their lives in a fire at their barracks and not as a result of any enemy action. Both sets of files include a couple of copies of the Proceedings of the Court of Enquiry held to investigate the cause of the fire. We are using a copy of the proceedings from L/Cpl Holden’s file as it appears to be complete and not as damaged as that in L/Cpl Asbury’s file. The full title of the document is:

We now know that both men were with 548th (Dundee) Field Company, RE. It seems very likely that William Fletcher was with the same company, however we can’t confirm this as his record is not available. It appears from some of the witness statements from 492nd Company who raised the alarm, that they didn’t know the men in 548th Company that well.

The court of enquiry took place between 21st February and 28th February 1919 at Murmansk with Capt. S.F.C Sweeny as the President and Lieutenants I.C. Redwood and H.N. Eades as members of the panel. It took evidence from the 492nd Field Company and the 548th Field Company of RE. The fire was first seen by 492nd Field Company and appears to have started around 6 am.

The findings of the Court of Enquiry. BULNITSCHE BARRACKS FIRE

From the evidence of the 548th Field Company we can identify some of the members of the Company other than the two that lost their lives. Again it seems likely that William would have known some of these men.

Lt. Riddell Sergeant W. R. Price (49209) Sergeant D. Bagshaw (426862) Sergeant Atkinson Corporal G. Plowright (474484) 2nd Corporal Jameson (459899) Sapper Wilhoughby Sapper G. J. Blake (277281) Sapper Strange (451175) Sapper Burrows Sapper H. Burton (263194) Sapper W. J Smith Sapper Hartt

From other information on L/Cpl Holden’s file is the fact that 548th. Field Company embarked at Newcastle on 16th June 1918 and disembarked at Murmansk on 23rd June 1918. It must have been a tough existence in the Barracks at Murmansk with the ever present threat of fire in the wooden barracks, the cold climate and the long period of Polar night.

The fire orders reproduced below indicate the precautions necessary to prevent fires. BULNITSCHE BARRACKS FIRE

The proceedings include a drawing of the Bulnitsche Barracks, showing the rooms occupied by each of the RE Field Company’s. BULNITSCHE BARRACKS FIRE

JOHN WILLIAM HOLDEN.

He was 36 years old when he enlisted from the Army Reserve in 1917. He was of average height, 5’ 6½” and when he joined the Army Reserve in 1915 he was Chief Assistant in an Architects office. His qualifications were described as Superior, in fact his Army Qualification report indicates that he was superior at the following: Lettering and shading. Copying coloured drawings , neatly, expedite, correctly and to scale. Making working drawings from hand sketches. Design of simple building details, e.g. Doors, chimneys, coping, etc.

He married Elizabeth Lund Taylor at St. Stephens Church, Haslingden, Lancashire on 21/07/1909. At the time of joining the Reserve they were living at 2, Aldwych Place, Brownhill, Blackburn. They had three children, Gerald Taylor Holden, born 03/07/1910, Alice Kathleen Holden, born 01/09/1912 and Gladys Duerden Holden, born 13/03/1916. As John William was good at drawing it seems possible that he produced the Christmas Greetings above, however it was not initialled. In the 1911 census John William,his wife and first child were living at 6 Aldwych Place, Blackburn. And he was employed as an Architects and Land Surveyors Assistant.

HENRY THOMAS ASBURY.

Henry Asbury was 34 years old when he was called up for service in August 1916. He joined the 23rd works battalion of the ‘Kings’ Liverpool Regiment. At time of joining up he was 6ft1in tall and weighed 145lbs. He transferred to the Royal Engineers as a Sapper in March 1917 and worked as skilled bricklayer. He was appointed Lance Corporal (unpaid) in October 1917 and subsequently appointed paid L/Cpl in March 1918. He then joined the Syren force on 12th June 1918 and sailed to Murmansk on 16th June 1918.

He was born in Penymynydd, Flintshire in 1882. In the 1891 census he was living with his widowed mother and brothers and sisters in Pentrobin, Hawarden, Flintshire. In the 1901 census he was living with relations in Bootle, Lancashire and his occupation was that of a Bricklayer. By the time of the 1911 census he was back living with his mother at Bretton, near Chester. His occupation was now Builder and Contractor. He then married Mary E Jones on 26th July 1916 at the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Penyffordd, just a few weeks before he was called up. WILLIAM FLETCHER IN WORLD WAR 1, Photos & Medals

The photograph showing William with his army colleagues may have been taken before he went to Russia. William is seated on the floor on the right

His medal record card is also shown below along with photographs of his British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Also shown are the photographs of the two wooden crosses marking the graves of Asbury and Holden.

British War medal

Medal Record card showing entitlement to the two medals.

Victory medal

Henry Thomas Asbury John William Holden WILLIAM FLETCHER IN WORLD WAR 1, Mementos

The Christmas Greetings drawing, above, indicates the external structure of the barracks whereas the drawing produced for the court of enquiry shows the internal structure of one of the huts.

The Russian text translated literally means, “I congratulate you on a Christian Christmas”, so a form of Christmas Card.

William also left behind some pre- revolutionary Russian bank notes, 10 Roubles and 25 Roubles which are shown here. BRITISH INVASION OF RUSSIA 1918-1919.

The story of Britain’s invasion of Russia at the end of the First World War has remained largely un told. Although not its initial architect, its chief advocate was the passionately anti-Bolshevik, Winston Churchill. The campaign that followed, in a war that was never declared, constitute an extraordinary episode in British Military History, fought in extreme conditions and amid great uncertainties. Churchill’s Crusade by Clifford Kinvig is in fact the first complete account of a unique campaign. Britain did not strike a campaign medal in the undeclared war, instead the authorities extended the entitlement to the Great War’s Campaign and Victory medals to those whose first war experience was in the distant Russian Theatres.

The following summary is a very useful description of the involvement of British and other Imperial forces in Russia during the Great War. BRITISH INVASION OF RUSSIA 1918-1919. BRITISH INVASION OF RUSSIA 1918-1919.

MURMANSK.

Present-day Murmansk, the largest city in the world north of the Arctic Circle, is the capital and economic centre of the region around it and one of Russia’s biggest seaports.

The Murmansk region has a moderate Arctic sea climate, which is influenced by the Gulf Stream. The sun does not rise for two months a year in the north of the peninsula. There, the average winter temperature is minus 14 degrees Celsius. The average temperature is 14 degrees in the summer, when the sun does not set for several months. In central and southern parts of the peninsula, temperatures reach minus 40-50 degrees Celsius in the winter, while summers are drier and significantly warmer. The warmest part of the Murmansk region is its south by the White Sea. The climate is harsher in eastern parts of the region, where the greatest number of stormy days is observed. The yearly precipitation in the region averages 400 millimeters. It most frequently occurs in the form of snow, which stays on the ground for about 250 days on average. Polar nights at the latitude of Murmansk last from December 2 to January 11. Polar days vary from 17 consecutive days in the south to 72 days in the north. In Murmansk, the sun does not set from May 22 to July 22.

In 1914 Murmansk barely existed and lacked all developed communications with the Russian hinterland. Its location, 30 miles inland from the Barents Sea along the Kola inlet and ice-free all year, made it ideally suited for development as a port. That a working port and landward communications were so rapidly constructed at Murmansk was largely the result of Britain’s need for year-round facilities through which to supply the vast quantities of stores required to sustain the war effort of her Russian ally. The construction work at Murmansk employed Chinese and Korean labourers and Austrian and German prisoners of war working under Canadian engineers loaned to Russia for the purpose. BRITISH INVASION OF RUSSIA 1918-1919.

The work began in September 1915 and by the end of 1916, a primitive port had been built and a single track railway laid to connect it with Petrograd (St Petersburg). The building of the railway extracted a great human toll, at least 40,000 prisoners of war died in its construction.

In the early months of 1918 fears were growing among the Bolshevik leaders for the security of Murmansk. An agreement was reached with the local Soviet for the provision of extra forces. On 6th March 1918 a company of 120 Royal Marines went ashore, marched to the drab huts which passed for barracks in Murmansk and mounted some naval guns outside ready for action.

Murmansk was not an attractive billet for the marines who landed there. The coastline was vast and hilly but otherwise featureless, land and sea merging in a grey blur unbroken by the outline of any significant buildings or trees. During the early summer of 1918 plans to reinforce the Murmansk region were hurried forward. The Admiralty put together a Royal Marine Field Force of over 300 men. The force was equipped for a long stay with both summer clothing and Arctic winter kit. The Army element of the new force was pitifully small, a company of infantry, a machine gun company and most of an engineer field company, 600 men in all. The force was code named ‘Syren’ and was to be commanded by Major General Sir Charles Maynard. A training mission code named ‘Elope’ was also raised.

A cloud of secrecy cloaked the assembly of the expeditionary force for North Russia. The two task forces, known only by their code names, were assembled at the Tower of London. There was absolute secrecy as to their destination, though the men were allowed to hint at America where the weather extremes were similar to Russia’s and which would explain the extra kit taken on the march to King’s Cross station. The force boarded the heavily camouflaged , and set sail from Newcastle on 18th June 1918 with its destroyer escort. It was a difficult journey, avoiding U- boats along with the influenza pandemic which affected most of the men on board. The force arrived at Murmansk on 23rd June 1918. So it was here in Murmansk that William Fletcher arrived, he must have been wondering why he was at such a godforsaken place. The photo above on the left was taken just after the force arrived, it looks pretty desolate. BRITISH INVASION OF RUSSIA 1918-1919.

CITY OF MARSEILLES 1912

The ship that William travelled on to Murmansk was the , built in in 1912, so a relatively new ship. The details of her construction and history are as follows. 8250 gross tons, length 469.3ft x beam 57ft, one funnel, two masts, twin screw, speed 14 knots. Accommodation for 141-1st and 46-2nd class passengers. Launched on 26th Oct.1912 by Palmers Co Ltd, Jarrow-on-Tyne for Ellerman's Hall Line, she left Liverpool on 26th Jan.1913 on her maiden voyage to New York, Port Said and Bombay. She subsequently sailed between Liverpool and Bombay. On 23rd Nov.1915 she was attacked by a submarine en route Liverpool - Bombay and hit it with her gunfire. In Nov.1916 she picked up 95 survivors from P & O Line's ARABIA which had been torpedoed SW of Cape Matapan. In 1921 she was used for New York - Port Said - Bombay voyages for Ellerman Bucknall's American & Indian Line service, later via Marseilles and Naples. Between 1923 and 1930 she made regular seasonal trooping voyages to India until replaced by Bibby Line's LANCASHIRE. Damaged by a mine off the River Tay on 6th Jan.1940, but repaired. Stranded at Ceylon on 22nd Jan.1943 but refloated. Scrapped 1947.[Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws, vol.16, Ellerman Lines] BRITISH INVASION OF RUSSIA 1918-1919.

SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON.

Because of the harsh conditions in Northern Russia, the Polar explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton was appointed by the War Office in August 1918 with a commission as a Major and the title ‘director of equipment, clothing, rations and transport of the mobile columns and director of clothing for the SYREN force’. Shackleton placed orders in Norway and the United Kingdom for clothing, sledges, dogs and polar equipment. His design of Arctic Kit included ‘4 sets Wolsely underclothing, 1 Burberry Suit, 1 Arctic Cap, 1 pair blizzard goggles, 1 pair skis, 1 large woollen overcoat, 1 pair Shackleton Boots’.

The boots were made of canvas with hard leather soles that froze as hard as iron. They were worn over socks, thick stockings and moccasins, all of which were wrapped in rags before putting on the boots. A picture of a Shackleton boot is below along with a picture of a sentry in North Russia showing the Arctic Kit, including the boots. This boot was made in Northampton. The boots are also referred to in submissions to the board of enquiry on the barrack fire as shown by the evidence by CSM Richardson.

This is the sort of kit that William would have worn during the winter of 1918/19 in Murmansk.

During the summer of 1919 there had been a number of setbacks in the Murmansk area and in June the commander (Maynard) received a signal that all the men that had over wintered in the north were to be out of Russia by the first of September. They in fact sailed for England on 10th August 1919. William had spent more than a year in Murmansk. BRITISH INVASION OF RUSSIA 1918-1919.

Chronology - North Russian Expeditionary Force: 1918 6 March 130 Royal marines land at Murmansk with full agreement of the Bolsheviks. 7 May 250 Royal Marines landed at Kem. 7 - 24 May Major General Poole is in Murmansk to organise the North Russia expeditionary Force (NREF) 24 May British War Cabinet decides to send 560-man military mission to Archangel to train ‘Whites’ and 600 troops to Murmansk. Notes large scale intervention inevitable. 4 June 150 Royal Marines. landed at Pechenga 18 June 'Syren' and 'Elope' force leave Newcastle for Murmansk onboard the City of Marseilles. 23 June Syren’ and ‘Elope’ –600 men commanded by Major General Maynard join NREF at Murmansk. Maynard and 30 men proceed south by railway control to Soroka sending back 3 Red troop trains. 3 July Allied Supreme War Council approves reinforcements for NREF of 1200 British troops and a French colonial battalion. 26 July French troops join British at Murmansk. 27 August Russia promises Germans to fight Allies in North Russia freeing German troops to move elsewhere. 2 September Italian battalion landed at Murmansk to join NREF. 4 September 500 US troops landed at Archangel commanded by Colonel Stewart 339th Regiment. 18 September Karelians under British command repulse German led force and drive it back into Finland. 1 October Major General Ironside lands at Archangel as new Allied C-in-C. 27 October Royal Scots surprise attack at Topsa fails. Armistice signed on Western Front. 26 November Three British battalions landed at Murmansk. 25 December British officer murdered near Murmansk, murderer executed 5 Feb 1919. 1919 1 February The largest barracks (Bulnitze) in Murmansk were burnt to the ground. L/Cpl Asbury and L/Cpl Holden lose their lives in the fire. 16 February Lloyd George tells Churchill Whites not Allies must oust Reds in two telegrams from Paris. Churchill continues to agitate for full British intervention to remove Reds. 1 March Allies retreat 1 mile at Vistavka 140 miles SE of Archangel. 4 March British Cabinet decide to evacuate NREF as soon as possible 17 March Reds overwhelm French garrison at Bolshe-Ozerki and repel British counter-attack. 17 April 400 British troops land at Murmansk, consisting of two companies, one from King’s Royal Rifle Corps and the othe from the Middlesex Regiment. 27 May British 238th Relief Brigade (NRRF) landed at Archangel reaches front 6 June. 7 July Slavo-British-Legion, C Company, mutinies and kills several British and Russian officers 20 -22 July 4000 Whites mutiny in Murmansk, 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regt. sent to put down mutiny. 30 July Major General Rawlinson appointed to direct North Russia evacuation. 10 August Members of the original Expeditionary Force sail for England. 1 September N.Russia 16,000 British, 1,400 French and Serb, & 26,000 ‘White’ troops in area. 9 September British begin withdrawal from Archangel covered by rearguard actions. 27 September Last British troops leave Archangel. 1 October British commence evacuation from Murmansk. 10 October Last Allied troops, 5000 British and 1400 French and Serb troops leave Murmansk. HMS Glory last RN ship to leave N. Russia. WILLIAM FLETCHER 1919 - 1931

As we have already seen, William returned home during 1919. However while he was away in Russia his first child, John, died in Helmsley. There is one picture of John with his mother Adelaide and that is shown below. Their second child, Joan, was born on 22nd November 1920 and Baptised on the Feast of St Stephen, 1920. At that time William and Adelaide were living at Bridge Street (now number 12) in Helmsley, in a cottage (see photograph below). rented from the Duncombe Park Es- tate, this remained with the family until Joan died in 1989.

William worked as a Tailor in Helmsley until he died in on 17th September 1931 at Bridge Street of a brain haemorage, the informant was Ethel Beecroft and the doctor was Alexander Blair.

Joan’s Baptism Card

Adelaide with John Fletcher.

12 Bridge Street, Helmsley WILLIAM FLETCHER - CENSUS RETURNS

1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census Langdale Square, Church Street, Helmsley

Birth Occupation Name Relation Condition Sex Age Year Disability Where Born THOMPSON, John Head Married M 40 1851 Groom Helmsley Yorkshire

THOMPSON, Alice Wife Married F 33 1858 Pockley orkshire

THOMPSON, Annie Daughter F 13 1878 Malton orkshire

THOMPSON, Gertrude Daughter F 8 1883 Helmsley Yorkshire

THOMPSON, Rhoda Daughter F 6 1885 Helmsley Yorkshire

SLATER, Thomas Lodger Single M 23 1868 Groom Lastingham Yorkshire

FLETCHER, John Boarder M 11 1880 Stokesley Yorkshire

FLETCHER, William Boarder M 1 1890 Helmsley Yorkshire

1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census Langdale Square, Church Street, Helmsley

Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Occupation Where Born Year Disability THOMPSON, John Head Married M 48 1853 Groom Not Domestic Helmsley Yorkshire

THOMPSON, Ellis Wife Married F 43 1858 Helmsley Yorkshire

THOMPSON, Rhoda Daughter Single F 17 1884 Helmsley Yorkshire

THOMPSON, Lillian G A Grand Daughter F 0 (3M) 1901 Helmsley Yorkshire

FLETCHER, Willie Boarder M 11 1890 Helmsley Yorkshire

1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Smiths Yard, Church Street, Helmsley

Name Relation Condition/ Sex Age Birth Occupation Where Born Yrs married Year THOMPSON, John Head Married M 63 1848 Groom Etc Domestic Yorkshire Helmsley Married THOMPSON, Ellis Wife F 53 1858 Yorks Pockley 30 years RAMSAY, Gerty Stepdaughter Married F 28 1883 Yorks Helmsley RAMSAY, Allan Son Married M 27 1884 Groom Domestic Yorks Pickering FLETCHER, Willie Boarder Single M 21 1890 Tailor Journeyman Yorks Helmsley NICHOLSON, Annie Stepdaughter Single F 10 1901 School Yorks Helmsley RAMSAY, Alice Maud Granddaughter F 0 (6M) 1911 Yorks Helmsley HANNAH FLETCHER [3: Great Grandmother]

The key census in the search for details about Hannah Fletcher (William’s mother) is the 1891 census, 15 months after William was born. In that census we find Hannah Fletcher working as a domestic servant at the Black Swan in Helmsley, however the crucial information as to her age and place of birth is missing from the census record. In order to determine more information about her the census records from 1881 to 1911 were analysed. The 1881 census was searched for Hannah Fletcher, single, resident in the North Riding of Yorkshire with a birth year in the range 1850 to 1870. This birth range was selected to give her a child bearing range of 25 years taking into account the fact that William was born in 1889 and Sarah Elizabeth was born in 1893. The census results are shown in the table below.

On the basis of the results from 1881 to 1901 there are only two possible matches, Hannah Fletcher born in Bilsdale in 1864 or Hannah Fletcher born in Cropton in 1861. We can exclude the Hannah born in Cropton because she was recorded at Cropton in all the census records right through to 1911 and was house keeper for members of her family.

1881 census 1850 - 1870 Residence Where Born FLETCHER, Hannah 1853 28 F Pickering Keys Beck House Single Domestic FLETCHER, Hannah 1859 22 F Scarborough Pickering Single Domestic Servant FLETCHER, Hannah 1861 20 F Pickering Cropton Single Housekeeper FLETCHER, Hannah 1864 17 F Helmsley Bilsdale Single Domestic Servant FLETCHER, Hannah 1865 16 F Malton Norton, Cheshire Single Domestic servant

1891 Census FLETCHER, Hannah 1861 30 F Pickering Cropton Single Housekeeper FLETCHER, Hannah F Helmsley Single Domestic Servant

1901 Census FLETCHER, Hannah 1861 40 F Pickering Cropton Single Housekeeper FLETCHER, Hannah 1865 36 F Helmsley Bilsdale Single Domestic Servant

1911 Census FLETCHER, Hannah 1861 50 F Pickering Cropton Single Housekeeper HANNAH FLETCHER [3: Great Grandmother]

It is with a great deal of certainty that the Hannah Fletcher we are searching for was born in Bilsdale in 1864. As we have already seen she had at least three children, John, born 1879, William, Born 1889 and Sarah Elizabeth, born 1893.

Hannah Fletcher is not recorded in the 1911 census, however a search for Hannah born in Bilsdale in 1864 results in four hits, Hannah Garbutt (married 27 years), Hannah Metcalfe (married 16 years), Hannah Ransome (married 23 years) and Hannah Strickland (married 4 years and a son Harold Fletcher aged 8).

Harold Fletchers’ birth certificate shows he was born in Bilsdale on 4th June 1902. This means that Hannah had four children, possibly by four different fathers. Using census returns and BMD certificates we can build a timeline for Hannah.

15th February 1864 - Hannah was born on in Bilsdale Midcable, her father was John Fletcher, a master shoemaker and her mother Mary Jane Atkinson.

23rd December 1879 - she (aged 15) had a son, John born in the Stokesley Workhouse.

3rd April 1881 (Census) - Hannah was recorded as a Domestic Servant working for the Chapman family at Daletown, Hawnby. John was living with the Jackson family in Church street in Helmsley.

27th December 1889 - William was born in the Helmsley Workhouse.

5th April 1891 (Census) - Hannah was listed as Domestic Servant at The Black Swan, and John and William were living with the Thompson family in Langdale Square, Helmsley.

3rd September 1893 - Sarah Elizabeth born in the Helmsley Workhouse.

31st March 1901 (Census) - Hannah is now listed as a Domestic Housemaid working for John Hornby a farmer at Harome Moor in Harome near Helmsley.

4th June 1902 - Harold born in Midcable Bilsdale.

31st December 1906 - Hannah marries William Strickland, a widower at the Parish Church in Hawnby

2nd April 1911 (Census) - Hannah was living with William Strickland a Tram Driver at 24 Watson Street, Hartlepool, also living with them was Hannah’s son Harold.

Dec Qtr 1928 - Hannah, aged 64, dies in Hartlepool, County Durham. HANNAH FLETCHER - CENSUS RETURNS

1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census Stingamhires, Bilsdale Midcable, Stokesley, Yorkshire, England

First Last Marital Birth Relationship Gender Age Occupation Birth place name(s) name status year Yorkshire, Eng- John Fletcher Head Married Male 53 1818 Shoe maker land Yorkshire, Eng- M J Fletcher Wife Married Female 48 1823 land Yorkshire, Eng- William Fletcher Son Single Male 12 1859 Scholar land Yorkshire, Eng- Mary Fletcher Daughter Single Female 9 1862 Scholar land Yorkshire, Eng- Hannah Fletcher Daughter Single Female 7 1864 Scholar land Yorkshire, Eng- John Fletcher Son Single Male 4 1867 land Yorkshire, Eng- Elizabeth Fletcher Daughter Single Female 2 1869 land

1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census Chatwith, Dale-Town, Helmsley, Yorkshire, England

First Last Marital Birth Relationship Gender Age Occupation Birth place name(s) name status year

Hawnby, York- Garbutt Chapman Head Widower Male 42 1839 Farmer 260 Acres shire, England Hawnby, York- Betsy A Chapman Daughter Single Female 17 1864 Farmers Daur shire, England Hawnby, York- William Chapman Son Single Male 16 1865 Farmers Son shire, England Hawnby, York- John Chapman Son Single Male 13 1868 Scholar shire, England Hawnby, York- James Chapman Son Single Male 11 1870 Scholar shire, England Hawnby, York- George Chapman Son Single Male 9 1872 Scholar shire, England Hawnby, York- Edward G Chapman Son Single Male 7 1874 Scholar shire, England Hawnby, York- Francis Chapman Son Single Male 5 1876 Scholar shire, England Hawnby, York- John Chapman Father Widower Male 78 1803 Retired Farmer shire, England Farm Servant (In- John Wood Servant Single Male 20 1861 Yorkshire, England door) General Servant Hannah Fletcher Servant Single Female 17 1864 Yorkshire, England Domestic HANNAH FLETCHER - CENSUS RETURNS

1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census Black Swan, Market Place, Helmsley, Yorkshire, England

First Last Marital Birth Relationship Gender Age Occupation Birth place name(s) name status year

Ann E Robinson Head Widow Female 42 1849 Hotel Proprietress Yorkshire, England Helmsley, York- Ernest Robinson Son Single Male 13 1878 Scholar shire, England Helmsley, York- Nora G Robinson Daughter Female 12 1879 Scholar shire, England Helmsley, York- Percy W Robinson Son Male 8 1883 Scholar shire, England Helmsley, York- Olive A Robinson Daughter Female 5 1886 Scholar shire, England Living On Her Mary M Haywood Aunt Widow Female 67 1824 Yorkshire, England Own Means Liverpool, Lanca- Jessie Haywood Cousin Single Female 15 1876 Scholar shire, England Traveller For Spir- Fenwick, Ayrshire, John Anderson Boarder Married Male 42 1849 its Scotland Living On His Doncaster, York- Harry Elwis Boarder Married Male 30 1861 Own Means shire, England Queensbury, York- Nancy Elwis Boarder Married Female 30 1861 shire, England

John S Elwis Boarder Male 3 1888 Yorkshire, England

Emma Reminson Boarder Single Female 21 1870 Servant Domestic Yorkshire, England

George E Robinson Nephew Male 10 1881 Scholar Yorkshire, England

Lawrance E Robinson Nephew Male 8 1883 Scholar Yorkshire, England

Hannah Fletcher Servant Single Female 1871 Servant Domestic

Rosedale, Yorkshire, Amelia Petch Servant Single Female 22 1869 Servant Domestic England

Ellen Hall Servant Single Female 15 1876 Servant Domestic HANNAH FLETCHER - CENSUS RETURNS

1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census Harome Moor, Harome, Helmsley, Yorkshire, England

First Last Marital Birth Relationship Gender Age Occupation Birth place name(s) name status year Old Byland, York- John Hornby Head Single Male 43 1858 Farmer shire, England Helmsley, Yorkshire, William Holmes Servant Single Male 24 1877 Carter On Farm England Helmsley, Yorkshire, Emanuel Baldwin Servant Single Male 16 1885 Farm Servant England Housemaid Do- Hannah Fletcher Servant Single Female 36 1865 Yorkshire, England mestic

1911 England & Wales Census 24 Watson St, Hartlepool, Throston, Durham, England

First Marital sta- Ag Birth Last name Relationship Sex Occupation Birth place name(s) tus e year

William Strickland Head Married Male Tram Driver 47 1864 Bilsdale Yorkshire

Hannah Strickland Wife Married Female 48 1863 Bilsdale Yorkshire

John George Strickland Son Male School 13 1898 Middlesbrough

Harold Fletcher Son Male 8 1903 Bilsdale Yorkshire

Jane Annie Strickland Daughter Female 6 1905 Hartlepool Durham JOHN FLETCHER - CENSUS RETURNS

JOHN FLETCHER - Census Returns

1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census Church Street, Helmsley, Yorkshire, England

First Last Relation- Marital Gen- Birth Occu- Age Birth place name(s) name ship status der year pation Mark Jackson Head Married Male 50 1831 Barber Helmsley, Yorkshire, England

Bessy Jackson Wife Married Female 41 1840 Sproxton, Yorkshire, England

James Jackson Son Single Male 13 1868 Scholar Helmsley, Yorkshire, England

William Jackson Son Single Male 9 1872 Scholar Helmsley, Yorkshire, England

Mary E Jackson Daughter Single Female 6 1875 Scholar Helmsley, Yorkshire, England

John Fletcher Nurse Child Single Male 1 1880 Yorkshire, England

We know from the 1891 census that John was born in Stokesley, search of the 1901 and 1911 census did not find any John Fletchers born in Stokesley, however there were some possible matches where the transcription of Stokesley was not correct.

In 1901 there is a record of a John Fletcher with the right birth year in Cosham, Hampshire at the Hilsea Barracks, where he is recorded as a Gunner, RFA. The Birth town is given as Stoksley, Yorkshire which obviously could be Stokesley.

In 1911 there is a record of a John Fletcher with the right birth year in Barlby, West Yorkshire at 1 Victoria Avenue, Barlby Road, Selby. He is recorded as a General Labourer working in the Oil and Cake mills. The birth town is given as Staksely.

In 1909, the industrialist Joseph Watson bought land in the parish of Barlby, near Selby, to set up an oil and cake mill. The Olympia Oil and Cake Company - which traded under the name OCO before being taken over by Unilever and then BOCM - specialised in crushing linseed, cotton seed and soya beans to press out the oil they contained for use as animal feed. JOHN FLETCHER - CENSUS RETURNS

1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census Brecon Hill, Bilsdale Midcable, Stokesley, Yorkshire, England

First Last Relation- Marital Birth nam Gender Age Occupation Birth place name ship status year e(s) John Atkinson Head Married Male 68 1793 Farmer Of 80 Acres Yorkshire, England

Mary Atkinson Wife Married Female 68 1793 Yorkshire, England

John Atkinson Son Unmarried Male 24 1837 Farmers Son Yorkshire, England Stitcher Mary L Daughter Married Female 26 1835 Yorkshire, England Fletcher Stitcher Son In Hornby, Yorkshire, Eng- John Married Male 43 1818 Shoemaker Fletcher Law land David Atkinson Grandson Male 4 1857 Yorkshire, England Sletcher William Grandson Male 2 1859 Yorkshire, England Fletcher

1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census Stingamhires, Bilsdale Midcable, Stokesley, Yorkshire, England

1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census Stingamhires, Bilsdale Midcable, Stokesley, Yorkshire, England

First Last Marital Birth Relationship Gender Age Occupation Birth place name(s) name Status year

Hawnby, Yorkshire, John Fletcher Head Widower Male 63 1818 Shoe Maker England Elizabeth Fletcher Daughter Single Female 12 1869 Scholar Yorkshire, England

Sarah Fletcher Daughter Single Female 9 1872 Scholar Yorkshire, England JOHN FLETCHER - CENSUS RETURNS

1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census Halltrley, Crossett, Bilsdale Midcable, Stokesley, Yorkshire, England

First Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place name(s) Hawnby, Yorkshire, John Fletcher Head Widower Male 73 1818 England

1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census East Bank House, Bilsdale, Bilsdale Midcable, Stokesley, Yorkshire

First Last Marital Ag Birth Relationship Gender Occupation Birth place name(s) name status e year Yorkshire, Eng- James Easby Head Married Male 52 1849 Farmer land Yorkshire, Eng- Elizabeth Easby Wife Married Female 32 1869 land Yorkshire, Eng- William F Easby Son Male 3 1898 land Yorkshire, Eng- Robert H Easby Son Male 2 1899 land Ordinary Agricultur- Stokesley, York- John W Fletcher Son-In-Law Single Male 14 1887 al Labourer shire, England

Father-In- Retired Shoemak- Hawnby, York- John Fletcher Widower Male 83 1818 Law er shire, England

Ordinary Agricultur- Yorkshire, Eng- William Fletcher Brother-In-Law Single Male 43 1858 al Labourer land BILSDALE

BILSDALE MIDCABLE STINGAMIRES

Hannah Fletcher was born in this house on 22nd February 1864, her father (John) and mother must have moved to it sometime between 1861 and 1864. The family is then recorded as living here in both the 1871 and 1881 census, so must have occupied the house for around 20 years. The census records show at least two other families living there.

The building has been given a listed designation of II*, SE 59 NE 16/28 Stingamires and attached outbuilding. The property is located on the edge of Billsdale moor not far from Gangdale Beck.

A summary of the history of the property is given on the Heritage Gateway, Pastscape. POST MEDIEVAL LONGHOUSE 1600 - 1699 POST MEDIEVAL FARMHOUSE 1700 - 1799 POST MEDIEVAL OUTBUILDING 1700 - 1799 GEORGIAN FARMHOUSE 1756 - 1756 GEORGIAN HEARTH 1756 - 1756 GEORGIAN FARMHOUSE 1790 - 1830 20TH CENTURY HOUSE 1990 - 1990 Former farmhouse, now private residence. © John Turner 2000 C17 with C18 part rebuilding and modern rehabilitation. 2 builds, and roof of main house raised. Herringbone-tooled sandstone, some more lightly tooled. Pantiled roof with tile ridge, stone copings, kneelers and stacks. Linear plan: former longhouse, now all in domestic use, with hearth-passage opened into downhouse/kitchen. Boarded passage door in chamfered surround. Small fire window to right. Other windows 2-light Yorkshire sashes, those on ground floor in chamfered surrounds, those above in inserted half-dormers. Chimneys at ends and at main hearth. Copings stand proud, showing house was once thatched; curved kneelers.

Projecting extended outbuilding at left has boarded door on inner return and garage door in end. Interior: Chamfered rear passage door and old chamfered beam in kitchen. Forehouse has firebeam and another chamfered beam,also original joists. Stone heck and restored settle. C18 inserted fireplace dated 1756 with initials RWI and HCI. Salt box and old cupboard at left. Inserted C19 cast- iron bread oven, by Carter of Kirkby, at right. In parlour chamfered beams and joists and a small chamfered rear window. C18 stone fireplace with pilasters, low-relief elliptical arch above and multi- moulded cornice; inner stone surround carved to imitate bricks.

One substantial full cruck truss with blades crossed at apex and trenched for ridge piece (possibly an C18 rearrangement). The cruck partition is timbered, with old cowdung plaster. Remainder of roof renewed. Loose sootstone in main chimney.

There is quite a lot of evidence that the area around Stingamires was used for Iron Smelting in the Middle Ages. BMD CERTIFCATES

Shown below are a selection of key BMD certificates starting with the birth certificate of Hannah Fletcher on February 15th 1864 in Stingamires, Bildsdale

Hannah Fletcher, [b] February 15th 1864

John Fletcher, [b] December 23rd 1879

John William Fletcher, [b] December 7th 1886

William Fletcher, [b] December 27th 1889

Sarah Elizabeth Fletcher, [b] September 3rd 1893 BMD CERTIFCATES

Harold Fletcher, [b] June 4th 1902

Hannah Fletcher and William Strickland, [m] December 31st 1906

William Fletcher & Adelaide Smith, [m] April 14th 1914 John Fletcher, [b] September 3rd 1914

William Fletcher, [d] September 17th 1931