Thomas Martindale Primitive Methodist Minister

Thomas MARTINDALE was born in Yapham cum Meltonby,East Riding of Yorkshire in 1847-I know that he was baptised in the Parish Church of Yapham on 31 December 1847, by his parents, George Martindale, the village tailor & his wife Hannah, formerly Gowthorpe.

 This is a photograph of St Martin's at Yapham cum Meltonby & interior below.

I have visited the church & village several times since learning that Thomas was born here-the photographs were taken in August 2012. It would appear that the church once had a tower on it, or maybe a spire, but the various histories I have looked at don't mention it apart from it being rebuilt 1777-8. 

Just a bit more information about Thomas's parents. Thomas's father George and his mother Hannah married at St Edith's, Bishop Wilton, lovely day when I visited there on 11 August 2012.

 Hannah's birthplace was the hamlet of Gowthorpe:- in 1841, she was working as a farm servant at Top Garrowby Farm. In  Garrowby Hall lived  the local landowner, so Top Garrowby Farm was a part of that estate. 

George Martindale & Hannah Gowthorpe were married at St Edith's, Bishop Wilton on 11 May 1846. 

Yapham in 1840 according to Whites Directory in Google Books

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Wf80AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA243&lpg=PA243&dq=yapham+cum+meltonby&source=bl&ots=UBP8dElgsJ&sig=5PCkRhhiDsl_TB-9wHcG5S-dzmE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ZiReVPqsFaOV7AbMroHoCg&ved=0CDQQ6AEwBTge#v=onepage&q=yapham%20cum%20meltonby&f=false

Banns of Marriage: I publish the banns of marriage between George Martindale of this parish and Hannah Gowthorpe, of Bolton, on 19^th April, 26 April & 3^rd May 1846. (Source Parish Records of Yapham Banns of Marriage (Number MF 1763 at Borthwick Institute, York)

Bolton is another hamlet between Yapham & Fangfoss. So by 1846, Hannah was working & living there before her marriage to George. Her future husband, George, was a widower-his first wife Elizabeth Maynard, he buried in St Martin's graveyard 27 April, 1844. George lived in the village of Yapham in a rented house, where he had his tailor's workshop. He also had access to a small croft-a field where he could grow crops. I did some research at the Borthwick Institute in York, where I obtained some photographs of the Tithe Map of 1845. Using this map & the information accompanying it I was able to find his home as it is now in Yapham.

His house in the cream painted house, to the left of the first white washed house. The house to the left of the cream washed house and the house buildings to the left of that house lie it once was the croft of George Martindale,which in 1845, according to the Tithe Award consisted of grass. So at the time of his marriage to Hannah, George was an established tailor, one of the craftsmen in the village. Other craftsmen at the time in Yapham was a blacksmith, wheelwright & shoemaker. So the people of Yapham had someone who could shoe their horses & make & mend metal machinery, someone who could make & repair their carts & wooden machinery, someone who could make & mend their shoes & boots & someone to make and mend their clothes.

So Thomas Martindale, their eldest son, was brought up in the above house in the square at Yapham. Between 1847 & 1861, the Martindale family grew in size as children were born every 2 years or so & baptised at St Martin's Church. 

The next marker post as it were was the 1851 census-

This shows George 31, a tailor, born Pocklington.

Hannah, his wife, 30, born Fangfoss,

Thomas Martindale, 4, born Yapham,

William Martindale, 2, born Yapham

Richard S. Ingledew, 16, born, Yorkshire, an apprentice tailor.

William Martindale  baptised at St Martin's, Yapham on  25 February 1849, William son of George & Ann Martindale, of Yapham, a tailor, by JF Ellis, vicar (Source- Parish Record of Yapham in the County of York at Borthwick Institute, York.) 

John Henry Martindale baptised at St Martin's Yapham on 14 March 1852

Baptism: March 14, 1852, John Henry, son of George & Hannah Martindale, Yapham, Tailor, J F Ellis, incumbent (BT:Baptisms in the Parish of Yapham in the County of York) Borthwick Institute)

Mary Ellen Martindale baptised at St Martin's Yapham on 5 September 1854, but she died in 1854.

 Baptism, 5 September 1854, Mary Ellen, daughter of George & Hannah Martindale, of Yapham, Tailor, J F Ellis, vicar (BT Baptisms in the Parish of Yapham in the County of York) Borthwick Institute)

Burial: 31 January 1856, at Yapham, aged 2 years, by J F. Ellis, Vicar (Parish Records, Burials at Yapham, in the County of York, at Borthwick Institute, York) This is a photograph of her gravestone in St Martins which I took on 11 August 2012.

George Gowthorpe Martindale baptised at St Martin's Yapham on 2 November 1856

Baptism: November 2, 1856, George Gowthorpe, son of George & Hannah Martindale, Yapham, tailor, by J F Ellis, Vicar (BT Baptisms in the Parish of Yapham in the County of York) Borthwick Institute)

Robert Martindale baptised at St Martin's Yapham 12 November 1858 

Baptism: 12 November 1858, Robert, son of George & Hannah Martindale, of Yapham, Tailor, by JF Ellis, vicar (Source: Parish Record Baptisms in the Parish of Yapham in the County of York) Borthwick Institute)

So by 1861, the home in Yapham was quite busy with 6 children aged between 14 & 3, but an event was going to happen just before census day in 1861 that must have had a dire effect on Thomas as the eldest of the family, but of all the others too. I discovered this as I was walking around the graveyard of St Martin's, Yapham on that day of August, 2012. Whilst taking a photograph of the church, there by the door of the church were two gravestones.

Yes, on 4 April, 1861, age 34, Hannah Martindale died, and was buried beneath this stone by a grieving George, no doubt with his young family around him. She was buried in the same grave as that of their daughter  Mary Ellen. Judging by the date of her death, and that of the birth of their second  Mary Ellen Martindale, their 7th child, who was baptised on 17 March 1861, Hannah may have died due to complications following child birth.

Baptism: March 17, 1861, Mary Ellen, daughter of George & Hannah Martindale,  of Yapham, George Martindale’s occupation-Tailor & Farmer. (By James Francis Ellis-incumbent vicar of Pocklington with Yapham)Source: Parish Record Baptisms in the Parish of Yapham in the County of York) Borthwick Institute)

Note George is now shown as a farmer & tailor. 

The census date of 1861 was 7 April 1861, so one can only imagine the sorrow that George must have felt on that day as he completed his census form.

George Martindale,  41, widower, tailor employing 2 boys

Thomas Martindale, 14, tailor's son

William Martindale, 12, tailor's son

John Henry Martindale,  6, tailor's son

Robert Martindale,  2 tailor's son

Missing from the family group on census day was George Gowthorpe & Mary Ellen Martindale  but staying with the family, no doubt after the funeral of Hannah was George's mother Mary Martindale (mis-transcribed by the census recorder as mother-in-law, when she is his mother)

George Gowthorpe Martindale  on census day was staying with his grandparents, Thomas Gowthorpe & his wife Susannah whilst Mary Ellen, aged 1 month, is with a family called Simpson in Yapham. Maybe Mrs Simpson is acting as a wet nurse because Hannah Martindale,  Mary's mother has just died, I don't think she is any relation at all, just friends pulling together in times of need.

That entry in Google Books above and further research by myself confirms that there was a school in Yapham,so it's quite likely that Thomas did attend a school for a short time and probably learnt to read & write. I suppose the next family event was his father George Martindale  making for him a third marriage. 
On 23 July 1862, George Martindale married Mary Wray at All Saints Parish Church Nafferton.

According to records at John Rylands College, Manchester, Thomas was a Primitive Methodist Minister from 1869 to 1877.  However, in order to become a minister he would have to study in a classroom for a year and then be appointed to a church for on the job training, serving a probationary period of some 4 years, during which as well as preaching he would have to study for examinations as well. The first record I have of Thomas & Methodism is in a newspaper article.

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE AT NOTTINGHAM .

The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent (Sheffield, England), Saturday, June 04, 1870; pg. 8; Issue 5279. (479 words). 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II

The President, the Rev. M. Lupton, took his place yesterday at nine am.

The following is a list of young men who are received on probation, and whose trail is to be dated from 1869:-Wm. Knibb, Matthew Smith, T. Martindale, P. Peacock, Chas. Leafe, etc

Thomas Martindale, along with Robinson Cheeseman and William Leaker(sup) and Joseph Tongue all appointed by Primitive Methodist Conference at Nottingham to go to Doncaster. 

This article in the Sheffield & Rotherham Independent on Friday July 1st, 1870 reported on the occasion:

“Presentation to a Primitive Methodist Minister:- Last night, the Primitive Methodist Congregation at Doncaster, presented a handsome marble timepiece and an elegant silver inkstand to the Rev. Thomas Whittaker, superintendent of the Doncaster district. Mr. Whittaker appears to have won the hearts of his whole congregation, is leaving Doncaster for Scarbro'. The presentations took place in the schoolroom, Spring Gardens, and were made by the Rev. T. Martindale  and Mr. Wadsworth. Mr. Martindale  giving the inkstand in behalf of the Young Men’s Bible Class, and Mr. Wadsworth presenting the timepiece in the name of the congregation.”

This is that church, Spring Gardens Primitive Methodist Church Portland Place, Doncaster

See other old photographs of Doncaster http://doncasterhistory.co.uk/other/old-doncaster-images/

So by 04 April, 1871, according to the census Thomas is a full time Primitive Methodist Minister at Spring Gardens Methodist Church in Doncaster. He is in "digs" with a Mrs. Bramhill in Cemetery Road, Doncaster, not far from the city centre. 

More about Doncaster Methodism can be found here:- http://www.doncastermethodistcircuit.org.uk/history.htm

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE .

The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent (Sheffield, England), Saturday, June 17, 1871; pg. 7; Issue 4710. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II.

Conference for 1872 should be held at Yarmouth. We make the following selections from the list of stations of the itinerant preachers. HULL DISTRICT:

Grimsby 1^st: John Stephenson (2), Thomas Martindale

So from 1872 to  1873, Thomas was working in Grimsby, in the First Methodist Circuit based at Victoria Street Primitive Methodist Church as an itinerant preacher, serving his 4 year probation. However Thomas passed his probation in 1873 and was appointed to Scarborough by Conference held in London in June 1873. 

The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent (Sheffield, England), Monday, June 09, 1873; pg. 2; Issue 5323. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II.

Primitive Methodist Conference: On Saturday morning, at nine o’ clock, the Conference assembled in Ionbridge Chapel, London. The following ministers having finished their probation, and having passed satisfactory examinations, were received in to full connection:- William Tinsley, J. Johnson, W. Martin, G. Parkin, Thomas Lees, John Askin, W. Knibb, T. Martindale

Not long afterwards on 8th July 1873, Thomas married Jane Palliser, someone he must have met when in 1871 when he was serving in Doncaster. Before passing his probation he wouldn't have sufficient money to get married and keep a wife.
The record states this:

1873 Marriage solemnized at the Primitive Methodist Chapel Sutton in the Forest in the District of Easingwold in the County of York

Number 141: 08 July 1873: Thomas Martindale  26 years, Bachelor, Primitive Methodist Minister, of Grimsby, son of George Martindale, Draper & Tailor & Jane Palliser 25 years, of Sutton in the Forest daughter of William Palliser a builder were married in the Primitive Methodist Chapel by Robinson Cheeseman,  Thomas & Jane sign register, William & Hannah Palliser witnesses. (Note Robinson Cheeseman his fellow probationer at Doncaster marries him to Jane).

This record shows a remarkable discovery for me, maybe an answer to a problem I have been seeking for many years. Note the record states that on 8th July1873, Thomas's abode is shown as being Grimsby. Much later on, in 1879, Thomas's then widow Louisa, married John Harry Doughty of Grimsby. I have always wondered a man from Grimsby could court & marry a girl from Beverley, Yorkshire with a huge piece of water in the way. 

Thomas was then appointed to serve at Scarborough, again I turned to newspapers for information:-

The York Herald (York, England), Tuesday, May 12, 1874; pg. 7; Issue 5384. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II.

Amongst the preachers stationed were: Scarbro’: John Stephenson, 1, Alfred Kitson; Thomas Martindale, James Mules, sup.

The York Herald (York, England), Saturday, June 20, 1874; pg. 6; Issue 5418. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II.

 PRIMITIVE METHODISM IN THE EAST RIDING-Conference in Filey

The Hull Packet and East Riding Times (Hull, England), Friday, May 15, 1874; Issue 4661.

Ministerial Appointments:- The Following are the Conference appointments for this district:- Scarborough: John Stephenson, Alfred Kitson, Thomas Martindale, James Mules, sup., and E. Morton,  sup.

So Thomas & his Jane Martindalewere all set to start a new life in Scarborough, Yorkshire, leaving behind Doncaster Circuit. However, not long after they arrived at Scarborough, this article in the York Herald.

The York Herald (York, England), Friday, February 19, 1875; pg. 4; Issue 5626. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II.
DEATHS:  On the 13^th inst, aged 26,, Jane, wife of the Rev. Thomas Martindale, of Scarborough.

I have also used the Primitive Methodist Magazine as a source which is available online at British Online Archives http://www.britishonlinearchives.co.uk/index.php

For a small fee you can search for anything you want as the magazines have been digitalised, so I used them to search for Thomas Martindale and found a number of answers, however, two of the magazines were copied, and they are available to view at the John Rylands University in Manchester, UK, so I am going there sometime to look up Thomas's obituary which I know was in the 1877 magazine.

Anyway to get back to Thomas who was now in Scarborough, Yorkshire mourning the death of his wife Jane, who had died so young. On July 12 1875, Thomas took part in a large open air meeting of the Primitive Methodist Church in Malton.

The York Herald (York, England), Tuesday, July 13, 1875; pg. 6; Issue 5749. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II.

Great Gathering of Primitive Methodists at Malton

On Sunday and Monday there was a gathering at Malton of the members of this connection in the Malton Circuit, but in consequence of the stormy weather which prevailed throughout the whole of Sunday, the proceedings were very much interrupted. The Orchard Field had  been secured for the open-air demonstration, which had to be omitted, but on Sunday morning there were large processions throughout the borough, and in Greengate, sermons and addresses were delivered by the Rev. J. Gregory, from Pudsey; Rev. J. Swan, of Sunderland; and Mr. Gasgoigne, Scarbro’. In the afternoon there was a second large congregation in the chapel. Lovefeasts were held in the evening in the various chapels of the borough. In the evening the Revs. J. Swan, of Sunderland, and T. Martindale, of Scarbro’, preached in the market-place, and afterwards a large public meeting was held in the chapel presided over by Mr. Charles Witham.

Not long after this Thomas married his second wife, Louisa Dixon. She was the eldest daughter of Edward Dixon & his wife Eliza Jane Dixon, nee Dufton.

The York Herald (York, England), Saturday, November 13, 1875; pg. 5; Issue 5855. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II

 MARTINDALE-DIXON:-On November 6th, at the Primitive Methodist Jubilee Chapel, Aberdeen Walk, Scarborough, by the Rev. John Stephenson, the Rev. T. Martindale, Primitive Methodist minister, Scotter, Lincolnshire, to Louise, second daughter of Edward Dixon, Esq, Clifton Villa, Scarborough, and formerly of Micklegate, York-No Cards.

Photograph above provided with the kind permission of Neil Jefferson from Scarborough Old Photos and Next Generation on Facebook.

The marriage record records that they were married by John Stephenson, Thomas's fellow minister who was appointed with him to Scarborough in the record above. The certificate & newspaper article show the name & location of the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Scarborough in 1875. 

This from an article in the Scarborough News:- http://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/nostalgia/methodism-grips-the-town-1-6391070

So by now Thomas had  been appointed to Scotter in Lincolnshire. In fact according to the Primitive Methodist Magazine of 1875 he was appointed to Scotter in the conference of that year held at Leicester. His fellow ministers were George Shaw,  & John F Reed. The conference report was also reported in the Lincolnshire Chronicle of Friday 25 June 1875. The conference of 1876, held in Newcastle upon Tyne in June appointed Thomas to Poole, so he and Louisa travelled to that part of Hampshire soon afterwards. 

Thomas must have by now started to be ill-certainly his younger brothers suffered from breathing difficulties, maybe they had asthma, because that was the reason two of them emigrated to Australia. In January 1876, on 29th, Thomas made his will in the presence of his brother-in-law George Edward Dixon and a local builder called James Watts. By now he was living at "Herrington Villa", Oxford Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire. 

On 29 November 1876 at "Herrington Villa", Thomas Edward Justyn Martindale was born to his parents Thomas Martindale & Louisa Martindale nee Dixon. 

I wrote a letter to Bournemouth library in 2007 asking if they had any newspaper accounts for the death of Thomas Martindale whom I knew from Free BMD had died in Bournemouth area in 1877. This was the result.

Bournemouth Visitor's Directory (weekly paper) Saturday January 27th 1877:  DEATHS:-Martindale- January 22, the Rev. T Martindale, Primitive Methodist Minister, aged 30 years.

Bournemouth Observer (biweekly paper) Saturday January 27th 1877: On the 22nd January, at Bournemouth, the Rev. T Martindale, aged 29 years.

He left a will as this record at Winchester Archives records "Rev Thomas Martindale formerly of Scarborough then Scotter in Lincolnshire died 22 Jan 1877 in Bournemouth proved at Winchester by Louisa Martindale of Scarborough widow relict and Edward Dixon of Clifton Villa Scarborough gentleman the executors"

In the will which was made on the 29th January 1876, in the presence of George Edward Dixon, ironmonger, of Bournemouth and James Watts, builder of Bournemouth, he appointed his wife Louisa Martindale and Edward Dixon of Clifton Villa, Scarborough in the county of York, gentleman as trustees of his will. He bequeathed all the household, furniture, plate, linen china, glass provisions and other household effects belonging to him at the time of his death to his wife, Louisa Martindale. His wife was to put certain sum of money in trust for any children that he had(if he had any), and the rest was to be shared between his sister Mary Ellen Martindale, and brothers William Martindale, John Henry Martindale, George Gowthorpe Martindale and Robert Martindale.

In effect, the will only amounted in total sum of less than £100.

He was buried in Christchurch Cemetery in an unmarked grave. I have been to that cemetery but failed to find the grave. In March 2022, I was sent an email from a person called Mike ELLIS, who had seen the gravestone of Thomas MARTINDALE at Christchcurch Cemetery and sent me a photograph of his gravestone, which I have added to this blog:

That year the Primitive Methodist Conference was held in Scarborough and in the magazine an obituary for Thomas was published. The magazine was not digitalised by BOA, so I will be going to Manchester to view it there at John Rylands College library, Deansgate. I will add the obituary in due course.

So ended the life of Thomas; his widow Louisa went on to marry John "Harry" Doughty of Grimsby. Together they had my grandfather Stanley Doughty born 1880.  

Now it's 2017, and I have been sent some information about Thomas's grandfather, George Martindale, whose name is on the photograph above of a gravestone in Yapham Churchyard.

This is the stone:

In Loving Remembrance of George Martindale of Yapham, who died February 11th 1858, aged 74 years. So this George Martindale was born about 1784. In fact he was born on 24 August 1783, at Pocklington, the son of William Martindale & Hannah KIRBY. He was christened at a church in Pocklington on 21 September 1783-most likely the parish church. 

Summary of his life

"When George Martindale was born on 24 August 1783 in Pocklington, Yorkshire, his father, William, was 26 and his mother, Hannah, was 20. He married Faith Staddears and they had two children together. He then married Mary Rea on 18 November 1837 in York, Yorkshire. He died on 11 February 1858 in his hometown  of Yapham, at the age of 74."


George Martindale was born on 24 August 1783 in Pocklington, Yorkshire, to Hannah Kirby, age 20, and William Martindale, age 26.  The rercord at Borthwick Institute states this:
Baptisms at Pocklington: PR at Borthwick Institute, York
George, Martindale, son of FATHER William Martindale, labourer of Pocklington, son of George Martindale, Spridlington, farmer, MOTHER: Hannah, daughter of Thomas Thirsby of Pocklington and Elizabeth his wife. Born August 24 1783 baptised 21st September 1783


His brother William was born on 21 March 1786 in Pocklington, Yorkshire, when George was 2 years old. (Number 22: William Martindale, son of William Martindale, labourer of Pocklington and Hannah, daughter of Thomas Thirby , born March 21, 1786, baptism, 6 April 1786)

His sister Ann was born on 16 July 1788 in Pocklington, Yorkshire, when George was 4 years old.
No 38, Ann Martindale, daughter of William Martindale, of Pocklington, labourer, & Hannah Daughter of Thomas Thirby, born July 16 1788 bap. July 20 1788

His brother John was born on 21 October 1795 in Barmby Moor, Yorkshire, when George was 12 years old.

George Martindale lived in Fridaythorpe, Yorkshire, on 22 January 1805.
Number 9: George Martindale bachelor, of the parish of Fridaythorpe, & Faith Staddears, spinster of this parish were married in this church by banns this twenty second day of January in the year 1805 by Richard Wadworth, curate of Pocklington.

22 January 1805 • Fridaythorpe, Yorkshire, England

Faith Staddears is a bit of a mystery-it's a good possibility that her surname is spelt wrongly, but as she died before the census was put together it's difficult to trace her real name. There was a girl called Faith Stothers, daughter of Elizabeth Stothers born in Yapham cum Meltonby, 2 March 1783 & christened at that church on 9 March 1783 according to family Search where those Martindales lived so it's possible that she is one of them.

George Martindale by trade was a tailor, his craft was recorded on the baptism of his son Thomas who was born & christened in Fridaythorpe-October 1807 • Fridaythorpe, Yorkshire, England

4 October 1807: Thomas, son of George & Faith Martindale, Fridaythorpe, tailor (birth 22 September 1807)
George & Faith do not have another child until 1820, and that was in Pocklington. The name of the child was George, born before February 15 1820, because that was when he was christened in the Parish Church at Pocklington. Just having two children was quite unusual for a  married couple in the 1800's.

Not having the proper record of this christening, just Family Search, the occupation of George, the father of a young George Martindale is not mentioned. I shall have to go to the Borthwick Institute in York and look it up.

Anyway the family move to Yapham Cum Meltonby, a few miles from Pocklington, where George becomes the tailor in the village. The next record I have of George is death of his wife Faith-

952: Faith Martindale, of Yapham, buried at Pocklington on 28th February 1836, aged 52 years, G A Cockburn, vicar.  Source:Source Information
Title
Pocklington Parish Records, Repository Information, 
Name, Borthwick Institute, York University, Address
University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK, Email
bihr500@york.ac.uk
 So George was left with his 2 sons, Thomas now 29 & George 16. 

The following year, 1837, George marries again: on 18 November 1837, at York St Martin, Coney Street, George married Mary Rea, daughter of Robert Rea. At the time he was living in Acomb. So another trip to the Borthwick to record that marriage in detail.

So the next official record I have for George is the 1841 census, 

Here is George Martindale in the 1841 Census, at the bottom of the page, as Geo. Martindale, aged 60, born in Yorkshire, in a family, where the head is a Joshua Leighton, an agricultural labourer aged 60 with Eliza Leighton,aged 12, Elizabeth Leighton aged 11 & Wm. Leighton aged 16, and at top of page a Hannah Hatadenby aged a female aged 20. They are all in a village called South Cave, at the area called West End. No for a long time I couldn't work out who this family were and how they were related to George. However just recently I have been contacted by a researcher into the Leighton family who has found that a Joseph Leighton also known as Joshua Leighton married Ann MARTINDALE at St Chad's Church, Rochdale, Lancashire on 11 June 1810.

 So in  the census of 1841 George Martindale is with his sister's family in South Cave whilst his new wife Mary Martindale is at home in the tailor's house & garden in Yapham. His two sons had their own families to care for on census day, 1841.Here is his wife Mary at their home in Yapham cum Meltonby:

Yapham: Mary Martindale, 45, born Yorkshire, William Catton, 19, Tailor's apprentice, born Yorkshire & George Newby, 14, Tailor's apprentice, born Yorkshire

His sister Ann Leighton, nee Martindale married to Joseph/Joshua Leighton born 1788, was at her son's farm in South Cave. He was  called Richard Leighton.

West End, South Cave,
Richard Leighton, 25, Farmer, born Yorkshire: Ann Leighton, 60, born Yorkshire: Ann Evans, 35, born Yorkshire, Edward Evans, 3, born Yorkshire, Sarah Evans, 1, born Yorkshire: Jane McTurk, 40, of Independent Means, not born in Yorkshire: Margaret McTurk, of independent means, 12, not born in Yorkshire, etc.

Now a few years later back in Yapham where George lived as the village tailor, in the Tithe Map of 1845, George is listed as the tailor and his house is visible on the Tithe Map of the village.

You will note that the map shows the village of Yapham, divided into numbered plots. For example the church is number 148, next to it are plots 143 & 142. Geo Martindale has a house & tailor's shop on Plot 108, but as you can see that's a large plot, much bigger than most of the smaller plots like 118,  121, The Blacksmith's shop, 104, the Wheelwright's shop & House and 107, W. Gowthorpe's shoemaker's house & shop. etc. In fact George rented his plot from the landowner called George Wilson.

On the Tithe award which I viewed and  purchased from the Borthwick Institute, reads thus:
Landowner: George Wilson: Occupier: Geo. Martindale: Land & Description:Number Referring to the plan: 108: Croft: 3 Rods & 32 perches: State of Cultivation: Grass:  118: House & Garden: 1 rod & 22 perches, not in cultivation:
So as you can see the map should read,Geo Martindale Croft: 108 & House & Garden: 118:
Now I can't find George or his wife Mary in the 1851 Census.

The DIXON family-hay dealers, forage agents & army contractors

Edward Dixon was my great, great grandfather, born in 1828 in Leeds, his eldest daughter, Louisa, married John Harry Doughty in Beverley, Yorkshire, and together they had my grandfather, Stanley Doughty

However, researching these Dixons for some time now has revealed that the whole family were engaged in feeding & bedding down horses. Yes, that’s right, their business was the provision of foodstuffs and bedding straw for the horse, the animal in the 19^th Century that worked tirelessly for mankind, carrying his goods, pulling his carts & coaches, and gun carriages. The alternative was to walk. Even the early railways used horse traction. In the First World War Britain almost ran out of oats for its cavalry horses as the German blockade stopped imports from North America but at the same Germany had not stockpiled enough oats before declaring war.

Edward’s grandfather, was also Edward, born in Halton, a little village north of Leeds-his father was John, a butcher. I have yet to find Edward’s baptism, but the proof that his father was John, comes in the record of his second marriage to Mrs Pickles-he was a widower and she a widow. This is that record:-

1839: Marriage at the parish Church in the parish of Leeds, in the County of York

476: February 24, 1839, Edward Dixon, full age, widower, Haydealer, Vicars Croft, son of John Dixon, butcher, married Sarah Pickles, full age, widow, North Street, daughter of Thomas Snowden, Stuff paper, married in the Parish Church, by licence, by J. Clark, curate, witnessed by James Mattalion & Hannah Milius. Edward Dixon, signs his name, Sarah Pickles (mark)

It was also announced in the Leeds Mercury, which I found online at 19^th Century British Newspapers through my local library in Leeds.

The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Saturday, March 2, 1839; Issue 5486

MARRIED: On Sunday, at St John’s Church, in this town, by the Rev. W. F. Hook, vicar, Mr. Edward Dixon, hay-dealer, Freemarket, to Mrs. Sarah Pickles, shopkeeper, of Leylands, in this town.

So my great great grandfather Edward Dixon's grandfather was also a hay-dealer. The first piece of evidence I have that Edward was a haydealer comes in a Leeds Directory which I found at Leeds Central library, Local History Section. 

In this book, on page 50, there is this entry:-

DIXON Edw. Dealer in hay, York St.

When his children were baptised, between 1800 & 1817, Edward’s occupation is shown as labourer. At this time, Edward is living just outside Leeds in a small village called Halton, the children are baptised at nearby Whitkirk Parish Church. He marries his first wife Ann Kirby at Barwick in Elmet. Together I have found a few of their children’s baptisms but not all of them I am sure the last one being John, in 1817, in Whitkirk.

The eldest son, was George, born 13 February 1807, in Halton & baptised 12 April 1807, in Whitkirk St Mary.

So what did a hay-dealer do, well for an answer I found this newspaper article in the Leeds Mercury, where Edward’s eldest son George sued a farmer for non-supply of a hayrick.

YORKSHIRE SUMMER ASSIZES .

The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Saturday, July 29, 1837; Issue 5404.

BREACH of CONTRACT

Mr. Alexander (for George Dixon), said that his client, from the extensive nature of his contract for the army barracks, was in the habit of buying up hay in all directions. On the 28th February last, he was at Selby for that purpose and hearing that Mr. Brungate had a stack to sell he went to look at it. Mr. Brungate wanted £140 for the stack, the price Mr Dixon and he agreed on was £130, and the following entry of the contract was made by Mr. Dixon in his memorandum book, and signed by both parties: “28th February, 1837, George DIXON bought of Mr. Peter Brungate, one hay-stack, for the sum of £130 as witness my hand, George DIXON” He then gave it to Mr. Brungate, who also signed it. It was agreed that Mr. DIXON should pay for it before it was taken away; but the time of doing this was to depend on the circumstances.

So the hay dealer travelled extensively throughout his home area, buying up hay ricks from farmers who then delivered them to the hay dealer’s premises, and from there the dealer delivered them to customers. So the Dixon family had to be able to both figure and write, and understand contracts etc. They were also very much aware of the price of the hay when purchased and the variation in the price when it was sold-it may differ widely. That was the defence of Mr. Brungate in the case above, whose defence barrister at the trial suggested that between the two dates, that of sale and delivery, the price of hay fell, so George Dixon may well have found himself with a large quantity of hay he had bought at £130, but couldn’t sell to gain a profit as the price had fallen. At the hearing George’s barrister blamed the poor weather, making transport difficult, but Mr. Brungate’s barrister suggested the price had changed. The jury found for George Dixon, but only awarded him one shilling compensation.

The fact that George went to court over the matter shows that he could afford to do so.

So when did Edward DIXON commence his hay dealing and did he advertise his business? I looked for his occupation when his children were baptised, but each time that happened his occupation was a labourer. Certainly that directory entry in 1822 was a form of advertising-he may have done it earlier but I have yet to find any previous directories of Leeds that mentioned it. A Directory of Leeds Baines 1817 lists John Dixon as a butcher at 19 Old Shambles; house in Shipyard, but no mention of any Edward Dixon.

So in 1822, Edward was aged 41, but in 1826, he was 45, and by now his business premises was at 66, George Street, Leeds. Another Leeds Directory, by a William Parson, lists him there. This same directory lists John Dixon, a butcher, having his business at 10, Cheapside, where there was a row of butchers shops and his home at 3, Black Swan Yard. This yard was on the corner of Vicar lane and Lady Lane in the top of the below photograph, The Black Swan was a public house.

This is the frontpiece of that directory:

Edward Dixon’s first wife’s forename was Ann, but I am not sure of her surname. Marriage records prior to 1837 rarely mention the maiden name of a spouse. All I have to go on is the baptism of George Dixon, their first born son, burial records of Sarah Dixon & Ann herself.

A George Dixon was baptised at Whitkirk, St Mary on April 12, 1807-the record states, April 12 George son of Edward Dixon of Halton by Ann his wife born March 13^th. Whitkirk is the village next door to Halton. Sarah Dixon’s burial record is on a gravestone inscription at Leeds Parish Church.

It reads: Sarah, wife of W. R. Manners, daughter of E. and A. Dixon above, died 13th December 1830, aged 30.

Ann’s burial record on the same gravestone reads: Ann, wife of Edward Dixon, died 12th June, 1833, aged 60.

In the Dixon family, sons also become hay dealers, so in the directory of 1830, George’s business is mentioned along with that of Edward Dixon.Again the frontispiece of this directory which is a Xerox copy.

Dixon George, hay & straw dealer, 24a Bridge End, North; home, 14, Lee’s Yard, 30, Meadow Lane.

A photograph of the page in this directory shows both entries together.

,6 East Row, Free market, still exists today, but now swallowed up into the Leeds Market which was developed quite recently. Bridge End North, was near the River Aire, at the bottom of Briggate (literally Bridge Gate or Bridge Street-shows the Viking element of Yorkshire).   There was a cloth market on Leeds Bridge in the 18th Century before the market moved to a covered building. So this would have been the heart of the industry in Leeds, the place where cloth buyers from all over the country would come to buy cloth, bringing their carts & horses. Lees Yard was just south of this bridge, number 14 has long since been demolished but there are some photographs on the Leodis Website showing some of the property

http://www.leodis.net/searchResults.aspx?LOCID=9999&DECADE=0&YEAR=&KEYWORDS=Lee%27s%20Yard&KEYWORDS2=&KEYWORDS3=&ANDOR2=&ANDOR3=&RECSPAGE=5&VIEW=1&CURRPAGE

A Directory of 1839, shows George Dixon, Hay & Corn merchant, 40, Whitelock Street, Leeds which lay off the Leeds to Harrogate Turnpike Road, known as North Street. His father, Edward had his business in Vicar’s Croft still. In fact in 1839, this advertisement appeared in the Leeds Mercury:

The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Saturday, May 25, 1839; Issue 5500.On Tuesday next, the 28th of May, in front of the London Tavern, Vicar’s Croft, the property of Edward Dixon, Hay Dealer: FOUR GOOD DRAUGHT HORSES, and a handsome PONY, Four years old; Three Broad-wheeled Waggons, Patent Arms, nearly New; a large quantity of Horse Geering, Waggon Covers, Ropes and Ladders, Saddles, Bridles Grindstones, and Hay Spades,  JOHN HOLMES , Auctioneer. It would appear that Edward, who had recently married for the second time, was selling up.

The Census of 1841, stated that George was living at Squire Pastures, which you can see on this plan of New Leeds, drawn in 1827. The road on the left of the map shown as the Leeds to Harrogate Turnpike in 2014 is known as Chapeltown Road. 

An 1842, Leeds Directory, shows George to be a farmer & army contractor, 

Squire Pastures. So maybe by 1842, George was growing his own crops of grass & oats so he could honour his army contract. His father Edward was still a straw dealer, in Smithfield Street, Leeds. So sometime between 1837 & 1842, George had entered a contract to supply the army with forage-food stuffs for a horse, so oats, hay & straw. There had been army barracks in Leeds since 1825, a cavalry unit, so the horses needed food & bedding. The duties of the army contractor to a cavalry barracks I found in a court record, where a couple of such contractors were being tried for fraud at a barracks in York. The Prosecuting counsellor stated”

“It was the contractor’s duty to keep in barns and granaries at the barracks a fortnight’s supply of forage, and day by day one day’s ration was given out to each horse, with the exception of Saturday, when two day’s rations were given out. Each horse would have 10lbs oats, 12lb hay & 8lb straw per day. Each horse would have 3 feeds of 3 and half pound of oats a day.

THE ALLEGED CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE GOVERNMENT AT YORK .

The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Thursday, June 4, 1885; Issue 14713.

Three years later, in 1845, a Directory of Leeds made for J. Williams, published by Baines & Newsome, printed by Edward Baines, showed that George was still a farmer & army contractor in Squire Pastures, and Edward was still a straw dealer at 10, Smithfield Street.

In the Leeds Directory of 1847, George Dixon, army contractor, 62, Chapeltown Road. Edward Dixon is not recorded, so no doubt he has retired from the business as the 1851 Census showed him in Lawrence Yard, as a retired hay dealer. He died in 1854, and was buried in Leeds St Peter’s Graveyard.The graveyard & stones was removed in 1867 when a railway line was built right through it.

In 1851, there is a new Dixon family member involved in the business of being an army contractor. This is Edward Dixon, my great, great, great grandfather, first born son of George Dixon, who in 1841, aged 13, is living at Squire Pastures with his parents, but 18th February 1847, at Leeds Parish Church, Edward marries Eliza Jane Dufton.This is the marriage record:

1847 marriage at the Parish Church, Leeds, Yorkshire 292: February 18 1847: Edward DIXON, minor, Bachelor, Contractor, Chapeltown Road, son of George Dixon, Contractor, & Eliza Jane DUFTON, minor, of Richmond Terrace, daughter of George Dufton, Gentleman, were married by licence. Witnessed by Thomas Dufton & W. Rickard. Both Edward & Eliza signed record.

So in February 1847, Edward is helping out his father George. Both are described as contractors.   The record also shows that in 1847, Edward was living in Chapeltown Road, no doubt at 62, with his parents. The census of 1851, on 31st March, shows Edward & his wife Eliza, living at 3, Buslingthorpe Terrace, Buslingthorpe, described as a hay dealer.

I have deduced that Buslingthorpe Terrace, must have been close to the junction with Chapeltown Road & Barrack Road, so close to the Cavalry Barracks which Edward & his father supplied with straw & fodder. A map of the area from NLS, surveyed in 1847 & published in 1852,  shows Buslingthorpe Lane & the Cavalry Barracks. The end of Buslingthorpe Lane is close to the "H| in Chaplethorpe

An 1851 directory records Edward Dixon at 61, Chapeltown Road as a contractor, with George at 62, Chapeltown Road.

Edward & Eliza Dixon start off their married life living at her father’s house in Richmond Terrace, Leeds. The map below from NLS Maps, shows Richmond Hill.

The map below shows Richmond Terrace:

The baptism of their first daughter reveals this:

Born 16 January 1848, bp. 21 February 1848, daughter of Edward & Eliza Dixon, of Richmond Terrace, Leeds, Hay Dealer.

On the 18th February 1851, Mary Ann Dixon is baptised at St Peter’s Church

-see this record, which shows the occupation of Edward Dixon then.

Born 20th March 1850, Mary Anne, daughter of Edward & Elisa Jane Dixon, of Chapeltown Road, father’s occupation, contractor for stores, by S. Kettlewell, curate.

Edward & Eliza Dixon did not stay long at 3, Buslingthorpe Terrace, because on 31st October 1852, their daughter Louisa Dixon was baptised at Leeds St Peter’s. The baptism record states:

Born 8 February 1852, baptised 31 October 1852, Louisa, daughter of Edward & Eliza Dixon, of York, Army Contractor.

So between 08 February 1852 & 31 October 1852, Edward & Eliza move to York, but return to Leeds & the family for the baptism of little Louisa, my great, great grandmother. From then onwards, Edward Dixon is living in St Lawrence House in York. His father George continues to live in Leeds at 62 Chapeltown Road. It also shows that Edward was a contractor to the army in York, whether he was there in his own right as a contractor, or as an agent for his father I don’t yet know.

George Dixon’s other sons William born 1836 & George born 1839, both become army contractors.

According to The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Saturday, June 13, 1857; Issue 6650.

ARMY CONTRACTS-Mr. George Dixon, of Leeds, has contracted for the supply of hay, straw, corn and bread for the army for the whole of the districts of Yorkshire and Lancashire.

In order to do this, George must have employed his sons George & William as agents to find supplies of hay, straw, corn and bread.

William Dixon was married in 1855:-

 1855 marriage solemnized at Leeds Parish Church, Yorkshire

440: February 1 1855: William DIXON, 21, Bachelor, Contractor, Chapeltown Road, son of George DIXON, contractor & Elizabeth Ann GARNETT, 21, spinster, of Buslingthorpe Lane, daughter of Thomas GARNETT, Innkeeper were married by licence in presence of George Barber & Harriet Hopcroft-so William was a contractor like his brother Edward.

This is the record of marriage for George Dixon, born 1839:-

1861 Marriage at Leeds Parish Church, Yorkshire

228: March 7, 1861: George DIXON, 21, Bachelor, Agent, of Alma Villa, Leeds, son of George DIXON, Army Contractor & Mary Ann WIGGLESWORTH, 20,spinster, of Albert Street, daughter of Benjamin WIGGLESWORTH, tailor & draper, were married in Leeds parish church by licence witnessed by Joseph & Elizabeth Granger.

So George was an agent.

An example of how a hay dealer operated I found in another newspaper article, published by the Leeds Mercury, where George Dixon sues one of his suppliers.

YORKSHIRE SUMMER ASSIZES

The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Saturday, July 29, 1837; Issue 5404.

BREACH of CONTRACT

DIXON v BRUNYATE:- Counsel for the plaintiff, Messrs Alexander and Baines; for the defendant, Messrs Starkie & Armstrong.

The plaintiff was Mr. George DIXON, of Leeds, an extensive hay-dealer, and contractor for hay with the barracks: the defendant was Mr. Peter Brungate, farmer, of East Haddlesey, near Selby. The declaration stated that the defendant had sold to the plaintiff a quantity of hay for £130, which was to be delivered within a reasonable time ; that the plaintiff had always been willing and ready to accept the same, and had requested the defendant to deliver it. The defendant pleaded first, that he did not promise and undertake as alleged by the plaintiff; secondly, there was no entry in writing signed by the parties; thirdly that from the time of making the supposed contract, in February, until the 12th April, the defendant had been already and  willing to deliver the hay, but the plaintiff had refused to accept the same, and had discharged and prevented the defendant from delivering it; fourthly the plaintiff had procured the defendant to enter the bargain by fraud and misrepresentation.

Mr. Alexander (for George Dixon), said that his client, from the extensive nature of his contract for the army barracks, was in the habit of buying up hay in all directions. On the 28th February last, he was at Selby for that purpose and hearing that Mr. Brungate had a stack to sell he went to look at it. Mr. Brungate wanted £140 for the stack, the price Mr Dixon and he agreed on was £130, and the following entry of the contract was made by Mr. Dixon in his memorandum book, and signed by both parties:- “28th February, 1837, George DIXON bought of Mr. Peter Brungate, one hay-stack, for the sum of £130 as witness my hand, George DIXON” He then gave it to Mr. Brungate, who also signed it. It was agreed that Mr. DIXON should pay for it before it was taken away; but the time of doing this was to depend on the circumstances. The weather was so unfavourable in March and April, that it was impossible to take it away before the 19th April, when the defendant said he had sold it. The plaintiff (DIXON), tendered the money, but although the hay was in the yard, he, BRUNGATE) would not let him have it. The action was therefore brought to recover the difference between the increased price of hay and the contract price.

Mr. STARKIE (for BRUNGATE), stated that the price of hay had fallen after the contract between BRUNGATE & DIXON had been made, and doubtless that was the real reason that Mr. DIXON had delayed fetching it, but when he found it was rising, and likely to rise still higher, he had begun to look after it. The real fact of the case was that the plaintiff (DIXON) had stipulated to pay for the hay the week after he had contracted to buy it. Mr. BRUNGATE naturally began to suspect that his customer had deceived him, and after waiting till the 12th April, sold it, but not as to make any advantage by violating his contract, but for exactly the same sum as DIXON had agreed to pay. What was said about the weather was a pretence; the true reason of the delay being doubtless the falling price in March.

There was further argument by Mr Alexander for DIXON mainly that at that no time was there any mention in the memorandum seen and signed by BRUNGATE as to when payment would be made. He also said the remembering precise words of a conversation of several months ago was always difficult to rely on. The jury found for DIXON with 1 shilling damages.

George Continued to live at 62, Chapeltown Road, Leeds.
Here is the entry for the 1861 Census:
George Dixon in 1861 census
Entry No. 171: Chapeltown Road,
George DIXON, Head, Married, 53, Contractor, born Leeds, Yoprkshire
Mary DIXON, Wife, Married, 52, born Leeds, Yorkshire.
Sarah Ann DIXON, Daughter, Unmarried, 30, born Leeds, Yorkshire
Emma DIXON, daughter, Unmarried, 20, born Leeds, Yorkshire
Mary DIXON, daughter, Unmarried, 16, born Leeds, Yorkshire
Emma BOLLAND, Servant, Unmarried, 18, House Servant, Born Wakefield, Yorkshire

He remained as an army contractor until his death in 1865. Even his gravestone photographed recently in Beckett Street Cemetery in Leeds shows him to be in life an army contractor

 George, William & Edward Dixon, continue as either contractors or army agents.  

William Dixon remained living in Leeds, continuing his father’s work, keeping the army contract in the family. The census records of 1871 & 1881, & 1891 show him to be an army contractor. Other evidence, from a local newspaper show that in 1884 he lost the contract which put him very much in debt, but he continued trading, until in 1887, he regained the contract, making him solvent once again. However he also went into partnership with his brother Edward who by 1888 had retired from hay dealing & army contract work and was looking for a new challenge. Together they entered the maltster business, but William quickly found himself in debt again.

Information for this in Leeds Mercury:

LEEDS BANKRUPTCY COURT

The Leeds Mercury Friday, October 17, 1890;

LEEDS BANKRUPTCY COURT

At the Leeds Bankruptcy Court yesterday, before his Honour Judge Gates, Q.C., an application was made for discharge of William DIXON, army contractor, of Leeds, and formerly carrying on business as a maltster, in partnership with his brother - Mr. Peckover appeared for the debtor, and Mr. Carr represented the opposing creditor, Mr. Edward DIXON, of Scarborough, the debtor's brother. Mr. Bowling stated that the receiving order was made on 4th March, 1889, on a creditor's petition. The proofs of debt submitted up to date amounted to £4, 791, and the assets had realised £153 0s 11d. A first and final dividend of £3 5-16d in the pound had been paid. The books had not been properly kept, and the debtor had traded when he knew himself to be insolvent. -Mr. Peckover stated, on behalf of the debtor, that it was true that in 1887 he had debts amounting to £1,900, but getting the army contracts, which he had lost in 1884, back at that time, he traded for two years in the hope of paying off his debts. Although the debtor was not justified in not trading when knowing himself to be insolvent, and in not keeping proper books, he would ask his Honour to believe that he had, in continuing to trade in the hope of paying off his debts, instead of filing his petition, adopted the more honourable course. He had no excuse to offer for his not keeping proper books beyond this, that it was not usual in his trade to keep books.-Mr. Bowling said he should state that the debtor had also lost £800 as a maltster, and that he had not sought protection from the Court, but was made bankrupt on a creditor's petition. Debtor said it had been the wish of his relatives that he should continue to trade, and that was his reason for doing so-His Honour thought that taking all the circumstances into consideration, the case would be met by suspending the discharge for eighteen months.

Between 1891 & 1901, William moves to Manchester, where he continues life as an Army supplies agent (details from census) and by 1911, he was retired and living on his profits in Salford, Manchester. 

His son Albert Edward Dixon, followed the family tradition of son’s following father’s occupation as he was an army agent in Leeds in 1891 according to census, and then followed his father to Manchester where he continued the work there.
Albert Edward married Florence Oldfield, known as "Florry" the daughter of James Oldfield & his wife Maria ANDERSON. She was from Cupar in Dundee Scotland, where she married James Oldfield in 1856-this newspaper article describes their marriage:
Dundee, Perth, and Cupar Advertiser - Friday 25 January 1856
MARRIAGES. On the 24th inst., in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, here, by the Right Rev. the Bishop of Brechin, Maria, eldest daughter of David Anderson, banker, Dundee, to James Oldfield, merchant, Halifax.

Below is the marriage record of Albert Edward DIXON & Florence Oldfield

1887 Marriage, solemnised at Parish of St Clement, Sheepscar, Leeds, Yorkshire.

No. 210: 30 April, 1887, Albert Edward DIXON, 21, Bachelor, Maltster, of Leopold Mount, son of William DIXON a Maltster & Florence OLDFIELD, 23, Spinster, of Musson Place, daughter of James OLDFIELD, a wool merchant, were married in presence of Albert Dixon & Fred Hunter Robinson.

William’s other son Christopher became an army contractor’s working and living in Newcastle upon Tyne. Maybe his work was to find and pay suppliers for his father & brother Albert. 20 years later, in 1911, his occupation is forage agent, living and working in Newcastle, but without further information I can’t say anything further about him except that the Dixon family were still being hay dealers & army contractors.

Edward Dixon moved from Leeds in 1852 to York & later around 1873 to Scarborough, where he retired & lived on his profits. He died in 1900 leaving £11,000, and a widow and several grieving children. He was buried in Scarborough Cemetery-more details of Edward after Leeds follow below.

John Readman 2014