Alice Farndale

12 November 1868 (baptised) to 1949

The Ampleforth 1 Line

FAR00493

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Huttons Ambo

1868

Alice Farndale, daughter of William and Bessy (nee Langdale) Farndale (FAR00286) was born on 12 November 1868 (1939 Register) and baptised on 9 February 1868 at Huttons Ambo (BR). Alice Farndale’s birth was registered in Malton District in the third quarter of 1868 (GRO Vol 9d page 340).

There is clearly an error somewhere in the records as the baptism date is before the birth date. Given the registration date, perhaps the baptism date was actually 9 February 1869.

1871

1871 Census, Huttons Ambo:

William Farndale, 45, licensed hawker (born Yearsley)

Betsy Farndale, William’s wife, 44, licensed hawker

Elizabeth Farndale, 15, servant out of situation (b1856)

Mary Farndale, 10 (b1861)

Ann Farndale, 9 (b1862)

Robert Farndale, 7 (b1864)

Jane Farndale, 6 (b1865)

Thomas Farndale, 5 (b1866)

Charles Farndale, 3 (b1868)

Alice Farndale, 2 (b1869)

1881

1881 Census, Huttons Ambo:

William Farndale, 56, licensed hawker (born Yearsley)

Betsy Farndale, William’s wife, 55, postmistress

James Farndale, 23, gardener, born Appleton-le-Street

Charles Farndale, 13, scholar, born Huttons Ambo

Alice Farndale, 12, scholar, born Huttons Ambo

1886

In 1886 Alice and her father William, were witnesses to a tragedy when a mother and her child were killed in the local river:

Yorkshire Gazette, 20 March 1886: MURDER AND SUICIDE NERAR MALTON. In case of what appears to be a deliberate murder and suicide occurred at the village of Huttons Ambo, near Malton, on Thursday morning, and has caused the greatest excitement in this usually quiet neighbourhood. It seems that for about two years past there had lived in the village a Mrs Harriet Stillborn, widow of the late Mr Charles Stillborn, whose family were highly respectable farmers in the district. Mrs Stillborn, who was 40 years of age, was left with two children, a girl and the boy, on the death of her husband about two years ago, and she has since maintained the family by keeping a little grocery shop in Low Hutton. Of late, it is stated, she has not acted very rationally. On Thursday morning, just after half past eight o’clock, she was seen by Miss Alice Farndale, a young lady resident in the village, to take her two children by the hands and go across the fields in the direction of the River Derwent, which flows very near her house. Miss Farndale states that the children were screaming at the time, and seemed very reluctant to accompany their mother. Fearing, therefore, that something was wrong, Miss Farndale ran to tell her father, who immediately followed Mrs Stillborn, and was greatly alarmed to see the children and Mrs Stillborn floating down the river. Springing onto the overhanging branch of a tree, Mr Farndale succeeded in getting hold of the youngest child, Arthur Ernest Stillborn, aged 4 ½ years, whom he had once dragged out. Meanwhile two men, named Thomas Baker and Thomas Dickinson, had seen the action of the unfortunate woman from the other side of the river, and they ran down and tried to get the bodies of the mother and daughter out of the water. The river, being somewhat rough and “wavy”, as well as running rapidly, on account of the “fresh”, carried both bodies nearly a quarter of a mile, down to a place called Laysike, and both were got out before they sank. Of course the greatest excitement prevailed for some time, but whilst Mr Farndale ran up to his house with the body of the little boy, those on the bank did the best they could to restore animation in the mother and daughter, who were laid by the river side. Dr W T Colby, of Malton, was immediately telegraphed for, and the bodies of Mrs Stillborn and the child who were carried to an empty cottage near her own residence. The little lad meanwhile was seized with convulsions, and had several fits, but his rescuers continued their efforts to restore him, and in this they fortunately succeeded, as the poor little fellow about two hours after he was taken out of the water had quite recovered consciousness. Dr Cobly, with Sergeant Watson, of Malton, arrived on the scene shortly before eleven o’clock, and at once set about to resuscitate Mrs Stillborn and the other child, both of whose bodies were warm, but the efforts of both himself and assistants were entirely useless. Dr Colby was of the opinion that Mrs Stillborn had died partly from the shock and partly from the drowning. The child Annie Stillborn, who was thus deprived of life, was a fine, bright, healthy girl of nine years of age, whilst the mother did not appear to be of strong physique.

South Wales Echo, 20 March 1886: A MOTHER DROWING HERSELF AND CHILD. A sad affair occurred at Huttons Ambo, near Malton, on Thursday morning, when Mrs Harriet Stillborn, widow of Mr Charles Stillborn, grocer etc, of Hutton, threw two of her children and then jumped herself into the river Derwent, which flows near her house. Miss Farndale, a lady resident in the village, saw Mrs Stillborn hurrying to the water side, taking her two children with her. The children were screaming, and Miss Farndale ran to her father, fearing something was wrong. When Mr Farndale reached the river the mother and two children were floating on the water. By great exertions he managed to reach the little boy, child stillborn, age 4 ½ years, and drag him out. The bodies of Mrs Stillborn, who is 40 years of age, and Annie Stillborn, age nine years, floated down the river for a quarter of a mile before they were rescued. Dr Colley, of Malton, was sent for, and tried every means of resuscitation, but without success in the case of the mother and daughter; But the little boy is recovering. It is stated that the poor woman, who belonged to a very respectable family, had lately acted and very strange manner.

Preston Herald, 20 March 1886: MURDER AND SUICIDE. At Hutton Hambo (sic), East Yorkshire, on Thursday morning, a widow, named Harriet Stillburn, went to the river Derwent, which runs near to her house, taking her two children, Charles and Annie, aged 5 and 10 respectively, with her. She threw the children into the water, and then jumped into the river herself. A Mr Farndale, living near the spot, saw all three floating down the stream. He rescued the boy, but was unable to reach the mother and daughter, both of whom were drowned. It is stated that the mother belonged to a respectable family.

Shields Daily News, 19 March 1886: A MOTHER DROWNING HERSELF AND TWO CHILDREN. EXCITING SCENE. MALTON, Thursday. A sad affair occurred at Huttons Ambo, near Malton, this morning, when Mrs Harriet Stillborn, widow of Mr Charles Stillborn, grocer etc, of Hutton, threw two of her children and then herself into the river Derwent, which flows near her house. About 8:30 this morning Miss Farndale, a lady resident in the village, saw Mrs Stillborn hurrying to the water side with her two children. The children were screaming, and Miss Farndale ran to tell her father, fearing something was wrong. When Mr Farndale reached the river the mother and two children were floating on the water. By great exertions he managed to reach the little boy, Charles Stillborn, aged 4 ½ years, and brought him out. The body of Mrs Stillborn, who is 40 years of age, and Annie Stillborn, aged nine years, floated a quarter of a mile further before they were recovered. Dr Colby of Malton was sent for directly and tried every means of resuscitation, but without success in the case of the mother and daughter, but the little boy, being first rescued, is fortunately recovering. It is stated that the poor lady, who was belongs to a very respectable family, had lately noted irrationality in her manner.

Leeds Mercury, 20 March 1886:

THE DROWNING OF A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER BNEAR MAKLTON. INQUEST AND VERDICT.

Yesterday afternoon Mr Henry Wood, Coroner for the York district, held an inquest at Mr. Wm Stillborn’s, farmer, of Hutton, on the bodies of Harriet Stillborn, widow, aged 39 years, and Annie Stillborn, her daughter, aged nine years, who were drowned in the river Derwent, near Malton, under the sad circumstances reported by us yesterday.

The first witness called was Elizabeth Ann Best, wife of Mr Best, cotton manufacturer, who identified the deceased, and said that Mrs Stillborn sat up with witness’s mother-in-law, upon whom she was waiting, on Wednesday night. They all lived together; but witness did not see Mrs Stillborn after six o’clock, when she left the bedroom, until she saw her leaving the house with her little boy, Arthur Ernest Stillborn in her arms. Witness thought that was a little before nine o’clock. Deceased went towards the village. The little girl, Annie, followed her mother across the grass plat. Deceased had previously told witness that she could not sleep; “A mind diseased required no sleep.” Had noticed her put her hands on her head very often, but she made no remark. She said nothing about the children. There was a third child in the family, a little girl called Evelyn, seven years of age, and when the deceased had gone out she went up to witness and said “Mamma’s gone away.” Before she went out she kissed Annie and I, and said, “Goodbye darlings; Arthur and I are going to a better land.” Witness then told a cousin of hers to go after the deceased at once, and she followed her. Witness only came to Hutton the night before, and noticed nothing peculiar about deceased, who talked all right during the night. She seemed in good spirits. There had occurred nothing to excite her during the night. She was very much attached to the children, especially the little boy.

Alice Farndale, daughter of Mr Farndale, postmaster of Hutton, deposed to seeing Mrs Stillborn, the deceased, the girl Annie Stillborn, and the little boy Arthur going across Mr Avison’s field towards the river. The little girl was looking round when witness saw them, and thinking there was something wrong, she followed down the lane towards the river, and heard the girl and he crying and saying, “Mama don't! Mama don't!” Witness then ran back to tell her father. The girl was by the side of her mother, but witness did not hear the latter speak. Mrs Stillborn had the little boy in her arms at the time, and she was 40 yards from the river.

Elisa Stillbeck said she lived at Laysike, on the opposite side of the river. About nine on Thursday morning she saw the deceased approach the river on the Hutton side. The little girl was crying very much. Witness saw Mrs Stillborn jump into the river with the little boy in her arms, and she then turned round and pulled the girl in. The little girl then said, “There's a woman” twice (alluding to witness). Witness gave an alarm immediately, and a man and a woman ran to the spot. The deceased Mrs Stillborn did not speak at all. She did not struggle to get out at all.

William Farndale, postmaster, of Hutton, corroborated the evidence of his daughter, a previous witness, as to his attention being called to the deceased taking her children in the direction of the river. His daughter told him that “Harriet Stillborn was murdering the children.” When he got to the river side, a man and woman at the other side shouted, and told him to make for some overhanging trees. He did so, and there saw the little boy floating under the tree. He got on the branch of a tree and caught the boy as he was floating past. The child seemed to be in a fit. With some difficulty he past the boy on to the last witness, and when he got out of the tree he took the child to his own house. Did not see the mother, but he saw the little girl floating down the river on her back.

Elizabeth Lazenby, of Hanley, Staffordshire, having given evidence,

Tom Dickinson, labourer, of Hutton, deposed to pulling the bodies of Mrs Stillborn and the little girl out of the Derwent. He heard Mrs Stillbeck scream, and saw the woman and child floating down. When he got them out he thought both were quite dead. The mother had floated about a quarter of a mile and the child about half a mile.

W Taylor Colby, MD, of Malton, deposed that he received information of the affair soon after nine on Thursday morning. He came away at once, and found the little boy in a state of partial collapse, but he soon recovered. Saw the bodies of the mother and daughter, both of which presented all the external symptoms of death by drowning. He then he had them stripped and put into blankets, and tried to restore them, but without avail. He believed they had been dead when taken out of the water. There were no marks of violence on the bodies. Witness knew Mrs Stillborn, but had not seen her lately. From the evidence he had heard he had not the least doubt in his own mind that Mrs Stillborn was temporarily insane.

The CORONER having summed up,

The jury found “that Mrs Stillborn caused the death of her child and committed suicide while suffering from temporary derangement of mind.”

1889

Elizabeth Farndale (FAR00632), daughter, was born at Norton (Malton?) in 1889.

1890

Alice Farndale, 21, married John McLean, 21, a labourer, at St Peter’s, Norton, Juxta, Malton on 2 June 1890 (MR).

It is not clear why, after she married John McLean, her first fur children were nevertheless Farndales. They are specifically recorded in the census records as sons and daughters of John and Alice.

1891

For some reason Elizabeth’s children took the Farndale name:

Census 1891 – Barnby Yard, St Leonards, Malton

John McLean, 22, agricultural labourer

Alice McLean, 22

Elizabeth Farndale, daughter, 2, born Norton in 1889

1894

John William Farndale (FAR00663) was born at Malton in 1894.

1897

Henry Farndale (FAR00681A) was born in Malton in 1897.

1899

Edward Farndale (FAR00696A) was born in Malton in 1899.

1901

Census 1901 – 2 Spittle Street, Malton

John McLean, 33, agricultural labourer

Alice McLean, 33

Elizabeth Farndale, 12, daughter, born Norton in 1889

John William Farndale, son, 8, born Malton 1893

Henry Farndale, 4, son, born Malton 1897

Edward Farndale, son, 2 born Malton 1899

Alfred McLean was born on 13 August 1901.

1906

Alice McLean was born on 15 April 1906.

1921

Census 1921 – Malton

Now available but not yet checked

1939

1939 Register – 24 Highfield Road, Malton

Alice McLean, widowed, born 12 November 1868, unpaid domestic duties

Alfred McLean, born 13 August 1901, fish shop assistant

Alice McLean, born 15 April 1906, unpaid domestic duties

1949

Alice Maclean died at Ryedale in the first quarter of 1949 aged 80.