John Christopher Farndale Senior and his sons William Farndale and John Chistopher Farndale Junior

The story of the merchant master mariners, John Christopher Farndale Senior and his sons William and John and their epic maritime adventures around the English coast, to the Baltic, Russia and Scandinavia and to Biscay, the site of a tragic disaster

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The Master Mariners

John Christopher Farndale the Elder was a painter when he married Ann Ling in 1825 and until the birth of his third son in 1830. By 1836, he was a master mariner of Whitby, captaining a coal brig called the William and Nancy with cargos of coal largely between Whitby and the north east and Wisbech in Cambridgeshire and the southeast.

Of his family of five, John’s eldest son, William Farndale also became a master mariner and continued to captain the William and Nancy. His third son, John Christopher Farndale the Younger, captained other ships. They all lived lives of adventure, perils at sea, and travel. His second son, Thomas Farndale was a ship’s broker’s clerk who died aged only 31. His daughter, Mary Farndale, was a straw bonnet maker and married a master mariner in Whitby. His fifth child, James Farndale, died an infant. This was a family of mariners at the heart of the maritime coal industry in the mid Victorian era. The second generation ventured widely around the North Sea, generally called the German sea at the time, to the Baltic and also further south. John died young, at the age of only 35. John Christopher Farndale the Younger was the most adventurous of the two brothers.

A master mariner could serve as the master of a merchant ship of any size, of any type, operating anywhere in the world, and it reflected the highest level of professional qualification amongst mariners and deck officers. The term master mariner has been in use at least since the thirteenth century. In guild or livery company terms, he was the equivalent of a master craftsman such as were a master carpenter or master blacksmith. In the British Merchant Navy a master mariner who had sailed in command of an ocean going merchant ship was titled Captain. Where the movements of ships were recorded in the shipping news and other media, the name of the ship was followed by the name of the Captain.

A brig is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig. It had two masts which were both square-rigged. Brigs originated in the second half of the eighteenth century and were a common type of smaller merchant vessel or warship from then until the latter part of the nineteenth century. In commercial use, they were gradually replaced by fore-and-aft rigged vessels such as schooners, as owners reduced crew costs by having rigs that could be handled by fewer men. In Royal Navy use, brigs were retained for training use when the battle fleets consisted almost entirely of iron-hulled steamships. Brigs were prominent in the coasting coal trade of British waters.

4,395 voyages from Whitby to London with coal cargoes were recorded in 1795. With an average of eight or nine trips per year for one vessel, by the end of the eighteenth century, there was a fleet of over five hundred colliers trading out of Whitby to London alone. Other ports and coastal communities were also be served by the collier trade. In the first half of the nineteenth century, the vast majority were rigged as brigs, and that rig was retained for longer in the northeast of England.

The Mary, a Brig of South Shields painted in 1855

The Traditional Song, the Collier Brig paints a picture of life on a Brig.

Oh, the worst old ship that ever set sail, Sailed out of Harwich on a windy day. Chorus: Stormy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys, When the wind blows the barge will go. She was built in Roman style, Held together with bits of twine. Skipper’s half Dutch and he hasn’t got a clue, The crew were fourteen hands too few. Cook spilt the dinner on the galley floor, Skipper caught his hand in the wheelhouse door. Off Orford Ness we sprang a leak, Hear our poor old timbers creak. We steered our way round Lowestoft next, The wind backed round to the sou-sou-west. Through the Cockle to Cromer Cliff, Steering like a wagon with a wheel adrift. Up The Humber and up to town, Pump, you devils, pump or drown. Then on a sandbank we got stuck, Skipper’s drunk in the Dog and Duck. Up come a mermaid covered in slime, We took her down the hold and we had a good time. We kept on course all through the night, Nearly went aground at the Apex light. Coal was shot by a Keadby crew, Bottom was rotten and it went right through. So when we saw the brig was sunk, We went to the Barge and we all got drunk.

John Christopher Farndale The Elder

John Christopher Farndale was baptised at Loftus on 3 January 1802, the son of John and Dinah (nee Boyes) Farndale.

John Christopher’s father, John was also a mariner, born in Loftus in 1773, and he died aged 60, in Whitby, in 1833. Dinah took a pension from the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, which suggests that John was engaged by the Royal Navy at some point. John Chrisopher’s grandfather was William Farndale (1743 to 1777), of the Kilton 1 Line, who was also a master mariner in Whitby. By 1767 William Farndale was captain of the Abigail and Martha, the names of his daughter and mother, which suggests he had some ownership interest in the vessel. He was baptised and buried in Brotton. So this was a family from the home of the Kilton 1 Farndales, who were master mariners of Whitby over four generations.

			The Kilton 1 Line
			William Farndale 13 July 1743 to 27 April 1777 Baptised and buried in Brotton Married Elizabeth Barry Master mariner of Whitby
		Abigail Farndale 29 December 1767 Married Thomas Linklater	Elizabeth Farndale 28 Octopber 1769 to 1 September 1797 Spinster, died aged 27	Robert Farndale 26 October 1772 to 4 June 1796 Ship's Carpenter of Whitby	John Farndale 1773 to 5 July 1833 Baptised in Loftus Married Dinah Boyes Mariner, carpenter and possible service in the navy
Ann Farndale 15 April 1800 to March 1873 Possibly a widow and dressmaker	John Christopher Farndale The Elder 3 January 1802 to 5 February 1837 Baptised in Loftus Married Ann Ling A painter, farmer and then master mariner in Whitby who died aged 35	Hannah Farndale 29 February 1804 to 19 August 1883 Married Edward Hunt Joiner's wife	Jane Farndale 9 December 1806 to 21 February 1882 Married Nicholas Rippon Carpenter’s daughter who married in Middlesbrough	Dinah Farndale 19 March 1814 to 31 December 1887 Married Robert Stamp, but no children Carpenter’s daughter and carpenter’s wife She died a quite wealthy widow, a shareholder	Mary Ann Farndale 6 October 1817 to 2 May 1819 Carpenter’s daughter of Whitby who died aged 1	Elizabeth Farndale 6 November 1825 to 9 June 1841 Whitby, lived with sister Jane Rippon at Stockton
	William Farndale 17 November 1825 to 6 March 1887 Married Ann Brown Master mariner of Whitby, whose wife was a lodge house keeper	Thomas Farndale 3 March 1828 to 1 June 1859 Ship’s broker’s clerk	John Christopher Farndale The Younger 18 October 1830 to 23 February 1868 Married Christiana Ainslie on 3 July 1857 and then Jane Barnett Telford on 21 December 1861 A master mariner of Whitby who moved to Wisbech, Cambridgeshire Died at sea in the Bay of Biscay	Mary Farndale 24 December 1832 Straw bonnet maker and mariner’s wife of Whitby Married John Chambers on 10 December 1852 who died at sea in the Bay of Biscay with John Christopher	James Farndale 24 October 1836 to 28 March 1837 Died an infant
John Thomas Farndale 15 June 1854 to March 1930 Bank manager with Barclays Bank in Thirsk	Jane Farndale 26 September 1856 to 23 January 1938 Lived ‘on her own means’ with her brother John		Fanny Amelia Rose Farndale b 1863 Wisbech	Tom Christopher Farndale b 20 March 1865 Living with his grandfather, John Henry Telford in 1871 Wisbech	Eva Jennie Farndale b 29 December 1866 Lived as a boarder with another family by age 4 Wisbech

John Christopher Farndale married Ann Ling on 24 February 1825. By then, they were both living in Whitby and John, then 23, was working as a painter.

Their oldest son, William Farndale, was born on 11 November 1825 and baptised on 17 November 1825 in Whitby.

On 18 August 1826, John Christopher Farndale, captain of the William and Mary arrived in Wisbech on a voyage from Sunderland, laden with coal.

Wisbech is in Cambridgeshire, a port some distance inland, approached from the Wash by a long canal, the Nene Outfall Cut connecting the Fenland market town and inland port to the sea. It is in the far north east of the Cambridgeshire, bordering Norfolk and only 5 miles south of Lincolnshire.

Wisbech was the main port with which John Christopher traded from Whitby and his son, John Christopher Junior, would later live there.

The arrival of the William and Nancy in Wisbech, captained by John Farndale, carrying coals out of Sunderland was recorded on 23 August 1826 and 6 October 1826. So John’s early voyages were regularly between Whitby, sometimes via Newcastle and Sunderland, and Wisbech.

The arrival of the William and Nancy in Wisbech, captained by John Farndale, carrying coals out of Sunderland was recorded on 3 and 6 September 1828 and 10 October 1828, 19 June and 19 September 1829.

On 13 February 1830, John Farndale was Captain of the William and Nancy, described then as a coaster, when it arrived in Whitby from Stockton, another inland port accessed up the River Tees.

On 14 June 1833, John came into difficulty off the North Foreland at Yarmouth, still captain of the William and Nancy, when he slipped anchor and chain and lost his stern boat, with other damage to the ship.

In August 1833, John captained a brig called the Felicity off the west coast.

On 22 October 1833 he arrived in Lancaster from Archangel, which may be a reference to the Russian White Sea port now known as Arkhangelsk. If so, this would have been an epic voyage around the north cap of Norway into the White Sea in autumn.

On 25 March 1835 John Farndale captained the William and Nancy into Deal harbour, a little northeast of Dover, from Newcastle, in a fresh northeasterly breeze. On 28 March 1835, he sailed into Dover.

On 6 June 1835 he arrived from Stockton, again with the William and Nancy in Deal, in a north north westerly breeze, and he remained at Deal overnight, returning again on 14 July 1835.

When his son James Farndale was born on 24 October 1836, who died an infant, John Christpher was still a master mariner, but also a farmer of Cragg, Whitby. The Cragg is an area along the waterfront on the River Esk in Whitby.

John Christopher Farndale of Cragg, Whitby died aged only 35, and was buried on 5 February 1837 at St Mary Church, Whitby, of Bran Stoker’s Dracula fame. A brief notice recorded that on Wednesday, at Whitby, Captain John Farndale, master and owner of the William and Nancy, in the prime of his life had died. He left an estate of £600.

William Farndale

John Christopher & Ann Farndale’s eldest son, William Farndale was born on 11 November 1825 and baptised in Whitby. He was only twelve years old when his father died.

By 1849 William Farndale was the captain and master of his father’s ship, the William and Nancy. On 16 May 1849 he captained the William and Nancy into Hartlepool from Maldon.

On 27 August 1849, he sailed for Romney, on 1 October 1849 for Hartlepool and on 2 November 1849 he arrived at Hartlepool West from London, all as captain of the William and Nancy.

The William and Nancy was forced to beach south of Bridlington in a storm on 2 December 1849, but the vessel was hoved off the beach on 15 December, and seemed to have suffered no damage. During the whole day, it was excessively thick with rain, with the wind blowing in the early part of the day from the south, varying to the southeast, east south east, and east, blowing a perfect gale. This continued without intermission. At daylight a Brig appeared to the southward, which, being unable to reach the harbour, was run on shore about a half a mile south of the town, and proved to be the William and Nancy, Farndale, of Whitby. The crew were saved.

On 7 March 1850 William sailed from London. On 29 May 1850 he arrived at West Hartlepool from Hythe. On 13 May 1830 at 13.30 pm, in a strong south westerly wind and fog, the William and Nancy, Farndale, lost its anchor and thirty fathoms of chain, and the windlass was broken. An anchor windlass is a machine that restrains and manipulates the anchor chain on a boat, allowing the anchor to be raised and lowered by means of chain cable.

Windlass

On 6 August 1850, the William and Nancy arrived in Middlesbrough from London and on 20 September 1850, he arrived in New Romney from Middlesbrough. On 18 November 1850, he arrived in West Hartlepool from Whitby. On 27 July 1851 the brig passed Yarmouth at 3pm. On 17 September 1851 he arrived in West Hartlepool from Dover. On 6 December 1851 he arrived at West Hartlepool from Whitstable.

On 19 May 1852 the William and Nancy passed Great Yarmouth at 6pm heading northwards. On 15 July 1852 the William and Nancy passed Deal between noon and the evening in a light south-westerly wind and fine weather. On 5 September 1852 it passed Deal again from west to north. On 8 May 1853 it passed Deal westward, at 7.30am.

On 4 July 1853 the William and Nancy passed Great Yarmouth at 6am. William was clearly playing it close to the wind, as his wedding was on 7 July 1853! William Farndale aged 27, a bachelor, Master Mariner of Pier, Whitby, son of John Christopher Farndale, Master Mariner, married Ann Brown, aged 26, spinster of West Cliff, Whitby, daughter of Thomas Brown, Master Mariner at the Parish Church Whitby on 7 July 1853. William and Ann signed the register and the witnesses were William’s brother, Thomas Farndale, William White and Mary Coulson. James Davidson was the Curate.

By 24 August 1853, he was back at sea off Deal, heading for Dover from Whitby, at 3.15pm, in a northeasterly in fresh thick rain.

On February 1854, John faced a strong north west wind with snow squalls. It was very cold. The William and Nancy was forced to put in at Lowestoft through stress of weather. The Harbour Company’s tugs, and two Yarmouth tugs by permission of the harbour master, had been engaged during the greater part of the day assisting vessels in, with loss of anchors and other damage. A boy whose name was never reported, belonging to the Commerce brig, of Whitby, was drowned in the inner harbour during the previous evening and his body was dragged for and found during the morning.

On 22 June 1854, the William and Nancy was anchored at Hull. On 21 August 1854, the vessel arrived and procced on from Deal at 1pm. On 29 August and again on 8 September 1854 she arrived at West Hartlepool from Folkstone. On 29 September 1854 she arrived in Whitby from Folkestone. On 23 October 1854, she passed Yarmouth at 10am. On 17 March 1855, she sailed out of Lowestoft for Whitby.

William Farndale captained the William and Nancy in November 1856 and suffered severe damage in a storm off Lowestoft. On 13 November 1856, she put in through stress of weather, having lost her mainmast. She had been fouled in the storm by the brig Ruby, off Pakefield Cliffs after she had lost her bowsprit, fore-mast, fore-topmast, main-topmast, and all the gear and long boat stoven.

She was assisted into harbour by a boat’s crew for £50 and came into the City of Norwich for refuge. During and subsequent to the late heavy gale, about 100 sailing vessels, many of them large class vessels, had taken into Norwich harbour for refuge.

However again the vessel was repaired and made seaworthy again. She sailed out of Lowestoft again on 18 December 1856.

In 1857, we have the first record of a voyage outwith the British shores, to France. On 23 April 1857 the William and Nancy, Farndale, arrived in Whitby from Abbeville.

In July 1857, William had more problems with the William and Nancy. On 22 July 1857, en route from Sunderland for Deal, she had to put in to port with the loss of her fore and main topmast, off the Inner Garboard, at 11am, assisted by a fishing smack.

On 11 November 1857 William sailed to Boulogne with 44 hundredweight of coals. A hundredweight is 100 pounds or about 45 kilograms.

On 11 February 1859, the William and Nancy, Farndale arrived coastwise at Warkworth from Shields. She was in ballast, so must have been returning from a voyage delivering her cargo.

In the elections for Whitby, caused by the death of Robert Stephenson (the son of George Stephenson), in 1859, William Farndale voted for the Conservative candidate, Thomas Chapman

The vacancy occasioned in the representation of this borough by the lamented death of Robert Stephenson Esquire, has given rise to a contest of unusual interest and excitement in Whitby. As our readers are aware, in the early part of the contest, there were three candidates: Thomas Chapman Esquire and George Hudson Esquire who appeared under the conservative flag, and H S Thompson Esquire, who avowed moderate liberal principles.... The Prince Maharaja Dhuleep Singh and suite arrived at the hustings from Mulgrave Castle at the commencement of the proceedings, and remained until nearly their termination. His Highness appeared to take great interest, and to be highly amused with the free and independent ebullitions of the populace, and with the speeches of the candidates and their friends... Votes for Mr Chapman... Farndale, William …

On 3 November 1860 William Farndale and the William and Nancy arrived at Warkworth from Abbeville. Abbeville is in France not far from Le Treport, but has a canal to the sea. Warkworth is in Northumberland near Alnmouth. She cleared foreign customs at Warkworth.

On 4 February 1861 William Farndale and the William and Nancy arrived at Amble from St Valery. Another report showed that the vessel was carrying 125 tones of coals from Harrison, Carr & Co.

On the evening of 25 June 1861, Mr Farndale, of the schooner William and Nancy, of Whitby, arrived at Blyth from Deal, and passed a quantity of German yeast and picked up one basket. Several pieces of bulwarks were floating about at the place. She headed for Tynemouth.

The Census of 1861 for Ruswarp, Whitby listed Ann Farndale, as head of the household and married, aged 34, Master Mariner’s wife; born at Eryholm in 1825, living with John Farndale, their son; aged 6 and Jane Farndale, their daughter; aged 4. Presumably William, Master Mariner, was at sea.

There was more trouble for William Farndale on 2 November 1861 when the brig William Nancy, Farndale, of Whitby, from Newcastle for Abbeville, put in at Calais, with bulwarks carried away, having experienced very severe weather.

The bulwark is the extension of a ship's side above the level of the weather deck

On 10 March 1862 William Farndale and the William and Nancy arrived at Shields from Abbeville. On 23 April 1862 she arrived from Whitby at St Valery. On 22 August 1862 William Farndale and the William and Nancy arrived at West Hartlepool from Deal. On 24 February 1863 she arrived at Dunkirk from Newcastle. On 24 March 1863 she arrived at Sandwich from Abbeville. On 9 June 1863 she arrived at West Hartlepool from Whitby. On 3 August 1863 she arrived at West Hartlepool from Deal. On 2 May 1864 William Farndale and the William and Nancy sailed from Ramsgate bound for Hartlepool. On 26 October 1864 William Farndale, captain of the brig, the William and Nancy, and travelling from Broadstairs to Whitby and while in ballast, suffered a broken mainstay. On 4 December 1864 she put into to Dover having sailed from Shields en route to Abbeville. On 14 May 1865 she arrived in West Hartlepool from Folkestone. On 24 June 1865 she arrived in Hartlepool from Deal.

On 24 August 1865 William Farndale captained the Ythan arriving at Hartlepool from Deal. On 1 November 1865 William Farndale captained the Ythan arriving at Sandwich from Hartlepool.

On 13 December 1865 William Farndale and the William and Nancy arrived in Sandwich from Hartlepool.

On 17 December 1865 William Farndale captained the Ythan arriving at Sandwich from Hartlepool. On 5 January 1866 William Farndale captained the Ythan arriving at Sandwich from Middlesbrough. On 31 January 1866 William Farndale captained the Ythan arriving at Lowestoft from London for Middlesbrough.

There is a record of shipwrecks from Whitby which shows that the William and Nancy, formerly the ship captained by William Farndale, floundered off Dimlington in June 1866. Dinlington is off the Holderness coast, near Hill, south of Withensea.

On 2 August 1866 William Farndale captained the Ythan arriving at Hartlepool from Deal. On 27 November 1866 William Farndale captained the Ythan arriving at Lowestoft from Deal. On 9 February 1867 William Farndale captained the Ythan arriving at Hartlepool from Arbroath.

On 5 June 1867 William Farndale captained the Medusa arriving at Sunderland from Cronstadt.

On 3 September 1867 William Farndale captained the Ythan left Deal heading north. On 17 October 1867 William Farndale captained the Ythan arrived at West Hartlepool from Deal.

On 20 January 1868 William Farndale was captain of the Day Star, arriving in Portsmouth for Llanelly.

William’s younger brother John Christopher Farndale was lost at sea in the Bay of Biscay on 22 January 1868.

On 27 January 1868 William Farndale captained the Ythan arrived at Whitby from Lowestoft. On 11 March 1868 William Farndale captained the Ythan arrived at Blyth from Whitby.

On 28 March 1868 there was a report of serious damage to the Ythan of Blyth. The Ythan, Farndale, of Blyth, for Deal, put into Ramsgate on Thursday, having been in collision with the brig Doune Castle, carrying away rigging, mainsail, bulwarks, and receiving other damage.

On 30 April 1868 William Farndale captained the Charles Adams and was cleared at Rotterdam for Ipswich.

On 25 August 1868 The Ythan, Farndale, for Shields, put in to Ramsgate on Sunday with loss of anchor and chain.

The 1869 Lloyds Captains Register of Master Mariners included a list of all those master mariners whose place of birth was described as Whitby or Robin Hood's Bay and this included 107. William Farndale, born 1825 at Whitby, Certificate Number (Certificate of Service): 39421.

On 26 February 1869 The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Blyth for Deal. On 31 May 1869 The Ythan, Farndale, was off Deal on Friday, running to leeward for shelter. On 23 June 1869 The Ythan, Farndale, from Deal for Shields was in South Lowestoft Roads, windbound, on Monday. On 29 September 1869 The Ythan, Farndale, from Shields to Deal.

On 4 February 1870 The Medusa, Farndale, arrived in Sunderland from Portsmouth.

On 2 April 1870 The Ythan schooner, of Deal, Farndale, passed Broadstairs from Sandwich, heading north. On 6 July 1870 The Ythan, Farndale, came down at Deal and proceeded for Shields, in a west south westerly, fresh and fine.

The Census of 1871 for Ruswarp, Whitby listed William Farndale, head, married, aged 45, Master Mariner; Ann Farndale, his wife, aged 44, by then a lodge house keeper, born at Low Hail Durham in 1827; John T Farndale, their son, aged 16 and Jane Farndale, their daughter, aged 14, with Maria J Farndale, their niece; who they may have adopted.

On 15 July 1871 The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from West Hartlepool for Deal Beach. On 6 October 1871 The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from West Hartlepool for Deal. On 26 June 1872 The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Sunderland for Deal. On 24 October 1872 The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Shields for Deal.

William Farndale appears to have led a trans Atlantic voyage in February 1873. On 31 January 1873, The China, Farndale, arrived in Liverpool from New Orleans, having experienced very severe weather during the whole of the passage. On 27 January 1873, it had passed between Tuskar and Bardsey, through an immense quantity of pine logs, deals and bulwarks, the latter painted blue and white, all fresh. The crew were compelled to keep a double watch, the logs being so large and very dangerous to shipping at night.

On 5 May 1873 the Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Whitby for Hartlepool. On 24 May 1873 the Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Shields for Dymchurch. On 26 November 1873 the Ythan, Farndale, arrived in Whitby from Hartlepool. On 13 December the Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Hartlepool for Whitby. On 14 December 1873 the Ythan, Farndale, arrived in Whitby from Hartlepool.

On 5 March 1874 the Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Whitby for Shields. On 25 March 1874 the Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Shields for Dover. On 16 March 1875 the Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Hartlepool for Deal Beach with coals. On 19 December 1875 the Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Whitby for Hartlepool. On 5 July 1876 the Ythan, Farndale, arrived in Hartlepool from Whitby. On 11 July 1876 The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Hartlepool for Folkestone with coals. On 27 October 1876 the Ythan, Farndale, was off Deal heading from the north to New Romney. On 18 September 1876 the Ythan, Farndale, arrived in Whitby from Folkestone.

This may have been his last voyage as a merchant captain.

On 9 December 1876, the special business before the monthly meeting of the Trustees of the Piers and Harbour was the appointment of a harbour master in the place of Mr William Tose, deceased. It was resolved that Mr Robert Gibson, master mariner, be appointed to the office, the candidates having included William Farndale. By now William Farndale was 51, so clearly looking for a less stressful life than one on the high seas.

On 27 January 1877, Mr Sharrah had no lack of sailor friends to help him clear and rearrange the furniture of the main deck of the Congress Hall for the ladies who kindly undertook the providing and serving of the tea. The ladies included … Mrs Farndale … There was some anxiety as to the success of the tea owing to an increase in the price of tickets. Of late years the meeting had grown so unwieldy by reason of the number of mischievous lads who attended that it was determined to make a charge for admission and do away with the collection.

On 22 June 1878, an inquest was held at the Royal Hotel, by John Buchanan Esquire, coroner, touching the death of Ada Patton, aged 13 years, a domestic servant in the service of Captain William Farndale, No 3, North Terrace.

Mr Farndale gave evidence that the deceased, Ada Patton, had lived as servant with them about six weeks. On Saturday morning last, a little before seven o’clock, he and Mrs Farndale were in the front kitchen, and Ada Patton was in the back kitchen. He did not know what she was doing. On hearing her scream he came to her assistance and found her standing in the passage between the two kitchens with her clothes in flames. He pushed her into the back kitchen and rolled her in the carpet to extinguish the flames. Mrs Farndale came to his assistance with a rug from the front kitchen which was very much burnt by being wrapped around her. After extinguishing the flames they pulled her clothes off and laid her on the bed. Dr Stewart was sent for and was soon in attendance.

Ann Farndale, wife of the first witness, said that Ada was about 15 years of age. She was the daughter of Mr Peter Patton, jet ornament manufacturer, Cliff Street. On Friday, the day prior to the accident, Anne Farndale gave evidence that she went into the back kitchen where Ada had been working and found a paraffin bottle on the floor. She asked Ada what she had been doing with the paraffin, and she replied she had been cleaning the fire irons. This was contrary to Ann Farndale’s orders so she asked Ada to take it away. Ann Farndale always tells her servants not to use paraffin and since Ada was rather young she had cautioned her particularly about it.

On Saturday morning Ann and William Farndale were in the front kitchen and Ada was in the back kitchen. On hearing Ada scream William Farndale ran to her assistance and Anne Farndale followed. After getting out the fire and stripping the clothes off her they found she was dreadfully burnt from below her knees to her throat. She was wearing a wincey dress, and had only flannel petticoat on underneath. She had no stays on or she might not have been so badly burnt.

A gentleman lodging in the house came downstairs and ran for Dr Stewart. Ada Patton was conscious during Saturday, but had not been since. On asking her after the accident what she had been doing to set herself on fire, Ada had said that she had spilt some paraffin down her dress on Friday. Ada had left the back kitchen fire and had been cleaning out the oven top when her dress ignited. She had left the coal rake in the oven top so that Ann Farndale had no doubt she had caught fire in that manner.

Dr Stewart said he was sent for about ten minutes before seven o’clock on Saturday morning, and found Ada laid on the bed at No 3, North Terrace. He found extensive superficial burns from the face down the front of her body. Her back was the only part that had escaped. He attended her up to the time of her death, which took place about ten o’clock that morning. There was no reaction, and the deceased never rallied. Dr Stewart had administered a little stimulant to try to cause reaction, but to no effect. He was of opinion that death was caused by a severe shock to the nervous system, caused by excessive burning. Ada had apparently been a healthy girl previously.

The coroner briefly reviewed the evidence and a verdict of Accidental death by burning and consequent shock to the nervous system was returned.

Her dress had been saturated with paraffin oil, which she had spilled on it the previous day. She lingered in agony for several hours.

The Census of 1881 for 3 North Terrace, Ruswarp, Whitby listed William Farndale, head, married, aged 55, Master Mariner; Ann Farndale, his wife, aged 54; Jane Farndale, daughter, unmarried, aged 24; and Maria J Farndale, niece, aged 14.

On 2 May 1885 the schooner Ythan, from Hartlepool to Folkestone with coal, was run into by the steamer Frances, from Stavanger and sunk off the Humber. The crew were saved. The Frances proceeded to the Tyne apparently undamaged. The Maritime Directory gives two schooners named Ythan, one registered at Aberdeen, built at Garmouth in 1876, of 86 tons, and owned by Mr Alexader Mitchell, Newburgh and the other registered at Deal, built at Aberdeen, in 1837, of 76 tons, and owned by Mr William Farndale, Whitby. From the Lloyd’s telegram it is impossible to say which vessel is the one that has been sunk or whether William Farndale was still the owner by then.

William Farndale died at Whitby on 3 March 1887, aged 62. His personal estate was valued at £269 10s. The purchasing value of £269 in 1887 was £36,000 in 2021.

His gravestone at Whitby Church reads, William Farndale, died 3 March 1887, aged 62, also Ann Farndale died 16 Oct 1865, aged 70 (his mother) and Ann Farndale, died 1888 aged 62 (his wife).

William’s wife, Ann Farndale died on 22 May 1888. She left a personal estate valued at £351 3s 6d. The purchasing value of £351 in 1888 was £47,000 in 2021.

John Christopher Farndale The Younger

John Christopher Farndale was born on 18 October 1830, the son of John Christopher & Ann Farndale of Whitby, painter and the brother of William Farndale. He was baptised on 10 November 1830 in Whitby.

After John the Elder had died in 1837, when John was aged only seven, the Census of 1841 for Whitby Cray listed his widow, Ann Farndale, aged 45; Thomas Farndale, aged 13; John Farndale, aged 10; and Mary Farndale, aged 8.

By the time he was fifteen years old, the younger John Christopher Farndale appeared to have got himself into some trouble, as an apprentice mariner. On 19 February 1845 at the Justice Room in Whitby, before Thomas Fishburn, and John Chapman, Esqrs, it was reported that on Saturday four sea apprentices, named Matthew Walker, John Christopher Farndale, Isaac Wilson, and Thomas Hill, had been charged with absenting themselves from the ship Great Britain, belonging to Mr Joseph Tindale, of Whitby. The charge was clearly proved by the master, and the lads failing to show any justifiable cause for their misconduct, were committed to Northallerton for one month’s hard labour. We hope this punishment will bring the young delinquents to a sense of their duty, and act as a warning to others. It is notorious that the owners of vessels in Whitby harbour, particularly the owner of the Great Britain, have suffered considerably by the incorrigible conduct of their apprentices; and Mr Tynedale is, in our opinion, worthy of praise for thus stepping forward to put a check on such proceedings.

Having clearly learnt his lesson, by January 1853, John Christopher Farndale was the captain of the collier brig, the John Stewart. On 12 January 1853 he passed Yarmouth Roads at Lowestoft in south westerly winds and fresh and cloudy weather, and on 25 December 1853, he sailed from Hartlepool for London.

From his new captaincy of the John Stuart (probably spelt the John Stewart), John Farndale was found to owe William Griffin, a seaman on that vessel, the sum of £2 9s. John Farndale, master of the John Stuart, of Whitby, was charged before J P Denton and RC Dixon Esquires, at Hartlepool Police Court, by William Griffin, seamen on board the same vessel, with owing him 2l 9s. Complainant had not signed articles when he was engaged, and the dispute was as to the amount now due to him. The bench ordered 14s to be paid to Griffin.

In February 1854 John Christopher Farndale was captain of the John Stewart again, arriving in Hamburg on 21 March 1854 from Hartlepool.

In 1856, John Christopher Farndale captained the Caspian of Whitby arriving in Nyhamn, a harbour in Sweden north of Malmo. On 27 November 1856 the brig Caspian, Farndale, of Whitby, returned from Nyhamn, after being away for 22 days, and was off Aldeburgh on the Suffolk coast. On 29 November 1856 she arrived in London from Nyhamn.

John Christopher married Christiana Ainslie of Wisbech on 3 July 1857. He had presumably met her on his voyages through the port of Wisbech.

John Christopher Farndale, Master Mariner of Whitby son of John Farndale, Master Mariner, married Christiana Ainslie aged 23, a spinster of Wisbech, daughter of William Ainslie, brewer at the Parish Church of St Peter, Wisbech on 3 July 1857. The witnesses were Samuel Leader and Martha Leader. A Watson was the curate.

John Farndale was listed in merchant seamen lists for 1835 to 1857. John Christopher, Whitby Register Ticket: 58.949. The merchant navy seamen were listed by central government during this period to monitor a potential reserve of sailors for the Royal Navy.

So he was a merchant seaman and was regularly trading in Wisbech.

There was trouble for John Christopher Farndale Junior, as captain of the Marmion. On 19 August 1857 the Marmion, Farndale, from Newcastle for Abo, put into Gothenburg on Friday with damage, having been struck by lightning.

Then two months later he lost his ship, the Marmion and its cargo off Osel.

Osel (now called Sarrremaa) is an island at the mouth of the Bay of Riga, off modern day Estonia. In 1719 Russia had won a naval victory against Sweden in the Great Northern War at the island. On 27 September 1857 on a voyage from Newcastle to Abo, with a cargo of coal, the Marmion was stranded on the coast of Osel, in the evening. The ship and cargo were lost, but its stores saved.

Christiana Farndale, the first wife of John Christopher Farndale Junior, mariner, died in Whitby on Tuesday 10 May 1859, aged 26.

So although Christiana was from Wisbech, they lived into Whitby until she died in 1859.

On 22 March 1860 John was captain of the Ada and approached Hamburg harbour. On 18 July 1860 John arrived in Wisbech as captain of the Ada from Narva. Narva is in modern day Estonia, so John Farndale seems to have been sailing regularly to the Baltic states and Russia delivering coal at this time.

John transported coals for Lotinga & Co. There was a Lotinga family in Newcastle at the time, who were part of the Jewish community. Lotinga & Co were shipping brokers based in Newcastle. On Tuesday 14 August 1860 John Farndale was Captain of the Ada on return from Cronstadt, with 109 hundredweight of coal carried for Lotinga & Co.

On 24 August 1860, John sailed up the Baltic, via Elsinore to St Petersburg in Russia, again captain of the Ada, having originated in Newcastle. He was at Elsinore on 25 August 1860.

On 1 September 1860 he arrived captain of the Ada at Cronstandt from Shields. On 18 September 1860 the Ada, Farndale arrived in Wyburg from Cronstadt. On 13 January 1861 John Christopher Farndale captained the Ada and arrived in Hartlepool from Dunkirk.

On 5 April 1861 he captained the Ada into South Shields from Hamburg.

The 1861 Census listed the crew on the Vessel called the Ada on the night of 7 April 1861. They included John Christopher Farndale, a widower, 30, Master of the ship; Richard Gibson, 26, mate; John Allison, 16, apprentice; and Frederick Cook, 17, apprentice.

On 6 July 1861 John captained the Ada and arrived with ‘deals’, which might be a typographical error for coals, in Wisbech from Narva.

On 10 August 1861 John captained the Ada and travelled from South Shields to Petersburg.

On 21 December 1861, John Christopher Farndale, master mariner, married his second wife, Jane Barnett Telford. Jane was born in 1844 and was the daughter of John Henry Telford, at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.

They seem to have lived in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire after 1861.

On 31 January 1862 John Christopher Farndale and the Ada were listed amongst the colliers that arrived on 31 January at Gravesend. On 4 March 1862 he captained the Ada and left West Hartlepool for Hamburg. On 1 April 1862 he was captain of the Ada of Whitby when she arrived in Hamburg. On 19 April 1862 John captained the Ada and arrived at Newcastle from Cronstadt. On 14 May 1862 John captained the Ada from Newcastle to Cronstadt. On 1 June 1862 John captained the Ada and arrived at Cronsdtadt. On 20 July 1862 John captained the Ada and arrived at Elsinore having travelled from Riga bound for Dover.

On Friday 9 August 1862 proceedings of the Dover Police Court before Mayor E F Astley Esq and L Stride Esq concerned a charge of Assault on the High Seas.

Benjaim Burvill, a mariner, was charged on a summons with having, on the 9th inst, assaulted Edward Sneller, another seafaring man, on board a British Ship called the Ada, on the high seas near the South Foreland. Mr Fox appeared as attorney for the defendant, and at his request the witnesses in the case were ordered out of Court.

Edward Sneller stated that he lived at East cliff and was a boatman. On Saturday evening last, about half past six or seven o’clock, he boarded the brig Ada off South Foreland. He asked the captain if he were bound for Dover with a cargo for Mr Fennis. The captain answered ‘No’ and asked if witness were a ‘branch pilot’. Witness said he was not, whereupon Burvill stepped forward and assured the captain that he was a branch pilot. On hearing this, he said to the captain, “He is no more a branch pilot than I am,” when Burvill instantly raised his fist and gave witness a blow, which he received at the back of the left ear, and which sent him reeling. He told Burvill he should summon him to court for striking him on board a ship on the high seas, and that he should subpoena the captain as a witness.

Cross examined, Did not have a few words with Burvill – I never spoke to him. I got to the vessel first, but the captain gave charge of the vessel to noone until Burvill declared that he was a branch pilot, and ordered the jack to be hauled down. Burvill took charge of the ship after I left it. Mr Fox: What made you leave the ship? Witness: Is that a fair question to ask, gentlemen? – Mr Fox: Yes, you must answer it please – Witness: I left the ship because I was not a branch pilot – Mr Fox: Then I ask you, if you left the ship knowing you were not a branch pilot, what made you go on board the vessel? – Witness: Why, there is a large class of men like myself who do go aboard ships, and if a captain wants a man to assist him into the harbour he is at liberty to have his services. Mr Fox: Then it was not necessary for you to be a branch pilot to take the vessel into harbour? Witness: No – Mr Fox: When you found defendant in charge of the ship you thought it your business to tell the captain that he was not a branch pilot? – Witness: Defendant was not in charge of the ship; he assumed the authority. When this blow was struck he was leaning against the rail doing nothing. There was a jack flying when I saw the vessel. It was taken down after Burvill ordered the captain to haul it down. To the Court: The jack was flying at the fore-top-gallant-mast head. Mr Fox: I suppose you wanted to be employed instead of Burvill; that was the fact of the matter. – Witness: The fact of it is, that I wanted to earn an honest livelihood like any other man. – Mr Fox: Will you swear that he struck you? Is it not the truth that he gave you a little bit of a push? – Witness: He struck me sir. I felt it for three days afterwards, and was unable to eat any food on that side.

J C Farndale, the master of the ship Ada, said that on Thursday morning the complainant and defendant boarded his ship. He believed the former was first on deck. He asked him if he was for Dover. Witness made no reply, but walked to the lee side of the deck. Defendant then came alongside, and as he had more the look of a pilot, and came in a better class of boat (complainant’s havng much the appearance of a leisure boat) witness responded to his inquiry whether he was bound for Dover, by returning an affirmative answer. After that he asked Burvill if he were a branch pilot, and he told him ‘yes’, and as they were crossing to the starboard side of the deck he followed up the question with another, namely, if he could order the jack to be hauled down, which he also answered satisfactorily. Upon hearing that complainant said, “This man is no more a branch pilot than I am,” and then followed the assault. As a reason for his peculiarity in putting the questions he did, the witness explained that he had been warned that there was a parcel of hovellers, who palmed themselves off as branch pilots with a view to getting handsomely paid for taking vessels into port. Mr Fox (to the witness): When this conversation took place about the jack, and Burvill ordered it to be hauled down, you considered that he was engaged? Witness: I considered that he was a branch pilot, and that the other man was not. - Mr Fox: You considered he was in charge of the vessel? Yes after the jack was hauled down.

Mr Fox said he was perfectly satisfied from the evidence of Sneller and the captain that an assault had been committed. It appeared from the latter’s statement however, that he regularly engaged the defendant to pilot his vessel into port, who no doubt was very much annoyed at the attempt made by the complainant to take bread out of his mouth. They all knew that there was not too much for boatmen to do in this neighbourhood, and perhaps they were not quite so amiable one towards another as they might be. He hoped, therefore, under all the circumstances, that the magistrates would feel the justice of the case met by passing a lenient sentence.

The Bench adjudged defendant to pay a fine of 10s and costs.

On 22 November 1862 John Christopher Farndale captained the Ada and arrived at Elsinore from Wyburg bound for London.

On 3 December 1862 two vessels reported on the previous day to have been at anchor in Whitby Roads were still riding and had not had any communication with the shore, the sea being too heavy on the bar to venture out. However the ship originally reported yesterday as being the Ada, Farndall (sic) turned out to be the Wandererer, from Wyburg to Wisbech.

On 12 December 1862 John captained the Ada and entered inwards, with reference to the customs house, via Wyburg and the Surrey Canal. Their brokers were Northcote

John and Jane’s eldest daughter, Fanny Amelia Rose Farndale was born at Wisbech in 1863.

On 28 January 1863 John captained the Ada and arrived at Dieppe from Shields. On 5 May 1863 he captained the Ada and arrived at Elsinore from Stettin bound for London. On 11 September 1863 he captained the Highland Chief arriving at Elsinore from Newcastle bound for St Petersburg, Russia. On 4 October 1863 he captained the Highland Chief and left Shields headed for Wyburg. On 14 December 1863 he captained the Highland Chief and arrived at Sutton Bridge from Wyburg. On 26 April 1864 he captained the Highland Chief arriving at Elsinore from Dantzic bound for Wisbech. On 11 May 1864 he captained the Highland Chief arriving Wisbech from Danzig. She carried wood from Grimsby into Wisbech so perhaps she delivered coal to Danzig and called in at Grimsby on the return voyage to pick up wood to deliver to Wisbech.

On 2 June 1864 he captained the Highland Chief into Elsinore, travelling from Shields to St Petersburg. On 23 June 1864 he captained the Highland Chief as she arrived in Cronstadt from Shields. On 7 October 1864 he captained the Highland Chief into Cronstadt from Shields. On 7 December 1864 he captained the Highland Chief into Wisbech carrying wood from Wyburg. On 18 January 1865 he captained the Highland Chief as she arrived in Wisbech carrying coals from Sunderland. On 15 February 1865 he captained the Highland Chief as she arrived in Wisbech carrying coals from Sunderland.

John and Jane’s son Tom Christopher Farndale was born at Wisbech on 20 March 1865. There were no reports of him at sea at this time, so perhaps John was at home for the birth.

On 9 June 1865 John Christopher Farndale captained the Great Northern arriving at Middlesbrough from London. On 28 August 1865 he captained the Great Northern arriving at Tonning from Alloa. On 23 October 1865 he captained the Great Northern arriving at Middlesbrough from London. On 11 December 1865 he captained the Medusa from Hartlepool where he cleared inwards for Tonning and cleared out on 15 December 1865. Only four days later, on 19 December 1865 he captained the Great Northern arriving at Middlesbrough from London.

On 23 January 1866 he captained the Medusa from Portsmouth heading for Bordeaux. On 12 February 1866 he captained the Medusa from Bordeaux arriving in Bridlington Bay. On 3 March 1866 he captained the Medusa from Bordeaux to Penarth and later in March he sailed to London. On 15 March 1866 he captained the Medusa from London to Sunderland in fine weather and a light south westerly wind. On 25 June 1866 he captained the Medusa as she entered inwards with reference to the Customs House from Dantsic (sic), on the East Lane Tier, the ship’s broker being Young.

On 21 July 1866 the screw steamer, Medusa, Captain Farndale, was laden with coals and left Shields for Cronsdadt where she arrived ten minutes after another screw steamer, the Cambridgeshire. Both ships were the property of Richard Young esq MP, so had perhaps been part of a small fleet.

Screw Steamer

A screw steamer or screw steamship, abbreviated SS, was a steamship or steamboat powered by a steam engine, using one or more propellers, also known as screws, to propel it through the water. In the nineteenth century, this designation was normally used to contrast with the paddle steamer, a still earlier form of steamship that was largely, but not entirely, superseded by the screw steamer. These new vessels started to be used after Thomas Clyde applied Jon Ericsson’s screw propellor to steam vessels in the USA.

On 27 July 1866 John captained the Medusa as she entered inwards with reference to the Customs House from Constadt.

On 14 September 1866, it was reported that Mr Young had added a large screw steamer, The Norfolk to his fleet of Baltic traders, and it commenced its voyage, under Captain Farndale.

On 2 October 1866 John captained the Norfolk arriving from Dantzig (sic). On 5 November 1866 he captained the Norfolk when she arrived in Dantzig from Dublin. On 9 November 1866 he captained the Norfolk when she arrived in Elsinore from Dantzig.

On the evening of 26 October 1866, Mr Young’s screw steamer, Norfolk, sailed from Amsterdam to Dantzic, and had proceeded but a short distance on the passage when one of the sailors, named Allison Brown, of Sunderland, refused to go on deck, and on the steward, a very respectable man named Bridgman, going below and telling him he would be made to turn out, Brown stabbed him in a savage manner in the back, and Captain Farndale had to put back to Amsterdam, where Bridgman received every possible attention from the doctors, while Brown was attended by H M British Consul, who considerately sent him to the durace vile until the return of the steamer to Amsterdam, when the case will be gone into, and Brown receive the punishment he so richly deserves. durance vile is an old term for a long prison sentence.

On 17 December 1866 John captained the Norfolk as she entered inwards from Dantzig on the East Leg Tier.

Eva Jennie Farndale was born at Wisbech on 29 December 1866.

On 9 January 1867 John captained the Norfolk as she arrived in Elsinore from the North Sea heading for the Baltic. On 12 February 1867 he captained the Norfolk as she arrived in Cardiff from Cadiz. On 11 March 1867 he captained the Norfolk into Gravesend from Danzig. On 6 April 1867 he captained the Norfolk into Dantzig from Cardiff. On 21 May 1867 he captained the Norfolk as she entered inwards with reference to the customs house, Pillau, Church-hole, broker, Young. On 4 June 1867 he captained the Norfolk arrived into Elsinore headed for the Baltic. On 3 November 1867 he captained the Norfolk from South Shields arrived Constadt and was loading for London. On 1 January 1868 the Norfolk captained by John Farndale, was discharging its 725 ton cargo at Victoria Dock. On 17 January 1868 The Norfolk, Farndale from Shields to Barcelona, put into Portland Roads on Friday.

On 20 January 1868 The Norfolk, Farndale, arrived from Shields at Portland bound for Barcelona.

On 22 January 1868 John Christopher Farndale was lost at sea.

A report from Nantes on 5 February 1868 brought news from Roscoff that the master of the Aigion had arrived at that port, reporting that he had seen a large steamer founder on 22 January 1868, during a heavy gale, in the area of Ushant. Some papers, which are supposed to have belonged to the Norfolk, with John Farndale its Captain, on a voyage from Newcastle to Barcelona, had been picked up near Plouescat, and a lifebuoy, marked Norfolk, was been picked up at sea by some Roscoff boats.

Nothing had been heard of the vessel or her crew. The crew of the Poltarstjernan, of Hangesund, on a voyage from Abo to Hull, was also missing and the brig Jane and Margaret from Sunderland to London, laden with coal, struck onto Sizewell bank and then sank in deep water, her topsail being just visible. The crew got off in the vessel’s boat and landed at Thorp, having saved nothing but the clothes they had on.

By 15 February 1868, there were grave doubts for the safety of the screw steamer Norfolk and the loss of the fine steamship Norfolk, and all her crew, consisting of eighteen persons was confirmed at Wisbech on 19 February 1868.

She was laden with coals from the Tyne for Barcelona, and her crew who signed articles at the South Shields shipping office were:

Master: John Christopher Farndale, 56 years of age, belonging to Whitby, but residing at 14, New Parade, Wisbech. He had been seventeen years master and was much respected, and left a widow and three children.

Mate: William J Cousins, Portsmouth.

Second Mate: William H B Telford, Wisbech, 22. He had passed his examination on the 8 January, with great credit, and obtained the certificate at Sunderland only three days before he went on board. He was educated as Wisbech Grammar School and son of Mr J H Telford, of Wisbech. So he was John Christopher Farndale’s brother in law.

Third Officer and Lamp Trimmer: John Chambers, 38, had married Capt Farndale’s sister, Mary Farndale, and left her a widow with one child at Sunderland. This was his first voyage in the Norfolk and only a few months previously John Chambers had been wrecked, and was four days on board the wreck, off Yarmouth.

Carpenter: Henry Nisbet, Sunderland.

Steward: Watson Leek or Lake, Whitby, 25, was also a relative of Captain Farndale. His mother was living at Whitby, and she had already lost her husband and five sons at sea

Boatswain: George Fern, Bridgewater.

Lamp trimmer: John Chambers, Whitby.

Seamen: Samuel Gridgeman, 21, seaman, his parents reside in the Leverington Road, Wisbech. Samuel Matthews, Bristol. William Parry, Manchester. William Donnelly, 25, also boatswain, left a sister in Wisbech.

Engineer: George Moody, South Shields.

Assistant Engineer: David Harkness, South Shields.

Leading Fireman: George Laund, London.

Firemen: Thomas Previlage, Trieste. Charles Gordon, Manchester. William Rewscastle, South Shields. Robert Graves, London.

George Cox, 18, son of Capt John Cox, captain of the Robert Lowe and from Queen Street, Wisbech, an apprentice.

The Norfolk was the property of Richard Young, Esq, MP, and was insured.

The Laborough on a voyage from Sunderland to Genoa, had also been wrecked, off the Island of Sark, one of the Channel Islands, and Captain Billett and his crew were drowned. Captain Billet had been formerly in command of the Great Northern until that ship was lost. Captain Billett was a great fried of the late Captain Farndale, and was drowned during the same storm, and only a few miles from his friend.

The Will of John Christopher Farndale, late of Wisbech St Peters in the County of Cambridge, Master Mariner deceased who died on or about 23 February 1868 in the Bay of Biscay off Ushant in France was proved on 15 April 1868 at Principal Registry by the oath of Jane Burnett Farndale of Wisbech, widow and the sole Executrix. His effects were under £800.

John’s widow, Jane, later remarried a barrister in New York. On 23 November 1877 at the Church of the Incarnation, New York, United States, S B Ives, of Salem, Mass, barrister at law, married J C B Farndale, relict of Capt J C Farndale, of Whitby, and daughter of the late J H Telford Esq, Wisbech.

How do the two John Christopher Farndales and William Farndale relate to the modern family?

John Christopher Farndale and his sons were part of the branch of the family called the Whitby 4 Line. There are no Farndale descendants of this line.

However John Christopher Farndale the Elder was the grandson of William Farndale (1743 to 1777) and great great grandson of John Farndale (1680 to 1757), so was related to the wider family via the Kilton 1 Line.

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The webpages of John Christopher Farndale Senior and his sons William Farndale and John Chistopher Farndale Junior include research notes and a chronology of each mariner. This includes the detailed sources for all the facts on which this page relies.