William Farndale

30 March 1760 to 5 March 1846

Farmer of Kilton and a merchant of wood, rods, coals, salting bacon; a churchgoer

Return to the Contents Page

The Merchant Farmer

William Farndale was born into the Kilton 1 Line and baptised at Brotton on 30 March 1760, the son of John & Grace Farndale.

William Farndale married Mary Ferguson both of the Chapelry of Brotton at St. Margaret's Church, Brotton on 20 September 1789. The vicar was J Parrington, Minister. The marriage certificate was signed by William and Mary made her mark in the presence of John Farndale and William Webster. William was 29. Brotton.

William and Mary had a family of eight, all born in the Parish of Brotton and probably in Kilton. George Farndale was born 1 December 1789; John Farndale, the future author, on 15 August 1791, twins William Farndale and Matthew Farndale (later to emigrate to Australia),on 3 November 1793; Mary Farndale on 9 October 1796; Martin Farndale on 11 August 1798; Anna Farndale on 17 May1801; and Elizabeth Farndale on 6 May 1804.

His son John Farndale wrote in 1870 And now we come to our grandfather’s and father and mother, William and Mary Farndale, and their seven children’s birth place; farmers and merchants of wood, rods, coals, salting bacon; church people. And those premises are held by our youngest brother, held from generation to generation this two hundred years. Springing from this roof may be said to be forty Farndales of this last generation.

Although John lost count of his siblings, this might be explained because William had died in 1831, Mary in 1817 aged only 21, and Elizabeth in 1822 aged only 18.

William Farndale pulled down the old Kilton Lodge, connected with the, by then, ruined Kilton Castle, to build the new family home. John Farndale, his son wrote connected with the castle is Kilton Lodge which my father pulled down to build a new house.

Since the old Lodge was at Buck Rush Farm, south of Kilton village, this suggests that William set up his home there, whereas his father Johnny Farndale had farmed around Howe Hill north of Kilton.

The original farmstead of Stank House had been built of the stone of Kilton Castle. In the east wall of the outbuildings is a large carved stone which would appear to have once born a coat of arms, now completely obliterated.

William Farndale first appeared in the Kilton Overseer’s Accounts in 1798, 1799 and 1800 when disbursements were made by Ralph Mitchell and William Farndale for the relief of the poor of Kilton. He seems to have been administering the poor law relief on behalf of the parish.

An overseer of the poor was an official who administered poor relief such as money, food, and clothing in England. The position was created by the Act for the Relief of the Poor 1597. Overseers of the poor were often reluctant appointees who were unpaid, working under the supervision of a justice of the peace. The law required two overseers to be elected every Easter, and churchwardens or landowners were often selected. Overseers of the poor were replaced in the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834, and replaced with boards of guardians, although overseers remained in some places as a method of collecting the poor rate.

Before the new Victorian coast town of Saltburn by the Sea was built, Old Saltburn comprised a small fishing community around the mound known as Cat Nab. William Farndale was a merchant, as well as a farmer, and used to trade corf rods, which would be loaded onto a sloop at Old Saltburn.

His son John Farndale wrote At Cat Nab…..What activity there was then at this place, when a vessel lay on the beach to be loaded with rods, which were bought to the seaside in wagons accompanied by eight or ten men under the suprintendence of my father, William Farndale, well known to John Wharton Esq who by the sale of these rods received many hundreds of pounds.

Then again I see old Cat Nab, where I have seen piled up thousands of bundles of rods for the northern pits. I can imagine I see old William Farndale and his host of men and wagons loading with rods the sloop, ‘The Two Brothers’ and after dining together at David Latter’s little public house when perhaps another vessel appeared for the next tide following and those chosen handymen failed not to be in time and on the spot when all must be done before old Neptune came creeping round, but oft time Billy and Farmer have been belly deep, yet the work must be done. This was in Old Saltburn’s prosperity, when gin could be got for a penny a glass, real Hollands. In former days there were seen oft times near Old Saltburn, two or three luggers at a time laden with contraband goods and the song of the crews used to be;

Then passing down Cattersty Creak (immediately west of Skinningrove), where many a cargo of smuggled goods have been delivered here, is a very choice place. The last I remember in this place is that Tom Webster strangled himself by carrying gin tubs round is neck. Once more I stand on Skinningrove duffy sands, where I have seen it crowded with wood and corf rods for the North by the said Wm and John Farndale. But what crowds of horses, men, and waggons, when the gin ship appeared in view. Our friends had no dealings with those Samaritan gin runners, yet they had great dealings at Skinningrove seaport, both in export and import, as well as supplying the hall of F Easterby Esq., with corn, wheat, oats, beans, butter, cheese, hams, potatoes &c, &c, and once, a year at Christmas – they balanced accounts, over a bottle of Hollands gin, and after eulogising each other, the squire would rise and say, “Johnny, when you are gone, there will never be such another Johnny Farndale. Here lived the King’s officer, in the high season of gin running, but I knew of few captures; he wished to live and die in peace, and the revenue received little from his services. Near Skinnngrove are the Lofthouse iron mines, Messrs Pearse, lessees. Above is the grand iron bridge standing on twelve massive pillars, 178 feet high, which spans the cavern from the Kilton Estate to Liverton Estate, the first and grandest in all England. Lofthouse, and their long famed alum works, which has been the support of Lofthouse for ages gone, but now discontinued. How well I remember my school days when we faced all weather through Kilton Woods, and how I respected my masters – the Rev Wm Barrick, Mr Wm King, the great navigator, and Captain Napper, steward to the works. The popular Midsummer Lofthouse fair was the only fair we children were allowed to attend.

He also wrote Here stands the conic hill, Cat Nab, where formerly many ship loads of contraband goods, of every description, were landed. Round this hill my father used annually to bring thousands of corf rods to ship for the coal pits in the north, where they are not now used. What activity there was then at this place, when a vessel lay on the beach to be loaded with rods, which were brought to the seaside in waggons accompanied by eight or ten men, under the superintendence of my father, William Farndale, well known to John Wharton Esq., who by the sale of these rods received many hundreds of pounds.

John Farndale also recalled There was another servant of my father’s, named Ralph Page, equally as singular as Willy Swales. As Ralph was once busily ploughing, a French Privateer, threatening land at Skinningrove, fired into the town. Those in the district who had guns assembled on the cliffs and fired a volley in return. To intimidate the enemy the women mustered strong and attired in red cloaks and shouldering sticks, to represent a body of soldiers, they stood far away in the distance. Ralph took little notice of the privateer, not bothering his head either with the French or the English, only they let him be, when a young woman passing in haste, cried out “Ralph, French is landing.”. Ralph, turning round, with the greatest coolness replied, “Then run yam, and sup all’t cream,” and unconcerned he ploughed away as though nothing was the matter. The next day the king’s cutter arrived, and the privateer and her had an engagement, when the Frenchmen were beaten and the vessel taken, to the great joy of the inhabitants of the surrounding district.

In 1802 William Farndale again appeared in the Kilton Overseer’s Accounts.

Year	Kilton Overseer’s Accounts
1802	William paid £8 0s 8d. He was paid 3s 6d for jornals.
1803	Appeared along with Matthew Young, he signed them.
1804	William signed the Kilton Overseer’s Accounts and paid £11 5s 0d. Along with John Farndale, he donated 6s 3d and signed the account.
1805	He paid £15 0s 0d and along with John Farndale, donated 9s 4½d and signed the account.
1806	He eHepaid £12 10s 0d and along with John Farndale, donated 9s 4½ d and signed the account.
1807	He paid £11 5s 0d and along with John Farndale, donated 12s 6d and signed the account.
1808	He paid £11 5s 0d and along with John Farndale, donated 9s 4½d and signed the account.
1809	He paid £11 5s 0d and along with John Farndale, donated 9s 4½d and signed the account

The Return dated 5 October 1801 under the National Defence Act to list all those between the ages of 15 and 60 capable of active service both William Farndale who would be aged 43 and his elder brother John Farndale who would be 53, were listed.

In a Skelton Estate Terrier dated 1804 William Farndale is shown as a tenant of 110 acres. He was shown paying £125 rent.

The Skelton and Kilton Terrier in 1809 provided a detailed record of William’s tenanted farm. A ‘terrier’ is a record of field names, with reference number, land use, acreage, value per acre and rent.

So William’s tenancy at Kilton comprised:

William Farndale Tenant

No	Enclosure Name	State in 1809	Quantity in a, r and p
180	Homestead &c 0.0.12
181	Homestead &c 0.0.16
182	Garth 1.1.30	Pad	1, 2, 18	yn	1 4 2
183	Harry Duck Stank	Pad	8, 3, 32	yh	8 1 1
162	Stank Head	Oats Beans	3, 3, 08	uu	6 5 4
163	Ward Fence	Oats	8, 2, 16	uu	14 3 9
176	Carter Fence	Wheat	4, -, -	uo	6 8 “
175	Fence	Llea? Mea?	6, -, 16	um	9 3 “
190	High Pasture 8, 3, 16
189	Pond Close 1.3.30	Wheat	10, 3, 06	uo	17 5 2
188	Near Pasture	Llea? Mea?	4, 1, 12	uo	6 10 4
187	House Stank	Pasture	4, 2, “	yt	3 16 6
192	Stank Head	Pasture	3, 2, 08	oa	4 5, 2
191	Stank Head Close	Fall	6, 1, 24	um	9 12 “
219	Kilton Hill	Wheat	8, “, “	um	12 “ “
93	Long Moor	Pasture	4, 2, 22	ou	5 6 7
218	Ditto	Fallow	7, “, “	um	10 10 “
216	Beck Close	Llea? Mea?	5, “, 12	un	8 17 7
217	Square Close	Tweat??	11, “, 16	oo	16 1 10
215	Long Pasture	Oats	12, 2, 08	ua	21 6 8

The Terrier also recorded the Kilton Farms of other tenants including Robert Folley, Robert Barker, William Stephenson, Ralph Mitchell, John Farndale, William Wood, William Bennison.

William’s son, John Farndale, wrote in about 1870, I see in the book recorded and registered in olden time, the names of farmers who once occupied this great farm [at Kilton] – R and W Jolly, M Young, R Mitchell; W Wood, J Harland, T Toas, J Readman, J Farndale, S Farndale, J and W Farndale all these tenants once occupied this great farm; now blended into one. I remember what a muster at the Kilton rent days, twice a year, when dinner was provided for a quarter of a hundred tenants, Brotton, Moorsholm, Stanghoe, those paid their rents at Kilton; and were indeed belonging to the Kilton Court, kept here also, and the old matron proudly provided a rich plum pudding and roast beef; and the steward also a jolly punch bowl, for it was a pleasure to him to take the rents at Kilton, the day before Skelton rent day.

Year	Kilton Overseer’s Accounts	Kilton Churchwarden’s Accounts
1810	Made out in William Farndale’s name with William Wood, and he paid £11 8s ½ d and signed the account.
1811	Showed William Farndale paid £14 1s 3d and the accounts were again made out in his name with William Wood.	William paid 19s 6¼ d
April 1812	He paid 4s 6d and again 2s 6d for going to Guisborough.	He paid 15s 7½ d
1813	He paid £11 14s 4 ½ d	He paid 3s 11d
1814	He paid £11 8s ¼ d
1815	He paid £14 1s 3d and based on the sum of £187 10s 0d he was paid 5s for expenses.	He paid 2s 4d
1816	He paid £14 1s 3d and based on the sum of £187 10s 0d he signed the accounts and was paid 5s for expenses.	He paid 2s 4d
1817	He paid £17 3s 9d based on the sum of £187 10s 0d, and he signed the accounts
1818	He paid £14 1s 3d based on the sum of £187 10s 0d, and he signed the accounts
1819	He paid £14 1s 3d based on the sum of £187 10s 0d and he signed the accounts	He paid 15s 7½ d
1820	The accounts were again made out in his name with Ralph Robson. William paid £7 9s ¾ d
1821	William Farndale paid £14 1s 0d based on the sum of £187 10s 0d. In October he was paid 2s 6d for straw for William Porritt’s house.
1822	He signed the accounts and paid £7 9s ¾ d
1823		He paid £1 3s 5 ½ d
1824	He was paid 10s 6d for shirts and he signed the accounts.
1825	William Farndale paid £15 7s ½ d and signed the account

He appeared to act as a trustee in the bankruptcy of William Smith in 1817. On 8 February 1817, a Notice to Creditors appeared regarding William Smith who had by indenture, bearing the date to the 13th day of January just, assigned all his estates and effects unto William Farndale, of Brotton, in the county of York, farmer, and Matthew Royal, of * who, in the said county of Durham, gentlemen, in trust, the equal benefit of such of the creditors of the said William Smith, shall execute the said assignment within four months from the date here of. Notice is hereby given, that the assignment is lodged at the office of Mr. Duncan, solicitor, for the perusal and signature of such creditors if any choose to accept of the provision thereby made, for the repayment of their respective debts; And such creditors as shall neglect or refuse to execute the set assignment within the period limited for that purpose, will be excluded all benefit arising therefrom. All persons indebted to the said William Smith are requested immediately to pay their respective debts to Mr. Duncan, who is authorised by the trustees to receive the funds, otherwise actions will be commenced for the recovery of such. Durham, January 30, 1817.

In the Skelton Parish Church Warden’s accounts in 1818 there was an assessment for bread and wine expenses at the rate of 10d per house and 6d per oxgang. William Farndale paid 3s based on 3 oxgangs. An Oxgang varied, but was typically around 15 acres. While the maths doesn’t quite add up (there are 12d to a shilling), perhaps William’s assessment was based on his house as well as his land.

In the Skelton Parish Church Warden’s accounts for 1819 the cost of plastering the north side of parish Church was levied at the rate 1 ½ d per £1. William Farndale paid 9s 3d based on his 3 oxgangs.

In a somewhat cryptic Skelton Estate Account for the half Year, ending Michaelmas 1820 the tithes levy for Brotton was recorded. John Farndale paid £2 7s 0d for one year, with arrears due on Ladyday 1820 of £19, half Year due Michaelmas 1820 £59 10s, with £65 10s received. William Farndale paid £225 0s 0d for half a year. With half yearly due Michaelmas 1820 of £165 0s 0d also paid.

In the Skelton Parish Church Warden’s accounts for 1820 assessments for bread and wine were made at the rate of 15d per house and 6d per oxgang. William Farndale, with 3 oxgangs paid 2s 9d.

In the estate accounts for 2 April 1821, by cash to John Wharton Esq, part of John Farndale’s arrears of £5 0s 0d were paid.

In the Skelton Parish Church Warden’s accounts for 1821 assessments for bread and wine were at a rate of 15d per house and 6d per oxgang, and William Farndale, with 3 oxgangs paid 2s 9d.

In the Skelton Parish Church Warden’s accounts for 1822 rates increased to 18d per house and 8d per oxgang and William Farndale, with his 3 oxgangs paid 4s 6d.

In the Skelton Parish Church Warden’s accounts for 1823 rates decreased to 12d per house and 6d per oxgang and William Farndale, now with 4 oxgangs, paid 3s.

In the Skelton Parish Church Warden’s accounts for 1824 rates were 13d per house and 8d per oxgang. William Farndale, with 4 oxgangs paid 3s 9d.

There are no further payments by William in the Skelton Parish Church Warden’s accounts after 1824, but John Farndale, his son, by then at Skelton Barnes Farm, began payments.

Year	Kilton Constable’s Accounts	Kilton Churchwarden’s Accounts
1827	He paid £3 2s 6d and he signed the account.
1828	He paid £4 13s 9d
1829	He paid £3 10s 3 ¾ d	He paid 7s 9 ¾ d
1830	He paid £3 2s 6d	He paid 7s 9 ¾ d
1831	He paid £3 2s 6d	He paid 15/7 1/2d. This is his last entry in the Churchwarden’s Accounts.
1832	He paid £3 18s 1 1/2d. This is his last entry in the Kilton Constables Accounts

William was recorded as a farmer at Brotton in his daughter Anna’s marriage certificate on 24 August 1841.

The Brotton Census Returns in 1841 show he was living at Kilton. William Farndale, 80, was a farmer born in county who lived with his wife Mary Farndale, 80, also born in county; Anna Farndale, 35, born in county; Robert Farndale, 11, born in county and the son of William’s eldest son George Farndale.

In 1847 Samuel Okey paid a bill for collecting iron stone from below the cliffs at Saltburn and for gathering and leading stone and for horse hire to William Farndale. For four days at a rate of 7s, he paid £1 8s 0d and for 1 day at 5s, he paid 5s.

The death of William and Mary Farndale

William’s wife, Mary Farndale of Craggs was buried in Brotton, aged 84, on 1 March 1843.

John Farndale, William’s son wrote in his personal Memoirs written in 1876, Next was our dear mother (Mary Farndale, nee Ferguson). She died in the Lord happy. Some days before she died she had vision, ‘caught up in rapture at the Gates of the new Jerusalem. At the last door she was to go home and await her call.’ She died happy in her 83rd year. Then our dear father (William Farndale) in his 84th year, also a praying man all his life long. He also died in the faith.”

Mary, died “happy after a vision”

It appears that old William went to live with his daughter Anna at Seamer for it was here that he died on 5 March 1846 aged 86, a farmer who died of old age in the presence of his son in law, William Phillips.

William Farndale aged 86, farmer, died of Infirmities of old age, on 5 March 1846.

William Philips (his son in law, married to his daughter Anna Farndale) was present at the death. William Farndale was buried at St Peter, Brotton, aged 86, on 9 March 1846. His gravestone at Brotton Churchyard reads: Erected to the memory of William Farndale who died March 5^th 1846 years aged 86. Also Mary Farndale his wife who died March 25th 1843 aged 82 years.

The Will of William Farndale read:

This is the Last Will and Testament of me William Farndale, late of Brotton in the County of York but now of Seamer in the said County, Yeoman, made this first day of January One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty Six. I direct my just debts and my funeral and testamentary expenses to be paid by my executor and herinafter named out of any part or parts of my personal estate.

I give and bequeath my silver watch unto my Grandson Robert Farndale.

I give and bequeath unto my son Matthew Farndale the sum of twenty pounds Upon Trust to layout and expend the same in clothing to and for the use of my said Grandson Robert Farndale during his apprenticeship at such times and in such manner as my said son the said Matthew Farndale shall think proper and expedient.

And I give and bequeath unto my sons John Farndale, the said Matthew Farndale and Martin Farndale, the sum of One Hundred pounds upon trust to apply the same, or any interest which may arise therefrom in case my said three sons should place out or invest the said sum of One Hundred pounds at interest in providing Board Lodging Clothing or Medical attendance to and for my son George Farndale at such times and in such manner as my said three children shall think proper, provided always, and I declare and direct that in case my said three sons, the said John Farndale, Matthew Farndale and Martin Farndale shall think it expedient to lay out or expend the said sum of One Hundred pounds in any other manner than is hereinbefore mentioned, in favour of my said son George Farndale. I hereby authorise and empower them so to do, it being my Will and intention that my said three sons shall have the complete control, management and expenditure of the said principal sum of One Hundred pounds and interest if any. And I declare and direct that in case the said principal sum of One Hundred pounds and interest, or any part or parts thereof shall not be expended by my said three sons at the time of the decease of my said son George Farndale, then, and in that case, I give and bequeath the same to the children of my said son George Farndale to be divided equally between and amongst them.

I give and bequeath all my ready money and money upon note and other securities and all other my personal estate and effects of whatever nature or kind so ever (except my silver watch which is hereinbefore bequeathed to my Grandson Robert Farndale, unto my said son the said Matthew Farndale, his executors, administrators and assigns upon trust to convert the same into money and after paying thereout my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses and the said sums of twenty pounds and One Hundred pounds hereinbefore by me bequeathed upon trust to pay unto my daughter Anna Philips the legacy or sum of Two Hundred and Fifty pounds at the expiration of twelve calendar months next after my decease, with interest up to the payment thereof after the rate of three pounds per cent per annum.

And as to the ultimate residue or surplus of the money to arise and be produced from my said personal estate and all my effects, I give and bequeath the same to my said sons John Farndale, Matthew Farndale and Martin Farndale and my said daughter Anna Philips equally to be divided between and amongst them, their respective Executors, Administrators and Assigns.

I appoint my said son the said Matthew Farndale Sole Executor of this my Will and I give and devise to the said Matthew Farndale his heirs and assigns all such real estates as are now or shall ever be vested in me by way of mortgage, in order to enable him and them with the greater ease and convenience to recover and get in the money secured thereby for the purposes of this my Will. And I give to the said Matthew Farndale his heirs and assigns all such estates as are now vested in me upon any trust or trusts, to hold the same to the said Matthew Farndale his heirs and assigns upon the trusts affecting the same. And I declare and direct that my said trustees and Executor, their respective heirs and executors and administrators shall not be charged or chargeable with or for any sum or sums of money other than what they shall respectively actually receive by virtue of the trusts in them hereby reposed and notwithstanding they or any of them shall join in any receipt or receipts for the sake of conformity and that one of them shall not be accountable for the others or other of them or for the acts, receipts , neglects or defaults of the other of them and by no means for involuntary losses they respectively shall and may retain and be allowed out of the trust monies and premises, all reasonable costs and charges for their journies, attendances and trouble in the execution of the trusts hereby in them vested or in any way in relation thereto. And I hereby revoke all former Wills, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the day and year first herein written.

Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by the said Testator, William Farndale as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses.

Signed William Farndale.

William Kirton. Elizabeth Wilkinson.

Probate Register in March 1847 described William Farndale as formerly of Brotton but late of Seamer in Cleveland (northwest of Stokesley) with a probate value of £450.

How does William Farndale relate to the modern family?

William and Mary Farndale are the website author’s great x4 grandparents. They were central figures in the extended family at Kilton in the late eighteenth century.

Those who trace their ancestry through the Kilton 1 Line are likely to be closely related to William and Mary Farndale, and many well be directly descended from them.

Return to the Contents Page

or

Go Straight to Act 15 – the Farndales of Kilton

The webpage of William Farndale includes research notes, a chronology and reference to sources.