Martin Farndale and Catherine Lindsay of Tidkinhow

The story of Martin Farndale and Catherine (nee Lindsay) Farndale, the parents of a remarkable family of twelve born on a moorland farm, who spread across Britain and North America

Return to the Contents Page

Martin Farndale, was born at Fogga Farm near Skelton on 19 September 1845, the son of Martin and Elizabeth Farndale, a farmer of Fogga. He was baptised on 20 October 1845. Martin had three brothers, William who was born in 1842, but died aged 11 on 9 June 1854; John who was born in 1848; and Matthew who was born in 1850. His father, Martin, was working on the farm which belonged to James Taylor, his father-in-law. His mother, Elizabeth (nee Taylor) seems to have been James' only child.

At the time of the 1851 census the young Martin Farndale, then aged 5, was living in the house of his grandfather, James Taylor of Fogga. Old James was aged 74, a widower, born in Barnby, a farmer of 70 acres. Also living there were Martin’s mother, Elizabeth Farndale, 40, who had been born at Fylingdales; his father Martin Farndale, 33; and William Farndale, aged 8, born in Skelton.

Martin's eldest brother William died at Skelton, aged 11, of inflammation of the chest on 29 January 1854. Martin was aged 9 at this time. He was probably going to school at Skelton.

The Census of 1861 for 61 Galey Hill, Hutton Lowcross listed Martin and Elizabeth Farndale; John Farndale, aged 12; scholar; and Matthew Farndale, aged 10; scholar. Martin Farndale Junior, who would then have been aged 16, was not listed in the census so must have been away for some reason. His father Martin was by then working as a farm labourer.

Martin’s father died at Guisborough on 12 July 1862 of empyema and at this time Martin was 17. There is a family story that his father had been kicked by a horse.

For the next 14 years Martin grew up in the Skelton and Kilton and Brotton area. He probably went on working for his maternal grandfather for some time, taking on some responsibility for looking after his two younger brothers and his mother.

By the Census of 1871 for Brough House, Brotton, Martin Farndale, then 25 was living in the household of John Rigg, 47; and Martin was working as an agricultural labourer.

By 1873, Martin Farndale was an in door farm servant but also working in the mines. In July 1873 there was an arbitration judgement relating to a dispute between the Cleveland mine owners and the miners. We are at length in a position to announce the nature of Mr Rupert Kettle's award in the dispute between the mine owners and the miners of Cleveland, one which has been looked forward to with eager interest by all classes of the community. As a prelude to setting forth the text of this important award, all we need to do is very briefly to recapitulate some of the leading features of the dispute referred to. In March last an application was made by the miners of Cleveland for an advance of 2d per ton upon their output of ironstone, being equal to about 12% upon the rates then current; a demand being, at the same time, also made by other classes of work when employed at the mines, for an increase of 10% in their wages. The masters replied to the men was that, looking at the advances already given, and the wages earned, as well as the ability of the men to earn more, they could not accede to the demand. At this, the Cleveland owners formed themselves into an Association, upon similar a similar basis to what had in 1872 being done by the collier owners of the county of Durham.

After much negotiation and I'm sorry to say, a stoppage of production for a considerable time in this great mining district, it was agreed, at a meeting of representatives of miners and mine owners, held on the 28th of may, as follows: “That it be left to an Arbitrator to determine whether the wages of the Cleveland miners should be advanced or reduced, and to what extent, measured by the standard of wages now prevailing in such industries in the north of England as the Arbitrator may deem it reasonable to consider in making his award.” The contending parties requested me to undertake the duties of Arbitrator; And all preliminary arrangements having been made, and the case on both sides prepared, an Arbitration meeting was commenced at Saltburn on the 23rd of June. Witnesses were examined by each party, and much valuable information was given on both sides by means of extracts from account books, and by carefully prepared statistical tables, upon every subject bearing upon the matter in dispute. At the close of our settings, I was prepared to give my award; but as trade arbitration law is new to the Cleveland.

There was also much uncertainty of opinion as to the time which elapses before an ordinary labourer becomes a thoroughly practical miner. Upon the main point, however, the workmen's witnesses confirmed, so far as individual cases can be said to confirm the results of statistics taken over a wide range, the case made out by the employers. Martin Farndale, an indoor farm servant seven months ago, was now earning 7s 10d a shift. Richard Vayro, a farm labourer, after nine months working in the mines, was earning 8s 1d a shift. These were said to be exceptional, because they worked a “Pick Place”.

A letter followed. Sir, will you kindly allow me space in your paper to say a few words in my defence, in connection with the late arbitration at Saltburn, as I understand Mr Shepherd stated at a public meeting at Brotton that if the miners did not get the 2d per tonne it would be on account of the evidence given by Robert Campbell. It seems that the part objected to was that I was paying my mate 6s per day, the average wage in Cleveland being 7s, therefore leaving 8s for me. He contended that this injured our cause. Now, if the Cleveland miners will read and think for themselves, they will see that truth did not injure our cause. Mr Shepherd asserted that our average wage was 5s 11d per day; and the first two witnesses he called on our side, Mr Farndale and Richard Nayro, those men but a few months out of a farmyard, the one received 7s 10d per day, and the other 8s 1d, so that the owners could not have called two better witnesses on their part. Some say I should not have gone there; neither I should, but Mr Shepherd sent a messenger to Eston on the Monday evening for the witnesses, as he said that Mr Lee had asserted that the ironstone miner could work with his vest on, while the collier worked in a state of nudity, and the steam rising out of his back was greater than the heaviest explosion of powder in the mine.

In December 1874, Martin Farndale took a tenancy on a small holding. On 1 December 1874 there was an Assignment of the Lease from George Coates of Lackenby, a yeoman and John Harrison the younger of Darlington in Durham, to Martin Farndale of Kilton, of a parcel of land 135 square yards and the four stone houses built on it as marked on the map for the remainder of the term of 99 years.

Martin was clearly continuing to work as a miner as by 1877 Martin was described as a miner of Brotton on his marriage certificate.

Martin Farndale married Catherine Jane Lindsay, daughter of Andrew Lindsay, a shoemaker of Darlington, at St Cuthbert's Church, Darlington on 7 July 1877. He was aged 31 and she was aged 28. The ceremony was witnessed by James Mattison and Polly Thompson and the service was conducted by the Reverend T E Hodgson, the vicar.

Catherine Lindsay was born at Alnwick, Northumberland on 28 July 1854. Her father had previously been a shoemaker living in Queen's Head Yard, Alnwick. She came from the Scottish Lindsay family.

Catherine Lindsay on 29 October 1875, shortly before her marriage Martin, aged 32, about the time of his marriage

It appears that the newly wedded couple then moved to a cottage at Kilton Thorpe.

Martin and Catherine Farndale had a large family of twelve. John Farndale was born at Kilton Thorpe on 22 December 1877 and baptised on 17 February 1878, Martin was still a miner then, presumably working in the nearby Kilton mines. Elizabeth Lindsay Farndale (always known as Lynn) was born at Kilton Thorpe on 25 January 1880 and baptised at Brotton on 25 January 1850. Martin and Catherine were still living at Kilton Thorpe, but Martin Farndale was now described as a farmer.

The 1881 Census for 2 Kilton Thorpe listed Martin Farndale, 34, an ironstone miner; John Farndale, 3; and Elizabeth Farndale, 1.

Martin Farndale was born at Kilton Thorpe on 8 June 1881 and baptised at Brotton on 31 July 1881 and Martin was then described as a farmer.

Sometime in the next two years Martin moved to Tranmire Farm near Whitby. There is a family story that Martin asked his brother Matthew to go to make a bid for Craggs Hall Farm near Brotton. The story goes that Matthew returned saying that he'd taken the farm for himself. True or not that is where Matthew went and Martin went to Tranmire, a farm some ten miles along the road to Whitby. It is a moor farm near Ugthorpe on Roxby Moor. Martin’s other brother John spent his life working on the railway at Loftus.

George Farndale was born at Tranmire on 9 January 1882.

Tranmire Farm, near Ugthorpe

Catherine Jane Farndale was also born at Tranmire, on 16 June 1884.

The eldest son John Farndale recalled driving sheep from Tranmire to Tidkinhow when seven years old. By the time James was born on 22 December 1885, the family had moved to Tidkinhow farm on Stranghow Moor near Guisborough, an improvement on Tranmire. The young family were brought up at Tidkinhow and the other seven children were born there.

James Farndale was born at Tidkinhow Farm, 22 December 1885. William Farndale was born at Tidkinhow Farm, September 1887, but died only two years later on 19 July 1889. Mary Francis Farndale was born at Tidkinhow Farm, 22 January 1889. William Farndale was born at Tidkinhow Farm, 29 January 1892. Grace Alice Farndale was born at Tidkinhow Farm, on 21 April 1893. She was named after her mother's sister and her mother's mother, Alice Lindsay. Dorothy Annie Farndale was born at Tidkinhow Farm in June 1895. Alfred Farndale was born at Tidkinhow Farm on 5 July 1897.

By now Martin was 52 and his wife, Catherine still only 43. They continued to work the farm at Tidkinhow and the eldest sons and daughters were now starting to work helping to look after the youngest who were going to school at Boosbeck.

The story of the Farndales of Tidkinhow, and of Martin’s life between 1885 and 1928, is told in Act 25.

Martin died on 17 January 1928, aged 82, of pneumonia. Martin is buried beside Catherine, who died in 1911, at Boosbeck Parish Church where there is an inscription which reads Catherine Jane Farndale, Died 14 July 1911 aged 56 years, also Martin, Beloved Husband of the above, Died 17 January 1928 aged 82 years of Tidkinhow Farm.

Farndale; At Tidkinhow Farm, Boosbeck, on 17th January 1928, Martin Farndale died in his 83rd year. To be interred at Boosbeck on Friday 21 cortege leaving Residence at 1.30 pm. Friends kindly invited.

In April 1929 notice was given that all creditors and other persons having any debts, claims or demands against the estate of Martin Farndale, later Tidkinhow Farm, Boosbeck, in the county of York, farmer, deceased, who died on the 17th day of January, 1928, and whose will was proved in the Principal Registry of the Probate Division of his Majesty's High Court of Justice on the second day of March, 1928, by Elizabeth Lindsay Barker, the executrix named therein, are hereby required to send in the particulars of their claims or demands to us, the undersigned, the solicitors for the said executrix, on or before the 3rd day of June, 1929, after which date the said executrix will proceed to distribute the assets of the said deceased amongst the persons entitled thereto, having regard only to the claims and demands of which she shall then have had notice; And she will not be liable for the assets of the said deceased, or any part thereof, so distributed, to any persons of whose debts, claims or demands she shall not then have had notice. Dated this 26th day of March 1929. Buchanan Richardson and Barugh, Town Hall, Guisborough. Solicitors for the said executrix.

Return to the Contents Page

or

Go Straight to Act 25 – The Farndales of Tidkinhow

The webpage of Martin Farndale includes a chronology and research notes.