1739 - Winter into 1740 was long and severe. Rivers iced up with damage to shipping.

1740 - John Hall of Skelton Castle married Ann Stevenson, the daughter of Ambrose Stevenson of Lanchester, Co Durham. Ann's dowry was £25,000. [£2.4 million at 2002 values]. John Hall added Stevenson to his own name. Laurence Sterne, who had become vicar of Coxwold, officiated at the ceremony.

1744 - Rogues, Vagabonds, and other Idle and Disorderly Persons Act prescribed punishment of up to one month in the "House of Correction" for those who abandoned their wives and children to the support of the Parish, lived idly and refused work or begged alms. A reward of five shillings could be paid to any person apprehending an offender. The Act also prescribed punishments for confidence tricksters and other deceivers. The justices were empowered to impress incorrigible rogues into naval or military service.

1745 - As a result of the government's imposition of Customs and Excise duties on drink, tobacco and a variety of other goods, the smuggling trade grew more and more profitable and the running of contraband from coastal inlets to local villages continued for the next 70 years.

1755 - Building of the sandstone bridge to Upleatham at Skelton Ellars.

1756 - Bulding of the bridge over Skelton Beck on road to Guisborough at Skelton Ellars. See 1909 - Murder in the beck.

1757 - This was a time of corn shortages and 'at present no exportation is allowed from the kingdom.'
Ralph Jackson's journal records:-
"I walked up town [Guisborough] and saw several women and men…..carrying three horse load of corn to the Towl Booth which they had seized from a man as Thomas Dales as he was carrying to Tobias Tayler of Skelton for seed as they pretended, tho I find this Tayler…..is charged with shipping corn clandestinely on board smugglers."

1760 - The death of George II and the accession of George III

1763 - A 30 ton sloop went aground at Saltburn after the crew had gone ashore and left a boy on board the anchored vessel.
It was carrying contraband including over one thousand gallons of brandy and three hundred gallons of gin.
Two men from Skelton, Tommy Tiplady and Bill Richardson, were to help unload it.
The Customs and Excise tax on a gallon of brandy was over 5 shillings, which was the equivalent of a weeks wages and some thought the high profits to be made were worth the risk of the heavy penalties if they were caught.
Apart from the tax on wine and spirits, a duty was levied on imported tobacco, tea, coffee, linen and even some household items.

1765 - Plaque in old church of Lord's Prayer, placed by church wardens., M Smith and C Foster. Moved with other items on rebuilding.
21st June. The Birth of John Hall Stevenson, who changed his name to John Wharton in 1788. 1785.

1769 - The steam engine was patented by James Watt.

1771 - November. Heavy floods in the Tees area washed away bridges

1773 - The sum of 20 pounds [worth £1.500 in year 2002 values] was left by a Thomas Mawer for the education of 4 poor children from Skelton and nos 4 and 6 Green Road was bought for this purpose for £30 10s 6d. A section of the deeds reads:- "Reciting the Will dated 5th October 1755 of Thomas Mawer whereby after sundry specific bequests he gave and devised unto Quesiphorous Hoops and William harrison all such sums of money he then had out at an intt upon any mtges bojds etc and all his ready monies debts goods, cattle chattels and psnl est whatsoever. In trust amongst other things to pay the sum of £20..... into the hands of the Minister and 4 or more of the principal inhabitants of Skelton afore said to be by them placed out at intt upon such security as they or the major pt of them should approve of and such interest to be applied and given to sm. Schoolmaster or Schoolmistress for teaching such and so many poor children as the said Minister and inhabitants think fit."