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| The schedule of able bodied men in Skelton to oppose Napoleon's threatened invasion is continued
from the previous page. 1 Gamekeeper:- Frank Thomas who had 1 draught horse and 2 loads of hay.
When Napoleon got wind through his spies that we kept such precise records and had more than 11 bill hooks, he backed off and decided to
invade Russia.
1803 - Local volunteer associations were formed and remained in being until 1813. |
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Andrew was rapidly promoted, probably due to the fact
that he could supply the establishment of the day with goods that were cheap, if illicit, and some that were otherwise unobtainable, as due to the
war with France, trade with that country was forbidden. The gentry no doubt financed much of the smuggling activities, while keeping their own
hands clean. Spirits, tea, coffee, tobacco, lace, silk were among many commodities subject to excise duty at that time to raise money for the war
with France. 1805 - Admiral Horatio Nelson defeated the French fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar, removing the threat of invasion. 1806 - John Wharton again won the election in Beverley. The second placed candidate, Burton, angered by his defeat blamed Wharton and fought a bloodless duel with him.
1807 - John Wharton was returned to Parliament for Beverley in second place. The third placed candidate petitioned
for bribery but was unsuccessful. |
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It is known that the first placed candidate, Vyse, had paid all but 78 of those that voted for him “at the rate of £3 8s
for a plumper and £1 14s for a split vote.” 1811 - The census of this year estimated the national population at 10.2 million. 1812 - John Wharton again returned as MP for Beverley. 1814 - A school was built in Skelton at a cost of £100, which was raised by subscription. Mawer's endowment [see 1793] paid for some 'free' pupils and the rest paid 3d for reading, 4d for reading and writing and 6d for the full three R's. 1813 - Building of the Wesleyan chapel, Green Rd. The Enclosure Acts were passed in parliament, by which common and waste land was fenced off and brought into use, although it was some years before all its provisions were completed.
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'Whereas there are within the manor of Skelton in Cleveland in the County of York diverse moors, commons and waste grounds, containing 6000
acres, or thereabouts, called the High Moor, Low Moor, Boosbeck, Manless Green and Town Green......and whereas the open and unenclosed
grounds in the said Manor are their present state incapable of any considerable improvement' The 'open field' system was inefficient and the land was divided up by hedge and dry stone wall into continuous areas. Most of the 'common' grazing land was also brought into cultivation and apportioned to individual owners. Many local farms date from just after this time and new roads and tracks developed to service the new system.
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