SKELTON - IN - CLEVELAND
IN HISTORY
1813 ~ 1823

Battle of Waterloo.
 1814 London Gazette. July 23, -
Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership between Joseph Davison, of Skelton, in Cleveland, in the County of York, and John Christopher Liomin, of Lofthouse, in the said County of York, Blue-Manufacturers, carried on at Skelton aforesaid, under the firm of Messrs. John Christopher Liomin and Company, was dissolved this 16th day of July instant by mutual consent, the above mentioned John Christopher Liomin having withdrawn himself from the concern; and all claims on the above concern will be duly discharged by the said Joseph Davison.—The above trade will in future be carried on at Skelton aforesaid, under the firm of Davison and Company: As witness our hands this 16th day of July 1814.

1815 - Battle of Waterloo and the end of Napoleon's threat to the rest of Europe.

1816 - William Close was the new Priest at Skelton All Saints Church and performed these duties until 1857.

The Cleveland Hunt.
Roseberry Topping in background.
From John Charlton's "Twelve Packs of Hounds".
This year was considered to be the year without a summer. Possibly due to a violent eruption of Tambora in the East Indies which threw a great amount of debris blocking off the sun.

1817 - 5th June. The "Roxby and Cleveland Hounds" were formed and John Andrew, the notorious smuggler, of the White House, Saltburn Lane was made Master. [See the year 1835, when Andrew died, for more about him.]
"At the Angel Inn at Loftus, on a summer's afternoon, we may picture John Andrew Snr, Isaac Scarth, Henry Clarke, Henry Vansittart Esq, Thomas Chaloner Esq and the other signatories to the rules then drawn up, sitting with their tumblers of punch, making a treaty." The Cleveland Hounds, by A E Pease.

"In 1817, Mr John Andrew was appointed master.
The Hounds were taken to Saltburn, then but a fishing hamlet on the sea-shore, where, for more than fifty years, the management was in the hands of the Andrew family. They hunted foxes in the winter, and, with a few of the old Hounds, otters in the summer. A few years after this the Roxby was dropped from the name of the pack, and they became the Cleveland. John Andrew hunted them until 1835, assisted by his son, John Andrew Jun, who took them when his father gave them up.

Saltburn at this time was but a few cottages on the shoreline by Huntcliff.
In this etching of around 40 years later the coastguards' cottages can be seen on the cliff top. Smuggling was carried on below under their very noses at the Ship Inn, the nearest of the larger buildings.
John Jun was master until 1855, when they were taken by his son, Tom, who had them until 1870, having, previous to becoming master, acted as huntsman to his father.
Tom, altogether, hunted the Hounds for thirty-three years, having many grand runs, and sometimes hunting when the snow was deep on the ground."
[from John Charlton's book of illustrations, "Twelve Packs of Hounds", published at the end of the nineteenth century.]

1818 - Death of Medd Scarth, June 18th, who left a charity of six pounds thirteen shillings per year for the poor of Moorsholm and Stanghow. A plaque set in the floor of the aisle in the old church at Skelton commemorates her.

23rd March - John Wharton was in debt to his own son-in-law, Thomas Barrett Lennard, who was himself in need of the money.
Wharton wrote to Thomas's father:-
"My trustees above a year and a half ago took possession of my rents, and I am actually subsisting on what they choose to allow me, and must continue in this state of dependence and degradation till the termination of
their trust which cannot be closed till they receive payment for an estate I sold in 1809, and this I, or rather they, are trying to enforce by a suit in Chancery ...
It shall however be my study to remove and remedy the inconveniences I have caused as soon as it can be done, and I shall ever reflect on them with deep regret."

1819 - John Macadam introduced solid road surfaces.

1820 - Death of George III and accession of George IV.

John Wharton of Skelton Castle was elected in second place as the MP for Beverley.

Mrs Hall Stevenson, mother of John Wharton of Skelton Castle died at York aged 81.

1821 - The National population was estimated to be 12 million at the Census of this year. The population of Skelton Parish was 1235, as recorded by the local Curate, William Close.
The Village population was approximately 700.

4th August - THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.
A most dreadful storm of thunder and lightning occurred at "Marsk" and Skelton in Cleveland on Monday week. At Skelton Mr Mackereth, surgeon of Guisbrough, was passing from one part of the village to the other, over some fields and in the middle of the pature was knocked down and laid insensible for 2 or 3 minutes. Two women in the adjoining field, making hay, were struck down, but providentially, the whole three have perfectly recovered.


TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION

On Saturday the 28 day of October 1820
at the House of Eliz. Green
The Duke William Inn
by Mr. John Watson
Houses and Land at Skelton, in Cleveland
Comprising 2 cottages with Wright Shop, Orchard, Garth, and half a Pew in Skelton Church, and An Allotment on Manless Green desirable to any Person anxious to Build; as there are good Public Quarries in and for the use of the Township, where the Purchasers will have right to win Stones

1822 - The threat of Napoleon was receding into history and 7000 sailors were redeployed as coast guards to fight the smuggling trade.
The coastguards' cottages, still at that time considered part of Skelton [Saltburn was just the few buildings around the Ship Inn] were built on Hunt Cliff to house our section of them.

At this time the people of Skelton were governed:-
1. Nationally, by Parliament. 4 MPs were sent from the whole of Yorkshire and 99% of Skelton people did not have the right to vote.
2. Locally by the "Officers" of the North Riding of Yorkshire - the landed gentry and churchmen.

The Lord Lieutenant:- The Duke of Leeds.
The Vice lieutenant:- Turner Straubenzee, Esq. Spennithorne.
Deputy Lieutentant:- Wharton, John, Esq. Skelton Castle. [One of some 100 in the Riding].
Lords and Chief Bailiff of Liberties:- The Rev. George Marwood, Busby-Hall, Stokesley; for Langbarugh. [one of 5 in the Riding]
Subdivision Clerk for Langbaurgh-East:- Henry Clarke, Guisborough.
The Coroner for this area was:- Henry Belcher, Whitby. [5 in the N Riding]
The Register office was at Northallerton:- Register, Matthew Butterwick, Esq. Thirsk.
Deputy, John Sanders Walton, Gentleman, Northallerton.
The Chief Constable for this area was:- Joseph Hickson Guisbrough. [12 cover the N Riding].

If Skelton folk committed minor crimes they had to face the Magistrates at Guisborough and they were judged by:-

Regime at Northallerton Gaol 1823.
Right Hon. Lawrence Lord Dundas, Marske Hall.
Hon. Thomas Dundas, Marske Hall.
William Ward Jackson Esq, Normanby.
John Wharton Esq, Skelton Castle, Guisbrough. Any Skelton folk accused of more serious crimes were sent to the General Quarter Sessions which were actually held twice a year at Northallerton, on Tuesdays in the first whole week after Epiphany; -Easter; -St. Thomas the Martyr; -and on the first Tuesday in the first whole week after the eleventh of October. The Chairmen were:-
The Right Hon. Lawrence, Lord Dundas, at the Midsummer and Michaelmas Sessions.
Rev. John Headlam, M.A. at the Epiphany and Easter Sessions.

The Riding officials were:-
Clerk of the Peace:- Lupton Topham, Esq. Middleham.
Deputy clerk of the Peace:- William Wailes, Gent. Northallerton.
Deputy sheriff:- Thomas Paul, Gent. Malton.
Clerk of Indictments:- Mr Thomas Wait, Northallerton.
Crier of the Court:- Mr.John Leefe, Malton.
Treasurer:- Valentine Kitchingman, Esq. Carlton Husthwaite.

If local people were sentenced to imprisonment they were incarcerated in the House of Correction, Northallerton:-
Governor:- Mr Thomas Shepherd.
Under Gaoler:- Mr Thomas Shepherd,Jun.

"The House of Correction, which is the gaol of the North Riding, stands adjoining the court house, in which are confined from time to time from 50 to 100 prisoners. About two years ago a corn mill called a stepping mill, was erected for the employment of the male and female prisoners, consisting of three pairs of stones, a dressing mill and rollers for grinding malt which has been found to answer the purpose intended by this kind of labour. Mr. Thomas Shepherd (the father of the Keepers of the West and East Riding Houses of Correction) is the Governor, and this prison has the reputation of being well conducted." [T Langdale]


Duke of Wellington
The Topographical Dictionary of Yorkshire by Thomas Langdale of this year describes Skelton Castle as "situated on the brink of a large sheet of water, in many places 50 feet deep, which nearly surrounds the castle, except an opening to the south."

August. London Gazette.
To be sold, pursuant to the Decree and an Order of the High Court of Chancery... at the Ship Inn,Skelton. in the North Riding of the County of York, in the month of October next, in lots;
Two freehold dwelling houses and two freehold cottages and other buildings with garden and orchard-ground attached thereto, and the respective appurtenances, and about 18 acres of freehold arable, meadow, and pasture land, including laud lately allotted by virtue of an Act of Parliament. and two pews or seats in the Parish Church of Skelton aforesaid and late the estate of Robert Gowland, late of Skelton. in the County ot York, Plumber and Glazier, deceased.

1823 - Capital punishment was abolished for minor offences. [at one time, with 220 different capital offences, mostly to protect the property of the rich, Britain was reputed to have the highest number in Europe.]

Baines directory of Yorkshire records for Skelton at this time among a population of around 700 -
Castle - John Wharton MP
Curate - Rev William Close
Attorney -Thomas Nixon


Medd Scarth memorial in old Church
Blacksmiths - Thos Carter, Robert Robinson, William Young.
Butchers - William Lawson, Isaac Wilkinson, William Wilkinson.
Corn Millers - Robert Watson, William Wilson
Farmers and Yeomen - William Adamson, John Appleton, Thomas Clark, James Cole, James Collin, William Cooper, Stephen Emerson, John Farndale, Robert Gill, William Hall, Edward Hall, Jackson Hardon, William Hutton, Sarah Johnson, William Lockwood, John Parnaby, Rigg Thomas Sayer William William Sherwood, John Taylor, William Thompson, Robert Tiplady, William Wilkinson, Richard Wilson.
Grocer and Drapers - John Appleton, William Dixon, Ralph Lynass, Thomas Shemelds, John Slater.
Flax dresser - McNaughton D
Joiners - William Appleton, Leonard Dixon, Mark Carrick, Joseph Middleton.
Schoolmasters - Atkinson M, John Sharp.
Shoemakers - Robert Bell, Luke Lewis, Thomas Lowls,George Lynass, Thomas Steele.
Stonemasons - Thomas Bryan, John Pattinson.
Straw Hat Makers - Sarah Sarah, Esther Shimelds.
Weavers - Stephen Abelson, Thomas Dowson, John Robinson, Robert Wilson.
Land Agent - John Andrew.

George IV
Victuallers - William Bean at Duke William, William Lawson at Royal George.
Woodturner - James Crusher.
Gamekeeper - Frank Thomas.
Plumber, Glazier - William Gowland.
Saddler - Thomas Taylor.
Shopkeeper - Eliza Wilkinson.
Carriers - Marmaduke Wilson - to Guisborough on Tues and Fri, dep 8am and return 4pm.
Robert Wilkinson - to Stockton on Wed and Sat, dep 4am and return 8pm - to Lofthouse on Mon and Thurs, dep 9am and return 6pm.
Letters were brought to Guisborough by coach and thence to Skelton by Daily Horse Post arriving at 10am and mail taken back at 3 pm.

Feb 8th, a great snowstorm recorded in north of England required cutting through drifts.
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