Thomas CROOKS [Parents] was born in 1824 in Staithes, Yorks. He married Sarah VERRILL on 23 Sep 1849 in Hinderwell, Yorks. Thomas was baptized on 20 Aug 1824 in St Hilda's, Hinderwell, Yks. He was employed as Fisherman.
1841 CENSUS
H107/ 1255
SEATON GARTH, STAITHES
THOMAS CROOKS 45 FISHERMAN Y
MARY 45 Y
ISAAC 20 Y
WILLIAM 20 Y
THOMAS 15 Y
JOHN 10 Y
MARY 15 Y
This is Mary Marshall's brother and the uncle of John Crooks.
Sarah VERRILL [Parents] was born in 1827. She married Thomas CROOKS on 23 Sep 1849 in Hinderwell, Yorks. Sarah was baptized on 23 Sep 1827 in Hinderwell, Yorks.
They had the following children:
John VERRILL [Parents] was born in 1777. He married Sarah BROWN on 23 Nov 1802 in Hinderwell, Yorks. John was baptized on 5 Feb 1777 in Hinderwell, Yorks.
Sarah BROWN [Parents].Sarah married John VERRILL on 23 Nov 1802 in Hinderwell, Yorks.
They had the following children:
M i Francis VERRILL was born in 1805. Francis was baptized on 18 Dec 1805 in Hinderwell, Yorks. M ii Addison VERRILL was born in 1808. F iii Lavinia VERRILL was born in 1810. F iv Mary VERRILL was born in 1816. M v John VERRILL was born in 1820. John was baptized on 20 Dec 1820 in Hinderwell, Yorks. M vi Joseph VERRILL was born in 1821. F vii Sarah VERRILL was born in 1827.
John CROOKS [Parents] was born in 1833 in Staithes, Yorks. He married Hannah VERRILL on 2 Dec 1857 in Hinderwell, Yorks. John was baptized on 3 Oct 1833 in St Hilda's, Hinderwell, Yks. He was employed as Fisherman.
1841 CENSUS
H107/ 1255
SEATON GARTH, STAITHES
THOMAS CROOKS 45 FISHERMAN Y
MARY 45 Y
ISAAC 20 Y
WILLIAM 20 Y
THOMAS 15 Y
JOHN 10 Y
MARY 15 Y
This is Mary Marshall's brother and the uncle of John Crooks.
Hannah VERRILL [Parents] was born in 1831. She married John CROOKS on 2 Dec 1857 in Hinderwell, Yorks. Hannah was baptized on 3 Nov 1831 in Hinderwell, Yorks.
They had the following children:
Thomas CROOKS [Parents] was born in 1842 in Staithes, Yorks. He married Margaret THEAKER on 19 Dec 1865 in Hinderwell, Yorks. Thomas was baptized on 9 Nov 1842 in St Hilda's, Hinderwell, Yks. He was employed as Fisherman.
Raced in the Great Ocean Coble Race of 1886. Later drowned at sea.
Margaret THEAKER.Margaret married Thomas CROOKS on 19 Dec 1865 in Hinderwell, Yorks.
They had the following children:
John CROOKS [Parents] was born in 1847 in Staithes, Yorks. He died on 27 Nov 1888 in Staithes, Yorks. He married Mary VERRILL on 13 Jul 1874 in Hinderwell, Yorks. John was baptized on 7 Nov 1847 in St Hilda's, Hinderwell, Yks. He was employed as Fisherman.
Lost his life in the Staithes lifeboat disaster of 1888. His widow is the Mrs. Crooks mentioned in Dame Laura Knight's autobiography.
On the afternoon of November 27th. 1888, a fierce south-easterly gale sprang up off the North Yorkshire coast, whipping up mountainous seas and making it very dangerous for the cobles to return to Staithes. Nearly all the lifeboat-men, including both Coxswains, were at sea and so former Coxswain, Joseph Verrill, got together a scratch-crew and the "Winefride Mary Hopps" was launched at 2-30 p.m., for the first time on service and, with the help of the lifeboat, nearly 40 cobles returned safely to Staithes.
It was then discovered that one coble was missing and so, at 6-00 p.m., the lifeboat was launched again, in the pitch dark, but this time with her regular crew at the oars and under the command of Coxswain Horn. So heavy were the seas, that the lifeboat was driven back three times, before she eventually battled her way through the breakers. The coble was found, the crew of three rescued and Coxswain Horn headed back towards Staithes. Suddenly, the lifeboat was struck by a breaking wave and capsized.
12 of the 15 men on board managed to climb on board again as the lifeboat righted herself, Coxswain Horn and crew member Matthew Theaker eventually swimming ashore, almost totally exhausted. But sadly, the other member of the crew, John Crooks, was killed when he was dashed against the rocks. As the anxious watchers on shore learned of the capsize, a thorough search was mounted of the coastline and the Whitby Lifeboat "Christopher" was launched, to look for the missing lifeboat.
Unbeknown to those on shore, she had drifted out to sea, the 12 men on board being able to do little to control her, as most of the gear had gone overboard and the oars had either been broken or lost in the accident. The men dropped anchor and waited for several hours, before eventually they sighted a steamer approaching. She was the "Ethel" and they succeeded in attracting the attention of the crew. The steamer had been southward bound from Middlesborough, but her Captain, Henry Whittington, immediately turned round and towed the disabled lifeboat to Middlesborough, he and his crew providing much needed food and warm clothing for the exhausted men in the lifeboat. They reached Middlesborough at breakfast-time and a telegram was sent to Staithes, reporting that the lifeboat was safe.
A fund was set up locally for the widow and dependents of John Crooks, the R.N.L.I. contributing £250. The R.N.L.I. awarded its' Thanks on Vellum to Captain Whittington, of the S.S."Ethel", for his very great kindness shown to the lifeboat-men.
The Thanks on Vellum was also awarded to former Coxswain Joseph Verrill, for gathering together a scratch crew and taking the lifeboat to sea earlier that day.
The Story of the Staithes and Runswick Lifeboats by Jeff Morris.On November 27th 1888; the lifeboat had escorted some missing vessels to safety, but then it was discovered that one coble was not accounted for. Towards the end of a blustery November afternoon the storms blew even more stridently and the waves grew in volume and strength. It was in the face of boisterous winds that the lifeboat was forced to put to sea for the second time, on this occasion, with great difficulty. Crowds watched, realising that tragedy was imminent and their dread was justified, when shortly afterwards, the coxswain of the lifeboat, Charles Home, was washed up on shore, bruised and battered, but still alive. Almost at the same time, a young lifeboat man, Matthew Theaker was found in the breakers in a similar state. Two men cast up on the shore could only mean that the lifeboat had come to grief and the waiting crowd could but surmise that the rest of the crew had lost their lives. Nobody slept in the town that night. Doors were left open and Staithes was numbed by the enormity of the tragedy.
Fears were confirmed next morning early, when the corpse of a lifeboat man, John Crooks, was found at Arden Loup. It was noticed that in his lacerated hands were traces of seaweed, as though he had grasped rocks to save himself in his dying moments. Folk memory tells of a cry, heard by a little boy on the staith. The shout was a request for a coble, "fetch a coble". Fishermen laughed at the child and dismissed his story as being impossible - nobody could live in a storm of this fury. It was in the vicinity from where the cry had come that the body of John Crooks was found next morning.
The lifeboat, which had managed to take on board the crew of the missing coble, was herself assailed by a huge wave, which overwhelmed her and cast her crew into the sea. Fortunately, the vessel righted itself and the crew scrambled to safety. Here, wet and freezing, they huddled together and their spirits were enlivened by James Theaker, among others, who led them in prayer and singing of hymns, with which they were familiar in their chapels. The words of the hymns, 'Jesu Lover of my soul', 'Master the Tempest is Raging' and 'I'll stand by until the morning' had a relevance to the desperate plight in which they found themselves. The voices of the lifeboat men were heard from the bridge of the steamer Ethel and they were taken on board, made comfortable and then, the captain interrupted his voyage and returned to Middlesbrough, where they were put ashore.
Their return home next morning, on the mid morning train, was welcomed by great crowds, most of whom had endured a night of grief and sorrow.
This incident surpasses all others in its scale of drama and tragedy, but it was by no means unique. It was on similar occasions, when life in Staithes came to a standstill. Against a backcloth of such proportions, the attendance concerns of the school master pale into insignificance and the whole issue was put into perspective, making clear the factors which contributed to indifferent attendance at the school. (source Whitby Gazette)"Staithes, Chapters from the history of a seafaring town." by John Howard
STAITHES STATION
GEORGE BROTCHIE, Esq., Chairman
Dr. J. V. LAVERICK, Hon. Sec.SAVED FROM THE SEA
AN INCIDENT OF THE STAITHES LIFEBOAT CREWABOUT six years ago the Staithes lifeboat, after assisting the fishing smacks in a gale, was capsized. One man was drowned, and another reached the shore exhausted. It was thought that night that this one, alone, had been saved; but providentially the remainder were picked up by the S.S. Ethel going south, and Capt. Whittington at once put his ship round, treating the rescued men with the utmost kindness, and landing them at Middlesbrough next morning. The above incident suggested the following lines
'So you want to hear a story,' said the fisherman to me,
'Telling something of the perils of the toilers of the sea?
Well, there's one I think will suit, sir, and a thrilling story, too:
Often folk exaggerate so, but this one is strictly true.
Now it seems so very vivid, though six years have passed away:
It was very near the closing of a wild November day,
And as evening shadows gathered there arose a furious gale,
Causing, in our little village, many gallant hearts to quail,
For so many sturdy fellows were upon the stormy wave;
But at once we launched the lifeboat, and we went to trv and save,
And that despite the darkening shades, and the tossing ocean's roar,
All the boats, by our assistance, soon in safety gained the shore;
And we thought our work was finished, we could see no more afloat
When a heaving ocean billow overthrew our noble boat.
Then we all got separated, and I tried to reach the land,
Which I did, though how I got there I shall never understand.
Willing hands were there to help me, and they all did welcome me
But there were still eleven struggling with the treacherous sea:
And the gladness at my rescue vanished very soon away,
For, upon the sand and shingle, there a lifeless body lay.
Still they waited by the ocean, but as nothing more was found,
They all came to the conclusion that the other ten were drowned.
Oh! that night! I'll not forget it could I live a thousand years:
All around was dark and gloomy, and nought could dispel our fears.
Staithes folk have had many sorrows but they thought this one, I ween,
Was the greatest and most bitter that they ever yet had seen.
Morning broke, and on the ocean many anxious eyes were cast;
But we saw no other relics of the stormy night, now past.
Sad indeed our hearts that morning, and each face was ghastly pale,
As we thought of the brave fellows who had perished in the gale.
Wives were mourning for their husbands, mothers thought their sons were dead.
Dark indeed, and very gloomy seemed the clouds which hung o'erhead,
And each moment quickly dying helped but to increase our fear,
When upon the morning stillness broke a loud and hearty cheer.
Then we knew somehow they had been saved, and our fears gave way to ease
When a telegram informed us they were landed in the Tees.
I can ne'er describe the picture, when at last the mid-dav train
Brought the rescued of the lifeboat to their village home again.
It appears that, when she capsized, they had safely kept afloat
Till she righted, then they managed for to climb into the boat;
But the heaving ocean billows bore them on their snowy crest,
Far from shore and hope of rescue, and the ones they loved the best;
Yet their hearts were glad and thankful, though still rougher grew the gale
For they trusted fully, firmly, in the Arm that could not fail.
And the sailors on the Ethel, coming southward, through the night,
Saw the-boat and heard them singing, and they rescued them all right;
And the captain was kind-hearted, for he turned his vessel round
And returned at once to port. sir, with the men reported drowned.
Yes, sir, it was Providential. In this little tale of mine
You can trace the kindly guidance of the Hand that is Divine.
We have all learned many lessons from our rescue that wild night:
We have learned to trust the Master, both in darkness and in light.
Though the night is dark and dreary, all the clouds will pass away:
"Joy still cometh in the morning," if we only watch and pray;
And about the other lessons, for there are so many more,
You can trace them for yourself, sir - but, excuse me, here's the shore.'J. TOYN, Jun
Mary VERRILL [Parents] was born in 1846 in Staithes, Yorks. She married John CROOKS on 13 Jul 1874 in Hinderwell, Yorks. Mary was baptized on 24 Dec 1846 in Hinderwell, Yorks.
Robert VERRILL [Parents] was born in 1806 in Staithes, Yorks. He married Elizabeth BROWN on 8 Jan 1824 in Hinderwell, Yorks. Robert was baptized on 3 Apr 1806 in Hinderwell, Yorks.
Elizabeth BROWN [Parents] was born in 1799. She married Robert VERRILL on 8 Jan 1824 in Hinderwell, Yorks. Elizabeth was baptized on 27 Oct 1799 in Easington, Yorks.
They had the following children:
M i **Matthew VERRILL was born in 1826. **Matthew was baptized on 12 Feb 1826 in Hinderwell, Yorks. F ii Margaret Brown VERRILL was born in 1829. Margaret was baptized on 14 Apr 1829 in Hinderwell, Yorks. F iii Hannah VERRILL was born in 1831. M iv William VERRILL was born in 1837. William was baptized on 29 Aug 1837 in Hinderwell, Yorks. F v Elizabeth VERRILL was born in 1839. Elizabeth was baptized on 18 Oct 1839 in Hinderwell, Yorks. F vi Frances VERRILL was born in 1842. Frances was baptized on 8 Mar 1842 in Hinderwell, Yorks. M vii Robert VERRILL was born in 1844. Robert was baptized on 11 Nov 1844 in Hinderwell, Yorks. F viii Mary VERRILL was born in 1846. M ix **Matthew VERRILL was born in 1849.
William VERRILL.William married Margaret CROOKS on 5 Aug 1873 in Hinderwell, Yorks.
Margaret CROOKS [Parents] was born in 1855 in Staithes, Yorks. She married William VERRILL on 5 Aug 1873 in Hinderwell, Yorks. Margaret was baptized on 12 Apr 1855 in Hinderwell, Yorks.
William HARRISON.William married Margaret CROOKS on 7 Jan 1866 in Hinderwell, Yorks.
Margaret CROOKS [Parents] was born in 1846. She married William HARRISON on 7 Jan 1866 in Hinderwell, Yorks. Margaret was baptized on 10 Oct 1846 in Hinderwell, Yorks.
They had the following children:
F i Mary Ann HIBBERT died in 1860. M ii Thomas HIBBERT was born in 1803 in Manchester ?. He died in Jun 1872 in Manchester..
A witness at Mary Ann Hibbert's wedding to George Robert Smith
Richard COATES [Parents] was born in Staithes, Yorks. He married Mary GILL in 1857 in St Paul's, Hendon, Bishopswearmouth.. Richard was baptized on 8 Dec 1824 in St Hilda's, Hinderwell, Yks. He was employed as Master Mariner.
SEARCH OF LLOYD'S CAPTAINS' REGISTER 1869 by Peter Hogg Cleveland FHS
COATES, Richard b. Yorkshire 1824
(C.23,564 Shields 1853)
Hero 1853-54 F.P.S., N.A., Venice 1855-56 F.P.S., Czarina 1856, B., Gratitude 7383 1857 M., Nicholas Smirk 4669 1856 B., Brilliant 26701 1857-58 F.P.S., Honour 14159 1858-59 B., Richard Mount 2972 1858-59 M.,Ct., Richard Mount 2972l8S9 Ct., Blakely 24605 1860 M., Clyde 28053 1860-61 S.A., Souvenir 5365 1861 WI., Sunrise 44454 1862-63 F.P.S., Elizabeth Hampton 45699 1864 M.I can give you a bonus on some of the ships, as they are on databases of 1856 or 1875 which I have transcribed from Turnbull's Registers of those years. Sadly the fiches are not always very clear where the book margins come, so there may be slight errors or omissions in the above listings. Czarina Snow-brig 244 tons register reg. Sunderland Bk 1851 Wear Sunrise Brig 132 T.R. Reg. Newcastle Buik Wear 1862 Nicholas Smirk Brig 208 T.R. Reg Stockton on Tees Bk Wear 1849 Richard Mount Brig 178 T.R. Reg. Sunderland Bk Shoreham 1834. Fairy Square-rigged 274 T.R. Reg. Stockton Bk 1840 Whitby Magnific Snow-brig of Whitby 242 T.R. Bk Tees 1850 Susanna Dixon Brig of Whitby 222 T.R. Bk Wear 1852
Fuchsia Snow-brig of Sunderland 240 T.R. Bk Wear 1846. (I think this one figures in aJ.W.Carmichael painting leaving Sunderland).
George Brig of Whitby 265 T.R. Bk 1840 Ulverston. John Lawson Barque of Whitby 308 T.R. Bk Whitby 1853.
I hope this information is of use.
Mary GILL [Parents].Mary married Richard COATES in 1857 in St Paul's, Hendon, Bishopswearmouth..
They had the following children: