Since writing about the family of George Nathaniel Peacock, stationmaster at Husthwaite Gate station in the Newsletter for April 2008, more has come to light about his ancestors from genealogical data available on line. Peacock is a common name in this area and it is interesting to note the progression of this particular line of Peacocks from rural areas in the East Riding of Yorkshire to Husthwaite in the North Riding. Fortunately, early non-conformist Quaker weddings, burials etc are well documented, so providing much useful information pre census records.
Ancestors of George Nathaniel Peacock (hereafter referred to as GNP!)
GNP’s great great grandfather was a Quaker. John Peacock, yeoman, was born about 1716 at the village of Wassand near Hornsea. He had a son Jonathan, also born in the Hornsea area, who on April 12th 1776 married Mabel Robinson at a Quaker wedding in Scarborough. At that time Jonathan was a mercer [originally this meant a dealer in any kind of goods or wares] and draper. By 1788, his father died aged 72, being given a Quaker burial at Hornsea, as was his wife Ruth aged 78, 5 years later. Both lived to see the birth of their grandson, William.
In 1786, William, son of Jonathan and Mabel, was born at Scarborough. By 1841, William now married to Ellen, was farming at Middle Farm, Langton, (a village near Kennythorpe a few miles south of Malton). They had six children, their third child being Nathaniel, GNP’s father, born about 1821. By 1851, Nathaniel now married to Ann, was himself farming 114 acres at Field House, Flaxton. Their three children were born there, the youngest being George Nathaniel born 1843.
Interestingly, by 1861, GNP’s parents and their children had moved on to Front Street, Melbourne (a few miles South of Pocklington and about 12 miles from Flaxton). Nathaniel, now aged 40 had apparently given up farming and become a grocer! Ten years later, George Nathaniel and his sister Sarah Ellen, returned to Flaxton to live at Rice Hill as a farm servant and general servant respectively. Farming may not have been in the blood since by 1881,GNP has moved on to be a railway porter at York, boarding with William Stamp, an engine fitter and his family, at 7 Rosary Terrace, Mickelgate.
By 1889, aged 45, he has moved onwards and upwards and becomes station master at Husthwaite Gate and by 1891 is living with his wife Margaret, children William (8), Ethel Ann (4) (who sadly died the following year), George (2) and his father, a widower (70). They had three more children and by 1911, census data records that GNP and Margaret then lived at the station house with their children George, a railway clerk (22), Frank, a railway clerk (17), Grace Mary (13) and Henry (10), the last three all having been born in Husthwaite.
Further details about the life of this well known and well respected stationmaster and his family were given in the Newsletter of April 2008. George Nathaniel died in 1916, soon after retirement and is buried in Husthwaite cemetery. His wife died two years later and is buried alongside him. As yet, no relation between him and Alfred Peacock the butcher in the village has been found. More about his ancestors another time!
Angela Ovenston April 2010