Previous issues of Husthwaite Newsletter have looked at the ancestors of George Nathaniel Peacock, stationmaster of Husthwaite Gate station (April 2008 and April 2010). Peacock is a very common name in North Yorkshire. Here we look at the family of Alfred Charles Peacock who became a shopkeeper and butcher in the village.
Alfred Charles Peacock was a butcher born in Coxwold in 1867. He was the fourth son of John Peacock, a grocer who was born in Nunnington around 1827/9. In Baines Trade Directory for Nunnington in 1823, a number of Peacocks are listed – farmers John and William P, shopkeeper John P and Richard P a victualler. Alfred’s grandfather is likely to be one of these people, probably the John P senior who was a shopkeeper.
By 1841, a John Peacock, aged 15, was a male servant at New Field House, Nunnington ie born around 1826. By 1851, he was married to Elizabeth from Cowesby and is recorded as a grocer at Husthwaite. They eventually had 11 children! By 1861, The Peacock family lived at the grocers shop with John, now recorded as a groom, living with his wife and their children Tom, Mary, Sarah, Emma and William. Before 1871, Annie, John Robert and Louisa had also been born in the village. However the children Alfred Charles (born about 1867), followed by Arthur and Fred were all born in Coxwold when the family had moved next to Station House around 1867, with their father John now listed as a farmer. By 1871, the oldest son Tom had left home to become a groom at Highthorne in Husthwaite, but the other ten children still lived with their parents. Ten years later, the census lists the dwelling between Station Cottage and Tanyard House in Coxwold, with John farming 49 acres with 8 of the children still at home - Mary (27), Sarah (25), Emma (23), Annie pupil teacher School (19), John Robert (17), Louisa (15), Alfred Charles (13) and Fred (10). [Note - Coxwold station opened in 1853 and closed in 1964. There were two railway cottages at the end of the Goods Yard. Old photos of the buildings can be seen on the website http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/c/coxwold/index.shtml].
John is listed as a farmer in Bulmer’s directory for 1890. A year later the census shows John and Elizabeth, both aged 64, to have the oldest three daughters still living with them along with sons John Robert and Fred, (who was now a butcher). In 1891, Alfred Charles has left home but has not been found in the records. However, in 1896 he is registered in Scarborough to have married Martha who was born in Rosedale.
By 1901 they live at 32 Gordon St, Scarborough and have a daughter Florence, aged 3. Eventually they move to Husthwaite where in 1911 Alfred Charles is a butcher. In Husthwaite Reminiscences, 1930s – 1950s, Charlie Dowson recalled that “Alfred Peacock, during a particularly hot spell preserved his beef by a process of salting”. The butcher’s shop was behind Laurel House, where Swales Garth now stands. Perhaps they moved back to the grocer’s shop where his father had lived around 60 years ago in the 1850s. When he retired they lived at Ashmount. There were apparently no other children. In 1932, Alfred Charles, butcher aged 65, died and was buried in Husthwaite cemetery on 14th Nov. 1932. His wife Martha Ann Peacock outlived him and at aged 78, died at Dybdale Nursing Home Scarborough and was buried next to her husband in 1954.
Records do not show what happened to their daughter Florence. She is likely to have married and moved away from the village, since she was not buried there. She is probably the Florrie Peacock mentioned in an event on Feb 1917 when a Whist Drive in the school room was organized by Husthwaite Ladies War Working Party. There were 30 tables and the winners (ladies) included Miss Florrie Peacock, who would now be aged about 19. A dance followed and carried on until 3 a.m. in the morning! The proceeds were divided between the Ladies War Working Party and the National Egg Collection Society [there was a National Egg Collection for the wounded in WWI].
Angela Ovenston August 2010