Many people have taken the opportunity of the Coronavirus lockdown to delve into their family histories, in particular those in countries currently in the depths of their winters. One particular link with Martin Relton from Australia, a descendant of a family from Carlton Husthwaite, (many of whom are buried in Husthwaite churchyard), led to complex research into many interwoven families greatly helped by Stuart Marriott’s work on the homes, farms and families of these villages. Martin also found some fascinating cuttings in old newspapers. In the 19thC local papers recorded facts (not fake news!) in a detailed and accurate fashion. The following news items show how useful these can be in giving an insight into lives and times.
The first article concerns a burglary at William and Ann Mettrick’s house “The Cedars” where a more modern Cedar House now stands. Extracts from Stuart Marriott’s “Carlton Husthwaite, The Houses of the Old Village since the 17th Century” with his kind permission [see www.husthwaitehistory.co.uk] give “By 1809 Edward Windross was tenant of the ancient property. His daughter Ann married William Mettrick, a Carlton farmer who was heir to Swan Cottage in the village. They had no children. In 1813 Henry Hopps of Knaresborough, Ann Mettrick’s uncle, bought the farm from the Beckwiths. He put the Mettricks in as tenants. In 1841 Ann Mettrick inherited this and much other property from her uncle. After her husband’s death a nephew called William Relton, previously a labourer, was brought in to run the farm. Ann Mettrick left the property to him in her will and he assumed ownership in 1856”.
DARING BURGLARY - About the hour of twelve o’clock on the night of the 6th inst., the dwelling house of Mr. William Mettrick, at Carlton Husthwaite, near Thirsk, was feloniously and burglariously entered by four or five men, two of whom held down Mr. and Mrs. Mettrick whilst the others ransacked the house and stole the following money and property, viz., one piece of gold coin of the value of £2, one spade guinea*, seven sovereigns, and one half sovereign, one pound in silver, one pair of silver sugar tongs, marked H.H., one pair of silver sugar tongs marked M.H., three silver tea spoons, marked W, three pairs of silver spectacles, one silver seal, marked E.W., one pair of men’s white ribbed plain knitted lambs’ wool stockings, one new beaver hat, one pocket pruning knife, one old pocket knife worn sharp towards the point, one pair of black kid gloves, one blue silk handkerchief with square white spots upon it, two bottles of brandy, and one pound of butter. A reward has been offered for the apprehension of the offenders. YORKSHIRE GAZETTE – FEBRUARY 19 1848
* Spade guinea - Before the modern sovereign was introduced in 1817 the Guinea was the premier gold coin of Great Britain. ... The George III Spade Guinea was struck up until 1799 and like all Guineas before, was struck in 22 Carat Gold by the Royal Mint.
This William Mettrick, the fifth in a long line of William Mettricks, had a younger brother Thomas, a farmer, born 1787 who married the widow Hannah Ezard at Husthwaite in 1840. They had no children and Thomas drew up a will leaving property and cash to a wide range of relatives.
Hannah’s son John from her first marriage, born 1821, married Ann Robinson, born at Cold Kirby at Bagby Chapel in 1865. A few years after their marriage John and Ann Ezard had a theft –
THIRSK
PETTY SESSIONS, Dec 30, 1868.
Before the Hon. G.E. Lascelles, and Major Coates.
Ann Drinkhill, a young woman from Coxwold, but living with Mr. John Ezard, farmer, Carlton Husthwaite, pleaded guilty to having on the 28th December ult., stolen three pairs of women’s embroidered sleeves and three collars of the value of £1, the goods of Mr. Ezard. She was sentenced to one calendar month’s imprisonment. Knaresborough Post 02 January 1869
According to Stuart Marriott – “In 1807–1886 James Atkinson of Crayke sold Church Farm to John Thomlinson of Whenby. He put in his son-in-law, John Ezard, to run the place. By 1835 Ezard’s widow Hannah was in charge and the house was for a time uninhabited. In 1840 she married Thomas Mettrick from Church Cottage; they moved in, possibly after extensive renovation. Mettrick and Hannah’s son John now had a partnership. John did not marry until he was in his late forties. After Hannah’s death the farm was his and he took out substantial mortgages, apparently overstretching himself. In 1881 he died”. His widow Ann committed suicide soon afterwards, leaving two young daughters, who became wards of court.
An article describes this sad event at Church Farm Stud (previously known as Church Farm next to Swan Cottage, both situated behind the church).
DETERMINED SUICIDE – Early on Tuesday morning. Ann Ezard, widow of the late Mr. John Ezard, a respectable farmer at Carlton Husthwaite, committed suicide in a most determined manner. Since the death of her husband in June last, she has been in a low way, and on Thursday last she attempted to commit suicide by drowning herself in the draw well, but she was prevented by some neighbours. Yesterday morning about five o’clock, her sister, Mrs. Meynell, who had been sitting up with her all night, was asked by Mrs. Ezard to get her a cup of tea. This she did, and afterwards, at Mrs. Ezard’s suggestion, went down to get a cup for herself. At this time the farm man, George Marwood, went down stairs, but hearing a curious noise, he rushed up stairs, and found his mistress in the dark, in his bedroom, bleeding. He got hold of her, but she pushed him by. He called for assistance, and in the meantime laid her on the bed, when he found that Mrs. Ezard, after he had got up, had come out of her own bedroom into his in her nightdress, and had procured a razor from a box in the room which had belonged to her husband, and had completely severed her windpipe. She died in a few minutes. Drs. Hartley and Hogarth arrived from Thirsk as promptly as possible, but life was then extinct. The deceased was highly respected in the district, and was 55 years of age. She had two daughters, aged 12 and 14 years of age. An inquest was held on Thursday, when the jury returned a verdict that the deceased had committed suicide during a fit of temporary insanity. THIRSK THE YORK HERALD – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1881
Note, the report in the Yorkshire Gazette 31 December 1881 had identical words except for the final sentence - “On the Thursday morning an inquest was held in the house of Mr. F. Faint, the village inn, at Carlton Husthwaite, before Mr. A. Wood, of Kirbymoorside, and the jury returned a verdict that the deceased had committed suicide during a fit of temporary insanity”.
It seems likely that the girls Hannah and Mary Jane were looked after at Skelton after their mother’s death. Hannah Ezard married Henry Hope, a gardener from Glaisdale, at Skelton in 1899. In 1901 they lived at Grange Lodge Egton with their baby son and in 1911 at Gables Cottage in Glaisdale with their two children. Hannah was buried at Glaisdale in 1837. Mary Jane Ezard married John Robert Hewling, a plumber and glazier from Skelton, Guisborough in 1896. Mary Jane’s residence is given as The Rectory Skelton. Mary Jane had two sons and was buried in Skelton in 1936 aged 67.
A further cutting illustrates that John was in debt, a considerable worry to his widow.
JOHN EZARD, DECEASED.
ALL PERSONS CLAIMING to be CREDITORS of John Ezard, late of Carlton Husthwaite in the County of York, Farmer (and also formerly a Butcher), deceased, are requested forthwith to forward to me, the undersigned, as the solicitor acting for and on behalf of the personal representative of the said, deceased, the particulars of their Claims. WM.ROBT. WEST, Solicitor, Thirsk Thirsk, 23rd June, 1881 Richmond and Ripon Chronicle 2nd July 1881
Both John and Ann Ezard are buried in Birdforth cemetery, as were most people from Carlton Husthwaite at that time. Interestingly there is also a memorial inscription to both of them at St Michael’s church, Cold Kirby, from where Ann’s farming family originated.
Angela Ovenston 2020