Fred Pickstone (October 2004)
In the last Newsletter, we named some of the prominent inhabitants of the village in 1823. One of these was Robert Mouncester, the schoolmaster who was later the local enumerator for the 1841 and 1851 censuses. He wrote his name as Moncaster. He was the son of another Robert, a carpenter, and Mary (nee Blackburn), both of whom were born in Husthwaite and married at St Nicholas' Church in 1793. Robert was christened at the church on 12th May 1796, three days after his birth. An early christening was normal until about 100 years ago, because of high infant mortality rates.
He had three younger sisters. Robert was probably the schoolmaster, before he was 20. Schoolmasters were supposed to be licensed by the bishop of the diocese, but the practice was very likely disregarded by his time.
At the end of the 17th century two men in Easingwold were taken to the Quarter Sessions (the court, probably in York) for teaching boys without a licence. We do not know where Robert originally had his school, prior to the first purpose-built school being constructed, on land given in 1836 by William Hotham of Highthorne. This is now "The Old School House" in Low Street.
Robert was married to Ann Ledger (born at Bentley, near Doncaster) by the Reverend John Winter at the village church on 6th April 1840. Since Ann's place of residence is given as Husthwaite on the marriage certificate she was probably working here. Her father, William, was a farmer, but according to the census of 1841 he doesn't appear to have worked in Husthwaite. Witnesses were Jesse Robson (blacksmith), William Taylor (parish clerk and shoemaker) and Chris Moncaster (carpenter). In 1841 Robert and Ann were living in what is now "The Hobbits" in High Street. He owned the property, the integral adjoining cottage, and the land to the north stretching down to Elphin Beck Road.
They had 5 children: Mary (b.1842), Robert (b.1844), William (b.1846), Henry (b.1849) and John (b.1854). From his profession and property, Robert was a man of status in Husthwaite. Until education became more widespread, at the end of the 19th century, the schoolmaster, the parish-clerk and local clergy would have been well-respected people in the village, because they were literate. In the next issue will be some of the details of Robert's will.