Newsletter 06

Betty and Malcolm’s
Christmas Newsletter 2006
It is five years since we moved to the top of the south and very happy we are here in Motueka. We have made new friends here but have not forgotten those we left behind. We caught up with many of these when we drove down to Tuatapere’s centenary in February. They know how to organize a great celebration there. The parade was spectacular. We saw Shane Harvey shear a lamb in world record time. We attended the official opening of Helen McKay’s Yesteryears Café. John, Lorraine and family had just moved to Invercargill so we stayed with Glenda and Gary who had recently moved in to 77 Half Mile Rd.
On our way home we stopped in Christchurch so Malcolm could attend St Anne’s Primary School Centenary. A month later we were back in Christchurch for the 50th anniversary of Malcolm’s Teachers’ College “class of 56” Then at the beginning of April we came further south to Mosgiel where the Garrett clan gathered to dedicate a new gravestone to John James Garrett who emigrated from the Isle of Man and worked as a hard rock miner on the Hindon reef. In a short but impressive ceremony at the Allanton cemetery, Dugald recited the Lord’s Prayer which he had translated into Manx.
While there we also celebrated Robert’s 70th birthday with a dinner at the Weaver’s Restaurant. Nick and Barbara were there from Queensland. Liz and Ward had come to NZ a month earlier. They spent a week with us in Motueka and during this time we joined them in a trip out to the lighthouse at Farewell Spit.
By Easter we were ready for a few months at home. Big project of the year was the building of our new sunroom. Down came the ugly patio roof, (Thanks Alec) up came the pavers. The contractors moved in and poured a coloured concrete floor. The builders did their bit. Malcolm painted and we now have a large extra room.. The smallest bedroom has lost one single bed and has my writing desk and laptop with a wireless connection to Malcolm’s computer. We don’t have to talk, we can send emails and share files!
In June John had a DOC course in Richmond and was able to spend a few days here before Lorraine, Ben and Sam arrived. They had come to support Isaac who was playing in the Southland Under 17 Basketball team at the South Island Tournament. We managed to get to see a game. Sam has spent this year at Lincoln University. He has enjoyed being able to retreat to his Uncle Philip’s at Rushbrook Farm for good food, company  and some extra work.
In August we were shocked to hear that Robert had had a stroke. He had seemed his usual self at his 70th a few months earlier. He is now in Studio 2 Wesley Care. His left side is paralysed .but he is able to speak and read. Maria has moved back into their house
More sad news when we heard that our dear friend of more than thirty years, Robin Burt, had lost her battle with cancer. We have many happy memories, Robin.
Malcolm has passed on his chairmanship of Museum Trust and Seniornet but is still much involved. Betty is busy as Golf Captain and Probus secretary. We both enjoy our house, garden, reading, TV and church fellowship. Best of all is being able to join in family activities. We had a family lunch for Marian’s 40th at The Naked Possum in Golden Bay. Katie’s tap dancing concerts are well worth the trip over the hill. The “Ents” are always included in the Ross birthday dinner parties. We have to keep an eye on the ever increasing Highland Fold, poultry, goats, sheep and building progress. Victoria’s Herman spent a year with us but now has his own stockade on the Ross acres and is on duty to challenge all visitors. We looked after Kelly, the Dougan’s beautiful golden retriever for six weeks while Joe and Margaret were in UK. [Joe’s daughter is married to John Key so they bathe in reflected glory!] At present there are no resident pets except goldfish and lovebirds.
Rob and Vicki are also making progress with building. Their new house at Outram is due to be completed soon. We will see it when we go south to spend Christmas and New Year with Betty’s Mum in Te Anau. Friend Marion McLean and some of her family will be staying in our house while we are away. We enjoyed Marion’s hospitality on our trips to Christchurch during the year.

Have a Happy and Healthy Christmas Season.  
Malcolm & Betty

malcolm.garrett@xtra.co.nz
bettygarr@gmail.com
Weblog: /garrettsnewz.blogspot.com
Website:  garrettsofnewz.homestead.com
We live in the Information Age!

Christmas News 06

BETTY AND MALCOLM’S CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER 2006

It is five years since we moved to the top of the south and very happy we are here in Motueka. We have made new friends here but have not forgotten those we left behind. We caught up with many of these when we drove down to Tuatapere’s centenary in February. They know how to organize a great celebration there. The parade was spectacular. We saw Shane Harvey shear a lamb in world record time. We attended the official opening of Helen McKay’s Yesteryears Café. John, Lorraine and family had just moved to Invercargill so we stayed with Glenda and Gary who had recently moved in to 77 Half Mile Rd.

On our way home we stopped in Christchurch so Malcolm could attend St Anne’s Primary School Centenary. A month later we were back in Christchurch for the 50th anniversary of Malcolm’s Teachers’ College “class of 56” Then at the beginning of April we came further south to Mosgiel where the Garrett clan gathered to dedicate a new gravestone to John James Garrett who emigrated from the Isle of Man and worked as a hard rock miner on the Hindon reef. In a short but impressive ceremony at the Allanton cemetery, Dugald recited the Lord’s Prayer which he had translated into Manx.
While there we also celebrated Robert’s 70th birthday with a dinner at the Weaver’s Restaurant. Nick and Barbara were there from Queensland. Liz and Ward had come to NZ a month earlier. They spent a week with us in Motueka and during this time we joined them in a trip out to the lighthouse at Farewell Spit.
By Easter we were ready for a few months at home. Big project of the year was the building of our new sunroom. Down came the ugly patio roof, (Thanks Alec) up came the pavers. The contractors moved in and poured a coloured concrete floor. The builders did their bit. Malcolm painted and we now have a large extra room.. The smallest bedroom has lost one single bed and has my writing desk and laptop with a wireless connection to Malcolm’s computer. We don’t have to talk, we can send emails and share files!
In June John had a DOC course in Richmond and was able to spend a few days here before Lorraine, Ben and Sam arrived. They had come to support Isaac who was playing in the Southland Under 17 Basketball team at the South Island Tournament. We managed to get to see a game. Sam has spent this year at Lincoln University. He has enjoyed being able to retreat to his Uncle Philip’s at Rushbrook Farm for good food, company and some extra work.
In August we were shocked to hear that Robert had had a stroke. He had seemed his usual self at his 70th a few months earlier. He is now in Studio 2 Wesley Care. His left side is paralysed .but he is able to speak and read. Maria has moved back into their house
More sad news when we heard that our dear friend of more than thirty years, Robin Burt, had lost her battle with cancer. We have many happy memories, Robin.
Malcolm has passed on his chairmanship of Museum Trust and Seniornet but is still much involved. Betty is busy as Golf Captain and Probus secretary. We both enjoy our house, garden, reading, TV and church fellowship. Best of all is being able to join in family activities. We had a family lunch for Marian’s 40th at The Naked Possum in Golden Bay. Katie’s tap dancing concerts are well worth the trip over the hill. The “Ents” are always included in the Ross birthday dinner parties. We have to keep an eye on the ever increasing Highland Fold, poultry, goats, sheep and building progress. Victoria’s Herman spent a year with us but now has his own stockade on the Ross acres and is on duty to challenge all visitors. We looked after Kelly, the Dougan’s beautiful golden retriever for six weeks while Joe and Margaret were in UK. [Joe’s daughter is married to John Key so they bathe in reflected glory] At present there are no resident pets except goldfish and lovebirds.
Rob and Vicki are also making progress with building. Their new house at Outram is due to be completed soon. We will see it when we go south to spend Christmas and New Year with Betty’s Mum in Te Anau. Friend Marion McLean and some of her family will be staying in our house while we are away. We enjoyed Marion’s hospitality on our trips to Christchurch during the year.

Life gets Complicated

Life is getting complicated

I guess we have reached the stage in life that sees our friends and relations experiencing difficulties, one way or another.   That of course impinges on our own equanimity.  
In the last little while we have had Robin Burt, our dear friend in Invercargill, reaching terminal stages of her cancer, with her life fast running out.  Here we are stuck in Motueka, and unable to give her a last squeeze and kiss, except by proxy through Phil her husband.  Robin is one of our oldest friends, being a young second year teacher at Clifden school when we first met her.  She started the wise trend of wearing a trouser suit when teaching her infant class.  Stretching up to write on the blackboard, provided too much entertainment for the young fry seated on the mat in front of her she decided. Her previous principal in Te Anau had decreed that trousers were not to be worn. This was in the days of fashionable miniskirts of course.
Robin was sort of adopted by us, when we found out that her busy parents had not had time to teach her all the very useful old nursery rhymes. They ran a successful Cake Shop-Bakery in the Octagon in Dunedin.  Betty and I had great fun in introducing Robin to the charms of Mother Goose, and Lavender’s Blue etc.  When Phil Burt loomed on the scene with his dog Friday, we were lucky enough to be invited to the wedding.  Indeed Phil came to teach as third teacher at Clifden School for a while.  A very cosy arrangement!  
Robin and Phil had their 3 children in reasonably short order.  Katherine was born on Betty’s birthday – another bond was forged with us. Jamie and Janet followed.
We have remained good friends ever since, even holidaying together overseas – a real test of friendship!  Robin kept us amused on our touristy parts of our journeys with her propensity for shopping.  When touring and ancient cathedral, or some other monument, Robin could always be located at the museum shop.  Her most precious purchase on our European trip was her Harrods Shopping bag.
One of the links that bound us was our interest in stage work around Tuatapere’s Waiau Community Theatre.  Indeed, that is where Robin and Phil made their match. The side dressing rooms at rehearsal time were a useful trysting place. Robin appeared in the chorus line of the Mikado whilst Phil played the Mikado himself.  I was Ko Ko the “Lord High Executioner”.  It was a splendid production.  We had great pleasure in tin-canning them when they moved into a little cottage near the Golf Course at Clifden.  Phil had meantime moved to teach at Waiau District High School – later to be Waiau College – and now known as Tuatapere Community College. Phil took the family up to North Canterbury for a spell – teaching at Culverden DHS and living at Hanmer Springs. Of course he had to rename Culverden as “Culverdump”. Oh Philllll…..!!!!!! said Robin. They came back in time to teach at Waiau College in F.1-2 area.  It was quite a “home-coming” in many ways.
Later Phil and Robin moved to Invercargill, after spending a time in one or two rental properties, they had bought the old Medical Consulting Rooms after Dr Danie Gouws left for greener pastures in Ontario, Canada.  They made a cosy home out of a sprawling set of rooms which had originally been the local maternity Home, and held court there for some time.  The Invercargill move was made in stages, but eventually they bought their home in Pomona Street, and Phil took on Intermediate School teaching at “Nosedale” as he persisted in calling it.  Robin eventually found her niche in coaching with Kip McGrath after school, whilst holding down a variety of relief and part-time work elsewhere in the city.  They have some lovely warm friends around town, and are well-supported in this difficult time.  We love you, Robin.

Super 14 Quotes of The Year

Super 14 Quotes of The Year

• "Nobody in Rugby should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." - Scott Hamilton


• "I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes." – Andy Ellis on University


• "You guys line up alphabetically by height, and you guys pair up in groups of three, then line up in a circle." - Robbie Deans


• Chris Jack on whether he had visited the Pyramids during his visit to Egypt: "I can't really remember the names of the clubs that we went to."


• "He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning regardless of what time it is." - Robbie Deans on Rueben Thorne


• Kevin Senio, on Night Rugby vs Day Games, "It's basically the same, just darker."


• Robby Deans talking about Caleb Ralph: "I told him, 'Son, what is it withyou? Is it ignorance or apathy?' He said, 'Robbie, I don't know and I don't care."


• Dan Carter when asked about the upcoming season: "I want to reach for 150 or 200 points this season, whichever comes first."


• "Andy Ellis - the 21 year old , who turned 22 a few weeks ago" ( Murray Mexted  )


• "Robbie has done a bit of mental arithmetic with a calculator." ( Dan Carter  )


• "He scored that try after only 22 seconds - totally against the run of play." ( Murray Mexted  )


• "We actually got the winning try three minutes from the end but then they scored." ( Phil Waugh  )


• "I've never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body." ( Andy Ellis )


• "That kick was absolutely unique, except for the one before it which was identical."  ( Dan Carter )


• "I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father." ( Dan Carter )


• "Sure there have been injuries and deaths in rugby - but none of them serious." ( Doc Mayhew )


• "If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again." ( Robby Deans )


• "I would not say he ( Rico Gear ) is the best left winger in the Super 14, but there are none better." ( Murray Mexted )


• "I never comment on referees and I'm not going to break the habit of a lifetime for that prat." ( Ewan McKenzie )


• MurrayDeaker: "Have you ever thought of writing your autobiography?" Chris Jack: "On what ?"


• "Well, either side could win it, or it could be a draw." ( MurrayMexted)


• "Strangely, in slow motion replay, the ball seemed to hang in the air for even longer."


• ( Murray Mexted )

Autumn has arrived in Motueka. The main sign is that our feijoas are falling, ripe, to the ground. The only way to tell if they are ripe is see them fall. Luckily they have thick skins and don't get bruised easily.
Betty is playing golf twice a week, to make for which, I have been unable to get on the course at all since the twilight golf finished. betty is one of a small group of ladies who make up the only team of golfers from Tasman Golf Club, and she fills the positions of Ladies' president, club captain and "minute" secretary for the main golf committee. A fearsome combination would be harder to find than one of my well struck drives off the tees, and that is saying something!
I am leading a research team, identifying molluscs for the Motueka museum. After we complete that exercise the shells will be displayed as a reference set at the museum. In addition to that, i am teaching three classes at Seniornet: Word processing, Powerpoint, and Website construction. At U3A, I have joined in the group studying the physical geography of the Motueka valley, and have given a short talk on the Isle of Man - to follow up my talk last year on Trafalgar. A good way to increase your own knowledge is to try to teach something to others.

Garrett Reunion Thanks

Garrett Reunion
Allanton – Mosgiel
1-2 April 2006







Final Wrap Up
Thanks immensely for all the support you gave over the weekend. It was great to see the different branches of the family getting to know each other after so many years.
A special thanks is due to Rob Garrett, for the work he did in arranging for the stone and inscription to be in place on time and accurately done, and for the background work he did in planning for venues and menus! We were well-served!

I particularly also want to thank those who contributed towards the monument. Your generosity went a long way towards paying for the costs. It should be a visible reminder for at least a century more, of the pioneering work done in the area in the field of gold mining. It is not too late to make a donation towards the costs, should you feel able to do so. It is worth noting the sons Tom and Jim were also to the fore at Barewood Reefs and they appear in the photos in the booklet, “Gold, Cyanide and Quartz” from Heritage Books Otago.

I have not included with this is a list of all who were there and their contact details, as supplied. A Blog is a bit public! You can get a copy by emailing me. I apologise in advance for any errors! Please let me know of any mistakes. Some of the writing was hard to read! Those who have email you can keep in touch with each other if you wish. I would be pleased to add any other names and addresses not included to add to the contacts. Just let me know. I pay special thanks to those who came from USA, Australia, and Fiji to join us.

I will conclude by thanking Joy Samson again. Without her resolute digging around in the archives, all the information we have access to today would not have come to light. Well done. Joy. You looked great on the day as well.!

Ancestor Search ends

We are now gearing up for a reunion of Garretts after successfully locating the John Garrett grave at Allanton - not that it was lost - but the gravestone had been mostly destroyed by the ravages of time and the fact that the old cemetery had been closed for many years before being opened again by the Dunedin City Council, in response to demands for space on the Taieri Plains.

Rob assisted me and all we could find were the remnants of a marker with a few letters left.

Soon there will be a fine monument to take its place - and we will have had a fine excuse for a party to celebrate our ancestor and his brave wife, Fanny [frances Lovell].

Garrett ReUnion

Garrett Re-Union and Dedication of Headstone for John James Garrett

I have just completed, with son Rob’s help, a basic plan for the weekend of 1st April.

How to get there:The Allanton Cemetery is 10 minutes away from Mosgiel, heading South. The turning off the main Road HW1, is at the corner where there is a large display of farm machinery. From there it is only a couple of hundred metres to the cemetery. It is on the left up a steep but fully sealed drive leading to an extensive new sealed carpark, at the top of the small hill. The cemetery has just recently been reopened and refurbished so this is a good opportunity to make this monument to our common ancestor.

Timing:As many folk are coming up from the South on the day, it is planned to stage the small formal part of the day at 1.30 pm at the cemetery. This leaves plenty of time for an “After-match function”!At the cemetery we will have a very short dedication – led by Dugald Garrett, and unveiling of the monument, ending with a few words from family historian Joy Samson.

After-Match Function:We have booked the Function Room at the Taieri Motel/Hotel complex on Gordon Road – on the left as you go into the town of Mosgiel – easily located! And only 10 minutes from Allanton. We have this to ourselves from 2 pm till 5 pm and we can order our drinks, light food, tea and coffee from the friendly staff. I have told Mike, in charge, that I will get back to him with the likely number, so do please indicate if you will be joining us for this family backslapping session.

Accommodation:Many, if not most, may wish to stay over. We don’t recommend Taieri Motels [attached to the hotel] but we have pencilled in a booking at Regency Motels – also on Gordon Road just a few blocks along. If you wish to take up a booking, please ring the motels Management as soon as possible with your group’s requirements. The back-up motels are the Bella Vista, if the Regency is fully booked by the time you get onto it. You may wish to arrive the night before – Friday 31st – or possibly stay over till the Monday and do some more exploring of the old haunts. Please make your own arrangements in this regard.To assist our overseas arrivals, we have made bookings for, Robert, Maria, Liz & Ward for Friday night – through to Saturday night, 1 x 2bd unit. Because of varying flight arrival times,. Barbara & Nick& Dugald and Philip are booked for Saturday-Sunday nights - 2 x 1 bd unitsThere are 18 units. Please phone 0800 162 162 to make your own booking and mention clearly that you are part of the Garrett Reunion.

Birthday Bash TooRobert Lovell Garrett is seventy on 1st April! We plan a celebration dinner at a local restaurant in Mosgiel – so handy! We have booked the licensed Weavers’ Retreat on Factory Road – for 7 pm. Again we’d need to know if you are going to join us, to be fair to the chef- who is a very nice man. I suggest we all go for a set menu of very tasty fare which he is willing to put on for $32 for 3 courses. A cake will be cut.
Other Activities:Whilst you are in the area, you might like to take a look at some of the associated sites and interesting places around the region:

• Taieri Gorge train trip – stop at the Reefs Station [Barewood] and get time for a look around before rejoining the train on the homeward trip [$63.00]

• Tour the Albatross Colony etc at Taiaroa Heads, Otago Peninsula [$28-00]

• Pop into the Early Settlers Museum by the Dunedin Railway Station and find our ancestors there?

• Tour Larnach Castle – [$20.00]

• Take a car trip round to Outram and Hindon – old stamping grounds

• Wet Day? Tour old mansion Olveston,[$14.50] go on Cadbury’s Factory tour [$15-00] or Speights Brewery Tour [ $15.00]

The above information is just a guide. You are expected to make your own arrangements for the most part.

*The dinner booking is quite important! We will need to confirm that number by the week before, to help out our chef.
You can reply by email or write – particularly if you are sending a monument cheque!

It has given us great pleasure to help organise this occasion.


Contact List so Far
Bert Garrett’s Lot:
Barbara Tzvetkoff
Nick Tzvetkoff
Greg Tzvetkoff
Dugald Fergus Garrett
Robert Lovell Garrett
Malcolm William Garrett
Patricia Susan Ross
John Malcolm Garrett
Robert [Rob] George Garrett
Marian Elizabeth Milne
Philip Louis Garrett
Elizabeth Mary Helms

Phillip William Garrett’s Lot:
Cynthia Gordon
Barbara Pasco & family members in Invercargill
Anne Marie Baird

Sylvia Garrett’s Lot
Alyse Holloway
Noeline Gill

Others – sorry to lump you together!
Colin & Ron Garrett
Juliet [Coker] Rose and her 2 sisters
Joy Samson
George Garrett [of Heriot]
Most of the above have spouses who may or may not attend, so you can see we will have quite a group.
So if you know of more contacts please feel free to pass on the info., but make sure they let us know they are coming.

Rob Garrett lives in Mosgiel and is happy to provide a local contact should it be needed. His phone number is:03 489 8889

I hope to have a press release ready in the next week, to help publicise our efforts and bring a few more names out of the “woodwork”. It will, I hope, be published in the ODT and the Taieri Star community paper.

Cheers

A view of the main mast on the sail training ship out of Nelson Harbour - my birthday treat! I didn't have to climb it!

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and Betty tells me I didn't stop smiling the whole trip. No wonder I had a sore face at the end!

Wandering Garretts

Wandering Garretts
We’re Off!

• for a couple of weeks to swing through the south.


• Catching up on Brother Philip L in Leeston at Rushbrook


• Checking out son Rob in Mosgiel – and arrangements for the BIG BASH on April 1st there at nearby Allanton


• Zooming in on Burts in Invercargill for checkup on Robin


• Inspect John and Lorraine’s new house in Herbert St


• Mingle with the crowds at Tuatapere as they celebrate 100 years of settlement


• Up to Te Anau to inspect the matriarch and carry her off to Dunedin for eye inspections


• Relative checking in the city of various other relations there


• Highway One to Rushbrook for temporary bedwarming, followed by


• Visit to old primary school St Anne’s for THEIR 100 years!


• And home in time to host big gathering of old SeniorNetters in Motueka on Monday 13th Feb


• See YA!

SEARCHING FOR JOHN S

SEARCHING FOR JOHN SPENCE – my great-great grandfather on my mother’s side of family.
I knew Richard Henry Spence’s birthplace and date of birth but nothing else.  I searched at the Family History Centre using microfilm of records borrowed for me by them.
Using the 1861 Census of England – Piece No. 3209 (R.G 9)  Folio 28 page 1-2

District of Wetherby – sub-district Wetherby  Enumerator Mr Richard Tate

Description and boundaries of proposed enumeration district and names of places comprised therein

7c Spofforth Parish – part thereof:  [no one believed there could possibly be place with such an unlikely name!]
All that part of the Parish of Spofforth which comprises the whole of the township of Spofforth on the East side of the Main Street of Spofforth (including Stockeld Grange, Newsholme House, Throstle Nest, Crowper Farm, Red Hill, Red Hill School, Red Hill Cottage, Braham Hall, Spofforth Bar, Spofforth Mills, Potters Cottage and Anglers’ Lodge.

Found at no 8 Main Street, Spofforth
John Spence, Head of family, married, aged 34 , Police Constable, born in Leeds  Yorkshire
Mary Ann Spence, his wife  aged 30                born in Sherburn, Y
Robert Spence          son     aged 11               born Barkston Ash, Y
William Spence     son     aged 9                    born Sicklinghall, Y
*Richard Henry     son     aged 7                    born Sicklinghall, Y
Hannah Mary          dau     aged 4                    born Sicklinghall, Y
Thomas          son     aged 1                    born Sicklinghall, Y

Richard Henry Spence is known by his birthday and birthplace, recorded elsewhere, as born 13th November 1953 at Spofforth – but probably recorded at Sicklinghall as shown above. He died 7 May 1920.  Richard Henry is the father of Louis Joseph Spence, grandfather of Malcolm Garrett, and Christopher Spence and their brothers and sisters, and cousins.

John is likely to have been born in c. 1827.  He and Mary Ann were probably married in 1849 Perhaps Barkston Ash, or Sherburn in Elmet, which would be the bride’s birthplace  Their marriage is registered at Tadcaster which is the nearest registration point and is shown as for the June quarter of 1849 – Vol XXIII p. 613).  

He was, at an earlier time, a simple farm labourer, as shown on 1851 census, so he must have shown good character and intelligence to achieve promotion to the newly formed Police Force.

Following on from that research:
Marriage Certificate obtained for John and Ann – now called “Mary” Ann  is detailed as follows:
Date: 8th April 1849 – place: Tadcaster Registrar’s Office.
Name of Husband: John Spence [of full age], farmer, resident of Barkston, father’s name: Robert Spence, servant
Name of wife: Ann Wrightson, aged 19 years, resident of Barkston, father’s name: Joseph Wrightson, Blacksmith
Witnesses: Abigail Wilson and Benjamin Midgley.  John could sign his name, but Ann made her mark.  William Backhouse was Deputy Superintendent of the Registry of Tadcaster at the time.

So, from the above, we learn the name of John’s father – Robert, and that of Ann’s family – and her father’s name and occupation – Joseph Wrightson, blacksmith – a fitting surname meaning son of a smith or Wright.

Their first born son was born at Barkston Ash.  Thereafter, the children are registered as born at Sicklinghall.

Interesting Discovery
Found at 4 Main Street, Spofforth was Rachael Spence aged 12, a scholar, born at Boston Spa, and listed as visiting with John Falkingham (42) and his wife Sarah (31) and their baby son Charles, aged 10 months.

I had  believed that Rachael could be the eldest of John Spence’s children, which puts their marriage in the range shown above (1848-9).  The place could have been Boston Spa.  This is now shown not to be true.  Rachael has to be from a different family, because …………..  

The 1851 Census shows John, aged 26, Mary Ann aged 21 and their first born son ,Robert, aged 1 year living in a cottage [no.27] at Sickinghall village where he was a farmhand. [Kirkby Overblow district – village of Sicklinghall P.10 in piece 601 of the census].

So John and Mary Ann must have lived at Sicklinghall for most of the intervening ten years as their children were all recorded as having been born in Sicklinghall except for Robert, the eldest, who was born near Mary Ann’s birthplace [Sherburn in Elmet] at Barkston Ash.  As their youngest, Thomas, was only 1 year old at the time of the 1861 census, their move to Spofforth most have been recent, as perhaps, was his elevation to constable.  

Location of Birthplaces of the family
Sicklinghall is nearby (see map) in the Parish of Kirkby Overblow, less than 3 km away to the SW of Spofforth.  Kirkby Overblow village is a further 2 km NW from Sicklinghall.  Boston Spa where Rachael was born is just SE of Wetherby town only 5 miles away by road.  Sherburn in Elmet  where Mary Ann was born is in NE Yorkshire halfway between Filey on the coast and Malton-Norton inland.   Robert, their first child, was born at 2 miles away from Sherburn at Barkston Ash, which is a village 5 miles directly South from Tadcaster and 15 miles or from York City.  Most of these places lie between York City to the East and Harrogate to the West.  All these places are in a twenty mile radius from each other.

Spofforth is the site of the holdings of the noble Percy family, well-known protagonists in the Wars of the Roses.  Spofforth Castle is supposed to have been built in the reign of Edward III and at present is in a dilapidated state.   Henry Percy  held the castle Spofforth on behalf of his brother, the Earl of Northumberland until the disastrous defeat at Towton, so fatal to Henry IV, when the Earl and his brother Henry were both slain and their estates plundered by the victors.  The castle and mansion was ruined but today Lord Egremont, a direct descendant of the Percy family still  holds possession of the lands about.

Spofforth is a Parish-town, and the C of E church is a Rectory dedicated to All Saints and is in the Deanery of Ainsty.  Its Patron is the Earl of Egremont.


Another Spence Family?

On that part of the township of Spofforth which lies to the west of the Turnpike Road from Wetherby to Follyfoot, lies the farm where William Spence, aged 13 years,  b. Yorkshire, is recorded in the 1841 census, as being employed as a farm labourer by  William Cussly aged 45, a farmer and his wife, Lydia aged 43.

In the 1841 census at Whixley Village, no more than 12 miles North of Spofforth, Whixley hospital employed Mary Spence, aged 17, as a charwoman. – b. Whixley

By 1951, Matthew Spence, 52,  now a widower, an agricultural labourer and his daughter Mary, 27, were living in Whixley, whilst nearby Thomas, 24 and Joseph, 20, [both b. Whixley]were working as labourers for Farmer Thomas Cass, widower, 72, who worked 173 acres with the help of several other farm workers. Farmer Cass had 2 daughters, Elizabeth, 31, and Harriet 20.

There is nothing to show if, at all, these families are related.