Who was Who in the parish of Rudby-in-Cleveland 1892

In 1892, the Vicar was the Revd John Johnson.

In the census of 1891 he described himself as 59 years old, single, born in Kirkby Ravensworth.  When he came to the parish after the death of the Revd Robert Barlow in 1878, he was aged 44: one man on his own succeeding another man on his own in that large house.  He lived there with his housekeeper, Mary E Johnson, who was also born in Kirkby Ravensworth.
It must have been quite a surprise to the neighbourhood when he married London-born Florence Mary Wright on 24 October 1893!
Seventeen years later they were still there: he was 79 and she was 52 years old.

David Lickess's history of the parish records that he was well known for visiting Milburns' shop every day, where he would read the old 'North Star' newspaper without paying for it.

As he grew old and infirm, his parishioners did rather complain about his failure to take services or attend Vestry meetings.

The Churchwardens were Viscount Falkland and Matthew B Bainbridge.

Byron Plantagenet Cary, 12th Viscount Falkland, was born in 1845.  In 1879 he married Mary Reade, who was born in Birmingham, New York.

Major Cary retired from the Royal Sussex Regiment in 1883 with the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and succeeded to the title on the death of his uncle in 1886.  He and his wife had six children, all of whom will have spent some time at Skutterskelfe before the estate had to be sold.  The 1891 census shows the family living at 43 Lowndes Square with a full complement of staff: cook,  monthly nurse, housemaid, 2nd nurse, kitchen maid, nurserymaid, 2nd housemaid, scullerymaid, butler, valet, footman and odd man.

On 15 August 1907, the King made Viscountess Falkland a Lady of Grace of the Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in England for her philanthropic work, [London Gazette].

The Viscountess died in 1920, and the Viscount in 1922.

Matthew Bewick Bainbridge described himself as a 53 year old "builder & contractor & farmer" in the 1891 census.  He and his wife Hannah and children James (29) bricklayer, Elizabeth (27), John (22) bricklayer, and Fred (20) joiner, lived at No 3 & 4 North End.


The Sidesmen were T Bowes Wilson, Christopher Smith, Joseph Mease and William Johnson

Thomas Bowes Wilson (1845-1929) of the Cleveland Sailcloth Mill lived at Enterpen Hall.

Christopher Smith.  There were two Christopher Smiths – a farmer in Middleton, and a grocer in Hutton:

1891 Census: Christopher Smith (71), farmer at Spyknave Hill, Middleton upon Leven.  He was born at East Rounton.  He and his wife Elizabeth (57) had John (27), Christopher (24), William (22), Emily (20), Arthur (18), Jane (16), Thomas (14) and granddaughter Theresa (9)

1891 Census: Christopher Smith at 15 & 16 South Side, grocer (59) and his wife Jane (54).  Their daugher Edith J. (16) and son Christopher S. (16) were both grocer's assistants.  Their daughter Ethel A. (12) was at school.  Their granddaughter Lily Ward (13) was also in the household.

Joseph Mellanby Mease (1827-1928).  He and his wife Harriet lived at Leven Valley.  The 1891 census shows his occupation as Sanitary Inspector, Assistant Overseer.

William Johnson.  This is probably the William Johnson, joiner, born Stokesley living at 21 South Side at the 1891 Census, when he was 41 years old.  His wife Dorothy was born in Skelton and they had five school age children, Mary E., Edwin, David P., Allan P., and William K. or H.  They lived next door to Thomas Milburn.


The Organist was Miss Elizabeth Bainbridge.

Elizabeth Bainbridge was the daughter of Matthew Bewick Bainbridge.  She was organist for many years: [cf Winifred Blair’s Scrapbooks]

“Some years ago” [Mr Leeper said] “a little girl with a golden plait and big blue eyes, sat at a harmonium at our church.  Her toes just touched the pedals.  The little girl was Miss Bainbridge.  Since then she has seen all sorts of vicissitudes and changes in the church’s history.  She has played in days when there has been a fine choir, and she has played when the choir has not been quite as good” … she had been organist from 1886 to 1934…”

The Clerk was William Johnson (see above)

The Sexton was Thomas Milburn.  He was aged 76 at the 1891 census.  A sailcloth weaver, he lived with his wife Isabella (65) at 23 South Side. (There is no No 22 South Side listed – possibly William Johnson's house had been enlarged.)  Their lodger was George Sidgwick, a widower aged 75, described as a pauper.

The office of Sexton was vacant from February 1892 after the death of Thomas Milburn, who was buried on 12 January 1892, aged 77.

The Superintendant of All Saints' Sunday School (which was held in the School House at 9.45am and 2.30pm) was William Chapman.
William Chapman lived and farmed with his sister Jane at Old Hall, Sexhow.  He was 41 in 1892.  On his death, after many years as churchwarden and Sunday School superintendant, his siblings gave the church a cover for the font.