Bishop William Stubbs (1825-1901): a devout Yorkshireman

This is something I meant to write before, but it got lost in other work.  I'm afraid the alignment of text in this is a little haphazard - Google Blogger was not co-operating!  

William Stubbs by Hubert von Herkomer

William Stubbs, scholar, clergyman, Regius Professor of History at Oxford and finally Bishop of Oxford, was much loved.   A contributor to the Bucks Herald on 18 January 1802 in a column looking back over the year in the diocese of Oxford wrote 

The one death which marks and makes a loss to diocese, Church, country, and literature is that of good Bishop Stubbs, kind Bishop Stubbs, grand Bishop Stubbs, of the winning face, fatherly heart, humorous fancy, fine nature, wide and magnanimous tolerance, keen sympathies.  

William Stubbs was born in Knaresborough in 1825 and his roots in Yorkshire were of importance to him to the end of his days.  "So long as I last, I continue a devout Yorkshireman," he wrote not long before his death.

He grew up in a place rich in historical associations with important national events.  All around him were places where his forebears had lived for generations – in the written records the Stubbs family can be found, farmers and yeomen, in the Forest of Knaresborough from the mid 14th century.  In Bishop William Stubbs & Knaresborough, an article by Robert M Koch in the Yorkshire Archaeological Journal (Vol 82, 2010), you can find an evocative account of how the layers of history with which he was surrounded laid the foundation for William's career as a pioneering mediaeval historian.

He was drawn to the study of history very early on in his life and he recommended local and personal history to others as a way of connecting with the social and political history of the country.

His biographer W H Hutton (the biography can be read here) wrote that in 1886 William gave a talk in Crewe in which he took himself as an example.  Hutton doesn't give his source for his quotation and there are errors which William would not have made – perhaps it was an early draft or a newspaper report.

I wonder if the talk was at the Crewe Mechanics' Institute.  He presented prizes there on at least one occasion when he was Bishop of Chester and you will see that at the end of this quotation he encourages them with his own example of success, saying "please to remember that I am just as much a working man as any of you":

You do not mind my taking myself for an illustration.  

Where was I born? Under the shadow of the great castle where the murderers of Thomas Becket took refuge in 1170, and where Richard II was imprisoned in 1399.  My grandfather's house stood on the site where Earl Thomas of Lancaster was taken prisoner in 1322.  My first visits were paid as a child to the scene where Stephen defeated the Scots and where Cromwell defeated Prince Rupert; my great-grandfather had a farm in the township where King Harold of England defeated Harald Hardrada;  and one of my remoter forefathers had a gift of land from John of Gaunt in the very same neighbourhood where I was born.   

As you can see, William is referring to some famous battles fought in the North and West Ridings.  His forefather John Stubbs had a grant of newly cleared land at Birstwith in the Forest of Knaresborough from the prince and soldier John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster, on 27 February 1387.  I think it wasn't his great-grandfather who farmed at Stamford Bridge, but his 3xgreat-grandfather, John Wright.  Further on, it was his great-grandfather who was out in the Gordon riots.

Now he turns – he was a precociously clever little boy – to events that happened when he was four and five: the arson at York Minster in 1829; the death of the King on 26 June 1830; the July Revolution  of 1830 in France when Louis Philippe, Duc d'Orléans, overthrew Charles X; and the election of the statesman Henry Brougham in 1830.  Brougham was a major force in the passing of the 1832 Reform Act and the 1833 Slavery Abolition Act.  

What do I remember first?  Well, perhaps the first thing I do remember was the burning of York Minster – then the death of George IV, then the second French Revolution, then the election of Lord Brougham for Yorkshire, then the Reform Bill and the Emancipation of the West India Slaves. What sort of connection had I with soldiers and churchwardens, and such like?  Oh, my grandfather was out in Lord George Gordon's Riots; and all of my ancestors, so far as I can trace, served the office of churchwarden in their time.    

You may smile at this – perhaps I was lucky in the circumstances of birth and associations – but mind you, on every one of the points that I have mentioned hangs a lot of history to which my mind was drawn by the circumstances that I have jotted down, and from which the studies began which, not to speak of smaller successes, have landed me in the dignified position to-night of having to advocate the study of history before an audience of the most intelligent people in England!  

You like, I dare say, to be told so.  As I am flattering myself as you see, I may give you a little of the overflow of my self-complacency; and please to remember that I am just as much a working man as any of you, every step of the life which is now drawing to an end having had, under God's blessing, to be worked out by my own exertions, so that to some extent I may put myself forward as a precedent for you.

He had indeed worked his way through life by his own exertions.

Thomas Redmayne of Taitlands

Thomas Redmayne of Taitlands has appeared on this blog before (you'll find him first mentioned in July 2014 and on several later occasions – here and here, for example), because he was married to the aunt of John Richard Stubbs.

(John's early life can be found at A Boroughbridge Boyhood in the 1850s: Introducing John Stubbs.  He became a solicitor in the new industrial town of Middlesbrough and his diaries from 1853 to 1907, though succinct, are of interest to students of Middlesbrough history because of the people he knew.  There are photographs of the diary pages, with some transcriptions,  from here onward.)

I had hoped, when I wrote about the Settle and Stainforth part of John Stubbs' life, that I would find out more about it from a local historian, so I was very pleased to be contacted by Catherine Vaughan-Williams.  And I was even more pleased to find that she was researching the life of Thomas Redmayne.  

Her article on Thomas Redmayne is appearing in this year's North Craven Heritage Trust Journal and should be available online before long.  In it you will find the story of his family, how he made his money, the personal tragedies that befell him and the fine country house he built, Taitlands, which Catherine describes here:

a luxurious country residence 'with spacious drawing, dining and breakfast rooms and nine bedrooms with dressing rooms', lavishly furnished with 'rosewood and spanish mahogany furniture, Brussels and tapestry carpets' and the usual accoutrements of early Victorian fashion. Attics, kitchens, scullery, butler’s pantry, cellars, and outbuildings, stables and coach house with pigeon loft, not to mention fourteen bee boles, completed the establishment. 

Taitlands near Settle, home of Thomas & Jane Redmayne

If you've ever read about John Richard Stubbs and his family on this blog – A Boroughbridge Boyhood in the 1850s introduces them – you might remember his visits to Taitlands, the country house near Settle where his mother's sister Jane Henlock lived with her husband Thomas Redmayne (c1797-1862) and their children.  

Jane was Thomas's third wife – the first two died young, probably in childbirth – and she brought up his daughter Jane and her own two children, Mary and Henry.

And now you can see photographs of Taitlands, which was for many years a youth hostel and has,over the last decade been lovingly restored to glory.  I'm sure the estate agents who are offering it for sale won't mind if I reproduce one of the photos here – perhaps it will prompt a reader to buy this beautiful house!

Taitlands, near Settle

John Stubbs describes visiting Taitlands several times in his diaries.  The house was barely twenty years old when he first knew it, as Thomas Redmayne had only begun building it in 1831, and so it must all have looked very new and grand to John.  When he was a teenage boy at Giggleswick School he used to visit the family.  In 1853 for example:

Saturday 29 January 1853  Went to Taitlands Aunt was poorly rode the horses came home with Uncle

One Friday, he went out there with a schoolfriend without telling Mrs Stubbs, with whom he was lodging, where he was going.  Mrs Mary Ann Stubbs was another of his aunts, the widow of his father's brother William Morley Stubbs.  She helped her sister Miss Isabella Henlock keep a school at The Terrace, Settle.  They also took in boys who attended Giggleswick School as lodgers:

Friday 30 September 1853

In the evening walked with T Bramley to Taitlands on the sly   Mrs Stubbs & Co knew not

After John left school, he visited the Redmayne family there on several occasions.

In August 1856 he stayed there for three weeks and described in his diary driving his aunt and cousins in the Phaeton – going shooting – taking a shot at a rabbit in a field "where I ought not" – visiting old schoolfriends – and enjoying "a little dance" when visitors came to Taitlands.

In 1857 he travelled there with his aunt Miss Isabella Henlock (not to be confused with her second cousin Miss Isabella Henlock of Settle).  Aunt Bell was there to visit her sister Jane Redmayne, and John was there to combine business with pleasure.  He went shooting with his cousin Henry Redmayne ("shot 2 hares"), went to Skipton Sessions from Settle station, and enjoyed the social life of Settle.  "Lots of folks" came to tea at Taitlands after calling on on his friend Thomas Stackhouse of Stainforth, who had recently married.

On Wednesday 13 January 1858 he travelled there for the wedding of his friend Dr Leonard William Sedgwick to Thomas Redmayne's daughter Jane.  John was one of the groomsmen and he stayed with Thomas Stackhouse.  I describe the customs of the weddings in rural Yorkshire in A Boroughbridge Boyhood in the 1850s: “Helped to arrange about the Wedding Breakfast”.  This was quite the grandest affair that John attended in those years:

Wednesday January 13

Went with Leonard & Mary Sedgwick to Taitlands to Leonards Wedding he paid my fare Tom Sedgwick joined us at Leeds   Fanny Stubbs met us at Settle Station   Had a Fly to Taitlands   Had tea there   Tom Sedgwick Wm Nixon & I went to sleep at Stackhouses Leonard went to Richardsons

Thursday January 14

Went to Taitlands to 1st breakfast & helped Uncle to arrange. Went back to Stackhouse’s got dressed   Took Leond to Church & they got wed.  Tom Sedgwick I Wm Stubbs Wm Nixon & Hy Redmayne were Groomsmen   Miss Nixon Mary Redmayne Mary Sedgwick Fanny Stubbs & Margaret Ingelby were bridesmaids. Went to Taitlands Sat down 30 to breakfast at ½ past 12  Bride & Groom started about 2. We some of us walked to Stainforth Foss & on to the rock in front of Taitlands went & had a 1st tea at Stackhouses Went to Taitlands we were above 50 of us Had a splendid dance Got to Stackhouses about ½ past 3 Went to bed about 5 Everything passed off firstrately

In September 1859 he left the office in Boroughbridge at about 2 o'clock taking three ferrets with him and arrived at Settle station at about 8 o'clock.  He visited friends and family in the area and he and his cousin Henry went about with guns and with the ferrets.  He spent his 21st birthday at Taitlands, going morning and afternoon to Stainforth Church – went with his aunt around Giggleswick and Settle as she made calls on friends and acquaintances – and went with the Redmaynes to Clapham to visit their relations the Marriner family at the vicarage and to have fun at Clapham Fair.  He and Henry went to a circus at Settle, went rabbiting about Horton, and shooting in Austwick Wood.  His stay lasted nearly three weeks.

And then in 1862 Thomas and Jane Redmayne died within days of each other.  Their son-in-law Leonard certified that Thomas died of "Chronic softening of the Brain 12 months" and of bronchitis, from which he had suffered for four weeks; Jane died of cancer.  

Their son Henry was only twenty years old, and the executors looked for tenants for Taitlands:

Yorkshire Gazette, 5 April 1862

To be Let, and may be Entered upon forthwith, Taitlands, a desirable Residence ... in the midst of very Romantic Scenery, with the Gardens and Grounds, and Seventeen and a Half Acres of Rich Grass Land.  The House comprises Entrance Hall, Dining, Drawing, and Breakfast Rooms, Eight Bed Rooms, besides Man Servant's Room, and Attics, Butler's Pantry, good Kitchens, Scullery, and excellent Cellars.  The Rooms are spacious and lofty.  The House is in good Repair, and in every respect a suitable Gentleman's Residence.  Good Coach House, Stables, Harness Room, and other convenient Outbuildings adjoining ...

The following year Henry's sister Mary married Dr James Sedgwick of Boroughbridge .  He was Leonard's younger brother and they were married in London, presumably from Leonard and Jane's house:

Morning Post 19 February 1863

Sedgwick - Redmayne.  On the 14th inst., at St Thomas's, Portman-square, by the Rev W Richardson, incumbent of Stainforth, Yorkshire, James Sedgwick, Esq., of Boroughbridge, to Mary, younger daughter of the late Thomas Redmayne, Esq., of Taitlands, Settle, Yorkshire

Five years later, Henry died at Taitlands:

Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer, 19 March 1868

Redmayne - March 13, at Taitlands, near Settle, aged 26, Henry Redmayne, Esq

Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer, 21 March 1868

Stainforth - Military Funeral - At Stainforth, on Wednesday, the members of the North Craven Rifles attended the funeral of Ensign Redmayne, who died on the 13th inst., aged 26 years.  The mournful procession, headed by the rifle corps, the band playing the "Dead March," proceeded from the deceased gentleman's residence, at Taitlands, to St Peter's Church, Stainforth, where his body was interred in the family vault.  The funeral service was read by the Rev Mr Hearnley, after which the accustomed number of three volleys were fired over the grave by the members of the corps

The Taitlands estate was offered for sale by Messrs Hirst & Capes of Knaresborough on 4 April 1868.  Hepper & Sons of Leeds sold the contents of the house.  A couple of their auction advertisements in the Yorkshire Post that June give us a flavour of the life that the family had known:

The Cabinet Furniture of Drawing, Dining, and Breakfast Rooms, in rosewood and Spanish mahogany; Chimney and Pier Glasses, Window Furniture, superior Brussels and Tapestry Carpets, Hearth Rugs, a number of Engravings, a few Books, a small collection of old China, Entrance Hall and fittings, a valuable Eight Days' Clock, which chimes every quarter and strikes the hours: cases of Stuffed Birds, Fire and Side Arms, the mahogany and other appointments of nine Bed and Dressing Rooms, Cut Glass, and transparent and stone China, in services; excellent Kitchen, Scullery, Laundry, and Dairy requisites

The Library of Books, loose Engravings, contents of bedrooms Nos. 5, 6, and 7, valuable guns, superior double brougham, two sets superior harness, Green's lawn mower, and various other effects.

John's friend Thomas Stackhouse bought the house.  He died on 1 April 1872, aged 38, leaving his widow and children to live in the house for many more years.

Transcription of John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1859

Written in the same diary as 1858

Saturday January 1
To office.  At night walked with Steele to H.E. Clark’s to tea (the last time as a bachelor) as he is to be married on Wednesday.  Jacob Smith & Thos Lund were there    played cards.  Steele was called away   I got home a little before 12

Sunday January 2
Twice to BB Church   Joe spent the day with us   Sarah was in York.  He & I walked to Kirby Hill Church in the afternoon.  LW Sedgwicks child was christened in the evening

Monday January 3
To office.  A Noon Had a walk with Capes   At Night went with Miss Stott, Steele & EC Clark in Stotts phaeton to Clarks of Minskip to tea   Miss Calder   The Misses Appleton & Miss McCleod were there   Had a good dance   John Clark drove the Sedgwicks & Alice & Lizzy & me home   got home about 12

Tuesday January 4
To office   At Noon rode Joes mare to Sugar Hills near Givendale to see some coursing  Had some pretty fair sport   At Night was about home

Wednesday January 5
To office  At Night went to Capes’s   stayed supper

Thursday January 6
To office   Spent the evening at Joes

Friday January 7
To office   At Night went to supper at Mrs Parkers at Langthorp   played Bagatelle

Transcription of John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1855

Small leatherbound notebook “The Universal Pocket Diary & Almanack for 1855”
Much of the diary is empty.

In the flyleaf is written

Feby 8  a  ltre of Mr Grows found by Broadbelt betwn the PO & Ornhams brot here by a ...iler.  Add d to
T & H Ferrabel
Stroud
Gloster

Saturday June 30
Went to Taitlands

Sunday July 1
To Stainforth church  & Giggleswick  went to Catterick Foss

Monday July 2
Went to Skipton Sessions   Co.... prest  6 months   Came home  walk.. from Knaresbro

Sunday July 8
3 times to church

John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1855

Transcription of John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1853

Small leatherbound notebook “Macdonald’s Commercial Pocket Book for 1853”

In the flyleaf is written in pencil, “The heart corrupted by evil arts could not easily forego the gratification of its vicious propensities”.  On the opposite page, in pencil “Ah quoties caneret petere....” Several lines, not easy to read, and with alterations.

He notes on the memorandum page before the diary begins, that he has purchased from Wildman:  Sallust, 6 copybooks, 1 quire paper, etc and the prices.  The Sallust cost 1/6d.

Folded in a pocket at the front of the diary is a piece of paper showing the marks of the boys in his school.  The school was the Free Grammar School, Giggleswick [cf Pigot’s Directory].

8 Sep 2020:  The eBook of A History of Giggleswick School, by Edward Allen Bell is now available and includes a biography of Dr Butterton

“Head Class” seems to consist of Lupton, Bramley, Heaton, Leeming, Greenwood and Doria.  “Second Class” was Walker, Robbins? 1, Rob - 2-, Stubbs, Harrison, Nidsdale, Tomlinson, Holt and Clapham. 
The subjects for Head Class were:  Weekly marks (out of 500); Geography (120); Hist of Jus (180); R Hist (140); G Hist (120); L Ex (?180); G Ex (180); Cicero (180); Horace & Vir (180); [illeg]; G Test (200); Horace Lat?; Antigone??; Homer (160). 
Second Class had:  D.M. (200); Geog (120); Ver. (140); R Hist (120); G Ex (120); ? L Ex (120); ?N. S Hist (160); [illeg]; Sallust (160); G Test (160); G ?Del (200); and ?G ex (160).

From which it may be seen that most of the subjects were classical.

John Richard Stubbs' diary for 1853

John did not keep his diary every day, so these are photographs of the entries that he did make:

John Stubbs' diaries (1853-60): people T to Y

These are my original working notes, made quite a few years ago in the days before broadband and easy access to census records etc.  I have done a certain amount of extra work in getting them ready to post here, so some of the entries are now up-to-date.

They include quotations from George Whitehead's Journals, ed. Helier Hibbs, which have been an invaluable resource for which I am very grateful. 

As with the A-Z of Hutton Rudby people, my accuracy is NOT guaranteed!  And I'm afraid they are not quite in alphabetical order.

William THOMPSON of London, auctioneer
husband of Sophy Hirst (qv)
William Thompson, an auctioneer of 4 Kings Road, Bedford Row, London. 
He was the son of James Thompson, a wine merchant.

Rev James? THOMPSON of LONDON and Bridlington
officiates at wedding of William Thompson and Sophy Hirst
Diary references:
J mentions him repeatedly in 1860:  he sees him at Mrs Charles’ in London.  Thompson makes visits to Yorkshire in the early summer, and stays at Bridge Foot before marrying Sophy in July

28 Feb 1860:  “Went with Sophy to Mr Thompsons & had luncheon with him”
12 Jul 1860:  “Sophy Hirsts wedding day    I was groomsman  went with the bridegroom & Mr Jas Thompson to Church at ¼ to 11   they got married   had lots of races &c   Had breakfast about ½ past 12   The bridal pair left about two   Had all sorts of games in the field after that .then Joe Steele & I rowed Miss Thompson Mr Jas Thompson & Mary Hirst to Westwick..”
   
Miss Thompson is still staying in Bbdge on July 24, when she comes with the Hirsts to tea at Bridge Foot
   
Mr Thompson of Bridlington Quay?  preaches at Bbdge Church morning and evening on July 15th

Parish Registers:  Boroughbridge
12 Jul 1860
William Thompson – 35 – bachelor  – auctioneer  – 4 Kings Road, Bedford Row, London –  (father)  James Thompson, wine merchant
married
Sophia Hirst – 22 – spinster – Boroughbridge –  (father) William Hirst, solicitor
by licence
witnesses:  William Hirst,  JR Stubbs, Dora Hirst,  HH Capes, Mary B Hirst

John Stubbs' diaries (1853-60): names beginning S

These are my original working notes, made quite a few years ago in the days before broadband and easy access to census records etc.  I have done a certain amount of extra work in getting them ready to post here, so some of the entries are now up-to-date.

They include quotations from George Whitehead's Journals, ed. Helier Hibbs, which have been an invaluable resource for which I am very grateful. 

As with the A-Z of Hutton Rudby people, my accuracy is NOT guaranteed!  And I'm afraid they are not quite in alphabetical order.

SAMPSON of/in BOROUGHBRIDGE   
There may be several Sampsons:  ie Leond of Thornton Bdge, S of Langthorp
Diary references:
3 Jun 1856:  “..to Helperby  Mary Dixon & Sophy were set by Fletcher to Sampsons & walked from there..”
16 Jun 1856:  “..to Helperby by Train & walked back  Richd set us to Sampsons..”
16 Aug 1858:  “Joe  Sd & I went to Sampsons of Langthorp to try the Kirby Hill Harmonium”
26 Aug 1858:  “at night at Joes  went across to see Sampsons horses with Joe & Capes”
13 Sep 1858:    “At ½ past nine I drove Smallwood in Uncles Dog Cart to Dishforth from there to Norton to Thos Lunds to Thornton Bridge to Leond Sampsons & Jacob Smiths & home to Joes to dinner...”
24 Sep 1858:  “went to Sampsons on business”
27 Sep 1858:  “drove Uncle Hirsts Dog Cart with Sarah thro Ripon to Harrisons of Fountains respecting a horse of Sampsons of Langthorp  from there back to Ripon  from Ripon to Turners of Quarry Moor on whom I personally served a notice that if he did not return the money & take back the horse he would be sold by auction, when he offered to give Sampson £45 for the horse back or give him £15 to keep it...”
27 Dec 1858:  “Rode one of Sampsons Horses of Langthorp on his business.........”
26 Mar 1859:  “to Norton ... T Lund & Leond Sampson were there”

SLATERS of/in BOROUGHBRIDGE
Diary references:
28 Feb 1856:  “..walked up the river past Howells to opposite Slaters halfway to Roecliffe”
15 Jun 1857:  “..went up in the boat  Slater went with us....got two pike from Slaters lines”
21 Jul 1857:  “..went to Slaters & had a long walk with him  He shot a hare”
15 Dec 1857:  “..went rabbiting with Slater & Poulter..”
27 Aug 1858:  “At Night Capes  Joe & I took the boat to Slaters & walked on to Roecliffe to see Poulters dogs”

11 Jul 1859:  “At night Capes & I went to Slaters to fetch his boat [for the picnic]”

The Redmayne family of Stainforth

Update: A much more detailed account of the life of Thomas Redmayne is to be found in the article by Catherine Vaughan-Williams published in 2020 in the Journal of the North Craven Heritage Trust.  The article is called 'Thomas Redmayne of Taitlands'.  

In it you will find full details of the Redmayne family of Taitlands and their connection with the Henlock family of Great Ouseburn and the Stubbs family of Boroughbridge.

Thomas Redmayne of Taitlands was born in Stainforth in about 1797 and died on 23 February 1862 at the age of 65.

Thomas was the first cousin once removed of the prosperous London silk mercer, Giles Redmayne (1792-1857), who bought the Brathay Hall estate, beside Windermere; Thomas Redmayne's executors were his wife's nephew Joseph Stubbs and John Marriner Redmayne, son of Giles.  The relationship may look a little distant but Thomas and Giles were close.

Thomas was one of the children of Richard Redmayne and Ann Batty.  Richard is commemorated in Giggleswick church by a brass inlaid in the floor: Richard Redmayne of Stainforth died 13 Jun 1799 age 31.

By the time the cousins Thomas and Giles Redmayne were in their thirties, they were both creating country estates/houses for themselves – Thomas at Stainforth and Giles at Brathay.

John Stubbs' diaries (1853-60): names beginning R

These are my original working notes, made quite a few years ago in the days before broadband and easy access to census records etc.  I have done a certain amount of extra work in getting them ready to post here, so some of the entries are now up-to-date.

They include quotations from George Whitehead's Journals, ed. Helier Hibbs, which have been an invaluable resource for which I am very grateful. 

As with the A-Z of Hutton Rudby people, my accuracy is NOT guaranteed!  And I'm afraid they are not quite in alphabetical order.

9 July 2022: I have added information from 'Thomas Redmayne of Taitlands' by Catherine Vaughan-Williams, published in the North Craven Heritage Trust Journal 2020, where relevant 

Mrs Jane REDMAYNE of Taitlands, née HENLOCK
1809-1862.
"Aunt Henlock"
Daughter of John Henlock of Ouseburn and Jane Redmayne of Stainforth, sister to Mrs Mary Stubbs, William Henlock, Isabella Henlock, & Mrs Ann Pick
She married Thomas Redmayne of Taitlands, her cousin [cf 'Thomas Redmayne of Taitlands' by Catherine Vaughan-Williams here]

Diary references:
23 Mar 1853:  “To tell Uncle Henlock the flower at Aunts is done & Aunt Pick that she wants a ham”
Oct 1856:  Aunt & Uncle Redmayne at Redcar with JRS family
3 Aug 1858:  Uncle & Aunt Redmayne come to stay at Bridge Foot

17 Jun 1859:  “Uncle & Aunt Redmayne came to Fredk Scholfield Capes’ christening”
21 Sep 1859:  “Had a letter from Aunt Redmayne asking me to go to Taitlands some day this week”
3 Oct 1859:  “Uncle [Redmayne] went to Clapham Fair    Aunt   Henry  Lizzie & I went to Clapham in the large carriage   I drove there  We had dinner & tea at Miss Redmaynes   Called at the vicarage & Miss Ingleby’s & had some good fun in the fair  Hy Marriner was at home”

5 Mar 1860:  “Wrote to Mother & Aunt Redmayne”
28 Mar 1860:  “Wrote to Aunt Redmayne who is staying at Knaresbro”
28 May 1860:  “Aunt & Uncle Redmayne were at Ouseburn”
6 Jul 1860:  “[Uncle Pick] came home with us to dinner  Aunt Redmayne with Capes”
9 Jul 1860:  “Mr Pick  Father  Aunt Redmayne Capes & I dined at Uncle Picks”
28 Sep 1860:  “... to York  I went to Miss Sutcliffes  Had lunch there   Aunt Redmayne & Mary  Aunt Bell Mrs Stackhouse Miss Cragg & I took a Cab & saw a review by Genl Cathcart of the Yorkshire Volunteers on Knavesmire & a very pretty sight it was   Hy Redmayne & Uncle & Capes were reviewed”

12. A Boroughbridge Boyhood in the 1850s: “Helped to arrange about the Wedding Breakfast”

Weddings in John’s circle were not celebrated on the large scale of today.  When John’s brother Joe was married to Sarah Sedgwick in York, John did not go:

Tuesday May 12th 1857
Father & Mother  Capes & Jane set off in Mrs Morrells Cab to Joes Wedding at ½ past seven.   Went to office.   At Noon was about home.   At Night I went to Uncles   Miss Milnthorp  Mrs M Smith & Miss Fretwell were there

Wednesday May 20th 1857
Had breakfast at Uncles.   At Noon went to Langthorpe.   At Night Rode Uncle Hirsts pony to Marton with Grafton on business & from there to Ouseburn   Had supper at Uncle Picks   got home at ¼ to ten   Got a pickle Fork Aunt Ann got in York for me to give to Joe & Sarah

Joe and Sarah were away only a couple of days, before they returned to live in Langthorpe:

Friday May 22nd 1857
Had breakfast at Uncle’s   At Noon went to Langthorp.   At Night Capes & I went up the River   I shot 2 rats  Joe & Sarah came home   Uncle came home from London

Sarah was a cousin of the Sedgwicks of Aldborough.  Her father Leonard Sedgwick, brother of Dr Roger, was a wholesale tea dealer in York.

1. A Boroughbridge Boyhood in the 1850s: Introducing John Stubbs

Saturday January 1st 1853
Stayed at home in the morning & helped to clip the pony & had a ride in the evening on the pony

John Richard Stubbs was fourteen years old when he made his first entry in his new diary.  He lived beside the River Ure in Boroughbridge, opposite the Crown, once a famous posting house.  His home was called the Bridge Foot, where his family had lived, kept their warehouse and run their business since his grandfather’s day – wine merchants, grocers and tea dealers since 1790. 

Monday January 3rd 1853
Rode the pony to Knaresboro to the Sessions dined at the Royal Oak & rode back at night & went to Uncle Hirst’s to supper

John’s eldest brother Joseph, now aged nearly twenty-four, would take over the firm.  He had learned his trade from his father and in London and was back at home working in the business.  Eighteen-year-old Thomas was away, apprenticed to a Master Vintner.  John was destined for the law.