Shocking murder of Margaret Barker, 1805

I know this story has been retold at least once in the local press, but not for some time, and I think not always in full detail.

In the autumn of 1805, a week before the Battle of Trafalgar, newspapers across England picked up the news of a shocking murder that had taken place in Stockton-on-Tees.  The victim was a woman from Hutton Rudby.

This version, from the Leeds Intelligencer of Monday 14 October, tells the tale:

On Tuesday night a shocking murder was committed, at Stockton-upon-Tees, upon a young woman of the name of Barker, who had gone from Hutton Rudby, near Stokesley, where she resided, to sell some Cleveland cloth for a manufacturer and neighbour of the name of Webster.

She retired to rest between nine and ten o’clock, and at midnight the inhuman wretches where she lodged, and to whom she was no stranger, nearly severed her head from her body with a case knife, and soon after twelve were seen attempting to remove the body, in order to throw it into the river.  

The man, his wife and daughter, were all immediately secured.

A young woman murdered in her sleep, the victim of a dreadful conspiracy by the family whom she had trusted?

A week later, the story turned out to be rather different.

William Orton of Hutton Rudby & the forged Boroughbridge Bank note: 1821

A man named William Orton lived on the east end of North Side, Hutton Rudby at the beginning of the 19th century.

He had obviously been a substantial property owner, because title deeds of 1815 relating to land belonging to the late Thomas Tweddle of Middleton show that Orton had sold Tweddle several houses, garths and gardens in the area of the Bay Horse [1].

It seems likely that he was the father of the William Orton, described as being the son of William Orton, who was baptised at Hutton Rudby on 8 December 1778.

The account that follows is almost certainly about the William who was born in 1778.  He would have been aged about 43 at the time of this story.

In March 1821, William Orton of Hutton Rudby was tried at the York Assizes.  He was charged with altering a banknote and knowingly passing an altered banknote – both offences that carried the death penalty.

He had used forged notes to buy two heifers from a farmer at Thirsk Fair, claiming that his name was Wilson and that he lived in Goodramgate in York.  As a result of this, George Brigham [see Chapter 5 of Remarkable, but still True] had to appear in court to confirm Orton's true identity.

Five guinea note from the Boroughbridge Bank

This is a photograph of a photograph.

It shows a five-guinea (£5 5s 0d) note from the Boroughbridge Bank. 

A note on the reverse of the framed photograph records that at the end of the 19th century the original banknote was in the possession of Joseph Stubbs of Boroughbridge.  He was a grandson of the Thomas Stubbs named on the note.

Thomas Stubbs (1761-1838) was a grocer, tea dealer and wine & spirit merchant.  His home and business premises were known as the Bridge Foot – they are the buildings depicted on the bank note.  According to Bishop Stubbs of Oxford, the house stood on the site of the Battle of Boroughbridge 1322.

Stubbs was one of the four partners who owned the Boroughbridge Bank.  The others were Hugh Stott of Boroughbridge, Humphrey Fletcher of Minskip, and Thomas Dew of Boroughbridge.  The articles of partnership establishing the Bank were signed on 8 May 1814, but the bank may have been in existence for some time before that date – the partnership agreement may have been a formalisation of an existing situation.  The bank had branches in Boroughbridge and Northallerton.

Will of Mark Barker of Great Ayton, 1838

Another Will held at the Borthwick Institute.  Again, from my working notes and accuracy not guaranteed.

Notes and details of Mark Barker's heirs and successors, Mark Barker Passman and Henry Passman, and their mother Sarah, follow the details of the Will.

Mark Barker had been a servant of Thomas Wayne of Angrove Hall.

This country house once stood between Stokesley and Great Ayton, but was demolished in 1832.  According to John Fairfax-Blakeborough, this was because it was haunted.  Only its gate piers survive, removed from their original position to a new site outside the Stokesley Manor House.

We are keenly awaiting Peter Meadows' revised booklet on the subject, but in the meantime notes from his earlier account can be found here, with descriptions and maps. 

On his death in 1806, Thomas Wayne left considerable property to Mark Barker, who found himself a property owner in Hutton Rudby and Lord of the Manor of Hutton.  Barker's Row is named after him, and he provided the site for the village school built by Mr Barlow.

He left his estate to a boy called Mark Barker Passman, who is widely believed to have been his son by Sarah Passman.  Mark Barker Passman died at the age of 32 and in turn left the property to his half-brother Henry Passman.  Henry farmed at Manor House Farm (on the road between Hutton Rudby and Crathorne) until he retired to live on North Side, a little way up from the Bay Horse. 

The Will of Thomas Passman of Hutton Rudby, 1828

More from my working notes.  Again, I can't guarantee accuracy.  Thomas Passman's Will is to be found at the Borthwick Institute, York.

Thomas Passman was a yeoman farmer. 

On his death in 1830, he owned houses, buildings, yards, garths and gardens and a 4 acre close called the Holme or Hunters Holme.  Part of the property had been bought by William Passman in 1729; part Thomas had bought from Elizabeth Souter and Robert Moon Souter in 1822.  His trustees were Thomas Tweddle and Thomas Kingston;  he left his estate to his daughter Mary Kingston and her family.  The Kingston family were related to the Hebbrons. 

Thomas Passman:  Will dated 20 Oct 1828, died 11 Sep 1830, aged 80

Summary

Executrix:  Mary Kingston, his daughter.  Trustees:  Thomas Tweddell and Thomas Kingston.  His houses and the close called the Holme to his trustees on trust for sale, with daughter Mary Kingston to have a life interest.  On her death, her daughters – Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary Ann & Eleanor - to have £20 each, and the residue to go to his grandson Thomas Kingston.  Household effects and ready money to Mary Kingston

This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Passman of Hutton near Rudby in the County of York Yeoman made the twentieth day of October in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight

Vicars and Churchwardens of All Saints', Hutton Rudby in the C18 and C19

During the 18th and 19th centuries, eight vicars served All Saints' Church and the parish of Rudby-in-Cleveland.

Churchwardens were elected annually.  The list of their names reflects the families that have moved in and out of the village over the years.

1700-35 [1] 
Rev Michael Lieth (variously spelt Lyth and Lythe)

1735-67
Rev George Stainthorpe

1767-74
Rev Donald Grant
Grant wrote Two Dissertations on Popish Persecution and Breach of Faith which you can, amazingly, still buy on Amazon.
In this work, he admits that he knows a number of worthy local Roman Catholic families, some of which had lived in the area since the Reformation, but said that he strongly opposed their Faith and their claim to be loyal to the King
(Isn't it pleasant to reflect that All Saints has for some years been part of a successful Local Ecumenical Partnership with the Methodist and Catholic churches?)

Will of Revd Jeremiah Grice of Hutton Rudby, May 1820

From my research notes - in case it is of use or interest to anybody else.  I think it's all accurate, but obviously I can't guarantee accuracy. 

Jeremiah Grice was the vicar of Hutton Rudby from 1781 until his death in 1820.  His Will can be found at the Borthwick Institute, York.  I will begin with a summary of the contents, go on with a transcription and finish with notes on it.

Grice was the last vicar to be buried within the altar rails of Hutton Rudby church.

One of the witnesses to his Will was Thomas Pulman, the surgeon who died in the cholera outbreak of 1832.

Jeremiah Grice:  Will dated 1 May 1820, died 13 May 1820, age 71

Summary

Executrix:  Elizabeth Nelson of Halifax.  Household contents in his dwellinghouse in the township of Hutton to Mary Baillieur.  The house and lands at Trenholme, occupied by Richard Simpson, to Mary Baillieur for life and on her death as she shall appoint.  The house and lands in the township of Hutton lately bought from Matthew Appleton to Robert & Elizabeth Baillieur for life, subject to an annuity of £10 p.a. to Elizabeth Nelson, and on their deaths to Elizabeth Nelson.  All property in Halifax, and his ready money, to Elizabeth Nelson.