Christmas Past

It seems appropriate as we approach Christmas to have a look back at how the season was celebrated locally in times past. We are at present having wet weather but it is not too cold.

However in December 1878 the York Herald reported that it was well below freezing and the rivers were frozen. It is interesting in these days of a long Christmas break to read that on Christmas Day the businesses were closed - which suggests that they were probably open on all other days. The report begins with what was happening in York and then moves to Goole and Howden.


From the York Herald, Saturday 28th December 1878

"Those who have sighed for a 'good old-fashioned' Christmas have at length had their wishes realised to the full, for the weather is of a more severe character than any that has been experienced for many years.

In York Christmas Day was observed in the orthodox fashion, the various places of business being closed, and services held in the different churches and chapels.

The hallowed day was ushered in by a gladdening peal on the Minster bells, and as soon as the day was fairly born the waits awoke the stillness by their carols and hymns. The Ouse and Foss being frozen, hundreds indulged in the exhilarating and healthy exercise of skating, of which for several seasons they have been deprived.

The inmates of the York Union Workhouse, numbering about 60 more than last year, were supplied with a substantial Christmas dinner, consisting of roast beef, potatoes, and plum pudding. To supply such a large number of appetites 67 stones of beef, 10 bushels of mashed potatoes, and 55 plum puddings, were called into requisition. The plum puddings were made up of 210lbs of currants, 70lbs of brown sugar, 40lbs of ground lump sugar, 120lbs of moist sugar, 13lbs of sultana raisins, 33lbs of lemon peel, and 60lbs of suet.

At tea, currant cakes, baked out of 20 stones of flour, were served up with as much of the "cup that cheers but not inebriates" as the inmates desired. Various parts of the house were decorated with evergreens and mottoes, and everything was done to render those to whom the institution afforded shelter from the cruel blast of poverty, contented and happy.

Goole
 
For the first time for several years, Christmas Day has come with the river blocked with ice, and with consequently a large number of men unemployed. The companies, in whose hands the steam trade of the port rests, have made strenuous efforts to keep the channel open, but the great block of ice in Goole Reach has baffled their efforts, and their steamers have had to return to Goole after a struggle of an exciting nature, in which the ice was the victor.

The river now presents a very picturesque appearance. Blocks of ice, stranded on the shoal sands, rise to a height of 10 or 12 feet out of the water, dotting the river for miles, while portions of the channel are covered with great sheets of ice closely heaped together, over some of which men and youths have crossed.

The Aire, the Dutch river (or Don), and the Derwent, are all blocked. On Christmas Day the thermometer was 22 deg., or ten below freezing, but until noon the weather was fine and bright. After that hour it clouded over and became very foggy. The parish church, which was very prettily decorated by the ladies of the parish, was well attended, the Christmas sermon being preached by the Rev. Dr. Bell, vicar of Goole.

At Snaith, Rawcliffe, Hook, Airmyn, and the other parishes round, the churches were suitably decorated. To meet the needs arising out of the distress, coals were distributed on Christmas eve, and on Wednesday, at the Market Hall, there was a soup boiling, tickets being given by the committee to those persons suffering from the present stagnation of trade or by the frost.

At the workhouse the usual treat was provided for the inmates by the Guardians, and a number of ladies and gentlemen attended to assist. The guardians present were Mr Huntington, Mr Bromley, and Mr Gleadow, and, notwithstanding the extra number of inmates, the house being full, there was enough and to spare. The visitors included Mrs and the Misses Wells, of Boothferry House, the Rev. T. Dickin, &c. At the close the usual speeches were made, and a very pleasant afternoon was passed.

Howden

The usual services were held at Howden Church, which was tastefully decorated, and a service was also held in connection with the Wesleyan body. The inmates of the workhouse had their accustomed treat in the shape of a dinner of roast beef and plum pudding, with other little luxuries for the inmates after dinner. The ice was the centre of attraction in tbe afternoon, and skating was indulged in by a great number of people both down the Selby-road and at the Kilpin Brick-yards."

---

A later newspaper report comes from the Hull Mail in 1936:

"HOW GOOLE SPENT CHRISTMAS"

"Goole spent a cheerful Christmas, reflecting the recent improvement in trade of the port, and family parties, football and dancing were the chief attractions.

The aged, the sick, and the poor were not forgotten, and there were the usual festivities at the hospitals and institutions. The Mayor and Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs S. G. Bevan), with a number of other guests, attended the Christmas dinner at the Poor Law Institution, where an original note had been struck in the decorative scheme, the dining hall being bedecked to represent a cruise on an ocean liner.

The Christmas fare included beer provided by Mr Fred Taylor. In the evening a concert organised by Alderman and Mrs Ernest Johnson was given by Mr Geo. Waud (tenor), Mr E. Walker (baritone), Miss D. Bullock (elocutionist), B. Fish (ventriloquist), Mr Harold Dodson (piano accordion), Mr G. W. Jennings (piano), the Cliftonians Mandolin Band, and the pupils of the Bradley School of Dancing.

At the Bartholomew Hospital, each patient received a present and was allowed two visitors to tea. The Mayor and Mayoress toured the wards, and Father Christmas (Dr. K. Barrett) handed gifts from the Christmas tree to the patients and visitors. In the evening Mr H. Dodson entertained with his piano accordion, and on Boxing Day a cinematograph show was given by Mr H. Kay.

Nearly 300 poor children of the town were present at the annual Christmas Day breakfast organised by Carlisle Terrace Church Christian Endeavour Society. The Mayor and Mayoress also attended this effort, and Mr Sam Lister, acting as Father Christmas, distributed toys and sweets to the boys and girls."

---

I hope all readers of this blog have a merry Christmas and enjoy their Christmas dinner. I hope too that the rivers are not frozen and the weather clement!

Goole coal hoists

I am hoping to clear up a minor mystery here. I have recently read  two books which include pictures of Goole where the coal hoists are described as 'pepper pot hoists'.

I think the newer book took the description from the first one. I know that the Goole water towers are often affectionately known as 'salt and pepper' because of their shape.

But other than in these books I have never come across the hoists being described as pepper pots - although looking at the hoists it is perfectly possible to see where the idea came from. So is this something I have just never picked up on or is it something written in the books which is unknown to Goole people?

The hydraulically operated coal hoists were invented by William Hamond Bartholomew to lift the floating pans or compartments (called Tom Puddings locally) full of coal and tip them into the hold of a ship. They were in use - five of them eventually - from 1863 and were unique to Goole. One hoist has been preserved and can still be seen today.

Here is a picture of a hoist in action in Goole docks. Was it ever called a pepper pot?

SS Mersey of Goole

I am writing this on the morning of 11th November, Remembrance Day and thought it would be right to include here a memorial to some of the many servicemen and women, including those who served in the Merchant Navy.

Captain William Rockett, lost on the sinking of the SS Mersey

Shown above is Captain William Rockett who was lost when the SS Mersey sank on 20th April 1940. It was believed that she had hit a mine.

The report in the Hull Mail of 22nd April 1940 follows:

'Goole Steamer Mined with Loss of 14

THREE OF SIX SURVIVORS IN HOSPITAL

GOOLE'S biggest shipping disaster since the outbreak of war occurred on Saturday, when the 1,037-ton collier Mersey sank off the south-east coast following an explosion, and 14 of her crew of 20 were lost. It is believed that she struck a mine.

The ship was only a few miles from the shore at the time of the explosion, and it sank within a few minutes. A man walking on the cliffs at the time said: "I was looking out to sea, and there was suddenly terrific explosion. A column of water shot into the air. The ship I had been looking at a few minutes before had disappeared."

With the exception of two, who came from Hull and Bridlington, all the crew belonged to Goole. The missing men included the master, Captain W. Rockett, of 81, Adeline-street, Goole. The other members of the crew were:

Second Officer, J. A. Vickers, 717, Anlaby-road, Hull

Steward, T. W. Garner, Lime Tree-avenue, Goole

T. Nicholls, A.B., Edinburgh-street, Goole

C. E. Riggall, A.B., Gordon-street, Goole

F. Vaux, A.B., Cottingham-street Goole

T. Wilson, A.B., Estcourt-street, Goole

J. P. Leddy, A.B., Promenade, Bridlington

F. Overington, A.B., Burlington-crescent, Goole

T. Nicholls, A.B., Edinburgh-street, Goole

E. Barker, Deck boy, Chiltern-road, Goole

F. Huntington, fireman, Percy-street, Goole

H. Walton, fireman, Western-road, Goole

H. Ducheman, fireman, Gordon-street, Goole

E. W. Cox, fireman, Prospect terrace, Goole

S. E. Clark, fireman, Bell-lane, Rawcliffe

R. W. Taun, fireman, Cross Gordon-street, Goole

The survivors are:

Chief Officer, J. A. Carr, Rutland-road, Goole

Chief Engineer, W. L. Pollock, Eton-road, Goole

Second Engineer, J. A. Drury, Brough-street, Goole

F. Vaux, A.B., Cottingham-street, Goole

T. Wilson, A.B., Estcourt-street, Goole

Vickers died of his wounds after being landed. Three survivors, Drury, Vaux and Ash, were injured and are in hospital at the port where they were landed. The other three, Carr, Pollock, and Wilson, were unhurt, and returned to Goole in the early hours of Sunday.

MINED AND TORPEDOED IN LAST WAR 

Seen by a "Mail" representative, the men would make no statement beyond saying that they had had shocking experience. 

The SS Mersey, owned by the Goole Steam Shipping (L.M.S.R.) Co., served throughout the last war as a cable ship. The last ship to be lost by the company was the SS Calder, which foundered on a voyage from Hamburg to Goole on April 19 1931, nine years ago almost to the day. 

Captain Rockett, who was 47 years of age, entered the service of the company as a chief officer in 1924, and had occasional temporary commands until 1929, when he became a permanent master. He was one of the company's youngest captains, and had been in command of the Mersey for about 12 months. 

During the last war he was both mined and torpedoed. 

Two years ago his 19 year old son, Jack Rockett, was killed by falling from the mast of a ship in port at Cartagena, Spain, while adjusting the wireless aerial. 

NEARLY ALL MARRIED 

Captain Rockett was a Younger Brother of Trinity House, and a member of the Goole (Aire and Calder) Lodge of Freemasons. He leaves a wife, two sons, and two daughters. 

Garner, the steward, was a married man with four children, and most of the other missing men were married with families. Riggall was injured when the Goole trader Lowland was mined in the early days of the war, and this trip on the Mersey was his first since coming out of hospital. 

Able Seaman Joseph P. Leddy, of tbe Promenade, Bridlington, was making his first trip for 12 years. A married man with one child, he had lived at Bridlington for about eight years. He was 37 years of age and the son of the late Mr P. M. Leddy, who was senior clerk to the Customs at Goole during the early part of the last war. For some time before joining the merchant service Leddy had been unemployed. His mother, Mrs Leddy, lives at Priory-crescent, Bridlington. '

William Pollock was sadly lost in another incident in 1941

SS Mersey of Goole

The Pepper family of Goole

Yet again it has been cold, wet and grey. There has been flooding in West Yorkshire and a local gardener I talked to said all his vegetables were just sitting in the soil, not growing and looking a bit yellow. So my garden is not alone in looking very sorry for itself.

The poor weather has meant I can spend more time on the computer. I have been researching a Goole family called Pepper who spent much of their life on Goole barges and billyboys.

George Pepper was born on a canal boat and after his marriage to Emma Ward in 1880 he worked variously as a boatman and as a dock labourer. The family were living at The Barracks on the road to Swinefleet in 1911.

George had a few brushes with the law being summonsed for poaching and for salmon fishing without a licence.

At least two of George's sons, Paul and John Henry, served in the army in World War One. Paul survived but John Henry was killed in 1918, just before the end of the war. He was awarded the Military Medal.

Chris, who has recently set up a blog on Goole men who were killed in the war, provided the following entry from the Goole Times.

Taken from ‘Goole Times’ Thursday November 1^st, 1918.

SERGT. J.H. PEPPER KILLED.

            Official news has been received of the death in action on September 18 of Sergt. John Henry Pepper, Manchester Regiment, of 21, Antis Street, Plymouth, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Pepper, of 23, George Street, Goole.

            Sergt. Pepper, who was 36 years of age and was well-known in Goole, had left the town some two years before he enlisted at the beginning of the war, and he had been out in France some three years. He leaves a widow and six young children.

            Writing to Sergt. Pepper’s widow, his officer, Lieut. J.A. Corley, says:- “Please let me offer you my deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement in the loss of your husband. I saw him a few moments before he was hit. A more gallant or brave soldier I have never commended for his bravery. I had already mentioned him to my Commanding Officer, who promoted him to the rank of Sergeant and recommended him for a decoration. His death is a loss to the company and myself; we greatly appreciated his services, and his cheerful disposition was a magnificent example to us all.”

            A brother of Sergt. Pepper, Pte. Paul Pepper, has just been discharged from the Army after being wounded five times and gassed twice. A brother-in-law, Mr. Chas. Abson, of 32, Gordon Street, is a minesweeper, and is at present in Russia.

In 1911 John Henry Pepper was in Dartmoor prison but nothing is known of why that was or indeed what happened to his family after the war.

George Pepper survived until his early 90s and in 1930 was featured in an article in the Hull Daily Mail as 'England's oldest boatman'. He claimed to have fathered 20 children and to have 100 descendants.

If you are one of them please get in touch!

Samuel Shirtcliffe/Shetliffe

Well, I did go to Eastrington show yesterday but as the field was so wet the horse and cattle classes had been cancelled. It was not actually raining when I was there and there was a good entry in the handicraft section in the village hall but it must have been disappointing for the organisers who had put so much work in.

On a completely different topic I have been contacted by David Shetliffe from Australia whose ancestors came from Goole. He is hoping to visit Goole later this year and would be delighted to meet any relatives. He has sent me details of his ancestor Samuel Shirtcliffe/ Shetliffe which have been passed down through the family and is happy for them to appear on my blog in the hope that he can find some Yorkshire relatives!

Samuel was born on 29th September 1816, one of five children of Thomas Shirtcliffe (the 'e' on the end of the name comes and goes) and Grace Clayton. Thomas was originally from Deptford in Kent and Grace was from Cowick.

Samuel married Ellen Rimmington at Snaith on July 14th 1838. Samuel was a seaman and  on one occasion brought his wife Ellen a silk shawl home from China in 1840 after a voyage on the Alexander Baring. He afterwards captained local vessels Bessie and Margaret and Sarah. 

Samuel and Ellen's first son, another Samuel, was born in 1846. In 1848 Samuel and the Margaret and Sarah were caught in a terrible storm in the North Sea and afterwards Samuel decided to stay nearer home and worked as a river pilot.

Their second son Joseph was born on December 1848 at Selby. The following year in September 25th 1849 the family sailed on the barque the Douglas for Australia and arrived at Port Adelaide on January 11th 1850. They then travelled by bullock dray to Burra Burra where Samuel worked in the copper mines. In February 1852 they moved to Goolwa where Samuel had heard news of shipping developments. Initially they lived in a tent.

Samuel worked for a time building the horse drawn railway between Goolwa and Port Elliott. Around this time the Shirtcliffe name began to be written as Shetliff[e] as this was in line with the way that it was pronounced by Samuel's workmates.

On March 6th 1854 Samuel and Ellen's daughter Amelia was born, the first white girl born in Goolwa.

Samuel put his shipping background to good use and went into business building ships, particularly paddle steamers which sailed along the River Murray. One wonders if he ever returned to Goole to get a few ideas!

If you can trace your ancestry back to the Shirtcliffes and Rimmingtons David would like to know. We do know that there is a connection with the Goole Hopley family. Robert Hopley married Mary Rimmington in 1827 at Hook.

Ellen Shirtcliffe

Samuel Shirtcliffe

Samuel [jnr] and Joseph Shirtcliffe/Shetliffe

Family history day

I spent yesterday at the family history day at Goole Waterways Museum. Sadly we did not have many visitors. Some people, who had come for a boat ride round the docks, wandered around the stalls but, along with the Boothferry History group, the Isle of Axholme family history group and the Marshland history group, I was in a room down a short corridor and so few general visitors  found us.

This, we all felt, was a pity as there was a lot of information on display and we were all there keen to help family historians but there had not been much publicity for the event and I do not think local people knew it was taking place.

Those of us manning the stalls in the main already knew each other and so we had some pleasant conversation but looking out at the sunshine I felt I might have been more profitably been doing some gardening!!

I had my new DVDs on display - 5 compilations of Goole pictures [ about 30 on each disc] covering the shipyard and launches, ships visiting Goole, the docks, the railways and the town. I shall be putting more information about them on my website.

Below is  one of the more 'modern' pictures from the ship disc showing the paddle steamer Lincoln Castle visiting Goole in, I think, 1976. I remember going on the trip and looking at the engines as they thudded their way along the Ouse.

Lincoln Castle visiting Goole

Goole hobbies exhibition

Yesterday I had a stall at the Goole hobbies exhibition. It was very busy and I met lots of people interested in local history. I had a screen linked to my laptop and had different folders of pictures on display. By far the most popular were those showing ships, docks and railways. Several of those watching scenes of launches of Goole ships had worked on building them and were able to add information. Many remembered the launch of the Arctic Freebooter, a stern trawler, in 1965. Apparently there was a problem and she listed badly after entering the water.

I was kept very busy answering queries as varied as how large was the Goole registration district, did I have any old photos of Adlingfleet [only of the church] and when was the present Howden market cross erected [1909].

Today I have been sending off digital images of old photos which people ordered yesterday.
I did however make time to take Molly for a walk although we seem to have returned to winter weather and there were white flakes in the rain. The field near where we walk has recently been ploughed and she finds it puzzling to have to slither up and down the furrows whereas before she could run freely.

We have had a pair of Mallards on the pond and the new brown hens are beginning to lay. My rose hedge is beginning to grow and the daffodils are flowering amidst the snowdrops. I know it is only the beginning of March but I am keen to begin gardening.

Goole shipbuilding

My Goole students have recently been studying the shipbuilders of the town. We started by looking at the early builders such as John Gutteridge, George Outwin, James Wake and John and Thomas Day who had small yards, mostly on Canal side.

Then we have looked at the bigger yard on Vermuyden Terrace, on the bank of the Dutch River founded by John Pilkington and run successfully until his death in 1886 by Thomas Scott.

Eventually this yard went into receivership and was rescued by the Craggs family. This began a long association between the family and the town of Goole. Even I, who knew then little about shipbuilding, was very grateful to receive a Craggs memorial grant when I left GGS - although I do not think that I knew then what the connection was between the name and Goole.

We have been looking at some amazing pictures of ships being launched from between a row of houses and learning of Goole ships coming to grief in various parts of the world. It is a fascinating part of Goole's history.

On the domestic front I have had some winter flu bug and Molly does not understand why her long walks have not been happening. Roll on spring. At least the snowdrops have appeared and are carpeting the garden.

More about the SS Aire at Saltmarshe

I was pleased to see Fiona's comment about my previous blog entry describing how she remembered the SS Aire at Saltmarshe. I thought it might be interesting to upload a couple of the pictures - I would be happy to upload others or any information which anyone would like to share.

Saltmarshe - the SS Aire

Today has been a typical dull, drizzly November day. I had hoped to take some pictures in Saltmarshe Park but the light was too poor.

I have recently been looking at photos of when the SS Aire was run aground at Saltmarshe after colliding with the German collier Helene B. Schupp on October 6th 1958. The pictures show the workmen in the park with winches as they tried to recover the ship and stop her breaking her back. It was to no avail and she was eventually destroyed. 


It is still possible to see the marks of the hawsers on one of the oak trees and there are markers on the river bank to show where the ship was aground.


In the garden there are still lots of apples - but everyone around has lots too so it is hard even to give them away. I am hoping to pick up some russets soon as they improve with keeping.


Molly the labrador is now more a small dog than a puppy although she still does not like the dark and chews almost anything she can find. She enjoys pieces of coal from the scuttle and can reduce a piece of stick to chippings in a matter of minutes.

Captain John Moody

I am always amazed at the connections which the internet enables us to make in matters of local history. 

I recently received an email from Keith Johnson in New Zealand. He had come across the obituary on  my website for Captain Samuel Wright of Goole who died in 1897:

www.howdenshirehistory.co.uk/goole/captain-samuel-wright.html

The obituary includes a mention of Captain John Moody. John Moody had married, as his first wife, Rebecca Lubbock, the only daughter of John Lubbock, a shipbuilder of Great Yarmouth.

Keith is a descendant of one of the sons of John Lubbock and  he has in turn been in touch with Harriet,  a descendant of another son, who lives  in California. She passed on to him a biography of Captain Moody which has come down through her family. She has given permission for this to be published.

Keith has written much more about the Lubbock family connection and Captain Moody on his blog:

www.kjohnsonnz.blogspot.com

However, he has kindly allowed me to include a copy of Captain Moody's life story here as well. He would be pleased to know anything else about Captain Moody's Goole connections.

John Moody's first wife, Rebecca [Lubbock] died and he married again, in 1848, to Matilda Duckels / Duckles, daughter of Thomas Duckels of Old Goole.

THE STORY OF COMMODORE CAPTAIN JOHN MOODY (1801 – 1872)

 [by his grandson Arthur Russell Emerson (1866- 1947), with permission from the family]

Captain John Moody was born on December 13, 1801 in the City of York, York, England, where he attended school.  When he was about 15, he apprenticed as a sailor for 6 years.  At the age of 21 he became Captain.  On occasion, his ship needing repairs, he put in at the Port of Wells, Norfolk, at the shipyard of John Lubbock. 

While there, he became acquainted with Rebecca Lubbock, only daughter of John Lubbock, to whom he became greatly attached, and in January, 1826 they were united in marriage.  In 1828 he took charge of numerous canal passenger boats sailing from York to Selby, John Lubbock, his father-in-law, having constructed these boats. 

Afterward moving to Yarmouth, he became Captain of a schooner running to London called the Lawther ??[ Lowther].  In 1831 they moved to Wells, Norfolk and  he took charge of the “Good Intent”, a ship also constructed by John Lubbock and presented to his children, six sons and one daughter (the wife of Captain Moody). 

In 1837, Queen Victoria’s Coronation Year, the family moved to London.  From 1837 to 1845, he captained deliveries of new ships to various overseas governments and colonies (e.g. Russia, Spain, Jamaica, Italy, China etc). 

He then took charge of the “Prinsula” for the precursor of the Oriental Steam Navigation Company (in part as a shareholder). 

From 1844 to 1846 Capt. Moody supervised the construction of 3 steamers for the Spanish Government in the Philippine Islands (based in Manila) of which he became Commodore, again delivering them to the buyer. Leaving the ships, he returned home, visiting China, crossing the desert through the Suez Canal. 

The camphor-wood trunk that is still owned by the family was brought from China through the desert on this voyage.  After reaching home, he again took ships to Russia and other countries.   When he was in Russia, Prince Gemticoff(?) gave a banquet in his honor. 

He was the father of 10 children – 2 boys and 8 girls. In 1846 his wife died, leaving him with nine living children, one Robert having died in childhood.  His daughter Mary, the eldest at 17, took charge of the house, the youngest being 6 months old.  The other children were Rebecca, John, Ann, Grace, Hannah, Elizabeth, Julia and Matilda.

All lived under Mary’s care while her father was engaged in shipping and in foreign countries.  During his absence, his family took a house adjoining their Grandfather Lubbock at Wells, Norfolk, and upon Captain Moody’s return, they moved back to their London home. 

His two little daughters, Hannah and Grace, died while he was abroad.  Later his daughter Elizabeth died, also his son John, after growing to manhood and becoming married in 1851.  His daughters Mary and Rebecca married.  Mary (Mrs. R. H. Emerson) went with her husband to America while Rebecca married Thomas Fryer

He then retired for a time to private life at London and Goole. 

Not content with retirement, he constructed and commanded the “Empress” and “Majesty” steamers running from Hull to Goole.  He then developed new designs for several ships, including the lifeboat “Sea Refuge” and other ships that were commissioned by the US Government. 

He then received a substantial order from the French Government to build 14 ships of his own design and construction.  When the government of France changed from a Kingdom to a Republic the order was canceled. 

In 1852 he settled in America and invested in farming land in Wisconsin – Oshkosh, Elk Grove and surrounding countryside, also at Oberlin and Chicago, Illinois. 

He then returned again to Goole, supervising the construction of more ships.

Captain Moody died at his house in Bridlington where his ironworks were situated, on March 5, 1872.

Captain  John Moody

Rebecca Lubbock was  born in Yarmouth, Norfolk March 12 1807.

Rebecca Lubbock, only daughter of John Lubbock, shipbuilder and owner of shipyards at Wells.  She was the only daughter with six brothers.  She was married at Norwich Cathedral to Capt. John Moody Jan. 18, 1826.  Most of her married life was lived in London.  On Aug. 7, 1846 she was taken suddenly with erysipelas on on her face and died  on August 9, after 2 days illness, being 39 years of age. 

Great Grandfather Lubbock was engaged in shipbuilding as was also Great Grandfather Moody, as well as being Captain.  Great Grandfather Lubbock lived to be 97 years old. (?)  One of his sons, Robert ), kept a boarding school for boys at Snettisham.   Also Ann Potter  kept a finishing school for young ladies at Harrogate, England.'

Hannah Calvert of Goole

Here is a fascinating piece of Goole's history which was written when Mrs Hannah Calvert died in 1934.  Mrs Calvert lived in Goole at a time when the town centre was in Aire Street and when Boothferry Road was a lane leading to the ferry over the Ouse at Airmyn.

Hannah Calvert

Death of Mrs Hannah Calvert

Goole’s oldest inhabitant Mrs Hannah Calvert of 32 Carter Street Goole died on Monday evening at the age of 96.  Until a short time before her death Mrs Calvert enjoyed fairly good health and was in possession of every faculty. Her husband the late Mr Henry Calvert died nine years ago ---five years after he and his wife had celebrated their diamond wedding. They had a family of seven sons and two daughters of whom three sons and one daughter are living.

Before her marriage Mrs Calvert was Miss Hannah Drury daughter of Mr and Mrs George Drury of Swinefleet, and she was born in a house near the old mill at Swinefleet field. Her husband was born at Hailgate, Howden being the son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Calvert.

They were married at Whitgift parish church and first came to Goole seventy two years ago. At that time there was only one house west of the site where the market hall now stands and what is now the Stanhope dock was then a brickyard owned by Messrs Abel and Sutcliffe, the latter being the father of Mr John Sutcliffe, a former licensee of the Crown Inn, Ouse Street.

The docks were confined to the Barge dock, the Germany dock, the Ship dock and the Basin. so that vessels had to in and out through the old locks. Lock hill in those days was occupied by cottages while the railway station was in Aire Street.

Mrs Calvert’s husband who retired 33 years before his death occupied the position of stevedore, a position now filled by his eldest son Major T. Calvert M.B.E.. On his retirement the late Mr Calvert took his wife to Garthorpe where they farmed for three years and then to Reedness where they lived for the next fifteen years. In 1909 however they came back to Goole.

Mrs Calvert christened the S.S Faedreland at Hook shipyard in the year of her diamond wedding, and as a souvenir she was presented with a silver tray and tea service which bore the following inscription;-'Presented to Mrs H Calvert by the Ouse Shipbuilding Company Ltd Hook nr Goole, a memento of the launch of the S.S. Faedreland September 30^th 1920'   Mrs Calvert’s second son, Mr Alfred Calvert, was managing director of the Ouse Shipbuilding company.

The funeral

The interment took place at Goole cemetery yesterday afternoon, the Rev H. Ogden officiating. The mourners were Major and Mrs T Calvert, Mrs Whitty, Mr and Mrs Arthur Calvert (sons and daughter in law) Mrs Alfred Calvert and Mrs J W Calvert daughters in law, Mr J S Calvert, Mr Henry Calvert, Mr Nigel Calvert, Mr Raoul Calvert, Mr Arthur Calvert, Mr Hereward Calvert, Mr W Shipley, Mrs Lazenby, Mrs Shaw (grandchildren), Mrs Drury, Mrs Smith Mrs Rus---  Mr and Mrs R Longhorn and Mr and Mrs Goulden (nephews and nieces).

Floral tributes were sent by the following – Daughter Polly, Tom, Mary, Ellen and family.  Arthur, Clara, and family, Sarah, Ethel, and family, Willie, Edie and family.  Tom, Mary, Vera,  Hereward Frances and family  Harry and family Bradford, Gladys and Bill, Mr and Mrs T Shaw and Ruby, All at Southport George and Matilda Philadelphia, Mr and Mrs Longhorn, all at Rawcliffe, all at Clifton Gardens, Mr and Mrs Larson, Hull, Mr and Mrs R Cooper and family, Mr and Mrs Maddick, The neighbours at Carter Street .

Old photos of Goole people - 3

Here is a further selection of well-known people from Goole's past.

T Temple

Mr Jolley

Mr  James Branford

The death occurred on Saturday [25th April 1936] at the age of 74 of Mr James W. Branford of 44 Dunhill Road Goole, who for 51 years was in the employ of the Aire and Calder Navigation.

Mr Branford was born at Wells, Norfolk, first began work in a colliery office but when 18 years old he came to Goole.

He began work for the Aire and Calder Navigation when there was only one hoist at Goole and five tugs. When he retired after 51 years with the company there were five hoists and eighteen tugs. Mr Branford began his service as a fireman but soon afterwards became an engineer on one of the compartment tugs in which position he remained for 46 years. He retired in 1931.

Mr and Mrs Branford celebrated their golden wedding on June 22^nd 1934, Mr Brandford having in his possession at that time a copy of the announcement of the wedding which appeared in the Goole Times.  He leaves a widow and two sons. The interment took place at Goole cemetery on Tuesday afternoon the (Rev H.E. W--  M.A) officiating.

The chief mourners were Mrs J.W. Branford, (widow), Mr and Mrs C.W. Bradford, (son and daughter in law), Mr and Mrs H. Branford, (son and daughter in law), Mr C.H. Branford (grandson), Mr J.R. Branford, brother, Mr and Mrs J. Branford, (brother and sister in law), Mrs R. Branford, (sister in law), Miss A. Lazenby, (sister in law), Mr E. Branford, Mr B. Maw, Mr A. Maw, (nephews), Miss M. Maw, Miss J. Clayson, Miss L.Tune, (nieces).

A number of Mr Branford`s former work mates represented the Aire and Calder Navigation; they included Messrs A. Caukill, A. Wood, E. Shaw, and T. Graham, who acted as bearers. Others present were Mr A.E. Bainbridge, Mr H. Harris, Mrs Sykes, Mr and Mrs E. Hill, Mr R. Sherburn, and Mr T. Hewson.

Wreaths were received from “his sorrowing wife and family”, “Bill and Garry”, “his grandchildren”, “Alice and Bob” “Ada and nieces”, “Herbert and Jennet”, “Milli Albert Doris and Ben”, “Billy and Nell”, “Dick Tish and Mary”, “Joe Emily and family”, Kate Branford, (sister in law), “A.E. Bainbridge, and Peggy”, “Mollie”, “Phylis Amy and Cyril”, Mrs Sykes, Mr and Mrs W.S. Peek, Capt and Mrs Sykes and family, Hilda Robins.

T E Kettlewell

Goole Times weddings - Albert and Emma Taylor

Here is another Goole golden wedding.

Albert Frederick Taylor married Emma Senior on August 4th 1909 at Goole. The Goole Times newspaper report of their golden wedding in 1959 follows:

GOOLE COUPLE HAD 18 CHILDREN

GOLDEN WEDDING OF MR AND MRS TAYLOR

Celebrating their golden wedding next Tuesday, and looking back on a life together which brought them 18 children will be a well known old Goole couple Mr and Mrs Albert Frederick Taylor of 69 Don Street.

They were married at Goole Parish Church on August 4^th 1909 by the late Rev Canon Carr. Mr Taylor holds the unenviable distinction of having been shipwrecked in both world wars during a sea going career which extended for almost 50 years.

Aged 73 he was born at Trimley, Ipswich - one of a family of nine all of whom are still alive. At the age of 11 he left school and served as a cabin boy aboard a sea going barge plying between east coast and continental ports. He eventually became a mate on several barges before moving to Goole on 1907 to begin a career in steam. He served with several local shipping companies aboard such vessels as the Colwith Force and the original Dearne.

During the First World War Mr Taylor was a member og the crew of the Bennett Steam Ship Company's Burma when she hit a mine and sank off Harwich with the loss of seven lives. Despite a severe arm injury, which later necessitated a month's hospital treatment he helped to pull several other survivors aboard one of the ship's boats.

After the war he continued to sail from Humber ports as second engineer, chief engineer and second mate on several vessels including the Kalua, in which he served for fifteen years.

Mr Taylor`s second ship wreck was experienced in the last war when he was serving as second engineer in the Igthan. About 20 miles out from Spurn Point (I was having breakfast at the time recalls Mr Taylor) she struck a mine and sank but no lives were lost.

After giving up the sea about ten years ago Mr Taylor worked for the Goole Shipbuilding and Repairing Company Ltd, for the River Ouse Catchment Board and at Scunthorpe before retiring completely two years ago.

At the age of 73 Mrs Taylor is a native of Goole. Formerly Miss Emma Senior she was the daughter of the late George Senior, a barge captain sailing mainly on the Goole Leeds canal,  and as a girl she attended St John's Church school.

Mr and Mrs Taylor both of whom enjoy good health lived for many years in Wesley Square before moving to their present address about 15 years ago. They had 18 children,  six of whom (two sons and four daughters) are still living.

The couple intend to celebrate the occasion with a family gathering at their home on the day of the anniversary.