readman

THE READMAN STORY

Recusant roll no. 2 gives Wilstropp Redman lately of Borrowby gent. as a Crown debtor to the amount of £120 and refers to the previous roll in his respect as welI. Thus a date can be given to the first recorded recusancy of a Readman namely Sept. 1592. As there is no mention of him in rolls three and four it can be assumed that his debt was written off as being unable to pay, or that he has conformed. Such a step is unlikely as the reading of this will easily shows, notwithstanding the fact that none of them appear 'above ground' until the lament of the new Lord of the Manor of Egton unearthed one in 1753. This Redman's forebears must have succumbed to the penal pressures since he is refered to as a Protestant with a papist wife and four children. He bore the family name of William. The vigilance of the church-wardens and harmless indiscretions brought more to light by 1780. The escapade of the Egton quoit player Joseph Readman and his colleagues during the time of the divine service has already been told. The angry vicar Richard Robinson must have forgotten the incident when he compiled the 1780 list for only one family is reported for Egton namely William and Mary with one child. He gives another William and Mary with six children and a Jane for Glaisdale. His fellow vicar Rev. Thomas Porter, obligingly brings to light another Readman family residing at Ellerby in his parish of Lythe for the same date. Thomas, Jane his wife and three sons William, Thomas and Matthew. That the Readmans were there is revealed in the parish registers from which the following marriages have been taken. No Readman occurences are in Fr. Hervey's records.

The only place names in this marriage list are Julian Park and the parishes themselves. As the place of marriage does not necessarily mean tne place of residence there is little information here, nor is there any suggestion of continuity. One will has come to light relating to William who died round about 1734 as it is dated August 2nd of that year. From it is learned that his wife was Jane, his eldest son was John, Thomas, William and Joseph others and Elizabeth, Sarah and Jane his daughtes. He lived at Glaisdale and his will was signed by S. Wilson and R. Smith. The latter is most Richard of Bridgeholme Green Egton Bridge who also witnessed the will of Henry Harrison the recusant farmer of Greenhouses Danby, the fisrt mentioned in the Harrison story. The Egton recusant list of Archbishop Blackburne 1735 records Stephen Wilson, wife Mary and Mary daughter. Both witnesses being recusants, it is fairly safe to assume the same for WilIiam and Jane, even though his wife and and children are not included in the list.

This looks like being a good start, but unfortunately there are no further wills to link the marriages together despite the presence of what may be the marriages of the sons during the 1730's. Egton, the place of the marriages, does not invalidate the possibility, since Glaisdale weddings were contracted at Egton. Another item from the will states that William was to receive £20 when he attains the age of 32. There is nothing to prevent any of the three Williams, marriages four, five and six on the list, obtaaining this inheritance, not knowing who is the son.

A family pattern and a home pattern begin to appear when the parish baptism and burials are analysed. Jane Readman, widow, Stonegate, died, or rather was buried on July 15th 1794, indicating a Readman home at that hamlet. She would be the wife of either William or Jonathan, marriage six or seven. The burial of Sarah Readman 50, of 'Morca Side on September 9th 1824 points to another home namely Murkside House the farm on the side of the Murk Esk near Beckhole Goathland. She was the wife of John in miarriage eight. Several of the chidren of this union are known.

E.R.R. 1780 and G.R.R. of the same date both give, as recusants identically named Readmarn families:-

William and Mary, the former having on that date, one child and the latter six children.

Only one marriage of such parties has been found, number 10, giving rise to the possibility of only one family being concerned. Whatever the truth WilIiam and Mary perservered to the end earning the endorsment R.C. on their burial enteries. Their home was Shorefoot. William was buried aged 78 on June 6th 1823, and Mary aged 83 on June 14th 1824. A number of children are found in the Egton registers, John son of William was baptised on June 24th 1770 and Elizabeth on September 13th 1771. William son of William wa baptised on December 4th 1772 in the Goathland registers now adding Beckhole. All entries show William to be a mason.

READMAN MARRIAGES BETWEEN 1700 AND 1967

THE READMANS OF STONEGATE IN THE PARISH OF EGTON

The first identifiable member of this branch of the family is Thomas who died aged 70 on February 20th 1810. He could be Thomas son of William and Ann White who was baptised on February 2nd 1741, but this is not certain. In his will dated 5/2/1808 he left £15 per annum for life to his wife Jane, £30 to son George, £30 to an unnamed daughter, £5 to son Thomas, and named other sons William Matthew and James.The father's death was a prelude to a family calamity for within fourteen months William, Matthew and their mother followed him. U.P.R. give the details:-

Matthew died on October 3rd 1810, aged 32

William twelve days later aged 36,

whilst Jane, broken-hearted lived until April 3rd 1811 aged 70.

Whether accident or epidemic is not known, nor is any record of the marriage.

It seems likely that these events coupled with the legacies brought forward the marriages of the survivors, Thomas excepted. Again U.P.R. provides the relevant information:-

Mary the daughter? married John Chapman at Ugthorpe on October 26th 1811, three days after James, marriage 29 and five months before George, marriage 30, whose Lythe Marriage above took place six days after his Ugthorpe one, just like that of James referred to earlier.

Once more bereavement overtook the family for Mary died aged 24 on July 17th 1813.

Thomas must have been the eldest son for his marriage to Ann Shaw in 1801 number 23, shows his three brothers and his brother-in-law John. No second ceremony in this case has been found. The facts above and the known children of Thomas, James and George make possible a fair picture of the family about this time. The effect of the missing Ugthorpe material is clearly seen.

The godparents of 12 Joseph and Sara indicate a possible relationship as does John in 16 but as there is no mention of these names in the will above none will be assumed.

However, the family of Joseph and Sara merits attention in its own right. In among a spate of Readman marriages in the last decade of the eighteenth century taking place at Egton, they nevertheless lived at Ugthorpe. Unfortunately only the five middle children are on record and no identity numbers are used.

Perhaps three children precede

and two children at least could follow.

THE READMANS OF SHOREFOOT IN THE PARISH OF EGTON

The first mention of Readmans in Shorefoot occurs in 1788 where Elizabeth and Matthew are the names later associated, as previously stated, with two Thomases by 1795. It is hardly likely that marriage three can be involved in these names. The unresolved confusion created by Rev. Jonathan Robinson's returns in 1780 still remains concerning the known children William and Mary, marriage 10. Details of this family having already been given, the known children will be tabulated, using identity nambers.

Perhaps three children precede

The domicile 'Leaseridge' is placed with the family of marriage 13 although it may be misleading because it was where 'Mary Readman, widow,' died aged 70 on March 6th 1814. Numbers are used here because there is some continuity.

'Father' Joseph is very likely the quoit player who annoyed Rev. Jonathan Robinson. The children 5/8 illustrate the use of spiritual relationship to piece together in a family those who would not fit there otherwise. The families of the two sons follow:- Marriages 33 and 28 being concerned respectively.

Elizabeth the mother died leaving these children in the care of their father who himself died April 29th 1847.

Joseph and Elizabeth lived at Hollins, a farm a quarter of a mile up the hill on the Goathland road from Egton Bridge, the distance stated being above Bluebeck Farm not above the village.

The first half of the nineteenth century witnessed a considerable increase in population which at first spread locally and by its close spread to the ends of the earth. New Readman homesteads appear, several on the Goathland side of the Murk Esk. Ten years after his marriage to 26 Jane above, William Readman was at Boggle House. He was born at Ugthorpe in 1813, one of the years covered by the missing pages and is so unidentifiable. Even the fact that they were second cousins has failed to fit him in anywhere so no numbers are used. The family as discovered is:

Shortly after the birth of Jane the family moved to Dowson Garth where three homes nestle together almost directly opposite their old home on the other side of the river. This brought them into Egton parish. Their neighbours at this time were, strangely enough, another William Readman and his wife Mary who were both born at Egton. This could well be William 27, Jane's brother, but for the fact that 27 William married Helen Harrison daughter of Thomas Harrison 335 of Egton Banks on November 20th 1850 at Egton Bridge.It is presumed that William's first son William died in infancy. This illustrates a point brought out earlier in the text, namely the practice in some families of naming a child after its deceased brother or sister.

The marriage of Elizabeth on November 30th 1863 to Thomas Hutton of Glaisdale tells that by that time the family had moved again, this time to Midge hole Egton Bridge where 'Father' William died aged 79 on June 30th 1892. A death of a William Readman of Egton Bridge eight months prior to this date aged 37 fits the 'dead' infant above, so not withstanding the better records, the multidude of identically named persons in the same area is an increasing problem.

John, the eldest son married Mary Roe daughter of John Roe of Brockridge Glaisdale on November 28th 1868. The children, from the memory of William, one of them personally seen by the writer fourteen years ago at Billingham were:- Thomas and Eiizabeth, twins, Emma, Jane and the informant himself who was born in Billingham in 1883, his parents having left Grosmont after the closure of the ironworks. Hannah married Thomas Raw becoming the mother of John Edmund Raw, one-time councillor of Whitby Urban District Council and grower of giant gooseberries for the Egton Bridge Old Gooseberry Show, and Mary wife of 'Joiner' George Harrison one of Eskdale's renowned craftsmen whose assistence is hereby acknowledged gratefully.

To simplify the problem referred to above, and because there is no apparent link between the various families, the addition of a distinguishing letter before any number will be adopted as follows according to the district inhabited by the respective groups. S for the Readmans of Stonegate, F for those of Shorefoot, E for Egton, L for Leaserigg, and U for Ellerby and Ugthorpe. Applying this system, the story the Goathland Readmans can be continued, pointing out however, that those considered moved there front other regions.

Thomas L23 and his wife Ann were living at Hatton Close Goathland for at least ten years after 1851. He was born at Egton and Ann was a Hodgson born at Ugthorpe.

Their children were:-

Francis died for his name is omitted from the census return for 1851.

By 1861 Ann was a widow living in the same place with her spinster sister aged 63 named Elizabeth.

Green End had two Readman families between 1851 and 1861 namely John and Mary and later on, John and Elizabeth. Earlier on there was another, where the wife was a Readman. The first John could well be one of the twin sons of Matthew and Isabella of Egton,and he had a grown up family and grandchildren by 1851. ln the census of that year he enters his household in this manner:-

The second John is U25 of the Ellerby branch of the family, which by 1861 was

Their home was called Holly Bank Head but was merely 19 Green End later.

It was F141 Margaret Readman married to Henry Harrison 775 who lived at Holm Hill where her two only children were born. (see Harrison Story)

Another family, Francis and Mary, lived on Braithwaite Row. He was probably the son of John and Sarah of Murkaside; and, by 1851 was a tailor aged 75 and his family, if any, grown up and away. Sarah a carpenter's widow lived at Addison Head with her 29yr. old son William. Coldarbor Cottage was the home of Philip and Elizabeth (marriage 26) with their son Francis and daughter-in-law Jane The old people and Francis were born at Egton in 1781, 1783 and 1816 respectively, Jane at Hawaker in 1823. The young couple lived first at Staithes where their first two children Ann b. 1844 and John b. 1846 were born and moved to the cottage the birthplace of Hannah 1848, Elizabeth 1850 and William 1851 in Egton parish. Here the Readman expansion continues for 11 William and Jane his wife married at Egton Bridge on July 8th 1847

Returning to Hollins 22 John and Mary his wife are in residence. John and Mary Lyth were Married at Egton on 28th of November 1835 there being no record of an Egton Bridge wedding. Joseph Readman and Ann Lyth were witnesses. Mary was Q5 daughter of Richard and Esther. Ann was Q8 (see Lyth story) The children of the marriage were:-

John died on December 4th 1860, aged 48.

Meanwhile L21 Joseph married Amm-Mary Frankland and lived at Egton village. One child William is known who was born on June 21st 1852 having John Readman as godfather. It has already been said that F14 John could just as well have been given an Egton classification, but his son F14X William lived there all his life. He had two children only who died young, but he himself lived until April 3rd 1904 aged 90 surviving his wife Hannah (Welford) by ten years. For many years he brought up his nephew John who was born on December 11th 1845 in Goathland.

Another Ellerby Readman lived on Eskdaleside. He was U27 Matthew and his wife Hannah. His known children were:-

L21 Joseph, by the way, entered his niece L17 Susanna as his servant on the 1851 return. The same source reveals another family at Stonegate with no apparent connection with those already dealt with. It is that of Matthew and Isabella. The former was born at Egton in 1813 and the latter at Whitby in 1810. Their children are entered as

An identifiable family with the Readmans of Stonegate have moved to the Board Inn Lealholme Bridge. It is H64 William son of Thomas and Margaret. His wife is Ann who was born at Glaisdale in 1811. Their family was:-

Thomas and Margaret, have by this time changed their abode to Broad Carr Glaisdale, styling himself a tailor. 52 Joseph their son who is a widower shares their home with his son William aged ten.

1851 also finds U39 Matthew son of U3 George and Hannah (themselves still at Ugthorpe) living with his wife at Lealholme Bridge,as yet with no famliy. Their neighbours are two more Readmans, William bonn 1825 at Ugthorpe and Elizabeth his wife born 1827 at Whitby and John Frankland Readman born 1843 at Glaisdale, and George born 1850 also at Glaisdale their children. The other William was born at Ugthorpe in 1812 and his wife Margaret at Hinderwell in 1822 whose children are:-

A 'landed proprietor' named John Readman born Glaisdale 1798 and his wife Ann born 1805 in the same village resided in Lealholme Bridge in 1861 no family being entered. He couid be one of the 'three children preceding ' Mary daughter of Joseph and Sara but it is not certain.

Some of the difficulties in this story appear to be solving themselves even as it is being written. Pieces of the Jig-saw have quite unexpectedly slipped into position very helpfully. Because of this the enigma of Egton 'Hole' receives a little more light. Ann Readman of 'Hole' died aged 82 on February 25th 1840. Subsequent information shows she was the widow of Mathew so tying up nicely with marriage 21. HoIe and Midgehole are dwellings quite close together almost directly across on the other side of Butterbeck to the Delves. Both have been Readman homesteads. As John Readman 'de Hole' died aged 85 on October 3rd 1826 he may be Matthew's father and as William b. 1813's family ended up in the Hole, perhaps he could be the said William's grandfather. Marriage 8 gives Sarah Dowson as John Readmans wife. This is the Murkaside family already discussed and a glance at the listed children shows spaces for others. The question is, is John Murkaside and John 'de Hole' one and the same person? The reader may judge that for himself.

An earlier reference to the Readmans at Greenhouses is confirmed by this item from Egton burials "Joseph Readman R.C. Greenhouses, Chapelry of Glaisdale aged 66 on January 5th 1837." The reference was to Mary and the date was 1781. Joseph was born therefore in 1771 and the two may be brother and sister. Thomas Readman made his Easter Communion from Greenhouses in 1827. Maybe he is another brother. Marriage 9 at Danby a not unusual place for marriages from that area, points to a possibility of Joseph and Ann being the parents, but again there is nothing as yet to make it certain.

When mentioning Dowson Garth above the neighbours of William and L26 Jane were another William and Mary whose children were not given. This oversight is now remedied.

7 William almost confused with his namesake above, was, on the night of the census at Egton Banks, the home of his father-in-law having married his daughter Helen just four months previously. To complete the distinction the beginnings of his family foIlow.

As a matter of interest, the other neighbours at Dowson Garth in 1861 were Angus and his wife Mary who was born at Lythe in 1825. A stained glass window in St. Hedda's Church is her Memorial. She lived until the early part of this century. She (?)tres a photograph of the Guild of St Hedda taken on a Guild Walk about eighty-years ago.

Click! In slips another piece. " To Complete . " on the seventh line above is so soon to be rewritten as "To complete the identification....." They are one and the same person! His children at the top of the page were entered on his 1861 return whilst living at Dowson Garth. He and his wife were entered by his father-in-law, as head of the household of Egton Banks on the 1851 return, and the name Mary is either an error in transcript or a confirmation name. The noticing of the children's names and dates of birth in the Egton Bridge registers caused the penny to drop. Mary and Jessie Ann can now wear their 'noble' ancestral numbers G273 and G274 respectively.

The marriages of the female members of the farmily are noted:-

A number of male members of the family also married whose weddings are not listed.

That some Readmans went to Whitby is seen in the details below

No other Martin Readman except the son of Joseph and Sara has been recorded. The godparents of the children of Thomas and Elizabeth above show his brothers and sister (?), fitting him into the family of Joseph and Sara, fill in some of the gaps there (?)ing 24 on his wedding day, makes him born c.1800 so placing him just before Mary. Joseph and Matthew are others, but where they go in the family is not known, yet.

NO doubt further material will provide more 'missing' pieces as research continued, but at this time and place there is little remaining to relate about the recusant Readmans and their descendants. It is left to the living members of the families to link up their own knowledge of their immediate ancestors to what has been written above.