Family History
From time to time, we receive requests for information on the ancestors of people who have visited the village and/or are researching their family history. If you can throw any light on the names mentioned below, it would be very much appreciated by those who have been in touch and are keen to know more about their family history.
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15 June 2024 - Enquiry about the Powell and James families who lived in the area of Thornton Steward prior to 1835 We have received the enquiry below from Donald Benson, whose ancestors moved to America from this area in 1835. If anyone can help in Donald's search for further information, please get in touch with him via the email address donald.benson@att.net I would like to know any information on the Powell and James families who lived in the area of Thornton Steward prior to 1835. My great-great grandparents, John Powell and Jane James, were married in Thornton Steward in 1832. Their first child, Jane, was born in the fall of 1832. The family history mentions that she was ill/or injured and died at a young age and thus was not on the passage to America in 1835. Jane James' parents, Thomas James and Ann Castling, were married in Bedale in 1801. They eventually came to America, lived in New York state, moved to Wisconsin and died in Eagle WI, USA in 1863. John Powell's parents are John Powell and Martha Liversedge. My great grandfather was Stephen Powell who was born in the Lockport area of New York in 1842. Any information would be appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read this query. Donald Benson |
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22 April 2024 - Enquiry about Fort Horn, Thornton Steward We have received the enquiry below from Helen Darbyshire, whose in-laws - the Harrisons - lived in the property until the late 1990s / early 2000s. If anybody can provide Helen with further information about Fort Horn or could forward her enquiry to others who might be able to help, she would be very grateful. Helen can be contacted directly using the email address helen1984@gmail.com Helen has written: I am carrying out some research on behalf of my Mother-in-Law who is a former resident of Fort Horn. We understand it was built by Captain Horne in the late 1700s/early 1800s and we are keen to try to find out more of its history before it was bought by Betty and William Harrison. I have located the census returns and some of the electoral and other registers on Ancestry but are struggling to find anything before the first census in 1841. Is there anyone who may be able to help me in my quest to find out more about its origins as an armoury/residence for the militia protecting the local area during Napoleonic threats? Thank you |
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12 October 2023 - Photograph of WI and Children and Vicar in The Institute, circa 1953
A friend, Barbara Mason, is seated at the extreme left of the photograph and her mother may be third from the left at the back. Barbara is now living in the Ipswich area and Terry is still in touch with her. Barbara's father, Harry Mason, farmed in the village before retiring to Crakehall and from Terry's description, they appear to have lived in Pear Tree Cottage. Terry sent the photograph to Barbara and she was able to name a few of those pictured immediately and is going to try to put as many more names to faces as possible. If anyone remembers this event (which Terry thinks could be connected to the coronation of |
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25 February 2020 - Enquiry about the Ryder and Hammond families who lived in Thornton Steward in the 1800’s We have received the enquiry below from Jackie Campbell. If anybody can provide Jackie with further information about her ancestors or could forward her enquiry to others who might be able to help, she would be very grateful. Jackie can be contacted directly using the email address jacneil@btinternet.com. Jackie has written: I have several ancestors who lived in Thornton Steward: John Rhyder - Born 1802 Thornton Steward and died at Low Butterknowles Farm. In the 1861 census he was still living in Thornton Steward. He married Elizabeth Kilburn 18.2.1828. He died at Thornton Steward in 1889. Ellen Rhyder/Hammond was born in Thornton Steward in approx. 1845. John Hammond born in Durham. If you have any more information about these people I would be so grateful. If you have any questions then please feel free to email me. Regards |
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22 October 2018 - Denise Clements has been in touch again with further information about Thompson Hall and his second wife, Ann Newton: I sent a picture of my husband's grandfather, Thompson Hall quite a while ago . I asked for information and have just realised my email and phone number are now different. They are 01274 If anyone has any further information about Thompson Hall and Ann Newton, Denise would be very interested to receive it.
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22 February 2017 - We have had the following enquiry from Peggy Winn: Hello, I was wondering if you have any information about the Winn family who lived in Thornton Steward for several centuries. Any information would be gratefully received. I understand they had a lot to do with St Oswald's Church. Many thanks, Peggy Winn. If you can help, then please contact Peggy by email using the following address: padaley@iafrica.com |
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31st July 2016 - Enquiry from Ray and Barbara Skinner, visitors to the Institute from Wiltshire
Dear Sir, Re: Thornton Steward: Church/Possible Family Connections. I write a belated thanks to you and your Committee for your much appreciated hospitality provided by your Institute premises in the village; this was a most helpful refuge for myself, To explain: my Grandmother’s name was Elizabeth Whitelock and my interest in Thornton Steward is partly evoked by two of my early ancestors who were baptised in the Church (a) Our oldest ancestor chronologically has proved to be a John Whitelocke who was a lessee of land owned by Fountains Abbey in Baldersby, he appears in the Abbey Rate Book for 1521; his The parents of Elizabeth and Mary mentioned above were John Whitelock and Dorothy NATTRASS who were married 6th May 1784 at St. Martins East Witton. On the death of Dorothy in c.1790 One of the descendants of James, above, came to London in about 1862 when work was ‘short’ in Hartlepool. He was very successful as a builder and property developer in the then At this great remove in time, I would be most interested to hear of any present-day connections with any of the above names. I would thank you once again for your hospitality and look With our very best wishes, Sincerely yours, Ray and Barbara Skinner
Barbara, Ray and Keith, enjoying refreshments in the Institute |
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4 January 2016 - Enquiry from Suzanne Stirke re. the Waddington and Trotter families Good Morning, I have been looking at your Thornton Steward website for some time, as I have been researching my husband's family tree. Last night I found the Roll of Honour from WW1 that you put up on your Facebook page each Remembrance Day. My husband's grandfather is mentioned on the Roll of Honour, along with two of his great uncles and his grandfathers cousin. The family name is Waddington. I have a small amount of information about the four Waddington boys, I also have found that their cousins, who were born in Thornton Steward also served in the war, one of them sadly fell Some residents of Thornton Steward may remember the Waddington and Trotter families. I would be very happy to share with you both the information that we have along with a few photographs I look forward to hearing from you. Suzanne Stirke |
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16 December 2015 - Enquiry from Pauline Gill re. Thomas Edward Wright and his wife Elizabeth Fitzgerald Wright Hello, My husband Robert's Gt.Grandfather was Thomas Edward Wright. He worked for the Danby estate as a gardener and his wife Elizabeth Fitzgerald Wright was the School Mistress at Thornton We have tried to find his birth registration to no avail, and was wondering where we could find his baptismal records for either Thornton Steward,|Middleham or East Witton. We know that they were married in Liverpool at a Catholic Church but his parents were C of E, so have assumed he became a catholic to marry. He lived at Ulshaw Bridge as a young man and Any help would be much appreciated. Kind regards, Pauline Gill |
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6 January 2015 - Enquiry from Susan Price re. Francis Thomas Reynolds Hi, I am trying to trace my ancestors. We are doing quite well, but we are rather stuck at the moment. My Grandad was called Francis Thomas Reynolds (Tot/ Tom Reynolds) and he lived at I also have come across a place called 'Rookwith' which we cannot find either. I assume that this is also an estate. Can anyone shed any light on this? Also, where would people from Susan Price (Postscript: We sent details of Marriforth and Rookwith to Susan) |
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Hello - I am researching a family of a Christopher Kirby - who was a Publican in Thornton Steward in the 1861 Census at least. Before that, his mother-in-law Annas Winn was an inn-keeper Any idea if the inn/pub would still exist in Thornton Steward? Descendants interested in exploring the area, coming from Canada. Tom Moffatt |
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22 August 2015 - Enquiry from Denise Clements re. Thompson Hall
I wondered if you have a history of people who lived in the village in the 1800s and any photos. My husband knew nothing of his family as both his parents died when he was young He was adopted, that is why he is called Clements now, not Hall. Thank you for your time. Regards PS I can find nothing on Ancestry. Telephone No: 01274 774305 |
We have received this photo, taken around 1953, from Terry Burgess, who was born in Thornton Steward and christened in the church, where Terry's father, Desmond Burgess, was a church warden. Terry's mother, Hilary Burgess, is standing 2nd from the right at the back and his sister Gillian, aged around 3, is in front of her. The family moved to Thornton Steward around 1950 and lived at 3 Field Side, having initially stayed in the house of Mrs Burnett. They moved to Northallerton in 1954 and then to Scotland in 1956. 
My Husband's grandfather, born 1841 in Thornton Steward and baptised on the 4th June 1841 in Thornton Steward. His father (my husband's great grandfather), was born and baptised in