James Crompton, the third child of Thomas Richardson and Martha was, until recently an enigmatic person. Census returns suggest that the majority of Thomas Richardson and Martha‘s children were "farmers" or married to farmers and not "agricultural labourers". James, however, had a chequered career with a variety of occupations in a variety of locations in the East Riding. Family hearsay gives his birth date as 12 January 1807, three days before his recorded christening in Bridlington Priory Church: Source: Bridlington Priory Baptism 1782-1812 EYFHS 1807 Jan 15 James Crompton son of Thomas Richardson Crompton and Martha,his wife late Hyde Before the 1841 census James married Frances (Fanny) Harper. It is possible that Fanny, born about 1816, was the daughter of Thomas and Dolly(?) Harper of Bridlington.

James Crompton born 1807

Family records suggest that Fanny was born in Auburn, one of the missing villages of Holderness that slid into the North Sea, to Thomas and Dolly Harper of Bridlington. The 1851 census gives her place of birth as Auburn House, one of the villages of Holderness, now lost to coastal erosion.

The IGI gives an alternative place and date of birth for a Fanny Harper as:

Source: IGI v.4 Batch: C105911  Source:    Type: FC female christening
Frances Harper   Thomas/Ann  FC 25sept1815 Carnaby

This tentative connection is relevant because an Ann Dorsey, of Great Driffield, was christened on 19 June 1794. This would account for the middle name of Sarah dorsey's, James' seventh child.

"More interestingly my Aunt relates how her grandfather John Harper Crompton said that his family had lost a farm by erosion in a village called Auburn. This is mentioned on the OS map with two other villages near Bridlington, and are known as the lost villages of Holderness. This seems to have happened in the mid 18th⁄early 19th century, as related by old Directories. This seems to be backed up by the fact that John Harper, my great-grandfather, who built up a building company in Hyde [Cheshire], named two streets he built as Auburn Street, one in Hyde, one in nearby Bredbury."

Source: Ian Boote

1807info1, sheet 2

Right: Map locating the lost village of Auburn Source: Development of the East Riding Coastline

1807info1, sheet 3

James' early life

Married life started at Metham, near Howden, where Thomas edmund was born in 1839. The 1841 census records the family living at Bullons Hill, North Newbald, (Bullen's Hill Farm OS 1:50 000 Landranger 106, GR SE940 375) on a rolling arable hillside, where he is listed below his brother William, a tenant or farm owner, who housed his brother James and sister-in-law, perhaps as labourer and house keeper. But note the presences of a foremen and servant.

Around the back of the modern grain store is a red bricked building which is believed to be the original "one up-one down" house with barn and a twelve horse stable attached. The copper, that once heated the families water, is still inside the down to stairs room. The upper floor has been converted into a hay loft. Here William, the second child of James and Fanny, was born.

1841 Census - June 14 1841 Source:FHL Film PRO Ref HO107 Piece 1219 Folio 9 Page 13 Dwell: Bullons Hill Place: North Newbald, York, Name Age Occupation William Crompton 31 Farmer James Crompton 32 Fanny 25 Thomas 2 William 2mth Charles Jackson 25 Foreman Elizth Smelt 18 Serv

1807info1, sheet 4

Frequent moves and varied occupations

From 1844 to 1847 the family lived at Plantation Farm, Acomb, York from where James botterill Crompton and Martha ann Crompton were christened at Saint Stephen‘s Church.

The 1851 census shows that James was then an innkeeper of 96 Merchants Row, Scarborough, where Mary Frances was born the previous year and then in 1852 to John Street, Bridlington, where John Harper was born. Sarah dosea [dorsey] was born in Scarborough in 1854. By 1861, and after the death of Martha, James was a groom in Low Green, Hutton Cranswick (right), which confirm the family story that he was known as a 'horse doctor'. Low Green Farm is to the north of the cottages. The row of two-up-and-two-down cottages now stands by the level crossing. The left hand cottage has outbuildings, which could once have been a stable for the 'horse

doctor'. This row of cottages, marked with a blue circle (right) are the only possible 'tied cottages' to Low Green Farm. Also marked in blue is the position of the grave of his daughter Martha Ann Sissons. One wonder's whether Scarborough was the beginning of a downward path, which had twice been supported by legacies. In his will, dated 19 February 1822, Thomas of Bridlington

1851 Census   Sun/Mon 30/31st March 1851
Source:       FHL Film PRO Ref HO107
              Piece 2368 Folio Page 17
Dwelling:     96 Merchants Row
Place:        Township of Scarborough, York, England

Name               Rel   Mar Age Sex Occ        Birthplace
James Crompton     Head   M  44   M  Inn keeper Yorks, Bridlington
Fanny Crompton     Wife   M  35   F             Yorks, Auburn House
Thomas Crompton    Son       11   M  Scholar    Yorks, Metham
William Crompton   Son        9   M  Scholar    Yorks, Newbald
James B Crompton   Son        6   M  Scholar    Yorks, Acomb
Martha F Crompton  Dau        4   F             Yorks, Acomb
Mary A Crompton    Dau        9m  F             Yorks, Scarborough
Transcription error - Martha F for Martha A Mary A for Mary F.

1807info1, sheet 5

Three years later, in 1854 when registering Sarah, his youngest child, James was a shepherd living in St John's Street, Bridlington. This is now the central part of the A1038, before it enters Quay Road. By the 1861 census three children had left home and Fanny had died.

1861 Census   Sun/Mon. 7/8th April 1861
Source:       FHL Film PRO Ref 9
              Piece: 3607; Folio: 7; Page: 7; Sched: 42
Dwelling:     Low Green
Place:        Hutton Cranswick, York, England

Name             Rel   Mar  Age  Sex  Occ      Birthplace  
James Crompton   Head  Wid   50   M   Groom    Yorks, Bridlington
Martha Crompton  Dau         14   F   Scholar  Yorks, Acomb
Mary Crompton    Dau         11   F   Scholar  Yorks, Scarborough
John Crompton    Son          8   M   Scholar  Yorks, Scarborough
Sarah Crompton   Dau          7   F   Scholar  Yorks, Scarborough

Two possible photographs of Fanny Harper. On the left one that may have been taken during their life in Scarborough. The photograph on the right may be too old for Fanny who died aged about 40 years. Source: The photographs of Maggie Boote, who was Fanny Harper's grand daughter.

1807info1, sheet 6

Widowhood and retirement

Source: GRO Deaths
Crompton Fanny    3rd Quarter 1858  Sculcoates  vol. 9d page 84 

Widowed in 1858 James' children had left home and he has migrated some distance for those days to Ganstead, north-east of Hull. There he took a more lowly position as a shepherd lodging with the farm foreman.

1871 Census Sun/Mon. 2/3rd April 1871
Source:      FHL Film  PRO Ref RG10
             Piece: 4801; Folio: 11; Page: 16; Sched: 16 
Dwelling:    
Place:       Ganstead, York, England [Parish of Swine]

Name               Rel       Mar  Sex  Age  Occ                        Birthplace
John Turner        Head      Mar   M   44   Farm labourer and foreman  Yorks, Cottingham, 
Ellen Turner       Wife      Mar   F   42   Wife                       Yorks, Preston
Ann Turner         Dau             F   12   Daughter                   Yorks, Burstwick
John Turner        Son             M    8   Son                        Yorks, Burstwick
Kate Ellen Turner  Dau             F    5   Daughter                   Yorks, Burstwick
George Turner      Son             M    3   Son                        Yorks, Burstwick
James Crompton     Shepherd  Wid   M   64   Shepherd                   Yorks, Bridlington

1807info1, sheet 7

The 1881 census, shows James has apparently retired and was living with his youngest son, John Harper, in Town Street, Holme upon Spalding Moor, where he is recorded as a 'former shepherd'.		James approaching old age
James in old age
	John Harper's youngest child Maggie, who married William Boote, recalls visiting her mother's family, the Kneeshaws of Market Weighton, when Grandfather James was never mentioned, even through she was up to five years of age when he was alive.

1881 Census
Source:   FHL Film 1342144 PRO Ref GR11
          Piece 4735 Folio 35 Page 18
Dwelling: Town Street
Place:    Holme on Spalding Moor, York, England

Name             Rel  Mar  Age  Sex  Occ                      Birthplace
John H Crompton  Head  M    28   M   Builder employing 4 men  Bridlington, York
...
...
James Crompton  Father Wid  74   M   Former shepherd          Bridlington, York

The 1891 census shows that James was living with his eldest son Thomas Edmund, in Preston east of Hull. Thomas lived in the same row as his sister Mary Frances. It is possible that this happened when John Harper moved to Hyde.

1891 Census
Source:       FHL Film      PRO Ref GR12
              Piece: 3921; Folio: 32; Page: 9; Sched:
Dwelling:     Carrick's Row
Place:        Preston, York, England

Name              Rel    Mar  Age  Sex  Occ      Birthplace
Thomas E Crompton Head   Wid   51   M   Ag. Lab  Melton, Yorks
Albert Crompton   Son          14   M            Preston, Yorks
James Crompton    Father Wid   87   M            Bridlington, Yorks
Transcription error: For Melton read Metham

1807info1, sheet 8

Finally

For many years James remained enigmatic to his death. Family hearsay recorded the date and location of his death as "1899, aged 94 at Driffield and buried there". However the year of death and age at death never tallied and East Yorkshire Monumental Inscriptions show no record of his death.

The final stage of James' life wasn't known until the inquest report, in the Hull Daily Mail, of his son Thomas edmund was found. This infers that Thomas edmund took his life because of the shame of his father dying in the Sculcoates Union (Hull Workhouse). It is uncertain whether James entered the Union, sometime after the 1891 census, because of ill-heath or the poverty of Thomas edmund's family life. Considering the rest of his hard life, poverty seems to be the likely cause. However John harper's family, in Hyde, wondered if James might have had Alzheimer's or another chronic condition and had been impossible to manage by anyone nearby. There was, in the Union, a Matron and nurses.

Above: The former Sculcoates Union as Kingston General Hospital c.1950

The death certificate, registered under the name of James Crumpton, confirms the family suspicion that death was cause by an age related mental debility.

It is likely that James would have been humiliated by standing in a dock in front of the Board of Governors sitting elevated on their stage. Having been classified as an 'Aged or infirm man over 55 years' he would have been moved to the Admission Block, which often appeared to look like stable bays. Here he would have been fumigated with carbolic and given his surge suit, perhaps marked with a prominent 'P'.

Despite this humiliation the Union often provide a living environment better than home. It was warm, dry and punctuated with order and cleanliness.

• Breakfast: 7oz of bread, 1pt of milk and strong black tea;
• Dinner:     4oz of meat, 16oz of vegetables, 5oz of yeast and strong black tea;
• Supper:    6oz of bread and 1oz of cheese and strong black tea.

1807info1, sheet 9

On Thursday 20 March 1896 Thomas edmund and his sister, Mary Tate, made their final visit to James in the Union where they were told that his death was imminent. The Governors' letter, informing the family of his death, was delivered on Friday 22 March, which suggests that James died on either Thursday 20 March 1896 or Friday 21 March 1896 depending on how the letter was delivered. It would have asked if the family wished, organize the funeral themselves. If this did not happen, the Guardians arranged a burial which usually took place in a local cemetery or burial ground, if there was no burial ground associated with the Union's chapel. The plan, shown below, though identifying school buildings, does not identify a chapel. The burial would be in the cheapest possible coffin and in an unmarked grave, into which several coffins might be placed on the same occasion. Unclaimed bodies could also be disposed of by donating them for use in medical research and training. James has no known grave. Right: A typical death notice issued by the Board of Governors

Thomas committed suicide two days later and it is this double tragedy that probably accounts for the families reluctance to 'remember' actual details. The report on the inquest can be seen in 1807info2.

Sculcoates Union Workhouse

Sculcoates Poor Law Union was formed in 1837 to take over the Poor Law responsibilities of 18 civil parishes, including Preston and Hedon. It was built to the designs of Henry F Lockwood at the junction of Fountains Road and Beverley Road and was given the address of 106 Beverley Road. 'Not many passengers along the Beverley Road would imagine that the beautiful and immense structure which is in the course of erection, on ground just beyond the town, is intended for the reception of paupers. Its front aspect would not disgrace the residence of a nobleman. In the centre of the building are the rooms appropriated to the governor, matron, and their staff of around 60 people.

Above: Sculcoates Union map of 1893

On each side are day rooms for male and female paupers of every class. Behind the central building is the dining room, capable of seating 300, and adjoining this are the kitchens and other offices for the the proper carrying out of culinary operations. The sleeping rooms are above the day room and to each class of pauper is appropriated a spacious and airy court.

1807info1, sheet 10

'Near to the main building are school rooms, wash houses, tailor's shops, shoemakers' shops and all the buildings necessary for an establishment of this great extent. The infirmary is at the extremity of the ground. ... The 'paupers' rooms are spacious, light and airy; they command a prospect which would be envied by many of our wealthy inhabitants residing in our town.'
Source: Hull Advertiser 1844

Workhouse broth was usually the water used for boiling the dinner meat, perhaps with a few onions or turnips added. Tea — often without milk — was often provided for the aged and infirm at breakfast, together with a small amount of butter. Supper was usually similar to breakfast.

The mid-day dinner was the meal that varied most, although on several days a week this could just be bread and cheese. Other dinner fare included:

• pudding — either rice-pudding or steamed suet pudding. These would be served plain. In later years, suet-pudding might be served with gravy, or sultanas added to make plum pudding particularly when served to children or the infirm.
• meat and potatoes — the potatoes might be grown in the workhouses own garden; the meat was usually cheap cuts of beef or mutton, with occasional pork or bacon. Meat was usually boiled, although by the 1880s, some workhouses served roast meat. There was some scope for local variation. From 1883, all workhouses could if they wished serve a fish dinner once a week.
• soup — this would usually be broth, with a few vegetables added and thickened with barley, rice or oatmeal.

Often the basic diet was more filling than that 'at home'. In the Union no one starved, though they may have died of malnutrition induced by their previous life. The aged or infirm had a slightly different diet, usually with more meat-based meals, and with inclusion of milk or tea. Special or medical cases might require extra or alternative food. The main constituent of the workhouse diet was bread. At breakfast it was supplemented by gruel or porridge — both made from water and oatmeal (or occasionally a mixture of flour and oatmeal).

Above: A typical 'standard' diet

Designed in a Tudor style it provided accommodation for 500 paupers. Late 19th century extensions increased this capacity to 800. The workhouse was taken over by the City Council in 1930 to become The Beverley Road Institution and later, in 1948, Kingston General Hospital. Although the front was demolished in the 1970s many of the original 1844 building remained, though much altered. In 2002 the whole site was demolished, to be replaced by Endeavour High School.

NOTES

Metham (pronounced Met-am) comprises of the farms of Low Metham Grange, High Metham and Metham Hall. All are situated four miles ESE of Howden. From B1230 turn south, signpost Yokefleet.

Plantation Farm, Acomb, York (OS 105 GR SE 575527) remains with Plantation Drive and Plantation Grove, being on the A59 Boroughbridge Road just inside the York Ring Road. The land is now housing, a print works, railway sidings and open land backing down to the River Ouse at Acomb Ings.

1807info1, page 11

Back to TOP
This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass	Version C14 Updated 08 December 2009