The early Lowthers of Beverley

The Lowther family has a long association with Beckside, Beverley, but not always as coal merchants.

       William Lowther son of Matthew
       b.09may1745
       d.
       |
       m.09mar1791
       |
       Ann
       Tanton
       b.
       d.
     

   |============|===========|=======
   William      Michael     Matthew
   |            |           |
   b......1765  b.....~1782 b.
   d.08oct1849  d.2dec1802  d.
   |
   m2.18nov1802
   |
   Elizabeth
   Baker
   b. 
   d.2ndQt1844
   |
   |
   |============|============|============|=============|============|============|============|============|==========||
   Ann          Jane         William      John          James B.     Elizabeth    Thomas       Mary         Ellen        
   b.1804       c.28mar1805  b.08jan1807  b......1811   C.26apr1813  b.           b.           b.           b.
   d.decqt1890  br19jun1827  d......1890  br.20oct1859  d.16dec1874  d.09dec1837  d.           d.           d.
                  aged 83                 |             |            br18dec1837  |            |            |
                                          m.24may1846   m.09nov1837               m.4thQt1838  m.13aug1829  m.03sept1827
                                          |             |                         |            |            |
                                          Ann           Martha                    ?            Matthew   
                                          Barker        Crompton                  Phitleton    Haselhurst
                                          b......1818   c.01sep1817
                                          d.11dec1859   d.11feb1861
                                          |
                                          |=============
                                          James barker  
                                          b......1855 
                                          d.3rdQt1856
                                            *********

The 1802 Poll Register is the first available indicator of the Lowthers of Beckside, Beverley as innkeepers. There is no inn recorded on the 6" maps of 1855. But see the photograph of the Ship Inn in image 2 at the foot of the page. William Lowther, having the right to vote 1 as shown by the Beverley Poll Books must have been a property holder, over the age of 21, with enough income to pay 40 shillings (£2) tax. Matthew LOWTHER was a school master. Right: A composite image of William Lowther's 1802 entry Source: Ancestry UK Poll Book and Election Register 1538-1893

The 1806 Canvass Book shows records a William Lowther as a registered voter, though there is no associated address or occupation. Right: A composite image of William Lowther's 1806 entry Source: Ancestry UK Poll Book and Election Register 1538-1893

1817infor1b, sheet 2

Notes

1802-1807 Poll Books records:
William Lowther  inn holder
Matthew Lowther  school master

1836 Lowther voters
John Lowther
James Botterill Lowther
William Lowther
Thomas Lowther

1847 Poll Book records:
William         Lowther    Coal Merchant  Beckside
James Botterill Lowther    Coal Merchant  Beckside
Thomas          Lowther    Mariner        Fleming Gate
John            Lowther    Cooper         Lair Gate

Miscellaneous Beverley Borough Records record:

Instruction for will of Richard Empson of Beverley Yeoman 01 November 1832. Drafts assignment for £225 in all: Parties:

1. William Lowther late waterman now coal dealer;
2. Robert Keningham druggist;
3. Thomas Bentley Phillips and Frederick Campbell gentleman;
4. Thomas Lowther master mariner; and
5. James Lowther coalman all of Beverley

Property: two messuages with yards and gardens on north side of Beckside in Beverley. ¹

In the 1841 census, John Lowther was a cooper aged 30 was living with widowed father William. In the 1851 census he has a son Thomas aged 2

• 07 November 1821 Apprentice indenture of John LOWTHER a poor Boy and Apprenticed to John Oustby of Beverly Tinner.
• 03 February 1825 Conviction of Thomas LOWTHER of Beverley, waterman ... malicious damage by cutting two warp lines or ropes in the part of the River Hull, of the ship 'Fanny' the property of Gardiner Egginton, Joseph Egginton, John Beadle.
• 04 November 1831 Son of George Owen of Beverley, Waterman and apprenticed to William LOWTHER of Beverly, Waterman.
• 27 November 1833 Son of Rosamond Foster of Beverley, widow, apprenticed to Thomas LOWTHER of Beverley, Mariner.
• 28 February 1848 Son of Samuel Loft of Beverley, Mariner, apprenticed to Thomas LOWTHER of Beverly, Mariner.
• 22 June 1789 Bastardy Bond of Benjamin Loft of Beverley Baker, relating to Elizabeth LOWTHER.
• 30 September 1807 Removal order of Elizabeth LOWTHER, age not given, Status not given, residence St Martin, Place of Settlement St Mary.
• 13 October 1857 Borough Council elections. Notice to the electors of Minster Ward, Beverley, from John LOWTHER, Thomas OXLEY and Henry Johnson.

It is evident, from this list that prior to being coal merchants, the LOWTHERs were mariners probably plying their way of the River Hull as bargemen working from beverley to Hull.

Three generations of coal merchants in Beckside, Beverley

The Lowther family has a long association with Beckside, Beverley, but not always as coal merchants. However the Hull Packet records:

with this W. Lowther being born in 1765.

The Beverley trade directories suggest that there were three generations of coal merchants by the name of Lowther based at Beckside.

'It was in the industrial and working-class residential wards of Beckside and Flemingate that growth was most marked after 1800.' ²

1817infor1b, sheet 3

'Many of the industrial premises, together with the gas works, were situated at Grovehill or near the beck and depended in varying degrees on water traffic. In a period when many inland waterways were losing money or being closed down the beck continued to flourish. The tonnage carried grew from some 31,000 tons in 1838 to nearly 40,000 tons in 1868, 56,000 tons in 1898, and 101,540 tons in 1905. The town's trade was increasing, but only slowly, particularly in the first half of the century.' ³

This location of the Lowther coal yard is probably due to the ability of the Beverley Canal to bring coal from the River Hull to Crane Hill Wharf on Beckside [HU17 0GG]. The canal runs for three quarters of a mile from Beverley to the River Hull. Although Beverley was served by the Hull and Selby Railway from October 1846, the canal remained independent, and therefore competitive for trade to Hull. The competition helped to keep railway tolls lower than they might otherwise have been, and traffic on the Beck continued to grow.

Pigot's Directory for Beverley of 1834 records that William LOWTHER of Beckside was a coal merchant.

Coal Merchant Lowther William, Beckside 
Source: White's Directory for Beverley of 1840

The Hull Packet and East Riding Times of 08 October 1849 reported the death of Mr William Lowther, lime and coal merchant at the age of 84.

Above: 1903 map of Beverley locating Crane Hill Wharf in red. Beverley Minster is the black cross to the west.

Above: A detailed view of Beckside, Beverley 1850 map, centred on Crane Hill, showing the two coal yards and other industry Click on the map to open a scalable pdf map in a new window

Above: A detailed view of Beckside, Beverley on a 1889 map, centred on Crane Hill Source: East Riding of Yorkshire, OS County Series CCXI NE Scale 1:2500

1817info1b, sheet 4

1841 Census Sun/Mon  6/7 June 1841
Source:   FHL Film TNA Ref HO107
          Piece: 1229;  Book: 14;  Folio: ;  Page: 15/17   
Dwelling: Beckside
Place:    Beverley, St Nicholas,, Yorks ER, England
  
Name              Age  Occupation         Born in County
James Lowther      25  Coal Merchant      Yorkshire
Martha Lowther     20                     Yorkshire
William Lowther     2                     Yorkshire
Elizabeth Allenby  15  Servant            Yorkshire
James Nutchley     17  Servant            Yorkshire
Note: Ages are usually rounded down to the nearest five years.

1841 Census Sun/Mon  6/7 June 1841
Source:   FHL Film TNA Ref HO107
          Piece: 1229;  Book: 10;  Folio: 6;  Page: 7  
Dwelling: Beckside
Place:    Beverley, Yorks ER, England
  
Name              Age  Occupation     Born in County
William Lowther    70  Coal merchant  Yorkshire
Elizabeth Lowther  70                 Yorkshire
John Lowther       30  Cooper         Yorkshire            
Note: Ages are usually rounded down to the nearest five years.

1851 Census Sun/Mon 30/31st March 1851
Source:     FHL Film  TNA Ref H1O7
            Piece: 2359; Folio: 585; Page: 2; Sched: 7
Dwelling:   Beckside     
Place:      Beverley, York ER, England

Name                      Rel Mar Age Occupation             Birthplace 
James Botterill Lowther  Head  M  37  Coal merchant          Yorks, Beverley
Martha Lowther           Wife  M  34                         Yorks, Nafferton
William Lowther           Son     12  Scholar                Yorks, Beverley
John Lowther              Son      8  Scholar                Yorks, Beverley
Elizabeth Gessop         Serv  U  21  General House Servant  Yorks, Leconfield

Martha was buried in St John and St. Martin Cemetery, Beverly.

1817infor1b, sheet 5

1861 Census Sun/Mon. 7/8th April 1861
Source:     FHL Film  TNA Ref RG09
            Piece: 3570; Folio: 25; Page: 4; Sched: 26
Dwelling:   Crane Hill    
Place:      Beverley, York ER, England 

Name                Rel  Mar Age  Occupation                 Birthplace 
James B Lowther    Head  Wid  47  Coal and general merchant  Yorks, Beverley
                                  and Town Councillor
                                  employing 10 men
John Lowther        Son   U   19  ?? Apprentice              Yorks, Beverley
Martha Pennington  Serv   U   16  General servant            Lancs, Bolton
Thomas Lowther     Neph   U   12  Scholar                    Yorks, Beverley

In the third quarter of 1863 James married Elizabeth FOSTER (GRO ref: Beverley 9d 148) who was born about 1822. The 1861 census describes Elizabeth as an unmarried lady who was a proprietor of house and land, born in Hull and living in Molescroft.

1871 Census Sun/Mon. 2/3rd April 1871
Source:      FHL Film  TNA Ref RG10
             Piece: 4769;  Folio: 135;  Page: 4;  Sched: 25
Dwelling:    Beckside [four houses before Higham and Hull Road]
Place:       Beverley, York ER, England 

Name                Rel Mar Age  Occupation                      Birthplace
James B Lowther    Head  M   57  Coal merchant employing 11 men  Yorks, Beverley
Elizabeth Lowther  Wife  M   50                                  Yorks, Hull
Emma Appleton      Serv  U   22  General servant domestic        Yorks, Beverley

James' property comprised of two messuages with yards and gardens on North side of Beckside in Beverley. ^{4, 5}

The 1911 census shows, despite the coal miner's strike, there are still four coal merchants in Beckside: Robert Clark, Alfred Owen, Mary Hancock and William Welbourn.

It is know that JB Lowther was reported as a councillor in 1867 and John Lowther was an Alderman of Beverley until his retirement in 1895. However, the Lowthers reported in Beverley Council meetings, referred to in the Hull Packet and East Riding Times, can not be attributed to a particular member of the family.

Hull Packet - 11 April 1856

At the meeting of Beverley Town Council it was recorded that the Beck dues for the month amounted to £55 7s 1½d. The amount due to Mr Lowther of 12s 8d was allowed.

Hull Packet - 12 March 1858

Mr Lowther contributed to the debate concerning arrears in rent owed by a master of the Grammar School.
In an attempt to pave and flag areas of Beverley the Committee had found that numerous drains and cess pits required attention, particularly those in Beckside, Railway Street and Mr Ditman’s garden. Mr Lowther said ‘he would be glad to cure the whole town if the council had the money’. Whilst the drain and paving issues were deferred the cesspools were to be cleaned out.

Hull Packet - 18 February 1859

The Drainage Committee reported the need to repair the Market Place at a cost of £60. Councillor Hind’s objections were over ruled by the Mayor and Mr Lowther object to Mr Hind’s persistence.

Hull Packet - 17 April 1863

At the Town Council meeting Mr Lowther proposed ‘acts for draining, preserving and improving certain low grounds and carrs, in several parishes of St John’s Beverley and of Skidby.

Hull Packet - 17 July 1863

On the motion of Mr Lowther two [water] pumps were ordered to be bored – one in Henfields, and another near Albert-terrace. An additional pump was ordered to be bored in Wednesday-market.

Hull Packet - 18 December 1863

In an attempt to attract the farmers of Market Weighton from the York cattle market, a new cattle market was proposed for Beverley. Increase business was expected when the railway to Market Weighton was opened. The Council was urged to buy the two fields in Morton Lane from Mrs Hutton. The suitability of the location was debated along with the argument that, as Beverley was ‘the capital of the East Riding’ suitable agricultural facilities should be provided. Mr Lowther read a memorial in favour of retaining the market on its present site.

Hull Packet - 13 July 1866

Mr Lowther drew that Councils attention to the state of the Corn Exchange, whose roof and floor needed, in his opinion improvements as it was ‘one of the most disgraceful places in England’. Councillor Wreghitt felt that it wasn’t worth spending any more money on the place as its walls ‘more shaky than the Beck walls’. He advocated a new exchange.

Hull Packet - 8 October 1867

At a noisy and stormy meeting JB Lowther was elected to the committee responsibly for submitting the legal constitution of the Board. ‘The greatest uproar prevailed at the meeting, which lasted till near nine o’clock.

1817info1b, sheet 6

Hull Packet - 17 March 1871

Mr Lowther proposed the construction of a footpath, costing £80, from the north side of Keldgate from the end of Lairgate to the cemetery. An amendment forced by limited funds deferred the proposal on the Mayor’s casting vote.

Hull Packet - 12 June 1874

At the Beck Committee of Beverley Town Council, which met to discuss and to agree to Mr Lowther’s proposal that a road between Colour Mills and Mr Lowther’s property be used so that Mr Edward Fisher could build a bridge over Mill Scut. Mr Lowther was involved in an argument with Mr Whiteing.
Mr Lowther was concerned about the removal of mud to the depth of 4 feet, dredged from the Beck arguing that this couldn’t have happened had the committee not agreed to depositing the mud on Mr Thomas Hodgson’s ½ acre, which would normally have raised £10 in rent.
A third proposal was moved by Mr Lowther to give authority to the surveyor to a drill bore hole to supply the water cart. It was argued that Beverley, like Leeds and other large towns should no longer water the streets due to a scarcity of water.

Hull Packet - 1 November 1876

Mr Lowther failed to submit the lowest tender for coal to Beverley Union. At 19s 6d [a ton] he lost by 2d.

Hull Packet - 02 October 1885

Mr Councillor Lowther was vice-chair of the Free Gardeners’ sixteenth anniversary celebration at the Market Cross Tavern who provided an excellent tea. Excellent songs and recitations were given and a most enjoyable evening was passed.

Whilst the Minster end of Beckside would be recognised by the Lowthers, Crane Hill Wharf has been redeveloped as a brown field site of modern housing in the £275 000 price range,

1. East Riding Archives (Accessed: 13 February 2022)
2. Beverley, 1700-1835: Population and Topography', A History of the County of York East Riding: Volume 6: The borough and liberties of Beverley (1989), pp. 118-121. (Accessed 18 July 2018)
3. Modern Beverley: Economy, 1835-1918', A History of the County of York East Riding: Volume 6: The borough and liberties of Beverley (1989), pp. 136-141 (Accessed 18 July 2018)
4. East Riding Archives DDBC/30 1567-184
5. Further source: East Riding Archives - DDBD/5/208 Plan of property at Beckside, Beverley 1894

With thanks to Chris Glass for the early Lowther research.

Poll Books and voting rights At the beginning of the 19th century the right to vote appears to have been the Knights of the Shire Act of 1432: that the right to vote belonged to the Forty Shilling Freeholders, over the age of 21, meaning that only owners of real properties who paid taxes to the Crown of at least 40 shillings (£2) per year. In 1780 this amounted to 3% of the population. It was said that an income of forty shillings a year made a man independent, being sufficient to furnish him with all the necessaries of life. It was not until The Reform Act of 1832, also known as the Representation of the People Act that voting rights were extended to freeholder men above the age of 21. By 1832 forty shillings would just about support a labouring man for a month, but the number of people who had such an estate in England and Wales was then only about 247,000. The second Reform Act of 1867 enfranchised householders including the working class. The history of voting rights in the United Kingdom (Accessed: 04 February 2022)

1817infor1b, sheet 8

This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass		Version A2 Updated 05 June 2023