The Mason Family and Relations

PAGE CONTENTS

• Introduction
• The Mason Turner family
• The Mason Clapperton family
• The Mason Mathison family
• Appendix 1 – the family of Adam Mason and Rosa Turner
• Appendix 2 – the family of James Mason and Isabella Clapperton
• Appendix 3 – the family of Thomas Mason and Elizabeth Hall Coombes
• Appendix 4 – the family of John Mcbain and Isabella Mason
• Appendix 5 – the family of John William Hall and Mary Ann Mason
• Appendix 6 – the family of William Bennett Hartley and Jessie Mason
• Appendix 7 – the family of James Mason and Mary Jane Knowlson
• Appendix 8 – the family of Robert Mason and Sarah Elizabeth Storr
• Appendix 9 – the family of Harry Appleby and Jenny Mason
• Appendix 10 – James Walter Mason
• Appendix 11 – the families of John Mason
• Appendix 12 – the family of John Mason and Euphemia Hart

INTRODUCTION TO THE M SERIES

See here for an alphabetical list of all surnames in the Mason pages with links to the relevant text.

Mason Family

Mike Young and Sheena nee Keith have been researching their family histories since the mid-1970s and have now so much material that rather than publishing it on a single website, they have decided to divide it into four groups, one for each of their parents’ surnames. The M series is Mike’s maternal line of descent.

Mason Family Lineage Chart

Mason Lineage

Mason Family Places of Birth

For a map showing all known places of birth for all our direct Mason ancestors click below and select the Mason layer.

Ref. M1

THE MASON FAMILY

It is through the Masons that the Youngs had Scottish blood introduced, by virtue of Mike’s mother Elsie (1904-51).  She was the sixth child and second daughter of Adam Mason (1864-1929) and his wife Rosa Turner (1866-1937).

Mason Turner family

At his mother’s knee Mike heard the story of how (we think in 1883) his grandfather, Adam Mason, a printer compositor, 19 years old, had found fellow chapel member 17 year old Rosa Turner attractive but had learned that she was leaving Hull to live in Halifax.  Her father, George Turner (See Ref. M5 for the Turner Family story.), a market gardener on Holderness Road, Hull, had died when Rosa was 2 and. about the time we are talking about, the widow decided to move from Hull to Halifax where work prospects were better.  A picture was painted of Adam watching the departing train with a distinct pang and hoping that her promise to write to him was sincere. It was but it actually took them six years, the marriage taking place in the Hanover Street Chapel, Halifax, 18.4.1889.  Incidentally, we can confirm that their courting by correspondence is not the only time this has happened in our family.

Adam and Rosa’s first home was in St Paul’s Street, Hull.  The 1891 Census shows them there with Percy aged 1 month.  By the time of the 1901 Census Adam and Rosa were at 9 New Cheapside, Sculcoates, Hull.  Apparently this was a brand new house and they moved there to be near to Rosa’s mother who had returned to Hull from Halifax and was living in Swan Street.  With them were their first four children, all boys, the youngest being Stanley, aged 4 months.  Sadly the infant did not survive to the end of the year.  Family tradition has them moving several times in the next decade.  In Blundell Street they had a garden, so kept chickens.  They also took a bigger house in Crystal Street, so they could take in Rosa’s mother.

In 1908 their eldest son, Percy, emigrated to Canada and the 1911 Census shows Adam and Rosa at 5 Egginton Street, Hull, with their two remaining sons and the four girls that had been born in the previous decade.  Also with them was Sarah Elizabeth Turner, aged 79, the widowed mother of Rosa.  A full account of Adam and Rosa’s children and their descendants is at Appendix 1 hereto.

Adam Mason had a 40 year connection with the Territorial Army, or, as they were originally, the 4th East Yorks Volunteers, gaining a long service medal, which was passed on to Mike, as the eldest grandson.  After becoming a colour sergeant he became drum major and wore the crossed rifles with crown above, denoting a first class shot and marksman of the year (at 600 yards).  He served the four years of the First World War (1914-18) but, being over 50 years of age, was not sent overseas.  In later life he got great pleasure out of being the bandmaster of a drum and fife band for the “orderly boys”, i.e. the young street-sweepers of Hull, something of a family tradition.

Naturally, Adam’s sons, Walter and George also became volunteers with the result that in August 1914 all three were called to the colours, leaving Rosa to look after her four young girls on a sharply reduced income.  As mentioned above, Adam was not sent abroad but Walter and George soon found themselves on the Western Front.  What is more, Percy had volunteered as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and so the three of them were out there.  Their stories are presented in detail in Appendix 1 and Appendix 10. but, putting it briefly George was killed in action 3.5.1915 and in the same action Percy suffered gassing in the trenches and had to be evacuated back to Britain, with a permanent effect on his health. In 1917 Walter gained the Military Medal in the battle for Vimy Ridge but in the November was badly wounded and finished the war as a convalescent.

Adam Mason died 6 January 1929, aged 64, so that Mike never knew his grandfather.  He did, however, know his grandmother Rosa, with whom he was parked on Saturday afternoons while his mother Elsie played hockey.  Rosa was at 5, The Avenue, Harley Street, Hull which boasted an outside (but flushing!) loo and a tin bath hanging on the whitewashed wall of the backyard.  On wash-days the “copper” in the kitchen in which water was boiled, came into use.  As a treat, Mike was offered a saucer of (dry) cocoa and sugar to spoon/finger up – an early lesson in how not to choke (and be laughed at!).  In the living room – the front room was either for state occasions or rented to a lodger – there was a large cast iron range, all shiny black with bright steel hinges on the side oven doors.  The wide, tassel-fringed mantleshelf was crammed with ornaments and various day to day objects.  Lighting was by gas, the mantles being very delicate.  Rosa died in 11.2.1937, aged 71, when Mike was four.  He remembers being left at an aunt’s house, in the care of her friend, until the family returned there after the funeral.

After Percy’s death in Canada a month later there commenced a period of no less that 47 years during which the number of lineal descendants of Adam and Rosa Mason rose to 34 while there was only one death from natural causes, that being a child that survived only a few weeks.  The spell was broken by Walter Mason’s death in October 1984 at the age of 91.

Mason Clapperton family

Adam Mason’s origin, in Edinburgh, was well-known, of course, to Mike’s mother and we were able to confirm from numerous records that he was the tenth of the eleven children of James Mason and Isabella Clapperton (See Ref. M3.).  In fact Adam was the seventh son and it is said that the father, James, was also a seventh son, but that is doubtful.

Baptismal records of Canongate Church, Edinburgh 8.1.1846 were a family historian’s dream in that they gave the dates of birth for the children and they also stated not only both parents’ full names but also their date of marriage, i.e. in this case 11.4.1845.  This chimed in with the banns book entry of St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh, 17.2.1845 which proclaimed the intended marriage between James Mason, printer, of Blackfriars Wynd, in Tron Church Parish, and Isabella Clapperton, living at East Crosscauseway, the daughter of James Clapperton, shoemaker in Dalkeith.  The space for the marriage date was left blank so we cannot say in which church the marriage took place, but presumably St Cuthbert’s.

Just three months after the marriage twin girls, Isabella and Mary Ann were born.  By the 1851 Census, when they were living at 84 Pleasance, Edinburgh, another girl, Jessie, and the first son, James, had been born.   For some reason Jessie, aged 3, was not there but there was a visitor, i.e. Margaret Clapperton, 43, a widowed former upholsterer.  We do not know anything about her.

Edinburgh was traditionally a great centre of printing and publishing due to the conjunction of the Court, Church, University, Commerce and Book Publishing, so when there arose a demand in England for printing machinists like James, it was natural for there to be a southward migration.  James was offered a job in Leeds and family folklore has it that when Adam was only 10 days old  the whole family moved there.*  Mike’s aunt Mary Woodhead, nee Mason, who made numerous pertinent contributions in the compiling of the Mason story, recalled being told that the family – the parents and ten children – reserved two whole train compartments for the journey.  James and Isabella had their eleventh child in Leeds. They moved from Leeds to Hull in 1871 or 1872, again for employment reasons.  A full description of their children and their descendants is at Appendix 2.  Unusually for those times, all the children survived childhood.

*We think this is an exaggeration because we possess the certificate Adam’s birth 14.5.1864 signed by the registrar for the Parish of St Giles 9.6.1864.  Nonetheless they had arrived in Leeds by 3.7.1864, because that day Adam was baptised at the Music Hall, Albion Street, by the Rev. Young who had evidently come from Newcastle.  This would no doubt be non-conformist, as the family were active Methodists once they got to England.

It appears to have been the growth of the newspaper industry – newly viable as compulsory education produced a literate population – that drew James Mason south.  As Roy Strong says in his “The Story of Britain” (at p.444):

By the 1850s the middle classes were hungry for reading matter.  Taxes were progressively removed from advertisements, newspapers and, finally in 1861, from paper itself.  The result was a printing explosion, and a barrage of newspapers, books and periodicals.  By 1880 there were no less than ninety-six dailies in the regions and the national papers also sped their way across the country.

In an article “Was it in the Papers? – Using Local Newspapers for Family History” in NDFHS Magazine Vol 25/3 Autumn 2000 Geoffrey Nicholson said

The gradual spread of literacy downward through society coincided with the abolition of the three taxes to which newspapers were subjected: an advertisement tax, stamp duty and tax on paper.  By 1861 all three had gone, allowing papers printed on the new rotary presses to compete on grounds of price for the mass market.

James Mason worked for the Eastern Morning News when he moved to Hull.  From “A History of Hull” by Hugh Calvert:

The Hull Morning Telegraph, established by Edward Holden in 1855 to print news of the Crimean War [the first to have war correspondents] continued until 1880.  However, the Eastern Morning News, established in January 1864 by William Saunders (later, in 1885, MP for East Hull) is generally regarded as the first daily newspaper in the city. The Eastern Morning News absorbed the much older Hull Advertiser and Exchange Gazette (founded 1794) in 1867.  At first the office was in Scale Lane and William Hunt (a strong Gladstonian) edited, printed and published the first edition, being succeeded as editor eventually, in 1886, by J.A. Spender, nephew of the founder and proprietor.  The latter continued until 1891.

In 1929 the Eastern Morning News was incorporated into the Hull Evening News, which itself combined with the Hull Daily Mail the following year.

In January 1873, when their second son, John, died, the family were at 4 Lucas Square, New George Street, Hull, and at the 1881 Census they were still there, with only the four youngest children.  By 1891 James and Isabella had moved to 5 Woodbine Terrace, Sculcoates (part of Hull), with just one grandchild with them and in 1901 the old couple were at 80 Raywell Street, off Charles Street, Sculcoates, James said to be “in decline”.  This was perhaps a bit premature as he survived until 7.3.1909 aged 85.

Isabella was joined at Raywell Street by her widowed daughters Isabella and Jessie and, as evidence of her stamina at 85 years of age, she visited London for the first time for the funeral of King Edward VII, which took place 29.5.1910.  She survived to 1.6.1912, when she died at 87.  Mary Woodhead recollects being lifted up as a three year old to see the coffin leave the house.  Isabella’s newspaper obituary, kindly supplied by Mike’s cousin, Bryan Mason (from another cousin Bruce Mason), has her leaving 101 living descendants, namely eight children, 39 grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren.  Such precision suggests the existence of a central record of the family’s births marriages and deaths.  Now what happened to that?  Oh to have inherited it!  Well, our reaction has been to do a fresh calculation by tabulating the data contained in the appendices.  We found we could put a name to 98 living descendants, made up of eight children, 42 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren.  A small number of the granddaughters we know about could have married and had children of their own for all we know.  That would explain our shortfall in great-grandchildren.  On the other hand, we are claiming three more living grandchildren.  Either we have not spotted some deaths or in 1912 they had failed to record some grandchildren. At any rate the closeness of the two results suggests that our researches have been reasonably successful regarding this remarkable family.

Thanks to the obituary notice, we learn that the Mason family had a big impact on the popular music and entertainment world of Hull, with Alexander Mason leading a drum and fife band, which included five of the brothers and, later, the Mason Brothers Quartette (sic) Party, being a popular novelty act.

 * * * * *

Mason – Mathison Family

James Mason always declared himself to have been born in Edinburgh and having combed various parish records for that city we found only one baptismal entry (at St Cuthberts Edinburgh) that seemed to fit the age James gave for himself, although other family researchers have found at least one other.  At any rate, relying on family tradition that there were printers in three generations, we decided, on “reasonable conjecture basis” that James was born 31.10.1823 to John Mason, printer, of Drummond Street, and his wife Mary Matthewson (or Mathison).  (For her family see Ref. M2).

We found a marriage proclamation at St Cuthbert’s, Edinburgh, dated 16.8.1821 for John Mason, printer, of 44 Portsburgh, and Mary Mathison, daughter of Donald Mathison resident at 7 Drummond Street. The baptismal entries at St Cuthbert’s, Edinburgh, also had a younger brother Alexander, born 17.6.1826 and sister Henrietta born 9.10.1829.  The fact that James Mason’s first three sons were called James, John and Alexander lends support to this.

The marriage did not last all that long, as we found a death entry for Mary Mason (nee Mathison) 28.7.1833 at Canongate, the wife of John Mason of 234 Cowgate.  She was aged 45 and the cause of death: “dropsy”.  This appears to be the only possible Edinburgh death that is indexed.

At the 1841 Census, at 55 Blackfriars Wynd, Edinburgh, we found John Mason, aged 55+, with James, Alexander and “Keneatty”, whom we assume to be Henrietta.  The official Scotland People website did not seem to offer an image of this entry – only the transcript. By the time of the 1851 Census all the children had left home and started families and there was no entry for John Mason himself because the St Cuthbert burial records show that. John Mason, printer, resident at 307 Canongate, had died 26.3.1849 of a lung problem.  His age was given as 65.

Turning to the 1851 Census, we found Alexander Mason, journeyman printer, said to be aged 23, at the Edinburgh home of William Callender, 34, a master shoemaker, and his wife Agnes, aged 30.  Alexander is described as William’s brother-in-law. We then looked for William Callender at the 1841 Census and duly found him and Agnes, with one year-old Christina, at a multi-occupied house at Lawnmarket. This meant that James, Alexander and Henrietta had an older sister, but, in the days before the modern internet finding aids had appeared, we could not find her baptism entry.  We concluded that Agnes had been born to John and Mary before they married.

Mason – Johnstone Family

It now transpires that for the first four decades or so of our research into the Mason family we failed to notice that John Mason was hardly a young man when he married Mary Mathison.  A little simple arithmetic would have told us that he must have been around 37 and she about 32.  A reasonable hypothesis might have been, “He already had a young child.  Surely from a previous marriage?”

Enlightened by a tip-off in 2023 by the researcher husband of a fourth cousin of Mike’s, the latter being descended from Agnes, and with benefit of the modern data banks, we duly found banns read 23.4.1804 for a marriage between John Mason, printer, of Drumsheugh, Edinburgh, and Agnes Johnstone, daughter of Thomas Johnstone, gardener.  We also found baptism entries for Margaret (1813), John (1815) and Agnes (1818).  Sadly, the mother Agnes died in 1820, so it is not surprising that John Mason remarried in 1821.  Incidentally, in Margaret’s case the baptism entry has the mother as Ann Johnstone, so perhaps she was known in the family as Ann rather Agnes.

Drummond connection

Agnes Callender, nee Mason, died 6.3.1898.  The informant was her daughter Margaret Chalmers who said her mother was 78, rather than the actual 80.  She also informed the registrar that Agnes’s mother had been Ann Mason, nee Drummond (deceased).  We do not know how literate Agnes and her daughter were, whether marriage lines had been passed down or anyone had noted family dates in a bible or otherwise.  We can accept Ann for Agnes, per reference above, but where does Ferguson come in?  Mike’s cousin’s husband alerted us to a marriage in Edinburgh 30.12.1841 between John Mason, printer, and Jean Drummond, both of 56 Cowgate, Edinburgh, she said to be the daughter of the late James Drummond, weaver, but no suitable 1841 Census entry for her has been seen.  At any rate, this marriage seems to have produced two children, Jean (1842) and John (1844).  Sadly, FindMyPast has “Jane Drummond or Mason”, aged 34, being buried in Edinburgh 3.1.1846 but her marital status is not mentioned.  Enquiries made when visiting Edinburgh confirmed that this reference was incorrect.  Later, scrutinising the ScotlandsPeople database for 1845 produced an image of a burial 31.12.1945 of Jane Drummond, 34, spouse of John Mason, printer, of Blackfriars Wynd.  The cause of death was not stated.  Thus John Mason was widowed for a third time, this time with two small children, aged three and one.

As to her origin, we have seen the baptism of a Jean Drummond who was born 18.5.1816, the daughter of James Drummond, weaver.  If this was “ours” she would have been only 29, rather than 34 at death.

John Mason himself died at Edinburgh 26.3.1849, aged 65, due to a lung problem.  We do not know what happened to the two young children.

Details of John Mason’s three marriages and his eight children are given at Appendix 11 hereto.

Mason – Hart Family

If John Mason was, indeed, 65 when he died in 1849 and assuming he was a native of Edinburgh, the birth of a John Mason born in that city 10.3.1783 at least deserves our attention, given that we can find no death or marriage entry for this boy before “our” John’s marriage in 1804.  The father is said to be John Mason, writer (i.e. a lawyer), married to Euphemia Hart (for Hart Story see Ref. M11)
Witnesses to the baptism were a carpenter and a weaver.

When we first considered this, decades ago, we discounted it, on the assumption that we were looking at a Writer to the Signet but perusing (on the internet) the 19C book A History of the Society of Writers to the Signet with a List of Members 1594-1890, it is clear that John Mason, although no doubt a lawyer, was never a member of that exclusive group.  Rather strikingly, he and Euphemia named their first child, a daughter, Cecil John McKenzie Mason.  Looking again at the above book, a certain John Mackenzie of Devine, whose membership of the Society had commenced in 1737, had died five months before Cecil’s birth, while holding the office of Deputy Keeper of the Seal, i.e., one of the most senior officials of the Court, personally appointed by the King to seal documents on his behalf.  Perhaps John Mason had worked for John Mackenzie and this was his tribute.  All in all, we are now prepared to accept that this John Mason is not too grand to be Mike’s 4 x gr-grandfather.  Indeed, we might suppose the law and the printing trade had a connection.

FindMyPast has Euphemia Hart as being born in Edinburgh 5.2.1749 to John Hart, wright (i.e., a carpenter), and Jean Aitkman.  In fact, the Old Parish baptism entry for 12.2.1749, has her name as Euphame, with the witnesses being Patrick Leitch, wright, and John Rattry, merchant.  We have not seen the Mason-Hart marriage, but we have seen baptisms for seven children they had between 1778 and 1789.  Euphemia was buried 13.10.1798, aged 49.  John Mason was buried 23.7.1816.  Unfortunately, his age was not stated so we have no way of taking the Mason story back any further.  Details are at Appendix 12 hereto.

July 2023

Appendix 1 to Ref. M1

 THE FAMILY OF ADAM MASON AND ROSA TURNER

 Adam Mason married Rosa Turner 19.4.1889 at Halifax and had children as follows:

Thomas Percy Mason

The GRO birth entry has Percy Mason born at Hull 3.2.1890.  The Thomas was possibly bestowed at his baptism, for which we have not seen the entry.  He was always just Percy in the family.  In 1891 at home in St Paul’s Street, Hull and in 1901 likewise at New Cheapside.  Passed the Labour Examination at the age of 12, being deemed to have had sufficient education to join the labour force.  However, as apprenticeships could only started at 14, Percy took a job as a van boy at Wm Cussons, the leading grocery business in the city, going out into the countryside with a double horse van.  At school he had won a medal for an essay on Canada and when he was 14 he said he intended to emigrate there, so he did not, as his father expected, take up an apprenticeship but stayed on with Wm Cussons (becoming a fully-fledged van driver) until he was 18 when emigrated.  The Canadian Census which commenced to be compiled 1.6.1911 has him in Toronto, aged 21, in lodgings, working as a driver for a butchers firm.  As soon as war was declared in 1914 Percy volunteered for the Canadian Expeditionary Force and we have his own long eloquent account of receiving six weeks training near Quebec then sailing down the St Lawrence in a convoy of 32 ships carrying altogether some 30,000 soldiers, the convoy eventually arriving at Plymouth. He goes on to describe vividly his baptism of fire on the Western Front.  The Canadians were some of the allied troops near Ypres in April 1915 when the Germans first used chlorine gas as a weapon.  Percy was badly affected and was evacuated back to Britain for treatment.  In fact, he was never the same man.  Family folklore has Percy, even before emigrating, forming an attachment to one Marie Adkin, a native of Long Riston, East Riding and  in his testimony (above) he certainly speaks of the sweet girl who had kept up correspondence during his time in Canada.  As soon as he was discharged he is said to have married her and taken her back to Toronto.  As yet we have not seen any record of this or the bride’s family, although we know that they were in Canada by early 1919.  Incidentally, the 1891 Census at Long Riston has six households with the names Adkins and only one old couple called Adkin.  Thomas Percy, resident at Craven Road, Toronto, died of TB at the Queen Alexander Sanatorium in the township of Middlesex, London, Ontario 9.3.1937, aged 47, his profession being given as commercial artist.  The widow is named as Cissie Mason.  She is said in the family not to have survived her husband by very many years.

James Walter Mason

Born at Hull 13.4.1893.  Like his elder brother, left school at 12.  For two years he was his brother’s van boy then was apprenticed as a painter & decorator.  A founder member of the Territorial Army he joined the colours immediately in August 1914.  His WW1 heroism is described in Appendix 10 herewith.  He married at Hull 10.6.1921 Annie Elizabeth (“Betty” or “Lizzie”) Jessop (b. 23.8.1896).  Betty died at Hull 1.4.1976, aged 79 and Walter died there 27.10.1984, aged 91.  They had one child:

Joyce                  Born at Hull 9.11.1922. After war service she married at Hull 12.6.1948 Miles Edward (“Eddie”) Tonge (born 13.12.1917) and they ran a pub.  They had two daughters. Eddie died at Hull 20.2.1980, aged 62 and Joyce died at Kendal 20.6.1998, aged 75.

George Edgar Mason

Born at Hull 30.1.1895.  He left school at 12 and in due course was apprenticed as a printer and bookbinder in the same firm as his father.  As a Territorial, he joined the colours at the start of the war in 1914 and, with his brother Walter went to France in April 1915 with the 1st/4th East Yorkshire Regiment, although in different companies.  He was killed in action 3.5.1915, aged 20.  Like many of those killed in the Ypres salient who have no known grave, his name appears on the Menin Gate.  Walter had the unenviable task of writing to their mother with the news.

Stanley Mason

Born at 9 New Cheapside, Cleveland St, Hull, 19.12.1900 and died at 1 Prague Terrace, Stepney, Hull, 31.10.1901 from diarrhoea and convulsions.

Dorothy (“Dolly”)Mason

Born at Hull 16.9.1902.  Married at Hull 1.4.1928 George William Perry, a dock worker, (born 2.2.1901).  George and Dolly had five children as below.  George died at Hull 16.7.1959, aged 58 and Dolly died there 14.2.1993, aged 90.

Doreen               Born at Hull 12.1.1929.  She married at Hull 14.11.1949 Alan Frederick Parkinson (b. 25.7.1928). They had a son and two daughters.  Alan died September 2012, aged 62.  Doreen died January 2020.

Marion Daisy     Born at Hull 9.2.1931.  She married at Hull 21.9.1957 Austin Anthony (“Tony”) Caley (b. 20.5.1928).  He died 13.4.2011, aged 82.  They had no children.

Roy Mason         Born at Hull 12.5.1933.  He married at Hull 15.2.1958 Shirley Ann White (b. 24.5.1935).  They had two sons.

Kathleen Mary   Born at Hull 10.11.34.  She married firstly at Hull 2.4.1960. Sidney Rooney (b. 6.11.1930).  He died 8.3.1973.  Kathleen married secondly at Hull 20.5.1977 Anthony Youngs.  There was a son and a daughter of the first marriage. Kathleen died at Hull 7.4.2013, aged 78.

John Geoffrey    He was born at Hull 15.2.1944.  He married at Kirkby Overblow, North Yorkshire, 26.10.1968 Patricia Taylor (b. 24.10.43).  They had no children.

Elsie May Mason

Born at Hull 19.5.1904, , married (15.8.1931) Horace William (“Bill”)Young, an accountant, (b. 17.8.1904).  They had three boys, as below.  Elsie died 27.5.1951, aged 47, and Bill later remarried and lived in Skidby near Hull, eventually dying 7.7.2004, six weeks or so short of his hundredth birthday.

John Michael      Born at Hull 25.5.1932.  Family historian.  He married at Wooler, Northumberland, 25.5.1963 Sheena Keith (b. 8.4.1930).  They had two sons and two daughters. Sheena died 19.3.2020, at almost 90, while resident at Bushey, Herts.

Peter Mason       Born at Hull 4.7.1939.  He married at Melton Mowbray 24.5.1975 Janet Lucy Wild (b. 24.1.1943).  They had two sons.  Peter died 19.4.2018, aged 78, while resident at Otley, West Riding.

Anthony Robin (“Tony”)  Born at Hull 20.5.1942.  He died 2.6.2014, aged 72, while resident at Margate on Sea, Kent.

Jessie Mason

Born at Hull 22.9.1906.  She married at Hull Thomas Herbert Annis (b. 30.11.1906,) who spent most of WW2 as a prisoner of the Germans. They had two children, as below. Herbert died at Hull 15.11.1973, aged 65, and Jessie died at Hull 18.11.1993, aged 87.

David Charles    Born at Hull 12.4.1938.  He married at Hull 17.1.1959 Marlene Elaine Jackson.  They had two daughters.

Leslie Brian        Born at Hull 21.5.1948.  Married at Gateshead February 1994 Paula J. Darmody.

Mary Mason

Born at Hull 12.10.1908.  She married at Hull Norman Dobson Woodhead, local government official, (b. 14.10.1905).  They had one son.  Norman died at Hull 23.5.1981, aged 75 and Mary died 24.2.2002, aged 93.

Christopher        Born at Hull 26.7.1944.  He married at Bucklow, Cheshire, 15.8.1970 Sally Brigid Dunn (b. 4.6.1947).  They had four sons.

Adam Mason died at Hull 6.6.1929, aged 65 and Rosa Mason, nee Turner, died there 11.2.1937, aged 71.

March 2023

Appendix 2 to Ref. M1

 THE FAMILY OF JAMES MASON AND ISABELLA CLAPPERTON

 James Mason and Isabella Clapperton married 11.4.1845 at St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh.  They had twelve children as follows.

Isabella Mason

Twin of Mary Ann (below).  Born at Edinburgh 13.7.1845 and baptised at Canongate Church 8.1.1846.  At the 1851 Census at 84 Pleasance, Edinburgh and in 1861 at 33 Horse Wynd, Edinburgh, being then a 15 year old printing machine girl.  She would have been 19 when the family moved to Leeds in May 1864 and a few months later (1864 Q4) she married, in Leeds, John McBain, an engine fitter who was born and resident in Edinburgh.  Evidently John took her back to Scotland to set up home, where they had their first child.  However, within five years Isabella and John must have decided to move to be near her twin sister and parents in Leeds – and later to follow the parents to Hull, as the last three of their children that we know about were born in Hull.

The family were at 26 Turkey Street, Hunslet, Leeds,  in 1871, John being an engine fitter in a works.  At the 1881 Census their eldest son, James M., aged 13 was staying with his aunt, Mary Ann (Hartley), in Leeds while “Isabel” and John were now at 2 La Trobe Terrace, Regent Street, Hull, with their other five sons.  In 1891 Isabella and John were at 14 Lilly Street, Sutton, Hull, with Alexander , Joseph and Frank, John W. McBain being at the Leeds home of his aunt Mary Ann (Hartley).

John McBain died at Hull 1894 Q4, aged 50 and in 1901 the widow Isabella was on her own at 2 Arthurs Terrace, Courtney Street, Hull, said to be a Monthly Nurse (whatever that was) but was also on the Census list as visiting her son John W. in Leeds.  In 1911, aged 65, Isabella was living with her mother and sister Jessie at 80 Raywell Street, Hull, and on that census schedule she acknowledged having had a seven children, one of whom was no longer alive.

Isabella died at Hull 1922 Q1, aged 76.

Mike’s aunt Mary Woodhead’s comment: “When we lived at 5, Egginton Street*, Isabella lived at no. 7, on the upper floor, a Mrs Langrick living below.  Isabella lived alone and suffered with bronchitis and asthma.  I only remember one visiting son, Alexander, who lived on Holderness Road.  He was jolly and Jess and I loved him calling.  He had a daughter Isabelle and a son Donald.  *I would guess we moved there about 1909/10 and I am talking about a time when I was about 4 years old”  [i.e. about 1912.  In fact the 1911 Census has them there.].

Details of John and Isabella McBain’s family are given in Appendix 4.

Mary Ann Mason

Twin of Isabella (above).  Born at Edinburgh 13.7.1845 and baptised at Canongate Church 8.1.1846.  At the 1851 Census at 84 Pleasance, Edinburgh, and in 1861 at 33 Horse Wynd, Edinburgh, being then 15 years old with no external job.  She would have been 18 when the family moved to Leeds in May 1864.  She married at St George’s Parish Church, Leeds 11.7.1870  John William Hall, a Whitesmith, son of Thomas Hall, innkeeper.  Mary Ann was 24 (and 363 days actually!) and John William was 23, having been born 1847 Q1 in Leeds when his father was a sawyer.  His mother was born Susannah Hirst.  The witnesses were James Mason and Jessie Mason.  At the (April) 1871 Census the couple were at Park Street, Burley, Headingley, Leeds, John William Hall being described as a whitesmith and bell hanger. He was later described as being a whitesmith on his own account.

In 1881 they were at 41 Woodsley Villas, Leeds, except for son George, who was visiting his grandparents in Hull.  Mary Ann and John William were also hosting James M McBain, 13, who had been born in Leeds but whose parents (Isabella Mason and John McBain) had moved to Hull.  By 1891 the family had moved to 19  Osborne View, Leeds and a further move took them by 1901 to Woodsley View, Leeds.

John William Hall died 1911 Q1, aged 64 and at the 1911 Census the widow Mary Ann was in the home of her daughter Isabel Mason when she confirmed having had five children, all still living.  We think that Mary Ann Hall died in the South Leeds district 1934 Q3, aged 89.

Mike’s aunt Mary Woodhead’s comment: “My memory is of hearing an address Branksome Terrace, Leeds, from where Aunt Mary Ann visited us in Egginton Street.  We liked her – much kinder and gentler than Isabelle.  Isabelle was irascible, perhaps because of her bronchitis?

Details of Thomas and Mary Ann’s family are given in Appendix 5.

Jessie Mason

Born at Edinburgh 1847 (date unknown) but not included in 18.5.1855 retrospective baptismal entry of Canongate Church that covered Isabella, Mary Ann, James, John and Alexander, so date of birth not known precisely but 1847 accords with her marriage and Census entries.  She was not actually listed with the family at the 1851 Census in Edinburgh, when she would have been 3 years of age.  Could she have been visiting relatives or in hospital?  She was a 13 year old scholar in Edinburgh in 1861 and a tailor’s machinist still at home at Bentinck Street, Leeds in 1871.

On Christmas Day 1872, aged 25, she married at All Saints, Sculcoates, Hull, William Bennett Hartley, aged 28, a cloth dresser*, resident in Leeds.  The witnesses were Sarah Denton and James Mason.  The groom had been born at Leeds 1844 Q3 the son of James Hartley, also a cloth dresser, and his first wife Mary Bennett, whose marriage had been at Leeds 1838 Q2.

*: A cloth dresser was a skilled worker in the textile industry who cut woollen cloth with huge shears when it was ready to leave the mill, or sheared the nap from it.

By the 1881 Census, living at 6 Kennedy Street, Leeds, William and Jessie had completed their two-child family, with Isabella 6 and James Henry 4.  In 1891 they were at 4 New Lloyd Street, Leeds, both Jessie and her daughter each being a tailoress, and James down as an office boy.  In 1901 they were at 23 Haddon Avenue, Headingly, with just James Henry, aged 24, was now a lithographic artist (on his own account).  Father William was aged 56, a warehouseman for a confectioner.

In the next decade both children left home to marry and 1907 Q4 William Hartley died, aged 63.  Jessie’s reaction was to move to Hull, where, at the 1911 Census, aged 63,  she is living with her mother and sister Isabella at 80 Raywell Street.  At some later point she must have moved back to West Yorkshire to live with or near Isabella, as there is a credible death entry for Jessie Hartley in North Leeds 1935 Q1, aged 87, which implies a death in December 1934.

Details of William and Jessie’s family are given in Appendix 6.

James Mason

Born at Edinburgh 20.3.1850.  At the 1851 Census at 84 Pleasance, Edinburgh, and in 1861 at 33 Horse Wynd, Edinburgh.  At the1871 Census at the family home, 21 Bentinck Street, Leeds, as a 21 year old printing mechanic.  Very soon after that (20.5.1871) in Leeds Parish Church he married Mary Jane Knowlson.  She had been born Skinnergate, Darlington, 24.2.1853 as the daughter of Thomas Knowlson, printer, and his wife Jane, nee Raine.  The witnesses were Thomas Knowlson and Jessie Mason (the only adult sister of James left at home).

The first thing the new couple encountered was James’ family moving to Hull for reasons of his father’s work.  They must have joined in the exodus because early in 1872 their fist child was born in Hull.  However, they must have moved back to Leeds that year or the next, because there is a death entry in Leeds for the child in the last quarter of 1873.  By 1876 they were at Leicester where they had a second son then moved to Northampton where two more sons were born.  At the 1881 Census, with James described as a machine printer, they were at 159 St Edmunds Rd , Northampton.  In 1882 they were still at Northampton, where a daughter was born.

Then very sadly, aged only 33, James Mason died. This was at 7 Renfield Street, North Leeds 8.3.1884, the cause being “Phthisis Pulmonalis”, i.e. TB, the same as his brother John (below).  The informant was Mary Jane.

She was left with three boys, seven, five and two, and a one-year old daughter.  The older generation stepped in to offer accommodation.  This is illustrated by the 1891 Census which shows Jane, with her elder son and her daughter with her parents, Thomas and Jane Knowlson at Grafton Street, Leeds, while one of the younger boys was with his Mason grandparents at Woodbine Terrace, Hull.  As yet we have not found the remaining son in 1891.  In 1901, however, he and his elder brother, with their sister, were with their now widowed grandmother at Armenia Grove, Leeds.  Mary Jane Mason has not been seen after the 1891 Census.

Details of James and Mary Jane’s family are given at Appendix 7

John Mason

Born 11.4.1852 Edinburgh.  In 1861 at 33 Horse Wynd, Edinburgh and in 1871 at the family home 21 Bentinck Street, Leeds, as unmarried whitesmith.  Very soon after that he must have moved to Hull with the family and become a machine printer  because he died, aged just 20, at 4 Lucas Square, New George Street, Sculcoates on 28.1.1873, aged 20, of “Phthisis Pulmonalis”, i.e. TB.

 Alexander Mason

Born at Edinburgh 10.8.1854.  In 1861 at 33 Horse Wynd, Edinburgh and in 1871 at the family home 21 Bentinck Street, Leeds, as an unmarried apprentice printing machinist.  Very soon after that he moved with the family to Hull.  On Christmas Day 1876 he married Harriet Hannah Adelaide Elliot Smith at St Simon’s Church, Leeds, his address being given as Sykes Street, Sculcoates, Hull.  The witnesses to the wedding were Harriet’s father and Alexander’s sister Jessie (Hartley).  Harriet was 21, the daughter of William Kirkwood Smith, a printer, of 45 New Lloyd Street, Leeds, having been born 19.1.1855 at 11 Doby Court, North West London, and registered as just Harriet Hannah,  Her mother was Adelaide Hannah nee Elliot, so her third and fourth names were in honour of her mother. Harriet’s parents were both Scottish and had married at St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh, just as Alexander’s parents had done.

In 1881 Alexander and Harriet were at 10 Lucas Square (near Alexander’s parents), with the two surviving children, his profession given as a printing machinist.  Despite a lot of trying, we have not seen them at either the 1891 or the 1901 Census but at the 1911 Census Alexander, Harriet and Jessie (aged 30) were at High Street, Stratford, West Ham, with Alexander said to be a printers roller composition maker and Jessie a dressmaker.  It was confirmed that they had had just the three children, with one having died.

The details of the children are as follows:

Catherine                     Born at Hull 1877 Q4  and baptised 20.12.1877.

Harriet Elizabeth         Born at Hull .28.2.1879.  Baptised at Bethel Chapel 21.4.1876.  Died at Hull of measles 13.1.1880, 10 months old.

Jessie                           Born at Hull 1880 Q2.

We do not know when Alexander and Harriet Hannah died.

Mike’s aunt Mary Woodhead had no recollection of Alexander

William Mason

Born at Edinburgh 5.12.1856.  In 1861 at 33 Horse Wynd, Edinburgh and in 1871 at the family home 21 Bentinck Street, Leeds, as an unmarried cloth stamper.  Very soon after that he moved with the family to Hull.  On 15.11.80 he married at Hull Judith Helen Watson, the daughter of Richard Watson, decd, a joiner and resident in Spring Bank, Sculcoates, Hull.  There is a GRO entry confirming the birth of Judith Helen Watson in Hull 1858 Q4.  We would have to apply for sight of the entry to find out any more about her family background.  In some official entries she is Judith Ellen.  At the 1881 Census William and Judith were at 13 De Grey Street, his profession being a printer   The 1891 Census has the family at 9 Harvey’s Terrace, Sculcoates, Hull, with William described as “printer newspaper”  (He would later be mentioned as being employed in the machine room of the Eastern Morning News in his mother’s obituary in 1912.)  At the 1911 Census William, Helen and the unmarried Edith were at 122 Hawthorn Avenue, Hull.  They confirmed having had two children with one surviving. William was the informant of his mother’s death in 1912.

Details of their children are as follows:

Edith Ellen               Born at Hull 17.6.1883.  Baptised at Bethel Chapel, Hull, 1.9.1893 as Edith Helen, daughter of Judith Helen.  In 1901 a shop assistant in a ladies outfitters  In 1911 at home with no profession.

Winifred                   Born at Hull.17.7.1887 and baptised at Bethel Chapel 17.8.1887.  Died at Hull 1899 Q2, aged 11.

There is a death entry at Hull 1916 Q4 for a William Mason aged 59 that would fit but we have no information about Judith.

Robert Mason

Born  at Edinburgh  7.4.1859.  In 1861 at 33 Horse Wynd, Edinburgh and in 1871 at the family home 21 Bentinck Street, Leeds, as a scholar.  Very soon after that he moved with the family to Hull.  In 1881 at home (4 Lucas Square, Hull) as unmarried printer compositor (which he remained).  He married at Bethel Chapel, Hull, 12.3.1882 Sarah Elizabeth Storr, daughter of Robert Storr, engine fitter, and his wife Mary Ann nee Robinson.  Sarah Elizabeth had been born at Hull 1862 Q1.  Robert Mason’s address was given as Sykes Street and the witnesses were Alexander Mason and one S.E. Robinson.  Mike’s cousin Bryan Mason kindly contributed information about this family, including that his grandmother was always known as Lily.  In 1891 they were at 15 Epping Terrace and ten years later at 6 Fern Avenue, Sculcoates, Hull..  In 1911 they were at 56 Field Street, Sculcoates, with the younger four of their surviving children. Lily confirmed that she had had six children one of whom had died.

Concerning Robert, Mike’s aunt Mary Woodhead recollected: “Nice jolly “old man”.  Saw most of him when he and his wife Lily visited us.  They lived in an old people’s home at the far end of Holderness Road.  It seems my father [Adam Mason] brought Robert back into being a member of the printers union – he had let his subscriptions lapse.  Where did my father get it?  We never had anything to spare!”

Details of Robert and Sarah’s children are given in Appendix 8

Thomas Mason

Born 30.11.1861 Edinburgh.  In 1871 at the family home 21 Bentinck Street, Leeds, as a scholar.  Very soon after that he moved with the family to Hull.  In 1881 at home (4 Lucas Square, Hull) as a watchmaker and jeweller.  He married at Bethel Chapel, Hull, 5.1.1885 Alice Elizabeth Hall Coombes, the daughter of John Coombes, a carrier.  She had been born 1861-62.  Thomas Mason died at Belvoir Street, Hull 22.2.1904 (aged 42) from general paralysis and congestion of the lungs and was buried 25.2.1904.  His great-grandson, Bryan, says that  in his spare time he reached the rank of sergeant in the Cyclist Company of the first Volunteer Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment.  He was also a bugler instructor of the Hull Orderly Boys Club.  He was buried with full military honours in the General Cemetery, Spring Bank, Hull.  In fact, the local family history society’s publication has his memorial inscription reading “Erected by members of Bethel [M… N…och…and other friends] Rev T.W.Slater, Minister”.  His brother Walter was the informant of his death.

At the 1911 Census the widow was at 167 Belvoir Street, Hull, with Harold and Donald.  Alice E.H. Mason died at Hull 1946 Q1, aged 85.

Details of Thomas and Alice’s family are given in Appendix 3

Adam Mason

Born 14.5.1864 Edinburgh.  According to family folklore, he was ten days old when the whole family moved to Leeds. In 1871 at the family home 21 Bentinck Street, Leeds, as a scholar.  Very soon after that he moved with the family to Hull.  In 1881 at home (4 Lucas Square, Hull) as a printer compositor.  He married at Halifax 19.4.1889 Rosa Turner, a native of Hull and they had four boys and then four girls.

Adam Mason died at Hull 6.6.1929, aged 65 and Rosa Mason, nee Turner, died there 11.2.1937, aged 71.  See main text for more of the family story and Appendix 1 for details of their children and descendants.

 Agnes Jane aka “Jenny” Mason

Born 21.2.1866 at 9 Bentinck Street, Leeds and still there at the 1871 Census.  Very soon after that she moved with the family to Hull.  In 1881 at home (4 Lucas Square, Hull), as a 15 year old without an outside occupation.  Jenny married in Sculcoates, Hull, 1886 Q4 Henry (“Harry”) Appleby, an oil mill worker.  He had been born at Hull 17.2 1865, the son of Henry Appleby, oil miller, and his wife Mary nee Wilson.  At the 1891 Census they were at 6 Bilsby Terrace, Sculcoates, Hull, with two children, and they had two more children in Hull before moving to Lincoln.

Mike’s aunt Mary Woodhaed nee Mason’s recollections chime in with the above, e.g. that they lived in an oil mill on the waterside at Lincoln.

They had two children at Lincoln and then shortly before the 1901 Census they moved to New Hampton Road West, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, Harry’s profession being an oil cake maker.  It seems they soon moved on again, because their last child was born 1903 Q4 at Fulham.  The 1911 Census has Harry Appleby as a greengrocer at 116 Sheen Road, Richmond, Surrey. and Jenny confirmed that all of her children were still alive although she said there were six rather than seven!  Perhaps the enumerator did not make clear that she should have included 15 year old Norman who was away lodging in Hammersmith.  In 1939 Harry and Jennie were at St Stephens avenue, Shepherds Bush.

Mary Woodhead’s further comment was thus: He then became a dairyman and greengrocer.  Later they went to live at 4, Wetz (?) Lane, Hammersmith, London, where it was oil-milling again.  Later still she believed that they were at Blackwall and possibly Woolwich.

Apparently when Jenny’s brother Adam Mason had a bit of leave in the 1914-18 War he and sistr-in-law Rosa spent it in London, with Jenny and Harry.

Quoting Mary Woodhead again:  In 1917, towards the end of the year, Walter [Jenny’s nephew] was in Woolwich Hospital, badly wounded.  Dad was given compassionate leave and he and mother stayed with Jenny and Harry.  They all visited Walter, who remembers their eldest daughter Florence being along as well.  He recollects her as about 18 years old [Someone could not judge a lady’s age – she would have been about 30!] The Appleby family consisted of Florence, Harry, Bernard and Clarice.” [And a few more!]

MW recollects further: “Jenny seemed so much younger than all the earlier ones.  Much more fun and she and Mam got on well.  Harry was in charge of a margarine factory at Blackwall at the time my parents visited.  Mam vowed then that at the sight of that “marg” she would never eat it – nor did she!”

Agnes Jane Appleby died at Hammersmith 1949 Q2, aged 83 and Henry died there 4.8.1953, aged 88.

November 2020

Appendix 3 to Ref. M1

 THE FAMILY OF THOMAS MASON AND ALICE ELIZABETH HALL COOMBES

 Thomas Mason and Alice Elizabeth Hall Coombes married at Bethel Chapel, Hull, 5.1.1895.  The story of their family is told in Appendix 2.  Details of their children are as follows:

Arthur Mason

Born at Hull 19.12.1886.  In 1891 at home in Waterloo Street, Hull and in 1901 likewise at Alliance Avenue.  He married at Hull 1906 Q4 Edith Eleanor Dale, who had been born at Malton, North Yorkshire, 14.2.1886, as the daughter of George Dale, who in 1901 was a Tailor, and his wife Sarah nee Lumley.  We understand she was known as Nellie in the family. At the 1911 Census they were at Windsor Avenue, Exmouth Street, Newland, Hull he being an electric car conductor.  (Later, we believe, he was a bus conductor and inspector.)  Their first two children were with them.  A family source indicated that Arthur and Nellie had five children, details below.  In 1939 they were at Worthing Street, Hull, Arthur being a Hull Transport Department traffic clerk and they had with them Leonard and Olive.

Arthur Mason died at Hull 1953 Q2 and Nellie died there 27.12.1968.

Details of their children, including information from a family source, are as follows:

Dorothy   Born at Hull December 1908, married (later divorced) Arthur Brown, foundry worker.  They had a son and a daughter.

Stanley     Born at Hull 21.6.1910.  A window cleaner and a fitter, he married at Hull 9.11.1935  Alice Paulls (born 29.4.1913). They had a son and a daughter.  In 1939 they were at Vancouver Crescent, Alexandra Road, Hull, Stanley being a self-employed window cleaner.

Stanley died 13.3.1979, aged 68.

Leonard Arthur  Born at Hull 18.9.1913  In 1939 at home as a car park attendant.  Later a bus conductor, he married at Hull 12.6.1943 Joan Wilson (born 2.8.1920).  They had a son (Bryan Mason, family historian) and two daughters. Leonard died at Hull 7.2.1955, aged 41 and Joan died there 24.11.2003, aged 60.

Olive        Born at Hull 16.3.1920.  In 1939 at home as an assistant in a drapers shop.  She married at Hull 1943 Q2 Frank Fairhurst, a tailor.

Allan        Born at Hull 1925 Q3.  A Docks Board employee, he married at Hull 1952 Q3 Margaret Kinsley (born 1932).  They had two sons and a daughter.

Harold Mason

Born at Hull 4.5.1889.   In 1891 at home in Waterloo Street, Hull, and in 1901 likewise at Alliance Avenue.  In 1911 at home at Belvoir Street, Hull.  He married at Hull 1924 Q4 Jessie Woodall who had been born at Hull 6.12.1900 as the daughter of John Woodall, a railway porter and his wife Elizabeth nee Frokingham.  They had two daughters.  In 1939 they were at Clumber Street with one child.  He was said to be an optical mechanic.  We have not seen Harold’s death but Jessie died at Hull 10.2.1973.

Donald Mason

Born at Hull 3.6.1895.  In 1901 at home in Alliance Avenue and in 1911 likewise at Belvoir street, Hull as an office boy.  He  married 27.8.1924 Alice Ireland who had been born at Lockington, East Riding, 29.11.1895 as the daughter of Charles W. Ireland, the local postman, and his wife Emily nee Stamford.  In 1939 Donald, Alice and their triplets were at Derringham Street, Hull, he being a freight customs and forwarding clerk.  Also there was Alice M. Ireland

Alice died 25.1.1969, aged 73 and Donald died at Willerby, near Hull, 11.5.1973, aged 77.

Donald and Alice had triplets, born at Hull 1.6.1931:

Mary P            Married at Hull 1953 Q2 Kenneth Dean.

Victor Bruce   Family historian, married at Beverley 1976 Q1 Mary Kenmuir Forrest (nee Law).  He died 24.9.2003

Roland K

Thomas Mason died at Hull 22.9.1904, aged 42.  Alice E. H. Mason died at Hull 1946 Q1, aged 85.

November 2020

Appendix 4 to Ref. M1        

 THE FAMILY OF JOHN MCBAIN AND ISABELLA MASON

John McBain and Isabella Mason married at Leeds 1864 Q4.  The family’s story is in Appendix 2, details of their children being as follows:

 James Mason McBain

Born in Glasgow Central District 6.4.1867.  With the family in Hunslet, Leeds, 1871 and in 1881 was staying with his aunt, Mary Ann (Hartley), in Leeds (not stated whether still at school or not).  Not seen at the 1891 Census but married at Drypool, Hull, 14.10.1893 Ann Elizabeth Scarborough, 22, the daughter of William Johnson Scarborough, deceased labourer (and former engine driver), and his wife Ann Elizabeth nee Howard.  James said he was a labourer.

At the 1901 Census James was said to be a soldier in South Africa.  We think that he enlisted in 1899 in the 2nd East Yorkshires with service number 1290 and was discharged 19.11.1907.  His battalion was in South Africa from April 1900 until early 1902 for the Second Boer War and entered Pretoria 5.6.1900.  That August they formed the guard of honour for the arrival of Lord Roberts.  The “poet” McGonagal waxed eloquent (?) about it.  The McBain child born that year was named Pretoria.

In 1911, at 12 Goulton Street, Hull, James said he was a fireman at a radiator works.

James and Ann Elizabeth had children, all born at Hull, as follows:

John William         Born 1894 Q3. He was not at home in 1911 but in a reformatory, Kerrison Farm School at Thorndon, Sussex, for what misdemeanor we do not know.  When he was 18 they put him into the army – the East Yorkshire Regiment, of course.  In due course he was transferred to 21st Battalion, West Yorks and was killed on the Western Front 31.5.1918.

Violet                    Born 1895 Q4 and died in same quarter.

Ivy                         Born 17.9.1896 and baptised 9.12.1896.  In 1911 at home as a domestic servant

Kate Elizabeth      Born16.9.1898 and baptised2.10.1898.  In 1911 at home as a schoolgirl.

Clara Pretoria        Born 11.7.1900, baptised 25.7.1900 and died 1904 Q3, aged 4.

James Mason McBain died at Hull 1931 Q1 aged 63.  We have not seen his widow’s death.

John William McBain

Born at Leeds 26.9.1869. With the family at Leeds 1871 and 1881. In 1891 at the home of his aunt Mary Ann Hall.  He was a French polisher and married at Hull 1894 Q1 Kate Gray, a tailoress who was born there 2.8.1869, the daughter of William Gray, a Kent born Stationer and Bookseller and his Hull born wife Ann Elizabeth Harper.  All their children were born in Leeds

Mabel                    Born 1894 Q4.  A sewing machine tailoress, she married 1923 Q1 Arthur Pennington.

Catherine               Born 1897 Q1 died 1898 Q3 aged 1.

Stanley                  Born 1899 Q1 died 1900 Q2 aged 1.

John                       Born 17.12.1900 French polisher.

William                  Born 27.10.1902 an engineer of scientific instruments.  He died 1984 Q1 aged 81.

Beatrice                 Born 3.12.1904 and still at home in 1939.  Married 1948 Q1 Norman Smith.

Stella                     Born 16.12.1906, a tailoress in 1939, died unmarried at Leeds 2000 Q1, aged 93.

Mllicent                 Born 28.8.1909 married 1938 Q4 Ernest l. Peck who worked in insurance.

Kenneth                Born 26.6.1911, a joiner, married at Wakefield 1936 Q2 Ethel Farrar and died at Bridlington 1999 Q3 aged 88.

Stanley                  Born 4.10.1913, a French polisher, married 1943 Millicent Seddon and died 1990 Q3 aged 76.

John William McBain died at Leeds 1946 Q3 aged 77 and Kate, his widow, died there 1963 Q3, aged 94.

Thomas Grant McBain

Born in Leeds 1.1.1872.  In 1881 with the family in Hull.  Not seen in 1891. A sailmaker, he married at St Luke’s, Hull, 1.1.1896 22 year old Ann Eliza Roberts, daughter of James Roberts, a shipwright, she having been born 25.4.1873.  The groom made his mark.  In 1901 Thomas said he was a general labourer and in 1911 he was not at home.  As, in 1939, he said he was a retired Ship Rigger, he could have been at sea.

All their children were born in Hull

John James            Born 2.10.1896 and baptised 21.10.1896.  Became a dock labourer.  Died Holderness 1973 Q1 age 73.

Lilian Ivy              Born 30.12.1898.  Married at Hull 1925 Q3 Donald Liversedge.  Widowed by 1939

Thomas Albert      Born 20.4.1900.  Became a timber porter on docks

George Herbert     Born3.5.1902.  Became a Garage Foreman.  In 1939 at Herne Hill, Lambeth.

Cyril                      Born 29.4.1904.  Became a school caretaker.

Horace                   Born 16.10.1905 and baptised 5.11.1905. Died 1909 Q4, aged 4.

Harold                   Born 22.6.1909.  Became a seaman.

Ann Eliza McBain died at Hull 25.12.1955, aged 82, and Thomas Grant McBain died at Hull 1.11.1963 at the age of 91 “retired merchant navy”.  Both were buried in the Northern Cemetery.

Alexander Mason McBain

Born in Hull 3.3.1874and baptised 26.4.1874.  In 1891 with the family as a pattern maker’s aprentice.  30.3.1899 he married at Hull Amy Elizabeth Duce.  She had been born in Hull 6.11.1875 the daughter of William Duce, engine fitter and his wife Elizabeth nee Wolstenholme. In 1901 Amy E was alone at Crossland Avenue, Sculcoates while Alexander was away lodging in Brightside Bierlow, Sheffield as a marine engine patternmaker. In1911 they were living off Sherburn Street, Hull, with their two surviving children, having by then had four children:

Eva                        Born 18.12.1899 baptised 24.12.1899.  Died in the next week.

Isabel                     Born 16.6.1902 baptised 7.7.1901.

Donald                  Born 17.3.1903 baptised 5.4.1903.

Alec                       Born 18.1.1905 baptised 15.2.1905.  Died 1905 Q4

Alexander Mason McBain died at Hull 1943 Q$, aged 69 and Amy Elizabeth died there 1960 Q1, aged 84.

Joseph Scholes Mc Bain

Born in Hull 1877 Q2.  1891 with the family as a baker’s errand boy.  Not seen on 1901 Census.  Said to be steward when he married at St Andrews Drypool, Hull, 6.8.1901 Mary Lockwood.  She was baptised at Welwick, East Riding, 22.12.1878, the daughter of Richard Lockwood, a then cattle dealer and later in Hull a groom, and Mary his wife, nee Norton.  Witnesses included Joseph’s brothers Tom and Frank.  His late father is incorrectly stated to be Joseph.  At the 1911 Census they were said to have had seven children with one deceased.  Details are below.  They were all born in Hull and baptised at St Andrews Drypool.

Alice                      Born 20.4.1902 baptised 18.5.1902

Mary                      Born 28.5.1904 baptised 15.6.1904

Enid                      Born 6.6.1906 baptised 27.6.1906

Joseph                   Born 22.4.1908 baptised 13.5.1908

Frank                     Born 20.5.1909 baptised 9.6.1909

Elsie                      Born 4.5.1910 baptised 25.5.1910 and died in the same quarter.

Joseph S McBain, a cook aboard the freighter Norfolk Range was drowned “about 21st August 1919” (at the age of 42) when the ship was near Beauport, Quebec.  Only delivered on the Tyne at the beginning of 1918 for one the Furness Withy companies, the ship was registered in Liverpool.  It was later acquired by Swedish owners and was wrecked in 1924 in the Baltic at the end of a voyage from Montreal with a cargo of grain.

We assume that the death entry 1949 Q2 refers to Mary McBain, nee Lockwood, aged 70, although we did not find a 1939 entry for her.

Frank Charles McBain

Born at Hull 1879 Q1.   In 1901 in lodgings at Brightside Bierlow along with one Joseph A. Sheard, both men being locomotive machinists born in Hull.  He married 30.5.1903 at St Thomas’s Wincobank, Sheffield, Mary Annie Brownlow who had been born 22.7.1884 as the daughter of William Brownlow, a furnaceman and his wife Ruth Pitchfork (sic).  Joseph Sheard was a witness.  In 1911 the family were at Elmsview Road, Wincobank, Sheffield,  Frank being an engineer machinist.  At that stage there were three children as below, all born at Sheffield:

Winifred                Born 1903 Q4

Ruth                      Born 1905 Q2

Phyllis                    Born 1909 Q2

A 1922 directory has Frank Charles as a shopkeeper in a street called Blackburn in Rotherham.  He died in Sheffield District 1933 Q4 aged 54.  In 1939 Mary Annie McBain was still  living in the aforementioned Blackburn as an incapacitated widow with a daughter Isabel (born 15.8.1912).  We have  seen the death of a Mary A McBain at Chesterfield 1951 Q1 aged 66, which would fit.

October 2020

Appendix 5 to Ref. M1        

 THE FAMILY OF JOHN WILLIAM HALL AND MARY ANN MASON

 John William Hall and Mary Ann Mason married at St George’s, Leeds, 11.7.1870.  The family’s story is told in Appendix 2, details of their children, all born in Leeds, being as follows:

Herbert Hall         Born 1871 Q4 .  1891 at home, as a printer compositor.  1894 Q2 married at Leeds Adah Ann Rigby. She had been born Ada (sic) Ann in Leeds 1871 Q4, the daughter of Mannasseh Rigby, engineering fitter, and his wife Nancy nee Armitage In 1901 they were at Rosebank Grove Leeds with Herbert still a printer compositor.  However, by 1911 he had become a grocer and confectioner at East Park Mount, Leeds.  By then they had had Norman (born 1895 Q4), a baker, Gladys (born 1899 Q1) and Adah Madeline (born 1903 Q2 ).  We have not seen a death entry for Herbert Hall but we note that an Ada Hall was recorded in Leeds South district 1929 Q4, aged 58.

Thomas Hall           Born 29.9.1873 Q4.  Married in Leeds 1897 Q1 Lily Milnes who was born 1874 Q4 the daughter of Joseph Milnes, a dealer in smallware, a native of Huddersfield, and his wife Elenor, nee Marshall.  In 1901 they were in Headingley, Leeds, Thomas being a Tailor’s cutter and in 1911 at Nowell Terace Harehills, North Leeds.  By this point they had had Doris (born 1899 Q1) and Harry William Edward, (born 1908 Q4).  We think Lily Hall died in the Leeds North district 1937 Q1 aged 62.   In 1939 at York Road, Leeds, there was a Thomas Hall, a Tailor’s cutter, with Alice L., born 19.2.1892.  There was a cremation at Cottingley of 68 year old Tom Hall, who died 15.19.1942, aged 68, which fits.

George Hall           Born 5.12.1876 at Burley, Headingley.  In 1881 with his Mason grandparents in Hull, aged 4.  1n 1891 a tailor and in 1901 an iron founder’s fitter.  Married at Leeds 1905 Q1 Kate Hargraves, a packer of patent medicines who had been born in Keighley 7.3.1878 as the daughter of John Midgley Hargraves, (in 1901 a milk seller) and his wife Eliza Ann nee Horrocks.  The 1911 Census has George and Kate at Edwin Road, Leeds, with their son John Clifford, aged 2.  George is a greengrocer. In 1939 they are at Trafalgar Road, Ilkley, where George is a grocer and game dealer.  With them is Kate’s older widowed sister Ann E Haigh.  There were apparently relevant death entries in Wharfedale district for George Hall in 1959 Q1, aged 82 and for Kate Hall in 1962 Q2, aged 84.

Isabella Hall           Born 29.10.1878.  Married at Leeds 1904 Q3 Walter McGregor Mason, a printer compositor, who was born in Leicester 4.9.1876 who was her first cousin, being the son of her mother’s brother James Mason (1850-1884) and his wife Mary Jane, nee Knowlson (See Appendix 7).  At the 1911 Census, at Salisbury Terrace. Armley, Leeds, they had with them James Donald Mason, aged 5, Edna Mary Mason, aged 5 months and Isabel’s widowed mother Mary Ann Hall, age 65.  In 1939 they were at Wyther Park Road, Leeds, with Walter L. Mason, machine tool fitter born 30.5.1919.  From crematorium records we know that Walter McGregor Mason died at Leeds 28.6.1961, aged 84, and there is a Leeds death entry for Isabel Mason 1962 Q2, aged 83.

James William Hall        Born 6.9.1880.  Tailor’s cutter.  1904 Q4 at Leeds married Sarah Elizabeth Wooltorton, who had been born 29.8.1881 the daughter of James Wooltorton, railway porter and his wife Martha, nee Robinson.  In 1911 at Edwin Road, Leeds, with Winifred 4 and Marjorie, 3.  They had at least three further children, because in 1939 at Castle Grove Avenue, Leeds, we see James William (a designer in the clothing trade) and Sarah E., with Marjorie, Leonard, Kenneth and one more.  We have not established when James William and Sarah Elizabeth died.

John William Hall died at Leeds 1911 Q1, aged 64, and Mary Ann Hall, nee Mason, died  in the Leeds South district 1934 Q3, aged 89.

October 2020

Appendix 6 to Ref. M1        

 THE FAMILY OF WILLIAM BENNETT HARTLEY AND JESSIE MASON

 William Bennett Hartley and Jessie Mason were married at All Saints, Sculcoates, Hull on Christmas Day 1872.  The family’s story is told in Appendix 2.  Details of their children are as follows.

Isabella Hartley

Born at Leeds 19.4.1874.  In 1891 at home as a tailoress.  She married at Leeds 1896 Q4 Manasseh Rigby, a steel moulder, who was born  8.6.1873 as the son of Manasseh Rigby, a flax machine fitter,  and his wife Fanny, nee Armitage.  In 1901 they were at Argie Road, Burley, Headingley and ten years later at Greenhow Terrace, Hadden Road, Burley, when it was recorded that they had had no children.  However there was “daughter” Phyllis Brown, aged 9, born at Leeds.  There was just one birth entry that fitted, i.e. for 1901 Q4, the mother’s maiden name being Armitage.  We wonder if this girl could have been a cousin of Manasseh on his mother’s side.  We know no more about Phyllis.  In 1939 Manasseh and Isabella were still at the same address, he being labourer in an oil works. For some reason they told the official that they were each ten years older than they actually were.  Isabella died in Leeds 1942 Q3, aged 68, and Manasseh died the Yorkshire district of Agbrigg (part of Wakefield) 1951 Q3, aged 78.

James Henry Hartley

Born 25.5.1876.  Probably named for his father’s similarly named younger brother whose birth entry at Leeds was in 1850 Q4 with his death entry in 1853 Q2.  In 1891 he was living at home, his employment being an office boy in a clothiers but in the next ten years he studied art in his spare time, so that the 1901 Census shows him still living at home but working as a lithographic artist on his own account.

He married at Leeds 1904 Q3 Mary Elizabeth Wainwright, who had been born in Leeds 1881 Q2, the daughter of Walter Wainwright, a machinery dealer and agent, and his wife Emily nee Jagger.  James Henry decided that London was the place to be and in 1910 or 1911 the family moved to Woodhouse Terrace, North Finchley, Middlesex.  The 1911 Census shows them there with three children, James Henry being described as an artist working on his own account with printers and publishers.  We googled his name and found a wealth of information, all of which made clear that this second cousin of Mike’s (who shares the same birthday) became a national figure in his particular field, i.e. an illustrator of popular books, especially those directed at children. By the outbreak of the First World War, James Henry, 38, was in a flourishing partnership firm called The Hartley Cooke Studio but in 1914 his partner and their two employees went off to war, leaving our hero to work a seven day week, knowing that he had a wife, three children and a widowed mother to support.

In due course the Military Service Act 1916 caught up with him and he faced a succession of appeals against an immediate call to the colours.  The grounds that he (and his solicitor) put forward were the undue hardship to the business if its operations had to be suspended.  The whole dossier is viewable on the internet and there were a succession of three month temporary exemptions, the last one being granted as late as 7.11.1918.  On that occasion James was required to attend drill sessions with the Volunteers and to also work in a job of national importance, e.g with an aircraft manufacturer.  There is a May 1918 letter in which he is offered a job with The Aircraft Manufacturing Company (otherwise Henry and Maurice Farmon Aeroplanes and Sea Planes), of Edgware Road, The Hyde, Hendon. He could work in their drawing office, photocopying plans, for two guineas per week, with overtime paid at Ordinary rates.  Evidently zero interest in his artistic talents!

J.H. Hartley became a well-known name in the publishing trade, especially renowned for illustrating books for A & C Black.  According to Wikipedia, the firm, founded in Edinburgh in 1807, bought the copyright of Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley novels for £27,000 in 1851 – when James Henry’s Edinburgh-born mother was aged 3.  1901 – 1921 they published the A & C Black Colour Book -The Twenty Shillings Series and it is said that their illustrated Children’s Bible is his work.  A & C Black were acquired by Bloomsbury Publishing in 2000.  In 1937 he was said to be living in Finchley and in 1939 he was certainly with his daughter at Stanmore.

James Henry and Mary Elizabeth’s children were as follows:

Albert Wainwright Born in Glasgow 6.7.1905.  Said to have become a technical author.  Died at Bournemouth 1995 Q3.

James Stanley       Born in Leeds 25.5.1907.  Said to have become a Chartered Architect.  Married at Brentford 1937 Q2 Constance Norman.  Died at Crawley 1987 Q3, aged 80.

Dorothy Mary       Born Leeds 23.12.1909.  Married at Barnet 1937 Q2 Philip George Meredith who had been born at Cheltenham 9.3.1907 as the son of Arthur Charles Meredith, a building and quantity surveyor, and his wife Mary Elizabeth Purcell-Ellery.  In 1939 at Kild, Holland Walk, Stanmore, Middlesex, without her husband but with her father (the latter wrongly indexed as Henlley).  One redacted record doubtless refers to a daughter who would be a few months old, who had been born in the Hendon district.  We have not researched their family but we believe that Philip died in Shrewsbury district 1996 Q2, aged 89 and Dorothy Mary died there 17.2.2001, aged 91.

Mary Elizabeth Hartley is said to have died in hospital at Tottenham 6.8.1935, aged 54 (and public records accord with this) and James Henry Hartley died at Church Stretton, Shropshire, 27.12.1961, aged 85.  It is understood that his sons were his executors.

James Henry Hartley is one of the subjects of a book by Robert J Kirkpatrick The Men Who Drew for Boys (and Girls): 101 Forgotten Illustrators of Children’s Books 1844 – 1970 independently published in May 2019.  This includes a comprehensive list of Hartley’s work.  By the author’s kind permission we have included in the above account a number of facts that appear in the book that augment our more superficial. research.

November 2020

Appendix 7 to Ref. M1        

 THE FAMILY OF JAMES MASON AND MARY JANE KNOWLSON

 James Mason and Mary Jane Knowlson  married at Leeds Parish Church 20.5.1871.  The family’s story is told in Appendix 2, details of their children being as follows:

Charles Herbert Mason     Born in Sculcoates, Hull, 1872 Q1.  Died at Leeds 1873 Q4, aged 1.

Walter McGregor Mason  Born at Leicester 4.9.1876.  At home 1881 and in 1891 with his mother at his maternal grandparents house at Grafton Street, Leeds, as a printer compositor, the same as his grandfather and uncle.  In 1901 with his widowed grandmother at Armenia Grove, Leeds.  Married at Leeds 1904 Q3 Isabella Hall who was born 29.10.1878 and who was his first cousin, being the daughter of his father’s sister, Mary Ann Mason, and her husband John William Hall.  (See Appendix 5),  At the 1911 Census, at Salisbury Terrace. Armley, Leeds, they had with them James Donald Mason, aged 5, Edna Mary Mason, aged 5 months and Isabel’s widowed mother Mary Ann Hall, age 65.  In 1939 they were at Wyther Park Road, Leeds, with Walter L. Mason, machine tool fitter born 30.5.1919.  From crematorium records we know that Walter McGregor Mason died at Leeds 28.6.1961, aged 84, and there is a Leeds death entry for Isabel Mason 1962 Q2, aged 83.

Alexander Mason              Born at 63, Ethel Street, Northampton 11.1.1879.  At home 1881 and in 1891 with his paternal grandparents in Hull, still at school.  At the 1901 Census he was lodging with a family in Leicester called Yeomans who were all in the shoe trade, his profession being that of shoe clicker.  That means he cut out the shapes of leather etc forming the upper parts of a boot or shoe.  He married at Leicester 1901 Q4 Mary Jane Reynolds who had been born at East Retford 1881 Q1 the daughter of Samuel Reynolds (who in 1901 was a railway engine driver) and his wife Rebecca nee Collins.  Perhaps not too surprisingly, then that at the 1911 Census Alexander Mason is an engine cleaner.  The couple are at Fleet Terrace, Leicester with eight year old Dorothy Ann, two other children having died.

Thomas Lionel Mason       Born at Northampton 1881 Q3 and baptised there 6.2.1882.  Not seen in 1891 Census but at the 1901 Census with his brother and sister at his widowed grandmother’s home at Armenia Grove, Leeds.  He married at Leicester 1903 Q4 Gertrude Muston, a hosiery mender who had been born there 1880 Q4 as the daughter of Henry Muston,  framework knitter, and his wife Sarah Jane French.  She died at Leicester 1884 Q3 so that in 1891 Gertrude was living with her father at her grandfather, Reuben Muston’s home and in 1901 with her uncle Herbert French.  In 1911 Thomas Mason and Gertrude were at Green Lane Road, Leicester, with Walter (born 1904 Q1), Gertie (born 1905 Q2 and Florence Lilian (born 1909 Q3).  They later had James A (born 1911 Q3), Stephen (born 1913 Q1) and Mabem M (born 1916 Q2).

Mabel Agnes E Mason      Born at Northampton 1882 Q4. In 1891 with her mother at her maternal grandparents house at Grafton Street, Leeds and at the 1901 Census with two of her brothers at her widowed grandmother’s home at Armenia Grove, Leeds.

James Mason died at Leeds 8.3.1884.  We have not seen a death for Mary Jane.

October 2020

Appendix 8 to Ref. M1        

 THE FAMILY OF ROBERT MASON AND SARAH ELIZABETH STORR

 Robert Mason and Sarah Elizabeth Storr  married at Leeds Bethel Chapel, Hull, 12.3.1882.  The family’s story is told in Appendix 2, details of their children being as follows:

Herbert Mason                Born at Hull 9.3.1883.  In 1891 at home as an apprentice marine engineer.  He married at Hull 1907 Q3 Annie Elizabeth Robinson, daughter of William, a postman. She had been born at Hull 1882-83.  In 1911 Herbert was an oil mill mechanic, living at 20 Beech Avenue, Garden Village, Hull and they had with them Annie Elizabeth’s widowed father William, aged 76.  They stated that they had not had any children.  In 1939 Herbert was a widower living in Middleburg Street, Hull, working in flour mill maintenance.

Alice Maud Mason         Born at Hull 11.3.1884.  At 1911 Census still at home then 1911 Q4 married William Townhill, a fitter’s labourer, who had been born 5.10.1881, the son of William Townhill, a steam engine fitter and his wife Annie, nee Whitworth.  A daughter Doris M. was born 13.5.1912*.  She married at Huddersfield 1932 Q4 William Hinchliffe, a joiner and in 1939 they were at Stainbeck Avenue, Leeds with their daughter Betty.  In 1939 Alice and William were at Waterloo Rise, Huddersfield, where he was caretaker of a temperance hall.       *So she was 19 days old when her great-grandmother Isabella Mason died 1.6.1912

Robert Ernest Mason       Born at Hull 2.6.1886 and baptised 4.7.1886.  In 1901 errand boy at a hatters and in 1911 living at home as a general jobbing printer on his own account.            He married at Sculcoates 1918 Q4 Bertha Graves, a packer in Reckitts starch factory.  She had been born 16.1.1897, the daughter of Charles Robert Graves, a freelance bricklayer and his wife Selina nee Lowson.  In 1939 Bertha was with her parents at Springfield Avenue, Hull, while Robert was staying with Leonard Holdsworth, a 43 year old printer compositor and his wife Elsie at Ryehill Grove, Hull.  Robert was a printer compositor but also a full time ARP warden.

Sydney Mason                 Born at Hull 26.7.1890 and baptised 17.8.1890.  In 1911 a fitter’s labourer employed by the N.E. Railway Co.  He married at Gateshead 1916 Q2 Sarah E Turner and three sons were born there.  She had been born at Newcastle upon Tyne 4.11.1890 as the daughter of Henry Turner, an iron machinist working for the N.E. Railway Co. and his wife Mary Ellen nee Williamson.  In 1939 the family were at Long Lane, Huddersfield, with Sydney a house and shop painter and decorator.

James Alfred Mason        Born at Hull 5.2.1892.  In 1911 a general labourer.  He married at Hull 1921 Q3 Florence Amy Angell, who had been born in Penarth, South Wales, as the daughter of Charles H Angell, last seen in 1901 as a mineral water carman, and hs wife Elizabeth nee Ricketts.  In 1939 James, Florence and her widowed father were living in Marlowe Street, Hull, James being a Hull Corporation bus driver.

Lily Mason                       Born at Hull 1894 Q2 and died there 1894 Q4.

November 2020

Appendix 9 to Ref. M1        

 THE FAMILY OF HARRY APPLEBY AND JENNY MASON

 Henry (“Harry”) Appleby and Agnes Jane (“Jenny”) Mason married at Sculcoates, Hull, 1886 Q4 They had children as below:

Florence Appleby             Born at Hull 1887 Q2.  In 1891 at home at Bilsby Terrace, Durham Street, Hull.  Moved with the family to Lincoln and then to Wolverhampton.  In 1901 at New Hampton Road in that town.  In 1911 at home at Sheen Road, Richmond, as a 24 year old shop assistant for a china seller.

Henry  Appleby             Born at Hull 11.6.1889.  In 1891 at home at Bilsby Terrace, Durham Street, Hull.  Moved with the family to Lincoln and then to Wolverhampton.  In 1901 at New Hampton Road in that town.  In 1911 at home at Sheen Road, Richmond, as a 22 year old shop assistant in a book sellers.  In 1939 he was at Arundel Road, Hornchurch, Essex as a decorator etc with Annie M. whose DoB was 25.10.1899.  There is a suitable looking marriage of Harry Appleby and Annie M. Page at  Edmonton 1921 Q3.

Bernard  Appleby            Born at Hull 1892 Q1.  Moved with the family to Lincoln and then to Wolverhampton.  In 1901 at New Hampton Road in that town.  In 1911 at home at Sheen Road, Richmond, as a 20 year old assistant in his father’s greengrocers shop.  Another researcher takes the death at Chelsea 1934 Q4, aged 42, as being him.

Clarice Appleby               Born at Hull 5.10.1893.  In 1901 at New Hampton Road in that town.  In 1911 at home at Sheen Road, Richmond, as a 17 year old without an external occupation.  She married at Hammersmith 1920 Q3 Ernest H. May.  (See footnote.) In 1939 they were at Bridge Road, Builders Avenue, Hammersmith, with daughter Pamela born 15.1.1924.  Ernest was a maintenance electrician.

Norman  Appleby            Born at Lincoln 26.12.1895.  Moved with the family to Wolverhampton.  In 1901 at New Hampton Road in that town.  In 1911 In lodgings ay St Stephens Avenue, Shepherd’s Bush as a 15 year old pawnbroker’s clerk.  He married at Hammersmith 1927 Q4 Winifred M Ridsdale.  (See footnote.)  In 1939 they were at Church Road, Barnes, Surrey, Norman being a depot inspector for the London Passenger Transport Board.  Norman died at Wandsworth 23.2.1960, aged 64.

Leonard  Appleby            Born at Lincoln 1899 Q1.  Moved with the family to Wolverhampton.  In 1901 at New Hampton Road in that town.  In 1911 at home at Sheen Road, Richmond, as a 12 year old schoolboy.

Kate Agnes Appleby      Born at Fulham1903 Q4.  In 1911 at home at Sheen Road, Richmond, as an eight year old schoolgirl.  We think that she married at Thanet, Kent, 1925 Q4 Ernest C Harnett.  Not seen in 1939 but there is a death entry at Windsor, Berks, 1971 Q3 of Kate Agnes Harnett who was born 2.10.1903.

Agnes Jane Appleby died at Hammersmith 1949 Q2, aged 83 and Henry died there 4.8.1953, aged 88.

Footnote.  A fellow researcher kindly wrote in to say that Norman Appleby’s wife Winifred May Ridsdale, was the daughter of Louisa Edith May who was the sister of Ernest Harold May, the husband of Clarice Appleby.  Thus Winifred was simultaneously both the niece and the sister-in-law of Clarice.

Janary 2023

Appendix 10 to Ref. M1

 JAMES WALTER MASON

 Born 13.4.1893 Walter was the second son of Adam and Rosa Mason. A painter and decorator by trade, a significant background of his life was his long connection to the military.  Thanks to Bryan Mason passing on some results from a military researcher, we have a lot of factual evidence, supplemented by a memoire left behind by Walter himself and other sources.

Volunteers

Walter enrolled as a Boy in the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment on 21.1.1907 at the age of 13 years and 9 months. His initial medical report said he was 4 feet 8 inches in height.  Just over a year later, on 1.4.1908 this unit was subsumed into the newly established Territorial Force as the 1st/4th Battalion (Territorial) of the East Yorkshires and Walter swore fresh allegiance five days later.  He kept his same number, i.e.161.

His service record shows that he was formally re-engaged after two years and then a further three times, each for one year. This would have taken him to 5.4.1915 except that the Great War began on 5.8.1914, so that he became “embodied” as from that date. In the meantime he had been to two-week training camps at Scarborough, Cleethorpes, Richmond, Haltwhistle and Scarborough again.  In the meantime, Walter had served his seven-year apprenticeship as a painter and decorator, completed on his 21st birthday (13.4.1914) and at last could take home a decent sum at the end of the week, i.e. 35s 6½ (£1.77) per week.

War breaks out

Aged 21, Walter, as a Territorial, joined the colours in Hull on the day war broke out.  As fellow Territorials, both his father and his younger brother George did the same.  As Walter observed, this left the mother Rosa Turner with a large drop in income, given that soldiers were paid one shilling (5p) a day, of which a half was sent home.  Walter arrived in France (crossing from Folkestone to Boulogne) on 17.4.1915, serving in A company of the 1st/4th East Yorkshires, while his brother was in B Company.

Tragedy

The second battle of Ypres had just started.  The only major attack they made in 1915, the action was used by the Germans as a trial for the first use of poison gas (chlorine) in warfare and, with heavy casualties, the British had to withdraw from the salient they had established.  Walter later recalled the terrible conditions in the trenches.  The commanding officer of the 4th East Yorkshires, Col. George Herbert Shaw*, was killed in the first moment of action (24.4.1915) and tragedy struck Walter and the Mason family when on 3.5.1915 George Edgar was killed, after less than three weeks in the field.  Walter’s task was to send a letter to his mother with the sad news.  George’s name is on the Menin Gate, with the many others from the Ypres Salient area who have no known grave.  In return, Walter received news that his older brother, Percy, who had emigrated to Canada five years before the War and had volunteered for service on the Western Front with the Canadians, had been gassed in the same engagement and had been taken back to England.

*The East Yorkshire FHS magazine “Banyan Tree” published details of the Shaw family and the Colonel’s death in its November 2018 edition.

A change of regiment

Apart from a spell in hospital in October 1915, suffering from boils, Walter was in the field until 22.3.1916 when he was transferred to the base depot and then, on 7.4.16 to England, via Le Havre.  The reason noted in the record in “time expired”.  Evidently his original voluntary status meant that the Army had to honour his contract terms, despite the dire circumstances of total war!  As from 1.11.1915 Walter had been a lance corporal.  His formal discharge, at Londesborough Barracks, Hull, from the East Yorkshires was on 17.4.1916, i.e. after 8 years and 12 days service.

It seems that the discharge was treated as a technicality because, on 6.6.1916, Walter re-enlisted, this time into the Royal Garrison Artillery at Great Yarmouth, acquiring a new number, 283769. He returned to France on 4.9.16.  and was there until November 1917 when (a week after he had got engaged to be married) he suffered serious abdominal wounds.  He was at first treated in hospital at St Omer (apparently a former monastery) and then on 17.12.17 was brought back to the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich.  It was during this second spell in France, with the 162nd Siege Battery, R.G.A., that his actions, on Vimy Ridge, won him the Military Medal.  The entry appeared in the London Gazette on 18.7.1917.

He finished his war service as a Lance Bombadier on 5.6.1918 and was awarded a temporary pension and was enrolled for Short Service. He received his M.M. from the Lord Mayor of Hull on 3.7.1918 (see further mention below).  Walter, like several million others, also was awarded (in 1922) the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and its companion, the Victory Medal.  These three were popularly known, amongst ex-servicemen, as “Pip, Squeak and Wilfred”, after a popular cartoon series of the early 1920s.  In February 1940 he was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal.  This was for those serving 12 or more years in the Territorials, war service counting double.

Walter’s testimony

Like most of those who survived the Great War, Walter never spoke about his experiences in any detail. At least, that is, until late in their lives.  He was approaching 85 when his youngest sister, Mary Woodhead, paid him a visit, found him on good form and actually prepared to reminisce.  She asked him where and how he had won his M.M.  She had recently got him a copy of the war memoirs of Cecil Slack (one time Hull Scout Commissioner), which mentioned officers that she had heard him speak of – Col. Easton, Col. Shaw and his own C.O., called Wilkinson.  As she had expected, Walter was devouring the book.  It had a picture of Vimy Ridge, where the Germans were installed looking down on the British trenches.  They also had a nearby road, so they could get supplies of ammunition to rain down on our troops.  Orders were given to take the German positions.  [The battle of Vimy Ridge took place 9-12 April 1917, commencing at 9 am on what was Easter Monday.]

Parties, including Walter’s platoon, were sent up the slope to cut through barbed wire entanglements, while under fire the whole time. [If this sounds like infantry work we might wonder what Walter was doing there, because he was now in an artillery regiment. A description of the battle of Vimy ridge explains that improved fuses allowed the clearing of barbed wire by gunfire.  Indeed, the whole strategy was to bring enormous firepower to bear before any of our (i.e. Canadian – all four of their divisions) troops moved up the ridge, behind a creeping barrage.  Getting on for 1,000 guns and 1.5 million shells were allocated to the task.]  Just before dusk the officer in charge told Walter that he would get half his men back to their own lines if Walter, who was now Corporal-in-Charge – his Sergeant having been killed – could distract the Germans, in the hope that at least some men could get back to the British lines. Walter’s small party therefore pressed on and captured a big gun which they turned on the Germans.  [They were artillerymen!] However, after a while they had to retreat, being marked men the whole way. Walter managed to find his way back, his clothes in tatters.

After a meal, he and one or two more were asked to go out there again and, if possible, bring in any British wounded, including Captain Smith. This they did, but found them all dead.  Walter said that he had not had time to be afraid.  He was only anxious not to wander into the German trenches.  Importantly, they had that day established just where the Germans were installed and, with Canadians joining them, they presently took the ridge and stopped the German supplies.  Walter said that the Canadians had been splendid.  He regretted that, having captured a magnificent German helmet, he lost it in the dark. [Every platoon had a map of the German positions, so that they could use their initiative if command had to pass down. 40,000 maps were in circulation.  The Germans, in the face of the huge preceding artillery bombardment, which lasted a fortnight, had held their reserves some 15 miles back behind their entrenched positions, in defiance of their recently introduced tactics of “flexible defence in depth”.  By nightfall on 12th April the Canadians held the Ridge having lost 3,508 killed, with 7,004 wounded.  4 V.C.s were awarded.  The Germans never sought to regain Vimy Ridge, which is the site of the Canadian War Memorial.]

Walter’s account of receiving his medal (on 3.7.1918) was of him still being on crutches at the ceremony at Hull Guildhall when the Lord Mayor, Hubert Johnson, made the presentation and, as he did so, he crushed a five pound note into Walter’s hand. “At the time I felt more about the £5 note than I did about my medal”, observed Walter, not unreasonably, given that the large white note was the equivalent of a month’s wages.

Territorial Army’s 75th Anniversary

The Hull Times of 21.1.1983 carried an interview with Walter about the forthcoming 75th anniversary of the formation of the Territorial Army (as now known). As he explained, it replaced the Volunteers, which he had joined as a bugle boy, his father Adam Mason being a drum major.  He had been one of the 25 members of the 4th East Yorkshires to line the route for the coronation of George V and Queen Mary in 1911 [22 June, actually].

Walter Mason meets the Queen

On Monday 16.5.1983, Walter, by now aged 90, accompanied by his daughter Joyce, was a guest at the celebrations at York to mark the return to this country of the 2nd Infantry Division, after 41 years abroad.

Mike (Young), Walter’s nephew, gave him and Joyce a lift from Hull to Imphal Barracks, Fulford, York, in time for lunch, picking them up afterwards at 4.30.  Half a dozen founder members of the T.A. had been assembled to meet the Queen and she asked each of them where they came from and which regiment they had served in.  In Walter’s case, Her Majesty cast a knowing eye along his row of medals and asked, “Is that the Military Medal?”  As Walter said afterwards, “She knew fine what it was!”

Despite some evidently friendly coaching by an RSM, some of the old boys managed to leave their hats in their right hands until it was almost too late to take the Queen’s hand (and one even ended up having to hastily take his hat off during his conversation with H.M.), but Walter had it all weighed off and also correctly got in the “Yours Majesty” and “Ma’am”, as appropriate. Asked afterwards if he had not been nervous, his response was “She seemed quite an ordinary sort of person.”

The party arrived back at Walter’s place in John Street in time to view the TV reports of the event and were highly satisfied to see that ITV featured James Walter being interviewed just after the Queen passed by. As our hero himself summed it up, “A day I’ll always remember!”

Appendix 11 to Ref. M1      

THE FAMILIES OF JOHN MASON

 FIRST MARRIAGE – TO AGNES JOHNSTONE

 John Mason married Agnes Johnstone 23.4.1808 at St Cuthberts Church, Edinburgh, after banns. She was the daughter of Thomas Johnstone, gardener.  Details of their children, all born and baptised at St Cuthberts, Edinburgh, being as follows:

Margaret Mason          Born 18.6.1813, baptised 21.7.1813, her mother’s name

recorded as Ann.

John Mason                 Born 18.12.1815, baptised 31.12.1815. He is possibly the

person, aged 25+ who was lodging with Peter and Christine

McGilveray at Earl Gray St, East Siode, St Cuthberts.

Agnes Mason              Born 18.5.1818, baptised 22.5.1818.  She married William

Callender, shoemaker, 6.1.1850 at Edinburgh Parish Church.  William had been born in Edinburgh 10.9.1814, the son of Andrew Callender, poulterer, and his wife Jean Brownlees.

It is interesting that the marriage only took place after Agnes’s father’s death, she having been with William since at least 1841, when she was recorded as Agnes Callender, she and William being in lodgings at 493 Lawnmarket, Tolbooth Church, Edinburgh, both sad to be 20+ and there was also Christina Callender, aged one (see below).

At the 1851 Census the family was at 4 Niddy Street, Edinburgh, William being a master shoemaker employing two men (evidently living in).  By this time there were four children and Agnes’s brother Alexander was also lodging with them but not with his wife. There was also a certain Margaret Mason, aged 33 and unmarried, a boot binder.  In 1861 they were at Paisley Close with six children and in 1871 at 28 Cants Close, Tron Church, with four children and William’s mother, Jane (sic), aged 77.

At the 1881 Census the widow Agnes was at 2 Riddles Court, St Johns, Edinburgh, with two sons and Margaret McNaughton, an unmarried 21 year old sewing machinist.

William Callender had children, all born at Edinburgh, as below.  We have not found any baptism entries, possibly because these were in a Presbyterian church.

Christina                Born 1839-40.  At home 1841 to 1861, latterly as a warehousewoman.  Married 28.6.1861 at Gilmore Place Presbyterian Church, Edinburgh Peter McArthur, a letterpress printing machinist.  She stated that her deceased mother had been Janet nee Train, although we have not found a marriage or death record for her.  We are grateful for a fellow researcher drawing our attention to this marriage.

Agnes                    Born 1844-45.  At home 1851.

Jean/Jane               Born 1848-49.  At home 1851 and 1861.

John                       Born 1850-51.  At home 1851 to 1871, latterly as a printer.

Margaret                Born 1855-56.  At home 1861.  In 1871 (we think) a domestic servant to Margaret Palmer McGlashan at 50 St George Street, Edinburgh.

Isabella                  Born 1857.  At home 1861 and 1871. Said to have emigrated and married New Zealander William Thomas Hines 10.1.1889 at Christchurch.  Gave birth to a son William Callender 1.3.1889 but died 12.7.1889.

James Mason         Born 1860.  At home 1861 to 1881, latterly as a tailor.

Alexander             Born 1867.  At home 1871 and 1881, latterly as a blacksmith.

William Callender died 12.12.1880 at 322 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, having suffered paralysis, aged 66.  His widow Agnes died at Coldstream Crescent, Edinburgh 6.3.1898, said to be 78 but actually 80, the informant being her daughter Margaret.

Agnes Mason, nee Johnstone, was buried 6.1.1820 in Edinburgh.

THE FAMILIES OF JOHN MASON

 SECOND MARRIAGE – TO MARY MATHISON

  John Mason and Mary Mathison married at St Cuthbert’s Edinburgh, 16.8.1821, details of their children being as follows:

James Mason         Born at Edinburgh 31.10.1823 and baptised 2.12.1823.  Printer.  In 1841 with the family at 55 Blackfriars Wynd. He married from there 11.3.1845 Isabella Clapperton.  See main text and Appendix 2.

 Alexander Mason  Born at Edinburgh 17.6.1826 and baptised 8.7.1826.  Printer compositor.  In 1841 with the family at 55 Blackfriars Wynd.  He married from there 28.7.1844 Margaret Brown, the daughter of James Brown, plasterer, and his wife Margaret Williamson.  In 1851 he was lodging with his sister Agnes (see above).  Where Margaret and two year old Agnes were is a mystery.

In 1861 Alexander and Margaret were East Arthur Place with three children and 19 year old Mary Ferrie, said to be a niece born in Ayr.  Unfortunately, Margaret died at 196 Pleasance 10.9.1866.  Alexander married 22.4.1868 at St Giles Isabella, 41, a widow, who married under her maiden name, declaring that she was the daughter of Michael McCulloch and Margaret Reid, who we found had married 9.7.1810 at Kirkwall and St Ola, Orkney.  At the 1871 Census Alexander and Isabella (a native of Glasgow) were at West Nicholson Street, St Giles, Isabella having become seven years older than she had said.  They had with them Alexander’s 6 year old daughter Mary and 12 year old Margaret Sutherland described as “adopted daughter”.

Alexander himself died at Lawnmarket, St Giles, 17.9.1880.  The cause was cancer of the tongue and the informant was his sister Agnes Cunningham.  In 1881 the widow, now styled Isabella McC Sutherland was a “lodgers housekeeper” at Nicholson Street, St Cuthberts and also there was her “daughter” Margaret Sutherland, now a 22 year old publishers warehouse woman.  There was at a local reformatory school a Mary Mason, aged 16, who could be “ours”.  At the 1891 Census Isabella Sutherland, 70, retired dressmaker was at Nicholson Square, St Cuthbert’s, with her son-in-law Lawrence Farrell, a tailor who was a native of Edinburgh, her daughter Margaret Farrell and a visitor, 51 year old Susan Dickson a housekeeper.

The children of Alexander Mason and Margaret Brown that we are aware of are as follows:

Agnes        Born 30.7.1848.  Not seen in 1851.  At home in 1861.

Margaret    Born 1852-23. At home in 1861.

Jeannie      Born 1855.  nothing seen after that.

Jane           Born 1856.  At home in 1861.

Mary          Born 1864.  At home in 1871.  In 1881 (possibly) in a local reformatory school.

Henrietta Mason   Born at Edinburgh 9.10.1829 and baptised 13.11.1829.  CAVEAT:  Henrietta is quite a rare name in the indexes and, in what follows, we are relying on there being no apparent alternatives to a marriage at Glasgow 6.12.1847 between Henrietta Mason and James McKechnie, shoemaker journeyman.  James said he was a native of Edinburgh and his death certificate says he was the son of William McKechnie, a wood sawyer and his wife Sally, nee Crawford, but we have failed to find anything further about them. After having had their first child in Glasgow, James and Henrietta set up home in Edinburgh where, at the 1851 Census, they were at St Marys Wynd, with their first two children, James having one man in his employ.  By 1861 they had moved to Park Street, St Nicholas, Aberdeen, where James was said to be a shoemaker and broker.  In 1871 they were still in that parish, at Hutcheon Street.  James McKechnie died at Lodge Walk, Aberdeen 12.8.1880 of phthisis (TB) aged 49.  In 1881 the widow Henrietta was at the same address, said to be a shop, as a broker, with unmarried daughter Mary, 21, and the position was the same ten years later.  Henrietta died at Lodge Walk 3.4.1894 of heart disease, aged 63.  They had children as follows, baptisms being Roman Catholic.:

Rose Anne      Born Glasgow 1848.

Daniel              Born Edinburgh 1849-50.  Not seen after 1851.

James               Born Edinburgh 1851-52.  In 1871 an apprentice mason.

Mary                Born Aberdeen 1859

William           Born Aberdeen 12.2.1861 and baptised 13.3.1861.

Margaret          Born Aberdeen 10.11.1867 and baptised 18.3.1868.

Mary Mason died at Edinburgh 28.7.1833, aged 45, and John Mason died there 26.3.1849, aged 65.

THE FAMILIES OF JOHN MASON

 THIRD MARRIAGE – TO JEAN DRUMMOND

 John Mason and Jean Drummond, both resident at 56 Cowgate, Edinburgh, married 30.12.1841 at Tron Church.  Jean was said to be the daughter of the late James Drummond, a weaver of Potter Row, Edinburgh.  They had two children:

Jean     Born 2.11.1842 and baptised 15.12.1842.

John     Born 13.6.1844 and baptised 8.7.1844.

The mother was buried 31.12.1845 at Edinburgh, as Jane Drummond, the spouse of John Mason, printer, of Blackfriars Wynd, said to be aged 34, whereas we think she would have been 29.

John Mason was buried 26.3.1849 when resident at 306 Canongate due to “decline of lungs”, aged 65.

September 2023

                                                                                            Appendix 12 to Ref. M1

 THE FAMILY OF JOHN MASON AND EUPHEMIA HART 

 The date and place of the marriage of John Mason and Euphemia is as yet unknown.  They are believed to have had children in Edinburgh as follows:

Cecil John McKenzie  (Female) Born 16.11.1778 and baptised 28.11.778.  Buried 14.1.1780.

 Anne                           Born 25.3.1780.

Smart                           (Female) born 3.4.1781.

John                             Born 10.3.1783 and baptised 18.3.1783.  See main text and Appendix 11.

James Richardson       Born 30.9.1784.

George William           Born 5.3.1787.

Euphemia                    Born 13.6.1789.

Euphemia Mason, nee Hart was buried at Edinburgh 15.10,1798, aged 49 and John Mason likewise 23.7.1816, age not stated.

July 2023

See map of the distribution of the surname Mason in 1881