Family History
We continue to receive enquiries and visits from people researching their family history. We do our best to help them and if we cannot do so, we try to give them other contacts who may be able to assist them. An example of one story which came out of such research is given below:
Some years ago now we heard a fascinating story from Russell Pugh, a descendant of the Milners of Long Gill (just over the Parish border into Orton), who lives in New Zealand. We tried to find out where the three Milner brothers who emigrated to Australia in 1849 (who included Russell’s great-grandfather) would have received their schooling, as the shipping records of the day recorded that all of them could read and write. The nearest school to Long Gill, Long Dale, did not open until 1875. It is possible that they attended the Dame School at Raisbeck so we looked into this on Russell’s behalf. He sent us this photograph of the compass given to Ralph Milner, one of the brothers, when he returned briefly to Bowderdale in 1875 to visit his cousin Ralph Preston. The inscription reads: Ralph Milner, from Cousin R Preston 15 Sept 1875.
We have also worked with Sue Mastel who runs the Adamthwaite One-Name Study. If anyone with Ravenstonedale ancestry has already taken a DNA test or is thinking of doing so, she would like to hear from them and hopefully include their results in her projects. Please visit Sue’s site https://one-name.org/name_profile/adamthwaite/ where you will also find links to her other projects, for example the Ravenstonedale DNA Project https://www.ravenstonedalednaproject.org.uk/
There are currently 38 members, who between them have 18 sets of yDNA and 28 sets of autosomal DNA (some people have done both tests!).
Since the Parish History Group began in 2010 we have received many enquiries from people interested in tracing their ancestors who lived in or near the Parish, and if a surname appears in our list below, it indicates that someone has contacted the Group researching that name, and that we have exchanged information with them.
A Adamthwaite (see above) Airey Alderson Akrigg Atkinson
B Barnfather Beck Birtle Blades Bland Bousfield Braithwaite Bradberry Brown Brunskill Buck
C Campbell Capstick Carver Chamberlain Chapelhow Clayton Clemey Close Constantine Coupland
D Davies Dawes Dawson Dent
E Ewin
F Fawcett Ffinch Fothergill
G Gibson Guy
H Handley Hayton Hewetson Hind Hodgson Hunter
K Kidd Kirkbride
L Lawson
M Manning Mee Metcalfe Metcalfe-Gibson Murray Murthwaite
P Parkinson Potter
R Raine Robinson Rogerson Roper
S Stubbs Swinbank
T Taylor Thompson Turner
W Walmsley Wharton Wilson
Dear Ravenstonedale Parish History Group,
I am researching my Hewetson family from Cumbria. My grandfather was Christopher Tooth Hewetson (1940–2017). His brothers were Michael John Tooth Hewetson and Patrick Richard Tooth Hewetson. Christopher married Elizabeth (“Betsey”) West, and their son is James (“Jamie”) Hewetson.
My family owned, or referred to, Keith Lovet Watson’s Hewetson genealogy, and we believe our branch is included. I would be very grateful if you could tell me where this family appears in the Watson genealogy, or identify Christopher’s parents and how this branch connects to the Ravenstonedale Hewetsons.
Many thanks,
Kate Hewetson
Thank you for your enquiry and we will be in touch with you shortly by email.
Hello,
My paternal great grandmother, Margaret Clayton, has firm roots in Ravenstonedale with her two brothers farming at Bluecaster. A story which has come down the family over time refers to relations who farmed at Shaw Paddock in Mallerstang and during a severe snow storm (date not known) the farm residents fed the passengers of a stranded train. My father was friendly with a Dick Shaw who I think was a relation on the Clayton side. Could Shaw Paddock have been farmed by Shaws? Also, has anyone heard this tale or know of documentation regarding the storm?
Furthermore, I have in my possession measuring jugs from the “Black Ewe & Lamb”, previously Crossbank Grill and now I believe The Fat Lamb, engraved “H Shaw” which have been passed to me down the family.
Regards
Stephen Walker
Thank you for your comment and we’ll be in touch with you by email.
I was on duty in the Visitor Centre in Kirkby Stephen last weekend when a lady came in with a query about World War II evacuees from South Shields. Her mother, Mary Craig, stayed with a farming family in Ravenstonedale. Her mother’s sister and brother were in KS and that is the extent of the information I have. It’s a long shot I know but maybe someone will have memories of that time.
Thank you for your enquiry. We will reply to your request by email.
I’m a descendant of Anthony Fothergill, born 1737 Mallerstang…father given as Jonathon. Do you have confirmation of who Jonathon married please? I have a possible..Elizabeth Pearson 1730 in Thornhill W. Yorks, but with so many Jonathons it’s difficult to be sure. Than you for your help.
Thank you for your enquiry. We will reply to your request by email.
Researching Bainbridge family, my Grandfather was living at Street, Ravensondale in 1947. Most of the other Bainbridge’s live at Stricegill, Cragg House, Slip Inn in Stainmore.. Middleton in teesdale was another research area in the 1700 onwards . Any information would be very much appreciated
Hi Louise, thanks for your enquiry.
We should be able to help you about the Street connection. We’ll have a look at the records and let you know.
I believe I am related to the Fothergills that owned Brownber Hall. My nan Edith fothergill of Newbiggin on lune was the oldest generation that I knew of. I was told I think her father or grandfather came from Brownber Hall. They owned alot of land and farms. I know there will be alot of descendents. My nan married a Nicholson from Bowes they lived on a small farm near Newbiggin. They had four children, Edna, Doris, James and John…who was my dad. James is well known in Ravenstonedale as Jimmy windross Nicholson. Id live to know more about my ancestry. I live in Brough now.
Hi Kelly, thank you for your message about the Fothergills that owned Brownber Hall and a possible connection to yourself. We should be able to check this for you from documents we have in the Ravenstonedale Parish archives and get back to you by email in the New Year.
Hello, I am looking for more information about the Shaw family. Isobel Shaw (also referred to as Isabella in a document I researched) was born in Ravenstonedale in 1660. She married William Dickinson in 1683 and they moved to Witherslack where the Dickinsons farmed up until about 60 years ago. Isobel and William had two sons, John (born 1684) and Robert (born in 1690). I would really like to learn more about Isobel and the Shaw family. Is there a Scottish connection? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Hi Catherine, thak you for your message about the Shaw family. After New Year we will contact you further by email. We do have a record in the Parish registers in the Parish archives of the baptism of Ezabell Shaw on May 29 1660, daughter of John Shaw of Town (i.e. Ravenstonedale).
Hello
I am related to John Wilson (James) born Sep 2, Howgill, Yorkshire and died abt Apr29, 1871 in Greenside, Ravenstonedale. He married Margaret Stewart Jun 6, 1827 in St Oswald, Ravenstonedale.
I am in your area now from Canada, is it possible to meet Mon Sep 25 as I am in Skipton then. I searched the Ravenstonedale cemetary for Johns gravestone to no avail. He isnt listed in the church records either but he must be buried there given his history in the area. May I meet with anyone?
Hello Sue
Thank you for your message. Someone from the Group will email you about your query.
Hello Val
I was in touch with you about 3 years ago re Murthwaite ancestry.I am visiting the area for 3 days in the middle of September and have a couple of books that might be of use to your history group.The Fothergills a First History and Vital Statistics the Westmorland census of 1787.If they are of use to you can we arrange some where to meet up .I am visiting from Sun 17th to Tues 19th.
Hope to hear from you
Thanks for your message which will be passed to Val.
I have been trying to access the Ravenstonedale DNA Project website, however there appears to be a problem as I just getting a 404 error
I’m sorry but the History Group do not run this site so we cannot help you.
Would anyone have information on William Knewstubb? He is my Great Grandfather.
Thanks for contacting us – good to hear from you. We do have info’ on the Knewstubb family in our archives and we will contact you by email.
I am attempting to investigate my family history through Ancestry.
I see a Margaret Taylor, Born Ravenstonedale 1680, (daughter of John Taylor 1645-1728 and Margaret Pearson 1647-1698 both born and died in Ravenstonedale), marrying James Bird B 1680.
I came for a quick walk around the village today but it was not clear if anything from this time survives.
Do you have any records from this time?
For James Bird I only have Westmoreland as a place of birth, Bird does not appear in your list of local name, I do not have a place for the marriage, any chance they got married in Ravenstonedale in 1696?
Their son James Bird B1716 is only down as born in Westmoreland, he married a Mary Mason born in Dent 1711. I also traveled there today, that looks like a place that has a number of buildings which might be of the period including the 900 year old Parish church
I did speak to someone their who said there are still “Masons’ represented in the parish.
I started my search with an Ancestry DNA test but this seems to stop on links to John Bird son of James Bird and Mary Mason B1747 in Bolton North West of Appleby.
Thanks for your comment Brian. We will see if we have anything in our archives about Margaret Taylor born 1680 and will email you.
I have an old wooden chest which has a woman’s name written inside the lid. I am trying to find her family here in the United States before I give this away. Is anyone interested in a good mystery and old handwriting? Her first name was Maggy. I can not decipher the next two words I cannot but the second might be a street or village? Then it says Ravenstonedale Westmoreland. If someone would like to give this a try, I can send you pictures. Thanks! Robyn Toms, Aurora, Colorado, USA
Hi Robyn
We will email you about this – sounds interesting!
I had a contact from somebody in the USA saying that my family name Bousfield comes from Ravenstonedale. Apparently the ‘s’ is a an apostrophe and the name refers to fields given to villagers from the area of Bouville in Normandy. The came over with William the Conquerer. Do any of your members know anything about this story?
Thanks
John Bousfield
Hi John – sorry but as far as we know there is a place in Orton Parish (the next Parish to us) with the name Bousfield, and it’s thought the surname Bousfield which occurs locally comes from this. The etymology of this place name is as follows: Bous comes from Old English Boga or Old Norse Bogi which has the plural Bows (as in Bowes). The second syllable did not begin as Field but as Fjall in Norse, which means fell or hill. So Bousfield in this case means the curved fell between Howe Nook, Orton Scar and Bowbrow.
I am descended from James Richard Shaw Wilson, born 1845, Preston Patrick, died 1901 Kuaotunu, Coromandel Peninsula NZ. His father Isaac Wilson, Born 1820, ravenstonedale, his marriage cert states his father as James Wilson. Isaac married 1841 Isabella Shaw of Sedbergh, or more correctly from Census records Cautley. Recorded 1841 Census living in Sedbergh, 1851 Kirby Lonsdale. After that he does not appear again, did he die in Kirby Lonsdale???
James Wilson, born 1779, marries Bella Whitehead, James appears in 1851 Census at Green Slack, Ravenstonedale, is it possible this is Isaac’s father. Have also found other children born to James And Bella, they being, another James Born 1810, and Alice 1814. Children and grandchildren of my james Richard mostly lived into their late 80-90’s, is this a pattern of the Wilson descendants in other branches of the family. Would be most interested in finding links. Most of the children and grandchildren have strongly wavy hair and the boys seem to retain their hair for life, also would describe most of them as a tall drink of water.
Hi Lyn – we’ll certainly have a look in the Parish Archive for you to see if we can help. Green Slack is at Fell End, Ravenstonedale and was once the schoolmaster’s house.
Bowber Head has recently been aquired by the Cumbria Wildlife Trust. In the 18th Century the property belonged to the Hunter family who were Dissenters.
A small group are compiling facts about Bowber Head for CWT for a small publication, so if there are any interesting facts known to your society, either about the Hunters or the farm, we would be grateful to receive them.
Jennifer Forsyth
Hi Jennifer
Thanks for your message. We do have indeed material in the archive relating to Bowberhead Farm and will be in touch with you by email shortly about it.
Hello
I have been re-visiting my early Law family who were in Weasdale from around 1665. My ancestors were Henry Law d. 1674 and his second wife Ann Greene. Their son John 1670 -1720 and his wife Ellin were my 6 x great grandparents. Can anyone help with which properties/farms would have comprised Weasdale at that time? Would like to come and visit the area again – when allowed!
Thanks.
Val Slater
Hi Val
Thanks for your enquiry – we will do our best to help with info’ that we have in our digitised records. We do have some info’ about Weasdale in the archive and our family history specialist will be in touch with you via email as soon as possible.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHICH FAMILY TREE IS YOURS
THANKYOU RAY
Hello I’m hoping for any help with Fawcett ancestors. Thomas Fawcett who married Ann Giles is my 4th great grandfather. Thank You Michelle
Hi Michelle – see our other reply!
Hi i dont know if anybody can help. I am tracing my husbands family history. the family is Hunter. The Hunters i believe ran The Kings head inn. James hunter who died 1833 and is noted as being an inn keeper at coldbeck in 1829 in the directories. His son william ran the pub untill his death in 1873 and then his son John till 1874 where he died aged 29. Williams other son James brother to john ran it untill his death in 1887. Not sure if these hunters are any relations to the other hunters farming at farms around fell end, spint gill, ash pot, elm pot street side etc. Any help would be gratefully recieved and maybe if anyone is researching the hunters my info may be of some use. Vanessa hunter
Hi Vanessa – thanks for the comment. We will be able to help you out with Hunter family research and will email you soon with some info’.
hello
ive been doing my family history, my grandmother was sarah hunter bn1884 kings head ravenstonedale.
her father was thomas hunter bn 1848 kings head ravenstonedale.
he was brother to john and james hunter all from kingshead ravenstonedale
their parents were james hunter bn1771 dent he married alice buck also of dent .
as far as i know this is correct
My grandmother sarah huner married george william brown also from ravenstonedale
Hi Raymond
Thanks for your comment about the Hunters. We’ll email you with what we have about the Hunter family when we have checked the archive.
just noticed your comment re Hunter connections ravenstonedale. dont know whether it will help but im researching hunters also, my husbands family. i have quite a bit of info on ancestry, my tree is public, if its of any help. i have also put a little info on a comment above yours.
vanessa hunter
Thanks Vanessa
Hi I am looking into Whaley’s who were at, Fryar Bottom in Ravenstonedale in the mid 1700’s. It was Francis Whaley & he married I think Anne Fothergill & they baptised several children at Ravenstonedale.
I think Francis was from the Hawes area originally.
I also have Thomas Whaley marrying Nancy Adamthwaite 2/5/1779 &
James Whaley marrying Mary Tweedal 3/8/1788
I would be grateful for any help,
Thank you,
Hi Karen – thanks for your enquiry. We’ll look into what we have and get back to you as soon as we can.
Hi Harvey – many thanks for your comment about the Murthwaite family. We have some information about them, in relation to the Scarboroughs and also the Fothergills. We’ll be in touch about it – and you may be able to fill in some blanks for us too!
Hello Checking the list of names I notice mention of Murthwaite. My Greatgrandfather was Thomas Murthwait b 1840 Ravenstonedale, his Grandfather was John Murthwaite b 1770 at Wath d1842.on 1841 census he is with his daughter at Parrock Moor. Have used Ravenstonedale parish records to trace family back to beginning of 17th century; they lived at Wath/Parrock Moor/Rigg end. If I can be of help to anybody please let me know. I also have a copy of the book”The Fothergills a First History’ prepared by Richard Fothergill 1998 which details all their history. Please contact me if I can be of help.
For some years I have been tracing my family roots back to the Ravenstonedale and Orton Parishes. My Great-great grandfather, James Milner, was born at Long Gill in 1827. He was one of 12 children to Holmes Milner and Sarah Stewardson. In 1849, James, along with his older brother Ralph and younger brother John, emigrated to Colac, Victoria, Australia where they worked for their father’s cousin, George Milner. Ten years later, James Milner married and took his bride to North Taieri, Otago, New Zealand where they settled into farming and raised a family of eight children. They named their property “Long Gill”. Ralph and John Milner are remembered for being the first to drive a mob of stock (sheep, goats, horses) and wheeled vehicles right across Australia from South to North between 1870 and 1872. I am currently writing about this epic historical venture. John Milner tragically lost his life in the outback in 1871. Following this adventure, Ralph Milner returned to England in 1874 and 1875 and visited his old family haunts and met up with his cousin, Ralph Preston of Bowderdale, in September 1875. On learning of the sudden death of his brother James in NZ, later that month he set sail for NZ knowing the family would be in dire financial straits. During 1877, Ralph married his sister-in-law Celia and spent the rest of his life farming at North Taieri in Otago. I live just a few miles away from this place.
In relation to the Long Gill connection, I would appreciate any information you might have regarding these questions.
(1) Are there any buildings or stone ruins at Long Gill that date from the 1820’s-1830’s or earlier that might be associated with the Milner’s tenure there?
(2) My research indicates a number of the earlier Milner generations were buried at Long Gill. Are any of these graves around Long Gill still identifiable or have they been lost in the mists of time?
(3) From maps, it appears that Long Gill is about equal distance between Tebay and Ravenstonedale. I would really like to know where Ralph, James & John Milner and their siblings might have received their schooling.
Any help from local historical people on these matters would be very much appreciated. I note from the Ravenstonedale website that Val and Steve Fermer have an interest in the Milner family.
Hi Russell – What a great story! We’ll see what we have about the Milner family and Long Gill and will get back to you. Long Gill is just outside the Ravenstonedale Parish Boundary but we can contact Orton and Tebay LHG as well about it. Thanks for contacting us.
Hi, I traced my grandfather George Kirkbride back to Ravenstonedale. His d.o.b is 26/12/1904 through the Kirkbride geneology project. We thought we had managed to trace right back to a John Kirkbride d.o.b 9/4/1765 married to Margaret Compston born 1771. Now it seems things have changed and dates we have followed have changed. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Samantha
We’ll check on the information we have about the Kirkbride family in Ravenstonedale Parish and get back to you.
I was just visiting Ravenstonedale, May 10, 2017. I was talking to Chris about my family history. He had another gentleman email me for more info to give them to help me out. I deleted the email foolishly and need the gentleman to get back in touch with me. But what a beautiful village Ravenstonedale is. I love it.
Hi James. We remember your question and the person who emailed you will do so again when they return from holiday in a couple of weeks.
Hi – I run the ADAMTHWAITE one-name study and would love to hear from anyone with Adamthwaites in their own family history. We have identified ten separate lines of Adamthwaites – all of which go back to Ravenstonedale or nearby towns. Our website contains loads of data about Adamthwaites along with photo galleries and stories.
My own 5xgt grandparents were John Adamthwaite (~1725- 1804) and Isabel Keasley (~1724-1804) who married in Ravenstonedale in 1753, when both were described as ‘of Ravenstonedale’. A couple of their children appear in the R’dale parish registers as “dissenter’s child”, which could explain why I have been unable to locate a baptism for John himself – though from other information, I suspect he was a son of Thomas Adamthwaite of Murthwaite.
A few years ago, I also set up a geographical DNA project for Ravenstonedale – which aims to identify links between descendants of the old Ravenstonedale families (who lived in the parish before 1800) – using both yDNA for direct male line testers and autosomal DNA for anyone, male or female, with ‘Ravenstonedale ancestry’. We currently have yDNA results for Adamthwaites, Fawcetts, Swinbanks and Fothergills and 19 sets of autosomal DNA results. New members welcome!
I look forward to hearing from you
Sue
Hi Sue – thanks for your comment. We’ll be in touch with you about setting up a direct link to your website from this one, if you think that’s a good idea! Meanwhile people can leave comments here and we’ll forward them to you.
Hello, my grandmother was a Fawcett that traces its history from Ravenstonedale. They immigrated to the U.S. (Allegheny County Pennsylvania) sometime during the 18th century. I would be greatful for any further information/ history, and would consider any DNA analysis . I would love to visit someday!
Hi Ryan – We’ll check our Fawcett records and see if we can help. We’ll get back to you.
Hi Ryan I am in ravenstonedale and a descendant if Thomas Fawcett. I am the granddaughter of Dr Charles Fawcett and was born and raised in Pittsburgh. You can start your search by going to the history of Western Pa T university if Pittsburgh library. If I find anything on the UK I will let you know.
Hello Ryan. I also have Fawcett ancestors from Allegheny hoping to see if we can help each other. Thank You Michelle
Hi Michelle – sorry for our delay in looking at your comments – we will be back in the archive in February and will have a look at our Fawcett info’ for you. If Ryan is agreeable we will forward you his email address.
sibellaw@yahoo.co.uk
Dear Sue.
My maternal grandmother’s maiden name was Phoebe Mary Cicily Coulthard. Her mother’s maiden name was Mary Frances Fothergill Brunskill who was born in 1865. Her mother was Phoebe Fothergill who was born in 1825 and married Stephen Brunskill. She had a sister Isabel aswell as three brothers called John, Thomas and William. Their parents were Richad Fothergill and Mary Jackson who married on the 17th November 1807. Richard died on September 24th 1853 and Mary on 22nd August 1828. They also had three other children who died young.
I would be interested in hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Sibella Whyte.
Hi Sibella
Many thanks for your message about the Fothergills. Sue will get back to you. The History Group will add your message to our Parish archive and check how it fits in with our current Fothergill knowledge and let you know.
Hi , my dna results suggest I’m related to the Fothergill family through Isabella Fothergill b1771 who married David Dixon b1770. Isabellas’ parents were Pheobe b1735 and Richard Fothergill b1728 . I’d be interested in hearing from you . I live in Glasgow.
Hi William – thanks for your comment. The Parish History Group has quite a lot of material on all the branches of the Fothergills and we’ll contact you shortly by email once we’ve looked through the relevant parts of the archive. We’ll also let Sue Mastel know.
Hello,
Just realized I missed a talk today 5th April 2017.
Notice you are open on Thursdays, is this true for Tomorrow, the 6th April2017 ?
My interest in my family history is in area of Bousfields, Taylors, Dargue of Bow Hall, Harker found in Hartley, Hudson Laidly, etc.
Also, can one join the history group on a Thursday?
Thanks
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer
Sorry you missed the talk – it was a good one! Look forward to meeting you.
My Mother was a Hewetson and I have traced her lineage back to Robert William Hewetson (1828-1904) of Lockholm Foot in Ravenstonedale with a high degree of confidence.
I was confident his Father was Robert (1802-1863) whose parents may have been David and Sarah Skouler. However I have now come across a paper on Westmoreland dissenters by a Keith Lovet Watson who describes in detail a convincing family tree finishing with Robt Wm Hewetson but does not include a David.
Do you know of Mr Watson and should I trust his family tree?
Hi Jeremy – thank you for your comment. The History Group do indeed know of Keith Lovet Watson’s detailed research into the Hewetson family and we’ll let you have some further information on your family history.
Hello
I realise that asking about Aldersons is asking an awful lot but I’m on the trail of a James Alderson born around 1713 in Westmorland, quite possibly in Ravenstonedale. There’s a strong chance that the family were nonconformists as he went into the Independent ministry. I’m trying to work out any connections to the Swaledale/Stainmore Aldersons. If any of your members have similar interests I would love to hear from them.
Many thanks
Tracy
Hi Tracy
Thanks for your enquiry – we will have a look in our archive and let you know if we find anything of interest to you.
Tracy,
James Alderson was at Hole and Eadies in 1716. Sarah Alderson was at Hole in 1696. Jonathan Alderson own the whole area in 1655 including what became Beckstones and part of White House farm.
Historically there were Aldersons in the Fell End area and one owned the Quaker Meeting house in 1729
Thanks for your comment!