Tag: Bill Longbone

Reverend James Sibree

by Bill Longbonein Facebook Archive, History, Volunteers2 Comments on Reverend James Sibree

One of the many men who had first-hand experience of the cholera epidemics in Hull, was the Rev James Sibree. He was appointed the non-conformist Chaplain to the Hull Cemetery Company when the Cemetery opened.

Cholera

In his book ‘Recollections of Hull’, he gives a harrowing account of the never ending funerals that he conducted at the cemetery during the summer of 1849.

He states “ The men employed in digging the graves had no respite, but pursued their doleful task both night and day. At first single graves were dug for the reception of 8 or 9 bodies; but the demand for room became so urgent that double graves were constructed, in which coffins were piled one upon the other, without any earth between them. Only 2 of these, however, were opened; the sight was so appalling that the men refused to dig any more. The cemetery hearse was in constant requisition to remove the stricken poor from all parts of the town, and the common phrase of the men was about fetching ‘another load’.

Dark Valley

The cholera plot presented the appearance of a quarry or a ploughed field. There was no time to make the graves neat. Persons were seen crowding the entrance gates early in the morning, long before the wearied Superintendent was up, to order graves for friends or relatives who had died during the night; and, sad to relate these informants were themselves, in a day or two, called to pass through the ‘Dark Valley’, so short was the summons.

Sometimes as many as 5 or 6 mourning trains were crowding the gravel walks of the Cemetery at the same time, while during the day, at some periods, the trains occupied the entire space between the Beverley Road end and the Cemetery gate”.

Family life


Rev Sibree was born in Frome, Somerset in 1805. He married Lydia Jane Newsom in 1832. Sadly Lydia died giving birth to their daughter, also called Lydia. Luckily the child survived and lived until 1909 aged 76.

James married Martha Goode Aston in 1835. They moved to Hull were he became the Independent Minister for Salem Chapel, in Cogan St. They lived in a large house, 6 Tremayne Terrace Anlaby Rd. This was situated between Fountain St and Arlington St.

James Sibree & family

They had 6 further children. One of his sons, James became a civil engineer and independent missionary, travelling to Africa and writing of his experiences. Another son, Thomas born 1841, married Rachel Coverdale in 1866.Sadly their daughter Ethel Mary died the following year, aged 9 months. This family emigrated to Adelaide South Australia, where they had another child, Leila Rachel, Unfortunately, both her and her father died in 1869.

Buried in the cemetery


Ethel Mary Sibree is buried in Hull General Cemetery, along with her grandparents Henry and Mary Ann Coverdale. Although not listed in the EYFHS MI books ,the Rev James Sibree is buried in Hull General Cemetery. James Sibree died in December 1891.The family gravestone has not survived.

Sibree obituary

The Hardeys

by Bill Longbonein Facebook Archive, History, Volunteers1 Comment on The Hardeys

Mrs Richard Hardey was a noted local female portrait artist. She and her husband Richard are buried in Hull General Cemetery. The Hardeys were artists and were pioneers in the new art of photography.

Hannah Maria Hudson was the daughter of a Wesleyan Minister. The Rev. Benjamin Brook Hudson and his wife Hannah were her parents. Hannah Maria was born in Dumfries in 1815, but moved to Barrow upon Humber, where her father was a minister.

Richard Hardey was born in Barrow upon Humber in 1816. Richard and Hannah married there on 23 April 1840, and later moved to Hull.

Kingston Square no.2

1851

In the 1851 census the couple were living at number 2 Kingston Square, at the house that was later to become part of Madame Clapham’s Costumier’s. Hannah was listed as an artist, and Richard a Commission Agent. Hannah’s mother and father lived nearby in Talbot St, off Wright St.

Hardey (Mrs), Richard, c.1800-1863; James Overton

Hannah was an extremely talented, but relatively unknown portrait painter, working under the name of Mrs Richard Hardey. There are examples of her work in The Ferens and the Town Docks Museum. One of these works is a particularly good portrait of James Overton, painted in 1851, and depicted above.

1861

In 1861 they were still living in Kingston Square, but were childless. Hannah was still listed as an artist, whilst Richard is now listed as a photographer.

Sadly, Hannah developed breast cancer and died in January 1865.

On 1st May the same year, Richard opened his Photographic Studios at 14 Saville Street. Hannah’s father also died later that year, and her mother 2 years later in 1867.

Hardey advert

Richard remarried Elizabeth Reynard in 1866, and in 1868 bought James Walker’s photographic studio in Doncaster, where he became quite successful.

Back to Hull

He sold the business in 1882 and moved back to Hull, and lived in Wellington Lane until his death from bronchitis in 1889 aged 73. His second wife, Elizabeth, lived in Morrill St and died in 1922 aged 81.

Richard and Hannah are buried in Hull General Cemetery together with Hannah’s parents, the Rev Benjamin Hudson and his wife Hannah. The headstone still stands, albeit with weather related vertical cracks in the stone.

The headstone marks the last resting place of the Hardeys, pioneers in photography.

Hardey Doncaster

Elizabeth, Richard’s second wife, is buried in a separate grave close by, but the headstone no longer exists.

William Henry Moss

by Bill Longbonein Facebook Archive, General, History, Volunteers

William Henry Moss was born in London in 1814 and was articled as a solicitor. He came to Hull in the 1840’s and married Eliza Charlotte Blundell, daughter of Henry Blundell, (founder of Blundell, Spence & Co) and his wife Maria (Porter) in 1840. The marriage resulted in seven children.

The couple are recorded as living in Russell Place, Linnaeus Street in 1841. In the subsequent census’ they are living at 4 Kingston Terrace, Beverley Road, adjacent to the Mariner’s Almshouses (now Kingston Youth Centre). In 1848 he is recorded as being in partnership with Francis Lowe of Moss, Lowe Solicitors, later, Blundell, Moss, Lowe & Co, at 19 Parliament St.

Civic responsibility

William was the company solicitor to the Hull Docks Company, and was very active in local politics. He promoted the Free Library in Hull, and was twice elected Mayor of Hull, firstly in 1856, and again in 1862.

He remained an Alderman for many years. Whilst Mayor, he paid for the marble statue of Queen Victoria in Pearson Park. The statue had been commissioned in 1861 by Zachariah Charles Pearson to commemorate an earlier Royal Visit. However due to Pearson’s bankruptcy, he was unable to pay for the work. Moss picked up the bill.

Grief for the family

His daughter Maria Blundell Moss died aged only two months in 1858. His son, Bernhard Martin, died two years later aged four.

William died of pleurisy in 1874 aged 60, and his wife Charlotte died aged 71 in 1888.

The family are buried in Hull General Cemetery, but their headstone was removed in the 1970’s. The East Yorkshire Family History Society recorded the inscription.

Moss House

The Quaker burial ground

by Bill Longbonein Events, History, News, Volunteers, Walks1 Comment on The Quaker burial ground

Activities in Hull General Cemetery during August.

Most of the work in the cemetery during August was taken up with upgrading of the Quaker Burial Ground. This work was undertaken on behalf of the Quaker’s Committee.

The Matthew Good Foundation kindly donated £1,000.This was used for the purchase of trees, plants and materials to carry out the work.

The broken perimeter hedge/fence was repaired and new defensive planting installed. This was done to form just 2 entrances/exits. The privet was given a light trim.

Quaker stones in QBG

A kerb and limestone chippings were placed around the 7 stones that originated in the Hodgson St and Owstwick Burial Grounds. This provides a great focal point for these historically important stones. The Quaker’s are looking to provide an information board to explain the origin of the stones. There already is a board explaining the presence of the Quaker burial ground.

The dilapidated headstone of  Joseph Heward, the first Quaker burial in the cemetery, was re-laid and straightened. Several other fallen kerb stones were straightened. Moss was carefully removed from the lettering on the headstones to enable them to be more easily read.

bench in QBG

A ‘Rest and Contemplation’ bench was erected in the SW corner. This was formed from a large sycamore branch that fell near the cholera monument a year or so ago.

Other fallen branches were chipped and laid as a path leading from the 2 entrances to the new bench.

New planting

The laurel bushes were pruned back to give a more formal appearance. Several shrubs and plants were planted to complement the existing plants. These including Fatsia Japonica, Choisya, Euonymus, Agapanthus and ornamental grasses.

A thousand spring bulbs have been ordered for planting in Autumn.  These include wild garlic, English bluebells, snowdrops, crocus and daffodils. Hopefully these will provide a riot of colour in the spring.

A specimen laburnum was also planted to provide early summer colour after the bulbs have finished their display.

A shallow watering dish was placed in a shady area of the burial ground. This will provide a water source for birds and small mammals.

A short, on-site, talk about the Quakers in Hull and the work of the Friends of Hull General Cemetery, was given by the Quakers on the afternoon of Saturday 21st August.

The volunteers gave a guided tour around the cemetery to the U3A, AWAKE history group during August, generating £36.00 in donations.

Next Month

by Pete Lowdenin Events, General, History, News, Volunteers, Wildlife

Hi,

Firstly, an apology. I was going to tell you the story this month of the very last board meeting of the Company and the extraordinary decision they had to make there.  This was to be the anniversary spot this month. Sadly, I’m a bit dense. It should have been last month because it happened in June 1972!!

However, people appeared to like last month’s anniversary item, so its swings and roundabouts. I promise I will write up that story for the future

Next month I’m going to be giving the bulk of the newsletter over to Bill and Helen mainly. Bill’s contributions are from Facebook and we’re attempting to archive them all on here so they can be found more easily. And preserved too. Helen I’m sure will show us more of the wildlife in the Cemetery and it’s changing faces every month.

I’ll finish off the story of Peter Hodsman’s sons. Both stonemason’s of the Cemetery Company. Stonemason of the Cemetery

By the time of the next newsletter we should be back to ‘normality’, whatever that term might mean now.

With that July 19th date in mind, who knows, we may be able to meet up with the powers that be and start asking some searching questions about what the Council want from us and vica versa. We’ll see.

 

Next Month

by Pete Lowdenin Events, Facebook Archive, General, History, News, Volunteers, Wildlife1 Comment on Next Month

Hi,

Next month on the site there will be the conclusion of the story of the creation of Hull General Cemetery. This story leads from witnessing the terrible scenes that burials in the churchyards of Hull in the early 1840s often displayed. It ends after the first burial in the first cemetery that the town ever possessed and the official opening of the site. I hope you enjoy it. The Creation of Hull General Cemetery: Part One 

There will be further articles from Bill Longbone’s posts on our sister sire; Friends of Hull General Cemetery As you know these initially featured on the Facebook. By placing them on this site the Facebook Archive will become a repository of research and knowledge for future students of the subject and site.

Helen Bovill will be providing more detailed and beautiful images and information on the wildlife that lives in Hull General Cemetery during the summer months. Wonderful Wildlife

Stone masons

There will also be the long trailed story of the master masons of the Cemetery’s monumental business. This business was often the sole profitable part of the Company’s business. I was hopeful that I could have used it this month. However I believe that as I am now able to use Bill’s extensively researched Facebook’s articles I should do that. I also believed that these items of Bill’s needed preserving by placing them on this site.

So the story of the master masons has been held over for June’s newsletter.

And of course there will be the usual Anniversary and News items. The anniversary item will move this time from Victorian times into the recent past. It will examine the final board meeting of the the Cemetery Company.

The news item is really dependent upon what happens over the period. One of the things that I hope to touch upon is the issue around the Council’s  request to stop working. It’s hoped that we may be able to report back on a positive decision of the Hull City Council for the FOHGC.

However we are committed to work with any decision that the Council arrives at. Hull City Council request to the FOHGC

Dr. William Gordon

by Bill Longbonein Facebook Archive, History, Volunteers1 Comment on Dr. William Gordon

Dr. William Gordon was known as the ‘The People’s Friend’.

Dr. Wm Gordon

William Gordon was born at Fountains Hall near Ripon on 2nd August 1801. He was educated at the Ripon Grammar School.  He studied medicine at London and Edinburgh. After qualifying he set up a medical practice at Welton, near Brough around 1825. He married Mary Ann Lowthrop of Welton Hall in 1826, pictured below. They had one daughter, Charlotte, who was born 1828.

Welton hall

His father-in-law was Sir William Lowthrop. He had been the Mayor of Hull when Victoria came to the throne. Sir William was one of the original Committee that instigated the creation of Hull General Cemetery. He and his son-in-law, Dr. Gordon, were early shareholders in this venture.The Creation of Hull General Cemetery: Part One

The family moved to 29 Albion Street in Hull where he set up his medical practice. Albion Street at that time was the ‘Harley Street’ of Hull. Many medical men lived there including Dr. Alderson.

Dr. Gordon was very involved with Christian movements and an active supporter of the working classes. He was also President of The Christian Temperance Society and became known as ‘The People’s Friend’. Chris Ketchell once said that he could not understand why Dr Gordon earned this title as, at that time, alcoholic drink was a better friend to the working man but Chris always had a personal view upon alcohol and its benefits.

All through Dr. Gordon’s short life he had an affinity with the working class and poor people of Hull, and would help them in whatever way he could.

Dr. Gordon’s daughter Charlotte, married the Albion Street Chapel pastor, the Rev Christopher Newman Hall.

His death

Dr. Gordon contracted a wasting disease during 1848 and eventually died at his home in Albion Street in February 1849 aged 47.

His son-in-law wrote a rather morbid detailed account of his death in a booklet which he published the same year.

Dr. Wm Gordon narrative

His funeral was a well attended event. It commenced at the Albion Street Chapel with a procession of five Mourning coaches. Hundreds of people followed on foot. Police officers, six abreast, accompanied the cortege to Hull General Cemetery.

It was well reported in the local press at the time.

doctor gordon eulogy

He was buried in the centre of the newly opened cemetery. His grave was just east of the central willow tree as he had requested. At that time the plot’s shrubbery had been planted in the shape of a Maltese Cross.

Dr. Wm Gordon funeral

The monument

The newspapers of the day prompted the idea of a public subscription for a monument to him. The working class of Hull contributed greatly to this public subscription to erect a large monument to Dr Gordon. They collected the full £80 for the monument. Only Dr. Gordon’s monument, Captain Gravill’s and the Cholera Monument were erected after calls for a public subscription.

Many local sculptors put forward designs for the monument, including William Keyworth. The commission, however, was given to Aaron Shaw. The total cost was £80.

The monument was erected in November 1849 and took the form of an obelisk of white marble modelled on the one that Napoleon had brought from Luxor.

It stood twenty-five feet high and was inscribed: ‘Erected by public subscription, to William Gordon, M.D., F.L.S. – the People’s Friend. Ob. Feb. 7 1849 aet 47’.

The monument still exists in Hull General cemetery. It is still in good condition if a little moss covered.

However, it needed reducing in size at the turn of the 20th century. The monument was becoming unstable. The Cemetery Company contacted Dr. Gordon’s daughter, Charlotte Hall, regarding this.

Dr. Wm Gordon memorial

She and the Cemetery Company came to an arrangement and the Monument was lowered by about a third. Early maps of the cemetery show it and the Cholera Monument marked. 

Shortly after Dr Gordon’s death his wife, Mary Ann, moved from Albion St to Carlton Terrace. This was near Park Street on Spring Bank. She died in 1886. She is  buried in the same grave with her husband.

Their daughter remarried Mr Frank Richardson after the death of the Rev Newman Hall. She died in 1903 and is also commemorated on the monument.

Henry Hodge

by Bill Longbonein Facebook Archive, General, History1 Comment on Henry Hodge
Henry Hodge was born at Kilnsea, East Yorkshire in 1812. He was the son of a small farmer and one of 12 children. Henry Hodge can truly be described as a self-made man.
Henry Hodge
In 1826 the Hodge family moved to Hull and took on a dairy farm at Newland Tofts. As a young man Henry worked at Bell’s flour Mill on Holderness Rd. This was  situated near what is now Morrill Street. The access to the mill was along a track which eventually became the entrance to the Morrill Street clinic.

Seed crushing industry

At this time seed crushing was becoming an important industry in Hull. As a result, the mill changed from a flour mill to a seed crushing mill. Around 1831 the hydraulic press was invented for crushing seed. This soon replaced the old stamper mill. The firm of Rose, Down & Thompson were one of the early fore-runners in this development.
Henry accumulated a little capital whilst working at a mill in Louth. Along with his brother, William who was now a foreman at Bell’s Mill, they purchased a former mustard and flour mill. This stood on what was then William St in Drypool. It later was renamed Hodge Street. They then installed 2 hydraulic presses to crush seed.
In 1852 the nearby Tower Mill at the junction of Holderness Rd and Clarence St was purchased. However, although the business was successful, the two brothers dissolved the partnership. William took the Tower Mill whilst Henry kept the mill in William St.

Family life


He married Jane Simpson in 1842 and they had 6 children. One of them was Emma Hodge, who married Joseph Robson. Emma became a very active member of the Primitive Methodist church. Henry’s family originally lived in East Parade on Holderness Rd between Williamson St and Field St. They also lived and worked at Blaydes House at 6 High St for a time.
Henry Hodge mill advert
In 1869 his daughter Emma died at the young age of 32. This devastated Henry. His wife, Jane had already died in 1867 aged 54 years. In 1871 Henry married his housekeeper, Emma Graves.

Henry’s business continued to expand. He erected the huge Alexandria Mill in High St, in 1884. He also purchased the adjoining Phoenix Mill. This was followed three years later by the Globe Mill on Church St, which was part of what is now Wincolmlee.

Pioneer


Henry was a pioneer in the seed crushing industry. Prior to 1861, the only seeds imported into Hull for oil and cake were linseed, rapeseed and nigerseed.  Henry began to experiment with Egyptian cottonseed. He found that it made an ideal oil for use in the manufacture of soap, paint, culinary purposes and also for cattle feed. It soon became one of the major seed imports into the city.
henry hodge advert for cattle feed

He subsequently purchased Bell’s Mill near Morrill St, where he had previously worked.
The family lived at Ivy House adjacent to the mill until his death in 1889.
Henry Hodge
In addition to being a mill owner he was also a very active member of the Primitive Methodist Church in Hull. He was also a benefactor of many good causes, and subscribed to the erection of several churches. This included the Holderness Rd chapel near Bright Street, and the Henry Hodge Memorial Chapel in Williamson Street.
He was also a member of the East Hull Conservative Club and an alderman. His brother William was twice mayor of Hull.

Henry, his wives Jane & Emma, daughter Emma, son Edwin and son in law Joseph Robson are all buried in the ‘Prim Corner’ of The Hull General Cemetery. His brother William Hodge, and his family, also have a large monument in the cemetery.
Henry Hodge tomb