Stanley Hawksfield’s recollection of the family

These snippets are stories of the family from someone who fills the generation gap based on pulling this document together. Stanley James Hawksfield’s grandparents were Thomas Lunn Hawksfield and Caroline Mitchell. He was born 22^nd June 1916, in West Hartlepool, and spent holidays staying with the Hawksfields and Ushers on Boulby Bank.

Stanley attended all three Martha’s funerals, Martha Usher (nee Hawksfield), Martha Cox and Martha Murfield.

His recollection of the Old Manor House are numerous, firstly the staircase narrowing as it climbed and at the landing on the right hand wall hung two whaling harpoons and on the opposite side two blubber knives. These had been handed down from William Hawksfield (born 1784), i.e. Martha Usher (nee Hawksfield) grandfather. Years later he asked Martha Cox what ever happened to the harpoons and knives and she could not remember.

With his grandmother Caroline Hawksfield living on Boulby bank he remembers the Waller family, and the fact that Bob Waller owned the bank of houses. Bob Waller had a wife Lotti and daughter Ketti.

He also remembers as a boy going into David’s cobblers and remembers a military helmet of an officer as it was coated in black velvet and he always wanted to wear it or better still take it away with him; he was never allowed.

Another story he remembers been told by Martha Usher (nee Hawksfield) was at the outbreak of the WWI, Robert Usher was down in the South of England and he was told to visit the Hawksfield’s in Dover. Robert and his friend went to the house and when they arrived they were told the family were at dinner. A maid showed them to a room to wait and there was a brass telescope looking out to sea. They amused themselves looking through the telescope. On meeting the family and prior to leaving Henry Valentine Hawksfield gave both Robert and his friend £20.00 each. (With inflation and value of money that would have been well over a months wages).

He also recounts the times when he had his own sons Brian and Dennis when they were young he would go to Whitby and always stopping at Wilcocks Stores so Charles Usher would give the two boys a sweetie treat.

Later, with his wife they would go through and meet up with Will and Martha Cox, taking them out in the car, remembering they always requested going to a butchers in Sleights.

The following is a picture of James Hawksfield (brother), Peter Hawksfield (descended from Peter Hawksfield) and myself (Stanley).

The following is a picture of James Mitchell Hawksfield (Shipwright) (stanley’s father) and John (Jack) Hawksfield.

John emigrated to Windsor, Canada after WWI and worked for the Ford Motor Company and became the manager of the Transmission Department, manufacturing gearboxes, etc.