YORK HERALD SATURDAY 23RD DECEMBER 1809

COUNTY OF YORK

To be LET, by PROPOSAL

And entered upon the 12th May 1810

A FARM at LOWER HAWSKER, in the parish of Thorpe, within four miles of the Port of Whitby, with other advantages of situation consisting of 130 Acres of Meadow and Arable Land, together with about 53 Acres of Old Grass Land, being an allotment from an adjoining common pasture, fenced with an excellent stone wall and otherwise prepared for immediate cultivation and profit to the tenant. There is a good freestone Quarry and a Lime Kiln erected on the premises.

Proposals will be received by Mr. William Usher, at Loftus, till the 31st December next, and the present tenant will show the Farm and Additions.

Title

BILL OF INDICTMENT FOR FELONY: HANNAH USHER OF WHITBY

Date c.1847
Level Item
DocumentRef QSB 1847 3/6/25
Extent 1 piece
Description Bill of indictment of Hannah Usher late of the township of Whitby singlewoman and servant to Mary Craig for stealing one pound weight of boiled beef value 6d, one piece of cooked meat value 6d, and two pounds weight of bread value 6d, the property of Mary Craig her mistress; and one pound weight of other boiled beef value 6d, one other piece of cooked meat value 6d, two pounds weight of other bread value 6d, and two earthen pots value 6d, also the property of Mary Craig

Offences committed at the township of Whitby on 13 May 1847

Endorsed with names of witnesses and "a true bill"

 

SHIP ON FIRE IN SHIELDS HARBOUR

NEWCASTLE COURANT FRIDAY 27TH NOVEMBER 1868

On Sunday morning shortly after one o’clock, a fire broke out in the forecastle of the brig Expert of Whitby, captain Wm Usher lying off Cookson’s Quay, South Shields. The South Fire Brigade was soon in attendance, and after working for about two hours, extinguished the fire. The forecastle was much burnt, including the flooring, ceiling and beams. The whole of the clothing belonging to the seamen were also destroyed by the fire. The damage done will amount to above £100. The expert belongs to Mr Joseph Thompson, Whitby.

HARD CASE UNDER THE LICENSING ACT

SHEFFIELD DAILY TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY 12 JANUARY 1881

Yesterday before the Whitby magistrates a peculiarly hard case under the licensing act was heard. A man named Robert Matthews master of a vessel which stranded on a sand bank the other day was charged with being on licensed premises during improper hours. Defendant was seen by a constable to enter a public house and leave with a bottle which proved to contain beer. He was accosted by the police and readily acknowledged what he had done. At the Court the defendant explained his ship had gone ashore and that he had a number of men working at her all the night with a view to getting her off. In the morning they asked for refreshment as they were exhausted. He could not supply them with any as the seas had quenched his fires, whilst the meat and bread were saturated with salt water. Being assured the police would not interfere he went to the Eagle Tavern and procured seven pints of beer. The landlord of the house, Thomas Hawksfield, was charged with supplying the beer during prohibited hours. One of the magistrates of the bench (Mr. Richardson) remarked the landlord had evidently supplied the beer in the cause of humanity and not for profit. The Bench taking the circumstances into account ordered only the expenses to be paid.

York Herald – Monday 24 April 1876

USHER – HAWKSFIELD – On the 17th inst., at Whitby, Mr Francis Usher, to Martha daughter of Mr Thomas Hawksfield, master mariner, both of Whitby.

York Herald – Monday 25 April 1887

USHER – On the 20th inst, at Whitby, Miriam, widow of Samuel Usher, aged 71 years

Whitby Gazette Death Notices in Yorkshire Newspapers

Usher, John - 22 Jun 1907 - 4 - drowned in Whitby harbour

Mystery of William Usher born 1826

It has been assumed that William was lost at sea as part of the Coral Queen. This is not the case as matching Censes record of 1891 with Death Certificates and Newspaper Announcements the William Usher who dies 9th August 1888 is a match. He was captain of the Brig Dorothy.

Sudden Death of a South Shields Shipmaster

The Shields Daily News Friday August 10th 1888

Yesterday afternoon, while the brig Dorothy, of Newcastle, which had just arrived in the Tyne from London, was being made fast at the No. 7 tier, Mill Dam, the master, William Usher, died suddenly while sitting in the cabin. The body was removed ashore and placed in the mortuary at the River Police Station. Deceased, who was about 63 years of age, resided at Cleveland Street South Shields.

Some reports mention a Charles Usher lost on the SS Coral Queen, is it a non family member? It is believed that the Charles Usher who died was the son of John Usher and Dorothy. In the 1891 census Dorothy is recorded as living at the same address as that recorded for the lost at sea record of the Charles Usher. This confirms a high probability that the Charles was not a Son or Grandson of George Usher of Tate Hill. Maybe a distant relation but tracked his record in Census returns and confirming a father called John as a Coal Trimmer.

I have left the Newspaper articles in for the Coral Queen as it is an interesting report of events even with the Whitby Gazette red herring.

Friday 21 February 1890 TERRIBLE COLLISION OFF HARTLEPOOL - Whitby Gazette

... enormous crowd. Six, it is supposed, sank with the steamer. Among the six who went down with the steamer was Mr. Usher, son of the late Mr. George Usher, Tate Hill, Whitby. The rescued men were six hours before being picked up, and were, when landed, much exhausted ...
 
(This one article confirms the death or an Usher, identified as a son of George Usher - Tate Hill Whitby. He was recorded elsewhere as Charles but if the notice was placed by family this makes no sense.)
 
George Ushers Other Sons; George - Recorded in 1891 Census, James - Recorded in 1891 Census, Thomas - No Record since Age 7 in 1851 Census,  John and Joseph believed died as infants. By deduction "Son of George" Usher is a further mystery. Out of the sons it could therefore only be Thomas but where was he in 1861, 1871, 1881 census returns. Also, an added complication is a death at sea when body is not recovered is unrecorded on official records.