Notes

[NI008] Archie Charles Simpson was born in Fort William, Ontario. He was the only boy in the family - named after his Uncle Archie on the Simpson Side and his Charley on the Oldale Side. Archie and Charlie were the youngest boys of each respective family. Being the only boy, many chores were expected of him from an early age. He enjoyed school and excelled, particularly in Math, but by the age of 14, he had to quit school and go to work because his father was stricken with Cancer and basically sentenced to death. Although his Dad survived the Cancer to live on to an fine old age, the recovery from surgery and treatment was slow and difficult, thus forcing Archie to work in order to bring home much needed income for the family. When Archie was 17 he joined the Army, lying about his age to get in. He was drafted to the Fort William-Port Arthur Regiment and later assigned to the 17th Field Regiment, RAF.

Archie was a gunner in the army, (Artillery Repairman) which meant that he was in charge of going into foxholes and cleaning up after they were hit, then repairing or salvaging any of the artillery that was damaged or left.

The years in the Army created many friendships that remained vitally important to Archie for the rest of his life. He was known as Blackie by his fellow soldiers, because of his dark complexion and dark hair. After the war, Archie returned home to Fort William, Ontario and began to work for the Railway. Soon after his return from over-seas, Archie decided to go West and visit with his sister, Lillian, and to also visit his Grandparents who had moved to Powell River, B.C. He did this with his childhood, and lifelong friend Bud Kine. While visiting Lillian, Dad met my mother Mildred Lucille Hicks at a dance in Union Bay. The couple soon became engaged and were married on October 5, 1946. Nine months and ten seconds later, my eldest brother was born. Dad had gone to work for the Logging Camps on the Island, but when he met my Mother, he worked in Construction in Vancouver. They rented an apartment and settled down until Dad found work on the Island and they moved back to the Comox area. After some time in the camps, Archie applied at the Harmac Pulp and Paper Mill and was hired on as a low level laborer, meaning he swept the floor and did other equally fulfilling work. Soon Archie began working his way up into different positions, eventually obtaining an Apprenticeship as a Millwright, getting his ticket in the 1950's and after working as Foreman for many years, was invited to become a part of the Management Team of the #3 Woodroom - Maintenance Division.

During this time Archie, with other Veterans, founded and saw the creation and construction of the 256 Canadian Legion becoming President in the early 1960's. As President of the Legion, he began to run Bingos as a means of obtaining much needed operating revenue and was instrumental in making the Legion a viable facility. He was also instrumental in the formation of the Legion Pipe Band and served as it's manager for several years.

Archie and his long time friend, Joe Shook, also became involved with the planning and ultimate construction of Malispina College.

Archie was very involved as a parent coaching several baseball, hockey and Lacross teams through the years as his children became involved in various sports.

By the mid 1960's Archie and Mildred began to travel and visit parts of the world that interested them. Trips to UK, France, Belgium, Ireland and Scotland were taken as well as many trips back to Thunder Bay, Florida and the East Coast of Canada to visit with his Sisters and see parts of Canada and the U.S. that interested them.

Archie and Mildred were both involved members of the 17th RCAF Association and attended the annual reunions, as well as monthly luncheons which were held on Vancouver Island by the Veterans living there. Many happy times were spent with his old Comrades and strong close friendships were formed during his post war years.

Archie was also very involved with the CCF party which later became the NDP Party of Canada. Tommy Douglas was a close friend and a regular visitor to our house during the years he was active in his political work. Archie also became involved politically, running for Shoolboard Trustee and Alderman during the 60s and 70s. Archie was very ardent NDP and he and Mildred spent many many hours working for various Candidates and Causes within the NDP. He was always ready to argue for a point and to let you know his beliefs regarding Politics, and our home was the seen of many hot debates with anyone who offered opposing views.

After his retirement, Archie took up Curling and Golf with a vengeance and his calendar was rarely clear of activities on any given day. He became a volunteer at the War Museum located in Rutherford Mall in Nanaimo and enjoyed spending time with his children, grand children and great grand children.

As the children composed his Memorial Notice in 1999, I believe we encompassed the true nature of his wonderful spirit by saying simply:

Dad was the biggest fan of all his family. He was always there whenever we needed him. He made us all laugh at him, and ourselves. He was not just our father, but our friend. His laughter and wit will be with us always.
from his children.

The best way for people to understand what a wonderful, funny, loving and great man Archie was, is to read the following anecdotes and Vinette of the experiences people had with him. It's easy to see how admired and loved he was and why he is so missed by one and all.

At his Memorial Service, there were over 500 people in attendance. They included people he had met and touched in all of his roles in the community, family and work. He certainly achieved a level of true honorable success that is impossible to match. My father was simply admired and respected by most people he came in contact with. He never put on airs and never went out of his way to be friendly. He truly loved people and believed in working hard for the good of other people.

Big shoes to fill? Impossible by me, but his legacy of love, honor, hard work, loyalty to his country and family are certainly well ingrained in us all. Russell, Archies Eldest son spoke for so many with the simple words, "He was my Hero, that's all there is to it."


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From and Interview in which I emailed a bunch of questions down to Gale and she recorded the interview with Aunt Lil. October 1998

Describe your relationship with Pat and Archie as a child.
Well,
Did they look after you?
Nope!
Were they supposed to look after you?
Pat was always very much, or thought she was, the boss and I was such an independent little beggar I didn't like to be bossed and so there was always a lot of tension between my older sister and I unfortunately, because I bucked her.
You didn't behave very well then?
Uh, yeah, I behaved very well. Archie and I were very close simply because there's barely a year between us and he was very much the big brother but he was sickly as a child and I was very forward...
Robust?
(laughs) robust as a child, as a baby and as a result, according to my mother, we almost learned to walk together so everybody that saw us thought we were twins because everywhere Archie was, I was; even right up until he joined the Army we were always very close. I had a close relationship with my brother. Maybe because I was a tomboy (laughs) and I can remember boxing with him and playing rugby and getting kicked in the mouth, then my mother decided that was too rough a game for and eleven year old girl (laughs).
Now, Grant wanted to know did you cause them trouble? I remember you telling me a story about you guys going to school and Archie tried to tell everyone his name was Archie Charlie.
Oh we tormented the life out of him, I mean, that's par for the course, really. Yeah, we teased him a lot. He couldn't get away with a thing, poor Arch.
Too many girls around?
Well, the comment was made once that it's a wonder that Archie didn't turn out to be a sissy with all those sisters and his comment was "HUH, It's the girls that made ya tough defending yourself" but he was never physical, he was always very good with us. Simply because that's the way he was brought up. You just don't raise your hand to a woman and that's all there is to it. He was all boy let's put it that way. Archie and I did a lot together and when I look back I guess maybe we... Pat was not...
How much older is Pat?
Pat's just two and a half years older that I am.
Oh, so it's Pat, Archie...
Yeah, there was Mary, Pat...
So Mary was the oldest?
...Yeah, Archie and I all within, I guess the same as mine, within 5 years of each other.
So describe, then, a typical day in your childhood you know...
Chaos (laughs)
You all would have gone to school together..
Well, you see three's seven years between me and the twins. There's three years between Joyce and I and four years between her and the twins and um, Joyce.... Getting Joyce ready for school was a lesson in futility. She'd sit in the corner and you'd say, mom would say to her, " Joyce, where's your socks?", "I don't know" [Joyce's reply] and every body'd be running around like chickens with their head cut off looking for Joyce's socks trying to get Joyce ready for school trying to get ourselves ready for school, Mom hollering, Dad was at work. And I can remember coming home from school, because you came home from school for lunch, except when we lived way out in the country. And um, I can remember coming home when we lived in Neebing and there would be and it sounds odd when you think of it. Mom used to make what she called Johnny Cake which is...Pound cake?
No, it's a cornmeal, like cornmeal muffins but it's made in a pan and it would be hot out of the oven and of course you always used butter then, lots of butter and a syrup on top of that and oh God!
After school?
No, this was at noon.
Oh, for lunch
Or she would have, you used to be able to get great big beef sausages and mom would fry those up and make you hot beef, hot sausage sandwiches which I guess was cheap, I don't know but Oh my God when you're coming home...OHHH
In Winter in Ontario!
I can't ever remember; we always had plenty to eat, got a bit monotonous at times. When we lived out in the country Archie and I had a trap line, when I think back,
Trapped neighbors' cats?
No, no we trapped rabbits and he always called me his Squaw because he would... We had our skis and we... I'd follow him along behind and he'd take a rabbit out of the snares and hand them to me, maybe this is why I hate hunting, and these poor dripping things would be shoved on my back or they'd be frozen stiff and I'd have to carry them because I was the Squaw. (Laughs)
So what kind of roll did your parent's play in the home during all this?
Mom was very much the mother, very maternal. Uh, dad just had to look at you and he was a strict disciplinarian.
Could you get away with anything?
You couldn't lie to Dad because he could read it in the back of your head. He'd look at you with those eyes of his and you knew he could see right at the back of your head that you're telling a lie so you didn't lie to dad. You might try to evade the truth, but you didn't lie to him.
Mom was a bit softer.
You could maybe charm her out of it?
Not charm her, but you could get her laughing. Things would smooth out. Mom was also very quick with her hands and many a cuff across the ear I got and many a cuff I didn't get that I deserved. (laughs) At times Mom nagged but when I think back, you figure, during the depression with six kids and getting just about a dollar a day and trying to make due on that, no wonder she nagged.
One story I can remember her telling us when we lived way out in the country. To do her washing, now a washing for six kids and two adults, at the well you had to chop a hole in the ice to get to the water and it got to where she was just ladling it out with a ladle and she was down to the rinsing stage and she was down on her belly ladling the water out into the buckets. It was a beautiful, I can still remember this, it was a beautiful sunny day and Dad came home from work and he was whistling away. He looked at her and he said, " How're ya doing Hon'?" . She stood up and she had two pails full of water and she took one look at him and her black eyes just sparked and she said, "You and your Goddamned country" and Whop, she hit him with both pails of water.
So your well, you had to physically put the bucket down and bring up the water, there was no pump?
Oh no, Oh God no, that was too modern.
So, it sounds like when you were growing up, everything was really happy. Can you think of anything that made it happy? Or maybe was it not as happy as it seemed?
To a kid, you know, you have a different viewpoint than your parents. We knew we were well loved, we were never hungry, at times you knew things were hard for your parents, but we always we always felt very secure, and I think that that had a lot to do with, you know, to a kid that's very important. Things were hard mind you, I can remember picking those damned potato bugs, crawling up my arm. Because Dad found out Paris green would go down to the potatoes and it wasn't good for you and that was the only insecticide they had in those days. And we finally got some tame rabbits and were raising rabbits for food, and chickens.
Do rabbits eat bugs? They don't do they?
No, you have to feed them clover or carrots. Stuff like that. Because we had a great big garden there was always carrots to feed the suckers. I can't ever remember really, sometimes when Mom would get in a nagging mood I can remember feeling bad but all kids do that you know. I think it's because even things that we worked at like, I was looking at this old washing machine this old hand pump thing that I can remember Archie and I working like heck on that and thinking it was fun. We were nuts. And I can also remember we used to have to saw the wood because Dad was away all day working and the only time you could do it was in the daylight. He was so...when I think back [Archie] was only ten at the time for God's sakes and I was only nine and we were both little skinny runts and sitting on the log because he was too little to put his foot up on the log to hold it still while he sawed it with that damned old Swede saw that we used, chattering away and having a hell of a good time. We thought we were having fun, we did have fun. Well, we thought is was fun. He'd climb a tree and I'd chop it down and he'd yell Tarzan the whole way down then I'd climb a tree and he'd chop it out from under me.
As far as clothes go, gosh I was fourteen before I had a dress that was bought for me particularly. I can remember the slippers mom used to make for us out of old coats but they always had flowers embroidered on the toe. Things like that, actually when I think back we thought we had the world by the tail on a downhill pull.
So when your dad was working what job was he doing?
Dad worked for the railroad as a stationary engineer in the power plant I guess. That's what they called them, stationary engineer at the power plant and at the old roundhouse. And when we were kids he worked on what they called the rip trap which was cleaning out and repairing the freight cars and he did that for years. He worked at CN mostly. When I was very little I can remember him working at hauling coal with horse and buggy. I can remember him in later years telling me that there was this one particular team that nobody could handle but him and he said that the only reason that he could handle them is he just walked in and cuffed the hell out of them and said "Straighten up, Barney" and ...
That was the end of that. So, what kind of toys did you have? Where they home-made toys? Did you have toys?
I can't remember having toys.
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(in a letter to Gail Herman about Dad - by Grant)
I miss him more instead of less. But I'm sure grateful for his long life and good spirits. I couldn't have asked for anything better than him and mom.

I loved your story about the Tea. I knew where it was going, because I had that too of course. He was so strict about it. I remember testing him once on it and saying to him. "OK Pop, I put the milk in one first and second in the other one. How about you test it and see if your taste buds are really what you say they are?" He said, "How about we test your taste buds and you can kiss my ass!" And That ended That test!

Another tea story about Dad. Terry brought home a monkey who lived with us for a couple of years. Dad hated that thing. It loved him. He would sit there on the couch (a scene you surely know well) and that monkey would sit on the back of the couch and snuggle up to him and put his arms around Dad's neck. Dad would just quiver. You know - shudder. Then Moses would climb down dad's arm and start drinking his tea out of the cup. He used to shoe it away. I guess at one point Dad felt a little softness towards it, and he just moved his cup over to the other hand and kept reading. Moses climbed up and then down the other side and grabbed his cup - giving Dad the same look he gave us all our life. That sideways stare. Dad moved the cup again. Moses looked at Dad. We were all laughing by this time. Up one shoulder and Down the Other - and looked. Dad was staring at Moses, Moses back at Dad. This time, Moses had a hold of the cup but didn't drink, just kept staring. Dad said, "Well you little asshole" and went to move the cup. Moses grabbed a hold of his index finger and chomped right into it. Blood squirted out, Dad flew about two feet off the couch yelling and swearing. If he would have caught that monkey.............He yelled at it so much that it ran into Sandy's room, and started to throw down all those little figurines you used to get in the tea packages (Sandy Collected dozens of them - little glass dolls from all over the world) Smash, crash, smash. Dad came flying out of the bedroom and slammed the door shut with his back to it, just like he would have in an ambush in the war. He said, "that's o.k. you little shit. You gotta run out sometime!"

Just a couple of good memories.

[NI012] Buddy was a young man who never finished school, but was a very productive person. He worked at logging camps from an early age, and had just started work at Harmac Saw Mill, shortly before his untimely death. He was married six days before his fatal accident. His death was a huge blow to the family who still miss him very much. His young widow, Maryanne, remarried and has several children. ***********************************************************************************************************
Grant - One of the clear recollections I have of Bud, was when he was away working at camp and he bought Mom and Dad a fancy new stereo unit. The kind that was in the big cabinet. Mom and Dad were blown away and remember Dad rushing over to open it and saying "You can't afford that Bud". Bud just stood there looking proud and Mom and Dad opened that stereo and looked in it for quite awhile.

Bud was a funny kid who people loved to be around. He is still remembered in pure fondness by the many people he touched in his short life.
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Sandy:
Buddy used to come home from school all the time with 'war wounds' from fights. He won a lot of them, but lost a lot of them too. He didn't go to school to learn, he went to see how tough he was compared to the rest of the guys, and to meet girls. He went to work logging when he was 15. He loved sports and was pretty good at most of the ones he played. He used to bounce his lacrosse ball off the side wall of the house until all the stucco broke away to crumbles. When he was 19 and had come home from the bush, he would still go out and play street hockey with the kids out on the street.
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[NI014] Roy came over from England with his brother Bert about 1915 or so. He began working for the Railway in Fort William and saved enough money to bring out the rest of the family from England, including his brothers and mother and father.

He worked hard to provide a nice home for his family, but was stricken with Cancer in the 1940's. After major surgery and a death sentence, he returned home "to die". Although recovery was a long drawn out process, Roy survived the Cancer and lived a long and happy life.

He and Lillian retired to Nanaimo, B.C. where Archie and Mildred lived. Lillian's parents had also moved west in the 1920's with her two brothers. Aunt Lil had also moved to Vancouver Island when her husband Paul was transferred there with the Armed Forces.

Roy was a man who loved to laugh, but also had very strong principals and values. If he didn't approve of what you were doing, you knew it - right now!

Grant and his Grandpa:
My Grandfather was a good quiet man. He didn't get into any small talk that I ever remember, but he loved to have an intelligent conversation about just about anything. I can remember the first time I really connected with him; I would have been about 13. Up until that point, it was a very good Grandfather-grandson relationship, but I got into hockey when I was about 12 or 13 and I went over to spend the afternoon with him and Gram and I asked him about Dad as a kid. Gramps launched into a 3 or 4-hour history of Dad and his hockey years. He remembered every game, every move and every fight the kids had. Every kid on the team: who scored what in what period. I walked out of there totally astounded at his memory and great story-telling ability. I'm still amazed.

Grandpa had a stroke in the late 50's and lost his ability for speech. He always used to say that he and I were close because we learned to speak together. I vaguely remember sitting on his lap reading Dr. Seuss books.

Once when I was in my teens, the grounds-keeper and Grandma and Grandpa's complex went on holidays, so he called me to ask if I would cut the lawn. The pay was very good for that time and for my age - $5.00 per hour. So I went over to do my first "cut". Grandpa watched every second. I'd be out there on that huge back lawn and I'd look up and there was Grandpa, still watching me out of his back window. If I stopped to pee, he would dock me the 2 minutes it took. When I stopped for lunch, he watched the clock like a timekeeper at a basketball game. I remember that first time; I finally got all the grass cut, right down to a little patch in the very middle of that big back lawn. The patch left was about 3 feet wide by 6 feet long, and my lawn mower ran out of gas. I can still see it so clearly in my mind - Grandma coming running out with a blanket and covering it up while I ran to get gas. She was saying, "Oh my god Grant, that looks like a grave plot, you're going to send everyone in the complex into shock." I stood there laughing like hell and I looked up and saw Grandpa - laughing and laughing. That's the way I always want to remember him - laughing with his head back and that big beautiful smile.

When we got inside we were all laughing so hard. Grandma flopped down in her chair and buried her face in her hands. We all had tears coming down that day. That's a good memory.

When I turned 16 and got my license, I hoped in the car and rushed over to Gram and Gramps house. I pulled up all proud and everything and Grandpa was out the door like a shot. I though he was coming up to congratulate me or something, but he was quite concerned (the older I get the more I understand that). He greeted me with, "Hey - Do you have a license to drive that car?!" I said, "Yep." (all proud). He said, "Let me see it". He took it in the house and examined it with his big magnifying glass!. I still hold fast to the theory that Terry and Bud wrecked it for me, I couldn't have gotten away with anything after those two! Anyway, while Gramps was looking it over like a scientist, Grandma had gone and got her coat on and was standing at the door with her coat and her purse. I concluded quickly that I was taking her shopping. Grandpa looked up and said, "Lil!!!! the baby's driving!". I'll never forget looking at Gram after he said it, and following her eyes as they looked up and up and up until our eyes met. Again, we burst out laughing. I was about a foot and a half taller than her.

On the stern side, I remember him once giving Dad supreme hell about something as I stood there and watched in amazement. "My Father, being reprimanded by his Father" I thought. When we got in the car to go home, I got as far as opening my mouth to say something and Dad said, "Not one word or you'll get it right between the eyes".

When Grandpa was near the end of his life, I remember being with Dad when he took him up to the hospital. He told Dad outright that this was it, he was going into the hospital to die. I was amazed that someone would actually say that. Dad told me later that when Grandpa makes up his mind, there's no use arguing with him. We drove home in silence that day.
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Russ:
My memories are similar, though slanted a bit differently. I certainly remember their laughing & kidding each other - something I think dad got from him & we've all got from him. I remember putting together a video from the old videos. I found a shot of grandad shaking a pointed finger at someone he was chewing out. I put it in front of one I found of Dad doing the same thing to one of us. All of my kids roared at that scene. I was a bit perplexed - I thought it was funny, but not THAT funny. Then the kids asked me - have you ever seen yourself in a mirror before???? They announced it was the Simpson look and the Simpson finger.
I remember Grandad trying to watch a hockey game. Gram was mad at him about something and kept at him for about 15 minutes. He finally stood up, walked in front of her, and very deliberately turned off both his hearing aids. Then went back to his hockey game.

I remember when Gram was in the clinic over here, drying out. Driving up into the parking lot and seeing her sitting in the window watching for my car. I remember her crying when we took her out of there to take her home.
I too remember sitting in the kitchen drinking tea with Gram, and listening to both of them talking about the kids when they were younger.
Many fond memories.
Russ
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[NI015] Grant's memories of his Grandmother:

Lillian was a fine, spry and very funny person. When her parents came to Canada to set up house here, Lillian was left in Sheffield with an Aunt and Uncle. This Aunt and Uncle raised Lillian from the time she was very young until she was seven, when her Mother came back to England to bring her to Canada. Oral history has it that by the time this happened, Lillian and the Aunt and Uncle were very well bonded and close and did not want to be broken up as a family. On obtaining legal advice the Aunt and Uncle were told to list out every item and it's cost that they had while bringing up Lillian until that point. If the parents couldn't pay them back, then Lillian would have to stay with them in England. Somehow, Polly came up with the money, but with it came a bitter resentment, which played itself out over the next 10 years of Lillian's life. (At this time, I have some feelers out to see if the events that took place were ever documented, but have had no success as of yet.)

At a young age, Lillian began to study piano at the Convent in Fort William, learning the classics from the Nuns. Although having no trouble with the great works of the great composers, Lillian also had a flair for the popular music of the day, and to the Nun's disapproval, could play all the popular dance songs of that era. I remember Gram telling me about sneaking out of the Convent after dark, and being picked up by the rest of the bank and going downtown to play for dances until the wee hours of the morning, then the band would drop her off again and she'd sneak back in the window at the Convent.

When I started lessons and began to sound a bit like a player, Gram would take special interest in me. She would come over and say, "OK, let's hear your Conservatory Pieces." I would play them. She might comment on this or that, then her whole face would change from the "Classical Look" and she'd get a little devil in her eye and say, "OK now, try this one" and she'd play "It had to be you" or "My Blue Heaven." She had a huge repertoire and the ability to entertain people for hours on end.

Growing up in the era of the Parlor Piano - the pre-radio days answer to entertainment - I believe that Gram took her piano playing very seriously, but never herself too seriously. Even in the days when Gram had "lost it" and was in the hospital, not making any sense at all, I could be in the room taking some abuse from her about something she said I did in the 1920's, and all I had to do was say, "Hey Gram, I'm playing piano at a new Restaurant in Victoria next week." Gram would perk right up and we could hold a half hour conversation together about music.

When I was playing once at the Arlington Pub, Mom and Dad brought Gram out for dinner and Gram listened as I played a set. When I sat down, she said, "That's very good honey, but it's not really a job you know, couldn't your Dad get you on at the Mill?" Dad would just crack right up as would Mom and the Gram would look indignant. I remember her coming out with, "If Arch can't get you on at the Mill, I'm sure that Tom Oldale could." That would send Dad into even more convulsions. In the days that Grandma grew up playing, Music was a great and wonderful thing to have, but professional Musicians had a bad reputation and it was well known that Music was not a good living.

Grandma and I had a good relationship, probably due to our mutual love for the piano, but also for lots of other things. Gram had a great Sense of humor and I could always make her laugh. I remember once going over there very down because of a "girl" problem, and while talking to her; I began to joke about it. I said something in regard to my track record with girl friends, and took a shot at myself. I forget what it was, but I remember looking over and seeing Grandma lying on her sofa, holding her stomach and shaking like she was in an earthquake. When she got up a few minutes later, she said, "You know hon, not many people have themselves figured out, but I think you've hit it right on the nose!"

I used to ride my bike over often and Gram would make me tea with a variety of other things: toast and honey; mickys (What Gram called roasted potatoes that were cold) Gram would put a wad of real butter on them and then douse them with salt. I loved them and so did she! I remember once going over and being very hungry and asking for some toast. Gram made me slice after slice of toast in that old toaster of hers that the sides came down to put the toast in. I think I had about 15 peaces of toast in that one sitting and about a gallon of tea. Grandpa was reading the newspaper and every time I'd down another piece of toast, he would lower the newspaper and peer over the top, eyeing me up more and more suspiciously and Grandma would read his mind and say, "You just never mind! Do you want some more honey?" It was all a lot of fun. Then Grandpa would look at me and shake his head and burst out laughing.

Grandpa was still recovering from his stroke so I remember that many times he would laugh and laugh at things but didn't bother trying to explain what he was laughing at because it was too difficult at first for him to get through a sentence.

[NI154] According to Charley Oldale, Thomas Oldale Sr was a pattern maker in Shefield England

[NI155] Bill came over to Canada in about 1909 with his wife, Sarah Judge. He served in WW1. Bill lived out his life in Fort William, Ontario.

[NI170] Elizabeth was born in Elsecar, Yorkshire, England in 1860.

ELSECAR, in the township of Brampton Bierlow, and parish of Wath upon Dearne, upper-division of Strafforth and Tickhill; 5.25 miles from Barnsley, 6.75 from Rotherham, 10 from Sheffield."

[NI227] Sarah Judge was adopted by the Judges. She was an illegitimate child of an Irish Soldier. Her adoptive father was a silversmith in Sheffield, England. The descendants still have silverware with the Judge stamp on them.

[NI229] Bill was wounded in action at the Battle of Cambrea in 1918 which led to the amputation of one leg below the knee.

[NI243] At a very young age, Arthur's mother, Elizabeth Powell, died and he and his siblings were left in the sole care of his father, Thomas Joseph. Thomas's drinking soon became a problem to such a degree that Arthur and his brothers were taken from his care, and dispersed in various orphanages and foster homes (some with relatives).

One of the great pleasures of my life has been to get to know some of our family tree, which I would have never had the honor of knowing had I not dove into genealogy to the degree I have. Molly Rowan, daughter of Arthur Richard Oldale, is certainly a fine example of this. Molly has her father's wonderful gift of Story telling as you will see in the following passages where she describes family members of her branch.

Grandfather - Arthur Oldale, drummer and (I believe) clarinet player. Army taught. Following demob post WW1 played in many bands after work (as a Tram Driver), and at weekends to make ends meet.

My father, his eldest son, used race all round London with the particular uniform for the band he was playing in at the time. Apparently he really got a rollicking one day when Dad turned up with the wrong uniform. Wife: Jessie Maud, children: Arthur (my Dad) decd. cancer in his 78th year (1992). Olive - died during an asthma attack, aged 45, Bill (no other information), Ernie, an asthmatic (in his 70's, has recently suffered a second stroke), his twin sister Joan, very well, rides her bike and is married in Cambridge, England. Peter, in his 60's whereabouts unknown.

More from Molly Rowan:
You know when one thinks of it - Grandad Arthur was only six, with his Mum
not long dead, with his Dad away nights and drinking, when he was sent to
court for stealing, labelled with terrible names and then separated from
his brothers and sister (as an example) and sent on his own to an orphanage
in Bristol (apparently). No wonder he was something of an old misanthrope
in later life, its very sad when one thinks of it.

[NI244] Joseph OLDALE (M)..................... C: 29 Oct 1809 B: 1 Jun 1985 PROVO Ba: C150522
Father: John OLDALE Cathedral Saint Peter, Sheffield, E: 11 Jul 1985 PROVO So: 919327
Mother: Lydia Yorkshire, England SP: 18 Jul 1985 PROVO


THE SHEFFIELD INDEPENDENT

MARCH 20 1855

(Although not mentioned by name, it is presumed that this article refers to Joseph since he is known as "The Claimant".

OLDALE v WHITEHEAD.

ABANDONMENT OF THE TRIAL AT YORK. ----- A...... ... Oldale for Forging a Parish Register. -----

Among the cases entered for trial by a special jury at the present York Assizes was one of Oldale v Whitehead and others, which promised to be of considerable interest to this neighbourhood, the plaintiff seeking to dispossess Mr. Geo. Whitehead, late of this town, surgeon, of an estate producing a rental of £200 a year. The case was fixed for trial on Tuesday last, and Mr. Whitehead was there prepared with evidence in support of his right to the property, but at the last moment, when the trial was called on, the plaintiff withdrew the record. Oldale, the plaintiff, who is a journeyman silversmith, residing in lodgings in Fitzwilliam Street, claims to be entitled to the possession of certain freehold and leasehold property, situate at Millhouses, Highfield, and in South Street, Sheffield Moor, which has for the last 80 years been enjoyed by the late Mr. Thomas Whitehead and his family, as the representatives of the late Mr. Peter Wigfall, under the provisions of that gentleman's will which was made in 1812. Upwards of twenty years since, an attempt was made to oust the late Mr. Whitehead from the property at Millhouses, and several actions of ejectment(?) were commenced against him for that purpose by the late Mr. Palfreyman, on behalf of a person named Speck, residing at Bridlington, who also claimed the estate as heir-at -law of Mr. Wigfall, and alleged that the will under which Mr. Whitehead had possession of the estate was a forgery. These actions were tried at York at the Summer Assizes in 1837, when the genuineness of Mr. Wigfall's will was established by evidence, and Mr. Speck was nonsuited, and afterwards sent to prison for non-payment of the costs.

From that time Mr Whitehead's family enjoyed the property in peace till some three or four years ago, when the present plaintiff asserted a claim to the property as heir-at-law to Mr. Peter Wigfall, and with the aid of a number of men, hired for the purpose, took forcible possession of the property at Millhouses. A larger body of men were then engaged in the interest of Mr. Whitehead, and expelled Oldale and his followers from the property. Between the rival parties, the premises were taken and retaken several times, till at length the authorities interfered, and Mr Whitehead being then again in possession, Oldale was brought before the magistrate for a breach of the peace. He there asserted his right to the property, and was told that, if he had a legal right, he must establish it in the usual manner in a court of law, and that any renewal of his attempt to dispossess Mr. Whitehead by violence. would lead to his being committed to prison. Some time afterwards, Oldale, as assumed landlord, seized the furniture of the tenant of the leasehold property at Highfield, under an execution as for rent. The furniture was recovered from Oldale by force, and the tenant brought an action against him in the County Court for the trespass, when the judge awarded the tenant £15 for damages, sustained by reason of Oldale's illegal entry. Oldale being thus thwarted in his attempts to obtain possession of the property by violence commenced an action, claiming the estate as heir-at-law, and seeking to eject Mr. Whitehead from it. Oldale does not appear to have engaged an attorney to conduct the action until after he had served notice of trial for the present assizes, and he then secured the services of a legal gentleman from London. Mr. Whitehead, as may be naturally expected, is highly incensed at the conduct of Oldale in withdrawing the record at the last moment, after he (Mr. Whitehead) had been put to very heavy expense (probably more than £200) in preparing to defend his title. It is understood that Oldale's course, in thus withdrawing the record, was adopted after a conference with his counsel, who advised, after reading his case, that he (Oldale) could not make out his heir-ship, and which, if he could, would be of no avail against Mr. Whitehead's superior title and long undisputed possession under the will of Mr. Wigfall.

The parties returned from York Assizes on Wednesday, and on Thursday, Mr. Whitehead, in consequence of information which had reached him, took out a warrant charging Oldale with forgery, in "having in October,1855, feloniously and wilfully inserted in a certain register of marriages, at the Sheffield Parish Church, a false entry relating to a supposed marriage between Peter Wigfall and Sarah Housley, on the 28th August 1740, which marriage never took place." On this warrant Oldale was yesterday apprehended by Detective officer Brayshaw, and will be brought up before the magistates to-day (Saturday). It appears that Oldale, in the endeavour to make out a pedigree in support of his claim, has on several occasions applied for permission and been allowed to search the registers kept in the vestry at the Parish Church. About three weeks ago, he applied to Mr. Chatterton for certificates of entries in the register, all of which were furnished. He then asked for a copy of the marriage of Peter Wigfall to Sarah Housley, on the 28th of August, 1740, and on turning to the register of that year, Mr. Chatterton found an entry of that marriage, but in such form that he at once suspected the register had been tampered with. He therefore declined to furnish a certificate of the entry without first consulting with Dr. Sale, the vicar, and told Oldale to call again. Oldale never called afterwards. That the entry of this marriage in the register is a forgery there is not a shadow of doubt, but how or by whom committed remains to be cleared up. The warrant charges the forgery to have been committed in Oct., 1855, and it is stated that the prosecutor has obtained important information on this point from a female who was, till recently, on terms of intimate friendship with Oldale, and who, along with her husband, aided him in taking forcible possession of the property at Millhouses. The leaves of the register-book are of parchment, and all entries on this page, and about the same period, except the forged one, are made in a fine court hand, and the writing is very distinct, though the ink has become a pale brown colour with age. The forged entry presents an appearance so completely the opposite of the rest of the writing, that at the first glance suspicion is aroused. That entry is in a slovenly, bad hand, and has evidently been made in great haste. The ink is jet black, and instead of being nearly 120 years old, it can hardly be more that two or three years. The entry is about six lines from the bottom of the page, and is the last under the head of August. The surface of the parchment under the entry has evidently been scratched with a sharp knife, and at first sight, the idea is suggested that there has been an erasure of another entry to make way for the forgery; but on a more careful examination, it is apparent that the space on which the forgery is written has been a blank line left at the end of the entries for August, and that a knife has been used to remove the smooth, oily surface of the parchment so as to make it receive the ink. The forged entry also differs from all the others on the page, in that it does not state the trade or condition in life of either of the parties, but simply the names, Peter Wigfall, Sarah Housley. Apart from these appearances, there exists other indisputable evidence of the entry being a forgery.

In Sheffield, as in all other parts of Yorkshire, it has ever been the practice to furnish every year a duplicate copy of the register of all births, marriages, and deaths, which are filed in the Ecclesiastical Court at York. This duplicate copy for the year 1740 has been examined, and though in all other respects an exact copy of the one in the vestry of the Parish Church, it contains no entry corresponding with the alleged marriage of Peter Wigfall with Sarah Housley. As far as we have been able to learn, Oldale rests his claim as heir-at-law upon the very marriage of which this entry in the parish register has been forged. He alleges that the Peter Wigfall whose property the Whiteheads now hold, was, along with himself, a descendant from the Peter Wigfall who, according to ths forged entry, married, on the 28th August, 1740, a Sarah Housley. The issues of that marriage, he alleges, were three children, Hannah, Peter, and Thomas. The second child, Peter, married, and had one son, Peter, who at his death was possessed of the property now the subject of the contention. This Peter Wigfall was thrice married, but had only two children, both of whom died in infancy. On his death, the Whiteheads, who were relatives on the mother's side, came into possession of his property under the provisions of a will which he made several years before his death. The Mr. Speck, of Bridlington, who was the claimant of the property in 1837, is said to be a descendant of Thomas, the third child of the alleged marriage of 1740, but Oldale claims to be heir-at-law as the descendant of the eldest child of that marriage, Hannah, who in August, 1760, married Jonathan Oldale.

Article ends.


Questions and points raised by this article:-

1. Need to consult Court Documentation for
a) York Assizes for the above action;
b) County Court (Sheffield?) for the trespass action etc.
c) York Summer Assizes for Speck v Whitehead

2. It's interesting to note that both Speck and Joseph Oldale, coming from differing directions/backgrounds, base their allegations on the same forged(?) marriage.

3. Research IGI and Bishop's Transcripts for any Oldale/Wigfall/Housley marriages, christenings, or burials. (Use BT's to illiminate alleged forgery of Parish Register.)

4. Would be interesting to have a photocopy of the original entry in the Sheffield Parish Register of August 1740, to see the incriminating evidence.

5. Research the Housley family prior to Hannah - father's name Matthew.

6. With such a lengthy article, there must surely be a follow-up piece at the end of the trial? Therefore, need to carry out further research of newspapers of the period.

7. What, in fact, was the outcome of this trial?

2.

[NI254] John OLDALE (M)....................... M: 28 Mar 1809 SS: 19 Apr 1979 SLAKE Ba: 7834936 79
Spouse: Lydia BARKER Sheffield, Yorkshire, England So: 1126455

[NI255] John OLDALE (M)....................... M: 28 Mar 1809 SS: 19 Apr 1979 SLAKE Ba: 7834936 79
Spouse: Lydia BARKER Sheffield, Yorkshire, England So: 1126455

[NI258] THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me HANNAH OLDALE of Sheffield in the County of York. Widow thereby I revoke all former wills by me made. I give and devise all my real and personal estates and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever including all of which I have power to make disposition unto my nephews Thomas Ellin the younger and William Ellin to hold to them their heirs executors administators and assigns according to the different natures thereof respectively absolutely and for ever, But nevertheless upon the trusts following, that is to say, Upon Trust that they the said Thomas Ellin and William Ellin or the survivor of them his heirs executors or administrators shall and do as soon as conveniently may be after my decease sell and absolutely dispose of my said real estate either by public auction or private contract for the best price or prices in money that can be reasonably obtained for the same and also sell and convert into money my personal Estate and call in all debts owing to me and I declare that the recepit and receipts of my said trustees or trustee for the time being for the money which the same real Estate shall be sold or other money which shall come to their or his hands under this my will or for so much as shall be therein expressed to be received shall always be a sufficient discharge to the person or persons paying the same who shall not be liable to see the application of such purchase or other Money or be answerable for the Loss Misapplication or Nonapplication thereof and I do direct that my said trustee or trustees for the time being shall and do stand possessed of the Monies arising from or composing my said real and personal Estates and Effects Upon Trust in the first place to pay thereout my Just debts and the charges and expenses of and attending my funeral and the proving of this my will and in the next place upon Trust to pay and divide the residue of the same Trust Monies unto between and amongst my children Mary the Widow of Joseph Thompson Ann the wife of Thomas Ellin Sarah the wife of Georgius Barber John Oldale Elizabeth the wife of Joseph Cutts and Martha the wife of John Howden and the children of my late daughter Hannah Ingall in equal shares except only that the children of my said late Daughter Hannah Ingall shall only have equally between or among them if more than one a share equal to that of any other of the Parties lastly named Provided that if any of my said children or the children of my said late daughter shall die before the said Monies shall become divisible leaving issue such issue in each case if more than one child in equal shares shall have and take the share to which his her or their respective Parent would have been entitled if living but that if any of them shall so die but without leaving issue the share or shares of any so dying as lastly mentioned shall go and be paid to and between and among the other of my said children and the said children of my said late daughter and their respective issue in proportion to their respective original shares and so again from time to time as often as the last mentioned case shall happen Provided further that the share or respective shares of the said Children of my said late daughter or any(?) of them shall not be paid until the youngest of them for the time being shall attain his or her age of twenty one years but that in the meantime and until that Event the whole of the annual Income and produce arising from such share or shares or a competent Part thereof shall be paid and applied for or towards the Maintenance and education or otherwise for the benefit of such of the same children as for the time being shall be under the said age of twenty one years and the residue thereof if any be from time to time invested and added to the principal of such shares or shares in the way of accumulation and for the equal benefit of such of the same children or their issue among whom it shall ultimately become divisible as above mentioned And Moreover that the share or shares of any of my said children or their issue as may be under the age of twenty one years when the said Monies shall become divisible shall not be paid to him or them until he she or they respectiely shall have attained that age but that the annual income and produce of such share or shares shall in the meantime be paid or applied for the Maintenance and education or otherwise for the benefit of the person or persons to whom the same shall respectively belong Provided always and it is my Will and I do hereby authorise and empower my said Trustees or Trustee for the time being and require them or him for the space of seven years after my decease to forebear drawing out my share or Interest of and in the trade and business in which I an concerned with Mr. Thomas Ellin and others but to continue the same in such trade and business during that Period for the benefit or to the loss as the case may be of the Person or Persons entitled to such Money under and by virtue of this my Will the dividends or income to arise from my share of such trade during the Period of the Money being so continued in the same and from every other Part of my Estates and Effects until the same shall be fully paid and dividend as above mentioned being hereby directed to be paid and applied for the benefit of the Person or Persons entitled to the stock or principal thereof under this my Will in the Proportions in which he or they shall be severally so entitled And I do hereby appoint my said Trustees the said Thomas Ellin Junior and William Ellin Executors also of this my Will and direct that they my said Trustees and Executors shall not be answerable the one for the other of them but each for his own respective heirs executors and administrators and his and their own acts deeds receipts Neglects and wilful defaults only nor shall either of them be accountable for any loss which may happen to my said Estates and Effects in continuing or carrying on the aforesaid Partnership trade or business or by reason of the failure of any security or securities whereon the same or any Part thereof may be invested or otherwise so that the same happen without his wilful Neglect or default and also that they shall and respectively reimburse themselves and himself all such costs charges and expences(!) as they may reasonably expend or be put unto in or about the execution of this my Will or the Trusts therof In Witness whereof I the said Hannah Oldale the testabrix have to this my last Will and Testament contained in this and the two preceding sheets of Paper set my hand and Seal that is to say my hand to the two preceding sheets and my hand and seal to this the third and last sheet this Nineteenth day of February in the Year of our Lord Christ One Thousand eight hundred and twenty three ------ Hannah X Oldale her Mark and Seal O ---- Signed sealed published and declared by the said Hannah Oldale the testabrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our Names as Witnesses
-- James Wilson -- Thos. Pierson -- Christr. Alderson --

In the Name of God Amen,
Proof of the Will to these Presents annexed being admitted before the Reverend Thomas Sutton Clerk to our lawful Surrogate
We, GRANVILLE VENABLES VERNON , Master of Arts, Commisary of the Exchequer Court of the most Reverend Father in God, EDWARD, by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of York, Primate of England, and Metropolitan, do approve of and Register the same, and do pronounce, decree, and declare for the validity thereof, and we do fully, in the Lord, by these Presents, commit and grant Administration of all and Singular the Goods, Rights, Credits, Cattles, and Chattels of Hannah Oldale late of Sheffield in the Diocese of York Widow deceased, which were in her lifetime, and at her death, within the Diocese and Jurisdiction of York, aforesaid, to Thomas Ellin the younger and William Ellin the Executors in the said Will named, having first before our said Surrogate taken the Oath according to Law in that Case required, (saving any other Person's Right.)
Given at York, under the Seal of our said Office, this fourth Day of December in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty Three

[NI272] Charley Oldale worked for the Railway. He played piano a little, and as Hap Oldale relayed, "if they wanted to clear out the bar, they'd get Charley to sit and play". He was a fun loving man, a heavy drinker and a true "character" from the early days of Fort William.

[NI294] Molly Rowan on her life with father, Arthur Richard Oldale, (Son of Arthur Sr. Brother of Thomas Joseph of Sheffield, Thunder Bay, Powell River)

................as a small child, a great love of music -
classical and appreciation of comedy - the Goons were a weekly feast in our house in the '50s, not to be missed, plus his love and telling of a
good story, current affairs, news, languages, standing on his soapbox,
information provision - I could go on and on - all done with flair, verve
and Elan, par excellence!.

Dad had cancer when he emigrated here in Dec. 1988, though we didn't know it at the time. He died in June, 1992. In great pain especially at the end, - Dad was a true trouper and showman, living life totally to the last minute with the most tremendous courage. Up to about three weeks before he died he would hold his small transistor to his right ear; on the Australian Broadcasting Service during the day, and through the long nights tuned into the BBC World Service. He would give a running commentary of what was happening throughout the world - wars, overthrowing of governments, parliamentary dissent etc. etc. He would clutch Mum beside him in bed, regaling her with the terrible happenings in Croatia and Bosnia. Years later she still has difficulties in getting to sleep, and sleeping throughout the night. He would always add his particular slant, one was never quite sure what was actual and what was embellishment. He put his radio down for the last time in May, 92 When I queried why no radio he said with a wistful grin "I can hear the radio, but I can't remember how to translate anymore". I knew then that the end wouldn't be too long, and it wasn't. My eyes are filled with tears as I write this.

What he would have made of the on going Royal Family saga; and President Clinton's impeachment for high crimes and misdemeanors - the mind boggles!!

Certainly the overuse of alcohol (or on the other hand fear of it), genius- flawed at times, ambition, creativity, skilled artistic endeavor,
preparedness for sticking one's head over the parapet, ability to
facilitate and tutor others, physical and mental attractiveness, love of
sheer hard yakka (work), showyness; and at times, the tendency to gilding the lily, after some thought does seem to flow through the veins of this particular part of the family almost without exception. Yet on
reflection through all this creative mayhem, there is a strong desire for
management and orderliness and getting it right. Perhaps that's why, among all the art, music and showmen, there are police officers and managers (or all in the same person).

But perhaps that goes for many families. You see my wonderful Mother's very attractive and fascinating family (Boyles and Williams - Irish/Welsh) are/were amazing people and would fit the above also in varying measure. My maternal Grandfather - James Boyle - Irish Catholic Geordie - Royal Navy Petty Officer, Coal Miner, Trade Union Activist, fool hardy hero etc. etc. who was killed during the miners strike of 1922, and his wife (my Grandmother) Claire Louise Williams, Welsh, great beauty, musician, performer

And in a different letter, to which I relayed the information from Mom that she remembers Dad talking about Uncle Art and Aunt Jessie, and the fact that they did correspond for a few years. (A bit more on her Father's life)

Well that settles it for good - we are related, Mum said that one of the
relies/lads dropped in from Canada during the war. My Dad's favourite
mantra - drummed into us ad infinitum - always was "if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well". He was a mounted military policeman (wondrous horseman - all army taught) in the war, and intended to become a mounted policeman in the City of Leeds force when he was demobbed - he had been accepted and everything. But he was over 30 years old when the war ended (hardly his fault!), and although he was a returned serviceman, the awful old boss cockies wouldn't
change their policy of only having entry up to the age of 30. So hidebound and English. Here in Australia they would have had to by law - the Returned Servicemen's Act. Anyway it broke his heart and a little later he joined the War Department Police, rather like the Federal Police here. In charge of State instrumentalities. Not what he wanted but all he could get in the circumstances and he always gave it his best shot. He did very well and gained many promotions, but he
never rode a horse again, which was a great pity, he looked so and some on his horses and loved being around them so much. By all accounts he was a very skilled rider.

Dad's first posting was Harwell, where they first worked (and continued to do so for many years) on the A Bomb - then the H Bomb. It was strange that all the scientists wore very special protective clothing anywhere near those dreadful things, but the police officers and soldiers just wore their ordinary uniforms. Apparently Dad used to get quite close to the things whilst on security duty. When he was in his sixties he developed thyroid problems, then cancer. More than one Doctor here questioned Dad's service. But he always was a King/Queen, Country and company man, and would never have said
or done anything about working conditions or being bolshie - not like me - but that's my maternal Grandfather's spirit (James Boyle) and he was an Irish republican, union man and devote Catholic.

(From a Different Letter)

Dad took up painting upon retirement. I guess you would call him of the 'naive school'. Wonderful, fantastical, colorful and mesmerizing. Mum's home is full of his paintings, and you just can't take your eyes off them. But like him, you really cannot categorize them and whether one would call them 'good' heaven only knows. I think he again sums up that strange dichotomy - rigid rule bound, being seen to be right, patriarchal versus the over the top, colorful, creative and slightly mad genius divide that so many of our family seems to embody - me included.

When Michael first met Dad in 1982 (Michael is an upper middleclass English
gentleman, gentle, reserved. beautifully spoken), Mum and Dad were totally
charming and welcoming. Dad had obviously wet his whistle, and with the
wonderful spread Mum had laid out, Dad had on some classical music. In
their little retirement cottage deep in England's West Country Dad began to
tell us the story of the composer; why he had written the music and what
this particular piece was all about. "Le' Deux Pigeon", all in a strong
French accent. Totally acted out, all the parts, male and female, stage
directions, what tunes/instruments were ment for whom etc. etc. Micheal
sat totally amazed and mesmerised. When we finally went out into Mum's
beautiful cottage garden Micheal sank to his knees, aching with silent
laughter. Finally he said in a strangled voice "he is everything you told
me he was, and so much worse ... and wonderful". Later when we looked up
that particular piece of music, Dad had been totally correct, oh but so
much more!

[NI315] Mum herself at the time was a 28 year
old stunner - green eyes and a mane of red hair, you want to see some of
her war time photos. But Dad always was the only man for her, always.
Even when I take her shopping and leave her sitting in the shopping mall,
you can bet your bottom dollar that some old chap finds it impossible not
to chat her up. Much to Mum's embarrassment may I add. When I say "but
Mum he finds you so pretty and charming", she just gives me that old
fashioned look and says "get away with you"!! Or "Your father was the only
man I wanted".

[NI318] Transcribed letter of Elsie (Nicholas) Oldale
Re: The History of the Oldale Families

Arthur Oldale was born in Sheffield, England. His family came over here (Rhode Island) in the fall of 1892. He was 17 years old. His father was a silversmith at Gorkam Manufacturing Co. Providence, R.I. He was also a natural born musician. He had a small hand organ which he carried from pub to pub and could play anything he heard played. Arthur was a stamper at Gorkams for 49 years.

Arthur and Ada had their sons Arthur who died in infancy, Wilfred who plays organ and lives in St. Petersburg Fla. Wilfred had two daughters: Doris and Margaret. Doris had no children. Margaret had three daughters.

Ada and Arthur Oldale died in Florida and are buried in Manssota Cemetery, Aneco Fla.
Arthur married again a Margaret Sullivan. This was not a happy marriage. He died April 20, 1960.

[NI323] Ada Carr was born in England. She was brought over to this country by her father as a young girl. She was taken from her Mother when a baby and brought up by an Aunt & Grandmother. Her mother drank. Her Mother died in England also her father. Her father made many trips back to England and died in England in 1929.

[NI400] Sheffield and Rotherham Independent
Thursday 27 May 1875

"CLAIM TO AN ESTATE AT MILLHOUSES"

Early hour Tuesday 25 May, number of men took possession of property at Millhouses. Title claimed by Mr. William Oldale, Woodhead Road for some houses in Sheffield and main portion at Millhouses. Several years ago brought action, failed, and since could not pay the costs, went to York Castle for a "couple of years". One of first bankrupts under the Act of 1861. After being freed returned to Sheffield. 18 months later and bankruptcy annulled, commenced proceedings again. Action held at Leeds Assizes. Since no security that he would pay the costs, action fell through.

Between 5 and 6 am. William Oldale went with Mr. Godson, Orchard St. to Millhouses plus 15 men and boys. Locks knocked from gates of several fields, object - possession of buildings therein known as Grange Ville Estate. Notice board on Robin Hood stating land to let demolished. William Oldale claimed the large house on the land erected by Mr. T. Berry, brewer, was his. As the house was never licensed it is about to be coverted into a Methodist Chapel! Forcible entry made into the house through kitchen window, unlocking door from inside. Lock replaced by William Oldale. Men left in possession. Remainder left scene. Tenant of house Mr. Lindley also traveller for Messrs. Berry & Co., heard of matter and returned to brewery. Mr. Hill, cashier, and 5 men accompanied by Inspector Bradbury, retook possession from the old man, youth, and a boy left by William Oldale. Proceedings taken against Willial Oldale for wilful damage. William Oldale also claims that Millhouses Station and part of railway line built on his land. Mr. Godson spent some mornings taking measurements. William Oldale's case being taken up by local branch of the Magna Charta Association. They intend holding a demonstration to lay facts before the public. It is stated that a decision was once given in his favour by a "superior" court. This decision was given in default since the owners failed to put in an appearance. Once they gave intent to do so, it seems the decision of the Court was not acted upon. William Oldale did actually obtain possession by the authority of the Sheriff.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHEFFIELD and ROTHERHAM INDEPENDENT

TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1875

ARTICLE READS:-

Article refers to the

SHEFFIELD and ROTHERHAM INDEPENDENT
JUNE 1875

"THE OLDALE CLAIM TO THE MILLHOUSES ESTATE"

TO THE EDITOR.-
In a recent issue of your paper you remarked that you would hold the scales of justice evenly between the parties, and say, " Let right be done. " As you have published a history of the case, as seen from the point of view of the present holders of the property, I claim, as a matter of right and fairness, that you should publish the history of the case as set forth by Mr. Oldale; and I will take care to state it as briefly as possible.

Mr. Peter Wigfall, of Sheffield, in the years 1782 and 1793, purchased the properties at Millhouses, the title to which is now in dispute, and held them to the date of his death. He had been a widower for years, and had a boon companion in Mr. Thomas Whitehead, who was not related to him. I know it is asserted that Mr. Thomas Whitehead was a second or third cousin of Mr. Peter Wigfall, but that assertion is without foundation.

Mr. Peter Wigfall, by his will, dated 17th May, 1812, after giving certain specific legacies not affecting the Millhouses estate, which is not mentioned in the will, gave all the residue and remainder, both of his real and personal estate, to Thomas Whitehead, and appointed him and Mr. Jackson executors of his will.

In 1813 a violent quarrel arose between Mr. Peter Wigfall and Mr. Thomas Whitehead, whereupon Mr. Wigfall expelled Mr. Whitehead from his house, and forbade him to enter it again. (I am quoting from the housekeeper, Mrs. Dronfield's affadavit.)

In the year 1814, Mr. Wigfall intermarried with Hannah Clark, having previously executed a marriage settlement, by Indentures of Lease and Release, dated 24th and 25th January, 1814, whereby he conveyed his freehold estates to Henry Jackson and his heirs, to uses, viz. :- To the use of Peter Wigfall, his heirs, and assigns, until the marriage; and, after that event, to the use of such persons, &c., as Peter Wigfall should by deed or will appoint, and, for want thereof, to the use of the heirs and assigns of the said Peter Wigfall.

This marriage and marriage settlement nullified the will above referred to, and left Mr. Thomas Whitehead without the shadow of a claim to any of Mr. Wigfall's property. The marriage settlement was duly registered at Wakefield and was irrevocable.

Mr. Peter Wigfall died on the 11th November, 1828, having outlived his wife, and having no one living with him except his house keeper, Mrs Dronfield. This lady has made affadavits to the effect that Mr. Thomas Whitehead took possession of Mr. Wigfall's house immediately after Mr. Wigfall's death saying "Here I am and here I mean to stick," and that he burnt the papers which he thought were against him.

It does not concern me to show that (what?) the will alluded to was anomolous and absurd, but as the other side base their claim upon it I simply remark that if the will had been genuine, and made as it purports to be, in the year 1812, it is strange that it makes no mention of the property at Millhouses, which was purchased in 1782 and 1793. And in order to show that the will was revoked, if it was ever made, by the testator, I may mention, that by that will Mr. Peter Wigfall devised a grinding wheel to Thomas Whitehead, but he afterwards sold it, which demonstrates a clear change of intention on the part of Mr. Wigfall, and the fact of Mr. Wigfall making sundry purchases of freehold and leasehold properties afterwards has nothing to do with the case.Mr. Whitehead's position appears to be this:- He found a will bequeathing to him a grinding wheel, which had afterwards been sold by the testator, and so he says he sold one property which he had bequeathed to me, and therefore I'll take the other property which he has not bequeathed to me. Whether the will was genuine or not I do not care to inquire, as it does not affect the case; the fact is admitted that the marriage and the settlement revoked the will, and therefore it follows that Thomas Whitehead and those who claim under him, claim to hold the property under the terms of a will which has been revoked.

Mr. Joshua Hodgkinson, during the lifetime of Mr. Peter Wigfal, built some houses on a portion of the Millhouses estate, and Mr. Wigfall, who was then an invalid, did nothing to prevent him. On the death of Mr. Wigfall, Mr. Whitehead demanded rent from Mr. Hodgkinson; but the latter laughed at Mr. Whitehead's impudence, and told him he had nothing to do with the estate any more than he had. Mr. Whitehead afterwards offered to grant Mr. Hodgkinson a lease, which was declined:
and if a pretended lease for 500 years is now in existence, it is not worth the paper or parchment it is written on, for the reasons above stated. The present occupier of that property told me personally that "the land was Mr. Oldale's, but the house was hers," and that they never paid rent.

In 1837, Mr William Speck claimed the property, and made out a prima facie case, to prove that he was heir-at-law to Peter Wigfall; but he did not at that time know of Mr. Wigfall's third marriage or of the marriage settlement, and he lost his action on the will being proved. The name of Hannah Oldale was mentioned in court, and led to Mr. Speck seeking out the representatives of the Oldale family, who, it was asserted, were dead; and he handed over to Mr. Joseph Oldale, the present heir-at-law, the whole of his papers, &c., Mr. Speck acknowledging that Mr. Oldale was the rightful heir.

Thomas Whitehead had considerable difficulty with some of the other tenants, who refused to pay any rent to him, and since his death, refused to pay rent to his son, Mr. George Whitehead - and neither Thomas Whitehead or his son took any proceedings to enforce their demands.

In 1855 Mr. Joseph Oldale proceeded to take forcible possession of some of the cottages at Millhouses, and barricaded the doors. Mr. Whitehead besieged him and got him out. Some proceedings were taken before the magistrates against Mr. Oldale in consequence, but the case was dismissed - the magistrates had no juridisction as the question of title was raised.

In March, 1857, Mr. Oldale recovered possession of the Millhouses estate in the Court Of Exchequer of Pleas at Westminster. Mr. George Whitehead went to the tenants to get them to sign papers authorising a solicitor to enter appearances for them - the tenants on the Millhouses estate refused to sign the papers - and no appearance was entered for that protion of the property claimed. Mr. Whitehead, however, succeeded in getting four tenants of leasehold property in Hereford street to sign the papers, and they, with Mr. George Whitehead, appeared and defended for that part only. Therefore, it was considered (as the judgement says) that Mr. Oldale do recover possession of the Millhouses estate, and that he have execution thereof forthwith. Immediately after the Sheriff had given Mr. Oldale possession, Mr. Whitehead filed an affadavit, in which he stated that he had intended to appear as landlord, but had failed to have his appearance entered as required by Sec. 173 of the Common Law Procedure Act, 1852, and had wrongly entered his appearance for part of the property only (viz.., that in Hereford street) - under the 174th section of the Act. In reference to this matter being heardon a summons, Mr. Catchpole writes, "We licked them. They tried this morning to open the whole case, saying that they ought to have appeared as landlord; the Judge would not let them." The Judge, in fact, said he could not undo what a brother judge had done - judgement must stand; and the judgement and warrant of possession have never been set aside, but are as good today as they were on the 24th. March, 1857.

The action then proceeded with reference to the leasehold property; but, owing to the Statute of Limitations, Mr. Oldale was advised to withdraw the record. He did so, and filed a bill in Chancery. The defendants costs were taxed at £118.12s.6d., and Mr. Oldale went out of the way to avoid being arrested for that amount. He was afterwards arrested for the amount and taken to York Castle, where he remained for two years, and was the first bankrupt disharged from custody at York under the Bankruptcy Act, 1861. He was directed to prosecute his bankruptcy in the Sheffield County Court, but on applying there he was told they knew nothing about it, and he did nothing in the matter for eleven years.

In the year 1868, Mr. Oldale brought an action of ejectment in the Sheffield County Court against Thos. Gregory, the tenant of one of the cottages at Millhouses. Mr. Oldale rested his claim on the judgement of the Exchequer of Pleas. In answer, it was urged that Mr. Oldale was a bankrupt, and the Judge told him the objection as to his bankruptcy was fatal, and until he got his bankruptcy removed from the file he could not recover the property in his own name.

An action was once brought against Mr. Oldale for illegally distraining some goods, and not being properly defended judgement was given against him for payment of £15 damages. A judgement summons was issued against him for that amount, but on the matter coming before the Judge, and the judgement of the Exchequer of Pleas being produced, the Judge reversed his former decision, and added, "He had a right to send the bailiffs," and made the plaintiff pay the costs.

The practice of the Common Law Courts is not as stated by you, but as that is a legal question it will readily be understood by all who read the two sections of the Common Law Procedure Act, 1852, which I have quoted.

In your article of Saturday last you say that Mr. John Whitehead was appointed trustee of Thos. Whitehead's will, in the room of Mr. Gillatt, on the 2nd. Aug., 1870, and you proceed to state that he and his brother, George Whitehead, in exercise of the trusts contained in the will, sold the property to Mr. B.P. Broomhead in 1861. This statement reads so very like Irish that I may be excused thinking there is a mistake, as it is a very funny thing to find a man selling property nine years before he was appointed a trustee.

In the year 1873 Mr. Oldale paid his creditors 20s. in the pound, and gave instructions to have his bankruptcy annulled. Owing to a number of frivolous objections nine months were wasted before the order was obtained, and that having been done, he now claims his property as in his former estate.

As to what has taken place subsequently your readers are already aware of.

Yours truly,

E.C. PENNY

Sheffield, 7th. June 1875

----------------------------------

TO THE EDITOR. - In your Saturday's issue there appeared an account of the claim of Mr. Oldale to the Millhouses property. Perhaps some of your readers may ask, Who is Mr. Oldale, the "claimant?" His grandfather was in business as a table knife manufacturer in one of the streets or lanes near Howard street Chapel, and had an apprentice out of the country (I think Stannington), who married one of his daughters, and was in partnership with the son, the father of the claimant, as Oldale and Ellin, the father of whom was the late Mr. Thomas Ellin, who was Master Cutler in 1833.

I have something to say respecting Peter Wigfall. In Attercliffe chapel yard is a gravestone containing the following:-

Here lyeth ye body . . .
Nicholson, who Dyed Septen
ber ye 18, 1721, aged 42 years.
And Eliz., Thomas, William, &
also Sarah, ye Wife of Peter W
igfall, who Dyed April ye 18,
1743, aged 29 years.
Mary, ye Wife of Philip
Smith, dyed March ye 16,
1765, aged 75.
Also the aforesaid Philip
Smith, died September 1,
1774, aged 72 years.
Also Thomas Smith, who
died April 17, 1816, aged
52 years.
Also in remembrance of
George Johnson, who died
July 13, 1863, aged 66 years.

The Peter Wigfall who owned the Millhouses property is buried near the south-east corner of Ecclesall Chapel, and Thomas Whitehead, who succeeded to the property under the alleged will of Peter Wigfall, is also buried in the same vault.

For more than twenty years I have had "Ward's Young Mathematician's Guide," which contains the following written inside both the backs, "Peter Wigfall. His Book, 1760." But I am of opinion that the words "Peter Wigfall" were not written at the same time as "His Book, 1760," but is partly an alteration and partly an erasure.

Was the Sarah (the wife of Peter Wigfall), buried in Attercliffe Chapel, the mother of Peter Wigfall, the owner of the Millhouses property? Who was the Peter Wigfall, the previous possessor of my book? Was he the owner of the Millhouses property? and what was the Peter Wigfall, the possessor of the property at Millhouses, & c., and what is known respecting him? I shall feel glad if my query elicits satisfactory replies.

By inserting the above you will greatly oblige.

I am, Sir, yours, & c.,
T. O. HINCHCLIFFE.

--------------------------------------------------------------------


SHEFFIELD and ROTHERHAM INDEPENDENT

(Undated but presumably part of the 1875 series)


"THE OLDALE CLAIM TO THE MILLHOUSES ESTATE"

Our readers have already had before them statements of the grounds on which Mr. OLdale claims the Millhouses property. On Tuesday we reminded him that "It is easy to make one tale look good until the other be told," and we now give a statement of the facts as seen from the point of view of the present holders of the property;-

On 14th. November, 1828, Mr. Peter Wigfall, of Sheffield, died aged about 80 years, being at the time of his death seized and possessed of considerable freehold and leasehold property in Sheffield, including (among others) a freehold property at Millhouses, comprising altogether near on 23 acres. He had been for some years a widower, without children, and had no nearer relatives than second and third cousins, (^) Mr. Thomas Whitehead, then of Sheffield, and who was a second cousin on the mother's side, was the only relative with whom he was on any terms of actual intimacy (?). On examining his papers after his death, a will, dated 17th. May, 1812, (16 years before his death), was found duly executed, and by this will the testator gave (?) several specific pecunairy legacies to different individuals, and an annuity of 5s. per week to his daughter-in-law, Hannah Oldale. He also devised a grinding wheel, with some adjoining houses and gardens at Heeley, near Sheffield, belonging to him at that time (?), to Thomas Whitehead; a freehold house and pre- (^), in Lambert street, Sheffield, to Mrs. Poole; and the reside and remainder, both of his real and par-(^) estate, to the before-mentioned Thomas Whitehead, and appointed him and Mr. Jackson, a surgeon, executors of his will. The freehold property at Millhouses is not specifically alluded to in the will but the (^)ds show that this property was conveyed to Mr. Wigfall, by deeds dated 2nd. Feb. 1782, and 8th. Oct., 1793. (^)er the date of the will it appears the testator sold the grinding wheel and premises at Heeley, which had been(?) specifically devised to Thomas Whitehead, but (^) some other property, both freehold and leasehold, which was not mentioned in the will. Mrs. Poole, to whom the premises in Lambert street had been bequeathed, as also several of the (^) to whom pecunaiary bequests had been left, (^) died in his lifetime. This will was proved (^) by the two execotors, Thomas Whitehead and (^) Jackson, on 5th. June, 1829, and Thomas Whitehead entered into possession of the freehold and leasehold premises belonging to the testator, and received (^), and also granted building leases of portions of the freehold estate, and among others he by (^) of lease, dated 21st. October, 1834, demised Joshua Hodgkinson a part of the land at Millhouses (^) (Term?) of 500 years, from 29th. September, 1834, at the yearly rent of £2.2s. He thus continued in possession and in receipt of the rents without any interference(?) until the year 1857, when a person, named William Speck, stated up and claimed to be heir-at-law of Peter Wigfall, and disputed validity of the will. He brought an action of ejectment in respect of the(?) whole of the freehold property at Millhouses, which (^) (^) to be tried at the York Assizes in 1837, and (^) he made out a prima facie case to prove that (^) heir at-law to Peter Wigfall, the genuiness (of the?) will was proved, and the result of the trial was (^) the plaintiff was nonsuited, and afterwards went to prison for the defendant's costs. We understand he paid some part of these, and was afterwards released from prison and did not renew the litigation.

(^) (After?) this Mr. Whitehead continued in possession (of the?) property without any further interruption until the (^) of his death, which occurred on 4th. May, 1848, (^) 20 years after the death of Mr. Wigfall, and 11 (^) from the trial of Speck's action. During his (^) he had mortgaged some part of the freehold (and?) leasehold property which he had derived under (Mr.?) Wigfall's will, but not Millhouses, and by (^) will, dated 19th. June, 1844, duly executed (^) tested,he gave and devised all his freehold(?) and leasehold estates, and all other his per-(^) unto his son, George Whitehead, and his (^)-in-law, Joseph Gillatt, on trust to get in his debts (^) his personal estate (except leaseholds) (^) money, and to receive the rents of his freehold and? leasehold estates until the death of his wife, (^) her an annuity of £60 per year, and applying (^) residue to the liquidation of his mortgage and (^) debts, and after his wife's death to sell his freehold and leasehold estates, and divide the proceeds (^) all his children, but with a provision that no such (^) should be made until the expiration of 13 years (from?) his decease; and that if his wife died before that (^) and all his debts were paid, the proceeds (^) from the rents of the property should be (^) among all his children.

The(?) will was duly proved at York by both the executors(?) on 29th. May, 1848, and they entered into (^) and received the rents as directed by the (^). The testator's widow died on 27th. October, (^) about 18 months after the death of her husband, (^) Gillatt, one of his executors, died in January, (^) and after his death George Whitehead, the sur-(viving?) executor and trustee, continued alone to receive (^) rents(?), and did so without any interruption until (^) year 1855. In the latter part of that year this pre-(^) (claimant?), Joseph Oldale, who at the time was a journeyman silversmith, living in lodgings in Sheffield, (arrived?) on the scene, and giving out that he was Mr. (Whitehead's?) heir-at-law, and the only person legally en-(titled?) to the property, proceeded, with the assistance of (^) other persons, to take forcible possession of some (fields?) containing cottages at Millhouses, and barricaded the doors. (Mr.?) Whitehead, however, on learning this, got some (^) and re-took possession, and some proceed-(^) (^) taken before the Sheffield magistates (^). Oldale, who was warned not to repeat his (^) proceedings.

(^) 18th. September, 1855, Messrs. Hoole and Yeomans of Sheffield, who were Mr. George Whitehead's solicitors, and who had also acted both for Peter Wigfall(?) and Thomas Whitehead, the two trustees, re-(ceived?) a letter from a Mr. Stead, of Hull, requesting(^) furnish him with a copy of a marriage settlement dated 24th. and 25th. January, 1814, made between (^) Wigfall of first part, Hannah Clark of second (^), Henry Jackson of third part, and Thomas Hard-(^) of fourth part. Of this deed neither Mr. Whitehead nor anyone connected with him had ever before (^) and its existence was altogether unknown.We (^) Messrs. Hoole and Yeomans simply replied to the (^) they had no power to comply with the request, (^) matter(?) remained till September, 1856, when the (^) tenants and occupiers of the property belonging formerly(?) to Mr. Wigfall were all served with a notice, (^) which Joseph Oldale claimed the property under the (^-named marriage settlement as Peter Wigfall's (heir-at-law?), since to his heirs, it was alleged the pro(perty?) rightfully reverted by the provisions of the settlement. The tenants were required to pay all rents and (^) of rents to Oldale's agent, under pain of immediate proceedings. This notice was followed by dis-(^) being levied by Oldale on some of the tenants (^), but on notices being served on the bailiff and (^) the auctioneer, warning them of the consequences, (^) were withdrawn. A further distress was afterwards (?) made by Oldale on one of the tenants of the (^_hold property, but in this case possession was re-(^) and the tenant afterwards got a verdict for £15 (^) in an action in the County Court against (^) for his illegal proceedings.

(^) (March?), 1857, acting as plaintiff in person,(^) an action of ejectment in the Court of Exchequer against George Whitehead and twenty two or three other persons, the latter being the tenants (^) (occupers?) of different portions of the property. In (^) (he?) included all this property, both freehold and (leasehold?), which had formerly belonged to Peter Wigfall> (An?) appearance was entered by George Whitehead (to?) this writ, and four of the tenants also who had (^_-erved) likewise appeared, but none of the other (^--s) did. There being no notice given limiting the (^) to ant particular property, the action would (^- ed) to be defended by the parties thus appearing (^) (^) respect of the whole property.

(According?) to the practice of the Common Law Courts, (^) (plaintiff?), where there is an appearance by some of the (tenants?) named in the writ, and no appearance by (^), is at liberty to sign judgement against the parties (^) appearing, so as to shut them out from appearing (^- wards), but unless there is a notice by the (defen-ce?) who have appeared limiting their defence, such (^- ment) has the effect of an interlocutory judgement (^) (and?) a plaintiff has no right to any benefit under it, (^) he recover a verdict for the property against the (^-endants who have appeared and defended the action. (Oldale?), however, not only signed judgement against the (^-fendants?) who had not appeared, but he went further, (^) (issued?) a writ of possession immediately to recover (possession?) of the property which they occupied. The (^-ment) was signed on 24th. March, 1857, and the (^-ction) issued two days afterwards, and a warrant (^) been granted to the officer, he, accompanied by (^--s), proceeded to take possession. On this, (however?), coming to the knowledge of Mr. Whitehead and his (attorneys?), they at once served a summons to set aside (^) (execution?), and on the matter coming before Mr. (Justice?) Coleridge, the writ of possession was set (^).

(^) action afterwards proceeded. Mr. Whitehead and his attorneys caused the most diligent (^) to be made, to find either the deeds or (marriage settlement, under which Oldale claimed (^-ome?) draft or copy of it among the papers of (^) Wigfall and Mr. Thomas Whitehead. No (trace?) of it however could be found, and no information (relative?) to it could be obtained; but it was discovered (^) a memorial of it had been registered at Wakefield, (^) (30th.?) March, 1814. This fact of course proved the (existence?) of the deed at the time of the registration; (^) the memorial does not disclose the nature of the (^-d) merely giving the date, parties, description of (the?) property affeceted, and the names of the attesting (^-es). Inquiries were made after (these?) latter per-(^) but they could not be discovered. The presumption is that the settlement in question was a volutary (^) made by Mr. Wigfall, and which he afterwards (^--oyed), his wife, Hannah Clark, who was about (^) years old when he married her, having died in his (^-ime). This presumption is strengthened by the (^) that a considerable part of the property included (^) (^) settlement was afterwards sold by Mr. Wigfall (^-self?) in his lifetime - a circumstance not very likely (^) (have?) taken place if the deed had been a subsisting (^).

(We?) are unable to say for certain whether the action (of?) ejectment brought about by OLdale was actually tried or (^). We are under the impression that it went down (to?) the York Assizes, but at the last moment the (^) was withdrawn. The defendants, however, in (^) (^) way got judgement for their costs, which amounted (to?) some £240, because in 1859 the plaintiff OLdale (was?) arrested for them and went to York Castle. He (remained?) there as a prisoner for debt till after the (^-ing) of the Bankruptcy Act, 1861, under the pro(visions?) of which the registrar on 14th, November, 1861, (^) making a visitation of the prison, adjudicated (^) bankrupt and ordered his release fromcusody. (^) bankruptcy was assigned to the Sheffield County Court, and he ought to have appeared and surrendered (to?) that court on 5th. December, 1861. He, however, (^) done in the matter, and no creditors assignee was (appointed?) at the time.

We shouls also state that, in addition to the action, (the?) plaintiff filed a bill in Chancery against Mr. but which was afterwards dismissed for want of prosecution, and Oldale was ordered to apy costs.

Although the plaintiff had utterly failed in his proceedings, and had spent over two years in York Castle as a prisoner for the costs of his unsuccesful litigation, and from which imprisonment he had only obtained his release through the adjudication of bankruptcy made against him, he was in no way daunted, and took every opportunity of asserting that he was the rightful owner of the property.

Yours truly,

E.C. PENNY

Sheffield, 7th. June 1875

[NI426] The Oldale Family Name: Historical Milestones

As provided by Bernard Oldale, of 2, South Western Crescent, Conifer Park, Whitecliffe, Poole in March 1995. This information came from a friend of Bernard's sister-in-law who had researched the Oldale family name for her thesis.

The name OLDALE may originate from:-

· WOOLDALE, Holmfirth, Yorkshire
· ULUEDEL, 1086 Domesday Book;
· WOLVEDALE, 1202, pronounced "OODLE" locally
· OLDALE, halfway between Driffield and Malton, Yorkshire
· HOLLOW VALLEY, HOLDALESIDE, 1348 Kirkham cartulary.


1313 Adam de Wolvedale, Holmfirth Wakefield Court Rolls
1352 John de Wolfvedale, Holmfirth Wakefield Court Rolls
1379 John Woldale and wife Matilda W.R.P. Tax, Snydale, near Pontefract
1469 Adam Woldale, Clayton West, Denby Dale, Deeds

When records commence in the Sheffield area there are only two Oldale families - one in Dronfield moving into Sheffield, the other in Handsworth extending into Eckington.

1583 John OULDALE, married Ellen Outrem at Dronfield
1585/6 Robert son of John OULDALE bapt. at Dronfield
1590 Elizabeth OLDALE bapt. at Sheffield
1591/2 William son of John OLDALE bapt. at Sheffield
1596 Rose OLDALE bapt at Sheffield
1624 John OLDALE married at Sheffield
1638 John OLDALE married Eliz. Hall at Alrewas, Staffordshire
1659 Indenture of Bargain and Sale between John Woodgrove of Woodthorpe parish Handsworth and Jerimia Woodgrove of Graystones, Sheffield mentioning Narr Carr in the occupation of Nathaniell OULDALE in Woodthorpe.
1660 James OLDALE MARRIED Mary Littlewood at Sheffield
1663 Probate of Will of Robert OULDALE, Gleadless. Yorkshire Wills
1664 James OLDALE buried at Sheffield
1665 Thomas Skagell married Elizabeth OLDALE at Sheffield
1664 Thomas OULDALE married Mary Hinchcliffe at Bradford
1666 Robert son of Leonard OULDALE bapt at Handsworth
1666 Thomas son of Samuel OULDALE bapt at Handsworth
1667 Child of John OULDALE buried at Handsworth
1668 Thomas son os Thomas OULDALE buried at Handsworth
1672 Thomas OULDALE ,1, Hearth Tax Return, Handsworth
1673 Elizabeth daughter of Thomas OULDALE bapt at Handsworth
1681 Nathaniell OLDALL married Rose Thompson at Handsworth
1696 Nathaniel OLDALE married Anne Stones at Hathersage, Derbyshire
1697 Alice daughter of Nathaniell OULDALE bapt at Handsworth
1703 Joseph son of Benjamin OULDALE bapt., buried 1714
1704 Joshua OLDALL married Mary Thorp at Eckington
1707 Elizabeth daughter of Sarah OLDALE bapt Sheffield "spurious"
1710 Anne OLDALL buried at Handsworth
1712/3 Sarah OLDALL buried at Sheffield
1714/5 Martha wife of Benjamin OLDALL buried at Handsworth
1716 Josa OLDALE at the Great Court Baron of Lady Frecheville at Eckington warned that he would be fined 3 shillings and 4 pence if a "sufficient bridge and rail between Stock and Plumbley Wood Close" was not constructed by Pentecost.
1716 Joseph Roberts married Mary OLDALL of Handsworth at Sheffield
1718 Joseph Nutt of Ecclesfield married Eliz OLDALL, spinster, at Sheffield
1719 Benjamin OLDALL buried meason poor at Handsworth
1724 Hannah OLDALE married Joseph Wright at Beighton
1745 John ODELL of Beauchief (eldest son of Joshua OLDALL of Ford who owned two farms at Beauchief) married Sara Alcroft at Stavely
1747 Mary daughter of John OLDALL bapt at Beauchief
1749 John OLDALL bapt at Dronfield
1749 Robert OLDALE apprenticed to Chas Jones 7-11 1749. This is the first of 7 apprentices OLDALE/OULDALE including one from Eckington,one from Harthill, one from Handsworth/Woodhouse and the rest from Sheffield.
1751 Joseph son of John OLDALL bapt at Dronfield
1752 James son of John OLDALL bapt at Dronfield
1760 Jonathan OLDALE married Hannah Wigfall at Sheffield
1771 Joseph OLDALE married Hannah Housley at Sheffield
1775 John OLDALL of Coal Aston married Elizabeth Graeves of Hathersage at Dronfield (Mrs S.O. Addy's grandparents)
1776 James OLDALL of Sheffield married Ann Parker at Norton
1777 John OULDALE married Sarah Cutt at Harthill
1781 Thomas son of Matthew and Martha OLDALL of Carrfield bapt at Norton. They had 18 children according to Norton Parish Records but only 4 survived to adulthood. 1784 Godfrey OLDALL, 1787 William OLDALL. The family moved to Woodhouse and William was apprenticed to Joseph Snidale, Sheffield Park in 1801.
Godfrey and Thomas were well known eccentrics in Woodhouse. Godfrey's first wife Elizabeth Linley of Sothall, white washed the house through once a week. She black leaded Godfrey's shoes. Her bonnet, the clockcase and Godfrey's gun were coaltarred. After she died Godfrey walked to Plley to find his first love Mary Kay and married her in Tankersly in 1836. Godfrey died in Sheffield Workhouse in 1864; Thomas had died a few months earlier.
1789 Francis son of John OLDALL bapt at Dronfield
1793 Sidney son of John OLDALL bapt at Dronfield
1798 John OLDALE married Ann Twigge at Sheffield
1798 Jonathan OLDALE married Mary Thackway at St. Saviour, York
1800 Thomas OULDALE married Sarah Oates at Sheffield
1809 John OLDALE married Elizabeth White at Rotherham
1810 George OLDALE married Sarah Hill at Clowne
1814/5 Sheffield Directory listed OLDALE & Ellin, table knife cutlers, Arundel Street. Thomas Ellin senior, Master Cutler (Sheffield) 1833; Thomas Ellin junior, Master Cutler 1841.
1820 John son of James OLDALL bapt at Eckington
1824 Henry son of George and Sarah OLDALE bapt at Dinnington
1828 Sidney OLDALL married Mary Jenkin at Norton. Mr S.O. Addy's grandparents. (Source?)
1828 Francis OLDALL married Elizabeth Wilde daughter of Henry Wilde, master of the Free Writing School, Sheffield.
1830 James son of Francis and Elizabeth OLDALL bapt at Dronfield
1844 Joseph son of William and Mary OLDALE bapt at Eckington
1849 Sheffield Directory lists 10 entries for OLDALE.
Jas. OLDALE cutler, Jessop Street (off South Street, Sheffield Moor); Charles OLDALE, shopkeeper, Anson Street (south St Park);
4 farmers - John OLDALE in South Anston, George OLDALE in Dinnington, Joseph OLDALE in Gildingwell, and Francis OLDALE in Coal Aston;
2 butchers, Henry OLDALE in Dinnington, and John OLDALE in Harthill; George OLDALE was a joiner in Dinnington and William OLDALE was a tanner and currier in Eckington.
1856 Sheffield Directory now has only 4 entries for OLDALE:-
Joseph & Thomas OLDALE, designers/chasers in Fitzwilliam Street, with a house further up the road;
Francis OLDALE, farmer. In Coal Aston and his wife listed as school mistress;
William OLDALE, tanner, in Eckington.
1866 Albert Edward son of James and Francis OLDALE bapt at Beighton
1875 Headlines in the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent read "Claim to an Estate in Millhouses". The claim was to land purchased in 1782/1793 by a Mr Peter Wigfall who died in 1828, subsequently inherited through a Hannah OLDALE by Mr Joseph OLDALE, who recovered possession in 1857 in the Court of Exchequer of Pleas at Westminster. Costs of £118. 12s. 6d., not paid by Mr OLDALE. He was then arrested and spent 2 years in York Castle and made bankrupt. In 1873 Mr OLDALE paid creditors 20s. in the £ and bankruptcy annulled. In 1875 William OLDALE, a journeyman silver plater, son of the original claimant, went to Millhouses early in the morning accompanied by his agent and about 15 men and boys, to take forcible possession of several fields on the Grange Ville Estate, land near the Robin Hood, and also a house about to be converted into a Methodist Chapel. They changed locks and padlocks, but later in the day the police were called and the locks changed again. This could not have benefited Mr OLDALE but the Magna Carta Association were to take up the case. There was a gathering of all the Sheffield "OLDALE" family in 1945 when it was decided that expenses would be too great to reopen the case, apparently it is still held in Chancery. (Bernard Oldale, source, attended this meeting)
1926 Sheffield Directory lists 13 entries for OLDALE including OLDALE and Unwin, polishers in Eyre Lane; a fruiterer, a joiner, a wagon examiner, bakery manager, two clerks and the rest as householders.
1968 Sheffield Directory has 13 private addresses in the suburbs for OLDALE.

In the present day (don't know date of compilation), telephone directories list a total of 129 OLDALE entries of which 63% are in the Sheffield area: -
60 are in Sheffield, 21 in Chesterfield, 17 in London and the Home Counties
7 in East Anglia, 5 in Lancashire, 5 in the South West

[NI492] From Frances Gill

Why a park might have been a steelmans garden.

But for a 19th Century High Court decision retired steel labourer Lewis Oldale believes he would be one of Sheffields Biggest Landowners. Instead of the terraced house in Forster Rd Heeley his domain would stretch from Highfield to Abbeydale and instead of a shared back yard his garden would be Millhouses park. It all started when the daughter of 68 year old Mr Oldales great-grandfather married an arristocratic family. She and her husband died without having children and as a result the land was inherited by the great grandfather, but this was only temporary, because the arristocrates contested the legality of the transfer and eventually won the land back in the high court.

[NI516] Letter from Amy Oldale - Dec. 13, 1999:
My Grandad Alan also had one sister Rosa,
who sadly passed away earlier this year. She married Jim Russell and
together they made a fortune in the local steel business sadly both have
passeda way leaving I think 2-3 children and several grandchildren. I
really hope that this helps , please contact me if you find any more
information. I'm sorry I cannot offer any futher information.

Yours sincerely
Amy Louise

[NI674] From Molly (Oldale) Rowan.
About Florence. Mum says there was an older sister who stayed in Sheffield
(perhaps she put into 'service', most poor and/or orphaned girls did. Mum
was at the age of 13). Anyway her daughter (Mum can't remember her name)
caught up with Grandad and Grandma Oldale when she was in her late teens or
early twenties. Grandad was very taken with her, probably because she was
the first real connection with his siblings that he had had. She was a big
fair girl Mum says. Anyway she has a picture of her and is going to give
it to me. I will get it blown up as I have the others (if it is worth it),
and when I find all those - put away when we moved - lovely photos that I
spent so much time putting together, I will have them scanned out to you.
You know when one thinks of it - Grandad Arthur was only six, with his Mum
not long dead, with his Dad away nights and drinking, when he was sent to
court for stealing, labelled with terrible names and then separated from
his brothers and sister (as an example) and sent on his own to an orphanage
in Bristol (apparently). No wonder he was something of an old misanthrope
in later life, its very sad when one thinks of it.

[NI675] My father served in WW2 reached the rank of Sergeant ( No. 7595095 )
and served with the Royal Army Ordanance Corps. (R.A.O.C.)

[NI694] [Her Branch Only.FTW]

1932/33 living in lodgings at 79 Rushdale Rd
also Mary Wilson & Fred Kirk?
1949/50/51 Donald living there

[NI695] [Her Branch Only.FTW]

[NF010] No, I do know that they went back to England and found the Oldale pub. All I know is that Mary Ann Tyson was married 26 Feb 1895 in Sheffield.

[NS16681] Lots of information being passed back and forth via ICQ

[NS16682] Good

[NS16683] Marriage Notes

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