THE ORIGINAL HISTORY OF AYTON SCHOOL 1841 - 1891

CHAPTER VIII.

VISIT OF FRIENDS.

Preface
Contents
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Appendix

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I MUST not forget to record the memorable visit of dear Jonathan Backhouse to the institution, if not for the first certainly for the last time, the establishing of which had given him much solicitude, and of which he was undoubtedly the originator. Lame with paralysis he was driven over from Darlington to Ayton, in his carriage, and sat by the fire in what is now the women’s committee room. There were 16 boys and 16 girls in the school at that time; he wished to see them separately. The 16 girls went in first with their bibles, After reading a few verses each he wished them to give their names, their parents’ names, and place of abode. He reminded Isabella Appleby of her pious ancestors, and Emma Brantingham of her good grandmother, a ministering Friend, and hoped she would grow up to he like her. He exhorted them all to make good use of their time, to value the opportunity that was given them of acquiring useful learning, and be a credit to the school after their return. The 16 boys were brought in, to whom he put the same questions, and reminded them also of some of their ancestors. When my son, Ralph’s turn came, he spoke to him of his grandfather, whose honourable name be bore, who, though once a soldier under the Duke of Wellington, afterwards became a good soldier of Jesus Christ, and dwelt prophetically on his future, if he was faithful to Him who would call him. While he pronounced his blessing on them and their teachers the ancient wing of heavenly goodness was felt to be spread over us in a remarkable manner. He rejoiced to see the good work which he had originated now fairly begun, though not able to attend the meetings of the committee.

I must now speak of the other founder of the school, Thomas Richardson, and chronicle some of my remembrances of this generous benefactor, He had long ago removed his aged parents from Darlington to Great Ayton, the home of his father’s mother, one of the Cleveland Richardson. To be near them in their old age he leased Ayton House, now the residence of James Taylor, where he spent several months in the year. His father died in 1825, aged 85, and his mother the same year, aged 83, and were buried in the Friend’s grave yard, at Ayton. He enjoyed the company of his cousins, the Heseltons, who kept greyhounds. Hares being very plentiful in those days they readily obtained one for family use in a much more humane way than by the use of the gun. As Martha Richardson was, for many years, quite an invalid, she thought the country air of Ayton suited her better than the sea air of her native village of Allonby, in Cumberland, where they had a residence (North Lodge). Beside, he loved the company of his cousin, Edward Pease, and his three sons, John, Joseph, and Henry. He often said he was indebted to Edward Pease for all he possessed in this world. He was one of the six partners, known as the Middlesbrough Owners, who purchased that Estate, on which there was, at that time, only a solitary farmhouse, and which is now occupied by a town of eighty thousand inhabitants. While residing at Ayton House he was near to meet and consult with his partners in carrying out their scheme for a harbour and dock, also many other improvements required by a rising town.

Martha Richardson, died at Ayton House, on the 30th of 10th mo., 1841, in the 73rd year of her age, and is interred in the Friends’ burial ground here. Before she died it was pitiable to see him, her husband, he seemed borne down with sorrow. He asked me one day for a cross-cut saw, which I procured for him; we went into the grave yard to the old walnut tree, which had a large branch very near the ground. He took hold of one end and I the other, and we sawed the branch off close to the trunk. The cicatrix can be seen on the tree this day, although it is 49 years ago. He had fixed on this place for his wife’s grave. This branch was in the way. He afterwards called my attention to this circumstance saying “thou wilt know now my motive for having the branch of the walnut tree cut off.” Thomas Richardson enjoyed having his friends about him and always brought them to see the school and the boys working in the orchard in their blouses and clog shoes; in this way we had many important visitors from far and near. Peter Bedford, Josiah Forster and his brothers William and Robert, George H, Head, of Carlisle, Joseph John Gurney, Samuel Gurney, besides William Bench, Ann Fossick, and many other young friends who came to spend firstday with him. He often had to send his old gardener with messages and letters to Middlesbrough on one of his old grey ponies. One day he concluded to ride down himself; on his way, passing through Nunthorpe, the pony went straight to the door of the public-house, and did the same at the public-house at Marton, from which he surmised that his old gardener was in the practice of calling at these inns to get his glass of beer, which resulted in his discharging him, and hiring Joseph Smith, a young man from Cumberland, to take his place.

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