CHAPTER II

SECOND PERIOD 1825 to 1850.

During this period the village gradually increased in population. Many coal pits were worked; the sickle trade flourished; and wages increased

The number of colliers and sicklesmiths became equally balanced

Religion progressed under the ministrations of the Weslyans and Primitive Methodists. Education advanced, though not so much by the instruction given at the village school as by the good tuition given at Camm’s school, Eckington, by Robert Harrison and his assistants.

I think I may be fairly excused for digressing from my subject, to say a few words about this school, since most of the Mosbro’ boys who received an education were taught there, as they had a right to be.

Camm’s school, was so called from Thomas Camm, of Mosbro’ Moor’, who in the year 1702 left a house and lands on Moshro’ Moor for parish educational purposes, which were applied to it. It was a school for boys only, and was divided into two parts; the quarter end, and the national end. The quarter end was for children of people in good circumstances, who paid their school fees quarterly. The national end was for children of the labouring class, who each paid one penny per week, and had slates, pencils, copy. books, &c., found them free of charge. No child was allowed in the national end who did not attend the Church Sunday School, or, who had not been baptized in the Church of England. If a child was absent from Day or Sunday school for a day, or even part of a day without leave, he was suspended from Day school till such time as his parents apologized to the rector—the Rev. E.B. Estcourt—and begged for his re-admission. I, the writer, who had been baptized when an infant, at a dissenting chapel in Mosbro’, had to be baptised afresh at Eckington church, before I was allowed to be a scholar’ there in the year 1852. For many years I believe the Rev. E.B. Estcourt had absolute control over the school, but in 1876 the Charity Commissioners took it under their control and issued a scheme for its working. There are now seven governors elected; two by School Board; two by Eckington magistrates; the Rector ex-officio; and the remaining two are elected by the first five. Mosbro’ boys, I think do not seem to care to partake of its emoluments and advantages at this present time. Robert Harrison was the schoolmaster there from 1828 to 1871. He died February 26^th, 1874.

Now I will turn to Mosbro’ again. The Primitive Methodists and the Weslyans, the only religious societies that took any interest in the village, each gained a firm footing. The former built for themselves a chapel in Colin Green in the year 1830 and the latter erected a chapel near the Lambsicks, on land which Jonathan Oates had purchased of William Cowley and presented to them several years previously. Jonathan went to America and died there.

The master of the village school during all this period was John Ibbotson Hayes. He held other offices at the same time, viz: Registrar of Births and Deaths and Secretary of Eckington Savings’ Bank. He is still living, and is the owner of houses and land in the township.

Mosbro’ hall was held by Mr. John Slagg, as tenant under Mrs. Poynton, and afterwards under Mr. Parker, of Woodthorpe.

Mr. Parker, who was a Sheffield magistrate, and partner in Parker, Shore, & Co’s. Bank, Sheffield, becoming bankrupt in January 1843, Mosbro’ Hall estate was soon afterwards sold, when Charles Rotherham Esq., became the purchaser for the sum of £5,600. A few years afterwards He came to reside in it; and lived there till his death which happened November 29th, 1871, in the 67th year of his age.

Charles Rotherham deserves a high place in the annals of Mosbro’. He was born in the village. his father died and left a widow and a large family of very young children, very scantily provided for. Charles, meanly clad, and no doubt scantily fed, played with the village lads, and received instruction at the village school. When a youth he went to London, where at first He filled a menial situation. He afterwards began business and quickly became rich. For many years he was one of the Guardians of the Poor, for Eckington parish; and chairman of the Board of Guardians in the Chesterfield union, He was a small sized man, He was worthy of far greater respect than was awarded him by the people of his native village.

"Prophetam in sua patria honerem non habere."—Joannes iv, 44.

The late Captain Eyre’s house has gradually gone to ruin.

The Principal houses built during this period were the big house at the bottom of the Bridle road to high Lane, by George Hudson, in the year 1829. This man also built two sicklesmith shops near by which are now turned into houses, and belong Henry Bargh. In 1836, Benjamin Rose, shoemaker, built the public house called the Black Bull, now the Queen’s hotel. About the latter date, John Rose built himself a house on the opposite side of the road to the " Queen’s,’’ which is now turned into a draper’s shop. Robert Higginbottom Rose, joiner and wheelwright, built himself a house about time year 1843, It is now called the Royal Oak Inn.

David Mould, son-in-law of James Peat, built the large grocer’s shop on the Green Front, adjoining Mrs. Rivingtons property, in the years 1844-5.

COAL MINES. Messrs. Sales and Bibbs began working a pit at the top side of Moor-hole, about the commencement of this period. It was worked by steam, and a large quantity of coke was burnt.

Mr. Philip Sales lived for some time at the big house, now the British Oak, and afterwards at the Moor-Hole.

About the same time Mr. Wells began working a gin pit on Little Hill, near the old engine pit, using the latter as a water shaft. About the year 1838, He sank two more gin pits, on the common, in the field where the footpath from the Bridle Road crosses, and built coke ovens to them. A few years afterwards He worked an engine pit, in a field higher up on the opposite side of the turnpike. Slack was carted from this pit to the coke ovens on the other side of the road to be burnt into coke. In the year 1843, Mr. Joseph Wells, pro his father, purchased Sales and Bibbs’ pit, Moor Hole, by private contract for £2,100. About the same time, as agent for his father, he bought Mr. Revill’s farm, Moor hole, containing about 25 acres for £2,200. In May of the year following, (1844) Mr. George Wells died, and his sons Joseph and George Wells carried on the coal pits.

Mr. George Wells paid his Moshro’ workmen their wages at the Crown Inn, better known at that time as Beckey Lee’s, after the landlord’s wife.

Thomas Caroline, the steward, a big, stout man, who generally wore a flannel suit, with short trousers, had always one particular seat reserved for him here, if it was occupied when he entered it was immediatley given up to him.

In 1845, Messrs. J. And G. Wells began sinking the bottom side pit, Moor Hole.

In 1839, Richard Swallow, Esq., of New Hall, Attercliffe, began sinking Silkstone Main Colliery. It was situated on the top of the hill, towards Hanging Lea Wood. Richard Ashton was the steward.

About the year 1841, Richard Swallow, Esq., came to reside at Mosbro’ Hill house, which He bought some years afterwards and considerably enlarged

Francis Rotherham, joiner, worked a coal pit at the bottom of the hollow, and built some cottages close by, in the early part of this period.

At the same time William Hodgson and Luke Worrall worked a pit in a field, a little distance below the new Half-way House ; here, on December 16th, 1837, Jane Hodgson, aged 15 years, a relative of the proprietors, was killed by the fly-wheel of the engine. This pit soon ceased working.

Luke Worrall next bought Francis Rotherham’s pit, houses, and two fields with growing crops, in the Hollow, for £450. He worked pits on this land till his death in 1864. The property now belongs his son John.

Mark Hodgson sank a pit on the cliffs, Plumbley Lane, but was not able to contend with the water. In 1845, a man named Shaw, of Attercliffe, took it, and worked it a short time. Next, William Galley was the proprietor. He contracted with two colliers to pay him one penny per corie for all the coal they got. Galley’s wife, suspicious that her husband was being cheated, hid herself behind a hedge to watch operations. She saw that many corves were drawn without " motties ‘‘ and so never counted. Galley then closed the pit.

TRADES. Sickle Manufacturers. John Keeton, already mentioned in First period. He was succeeded by his son Frederick. The latter extended the business. In 1845, he built a large sickle factory, on land near Unwin Well, which he had bought off David Unwin, hatter, who lived in one of two very old houses which then stood in the valley. He had also two shops near the bottom of the Bridle Stile. He ground his sickles at Chapel Wheel.

It is said that on one occasion Sir George Sitwell happened to pass the wheel when the grinders were preparing their food, when he smelt a pleasant flavour pervading the air, He made a remark to the grinders about it, and they invited him to partake of their dainties (?) He did so, and said he enjoyed it much better than the food at his own home. The grinders then showed him the pan in which it was cooked, when Sir George remarked if he had seen the pan first, he could not have eaten the food.

Frederick Keeton was a very big man. Of all his sons I think his son henry most resembles him.

2 Nathan Staton, already mentioned. He was succeeded by his son Septimus. Sep. as he was generally called, was a big, rough man, and fond of speaking his mind very freely at parish meetings.

3 George Webster, in John Hutton’s yard, at time bottom of the Common.

4 John Hutton, Colin Green, on what is now Mrs. Foster’s property.

5 George Turner, already mentioned. He died very suddenly on the sofa. He was succeeded by his son William.

6 George Hudson, at the bottom of the Bridle Road, on both sides thereof. For some time George was a soldier. He died June 16th, 1859, aged 73 years.

7 George Cadman, Nether Misterton.

8 Thomas Burrows, bottom of Primrose Hill.

9 John Riley, on the Common.

The two last only commenced business at the latter end of the period.

FARMERS. The principal farmers were:

George Mullins, Sitwell’s Westwell Farm.

Thomas Hutton, Fitzwilliam’s Westwell Farm

George Story, Front Street. He died December 2nd, 1836, aged 73 years; and was succeeded by his son Thomas.

Thomas Rose, French Nook.

BLACKSMITHS.. Thomas Rose, .Joseph Rose, G. Foster.

WHEELWRIGHTS AND JOINERS. Thomas Higgingbottom, died 1837, aged 64 years ; John Rose ; and Robert Higgingbottom Rose.

MILLER. Joseph Unwin, Wind Mill, Plumbley Lane. The mill is now pulled down.

CORDWAINER. George Webster, Colin Green.

TAILORS. Billy Herring, who died August 6th, 1865, aged 92 years; Thomas Herring, his son ; .James Peat, and his sons. Jabez and Joseph.

It was the custom for tailors during this, and the early part of the following period, to go to their customers’ houses and work at a certain amount of wage per day and rations.

GROCERS. Luke Worrall ; Mrs. Mullins, West Mosbro’.

BUTCHERS. William Oxspring, Henry Oxspring, Samuel Oxspring, and James Fox.

PRINCIPAL PUNLICANS. Thomas Lee and John Robinson, at the Crown inn ; William Galley, Half-way House.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. The summer of 1826 was very hot and dry. Barley was sown and reaped in eleven weeks, in the township. In 1828, the crown lands were sold at the Tomtine Hotel, Sheffield, by Edward Driver, a London Auctioneer. At this sale .John Keeton, sickle manufacturer, bought the cottage and garden at the bottom of Nether Misterton, for £70. A few years ago John Lee bought the same for £170. Harvey Slagg bought an old thatched cottage and garden opposite the school-house, for £40. Other purchasers of Crown lands were John Cowley, George Hudson, William Rose, — Ward. In 1840, the Midland Railway was opened through Killamarsh Meadows. On February 27th, 1841, William Cowley, a man of independent means, was killed by a furious bull on the highway at intake. During this period many beer houses or jerry houses, as they

were commonly called, were opened. The following are some of the houses which were used as such: The cottages occupied by Luke Staniforth and James Newton, Little hill; the little house adjoining George Hazlehurst’s butcher’s shop, in Colin Green ; the old house opposite the Summer house, occupied by Mrs. Setterley; the second house from the top in Joseph Turner’s row, Front Street; and another house the third door higher up the street than the last.

Charles Taylor, a grinder by trade, who lived in a thatched house at the bottom of Colin Green, was the constable till his death in 1843, when Richard Ripon succeeded him in that important office.

It was the custom for the constable to keep prisoners taken in custody during the day, in his house overnight chained to the fire-grate, or other secure place, and then take them for trial next morning. Charles Hutton was the pinder.

Superstition, which is always prevalent amongst unenlightened people, prevailed amongst colliers. If any collier saw a woman as he was going to work in the morning, he was afraid to go forward and would return home, as he thought he would have bad luck, and sometimes the woman would receive " a piece of his mind" for being "abroad " at such an hour.

The sicklesmith’s year ended on the 12th of August at all times. The shops wore then closed and the workmen turned to the harvest fields to help the farmers to gather in the corn.