Thank you so much for your wonderful online history of Skelton-in-Cleveland. My ancestors lived there until 1683, when they emigrated to America to escape religious persecution (they were Quakers). My 11th great-grandfather, John Hoopes (1542-1608) was a resident of Skelton-in-Cleveland and is reportedly buried in a churchyard there. I have never visited Yorkshire, but hope to bring my family there on holiday. I am wondering if you could recommend someone who might help me to track down information on an early Hoopes family homestead. I've found a reference to a family farm house, reportedly built in 1160, from which on a clear day one can see the North Sea. It is said to have once housed several generations of my ancestors. The house is said to be 2.5 miles North of Moorsholm, off the Guisborough Road, and 5 miles from Skelton, sitting back from the road on a hill. It is currently occupied by John and Stephanie Powers, but I do not have a mailing address or phone number for them. I imagine it must be one of the older houses in the area. Any assistance you could suggest would be greatly appreciated! Many thanks, John Hoopes. Lawrence, Kansas, USA.

Tidkinhow Farm, Charltons.

26 February 2011. An email was received from Margaret Long of Maryland, USA. I believe I am related to Mr Hoopes of Kansas. I am wondering if the name of the farm he is trying to locate could be called, "Tidkinhow" I am not sure that follows the location of what Mr. Hoopes spelled out; but that seems to be a farm named in the HOOPES family genealogy book. Tidkinhow farm is located not far [one mile] from a Margrove Park Heritage Centre off on Route A 171. Tidkinhow farm is not too far from Stanghow & Moorsholm to the east and Guisborough to the west. I have 2007 Ordnance Survey map of this area. Next the will of Tobias HOOPES son of Robert Hoopes and Margaret Tobias HOOPES was born about 1629 in Skelton and he died 1718. Tobias HOOPES married Phillis Lamb June 1656 at Skelton. Phillis Lamb HOOPES died April 1707 at Skelton.

From the will of Tobias Hoopes May 1718:- Tobias states he is 89 years old. The following names are mentioned:- My daughter, Hannah Lynas and her daughters Hannah and Christian. [this is my family connection] Robert Lynas (son-in- law) Anthony Clarke of Lofthouse my grandson my marriage.[this is also my family connection] John Watson of Skelton , grandson. Abigail Hoopes , daughter. John Hoopes, my son (one farm at Baysdale). Onesiphorus Hoopes, my grandson (another farm being at Moorsholm ). Solo executor of this will, Onesiphorus Hoopes, my grandson. Signed and sealed the 8th of May 1718 at Skelton. Tobias Hoopes 1629-1718 was a Quaker. From the book by Joseph Beese , "A Collection of the Sufferings of the People called Quakers" page 141:- "(year 1677 ) Tobias Hoope of Skelton was fined 20 pounds for suffering a Meeting in his House and 10 shillings for himself and wife being there; --------etc."

The Quakers Tod that starts close by Tidkinhow Farm.

"For being at the same meeting Joshua Hoope, for himself and Wife, was fined 10 shillings, but he being no Quaker paid down the money." It seems that Margaret is correct for the website for Tidkinhow Farm states that Joshua Hoopes lived there, was converted to the Quakers and emigrated to America. By coincidence or not, close by the farm is the start of the Quakers Trod, a paved trackway leading over the moors to Commondale. The story has been passed down that in this small village was a Meeting House where the Quakers could hold their services in secret. Prior to the Toleration Act of 1689 nonconformists were persecuted. "Both Joshua Hoopes (born 1635) and his mother Isabel Calvert (born 1605) were born at Tidkinhow. Joshua Hoopes became disillusioned with the Anglican faith and converted to a Quaker some time after 1679. In these times the Anglican Church persecuted other religions. There is a recording that Joshua and his wife were fined the sum of 10 shillings for attending a Quaker meeting at Roxby in 1683. That was the year that Joshua, his third wife and 3 children left Scarborough on William Penn’s last ship - “The Providence”- to make a new life in America. Joshua had clear connections with William Penn, carrying a letter for him from England and also being deeded 100 acres from Penn in 1697. Joshua was chosen to be a “Peacemaker” for Bucks County and took a seat on the Provincial Council."

On the 20th April 2014, I received the following email saying that the above information about the Hoopes family living at Tidkinhow was incorrect and the "family homestead" was actually Kilton Lodge Farm.:- Hello Bill, I wonder if you could either give me the email addresses for John Hoopes and Margaret Long (from America) whose messages you have posted on the Skelton in Cleveland website or alternatively ask them to contact me. The information on the website regarding the suspected “Hoopes family homestead” is incorrect. Tidkinhow was never home to the Hoopes family, as it was the home of the Calvert family throughout the 1600s and then passed by marriage to another family in 1714 on the death of the last of the male Calverts there – I have documentary evidence of this. I have also got documentary evidence that the “Hoopes family homestead” was in fact Kilton Lodge Farm. This makes more sense as it fits with the location given by John Hoopes i.e. north of Moorsholm. Probate records from the Borthwick Institute (University of York) and Skelton parish register entries for the Hoopes family both give Kilton Lodge as their home. John Hoopes said that generations of Hoopes lived there and the documents range from a will of “John Hoopes of Kilton Lodge” dated Aug 10 1622 through to a document from the Quaker records held in Middlesbrough dated 25 July 1774 which lists the inheritance of land at Kilton to Oresiphorus Hoopes from his father John Hoopes and his grandfather Tobias. If they don’t already know, there was a Robert Hoopes from this family who died in Northern Ireland as early as 1622. People appear to have got hold of some mixed up genealogy, but hopefully giving them access to these documents will allow them to get to the truth. Thank you for your help. Margaret O’Shea. Oxford. Kilton Lodge Farm is close to the ruins of Kilton Castle and is shown on present day maps as Stank House Farm.

Kilton Lodge Farm [now Stank House Farm]. Probably old Farmhouse.

Kilton Lodge Farm old archways.

The picture on the far left is of DeWayne E Calvert 1922-1999, a known descendant of John Calvert. Next to it is one of myself. Is the resemblance striking or not ?

ILLEGIMITATE ANCESTORS FROM SKELTON ? The above reference to the Calvert family at Tidkinhow drew the attention of David Eric Sterry of Runcorn, Cheshire, who has been told, as a result of DNA Testing, that one of the Calverts, who lived in this area was his direct Paternal ancestor. David has sent this photograph showing a strong resemblance to an American "Calvert cousin" and the following article:- My Sterry Family history has been extensively researched by a number of Family Historians even before I joined “the club” around 2001. Originating from Southwold, Suffolk, a branch moved North settling in Middlesbrough around 1865. My Grandfather was born there in June 1880. Some years ago I joined a STERRY DNA project but my test results did not match any known Sterry Family Tree! So it was I learned that my Grandfather was not the biological son of his Sterry father.

The following email was received from Larry Spurgeon Bell.

I am a descendant of the Fauconberg family and I must say I have greatly enjoyed looking at your site. It is informative and entertaining!
My question is this:
Do you know what side John De Fauconberg of Skelton took in the conflict between Edward II and the Marcher lords/Henry, Earl of Lancaster? I see on your site that he was rebuilding a chapel in 1325 so I would think that he had either stayed out of the conflict (hard to do in the North), or sided with Edward II; otherwise his property would have probably been confiscated.
If you do not have an answer is there someone else you could recommend I contact?

Dear Sir, Can I congratulate you on an excellent site. I have been reading it all day. I live now in Stoke on Trent and come originally from Normanby. My ancesters were all ironstone miners who worked in various pits, Normanby, Eston, Skelton and Liverton mines. I scanned your site in the hope of finding some mention of an accident which killed my great grandfather WILLIAM BARKER on 1st March 1910. He was aged 59 at the time and was a deputy at one of the local pits. He apparently was killed when he fell into a quarry. I have a feeling that this ocurred in either Skelton/Boosbeck or Liverton Mines. Do you have any information on such an ocurrence or if not can you tell me where I might find any details on it? Thanking you in advance. ERIC S BARKER. 26 February 2011. An email was received from Joan Outhwaite of Normanby, Cleveland, [N Yorks]:- On one of my frequent visits to your marvellous site I noticed a email from Eric S Barker. I live locally and may be able to assist him. Eric mentions his Great Grandfather, William Barker. William was the brother of my Great Grandmother. Over the past 10 years I have collected lots of information on the Barker family. I have doubts that William ever worked in Skelton Mines. My theory is; William worked in Normanby Mine and by the late 1890's this mine was considered to be uneconomic and was being run down.

William & his wife Sarah had two boys of working age who needed employment so in about 1898 Sarah moved with all of their children to Carney Street, Skelton. [This would be Boosbeck, 2 miles away and at that time part of Skelton Parish.] The boys did work in mines. William stayed behind and lodged with my great grandparents in Cleveland Street, Normanby. Sometime after 1901 and before 1907 (daughter married 1907 in Liverton Church) William obtained employment in the Liverton Mine. William Barker was not killed in a mining accident. I have a newspaper cutting from the Loftus Enquirer with the report of his death. It states that he fell into disused quarry near Loftus Railway Station whilst walking to Liverton. Joan has sent much information to Eric about his ancestry and he has asked me to thank her here. She in connected with two websites about the nearby area of Normanby. They can be visited here:- Normanby Village. Normanby History Group. William Barker, his Wife Sarah [nee Willis] and Family about the year 1905.

Wreckage of the Samtampa.

On 23rd April 1947, the master, Neale Sherwell, of the 7, 219 ton Liberty Steamship "Samtampa," found himself unable to proceed to Newport in the face of a 70-mile-an-hour gale and made the decision to hove-to in the Bristol Channel to await better weather. The cables, however, were unable to hold the ship in such adverse conditions, and tragically the vessel broke up into three sections in just 80 minutes on Sker Rocks, near Porthcawl, in what was described by witnesses as a "seething cauldron of fury." The Samtampa's lighter bow and stern sections were thrown up onto a rock plateau 25 feet above the beach, with the mid section containing the engine room remaining on the beach where it was battered against the rocks. Her crew of 39 were all lost. In addition to this, the Mumbles Lifeboat, "Edward, Prince of Wales," which had been sent to assist the stricken ship, was found the following morning upturned at Sker point near the wrecked ship."

Her crew of 8 were drowned. H Lees, age 24 of High St, Skelton was an engineer on the Samtampa. [From local enquiries the address is likely near 161 High St.] 9th Sept 2005. Hi Folks,need help, On the 23rd of April 1947 a young chap called Herbert Lees lost his life on a ship called the SS SAMTAMPA. He left a wife and daughters. His brother, Brian, now living in Canada is seeking to find them. The Merchant Navy records show his last address as 16 High St, Skelton. Sincerely yours Austin. A.H.BUTLER.