Unsolved Murder in 1875 of James Farmery

Google Alerts recently sent me a link to an article 

"The Horrific Hull Murders That Have Never Been Solved"

in Hull Live - Hull Daily Mail June 10^th 2018

The area of Hull where James Farmery was murdered

On the evening of Saturday 3^rd April 1875 the body of James Farmery was discovered lying in Church Street, Wincolmlee.  He had suffered a terrible head wound; he was bleeding badly from the nose, had a wound on the right temple and a bump on the back of the head.  He was taken home, before being taken to the hospital where he did not regain consciousness and pressure on the brain caused his death.

Mr Farmery, 56, had been seen arguing with another man earlier that night and as such a manhunt took place to find the individual, but all of the men who were rounded up and arrested had strong alibis.  He had been seen drinking in several pubs along Church Street and Wincolmlee, and smelt of alcohol when he was discovered.

Evidence at the inquest clearly heard that a young man was seen to quarrel with Mr Farmery in the street and struck him violently over the head with a stick and causing his death. The murderer escaped and all efforts to trace him failed.  During the inquest one woman said she saw Farmery and another man whom she did not know; she heard the other man say to Farmery “You’ll not accuse me for nothing, I am innocent.”  Farmery replied, “Well I can’t help it” to which the other man said “You will have to help it, and I will settle it tonight.”  A number of witnesses said they saw Mr Farmery and a man named Hill arguing before Hill struck Mr Farmery, but Hill later proved to have an alibi and had not been in the area at the time and Mr Farmery’s killer was never found.

Originally known as Church Street (as it led from Trippett via Wincolmlee to St Mary’s church in the hamlet of Sculcoates) the road is now called Wincolmlee, as the area of the old village of Sculcoates is now also known.

The age quoted in the article suggests a birth about 1819 but the death recorded in national registration in June quarter 1875 in Hull registration district and gives the age as 50, suggesting instead a birth in about 1825.

There is a death for another James Farmery Jun q 1871 Sculcoates RD age 46 – so again born about 1825 – so which James is this?

Given the age discrepancy there are three possible candidates – James son of George and Mary Farmery baptised 25.12.1817 Cottingham (which is in Sculcoates RD), James son of Joel and Elizabeth Farmery baptised 17.5.1823 Kirk Ella (Sculcoates RD) or James son of James and Elizabeth Farmery baptised 14.12.1823 North Cave (Howden RD).

James Farmery bap 14.12.1823 North Cave

James was the son of James Farmery born Howden 1796 and his wife Elizabeth Oliver who he married 19.10.1815 at North Cave.

James and Elizabeth had 5 children at North Cave (William 1816, George 1817, Elizabeth 1819, George 1821 and James 1823) before Elizabeth died in 1825.  James remarried Ann (nee FOX) widow of John Howden 19.11.1845 at North Cave.  Ann had a son James Howdin in 1837 but it is unclear if he was the son of John Howden, James Farmery – or someone else?  In 1851 he is James Farmery age 14, he marries in 1865 as James Farmery Howdin and in 1911 he is James Farmery.

Apart from William (1816) there is no trace in any census return (or national registration) of any of the other children of James and Elizabeth, suggesting that all, including James 1823, probably died before 1837?

James Farmery bap 17.5.1823 Kirk Ella

Joel and Elizabeth Farmery were living at Anlaby, Kirk Ella in 1841 with two of their eight children – but not James.  In 1851 James Farmery age 66 ag lab born Anlaby and his wife Elizabeth age 64 born West Ella are living in Anlaby along with two sons James age 27 farm labourer born Anlaby and Joel age 25.

Joel Farmery senior was baptised 15.8.1784 Kirk Ella and died Sep q 1860 Hull RD; wife Elizabeth died 13.2.1860 Hull.  I have not found a marriage for Joel and Elizabeth.

At the Beverley Quarter Sessions on 1^st July 1851 James and Joel Farmery were each sentenced to 3 months imprisonment for larceny – is this more likely to James’ brother (rather than father) Joel?

In 1841 James Farmery age 16 ag lab was at Burn Park Farm, Cottingham with William LUND farmer.

In 1861 James Farmery age 35 married ag lab born Anlaby was living in a barn in Canning Street, Hull Holy Trinity (there is no evidence that this James had married?)

In 1871 James Farmery age 47 unmarried pauper farm labourer born Anlaby was in Sculcoates District Union Workhouse which was built 1843-5 on the east side of Beverley Road.  Is he the James Farmery who died Jun q 1871 Sculcoates RD age 46?

James Farmery bap 25.12.1817 Cottingham

In 1841 James Farmery age 20 ag lab was at Cross Street, Sculcoates with Thomas and Mary Stephenson – with a 15 year old daughter Mary.

In 1851 James Farmery age 33 labourer born Cottingham was at 9 Vine Court, Sculcoates.  His wife Mary A Farmery age 27 born Sculcoates is visiting her parents Thomas and Mary Stephenson at 3 Carr Street, Kingston-upon-Hull.

In 1861 James Farmery age 43 “cupla tenter cotton” born Cottingham was at 37 Wincolmlee, Sculcoates with his wife Mary A.

In 1871 James appears to be Thomas Farmery age 53 asphalter, employing 2 men, born Cottingham at 2 Catherine Street, Sculcoates with wife Mary Ann age 48 born Hull.

James Farmery and Mary Ann Stephenson married 10.3.1844 at Sculcoates and had 13 children; their first son Charles died aged 9, their second son John was alive in 1851 age 5 but the next 11 children all died before they reached their first birthday.  In 1861 Jno Farmery age 15 born Sculcoates, Hull is a boy 1C on HMS Cornwallis moored off Hull.  This John seems to reappear in Hythe, Kent as John J(ames) Farmery where in 1891 he is age 41 waiter born Hull; in 1901 he is officers servant and in 1911 army pensioner caretaker (working mens club).  John James Farmery and Jemima Tutt married Sep q 1890 Elham RD.

James is likely the son of George Farmery who was at Broad Lane, Cottingham in 1841 age 50 ag lab.  George Farmery married Mary Harper 23.6.1808 at North Ferriby.  Is this the James who was murdered in 1875?

I have ordered the two James Farmery death certificates (1871 and 1875) in the hope that there will be additional information to determine which James is which?