A Lincolnshire Shepherd

Lincolnshire Life July 1969
(purchased on eBay April 2013)
photograph by H D Martineau

"George Farmery lives in Old Bolingbroke.  We nearly described him as a 'typical' Lincolnshire shepherd - and perhaps he is if his care and solicitude for his sheep are the yardstick for a good shepherd.  But Mr. Farmery, now 77 years of age, has been shepherding since he clipped his first sheep at the age of thirteen, sixty four years ago - and shepherds with sixty-four years service are few and far between.  A resident of Old Bolingbroke for 30 years, George Farmery was born in a family of 10, at nearby Asgarby [sic], a weakly baby who was not expected by the doctor to live more than a month.  Yet he is still working regularly and out and about in all weathers.

Where sheep are concerned he has done everything.  Who, for example, can imagine driving 1132 sheep through the middle of Boston with only his dog in support?  George did it in 1931.  He once caught and clipped 70 sheep in a day when the pay for clipping was only 3/- a score - and would the wool as well.  Only a year ago he clipped 18 sheep in 2 1/2 hours before 7.30am., and at sixty-five walked for 14 hours and 7 1/2 miles with 400 sheep on one bottle of lemonade for sustenance.

A salute, then for George Farmery, Lincolnshire Shepherd, survivor of a diminishing race.  He and his kind will not be seen again."

George James FARMERY was born 29.4.1892 in Asterby and baptised there 29.5.1892, son of Joseph FARMERY "Mr James Walton's foreman", and his wife Fanny.

Joseph FARMERY age 24 labourer of East Barkwith (son of James FARMERY deceased) married Fanny OVERTON age 19 of East Barkwith (daughter of John OVERTON carrier) at East Barkwith 12.6.1876.

The family were living at:
1876 - East Barkwith (marriage)
1877 - South Willingham - birth of daughter Mary Ann
1879 - Asterby - birth and baptism of daughter Fanny
1881 - Glebe, Asterby (census)
1883 - East Barkwith - birth of daughter Hannah
1889 - Hatton - birth of daughter Martha
1891 - Foreman's House, Asterby (census)
1893 - Asterby - birth and baptism of son George James
1894 - North Willingham - burial of daughter Fanny
1894 - North Willingham - birth of daughter Maud Miriam
1901 - village, Calcethorpe (census) - George was a scholar
1911 - Gayton le Wold (census) - George James was a farm labourer.

The 1911 census shows that Joseph and Fanny FARMERY had been married 34 years and that only 5 of their 10 children were still living; I have yet to identify the 4 children who died as infants.

Joseph FARMERY was born in 1851 at East Torrington and was the grandson of George FARMERY of Walesby who married Anne PUTTERGILL 12.6.1816 at Faldingworth.

George James FARMERY married Ellen BOSNELL in 1916 and they had three children Doris M, Basil R and Margaret Eve.  Ellen FARMERY of 35 Alma Place, Spilsby died 20.3.1974 and in 1977 George remarried Agnes Maud HUBBARD (nee SMITH) widow of George HUBBARD. 

George James FARMERY of 33 Old Market Avenue, Spilsby died 7.1.1979 and his widow Agnes Maud FARMERY was living in Bardney and died in Lincoln 3.11.1987.

2012 annual Farmery gathering

Saturday September 22nd 2012 will see the twelth international Farmery gathering in the village hall at Bracebridge Heath, near Lincoln (LN4 2LB).


Guests this year are already confirmed from Italy and Australia!
The first gathering was held on May 20th 2000, then every year from September 28th 2002.


•10.00am Registration and Coffee

•10.30am Welcome and Introductions (Alan Moorhouse)

•10.45am Castles in the Sky - Oral Evidence for Family History Research (Simon Powley)

•11.45am Open/workshop session

•12.30pm Lunch (at leisure)

•1.45pm Afternoon session commences

•2.00pm Interesting Characters of Lincolnshire (Lynda Hotchkiss)

•3.00pm Open/workshop session

•4.15pm Raffle, Tea

•4.30pm Close

Dr Simon Powley teaches Drama and English at a Lincolnshire secondary school; he is a former vice chair of Lincolnshire Family History Society and has been a historical consultant to North Kesteven District Council.

Lynda Hotchkiss used to be researcher in residence at Lincolnshire Archives and is now a freelance research consultant with G&LH Search and well known local speaker who returns once again to a Farmery gathering!

The raffle will be in aid of the Star Appeal at the National Star College in Cheltenham.

For those waniting to make a weekend of it there will be an informal gathering at The Premier Inn Canwick on Friday evening, a more formal dinner in Lincoln on Saturday evening and a visit on Sunday morning.

For more information please email me.

Where will you be on Sunday March 27th 2011?

Sunday March 27th is the date for the 2011 UK census. Where will you be that day?

There is talk of this being the last ever census and for the first time the return can be completed and submitted on line.

A census has been taken every 10 years since 1801 with the exception of 1941, which was in the middle of WW2, though there was a "min-census" on Friday September 29th 1939 so that everybody could be isued with a national identity card.

• 1841 Sunday June 6th
• 1851 Sunday March 30th
• 1861 Sunday April 7th
• 1871 Sunday April 2nd
• 1881 Sunday April 3rd
• 1891 Sunday April 5th
• 1901 Sunday March 31st
• 1911 Sunday April 2nd

The early census' (1801 to 1831) were simply a head count but from 1841 onwards the names and other details of individuals were recorded. In 1841 adult ages were rounded down to the nearest 5 years then from 1851 "age last birthday" was recorded. I have print outs of every person called FARMERY (or a variant) in each census from 1841 to 1911.

Census returns are closed to public access for 100 years so the 2011 census will not be searchable until 2112! The most recent census to be released was from 1911 - ordinarily this would not have been open until January 1st 2012 but under the Freedom of Information Act most informaton was released early, in 2010, due to an anomaly in the wording of the 1911 Census Act. In 1911, for the first time, there was the additional information of how long a couple had been married and how many children there were to the marriage, both living and dead.

If this is going to be the last ever census, and because of the 100 closure rule, why not keep a copy of your return for the benefit of your descendants who might be interested in their genealogy?

William GIBSON yeoman of Ripon will proved 1772

William GIBSON yeoman of Ripon, will dated 17th September 1772.

Since surrendering my Copyhold property I have sold my Copyhold estate at Killinghall to John Strother of Killinghall.

All my real estate at Beckwith with Rossett to Thomas Cundall of Ripon, yeoman and Alice Cundall his wife.

To John Anderson of Kirkby Hill, John Farmery of Sinderby, Robert Farmery of Kirtlington, Elizabeth Farmery the granddaughter of William Famery late of Middleton Quernhow, Breeches maker, deceased, Elizabeth Grimston (nee Elizabeth Scurrah and granddaughter of William Farmery), the wife of William Grimston, of Sutton Howgrave, £20 each.

£20 between the children of James Anderson, late of Kilgram.

All my personal estate to Thomas Cundall chargeable with my legacies, and appoint him Executor.

Witnesses: James Collins, junior, William Kirkby, J Atkinson.

Inrolled 7th Octopber 1772

www.harrogatepeopleandplaces.info

Kirtlington is presumably Kirklington. Kirklington, or the adjacent parish of Bedale, look to have included Sinderby and Sutton Howgrave. Early entries include William son of Leonard Farmery of Howgrave was baptised at Kirklington April 27th 1727 and John Farmery and Ann Hopkin married at Kirklington February 3rd 1672.

Grimsby Trawler Skippers

Grimsby Trawler Skippers and their Trawler Commands

Farmery, Alan R

• King Sol: February 1955. Stranded at Iceland


• Lord Hawk: December 1967. January-May 1968


• Nothern Sky: August 1968. July 1970


• Northern Chief: February-December 1972. January-November 1973. February 1974-March 1975


• Vianova: June-August 1975


• Royal Lincs: January, February 1976 (last trip)

Farmery, Sidney Philip

• Isernia: February, May 1950


• King Sol: December 1955

Jack Farmery, York City Goalkeeper 1929

York City played their first ever game in the Football League on August 31st 1929, winning 2-0 away to Wigan Borough - York's team on that illustrious occasion included Farmery.

The first home game was a goalless draw against Wrexham on September 4th 1929.

York progressed well in the FA Cup which brought them a third round visit to First Division giants Newcastle United, the match ending in a 1-1 draw. Goalkeeper Jack Farmery and centre-half Charlie Davis were especially magnificent.

In the replay Hughie Gallacher headed a trademark equaliser on 36 minutes before being handed an opportunity to give his team the lead after being fouled by Charlie Davis during the second-half. However the Scottish international saw his penalty blocked by the redoubtable Farmery and then struck the rebound wide.

Talking York 1929-1939

Does anyone know who Jack Farmery was or how long he played for York?

10th Anniversary Gathering

The 10th anniversary Farmery gathering held at Bracebridge Heath on September 25th 2010 was once again a truly international event when we welcomed, for the 3rd year running, Graham and Alison Farmer from Rome, Italy, and, for the first time, Henry and Kay Farmery from Toronto, Canada, and sisters Pam Woodward and Jenny Thompson from New Zealand!

Veronica Farmery from Leeds provided a surprise cake which was enjoyed at the afternoon tea break.

Lynda Hotkiss' talk in the morning on food from the past was supplemented with so many tasty samples that for many delegates there was no need to adjourn to the pub for lunch.

In the afternoon Peter Edwards handed out copies of many interesting cuttings to illustrate the importance of using newspapers in research; one example from June 1911 was entitled "Funeral Scenes at Welshpool" and included:

"... The coffin was a study in decoration, and reminded one forcibly of the coster's cluster of buttons. It was composed of unstained oak, but the brass fittings showed that no expense had been spared to make the deceased's last journey a memorable one. The lid of the coffin was covered all round with brass studs of about an inch square, a large plate almost the entire width of the coffin itself and about 15 inches in length, which contained the plain inscription ... "

One of my favourite newspaper cuttings is from the Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury of January 29th 1790:

"A curious boxing match took place a few days ago at Waddington near Lincoln between two females of that village, Susanna Locker and Mary Farmery. They both laid claim to the affections of a young man; this produced a challenge from the latter to fight for the prize, which was accepted. Proper sidesmen were chosen and every matter conducted in form. After several count-down blows on each side, the battle ended in favour of Mary Farmery."

Once again a large number of those present at the gathering met up for dinner at the Wig and Mitre at the top of Steep Hill in Lincoln.

Next years gathering is scheduled for Saturday September 24th 2011 at Bracebridge Heath.