David Cragg 1817-1821

1817-1818

These two years David and his family spent managing the Newland house farm. The entries I have been able to make out are mostly of weather and chores. But more and more he reported the increasing interference of John Albright who was “poking his nose into every nook and cranny” of the farm, barns and even the house and his increasing demands. One entry on the 13th of the 5th month 1817 is intact:

“On the sixth of this month in the evening I was at Lancaster. John Albright left orders at his house that I must take a basket and a handkerchief from his house to him in the garden for he intended that I should take home with me a cat. Now a cat being none of my favourites but the contrary, having a particular aversion and displike to the keeping of cats. So I put the basket in the cart and when near the gate of the garden where I had business, I instead of calling him, set away home taking the basket with me and leaving John and his cat in the lurch. I being displeased at the thought of being burdened with such like cattle as these. Next morning I went again according to custom and he inquired if I had brought the basket again and I said no. He said you will be like to have a cat. All the grain and all the sacks will be devoured by mice and rats. They will quite swarm. There will be no doing without. I answered that I would have no hand with the keeping of cats. I would not have my house burdened with them and I would not keep a cat under 5 pounds per year. I was not hired to keep cats. Nothing of the sort. He said he would keep it I need not have it in the house. So away I set off and left him. He sent a servant after me and said when I had done my business I must call again. So I called again and John came out with a sack for to put a cat in the sack. So when we drove there I drove my cart by the house and into a cross street. He coming out to look after me. So I went into a shop and bought some cloth and stopped a good while. When I had stayed there as long as I well could I brought my cart to the end of the street and stopped there considering whether to set off home or to go to him and I went to the door and stopped there a piece and then went back to my cart again being considerably out of tune. I went again to the house and opened the door where John was, so he got up and said, 'Come here, hold the sack.' I stood still so he held the sack for himself. The old mistress took up the cat so I set out of the house and went to my cart thinking I was going to be beat about the cat. I must have one whether I will or not. Presently he came out with the sack in his hand and having got the cat tied up in it and put the sack into my cart and said, 'Thou may turn the cat out in the barn and not let it come into the house.' I said, 'I will take good care that it does not come into the house. I should not wonder if I throw it overboard into the canal as I go by.' So off I set down the street and he went muttering not to do so. I got onto the cart head and drove home and never looked after the cat nor meddled with it or the sack. He got his horse saddled and followed me home coming in sight of me before I got half way but kept behind until I did get home. And I took my cart and backed it into the barn and yoked the horse out, set down the cart and came away. .And he met me in the bam fold. So I took my horse into the stable and presently he came to me and asked, 'What hath thou done with the cat?' I said I had done nothing with it at all. It was in the sack in the cart in the barn for anything I knew. He said in much wrath, 'No, it's not there, it's gone.' 'Well,'I said, 'I know nothing about it.' So he set off again and run to the barn to examine for the cat and the cat was not to be found. The sack tied as he had left it at Lancaster. And he came running again into the house and brought the sack with him and held it up by the top and exclaimed, 'It's gone,' At which I set up a great laugh. "
There is only one other thing of interest of their stay at Newland house farm. Their sixth child was born, a girl in 1818 whom they named Jennet for David’s mother.

I imagine that David did not like working under a master going by later letters, but they did stay out the two year agreement and in 1819 they leased the farm called Old Robbins. The house is now called Castle o’Trim. They now had six children aged 10,9,6,4,2 and baby Jennet.

1819-1820

Times in England were bad in 1819, the first year David and family started farming at Old Robbins. Although the country was finally at a time of peace, internal troubles were rampant. In 1819, the six Acts were passed and almost brought about a revolution. Farms had been enclosed and the proud day of the yeoman or small landowner, was almost a thing of the past. Methods of farming were changing and the Industrial Revolution was on the march. So Old Robbins is where David met his woes. There is only one entry and it is a copy of a letter from George Huddleston in U.S.A. to his brother John in Yorkshire.

Dear brother,

I have been up in Canada from August 11 within a week. A pretty long journey from here, about 600 miles or better. I left my brother, James there in good health and he sends his love to you all and wishes thee to write as soon as probable you can. A person with a family may do better far than a single person accordingly, for money is scarce and they had rather pay wages in produce such as wheat, pork, rye, Indian corn, cattle and part money than all cash. Wages in the summer from April to October 16 dollars per month, 5s to the dollar English money. In winter 10 to 12 dollars. Plenty of work and provisions. Great wages but money Scarce.
I left my wages in Canada for my brother James to draw for me for I could not get it without stopping sometime longer but it is safe enough and he has drawn none of his own wages yet. Wages in Upper Canada is from 36 38, 40, and 45 pounds English money for labourers per year and found. Carpenters, tailors, shoemakers, blacksmiths, get capital wages but can do better if they have a family on account of taking produce as part payment. Clothing very dear, fire for fetching out of the woods. Shoes dear though there's duty to pay for tanners of leather, bark for the peeling, maked their own soap and candles. No taxes to pay in comparison .2/6 will pay all on land for a year. A bushel of wheat per day for reaping, every 10th or 8th bushel for thrashing. They may take farms plenty cheap with a yoke of oxen or two, a horse and a few cows for payment half the produce with 40 or 50 acres cleared land, the rest woodland. Farms in general not less than 100 acres in all. James nor I has not drawn lands but 100 acres each any time. I will not pretend to begin of clearing land except I was sure of my farm coming through. I could earn as much in one year as I could get ten acres cleared for by the Yankees. But I shall be a long time before I'll be able to fetch my family over hither of my own account by trading up and down the country but would wish thee to call and see them when thou art in Bowland and encourage them for the letter I received from Nancy said she had none to talk to but her six children. The way about the land in Canada is you draw a hundred acres and they give you two years to clear five acres and build a log house. At the two years end they give you the title to it if that be done or as soon as it be done. Which title costs 5/1/0. But if there be nothing done at it at the two years end they give it to any other person that may apply for it. Thomas Foster and sister Fanny is in good health and good circumstances and send their respects to you all and should be glad to see any of you in Harvest is quite at hand and some cut. Most excellent crops and is expected to be cheaper than it has been for many years back. I intend to stop here in this neighbourhood till I hear from old England. The wages is not so good as they are in Canada for money is scarce and work too if I could hear of any prospects of assistance for my family to come to me I would go back into Canada and get land cleared for them to come too. But I will not return to England yet awhile if I can be content about my family but can tell better when I hear from them. James is by Lake Ontario with Charles Fothergill, an Englishman at Torrents or Smith's Creek. I left Wm. Smithson and family three all well. Peter Bond, all in good health there.

George Huddlestone for John Huddlestone, Calf Cop near Betham, Yorkshire by way of Lancaster, England "

Because of this copied letter I gathered that already David and Molly were thinking of emigration.

I have no other entries for 1820 but I do know that a daughter Agnes was born in that year to Old Robbins.

1821

The family was still at Old Robbins but things were going badly. David was losing ground each year.

There are more copies of letters from America. One from Thomas Ashburn, Susanna, Ohio township, Clermont County, State of Ohio, New Richmond Post Office on February 2nd, 1821 to his cousin at Greenbank. He had been in Ohio ten years, bought land with limestone in hills and creek. He had lost his wife and remarried. He and his partner had worked hard and when the work seemed to be getting too hard he sold it for 8000 dollars and bought 875 acres for 10,000 dollars. He apparently became quite well off.

By this time Molly was beginning to have a very bad knee but she was still working hard. She had become a truly convinced Quaker more so than any of the rest of them in the family. They were attending meetings and occupying themselves doing good works as well as making a living. But due to many things they were in very bad circumstances. Isaac was 13 and working on the farm. Timothy was 12 and showed great aptitude for learning so they gained permission to send him to Ackworth school, a Quaker school in Yorkshire.

The following is David’s account of his taking Timothy to Ackworth.

9th Month 30th - "Made preparation for the intended journey to Ackworth next morning the 1st of the 10th month, 1821. The weather having for the past week been very stormy, some considerable debate as to which way we should go. Whether by Gisburn or Skipton or by Leeds to Ackworth or by Bradford, Halifax, Wakefield, etc. The distance of places we cannot well make out at present.”

10th month 1st - "Set off at five this morning. We went over the fields to the Lee called Top of Emmets, through the trough of Bowland. When we was in the trough it began to rain - wind south-west blows hard. We trudged along by the ashes amidst heavy pell mell showers but did not call. As we went over Hardnheight we was properly expend to the pelting of the ceaseless storm. The umbrella fluttered and every instant I expected that I should have been suspended by it. We reached Newton as 10 o’clock, a very rainy day. In the public house we met with R. Topham and three or more such like and there we stayed waiting of the weather mending, till 12 o’clock when the weather cleared up a little. And we set off again for Grisburn. We was told it was five miles to Bolton but we travelled for two hours and 20 minutes to it and then when we got there it was seven miles from there to Grisburn. It was three miles which we travelled in one hour. When we set off from Grisburn to Skipton at four in the afternoon the weather was more moderate. It was 11 miles which we travelled in three and one half hours. At seven o’clock at night we arrived at Skipton and put up at the Cap and Bottle, the first public house we came at and they was very full of company. The landlord, Wm. Smith and the landlady to all appearances was no strangers to good living. They do not shame a good pasture. Before we reached Skipton we thought Timothy was going to beat us all. He was the stoutest in the set. We sat in to rest about nine o’clock but there was 40 or 50 folks in the house dancing and singing to a late hour of the night. Timothy and John slept soundly presently but I kept awake some hours and was amused by the mirth of the company below. We had travelled at the rate of eight miles an hour but we thought the hours went at a rate of six.

10th month 2nd - "We set off from Skipton at eight this morning. The day like for being fine, towards Atley 15 miles. We went by a place called Adinham, one called Ilkly, populous villages. The country very good land and very thin of inhabitants, sometimes two or three miles and not a house near the road. The day fine and the roads dusty. We met with a fine woman at a farm house that accosted us. ‘Was we going to Ackworth?’ We said yes. She wished us to speak to a young woman there called Mary Smith and tell her to write a few lines to let them know how she was, etc.

“At Atley we called and got a pint of ale only and got some cheese and bread we had in our budget and rested not more than an hour, we anxious to get to Leeds before it was dark. We was wearily tired and went heavily along the road. We was stark and footsore. We should have been very glad to be at the end of our journey and before we was Timothy was shocked with the farmers which were occupied in housing and stacking corn, making very bed-like long stacks, slack in the middle. Strong horses three or four on a wagon and two on a cart. Oats and barley moved and gather into sheaves. A most abominable, slovenly way. One man mowing and two or three gathering after. If they all had shorn, I am sure it might be done in hay time.”

“So now we are landed at Leeds in Yorkshire, a very large and populous town. It being market day, there was a vast throng of people in the public streets. Some hundreds of large, strong pigs in the pig market. They seemed to be fat as if fit for the butchers.”

10th month, 3rd. "From Leeds to Pontrfact 15 miles. Set off and ten and reached at three in the afternoon. Put up at the Dolphin Inn Brown and got our dinner; roast shoulder of mutton and potatoes, apple pie and cheese, and what you please. We came on a new turnpike road from Leeds hither 15 miles. They tell us it is three miles to Ackworth from here and we are proposing to stop here all night rather than go forward to Ackworth this night as we may keep company together tonight for the last time.”

5th day - "We went from Pontrifact forth to Ackworth village and got breakfast there, not at Ackworth Inn but another. We then at about none o’clock went to the school and met with the superintendent there and delivered our sons into his care. It being meeting day I attended meeting and got dinner with a family and left them about two afternoon. Timothy was in good spirits till we reached the school but when I came away and took leave of him he was much affected as much as I. He could hardly say farewell. Who knows that ever we may meet again but we wish all to be done for the best, let it turn out how it may. I came then to Wakefield seven miles. A rainy day and durst not go farther as it turns out a most rainy night - remarkable.

6th day of the week at 9 at night - "I am at a place called Portsmouth and six miles beyond Burnley. I came from Wakefield today through Dewsbury about five miles the lower road to Halifax 10 miles. A most remarkable populous country. I reached Halifax about 12. Near Wakefield there is a navigable river along the road for many miles. Halifax is a large town. I got a glass of ale and some cheese and bread and set off for Bramley 21 miles but as I had got no regular meals I failed reaching Burnley which I had intended. I have travelled 32 miles today and shall have no less tomorrow.

7th day of the week - "A rainy morning. I tarried a while and set off at seven o’clock. Heavy rain to Burley six miles - two hours travelling. A deal of coal pits in these parts, and very cheap. Burley is a large town. I had breakfast. Hot home about six at night.

The distance was about 65 miles one way. 12 year old Timothy wrote the following note right after his father left him:

"I write these few lines to let thee know I am arrived in good health and spirits. Tomorrow morning I enter the school and then perhaps thou will hear again not very soon. But if my teacher be willing I will write thee or somebody else before it be long. If thou come to fetch me home next year thee will find it a long way hither. I expect I shall get a watch when I get home again, old or new. So no more from Timothy Cragg at present.”