Notes on the Allenby Family and Brinkworth Hall
In the 1857 Post Office Directory, Brinkworth Hall is described
as being owned by a John Womald Esq. and occupied by a Mr. Dodsworth.
By the time the 1872 Post Office directory for Elvington was
issued Captain Allenby appears as residing at Brinkworth Hall.
The recent records of the Allenby family have been well researched
back to York and 1695, with the birth of Thomas Allonby (various spellings) of Acomb (Allerthorpe by Pocklington), who is
described as a Joiner. Further back than this it is not clear, but there are believed to be connections to the village of
Alonby (various spellings) in Northumberland.
Over the years the Allenby family related to Thomas of whom
my mother was one, moved from Acomb to the Tadcaster area and by 1840 were well established as Farmers, Corn Millers and Landed
Proprietors. At one point John Allenby of Tadcaster owned over 500 acres of land in addition to owning a large Mill in the
town.
On the death of John near Tadcaster in 1854, two of his sons,
Robert and John, inherited the land and farmed in the area surrounding Copmanthorpe Yorkshire.
I do not know when Robert Allenby, born Abt 1835 in Tadcaster
and his wife Agnes, (nee Thompson) moved into Brinkworth Hall, but from Census records this occurred between 1861 and 1871.
Robert and Agnes were married Abt 1861 and at Census time were living in Hampstead England. By 1863 they were living in Warwickshire
from family information below.
In 1871, the records show the following.
Robert Allenby, Head, married, Age 36, Landowner/Captain Militia,
born in Tadcaster.
Agnes Allenby Wife, Married, Age 32, no occupation, born in
Tadcaster.
There are 2 children listed.
Augustus H Allenby, Son, age 8, Scholar, born in Alford Bridge
Warwickshire.
Catherine A F Allenby Daughter, age 3, born in Elvington Yorkshire.
Also living at the Hall on Census day were.
Frances Ledgard, Sister- in Law, Married, Age 34, no occupation,
born in Tadcaster.
Cecilia Bettichetti Servant Unmarried, no age, Cook, born
in York.
Jane Wake, Servant, Unmarried, Age 18, Housemaid, born in
York.
Frances Ledgard was a married sister of Agnes, wife of John.
The family is described as living at Brinkworth House Elvington
Yorkshire in the Census records.
In the 1881 records the following appears.
Robert Allenby, Head, Married, Age 46, Captain 2nd
Warwick Militia, born in Tadcaster.
Agnes Allenby Wife, Married, Age 41, no occupation, born in
Tadcaster.
Reginald Allenby, Son, Unmarried, Age 19, Sub Lt Royal Navy,
born in Halford? Warwickshire.
Augustus Allenby, Son, Unmarried, Age 18, Second Lt Militia,
born in Halford? Warwickshire.
Catherine Allenby, Daughter, Age 12, no occupation, born in
Elvington Yorks.
Marmaduke Allenby, Son, Age 7, no occupation, born in Elvington
Yorks.
In addition there is listed;
Mary Finley Age 28, Cook Domestic and Lucy Jackson, Age 22,
Housemaid Domestic.
The family is listed as living in Brinkworth House Elvington
York on Census day.
When you look closely at the 20 year period above, you will
see there are children “coming and going” in and out of the records. This is due to the fact that Robert and Agnes
sent their children away from home to boarding schools at what we might think an alarmingly young age.
I can find no trace of the Allenby family in the 1891 Census
records, but in 1893, Robert bought a plot of land in a Cemetery in York, where he and his wife are buried.
In the 1901 Census, Robert is described as aged 65, Widower,
Retired Major Magistrate, living in St Mary’s Lodge, Marygate York. He
died on 22 Jan 1920 in York at the age of Abt 86.
It is not clear when the family left Brinkworth Hall, but
in 1892, from the GENKI web page a John Hall Esq is living at the Hall. There is an interesting history and account of the
area along with this page. Robert Allenby became a Magistrate in his later years in York I think.
So what happened to the children of Robert and Agnes?
As far as I have found there were 4.
Reginald Arthur, born Abt 1861.
Naval Career. He became a Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy and
fought in the Battle of Jutland in WW1. He died in 1936.
Augustus Heathcote, born Abt 1862
Military Career. He became a Lt Col. in the Royal Scots Regiment
and was killed in WW 1 in 1915 He is buried in France.
Catherine Anne Frances born Abt 1868.
She married a French General named Micheler (? spelling). Another Military connection. Very little is known about Catherine.
Marmaduke Cecil born Abt 1874.
Naval Career. Retired by the Royal Navy in 1920 as a Captain.
Moved to Prince Edward Island in Canada but later returned to England. Played Cricket at the County level in his younger days.
Died in 1932. One of his daughters, Margaret Cecil Agnes Allenby
(1909-1987) was my mother.
From a relation of mine, written in a letter in 1976, after
a visit to Brinkworth House.
“The owners at some point have divided the house in
two and turned the stables into a cottage. The extensive walled gardens have gone to seed and the whole property requires
three full time gardeners and five hours just to cut the grass. The quite large lake is in disrepair and needs a clean out.
The cedar tree on the front lawn has been blown down in a gale and is lying on its side awaiting removal”
John Stoddart
Alberta Canada 2005.
middlebank@ontis.com
