John Farndale

John Farndale

Martin and Catherine were still living at Kilton Thorpe when their eldest son, John, was born on Christmas Eve 1877. Very little is known about him. He must have moved to Tranmire with his parents in about 1881 and then to Tidkinhowe in about 1883, where he was brought up. He almost certainly went to school at Charltons and then at Boosbeck. He appears to have worked in the mines locally and was involved in an accident which damaged his leg for life. He then worked locally on farms. He used to say that he remembered driving sheep from Tranmire to Tidkinhowe.

He married Elsie Maude Hammond in June 1928 and in January 1928, he took over Tidkinhowe Farm when his father died. He farmed there until he retired in the 1960s. His wife, Elsie, became ill soon after they moved to 14 Walton Terrace at Guisborough. She died shortly afterwards. John lived at Guisborough and was looked after by relatives. He spent his last few years in a cottage near Stapleton where he was nearer to relatives, particularly Margaret Shields, eldest daughter of his sister Lynn. He dies aged 94 in 1971 and was cremated in Darlington crematorium. His wife, Elsie, had been cremated at Stockton crematorium.