Mr. Hale Stationmaster Help

[Andy873]

I've finally got what I think is a full list of station masters for the three stations on this particular branch line, all 32 of them.

However, Stationmaster Mr. Hale (I think that's his name) at Simonstone is reported as catching a woman at the station attempting to leave without a ticket through the goods yard (Burnley Express, Wed 20 Dec 1899, page 4, think column 6). Now I can't find any Mr. Hale on any railway search or census returns for Lancashire 1901.

Can anyone find Mr. Hale around 1901? Can we get a first name for him please? where is he in 1901?

Thanks,
Andy.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Can anyone find Mr. Hale around 1901? Can we get a first name for him please? where is he in 1901?

Thanks,
Andy.

Still the Simonstone stationmaster a few years later. Name was James Hale. Mentioned in another story which appeared in the local papers in March 1902 regarding an 'agitated passenger'.

 

[Rescars]

James Hale seems to have been a natural at press relations!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@Andy873. There's a further story, in the "Lancashire Evening Post" in late April 1930, and similarly also a few days later in the "Morecambe Guardian", in early May 1930, about stationmaster James Hale moving from Blackburn station, where he'd been since January 1923, to Liverpool Exchange. Possibly the very same individual, and, if so, it's mentioned that he hailed from Lancaster. Prior to 1923, he was said to have been the head of the East Lancashire Section at Preston Station. According to the "Clitheroe Adveriser and Times", he eventually died on Monday 2nd November 1959, at the home of his son, at Rydal Mount, York Lane, Langho, aged 88 (which suggests he was likely born in or around 1871). Sounds like a career railwayman. Hope that helps!

 

[stuving]

And the 1901 census has James Hale age 29 and born in Croston, Lancs. He is living in Cockshutt Cottage, Simonstone, and is ... a railway station master. He's married and with a new baby at this date.

In 1891 he is a railway booking clerk while still living at home in Croston.

 

[weepingwillowb]

Would this be his grave? In Farington, south of Preston.

James Hale (unknown-1959) - Find a Grave Memorial

Find a Grave memorial for James Hale died 2 Nov 1959. Buried at St Paul Churchyard, Farington, South Ribble Borough, Lancashire, England, Europe

www.findagrave.com

 

[Mcr Warrior]

And the 1901 census has James Hale age 29 and born in Croston, Lancs. He is living in Cockshutt Cottage, Simonstone, and is ... a railway station master. He's married and with a new baby at this date.

In 1891 he is a railway booking clerk while still living at home in Croston.

Any information available on either the 1911 or 1921 censuses?

Would this be his grave? In Farington, south of Preston.

James Hale (unknown-1959) - Find a Grave Memorial

Find a Grave memorial for James Hale died 2 Nov 1959. Buried at St Paul Churchyard, Farington, South Ribble Borough, Lancashire, England, Europe

www.findagrave.com

Looks like it might be. Date of death and his age seem to tie up.

 

[stuving]

The son he was living with at his death, and who was his executor, was Arthur John Hale born 1904 Walton-le-Dale. He was then described as railway inspector; the estate was valued at £16075.

In the 1921 census he and his two sisters appear without either parent (they must have been away) living in Penwortham, Preston. Marjorie, born 1906 also in Walton-le-Dale, was still at school. Dorothy Alice, born 1901 in Simonstone, was a railway clerk at Preston goods. Arthur John was then a booking clerk at the L&Y Rly. Co at Manchester Victoria.

In 1939 Arthur is still a railway clerk, now in "carriage & workings", and living in Blackburn. In 1941 he was fined £5 in Blackburn County police court for refusing to accept an evacuee on the grounds of his wife's poor health!

In 1921 at censustide (19th Jun) James and Annie Maria Hale were visiting friends in Fulham. He is listed as station master with the L&Y at Preston.

In 1911 all five are living in Railway Cottages, Aintree, and James is a station master. In 1939 James is retired, still living in Preston, with Annie.

James's wife was Annie Maria Chalker; they married late in 1899 in Depwade district (Norfolk - where she came from). Stanley was born at the end of 1901, missing that census and dying before the next.

 

[Andy873]

I'm so grateful to all of you on this one, I kept looking at one period which going on the pattern (average 4 years as SM here) looked too long. And only a couple of days ago did I come across Mr. Hale. Given the dates from what you tell me, I've now been able to slot him in.

A note on the following list of SM's at Simonstone that I have compiled:

* = Approximate year (not confirmed).
Any year with a month next to it is confirmed in the newspapers as "has been appointed station master" and generally goes on to say "who replaces Mr. X who is new station master at station Y".

Simonstone Station Masters:

*1877-Oct 1888 Robert Chadwick, Aged 21 in 1877.
First trains ran the full line, 1st June 1877. First known SM I can find.
Moves to SM of Burnley (Manchester Road) for 1 year before moving on.
Known as being a “curtious” Station Master.
Listed in the 1881 census as SM. Living at 19 Railway Row (Now Railway Terrace).
Listed in the Burnley Trade directories 1883 and 1887 as SM.

Oct 1888-Sept 1891 William Webster, Aged 22 in 1888. Moves to SM of Hapton station.

Sept 1891-*1895 John Wilkinson.
Possibly John W. Wilkinson? If so, he's aged 21 in 1891.

*1895-*1898 Reuben Storer. Aged 29 in 1895. First name spelt Ruben in the 1901 census. Listed in the Burnley Trade directory from 1896.
Probably there in 1895 as trade directories take some time to compile.

*1898-1902 James Hale. Aged 26 in 1898.
Newspaper articles, Dec 1899 and March 1902.
Listed in the 1901 census as SM, Living at Cockshutt Cottage, Simonstone.

1902-1906 Frederick Hilton, From SM at Holme Station, Lancs. (on the Copy Pit line).
Was SM at Holme station for 1 year in 1901. Moves to SM of Bradley Fold near Bury.
Aged 25 in 1902.

1906-1910 James Cottom Well known as “Cheery, pleasant and popular” Jimmy Cottom. Aged 31 in 1906. Moves to SM of Prestwich, Manchester.

1910-Dec 1913 William Roberts Farrer, Aged 24 in 1910. Moves to SM of Adlington, near Chorley.

Dec 1913-June 1919 Arthur James Baybutt, Moves to SM of Adlington. Aged 28 in 1913. Given a farewell presentation from station staff and friends in the school room,
Simonstone, Reported Wednesday 16 July 1919.

June 1919-Sept 1933 John William Wolfendale, Moves to SM of Heaton Park, Manchester. Aged 28 in 1919. Longest serving SM at Simonstone.

Sept 1933-July 1938 E. Turner, Moves to SM of Padiham.
July 1938-1939 G. J. Copely, Moves from goods clerk at Oldham (Clegg Street).
1939-April 1940 R. Fletcher, Moves to SM of Upholland, near Wigan.
April 1940 W. W. Parry, Moves from goods cleark at Denbigh, North Wales.
1940 Thomas E. Capper. Moves to SM of Fazakerley, Liverpool.
1940-Oct 1943 W. Cockshutt. Moves to SM of Holcombe Brook & Green Mount stations, Bury.

Oct 1943-July 1946 W. Meiling, Moves to SM of Upholland, near Wigan. Last SM I can find.

After July 1946, it looks like Simonstone was supervised by the SM's of Padiham.

End of list-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Points to note about this list:

1. Robert Chadwick (first listed) might not be the first SM, I have no proof of anyone from 1877 to the April 1881 census.
2. John Wilkinson might be John W. Wilkinson?
3. Some SM's I have no idea where they came from / moved on to.
4. Once we get to James Hale's departure (1902) and the replacement of Frederick Hilton onwards, I'm sure the dates are correct.

I thought I'd share this list as you won't find it anywhere else at the moment and I'm sure some of you will recognise some of the names.

Any help with the four points listed above would be very appreciated!

Thanks,
Andy.