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Thomas Ferres of Hull The town walls of Hull in Yorkshire, with their massive gates and more than twenty rectangular towers, protected the landward sides of the town. Below the walls was a defensive moat. They remained in place to protect the population until the 18th century when the increase in trade caused the town to expand and develop new land. Thomas Ferries, Alderman of Hull in 1615, was a successful merchant and one of the town's most prominent citizens. He owned a large vacant area of land, previously the site of the Carmelite friary, and he donated it for the building of the Trinity House. In 1625 he erected an almshouse near to house poor for infirm seamen which soon became known as 'Ferre's Hospital. Thomas Ferres is said to have been born at Danby in North Yorkshire where there is a local tradition that he was in love with a girl who lived on the opposite side of the River Esk. One day, when the river was swollen by rains, and he fell from the stepping-stones, and nearly drowned. He vowed that one day, if he should have the means, he would build a bridge in gratitude to those who save him. The result was Lover's Bridge on the River Esk between Egton and Glaisdale. After becoming Alderman of Hull, he carried out his promise and built the 'Lover's Bridge' or 'Beggar's Bridge' over the river. It bears the initials T F and is dated 1621.
Hanging of Lord Ferrers Lawrence Shirley of Staunton Harold inherited the earldom of Ferrers from his father, a son of Robert Shirley who had been created Viscount Tamworth and Earl Ferrers in 1711 by Queen Ann. In 1752 Lawrence Shirley married Mary, a daughter of Amos Meredith. She was so badly treated that she was forced to appeal to Parliament for redress. The Lords agreed on a separation, and that she should be given maintenance paid for out of the Earl's estates. Ferrers drank heavily, often gambled, and was accused of being mad on several occasions. In one instance some guests refused a dinner invitation and Ferrers was so outraged he kicked and horse-whipped his servants. One was stabbed and battered with a candlestick so severely he never properly recovered. On another occasion Ferrers tried to force a servant to kill the Countess. When he refused, he tried to shoot the servant, but the gun misfired. Mister Johnson had been with the Ferrers family all his life. He was appointed steward and given charge of the accounts. The Earl gave him the task of ensuring the Countess received her maintenance from the estate. When a disagreement arose over a contract for a coal mine, Ferrers accused Mr Johnson of being dishonest. He tried to force the steward out of his farm on the estate. He failed because Johnson was able to produce the lease showing his entitlement to the farm. When the row seemed to have subsided, Ferrers invited Johnson to his house at Stanton Harold. He was shown into the Earl's quarters, and told to kneel down. On doing so Ferrers shot him in the ribs with a pistol. The surgeon was sent for and he was told by Ferrers, 'I intended to have shot him dead, but, since he is still alive, you must do what you can for him'. Johnson was so badly wounded he died that night. Earl Ferrers was eventually arrested and accused of wilful murder. He was first held in Leicester jail, but because of his title, was transferred to the Tower of London in order to be tried by the House of Lords. On being found guilty by the his fellow peers, Ferrers expressed a wish to be beheaded in the Tower, but his crime was considered so atrocious and the King insisted he be hanged at Tyburn. A scaffold was erected and covered with black baize. At about 9 am on May 5th 1760, he was driven from the tower in his own landau. Crowds lined the streets to see the spectacle of an Earl being hung, it took nearly 3 hours to reach the gallows. Ferrers asked God to pardon him for all his sins, presented money to the hangmen, and the sheriff gave the signal for the hanging to take place. He hung for an hour and five minutes before being taken down and pronounced dead. Reference:
Mrs Farrar's Spa Town Scarborough spa is conveniently placed on the beach at the foot of a cliff a little to the South of the town. The properties of the spring water were first discovered in 1620 by Mrs Farrar, who is often described as 'a sensible and intelligent lady'. She lived in Scarborough and one day was walking on the beach and noticed that stones under the cliff had russet coloured water passing over them. She tasted it and found it was slightly acid and much different from the water in the common springs. She came to the conclusion that it must have medical properties. The first spa house was built in 1700 by Dickie Dickenson who rented the site from the corporation. Within a short time the spa's fame had spread and was attracting gentry and nobility from all over the country.
Dr Robert Farrer If ever there was pleasure in having a medical gentleman attending one, it was when Robert Farrer, Esq. MRCS &c, was called in. He happily lives still at Scarborough, but the author has nearly forty years' pleasant reminiscences of Dr Farrer's gentleness, skill, and urbanity. His sons follow the profession; but they cannot be more beloved by a whole town than their father has been. In his public capacity as Medical Officer, Local Board Member, &c Dr Farrer has gained the highest esteem. Reference:
The late Dr Peter Farrar of Hessle, North Humberside traced his family to Joshua, son of John Farrar who was baptised in Lightcliff, Yorkshire on December 25th 1760.
F W Farrer, Dean of Canterbury Fredrick William Farrar was born in Bombay in 1831. He was the great-grandson of John Farrar who married Hannah Hartley at Halifax in 1769. They were descended from Jonathan Farrar, clock maker of Warley. Fredrick William was ordained in 1854 and later became headmaster of Marlborough and honorary chaplain to Queen Victoria. He was made canon of Westminster and rector of St Margaret's, Westminster in 1876, Archdeacon of Westminster in 1883, and Dean of Canterbury in 1895. His is perhaps best remembered as an author, particularly the best-seller published in 1858, Eric, or Little by Little.
William M Farrar William M Farrar was born on September 3rd 1824 at Washington county. Pennsylvania of Welsh, English and Scottish-Irish ancestry. He read Law and was admitted to practice at Washington and later moved to Ohio where he settled at Cambridge, Guernsey county. He was elected Clerk of the Courts on two occasions. He distinguished himself during the Civil War under G G Harker, and afterwards returned to Cambridge to take a leading part in local politics. Reference:
George Farrow George Farrow was born between 1615 to 1620 and became a weaver of Ipswich, Mass. He married Ann Whitmore in 1643/4 and had three daughters, Mary, Martha and Phebe. George sold his house and seventy acres of land in Ipswich in 1668 and moved to Wells, Maine. On September 27th 1676, he ventured out of his house alone and was killed by Indians. Ipswich in Essex County, Mass. USA, 25 miles NE of Boston, was settled in 1633 as Agawam. It was renamed Ipswich the following year after the English town. Lace making was one of its first industries. Reference:
In 1590, William Weldon conveyed the manor of Lullebrook in Cookham, Berkshire to Thomas Turner, alias Ferrers, the son of William Ferrers of Taplow Court. The manor remained with the family until his grandson, John conveyed it to William Chilcot.
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