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Wow, I haven't come back here in some time, so this is a really late reply ... but I do have quite a bit more info on Matthias now.

I'll direct you to a thesis written by Rosemary Southey in 2001 that I found online, which has a great deal of information about Matthias' career: ‘COMMERCIAL MUSIC-MAKING IN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY NORTH-EAST ENGLAND: A PALE REFLECTION OF LONDON, Volume 1: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/153775804.pdf

The basic details of Matthias' life are:
- He was born to Thomas Hawdon (cordwainer and Parish Clerk of All Saints Church) and Sarah Turner in 1732 in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
- He was baptised on 24 October 1732 at All Saints Church in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
- His half siblings (from Thomas' first wife, Ann Halleywell) were Thomas (b. 1717), twins Margaret and Ann (b. 1719), and Mary (b. 1720) and his full siblings were Thomas (b. 1727), Jane (b. 1729), Thomas (b. 1731), and William (b. 1734).  The first two Thomases died in infancy, as did William, and Jane died in childhood.  So, Matthias' siblings who survived to adulthood were Margaret (who married William Lowe), Ann (who died a spinster), Mary (who married George Douglas) and Thomas (who became a surgeon and never married).
- Matthias apprenticed under Charles Avison.
- He became the first organist of Holy Trinity Church (Hull) in 1751 after Charles Avison recommended him for the post.
- He married Mary Browne at Holy Trinity Church in Hull on 6 March 1760.
- Matthias and Mary had at least three children: Matthias (1761), Thomas (1765), and William (1767).  Their son Thomas also became an organist.  Their sons Matthias and William became surgeons (apprenticing under their uncle Thomas).
- Matthias became the organist of Beverley Minster (otherwise known as the Parish Church of Saint John and Saint Martin) in Beverley, an East Riding of Yorkshire in March 1769.
- Mary is thought to have died in Beverley in 1769, but needs to be confirmed.
- Matthias became the organist of St Nicholas Church in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne at the end of 1776/beginning of 1777.
- Matthias was a freemason.
- Matthias ended up bankrupt by 1781, but had recovered enough by his death to leave an estate worth 300 pounds, as per his will.
- Matthias died of "a lingering illness" in March of 1789 according to the Newcastle Advertiser published 21 March 1789.  He had been unwell for some time, having withdrawn from all forms of work six months earlier.

I hope that helps!

Can anyone shed any light on what records may exist for an agricultural labourer around the 1850s in Field Dalling, Norfolk?

I'm very curious about the life of my 2nd great-grandmother Eliza Pointon. 

I know that she was born to William Samuel Pointon and Mary Ann Clarke on 16 Nov 1849 in Field Dalling, Norfolk.  She was one of at least 8 children (the second youngest of the known children) and was baptised on 21 Nov 1849 at St Andrews Church in Field Dalling.  I know that many young children of agricultural labourers also worked on the farms, but the 1851 census shows that Eliza's siblings were in school.  Her mother, however, was also listed as working on the land and her maternal grandmother was receiving parish support.

In 1851, the family was living on Little Marsh Road.  When I look at maps of current Field Dalling, I see a Little Marsh Lane very close to the St Andrews Church and I wonder if the family lived in this area.  Eliza's parents were also married in St Andrews Church and all the other children baptised there as well.  Both of Eliza's parents were also born in Field Dalling, so it seems that the family was fairly stationary until they left for Canada (estimated around 1855, when Eliza was about 6 years old).

Would it be likely that any interesting records exist that would give insight into their lives - I'm wondering about possible records of William working for a farmer and finding out what wages he might have received, or perhaps records of the children in school.  Maybe I could find out exactly where they lived?  Were her parents educated at all (I am assuming that they couldn't read or write as they simply marked an X for their signatures on their record of marriage).  I'm mostly interested to find out if they were struggling and why and how they ended up leaving for Canada.  Did they receive assistance to go to Canada?  When exactly did they leave and what was their route?  How long did it take and on what ship?  I have so many questions about what her young life was like.

I know that no one can tell me for sure what records do or don't exist, but as I am in Canada, I wonder if it would be worthwhile to travel to England eventually - but I don't even know if it's possible that there might be something to look through and where I would search.  Right now I only have what is online - England census, marriage and baptism records mainly.

Thank you everyone, that is all very helpful.  I'm sure I wouldn't have figured that out myself!

I don't think that it's "Ranch."  I think it's Rauch and refers to the Rauch and Lang Carriage Company but I can't make out the word Lang in there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rauch_and_Lang

I'll look into that.  I assumed Ranch because John Kernaghan was a rancher by trade in Montana.