Ann Mayor 1775-1860

[Elliven]

She was born around 1775 on a farm near Wolsingham.  She married a lead miner who died in1819 and they had at least 7 children, four of whom died in childhood.  She and her husband rented a 66 acre farm near Waskerley.  When the railway crossed her land, the trains had to be prepared for the rope haulage up what became known as Nanny Mayor's Incline.  She took advantage of this and served drinks to the railway workers and the passengers, turning her home at Tween House into the Railway Tavern - a very useful supplement to her income.  Does anyone have any more detailed information on the family or the pub.  Many thanks

[AllanUK]

turning her home at Tween House into the Railway Tavern

The OS map shows the name as the Railway Inn

snippet image courtesy of the National Library of Scotland

[AllanUK]

The 1861 Census shows that Tween House was occupied by Isabella Ann Nager and her family. Isabella is described as being a 46 year old widowed Inn Keeper.

I can't find anything after this.

[willsy]

I found this within an artcle entitled 'Lough The Sculptor's Parents'

Consett Guardian 11 Dec 1925

[willsy]

Jane Mayor's headstone is menntioned a few times with regards to Lough, this one includes a little more info

Consett Guardian 10th Aug 1928

[Elliven]

AllanUK

That was Ann Mayor's daughter in law and the name was a spelling mistake or misinterpreted handwriting.  Ann Mayor was born circa 1775 and was about 85 when she died in 1860 - the year before the Census.

The railway was diverted away from Nanny Mayor's Incline in 1859 and she retired and the pub reverted to being Tween House, in its original role, as a farmhouse.  When she died, her son's family remained there for some time.  Much of the stone was probably scavenged by neighbouring farmers but part of it still stands today.

No doubt she helped out in the pub but she could not be described as an innkeeper because her name was never on the licence.

[Elliven]

willsy

Thank you for those articles.  That grave holds several family members including Ann Mayor herself.  The heavy metal framework was fabricated by her grandson and was intended to make it very difficult for grave robbers to dig up her body with the intention of stealing rings that might have been buried with her.

[trish1120]

Not sure what extra info you require so just putting what I have found.

FreeREG has some Mugglewick entries;

Marriage;
JOHN MAYOR to Ann SCOTT 29 Jan 1800 

ANN Mayor married Charles ALLEN 03 Mar 1834
THOMAS Mayor married Isabella Ann PARKIN 20 Sep 1835

2 Allen grandchildren are with Ann Mayor 1841 Census.

Burials of;
JANE Mayor 09 Aug 1829 age 14
WILLIAM Mayor 20 Nov 1829 age 27

Charles Allen widower remarried 3 April 1839 Durham (f/S.Org)
Bond has him of Anfield Plain

FreeREG has a ANN Allan buried 26 Sep 1838 Lancaster age 26, abode Annfield Plain

Bapts Lancaster to Charles/Ann
William 18 Apr 1837
Ann    21 Jun 1838 buried 26 Oct 1838 age mths
Father a Innkeeper
Charles and new wife bapt another Ann 8 Jan 1840

Interesting as Daug Ann 1840 is not with Charles/Frances in 1841 but with his 1st Wifes Mother.

They must have had a close relationship. Son of Charles/Ann William is there also.

Cant see a bapt Wolsingham with my resources for a Ann Scott but can see 2 burials on FreeREG;
WILLIAM Scott 17 Mar 1789 Labourer
ANN Scott 01 May 1791 widow age 60
   

[Elliven]

trish 1120

Thank you for this information.  Superficially, it looks like useful background information but from my previous researches, there is so much more detail that I can extract from it.

Ann Mayor's grave, in the churchyard at Muggleswick, is a very elaborate (and expensive) one and seems to be more than her moderate means would allow.  But now you have introduced Charles Allen and that is a magical element!  He was a contractor who made his fortune by making cuttings and embankments mainly on the Stanhope and Tyne Railway (Nanny Mayor’s Incline being part of that railway!)

He was originally from that area and may well have worked on the incline.  He retired from that type of work and built a pub and brewery in Annfield Plain – the pub was originally called The Stanhope and Tyne Railway Inn and was built about 1835.

There was a direct goods and passenger railway from Annfield Plain to Waskerley which always stopped at Ann Mayor’s Railway Inn where it was prepared to be switched over to the rope haulage system up the incline.  So, although she may have brewed her own, he was potentially the source of the beer she sold to the passengers and railway crews.

Now you have given me a whole new basis for research AND a connection that I did not know existed.  Your timing is also perfect as I will be at the County Records Office tomorrow afternoon.  So, it’s a great big thank you from me and I will post any results here as and when I find them.