1841 and 1851 Census Data
Details of all the Melsonby people recorded in the 1841 and 1851 Censuses can be seen here: mels-1841_1851
It is interesting to see the variety of occupations, number of shops and size of the families in what were small cottages!
It is not easy to identify exactly which house compares with modern properties, as the roads were not named until later and some properties have been merged to form larger dwellings and others rebuilt. Large properties like the Rectory, Spencer House, the School and the Black Bull are some help in placing other properties.
Some of the family names can be found in the churchyard, but not many descendants are still in the village.
Letter from the Queen 2017
After the competition for a card to celebrate the Queen’s Sapphire Jubilee, Judy Bottle sent the winning cards plus explanation to the Queen. She has received this reply:
Melsonby 1939 Census
Ian Simpson, with invaluable help from Brian Hird, Ian Black, Jean Simpson and Judith Stansfield has downloaded and tabulated all the details for Melsonby. He has produced a table for residents by their dwellings and another in alphabetical order of surnames. Below are links to the two files and some introductory notes.
He will be pleased to deal with any enquiries passed to him from anyone researching Melsonby residents.
Melsonby by surname the-1939-register_surname
Melsonby by residence the-1939_register_houses
In September 1939, within four weeks of War being declared, the Government started to compile a Register of UK citizens showing their residences, Dates of Birth, Gender, Marital Status, Occupation and specific Wartime roles. This massive undertaking was designed to facilitate the immediate issue of Identity Cards, lay plans for Food Rationing as well as to provide a basis for Evacuation where required.
The Register remained in force with updates such as change of name on marriage and newborn children being entered but, though dormant since 1991, has only recently been released .
Individuals believed to be still living in 1991 have been blacked out to preserve confidentiality, an exception being those aged over 100 years at that point.
We now have a Transcript of the 13 pages completed for Melsonby enabling enquiries to be made on two Spreadsheets: (i) of the whole village, house-by-house or (ii) by surname. The original handwritten pages can be viewed by searching on Findmypast but a subscription is necessary to move past their index pages before opening the whole household : happily, both of our neighbouring County Libraries (North Yorkshire and County Durham) have already subscribed, allowing readers to search as guests, with the added advantage of access to the whole of England and Wales.
Melsonby Memorial Tree
One of the trees on the green needed to come down, but it has been turned into a Memorial Tree by the talented sculptor Lukas Bebo and his father.
It was designed as a memorial for Ian Stansfield, but memorial plaques for others connected with the village will be welcome additions. Applications should be made to the Parish Clerk.
Anyone who lives or has lived in Melsonby may place a plaque on the tree, in memory of a relative or friend who has had connections with the village. The full criteria and application is available to download.
Application to place a plaque on the memorial tree April 2019
Ian Black made the video during its construction: