Memories of a Cheshire Boy

Memories of my Father – Earliest days

My father's memory has faded and the chance to have a meaningful discussion on virtually anything has now gone forever. Old age has become senility, vascular dementia has dealt its' cruel blow and only his reminiscences that I have recorded remain for us. This is for you my family, friends and anyone that may find his life of interest.

Background

My father Frank Barker was born in 1918 in Middlewich, Cheshire. Second son of Nina Charlesworth and John Massey Barker. Nina was a daughter of Thomas and Hannah Charlesworth from Badington, near Nantwich Cheshire. A child of first cousins, the result of which, blighted not only her life but those of her siblings. Many not surviving the first few years of life, and the remainder expiring earlier than would be expected. Whilst we may consider this type of marriage very distasteful, it appeared far more commonplace in the affluent Cheshire farming families than I had expected. There could only be one reason, money!, with children actually encouraged to marry cousins to maintain land and assets within the family.

John Massey Barker was the youngest son of George J Barker, a farmer's and veterinary surgeons son and Sarah Massey daughter of Edward Massey, founder of Massey Bros. in Cranage, Cheshire. Tragically he was left an orphan at the age of 12 and was taken into the care of his Aunt, Lucy Manley (sister of his mother).

First Memories “Old Ned Sandbach”

A story of a close bond between a small boy and an Old Drover.

Dad's brother Harry, less than two years older than Dad, suffered dreadfully from Eczema and without the modern medications now available, needed constant attention. This resulted in Dad not having a great deal of parental attention and developing a close relationship with an old Drover, Ned Sandbach. Ned was a real migrant, and turned up every Spring at Croxton Bank, after living in Northwich Workhouse during the winter months.

Ned, was paid for work he did, lived in the barn, being fed buttermilk and tatties. Unlike other agricultural labourers he wouldn't sign up at the hiring fairs, but managed to survive without being in the system. Dad remembers his arrival in Spring, “Aye up misses hav e got any buttermilk and tatties” he would shout. He helped out at local farms undertaking droving work( taking the livestock to markets) and any other odd jobs he could find. On one hand all of Ned fingers were knarled and bent, the result of a severe horse bite left unattended due to the lack of money for “doctoring”. The earliest recollection Dad has, was when his brother was ill. Ned would say to Nina his mother, “Aye up missus put child'tin pram and I'll take him down Dane”. The Dane, being the river just past Croxton Bank. This relationship with the old drover lasted well into Dad's early teens and he gained from the old man, farming skills that would help him in the years ahead and "Old Ned" had a surrogate son, someone who loved him.

Notes:

1911 Census, Edward Sandbach aged 53 on the “Police Return of Homeless Persons” living at Sheriff House Farm, Stansthorne, Cheshire in a barn – born Middlewich, Cheshire.