Stephen finds his roots - thanks to our readers, Teesdale Mercury

Stephen finds his roots - thanks to our readers

Aug 7, 2002

THANKS to an appeal in the Mercury, this week a New Zealand man has been able to visit the house of one of his ancestors in Teesdale

Two years ago, Edward Wilson wrote to the Mercury wanting information about ‘Aygill Spital.’ This was a reference he had found in the front of an old family bible. He believed this was somewhere in Teesdale and asked readers if they could help trace back his ancestors.

Aygill Spital was the home of Mr Wilson’s great-grandfather, Thomas Wilson, who had emigrated to New Zealand in 1872.

With the help of Annie Hutchinson a former resident of Valley Farm, Stainmore, Cedric Iley of Bishop Auckland and Robert Hutchinson from Stainton, Aygill Spital was found to be Aygill cottages at Old Spital, very near to Valley Farm.

This week, Edward’s son, Stephen, visited Teesdale and together with Robert Hutchinson went to see the homes of his ancestors.

Thomas Wilson worked as a quarryman for the Lancashire Union Railway before emigrating to New Zealand when he was 24, explained Stephen.

Although the Aygill cottages are derelict, seeing the home of his ancestor was nevertheless an emotional experience for Stephen.

“It was very emotional to see how they lived. It must have been a hard life for them up there. It was very grim on the summit” said Stephen. “You could still make out the fireplace and other features. There was even rhubarb growing after 130 years!”

Robert and Stephen also visited the Railway Museum at York where they saw a cast iron sign for ‘The Summit’ which would been in place near to where Thomas Wilson lived.

“I said that his great-great-grandfather probably helped to put that sign up,” said Robert. The railway was used to ferry coke to the west and haemotite to Teesside.

Thomas and his wife, Martha nee Tunstall, moved to New Zealand in 1872. The railway was finished in 1861 and Robert suspects that once it was finished there would not have been much work for Thomas and he may have been forced to emigrate through poverty.

The trip cost £48 for a family of four, said Stephen. During the 10 week voyage, their 10 month old baby boy died at sea.

“They would have found it quite different in New Zealand,” said Stephen. “There was less crowding. He went straight to work on a farm once he landed at Canterbury.”

Robert found out two other families from Bowes and Gilmonby had emigrated to New Zealand before the Wilsons. “I feel quite certain they would have known each other,” he said. “Letters would have been sent and that’s how they ended up going there.”

“My father’s the oldest male descendant of Thomas Wilson,” said Stephen. “I am trying to persuade him to make the trip now.”