A connection to Blanchland School

by Louise Post

Louise Post
Louise Post of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.

Andrew Sessford was baptized 9 September 1733 in Oxnam, Roxburgh County, Scotland, son of James Sessford, a Weaver and his unnamed wife.

In the early 1750s, Andrew Sessford trained as a teacher, probably in the area of Jedburgh, Scotland and from there would have gone on to either Glasgow or Edinburgh for further education.

About 1770, Andrew Sessford moved to the village of Alston, Cumberland County, England and took a position as a teacher.

On 20 November 1774, Andrew Sessford married Margaret Wiley at the Redwing Congregational Chapel, Alston, Cumberland County. Andrew Sessford would have been about 41 years of age and Margaret Wiley about 21.

On 10 December 1774, Andrew Sessford (spelled Selford) married Margaret Wiley for a second time, at Simonburn Parish Church, Simonburn, Northumberland. The marriage entry reads: "Andrew Selford of the Parish of Alston, Schoolmaster and Margaret Wiley of Houghton Strathen in the parish, spinster, were married in this church by Banns this 10th day of December 1774 by me, J. Flemming, Curate. This marriage was solemnized between us, Andrew Sesford (signature) and Marg. Wiley (her mark) in the presence of us William and Robert Elliott" - Simonburn Microfilm 1968.

Simonburn appears to be the home parish of Margaret Wiley's family, as parish records show three probable relations married in this Church - Joseph Wiley in 1763, Margaret Wiley in 1774 and Isabel Wiley in 1783. This second marriage for Andrew Sessford and Margaret Wiley, is obviously for the benefit of Margaret's family and I can imagine a great village celebration.

Apparently, this couple then returned to Alston, Cumberland County, as several children are born and baptized there over the next few years. On 4 October 1775, son Joseph Sessford was born in Alston, Cumberland County and baptized 2 November 1775 at Redwing Congregational Chapel. On 9 April 1777, son John Sessford was born in Alston, Cumberland County and baptized 3 May 1777 at Redwing Congregational Chapel.

On 4 December 1778, Andrew Sessford published a notice about his intention to open a Night School in the village of Alston, teaching a variety of subjects, such as Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Book-keeping, Geometry, Mensuration, Conic Sections, Artificers works, Gauging, Surveying, Geography, Navigation, Astronomy, use of the Globes, Dealing, Algebra, etc.

On 6 December 1779, daughter Isabella Sessford was born in Alston, Cumberland County, England and baptized 8 January 1780 at Redwing Congregational Chapel.

On 10 April 1780, Andrew Sessford was given a written recommendation by the Rector and six other members of the populace of the village of Alston, Cumberland County, testifying to his character and work ethic as a School Master. This document states Andrew Sessford "has resided in the Parish of Alston for nine years past in the capacity of Schoolmaster". It is unknown why Andrew was intending to move to a new location.

In the summer of 1780, Andrew Sessford and his family moved to Blanchland, Northumberland, a small village on the north side of the Derwent River, nine miles south east of Hexham.

On 24 May 1782, daughter Jean Sessford was born in Blanchland, Northumberland County and baptized 5 August 1782 by Rev. James Liddle of Hexham who registered the birth in the Non-Conformist Meeting House Register. On 8 May 1785, son James Sessford was born in Blanchland, Northumberland County and baptized 5 August 1785 by Rev. James Liddle of Hexham who registered the birth in the Non-Conformist Meeting House Register.

On 3 May 1787, Andrew Sessford was given a written recommendation by the senior Curate of Blanchland, testifying again to his character and work ethic. This document states Andrew Sessford "hath for the space of seven years last past, exercised the office of Schoolmaster in Blanchland".

In the summer of 1787, Andrew Sessford moved his family to Newcastle. In comparison with the small villages he had been living and teaching in, Newcastle was a large city. The family would have faced many new challenges. The author believes Andrew moved his family to Newcastle to enable each of his sons to apprentice in a trade.

On 28 February 1788, a daughter, Barbara (Barbury) Sessford was born at Ballast Hills, Newcastle, Northumberland. On 31 March 1788, she was baptized by Rev. Laidler of Pilgrim Street Non-Conformist Meeting House.

On 20 August 1788, Andrew Sessford opened an evening school in Castle Yard, Newcastle.

On 17 April 1791, daughter Jean Sessford, aged 9 years, died in Newcastle. She was buried in the Ballast Hills Burial Ground with an inscription reading "In Memory of Jean Sefsford, Daughter of Andrew Sefsford, School Master, Newcastle, who died April 7th, 1791 AE. 9 years".

The 1795 Newcastle and Gateshead Directory shows Andrew Sessford, Castle Garth, Saint Nicholas Parish, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland, occupation School Master Literature/Education.

On 21 February 1797, a document is found with the notation "School begun by A.S.". This is assumed to refer to Andrew Sessford.

On 30 September 1798, Andrew Sessford (spelled Sefsforde), aged 65, died in Newcastle, Northumberland, of unknown cause. The records of the Ballast Hills Non-Conformist Burial Ground show his burial on 02 October 1798. The Newcastle Courant of 06 October 1798 stated: "Died Sunday 30 September 1798, Mr. Andrew Sessford, School Master, in this town".

In 1818, wife Margaret Wiley Sessford died in Newcastle. The death is noted in the Monthly Magazine and British Register No. 316, in the column 'Provincial Occurrences, with all the Marriages and Deaths' and states as follows: 'In Newcastle: - 72, Mrs. Margaret Sessford'. It is unknown where she is buried, but probably Ballast Hills Non-Conformist Burial Ground.

The family of Andrew Sessford and Margaret Wiley

Eldest son Joseph Sessford (the author's ancestor) served his apprenticeship as a Clock and Watch Maker in Durham County. On 4 January 1796, Joseph Sessford married Eleanor "Nellie" Stewart in Sunderland Parish Church, Sunderland, Durham County. Together they would raise a family of nine children, with sons Robert Sessford and John (Jack) Sessford (the author's ancestor) apprenticing under their father's tutelage as Clock and Watch Makers. Several Directories of Newcastle, covering the period 1813 to 1820 show Joseph Sessford residing on Queen Street, All Saints Parish. In an 1832 list of "Persons Who Voted as Inhabitant Householders", Joseph Sessford, Watch Maker of Groat Market, Newcastle is shown. The book "North Country Clockmakers" by C.L. Reid, published in 1928, lists several clocks made by Joseph Sessford, known to exist at the time of publication. The list is as follows:
1. Wall Clock, 2 ft. 10 ins. in height, mahogany, dated 1812
2. Grandfather Clock, inlaid mahogany, white dial, Arabic numerals
3. Grandfather Clock, inlaid rosewood case of plain design. Dial white.
Roman numbers, painted with landscape of two children and lamb, corner
pieces representing Europe, Asia, Africa and America
4. Grandfather Clock, walnut inlaid, painted dial

On 20 February 1834, Joseph Sessford, aged 59, died at 10 Groat Market, Saint John Parish, Newcastle, Northumberland County, England. An obituary was published in the Newcastle Courant on 22 February 1834, stating: "The 20th inst in the Groat Market in this town, aged 59, Mr. Joseph SESSFORD clock & watch maker upwards of 40 years, Master of All Saints Sunday School."

In the fall of 1795, second son John Sessford, aged 18, emigrated to the United States, residing in Washington, D.C. for the remainder of his life. He married Martha Kerr in 1797 and together they raised a family of nine children. John had served an apprenticeship as a Printer before leaving Newcastle and continued that occupation in his new homeland. John Sessford wrote the Sessford Annals; annual histories of the material progress of the City of Washington (see Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Vol. II, 1908, pgs. 271-388). A quote found in a book about Washington, D.C. states the following: "John Sessford, an employee of Gales & Seaton's printing office, became so interested in the development of Washington, that for half a century, he published as his private enterprise an annual summary of the changes that took place...". It is interesting to note that John Sessford walked the streets of Washington at the same time as then President Abraham Lincoln, during the years of the American Civil War (1861-1865). In 1862, John Sessford died in Washington, D.C. at the age of 85.

Sometime in 1820, third son James Sessford and his family emigrated to Washington, D.C. to join elder brother John Sessford. James had served his apprenticeship as a Tobacconist in Newcastle and in early 1811 had married Mary Phaup, who died in childbirth. In 1817, James married Margaret Stevenson at Saint Nicholas Parish Church, Newcastle and they would have a son Thomas and a son Andrew both born in Newcastle. Upon arrival in Washington, D.C., James Sessford continued his occupation of Tobacconist. Between 1820 and 1833, James and Margaret Sessford would have nine more children, all born in Washington, D.C. An 1827 Directory of Washington, D.C. shows James Sessford, Tobacconist, living on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue. On 07 January 1833, James Sessford, aged 48, died in Washington, District of Columbia.

An interesting aside with this family - the youngest son of James Sessford and Margaret Stevenson, was born in 1833 and named Joseph Stevenson Sessford. At the age of 31, he was the Assistant Treasurer at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. On the night of 14 April 1865, he was in the ticket box of Ford's Theatre, when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. John Stevenson Sessford saw the assassin John Wilkes Booth during that evening and would spend the remainder of his life testifying and telling the story of what he saw.

Author's Note: As a child, it was my father Thomas Richardson from North Shields, Northumberland, who told me stories of his wonderful "Mom" (maternal grandmother Elizabeth Sessford who raised him). The Sessfords were "the family from Scotland with the Clockmaker in Newcastle". It was all I had to start with and it has been a forty year journey of discovery to this point. The Sessford family are my heritage and I am proud to share just this little bit with you.

Louise Elizabeth Post (nee Richardson)
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
16 March 2012