Thomas Scarrow and John Scarrow of English Street Carlisle

Thomas and John Scarrow of Carlisle

Thomas and John Scarrow, and their father, also Thomas, were prominent businessmen Carlisle during the first half of the 19th Century. They originated from Wetheral, but spent most of their adult lives in Carlisle. The lives of the two brothers were inextricably linked - they were in business together, they married sisters, and they both shared the same courtroom on several occasions.

Thomas (Senior) Scarrow 1736-1824

Thomas was born on 20 January 1736 in Foodell Crook near Wetheral. His father was Thomas Scarrow of Scotby, Wetheral. He had a younger brother, John and an older sister Mary. Thomas married Jane Ross on the 24th May 1784 at St. Mary's, Carlisle. Thomas and Jane had three children, Thomas, John and Jane.

Thomas's initial occupation was that of a yeoman, and it would appear that for some time he was living in Cockermouth. He later became an innkeeper in Carlisle and was the proprietor of the White Hart Hotel for at least 12 years - between 1803 and 1814. These dates are based on the earliest (1 Jun 1803) and latest (19 Mar 1814) advertisements found in the Carlisle Journal. In all likelihood, he was also proprietor of the White Hart Hotel outside these years.

The adverts below and left both date to 1803, which are the earliest so far found. The Carlisle Journal only started printing in 1800, and the issues 1800-1802 have not all been preserved.

The image below to the right shows a copy of the licence issued to Thomas Scarrow in September 1812. Ann Johnson, owner of the Kings Head Inn at the head of Fisher Street, gave surety for Thomas's alehouse. Within the same batch of licences for 1812 (held at Carlisle Record Office), both Thomas Scarrow and Ann Johnson also gave surety for Joseph Graham's alehouse in Scotch Street.

The advert below appeared three times in the Carlisle Journal during December of 1809. It was commonplace for inns of the day to hold public sales or auctions.

Thomas Scarrow White Hart, Carlisle Advert Messuage and Tenement to be sold

The advert below appeared three times in the Carlisle Journal during 1810, on May 5th, 12th and 18th. The name of Thomas Scarrow's Inn is not mentioned, so he was presumably well known.

Thomas Scarrow White Hart, Carlisle Ale-House Recognizance 1812

Thomas Scarrow White Hart, Carlisle Advert Fields at Etterby for Sale

This advert to the right, from the Carlisle Journal of September 1st 1810, identifies Thomas Scarrow's Inn as being the White Hart.

The picture below shows the White Hart Hotel. Its address was 18 English Street. The hotel had 20 bedrooms. The hotel was demolished in 1874.

Thomas Scarrow White Hart, Carlisle Advert W Marsden Loom Maker

Thomas Scarrow White Hart Hotel, Carlisle

Thomas died on the 24th April 1824 in Carlisle age 92. He was buried in Wetheral.

Thomas (Junior) Scarrow 1787-1856

Thomas was born on 16 July 1787 in Scotby, Wetheral. His father was Thomas (Senior) Scarrow of Foodell Crook, Wetheral. He had a younger brother, John and a sister Jane. Thomas married Frances Barwise of Holme Cultram on the 20th Jul 1807.

Thomas went into business with his brother John, and the first of several businesses to be mentioned in the directories of the time, was the T and J & Co Spirit Merchant in English Street, Carlisle. This business was referred to in 1810, 1811 and 1822. A second business, jointly run with John, was T and J & Co. Bleachers of Harraby, just to the south east of Carlisle. This was mentioned once in 1811 in the Jollies guide to Cumberland (below) but not since.

Advert for Thomas Scarrow, Wine and Spirit Merchant, Carlisle 1810

We pass through the small village of Carlton, and view Woodbank a little to the left, where is an extensive printfield under the firm of Mounsey, Lowry and Co. Towards the right, are the villages of Coathill and Cumwhinton; and Durnhill-house, conspicuously situated, the improving seat of Richard Lowry, Esq.; and in the opposite direction, the village of Upperby. Before crossing the Peterill, the bleaching ground of Messrs. Scarrow, Baker, & Co. is discerned to the left, lately occupied by Messrs. Lamb, Scott, Waldie and Co. To the right are Scotby and Botcherby. On crossing Harraby-bridge, the first object which attracts our attention is the cotton mill of Messrs. Rothwell and Co. called the Mains, to the right; and a little to the left, the newly erected work-house of St. Cuthbert's parish stands on a commanding situation, and has a prominent appearance.

The photograph below shows Harraby Bridge in 1897, looking south, so the the bleaching ground of Messrs. Scarrow, Baker, & Co. would be on the far bank on the right.

Scarrow, Baker & Co. Bleachers Harraby Bridge, Carlisle 1897

In 1813, Thomas and Frances had their first son, John. In 1814, Thomas posted an advert in the Carlisle Journal describing his pointer, Don, whom went missing. This was not an isolated incident, as adverts for lost pointers were common in the newspaper around this time. Gaming certificates were issued on an annual basis, and those for 1814 were published in the Carlisle Journal.

Two years later in Carlisle St. Cuthberts, on 25 Dec 1815, Frances Scarrow died and was buried in Wetheral. In 1816, Thomas sold a part of the Spirit Merchant to John. The original legal document is still existance and is transcribed here .

Thomas Scarrow, Carlisle, Pointer Dog lost

Thomas then had three brushes with the law. In 1817, he was accused of trespass by Carlisle Council for building cellar steps at his premises on English St. The following year, on 9th Nov 1818, Thomas again was in court, this time for having fathered an illegitimate child with Jane Irving. Earlier in 1818, Thomas had been sold a horse by an Irishman called M'Annally. The horse turned out to be lame, and only by going to court the following year, 1819, did Thomas get his money returned.

Thomas married for the second time, to Margaret Pears of Brampton on March 9, 1820. Sadly, only three years later on 4 May 1823, Margaret Scarrow, (nee Pears), died. She was also buried in Wetheral. During this period, in 1821, T and J Scarrow was declared bankrupt at a hearing held at Staples Inn, High Holborn, London.

Thomas's father, Thomas (Senior) died on 24th April 1824. He was 92 years of age. Thomas married his third wife, Ann Strong, and they had a daughter, Frances, born on 8th June 1824. In an 1829 directory, Thomas Scarrow was listed as a farmer of Botchergate, Carlisle. Although T and J Scarrow & Co had gone bankrupt, the Spirit Merchant side of the business still survived, but was now was run solely by John.

Scarrow's of Carlisle, Bankruptcy Aug 26 1821

Thomas Scarrow Margaret Smith marriage announcement

Thomas's third wife, Ann Scarrow died 28 Feb 1833 in Carlisle, and as with his previous wives, was buried in Wetheral. Thomas married for the fourth time, to Margaret Frances Smith.

Thomas and Margaret had five children together: Thomas, born 26 Jan 1834 in St. Mary's, Carlisle; Margaret, born 30 Nov 1836 in St. Mary's, Carlisle; Jane, born 14 May 1838 in St. Mary's, Carlisle; Jane Frances, born 16 Apr 1839 in St. Mary's, Carlisle; William, born 1841 in St. Mary's, Carlisle.

At the end of 1835 Thomas was elected as a councillor for Botchergate Ward, sitting on the Watch committee. He worked for the Council continuously for about 10 years, becoming Alderman at the end of 1838. He served as an Alderman until he left the council in 1845, at which time James Steel was elected Mayor. Thomas's council career is described here.

In 1839, at the time of Jane Frances's birth, Thomas was in residence at 13 Botchergate, and was again employed as an Innkeeper. In 1840, Thomas's brother, John died. In the 1841 census Thomas was listed as a farmer living in Botchergate, Carlisle. On 6th March 1847, Thomas opened the Lancaster and Caledonian Hotel at 12 Botchergate, Carlisle.

Thomas Scarrow advert to sell Caledonian and Lancaster Railway Hotel Botchergate, Carlisle

Caledonian Inn, Botchergate, Carlisle 1854

Caledonian Inn 1854

Inn to let, Botchergate, Carlisle occupied by Thomas Scarrow

Thomas's fourth wife, Margaret Frances Scarrow died 21 Apr 1848, and the family at this time were resident at Peascod Lane, Carlisle, in the house of James Rose, Thomas's brother-in-law. However, the Lancaster and Caledonian Inn was sold by auction in June 1849, so quite why the residence was stated as Peascod Lane is somewhat strange. In the 1851 census, Thomas Scarrow, listed as a retired Innkeeper, was living in Peascod Lane with James Rose.

Thomas died on 10th April 1856 while resident at South Henry St., St. Cuthberts, Carlisle. He was aged 68, and still working, but as a labourer. Thomas was buried in paupers grave in Upperby Municipal Cemetery, Carlisle despite that fact that he was survived by most of his children.

John Scarrow 1789-1840

John Scarrow was born on 26th July 1789 in Scotby, Wetheral. His father was Thomas (Senior) Scarrow of Foodell Crook, Wetheral. He had an older brother, Thomas (Junior) and a sister Jane.

John went into business with his brother Thomas, and the first of several businesses to be mentioned in the directories of the time, was the T and J & Co Spirit Merchant in English Street, Carlisle. This business was referred to in 1810, 1811 and 1822.

On the 20th Jul 1812, John, now living in Bowness, married Johanna Barwise in Holme Cultram. His brother Thomas, had five years earlier, married Johanna's sister Frances. The following year, on the 27th Jun 1813, their first son, John Barwise, was born in St. Cuthbert's Carlisle. A second son, Thomas Barwise, was born on 7th May 1815 and a daughter, Frances, was born on the 11th May 1817. Both were baptised at St. Cuthbert's, Carlisle.

Both John (age 25) and Thomas (age 33) were listed as Militia in 1817. Both gave their occupation as spirit merchant.

In 1821, T and J Scarrow was declared bankrupt at a hearing held at Staples Inn, High Holborn, London. However, the Spirit Merchant part of the business was already by this time run solely by John, and continued to prosper.

John and Johanna had a further four children: Joanna, born on the 18th May 1822 in St. Mary's, Carlisle; Sarah born on the 13th Jan 1824 in St. Cuthbert's, Carlisle; William, born on the 4th Sep 1826 in St. Cuthbert's, Carlisle and Mary , born on the 29th Aug 1828 in St. Cuthbert's, Carlisle.

In an 1829 directory, John Scarrow, was listed as having two businesses in English Street, Carlisle, that of a Tea Dealer and that of a Wine Merchant. These were almost certainly sharing the same premises. John Scarrow was later listed, in the1834 directory, as solely a Wine and Spirit Merchant, again in English Street, Carlisle.

John died on the 3rd Jan 1840 in Carlisle age 50, whilst still working as a Spirit Merchant, and residing in English Street. John was buried in Wetheral. His widow, Joanna never remarried, and in the 1841 and 1851 censuses was living in Henry Street, Carlisle. By the 1861 census Joanna had moved to Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland where she lived with her son, William, and daughter Frances. Joanna Scarrow died on the 3rd Nov 1862 in Sunderland.

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