Kingston Upon Hull

Driving along the eastern coast of England next to the North Sea, we found ourselves leaving Scarborough where the fair had been held as a 45-day event starting mid August to the end of September. Norway, Denmark and the Baltic States came to the English fair.  In 1383 prosperity of the fair slumped and closed in the 17th century but was started again in the 18th century.  Alas, it finally ended in 1788, but there was a Fair in July 2006 with Medieval Jousting Competitions. 

North Froddingham was our next stop; I found the church where my Thomas Beecroft was christened in 1772. Notice the moss growing on the steeple.

 The older stones  surrounding the church from the 1700s have not survived the harsh wind and rain (unreadable) and are no help at all. The only ones that survived are the inscriptions within the church and those under trees. As I was taking photos, a gigantic group of bicyclists flew (about 50) by on their bikes.  Right away they knew we were tourists.

After arriving in Kingston Upon Hull, we bought a city map at a petro station.  Even with a map it was hard to find the churches I was seeking.  I had no clue that this would be so hard. We still had to ask someone how to find Holy Trinity.  We had walked 5 to 6 blocks in the wrong direction. Found Holy Trinity and St. Mary's was only just down the block from it.  

Now, my Robert Dobson from York had wanderlust and moved his family from York to Hull. His daughter Margaret met Thomas Beecroft who had moved from North Froddingham to Hull. They were married at Holy Trinity in 1792.  Robert and his wife Ann were both buried there. I found the street where they had lived but the buildings had been demolished and turned into a car park.

Just my luck; Holy Trinity was closed, they were renovating this church and St. Mary's. My great great grandmother Emma Beecroft was christened at Holy Trinity. She and her family joined the Mormons, took a train to Liverpool, boarded a ship to America and crossed the plains to Utah.

St. Mary's was a Scottish church where my William Fraser married Catharine Cripps (he was from King Edward, Aberdeen, Scotland).  Their daughter Isabella Fraser married Henry Beecroft (parents of my Emma). They are the ones who became pioneers and crossed the plains not only once but a second time as well.