time, and tried by a court-martial. Metcalf was acquitted, and had
permission given to go to the Prince; but as he asked to borrow a clean
shirt they inquired where his own was. He said at Linlithgow, but that
he durst not go there on account of George's fellows. They then
informed him he might safely go there along with the Irish spy. He knew
that his companion had letters for the Highlanders' friends at
Edinburgh, but had no intention to pass the English sentries. Metcalf
therefore amused him with assurances that he had £10 at Edinburgh, for
which he should have no occasion if he joined the Prince, and that he
would give his friend a share of it. The spy on hearing this became very
desirous of his company to Edinburgh, wishing to finger the money, and
proposed going across the country; but Metcalf said he could pass the
English sentries by saying he was going to Captain Thornton. They then
proceeded, and after going two miles they met an officer who was
reconnoitring, and he knowing Metcalf, told him that his master was
arrived safely at Edinburgh. On leaving the officer the spy accosted him
with, "So, then, you ARE going to him." "No!" said Jack, "nor to any
such fellows." They then passed the sentry, as Metcalf proposed, and
arrived at Edinburgh, where they parted, but promised to meet the next
evening at nine o'clock. Jack went directly to his captain, who rejoiced
at so unexpected a meeting. Metcalf told him that he had given him a
great deal of trouble, adding that he thought people might come home
from market without being fetched. The captain smiled and said, "What is
to be done, for I have neither money nor clothes, having left all behind
at Falkirk; but I have bills upon the road to the amount of £300?" This
proved fortunate; for had they been a few days sooner, these also might
have been lost. The reason of the delay was that all letters directed to
Scotland were at this time sent to London to be examined at the General
Post-Office. Metcalf told the captain that he could get him some money,
but this the other thought impossible. However, he went to a friend and
obtained £30. Tailors were immediately set to work, and next morning the
captain was enabled to visit his brother officers at Holyrood.
The army remained quartered at Edinburgh, while part of the rebels were
in Falkirk, and another part at Stirling, where they raised several
batteries, and besieged Stirling Castle.
The Duke of Cumberland arrived at Edinburgh on the 30th of January,
1746; and two days afterwards marched at the head of the army towards
Falkirk, Prince Charles' army leaving it a little time before. Captain
Thornton visited the Duke often, and his Royal Highness took particular
notice of Metcalf, speaking to him several times on the march. On the
arrival of the army at Linlithgow, intelligence was received that the
rebels were marching towards them to give them battle; upon which the
army was drawn up in order, and the Duke rode through the lines, and
addressed the men as follows:--"If there be any who think themselves in
a bad cause, or are afraid to engage the enemy, thinking they may fight
against any of their relations, let them now turn out, receive pardon,
and go about their business without any further question." On the
conclusion of this speech, the whole army gave three hearty cheers. But
the intelligence proving false, they proceeded to Falkirk, and continued
their journey to Stirling, Perth, Montrose, Brechin, and Aberdeen, where
they halted. The army of the Prince was encamped at Strathbogie.
At Aberdeen the Duke gave a ball to the ladies, and personally solicited
Captain Thornton for his fiddler, there being at that time no music in
the army except Colonel Howard's (the Old Buffs), which was wind music,
and the performers, who were Germans, were unaccustomed to country
dances. As the Prince's army was only twenty miles distant, no
invitations were sent until five o'clock, though the ball was to begin
at six. Twenty-five couples danced for eight hours, and his Royal
Highness made one of the party, and several times as he passed Metcalf,
who stood on a chair to play, shouted, "Thornton, play up!" But Jack
needed no exhortation, for he was well practised and better inclined.
Next morning the Duke sent him two guineas; but as he was not permitted
to take money, he informed his captain, who said, as it was the Duke's
money, he might take it, but observed that he should give his Royal
Highness's servants a treat (he had only three servants with him--viz.,
his gentleman, cook, and groom). So the next night two of them paid
Metcalf a visit, and a merry party they made, the captain ordering them
plenty of refreshments.
In a little time they proceeded on their march, and engaged the gallant
army of the Prince on Culloden Moor. The battle ended in the total rout
of the army of the young "Pretender," and the somewhat severe treatment
of his soldiers by the "Butcher" Duke.
The English prisoners were all liberated. Three of Captain Thornton's
men had died in prison; the rest returned home.
The rebellion having been completely suppressed and peace restored,
Captain Thornton returned home, accompanied by Metcalf, who had the
happiness to find his faithful partner and children in good health.
Blind Jack being now at liberty to choose his occupation, attended
Harrogate as usual; but having in the course of his Scotch expedition
kept his eyes open (if we may use such an expression of a blind man), he
had become acquainted with various articles manufactured in that
country, and judging that some of them might find a market in England,
he repaired in the spring to Scotland, and supplied himself with various
articles in cotton and worsted, especially Aberdeen stockings. For all
these articles he found a ready sale at the houses of gentlemen in the
county of York; and being personally known to most of the families, was
everywhere kindly received. He was never at a loss to know among one
thousand articles what each had cost him, as he had a method of marking
them which enabled him to distinguish them by the feel. It was also
customary with him to buy horses for sale in Scotland, bringing back
galloways in return. He was an admirable judge of horses by running his
hands over them.
He also engaged pretty deeply in contraband trade, the profits of which
at that time were so considerable as to make it worth while running the
risk. Once, having received a pressing letter from Newcastle-upon-Tyne
requiring his speedy attendance, he set out on horseback from
Knaresborough at three in the morning, and got into Newcastle the same
evening about six o'clock, a distance of nearly seventy-four miles, and
did not feel fatigued.
Having received some packages, he employed a few soldiers to convey them
to a carrier, judging that men of their description were least liable to
suspicion. After sending off his goods, he stayed two nights with some
relations, and then set out for home. He had with him about a
hundred-weight of tea, cased over with tow, and tightly corded up; this
he put into a wallet, which he laid across the saddle.
Coming to Chester-le-Street (about half-way between Newcastle and
Durham), he met at the inn an exciseman, who knew him as soon as he had
dismounted, and asked him what he had got there. Metcalf answered, "It
is some tow and line for my aunt, who lives a few miles distant. I wish
she was far enough, for giving me the trouble to fetch it." The officer
said to him, "Bring it in"; he replied, "I am only here for a few
minutes; it may as well remain on the horsing-stone." By this seeming
indifference about his packet he removed suspicion from the mind of the
exciseman, who assisted in replacing it across the saddle.
Once having disposed of a string of horses, he bought with the produce a
quantity of rum, brandy, and tea, to the amount of £200, put them on
board a vessel for Leith, and travelled overland on foot to meet the
vessel at that port. He had about thirty miles to walk, and carried near
five stone weight of goods, which he did not choose to put on shipboard.
At Leith he had the mortification to wait six weeks without receiving
any tidings of the vessel, which many supposed to have been lost, there
having been a storm in the interval. The distress of mind resulting from
this induced him to say, "If she is lost I wish I had been in her, for
she had all my property on board." Soon after, however, the ship got
into Leith harbour. He then went on board, and set sail for Newcastle;
but another storm arising, the mate was washed overboard, the main-sail
carried away, and the ship driven near the coast of Norway. Despair now
became general, the prospect of going to the bottom seemed almost
certain. Metcalf had now no wish to go to the bottom with his property,
and vowed he would give all his fortune to touch dry earth again. But
the wind changing, hope began to return, and the captain put about for
the Scotch coast, intending to make Aberbrothock. A signal of distress
was put up, but the sea ran so high that no boat could venture out with
a pilot. He then stood in for the harbour, but struck against the pier
end, owing to the unmanageable state of the vessel from the loss of her
main-sail; she narrowly escaped being bulged, but having got to the back
of the pier, was towed round into the harbour with nearly five feet of
water in her hold.
As the vessel stood in need of repairs, Metcalf put his goods on board
another, and went in her to Newcastle. There he met with an
acquaintance, and thinking the fellow trustworthy, over his cups
informed him that he had got 400 gallons of gin and brandy for which he
had a permit, and about thirty gallons for which he had none, and which
he wanted to land. In a quarter of an hour he found that the man whom he
had taken for a friend had gone down the quayside and given information
of what he knew, and all the goods were seized and brought on shore.
Metcalf imagined that none were seizable but the small part for which he
had not obtained a permit; but was soon undeceived, the whole being
liable to seizure as not agreeing with the specified quantity.
He then repaired to the Custom-house and applied to Mr. Sunderland, the
collector. This gentleman knew Metcalf, whom he had seen at Harrogate;
he received him very kindly, but informed him that it was not in his
power to serve him, the captors being the Excise people, and not of his
department. He, however, suggested that some good might result from an
application to Alderman Pelreth, with whom Metcalf was acquainted, and
who was intimate with the collector of the Excise. The alderman gave him
a letter to the collector, representing that the bearer had bought 400
gallons of spirits at the Custom-house at Aberdeen, and that the extra
quantity was for the purpose of treating the sailors and other friends,
as well as for sea-stock for himself. At first the collector told him
that nothing could be done for him until he should write up to the
Board, and receive an answer; but Metcalf remonstrating on the
inconvenience of the delay, and the other reconsidering the letter, he
agreed to come down to the quay at four o'clock in the afternoon, which
he accordingly did, and released everything without any expense.
A short time after, the regiment called "The Queen's Bays" were raised;
they were quartered at Knaresborough and the adjacent towns; but after
a short stay they were ordered to the North. The country people seemed
unwilling to supply carriages for the baggage, the King's allowance
being but ninepence a mile per ton: that of the county, one shilling in
the West Riding, and fifteenpence in the North Riding. Metcalf having
two waggons, was desirous to try this new business; and to make sure of
the job, got the soldiers to press his two carriages, which were
accordingly loaded, and he attended them to Durham himself. Previous to
loading, however, the country people, who knew the advantage of carrying
for the army, and who had kept back in hopes of an advance in the price,
came forward with their waggons in opposition to Metcalf; but they were
now too late--Metcalf had secured the job.
On arriving at Durham, he met Bland's dragoons on their march from the
North to York; they loaded his waggons again for Northallerton, and
would willingly have engaged them to York; but this he was obliged to
decline, having promised to bring twenty-three wool-packs to
Knaresborough. He was just six days in performing this journey; and
cleared, with eight horses and the one he rode, as much as £20.
Some horses belonging to the Queen's Bays, stationed at Durham, were to
be sold, and Metcalf, hearing of the sale, set off from Knaresborough
only the day before, and arrived there in time. Amongst the horses to be
sold was a grey one, belonging to one of the drums. The man who had the
charge of him not having been sufficiently careful in trimming him, had
burnt him severely, which caused a swelling. Had his careless conduct
been known to his superiors he would have been punished for it; upon
that account the matter was hushed up. Metcalf, however, having been
apprised of the circumstances from a farrier whom he had got to know,
determined to purchase him, judging that the horse would be sold cheap.
He was not mistaken. He bought him for very little, and realised a good
profit out of him shortly afterwards.
In the year 1754 Metcalf commenced a new business. He set up a
stage-coach between York and Knaresborough, and conducted it himself,
twice a week in the summer season, and once in the winter; and this
business, together with the occasional conveyance of army baggage,
employed him until his first contract for making roads, which suiting
him better, he disposed of his draught and interest in the road.
An Act of Parliament having been obtained to make a turnpike from
Harrogate to Boroughbridge, a person of the name of Ostler, of Farnham,
two miles from Knaresborough, was appointed surveyor. Metcalf being in
company with him, agreed to make about three miles of it, between
Minskip and Ferrensby. The materials were to be procured from one
gravel-pit for the whole length. He therefore provided deal boards and
erected a temporary house at the pit, took twelve horses to the place,
fixed racks and mangers, and hired a house for his men at Minskip,
distant about three-quarters of a mile. He often walked from
Knaresborough in the morning, with four or five stone-weight of meat on
his shoulders, and joined his men by six o'clock. By his attention and
diligence he completed the work much sooner than was expected, to the
entire satisfaction of the surveyor and trustees.
During his leisure hours he studied measurement in a way of his own, and
when certain of the girth and length of any piece of timber, he was able
to reduce its true contents to feet and inches, and would bring the
dimensions of any building into yards and feet.
About the time that this road was finished the building of a bridge was
advertised to be contracted for at Boroughbridge, and a number of
gentlemen met there for that purpose at the Crown Inn. Metcalf, amongst
others, went also. The masons varied considerably in their estimates.
Ostler, the surveyor of the roads, was appointed to survey the bridge,
and Metcalf told him that he wished to undertake it, though he had never
done anything of the kind before.
On this the surveyor acquainted the gentlemen with what Metcalf
proposed; when he was sent for and asked what he knew about a bridge. He
told them that he could readily describe it, if they would take the
trouble of writing down his plan, which was as follows:--"The span of
the arch 18 feet, being a semicircle, makes 27; the arch-stones must be
a foot deep, which, if multiplied by 27, will be 486; and the basis will
be 72 feet more. For the arch, it will require good backing; for which
purpose there are proper stones in the old Roman wall at Aldborough,
which may be brought, if you please to give directions to that effect."
The gentlemen were surprised at his readiness, and agreed with him for
building the bridge. The persons who had given in their estimates were
much offended; and as the stone was to be procured from Renten, a sale
quarry belonging to one of the masons who was there, he was unwilling to
sell any to Metcalf; upon which he went to Farnham, and found good
stones which the lime-burners had left (being too strong for their
purpose), got them dressed at the place for a trifle, conveyed them to
Boroughbridge, and having men to take them off the carts, set them, and
completed the arch in one day.
Soon after, there was a mile and a half of turnpike road to be made
between Knaresborough Bridge and Harrogate, for which Metcalf also
agreed. Going one day over a place covered with grass, he told his men
that he thought it different from the ground adjoining, and would have
them try for stone or gravel, which they immediately did, and found an
old causeway, supposed to have been made in the time of the Romans,
which afforded many materials for the new road. Between the forest
lane-head and Knaresborough Bridge there was a bog in a low piece of
ground. The surveyor thought it impossible to make a road over it, but
Metcalf assured him he could accomplish it. The other then told him that
if so he should be paid as if he had carried the road round the bog.
Jack set about it, cast the road up, and covered it with whin and ling,
and made it as good as any part he had undertaken. He received for his
contract about £400. He afterwards contracted for making five miles of
road between Harrogate and Harewood Bridge, and received for it £1200.
For a mile and a half through part of Chapeltown to Leeds, and for
lengthening the arch of Sheepscar Bridge, he received £400.
The following are some of his other contracts:--Four miles of the road
between Skipton and Colne, and two miles on the Burnley Road. Two miles
of the road through Broughton to Marton, and two miles more through
Addingham and over part of Romalds Moor, for all which he received
£1350. Four miles between Mill Bridge and Halifax, and five miles
between Wakefield and Chickingley Beck, near Dewsbury; and received for
the same £1200. Three miles and a half between Hag Bridge and
Pontefract, and one mile and a half on the Doncaster Road, from Crafton,
through Foldby. For the road from Wakefield to Pontefract, Doncaster,
and Halifax, he received £6400. From Blackmoor foot to Marsden, and from
thence to Standish foot; also from Lupset Gate through Horbury; and also
three miles from Standish to Thurton Clough; from Sir John Kaye's seat
to Huddersfield; and thence to Longroyd Bridge toll-bar, in the course
of which were several bridges, the whole distance about twenty-one
miles, for which he received £4500.
In the building of bridges, where the foundations were bad, he laid on
a sufficient thickness of ling (where it could be got), otherwise straw;
he next laid planks five inches thick, with square mortices cut through,
and driving in a number of piles, made the foundations secure. He then
laid springs for the arches upon the planks, which caused all to settle
regularly. And though he built many arches of different sizes, none ever
fell. He also undertook to build houses, amongst which was one belonging
to Mr. Marmaduke Hebden, near Huddersfield, nine yards wide,
twenty-three long, and twenty-one feet from the foundation to the square
of the building, with twenty chimneys.
Metcalf having now made up his mind to follow building and road-making,
finding it remunerative, contracted for and executed at various times a
great many roads.
About the year 1781 Metcalf, hearing how beneficial the cotton business
was to all that were engaged in it, resolved to have a share in that
also; he accordingly purchased the necessary machinery, but the scheme
failed, as a time came when no yarn could be sold without loss;
therefore he gave up that business. In 1789 he contracted for making
several pieces of road in Lancashire, between Bury and Heslington, and
another part from Heslington to Accrington; and also a branch from that
to Blackburn, the work of two summers, for which he received £3500. In
1791 he returned into Yorkshire, and began to speculate in buying and
selling hay, measuring the stacks with his arms, and having learnt the
height, he could soon tell the number of square yards contained in the
whole.
Having gone to York in the first days of 1795, he set out on January 9th
to walk to Green-Hammerton, on his way to Thornville Royal, and
accomplished the distance, which was ten miles, in three hours and a
half. He slept that night at Thornville Royal, and next day walked to
Knaresborough, January 10th, the birthday of Sir Thomas Slingsby's
eldest son, which was kept with great rejoicings.
Thence he went to Spofforth, where he resided with his daughter, after
the death of his wife in 1778. There he died on the 27th April, 1810, in
the full possession of his faculties, aged ninety-three. He was buried
in Spofforth churchyard.
At the time of his death his descendants were four children, twenty
grandchildren, and ninety great and great-great grandchildren.
FOOTNOTE:
[9] Chiefly from a Chapbook Life, written apparently shortly after his
death. Published by Johnson, of Leeds.
"PEG PENNYWORTH."
Margaret Wharton, an unmarried lady of great wealth and ancient family,
was one of the Yorkshire oddities of last century.
She belonged to the family of the Whartons of Skelton Castle, in
Cleveland, and possessed a fortune of £200,000, of which, with rare
liberality, she made her nephew a present of £100,000. Her charities
were liberal, but always private, and if she heard that a recipient of
her bounty had disclosed the good deed, that person never received
another penny from her.
She was a short, stout lady, dressed fashionably, had an aristocratic
air, and liked to be respected as rich and of good family.
For some time she resided at York, and visited Scarborough in the
season, where she was well known on account of her eccentricities. She
used to send for "a pennyworth of strawberries" or "a pennyworth of
cream" at a time, and pay down her penny, as she had an aversion to
tradesmen's bills. From this she obtained the name of "Peg Pennyworth,"
which stuck to her through life. An incident occurred at Scarborough in
which she displayed her dislike to public charities. She was solicited
by some gentlemen to give a subscription to a charity on behalf of which
they were making a collection. Peg pulled out her purse with an ominous
frown, and turned out its contents into her palm. This was in or about
1774, when light guineas were in disgrace. She deliberately selected
from among the coins the lightest guinea she could find, and handed it
to the gentlemen.
The celebrated Foote is said to have drawn her character in a farce.
When informed of this she exclaimed, with a smile, "I will see it acted,
as I live." She did, and expressed her satisfaction that the character
in the play did her justice.
She frequently catered for herself, making her own purchases, and taking
them home in her carriage. Once, having purchased some eels, she put
them in her pocket, entered her coach, and called on a lady friend and
invited her to come out with her for an airing.
The warmth of Peg's pocket revived the seemingly dead eels, and they
began to wriggle out to enjoy a little fresh air. The lady who was
sitting beside Peg, happening to look down, saw what she thought was a
serpent writhing into her lap, and several hideous heads breaking out of
the side of Mistress Margaret Wharton. She uttered an awful shriek,
bounded to her feet, pulled the checkstring, and cried, "Madam! madam!
you are swarming with adders! Coachman, stop! Let me out! let me out!"
Mistress Wharton coolly looked at the eels, now escaping rapidly from
her pocket, gathered them up, and shoved them into her reticule, saying,
"I protest, madam, it is only my eels come to life. Sit you down again,
and don't be frightened."
One day at Scarborough she had ordered a large meat-pie to be baked for
dinner. It was a very large one--to serve for herself, some visitors,
and all the servants. When it was made she ordered the footman to take
it to the bakehouse, but he declined, saying that it was not his place,
neither did it comport with his dignity, to be seen in Scarborough
stalking through the streets in plush and tags, bearing a huge meat-pie.
Mistress Margaret then ordered the coachman to take it, but he declined.
"Bring out the carriage, then!" said Peg Pennyworth. The horses were
harnessed; the coachman put on his powdered wig and mounted the box; the
footman took his place behind; and Mistress Margaret Wharton, bearing
the meat-pie, sat in state in the carriage. "Drive to the bakehouse."