Mike Covell’s Blogg

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the East Riding Archives in Beverley, a wonderful modern building that houses the archives and local studies.  The problem with Hull over the years is that the Sculcoates district fell under the area of the Diocese of York, and as such a lot of the material from Sculcoates is held at the East Riding Archives.  Because of this any research on Robert D’Onston Stephenson, Frederick Bailey Deeming, and the Murder of Mary Jane Langley has to be conducted between the two centres, Beverley, and Hull.

On this trip I was trying to locate some maps that were used at the inquest into the death of Mary Jane Langley.  The maps were part of a bundle that fell under the Beaumont family, as Mr. Beaumont was the County Surveyor at the time, holding offices in both Hull and Beverley.  Mr. Beaumont was called upon to provide material for the trial to show the locations of the eyewitnesses, houses, Marfleet Station, and the spot where Mary Jane Langley was discovered.  As I was brought the map bundle the roll was placed on the table and rolled out, being held down with maps.  Several members of staff came out to aid the opening and laying of the maps, of which there was 5.  The problem was the maps were incomplete.  The location of Mary Jane Langley was missing from each map!  It appears as though these were used to show the inquest where the body was found, but subsequently this location was cut out and removed to the now missing official files, leaving us with only the 19th Century newspaper accounts of where the body was discovered!

I sat and spoke with one of the archivists who was really helpful, and set about looking at other material.

One of the reasons I travel to Beverley to research is because of the Matheson family.  Helen Matheson and her family had resided in Beverley for some years, owning several properties and businesses throughout the market town.  I was able to trace the families movement through Census returns, trade directories and newspaper articles.  One interesting point that was discovered was that Helen’s grandfather was a well known political man in Beverley, fighting corruption in the local government, and to this day a heritage plaque marks the spot where he lived, with Helen Matheson’s grandmother and mother!

I came away from Beverley with a folder of new material, including

Newspaper accounts of Frederick Bailey Deeming’s 1890 trial for fraud in Hull.

Newspaper accounts of the Hedon/Preston Murder.

Newspaper accounts of the life and death of members of the Matheson family.

Newspaper announcements of births, marriages and deaths of the Matheson family.

Photos of several locations associated with Frederick Bailey Deeming, Helen Matheson, Helen’s mother, and Helen’s grandparents.