HISTORY OF CHAPEL COTTAGE, STUTTON, YORKSHIRE 1703 - 1793

Ralph Coulson

Chapel Cottage, Stutton

Chapel Cottages origin and it’s history prior to first half of the eighteenth century is currently unknown, further work is required in the local archives to discover more details.

The story currently starts in 1703, at this time it is beleived to have been owned by Michael Coulson, he was the village blacksmith and owned four cottages comprising Chapel cottage, two cottages where the present 1-4 Wilkinson Terrace are located and a further one to the west of Chapel cottage on an area now used as parking for 1-4 Wilkinson Terrace. Including with the cottages was the land that now comprises the whole of Wilkinson Terrace and extended as far west as the road to Hazlewood. It is likely that this area was used as his blacksmith yard.

The Coulson family can be traced back in Stutton to at least 1663 (and likely earlier) thought at present there is no evidence that they did or did not own the cottage or associated land at this earlier period.

Modern Map showing Stutton - The Original Plot of Coulson Land Marked Red

Modern Map showing Stutton - The Original Plot of Coulson Land Marked Red

The first confirmed owner of the cottage was born in 1703 his name was Ralph Coulson, he was baptised at Tadcaster Parish Church on the 21st September 1703 and was the son of Michael Coulson of Stutton, blacksmith. He was the eldest son of the family and will have worked with his father as he also became a blacksmith. His father died in 1720 and the 17 year old Ralph appears to have taken on the family business, probably supporting his step-mother (his mother had died in 1710 and father re-married) and younger siblings.

Ralph married Dorothy Shaw of Bramham on the 27th June 1725 at Bramham Parish Church and had at least 6 children of whom 4 died in infancy. Dorothy died in 1734 aged 31. Ralph married again the following year, Ann Fall, she was 10 years his junior and a daughter of Thomas Fall a farmer of Stutton. He had four sons by Ann named Thomas, Robert, Michael and Ralph.

Ralph's Marriage Bond from 1725


Ralph married Dorothy Shaw with a licence bypassing the normal calling of Banns. This extract from the licence shows it was obtained the day before, 26th June 1725, and shows him signing as 'Ralph Colson'


In 1741 a contested election was held for the 'Representative in Parliament for the County of York' At this time only men who owned freehold land/property of at least the value of 40 shillings were allowed to vote. This meant that less than 2% of the population were entitled to vote. In Stutton the electorate consisted of 3 people. As Ralph owned the freehold cottage and other buildings on the plot of land he was allowed to vote and did so voting for the Tory George Fox Esq (Mr. Fox lost the election with Mr. Cholmley Turner, a Whig gaining the seat)

Details from the 1741 Yorkshire Poll Book


Details from the 1741 Yorkshire Poll Book, no secret ballots in those days!


By 1784 Ralph had moved from the centre of Stutton into Low Park House in nearby Hazlewood, probably to live closer to his son Michael. The cottage must have been let out or occupied by one of Ralph's other children. Ralph's wife Ann died of Asthma aged 71 in January 1784 and the widower Ralph left the district altogether to live with his daughter and son-in-law John and Ann Lithgow. John was a plumber and glazier living in Worksop. He lived there for the rest of his days dying in December 1792 of 'Old Age' and was carried back to Tadcaster to be buryed in the Parish Church.

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