the residents of the then quiet villages of Whitley and Cullercoats must have entered the ranks of that Society, for only eight years after the date named we have a record of a burial in the ground belonging to them, 'On the 20 day of the 11 month 1661 Johanna, daughter of George Linton of North Shields was buried at Cole coates.' She was presumably a daughter of the George Linton who died excommunicated, and was buried at the down end of Tinemouth kirk.' From this time until 1739 the ground was regularly used.

It would appear to have originated in the following manner, in 1606 Ralph Delaval made confirmation or surrender of lands at Cullercoats to his brother Peter Delaval, in which was included Arnold's close (or Marden close). In 1618 John Delaval of Tynemouth, gentleman, made a grant in fee to Thomas Wrangham of Arnold's close, and in 1621 Thomas Wrangham and Catherine his wife sold the estate at Cullercoats called Arnold's close to Thomas Dove of Whitley and Cullercoats. The MS. from which I get this information states that The Doves were Quakers, and soon after the purchase at Cullercoats the above-named Thomas Dove enclosed a small portion of Arnold's close by a high wall which he intended for a burial-place for himself and family.' I incline to think that it would be some years after the purchase in 1621 before the ground was enclosed as Quakerism was hardly known at that date. The ground was most probably set apart for the purpose named by John Dove (son of the Thomas Dove previously named) who was himself buried there in 1679. When I first made enquiries of the villagers as to whether any of them could remember interments taking place, Thomas Armstrong informed me that about 1820, when he was a lad, he remembered a cab driving out from Shields, the coffin of a child taken from the same, and interred in that ground. All the other oldest inhabitants' contended that Armstrong was mistaken, and that no interment had taken place during the present century. When I inspected the register I found the following entry :- Buried John Hewitt son of Robert Hewitt of North Shields, linen draper, 3 day 11 month 1818 aged 6 mo.,' showing that Armstrong's statement was correct. This appears to be the only burial after 1739. The ground is marked in the Ordnance plan. It was in existence some years after I first knew Cullercoats, and doubtless will be remembered by many of our mem

bers. It was situated at the north-west corner of the field called Arnold's close, near to the Marden burn. The ground was maintained by the Friends at North Shields, as the following entry in their cash book testifies :

1819 Sep. 18. Received of the Society of Friends by the payment of Robert Spence the sum of thirteen pounds being the amt agreed upon for rebuilding the Grave Yard Wall at Cullercoats. HENRY AINSLEY.

There were many head-stones, and more than one table-stone, but in after years the enclosure became overgrown and dilapidated. It was a very favourite hiding-place for the youth of several generations wherein to secure themselves from the vigilance of the village pedagogue, Billy Moffat.'

6

In 1872 the corporation of Tynemouth desired to extend John street, Cullercoats, to Marden burn, where it would join Whitley lane. To accomplish this it was necessary to remove the ancient burying ground, and the sanction of the Society of Friends was obtained. For many years the key of the ground was kept by Mr. James Bailey of Cullercoats, whose wife's ancestors were buried therein. Mr. Bailey strongly opposed its demolition, so that forcible entry had to be made. It was arranged that all existing head-stones and what human remains could be found should be removed to Preston cemetery. I well remember the operations being carried out, and for several mornings the hedge bank was bedecked with the skulls and dried bones of members of the Society who had been interred some two centuries previously. The stones were placed against the south wall of the cemetery, where several of them may yet be seen, and considering their age and the vicissitudes they have been subjected to some of them are yet in excellent condition. Whether the stone has been particularly good or the purity of the air has aided their preservation I cannot tell, but it is exceptional to find stones in such a good state that have been exposed to the weather for over two hundred years. When they were removed to Preston the corporation undertook to be at the expense of affixing a suitable brass tablet to the wall of the cemetery explaining the cause of their removal. This I regret to say has never been attended to.

The site occupied by the burial ground may to-day be best described as on the road a little to the north of the Primitive Methodist chapel.

By the kindness of Mr. Smillie, borough surveyor, North Shields, I have been favoured with a tracing from the plan that was adopted when the alterations were made.

Would not the present be a suitable time to have the brass tablet fixed at Preston, and also (if permission could be gained) to have a stone inserted into the palisading of the chapel, denoting as nearly as possible the site of this interesting old ground?

I give a copy of the stones now at Preston as far as I can decipher them, adding any information I have gathered of the families

named :

1.-He]re lieth the body of

John Buston of North

Shields Skinner and

Glover who departed

November ye 30th 1710(?)

Aged 58 years.

Elizabeth his daug. buried

1695-Aged 6 years.

2. Here lyeth the Body
of John Willoby An
cor smith in North
Sheels who dep

ed this life the 5 day
of e An Dom

[1]689.

In 1684 John Willoughby of North Shields 'was committed to

Morpeth gaol by a writ de excommunicato capiendo.'

CULLERCOATS-INSCRIPTIONS.

3. Here Lyeth
The Body of
Martha the
Wife of Lawr
ance Haslam
Who Deceased

The 13(?) Day of
December 1703.

In the 42 year

of her age.

4. Here lye
the body

Doratha th..
Wife of John
Frost who

Deceased the

26 Day of
February

169 In the

39 year of he..

age.

279

Three and four are a double stone, the dexter side recording the death of the wife of Lawrence Haslam, the sinister the wife of John Frost. Lawrence Haslam was a ship captain. He was one of those taken prisoners at the house of Robert Linton at South Shields, and imprisoned in Tynemouth castle. A most interesting entry from the records of the Society of Friends shows what staunch advocates for peace they were even at this early date :

Monthly Meeting. 10 day 11 month 1693.

:

Lawrence Haslam came to this meeting and friends had some discourse wth him about his having Guns in his ship, and tenderly admonished him of the evil consequences of it, and its inconsistency wth the principle of truth wth desire that he may dwell under the weighty consideration of the matter soe as to come into the unity of ffriends in his judgement and practice therein, and that ffriends who have the exercise of truth in this p'ticular upon them, may further deal with Lawrence as in ye wisdom of God they may see necessary and give account to this meeting.

Haslam was evidently interviewed, and soon after the following was recorded :

12 day 1 month 169. Jeremiah Hunter and Lawrence Weardale having spoke Laurence Haslam about carrying Guns does certifie this meeting that he gives them an accot that for the satisfaction of ffriends he hath sold his Guns & is to deliver them very shortly.

Such an entry may cause a smile at the present day, but we must admire the consistency of the man who for conscience sake could dispose of his guns when the northern seas must have been infested with pirates of all descriptions, and good guns must have often meant the saving of a good ship.

An entry in the register of the Society gives the marriage of Haslam's daughter :

1698. John Tyzack son of Zachariah Tyzack of Lowfflatworth broad glass maker & Dorothy Haslam daughter of Laurance Haslam of No. Shields.

The other side of the same stone records the death of Doratha

Frost. In the register her husband is described as of North Shields, formerly of Burlington,

It is curious to find this inscription confirmed by the register of Tynemouth parish church. Under date 1680, Oct. 8, we have :— 'Robert Currey of Shields Skinner & Glover buried in Doves buriall place near Culoucoats, he was drowned in M'. Lawsons sumpe.'

The daughter is probably the child referred to in another extract from the same parish register :- Aug. 19. 1680. Robert Currey of Shields Skinner & Glover had a child buried I think at Doves buring place.'

6. Here lyeth the bod..

son Henry Aiery

red November the 4

.. Dominie 167

7. Here lyeth the body of Thomas

Airey of North Shealds
Intered . . . eober the 27
Anno Dominie (?) 167(?).

Stones 6 and 7 record the death of members of the Airey family. The inscription upon No. 7 is confirmed by Tynemouth parish register: 1675. Nov. 4. Thomas Airey buried (in Jo Doves

burying place).'

A stone (8), much broken and defaced, belonged to the family of Selby. The Society register contains the following:- In 1684 buried Hannah Selby Wife of Robert Selby (of Durham) formerly the wife of John Dove of Whitley.'

Stones 9, 10, 11, and 12 all refer to the Dove family. As lords of the manor they were undoubtedly the most influential people in the place. They are so interwoven with the history of the buryingplace and of Cullercoats that I propose to add a short pedigree and account of them, and what particulars I have of Sparrow Hall '— the mansion house that was erected by them.

Here lyeth
the body of
Francis Dove

Daughter of

Thomas Dove

Buried the

Day of July 168(?)8