ULVERSTON

OUR OLDEST TOWNSMAN

The passing of Mr. Stephen Hart Jackson, Senr., of Heaning Wood, our oldest townsman, who first saw the light of day as far back as June 1st, 1835, has snapped one of the very few remaining links in the connecting chain which binds the present age with the third decade of the past century. Admitted as solicitor 70 years ago, he was one of the oldest members of the legal profession in the County Palatine, if not in the whole kingdom, and his business associations with the town of his birth dated back to the pre-railway days, to a period when Ulverston was a flourishing shipping and shipbuilding centre and the locale of a few ancient manufacturing industries now sadly extinct. Although the deceased gentleman never sought public honours, mostly devoting his energies and activities to the 70 year-old firm, of which he was the head, he formerly filled several outside positions such as Clerk to the District Board of Fishery Conservators; vestry clerk at the Ulverston Parish Church, where he also served for some years as people’s warden; and president and staunch supporter of Ulverston Choral Society, in the welfare of which he took quite a paternal interest, as he likewise did in the old Volunteer movement. For 331⁄2 years he filled the position of clerk to the Grange-over-Sands Local Board and Urban Council, and on his retirement in July, 1913, he was presented by the then Chairman, the late Mr. Frank Taylor, with a handsome testimonial in appreciation of his long and faithful service.

Barrow News, 7 January 1928

THE LATE MR.STEPHEN HART JACKSON

HIS PASSING SEVERS A LINK WITH THE EARLY HISTORY OF ULVERSTON
[SPECIAL MEMOIR]

One of the few remaining connection links with the early history of Ulverston has been severed by the death of Mr. Stephen Hart Jackson, senr., principal of the firm of Messrs. S. Hart Jackson and Sons, solicitors, of Ulverston and Barrow, who passed peacefully away on Monday morning, at his residence, Heaning Wood, in his 93rd year. He leaves a family of three sons and a married daughter (Mrs. H. H. King, of Stourbridge). The two sons, Mr. Stephen Hart Jackson, junr., and Mr. Robt. Bertrand Jackson, have for some years been in partnership with their father, and the second son, Dr. Harold Hart Jackson, is in practice in Northumberland. Mrs. Hart Jackson (who was one of the daughters of the late Mr. George Webster, architect, of Eller How, Lindale-in-Cartmel), pre-deceased her husband on 22 May, 1901 (Whit Monday), dying suddenly whilst the family was on a visit to their summer residence at Nibthwaite.

The late Mr. Stephen Hart Jackson was an Ulverstonian born and bred. A son of the late Mr. Stephen Jackson, banker and merchant in partnership with Mr. John Satterthwaite, he was born on the 1st June, 1835, in Church Walk, at Little Croft House, as it was then called. His father died at the age of 83 on December 14, 1879, and was interred in St. Mary’s Churchyard. Mr. Hart Jackson derived his second name “Hart” from his grandfather, Mr. Joseph Hart, who hailed from Ireleth, representing a family whose history can be traced back for several hundred years.

Mr. Hart Jackson served his articles in the office of Mr. T. Woodburne, of Thurstonville, on the premises in Fountain-street now occupied by the Conservative Club. He was admitted as a solicitor at Michaelmas, 1857, viz., 70 years ago, and was one of the oldest, if not the oldest representative in the County Palatine and probably England. He was steward of the ancient Manors of Dalton, Plain Furness, Ulverston, Hawkshead, Egton-cum-Newland, Lindale, Hampsfield, Lowick, the Manor Courts and Court Leets in connection with which have lately been abolished by a parliamentary enactment. At the age of about 23 Mr. Hart Jackson started practice on his own account in premises near the bottom of Soutergate, now occupied by Messrs. Walker’s leather warehouse, his clerk at this period being Mr. William Burns, who, after over 60 years faithful service with the old firm, is now enjoying a well-earned retirement.

From Soutergate the office was removed to premises below the Commercial Inn in Upper Brook-street, and in 1878 was transferred to the present range of offices under the Savings Bank buildings in Market-street. In his extensive local court practice, Mr. Hart Jackson numbered among his professional contemporaries, Mr. John Poole, Mr. Thos. Postlethwaite, Mr. Wm. Relph, Mr. R. F. Thompson, of Kendal, and Mr. Tilley, of Lancaster, all of whom have since joined the majority. At the beginning of the period referred to, the late Mr. R. F. Yarker was clerk to the magistrates, being succeeded in turn by Mr. Alan B. Salmon and Messrs. S. E. Major and Son, the present clerks. As local solicitor to the Furness Railway Co., Mr. Jackson was engaged in many important actions in the County Court and the Superior Courts, and in private practice he acted as solicitor and confidential adviser in connection with many important estates in Furness and the Cartmel district.

The decease, in his younger days, took a very keen interest in the old Volunteer movement, started in 1860, and on his retirement held the commission of lieutenant. Fond of outdoor sport and a country life, he was an expert angler and a good shot. From the formation of the Board of Fishery Conservators for the Kent, Bela, Winster, Leven and Duddon districts, Mr. Jackson filled the office of clerk until his retirement in the late nineties, and since then his eldest son, Mr. Stephen Hart Jackson, has carried on the work as representative of the firm.

Passionately fond of high class music, like other members of the family, the deceased gentleman was for many years president of the Ulverston Choral Society, and one of its staunchest supporters, and since his retirement from the office his eldest son has followed in his footsteps.

A staunch Churchman, the late Mr. Hart Jackson was at one time people’s warden at the Ulverston Parish Church, and he was a member of the committee for the church restoration scheme in 1866. For many years he also filled the office of vestry clerk, being succeeded on his retirement by Mr. R. O’Neill Pearson, and then by the present vestry clerk, Mr. S. Hart Jackson.

Mr. Hart Jackson, who was elected in September, 1863, was the oldest member of the Furness Lodge of Freemasons, the next on the list being the Rev. F. G. McNally, now the only survivor of the original membership. The deceased was a Director of the Millom and Askam Iron Co., and was recently re-elected at the annual meeting. For 331⁄2 years Mr. Hart Jackson filled the office of Clerk to the Grange-over-Sands Local Board and Urban Council, and on his retirement in April, 1913, the then Chairman, the late Mr. Frank Taylor, presented him on the 7th July, 1913, with a silver salver and framed portrait subscribed for by members and officers in appreciation of his long and faithful services. Outside his official duties, the deceased gentleman took a very active interest in the development of this rising little watering place. He was succeeded as clerk by his son, Mr. R. B. Jackson.

Possessed of a wonderfully strong constitution, and of abstemious habits, the deceased gentleman was never known to have had a day’s illness, with the exception, perhaps, of a slight cold. He was a non-smoker, and practically a teetotaller. So long as physical strength permitted, he put all his energies into the business of the firm. Up to the beginning of last summer he frequently walked to the office to and fro from Heaning Wood, a mile distant from Ulverston. At the age of 90 he visited Wembley exhibition, journeying alone to London and back, and his comparisons with his visit to the first great Exhibition at Crystal Palace were decidedly interesting. Up to twelve months ago, still unaccompanied on his journeys, he travelled more than once to the Metropolis. Almost to the end he retained his mental faculties, and his reminiscences of the past, notably of the old Flan Sports of 70 years ago, and of the old coaching days in pre-railway times, and of the often perilous journeys across the treacherous sands of Morecambe Bay, were always entertaining.

Barrow News, 7 January 1928