A FORTNIGHT ago, we told how 150 years ago, the Duke of Cleveland had acquired Teesdale’s first steam plough, made by John Fowler of Leeds, and he had put it to work near Staindrop in front of an excited crowd of farmers.

Fowler, a Wiltshire Quaker, had come north to join the mid 19th Century engineering boom in the south Durham coalfield. He’d married Elizabeth Lucy Pease, the fifth daughter of Joseph Pease and his third cousin (once removed), and, moved by the Irish potato famine, had gone into inventing in a bid to make farming more efficient.

His steam plough was the first mechanical device to plough a field more quickly than a team of horses. He set up a factory in Leeds to produce the plough, but suffered from the stress of running a business and supporting a growing family.

His doctor advised him to take up exercise, so he moved to Ackworth so he could ride the 12 miles into work each day.

Still the stress persisted, and his doctor prescribed even more physical exercise.

He took up hunting, fell from his horse, broke his arm, tetanus set in, and he died December 3, 1864, aged just 38. He was buried in Darlington’s Quaker cemetery, and the Peases erected a monument in his honour, which is now in South Park in Darlington.

“I was so interested to read your story,” writes Carol Hepplestone in Romanby, near Northallerton. “This is because my grandad, William Sharpe worked for Fowlers, although his is rather a sad story.”

William was born in 1885 into a large Lincolnshire family – his younger brother, Charles, won the Victoria Cross during the First World War – and went to work on the land. While operating a steam plough at Sunk Island – a fascinating village on a piece of land that was once a sandbank in the Humber estuary, near Hull – he met Carol’s grandma, Sally Sygrove. They married in 1920 and moved to Leeds so he could work for Fowler’s.

John Fowlers family around his wife, Elizabeth Lucy, who was the daughter of Joseph Pease. She is pictured with, back from left, John, Eli Pelly, Edith, and, on the front, Lucy and Laura. Pictures courtesy of the Darlington Centre for Local Studies

John Fowler's family around his wife, Elizabeth Lucy, who was the daughter of Joseph Pease. She is pictured with, back from left, John, Eli Pelly, Edith, and, on the front, Lucy and Laura. Pictures courtesy of the Darlington Centre for Local Studies

“Because of his knowledge, he held quite a senior position and was sent to India to teach people out there how to use the steam plough,” says Carol. “Sadly, he never returned.

“The story goes that he fell ill from heat stroke and never recovered.

“My Granny had two children and was also pregnant with my dad, Ronald Sharpe.

“Not only did she lose her husband and give birth to my dad alone, but later that year she lost her little daughter Nellie to pneumonia and she had to leave her house as it went with my grandad’s job.

“It is sad also to think that my dad never got to actually meet his own father, nor I my grandfather.”

Carol has been trying to trace where her grandfather may be buried, without much success as no records remain.

“What I do understand is that he was a very clever, well thought of man, dedicated to his job at Fowler’s and he died helping others, doing what he loved.”

If you have anything to add to today's topics, please email chris.lloyd@nne.co.uk