SQUIRE OSBALDESTON’S DOG BREAKER
By D. VASEY
In October 1821 Mr. John Wood of Sportman’s Hail, Barming, near Maidstone, was living with his first wife Frances and his son Baruch at that address and pursuing his “calling” of dog-breaker, when he received the following letter post-dated 9th. October 1821 from Mr. E.H.Budd
“Ebberston, Yorkshire.
Mr. Wood,
Mr. Osbaldeston the gentleman with whom I am staying in Yorkshire, is in search of a man to live with him as a Dog Breaker to whom he would give liberal wages. I have mentioned you often to him as a man I could without hesitation recommend as a breaker of Dogs, the object of this letter is to know whether it would be worth your while to accept the situation, and if so on what terms . A house of course would be found for you and your family to live in. You will write an answer to this as soon as you can decide, but perhaps you are doing better where you are, however send me an answer at all events without delay - Mr. Osbaldeston has a great extent of every sort of shooting so you will be able to practice dogs to every sort of game. I think when I last saw you you rather complained of the little money you were able to make in your profession of dog breaker. Should you prefer certainty to uncertainty, I should by all means recommend you to accept the offer herein contained as I am sure you will have an excellent place. I hope Romp and Galley have been shot to this season, let me know how they are getting on, and what they have done since you last wrote about them. Matron likewise. If you have or know where there is an out-of-the-way good pointer or setter to be sold, and the price - he must be quite perfect in every way as to breaking -
Direct your letter to G.Osbaldeston Esq. Ebberston, Malton”
Obviously Mr. Wood was interested in the proposition, as he received a second letter from Mr. Budd as set out below.
“23 Alpha Cottage
Regent’s Park
Monday evening
Wood,
I have heard from Mr. Osbaldeston since I saw you, he will be in London on Friday next to dinner. I wish therefore that you would come up with such of the dogs as you would wish him to see to be here by 1/2 past 9 or 10 o’clock on Saturday morning and I will go with you to him, when everything concerning your going into Yorkshire will be finally arranged. Do not fail to be here as he will leave London again next Sunday - I think it would be advisable for you to bring up the white setter bitch and the black and white setter. Perhaps you had better leave home on Friday and come part of the way as you will be obliged to walk, having so many dogs with you - at all events I shall expect to see you here punctually at 1/2 past nine on Saturday morning next with the dogs - should you neglect coming the chance of your going to Yorkshire will be at an end.
Should you be able to bring the famous Setter Dog (you spoke of for a stallion) with you I know Mr. 0 would like to see him and perhaps will buy him.
Yours truly
E.H.Budd
We have no knowledge of what transpired at the meeting with Squire Osbaldeston, or how many dogs M. Wood took with him, or how far he walked, but we know that he took the post in Yorkshire and so founded a branch of the Wood family still living and farming in Ebberston.
It is evident that after leaving the Squire’s employ he moved to a farm in Hutton Buscel where his first wife Frances died in 1834, leaving 5 children including Baruch who came with him from Barming.
In 1844 Baruch married Mercy Lightfoot of Hutton Buscel who apparently died in the same year. He then married Sarah with who he had 6 children. One of these 6 was John Barugh Wood born in 1851, who in 1890 was married to Annie E Dowsland of Snainton and was then a farmer at Pear Tree Farm, Ebberston. After his death in (?) 1930 the farm was run in partnership by his two sons John Baruch Wood (now deceased) and Henry Dowsland Wood (now retired) but whose son John Brian Wood is the present owner/occupier.
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