Emily Osborn
Back to the Main Historical Society page
Back to the Barwicker Contents page
Emily Osborn
From the Barwicker No.94
June 2009
The picture on the back page of issue 28 of The Barwicker shows the back view of Emily Osborn sketched by one of the artists living in the Attic Abode. There is also a short write-up about the sketch in which it states that when the Osborn family left Barwick they lived at Pigeon Cote Farm, Seacroft. I know they lived at Mayfield Farm, Seacroft, which was down Bailey's Lane on the opposite side to the village green. This minor discrepancy sparked my curiosity as to just who was Emily Osborn. Why did the Attic Abode artist, E Forbes, draw a sketch of her and why only a back and side view, surely an artist would want to draw her front? Why did the artists pay their rent by means of a sketch rather than money? Why that particular sketch? So many questions but no immediate answers.
In 1901 Emily was 4 years old, living with her parents and sister in Barwick-in-Elmet. By 1911 her mother had died and her father had remarried and the family lived down Workhouse Lane in Barwick. But Emily wasn't with them. I eventually found her in 1911 aged 13, working as a live-in servant for the Horner family (market gardeners) in Seacroft. As well as a half-brother and two step-brothers Emily had two sisters, one older and one younger than herself.
I asked around and nobody seemed to know anything about Emily. John Collett whose ancestor accepted the picture in lieu of rent knew of the story but nothing about Emily. I telephoned Dennis Osborn, the head of the family, whom I was sure would know something. But no, he didn't know much, "she just disappeared". He did remember years ago speaking to a Mrs Russell who lived on Stocks Hill in Seacroft who was the wife of the local cobbler. The conversation somehow came round to Emily and Mrs Russell said "it was sad about Emily". However, she wouldn't be persuaded to say anything else.
There is a sad ending to the lives of Emily's father, William, and her step-mother, Catherine (Kit) in that on 9 July 1926 whilst Kit was very ill upstairs there was a terrible storm. William was standing at the window watching for his sons returning home across the fields when he was struck by lightening. Within four months Kit died also. They are both buried in the church yard at Barwick.
If anyone can give me any more information about Emily or the Osborn family please get in touch.
Back to the top
Back to the Main Historical Society page
Back to the Barwicker Contents page