This is all that remains of Haresceugh Castle. It was once a place of refuge for the people of Renwick, just as Scarrowmanwick served as a stronghold for the villagers of Croglin. Stones from the old castle were used for the farm buildings in the adjacent farm house. This farm house was the home of the Blenkinships, or Blenkinsops as they sometimes called themselves.
Isaac Blenkinsop was the first Blenkinsop to live in Haresceugh Castle. He was buried in Kirkland Churchyard, but according to the 1881 census he was born at Ousby. Further research has shown that he was christened there on 15th June, 1794 as Isaac Blenkins. His parents were Joseph Blenkins and Mary Cook.
2. Mary Blonkinship christened 26 August 1777 at Kirkland Church.
3.[Jane christened 1779.]?
4.Sarah Blenkinsop christened 25th March 1780 at Castle Carrock, died 9th April 1864 at Liverpool aged 85. Married Henry Lennard 25th March 1813, Moresby, Cumberland. Note: Sarah and Henry have descendants living in New Zealand.
5. Joseph Blenkowship christened 22 October 1786 at Ousby, Nr. Penrith, Cumberland. [We think that this was the Joseph who married Leah Jackson at Kirkland Nr. Penrith 4th August 1827. Joseph & Leah had one child, Wilfrid Blinkinsopp, c. 13th April 1828, Ousby, Cumberland. They emigrated to Canada in 1829 from Skirwirth, Kirkland Parish and established a new family in Canada.]
6. Thos. Blenkowship christened 13th September 1789 at Ousby. [Married Hannah Davidson 6th July, 1811, at Kirkland?]
7. Hannah Blenkowship christened 5th August 1792 at Ousby
8. Isaac Blenkins christened 15 June 1794 at Ousby. Isaac married Mary Workman on 13th February, 1882. Isaac and Mary have descendants living in New Zealand
Mary died 12 April 1818.
Kirkland Church where Isaac Blenkinship and Mary Workman were married
Children:
*Jane Blenkinship (4) married John Lowis 6 Nov., 1852 at Kirkoswald. Their daughter, Mary Ann, of Blunderfield, married Joseph Robley, of Scarrowmanwick, on 27th July, 1878. Mary Ann was my grandmother.
**1829 Directory.
Blenkmanship, Isaac farmer Greengill Bank, Morland.
**1847 Directory
Blenkinship, Isaac farmer. Haresceugh Castle.
***1901 Directory
Blenkinsop, Joseph & Robert. Haresceugh Castle. Kirkoswald.
This is a good example of variant spellings of a surname within the same family.
| Name | Rel. | Occ | M/U | Age | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Isaac Blenkinsopp | Head | Farmer | M | 56 | Ousby |
| Mary Blenkinsopp | Wife | Farmer's wife | M | 52 | Bongate |
| Isaac Blenkinsopp | Son | Farmer's son | U | 28 | Kirkland |
| Mary Blenkinsopp | Daughter | Farmer's daughter | U | 25 | Morland |
| Jane Blenkinsop | Daughter | Farmer's daughter | U | 24 | Morland |
| Thomas Blenkinsopp | Son | Farmer's son | U | 20 | Morland |
| Joseph Blenkinsopp | Son | <Farmer's son | U | 17 | Long Marton |
| John Blenkinsopp | Son | Farmer's son | U | 15 | Long Marton |
| Sarah Blenkinsopp | Daughter | Scholar | - | 13 | Long Marton |
| William Blenkinsopp | SON | Scholar | - | 11 | Long Marton |
| Robert Blenkinsopp | Son | Scholar | - | 8 | Long Marton |
| **Hannah Blenkinsopp | Daughter | - | - | 3 | Kirkoswald |
*Farmer of 228 acres
**Hannah may have been a granddaughter.
| Name | Rel. | Occ | M/U | Age | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaac Blenkinsop | Head | *Farmer | M | 86 | Ousby, Cumberland |
| Joseph Blenkinsop | Son | Farmer's son | U | 49 | Long Marton, Westmorland |
| Robert Blenkinsop | Son | Farmer's son | U | 38 | Long Marton |
| Catherine Blenkinsop | Gr Dau | Servant (General) | U | 28 | Kirkoswald |
| James Blenkinsop | Gr Son | Farm Servant Indoor | U | 23 | Kirkoswald |
| Thomas Blenkinsop | Gr Son | Farm Servant Indoor | U | 17 | Kirkoswald |
| Isabella Nicholson | Gr Dau | Servant (Domestic) | U | 16 | Kirkoswald |
| Mary Nicholson | Gr Dau | Servant (Domestic) | U | 14 | Kirkoswald |
| Thomas Cook | Visitor | - | U | 26 | Long Marton |
*Farmer 300 acres
Contributed by Marian Robley Foster, the great great granddaughter of Isaac Blenkinship (Blenkinsop).