Section V.
The Storeys of Lancaster.
The name of Storey in Lancaster is a name known and esteemed far beyond the
confines of the ancient county town; indeed, it may be said to be indelibly
associated not only with the industrial, but with the social, educational, moral
and religious, and, to some extent, political life of Lancaster for something like
seventy years.
Although there were some connections of the family long identified with Lancaster
and Bolton-le-Sands, they were not connected at any time with those enterprises
which have made the branch to which Sir Thomas Storey belonged distinguished in the
manner above indicated. It is not the destiny of every branch of a family, however
worthy it may be, to create for itself "a local habitation and a name."
Isaac Storey, the father of the late Sir Thomas Storey, came to Lancaster in the
year 1835, when the ultimate founder of the Lancaster business was only ten years
old. Isaac Storey's fore-elders sprang from the yeoman class, the family coming
from Northumberland into Cumberland and Westmorland. Isaac Storey was the ninth
and youngest son and eleventh issue of William Storey and Mary, née
Greenup, of Low Ray or Wray, Windermere. William Storey was the third son of Thomas
Storey and Ann, née Wilson, of Townhead in Troutbeck, son of John
Storey and Agnes, daughter of Rowland Browne, of the Crook. John Storey dwelt at
Applethwaite in the parish of Windermere, and he was the son of Richard Storey and
Elizabeth, née Blamyre, of Old Hutton, in the parish of Kendal.
Richard Storey was the son of Henry Storey, Old Hutton, son of Richard Storey and
Thomasine, née Halhed, also of Old Hutton. Four generations dwelt at
Troutbeck, Richard Storey, who married Elizabeth Blamyre, being the first to reside
at Long Green Head, Applethwaite, in the chapelry (now parish) of Troutbeck,
Windermere. A reference to Pedigree Sheet No. II. will show the respective descents.
Isaac Storey was educated at St. Bees, with a view to his taking holy orders. Owing
to early marriage and the demands of an increasing family, he had reluctantly to
abandon the idea of entering the Church, and in due course became Master of Bardsea
School. Bardsea is a pleasant village situated on the sands three miles
south-south-east of Ulverston.
From Bardsea Isaac Storey came to Lancaster, probably at the request or suggestion
of Mr. Jonathan Binns, a surveyor, well known in Lancaster, and the gentleman who
surveyed the railway projected across the sands in the bay, which, to quote Sir
Thomas Storey's own words, "was to start at a point somewhere in the neighbourhood
of Heysham and go right across to about two miles below the village of Bardsea."
Mr. Binns was often at Bardsea, and he and Mr. Isaac Storey were naturally drawn
very much to each other. The eldest son of the latter would be ten or eleven years
of age at this period, and a strong, comely lad. Mr. Binns took a fancy to this
son, John, and very soon he was out with Mr. Binns on his surveying expeditions as
his chain boy. When the railway surveying was over, he begged that this son might
be allowed to come to Lancaster in order that he might be apprenticed or articled
to him as a land surveyor and engineer. The boy came, and as