To read what is happening on the Census data Marion Hearfield has a wonderful website

http://www.johnhearfield.com/Swale/USwD.htm

This includes information about occupations, immigration and emigration, transport links…just fantastic. I have emailed her to say thank you. The site gives a superb feel for what it must have been like to be a Sunter in Gunnerside.

http://www.outofoblivion.org.uk/ is a National Park Website. It has fascinating information about Gunnerside and descriptions of the lead mining industry the Sunters were employed in.

Both of the above sites help to explain why “Grocer and Draper” is not such an unusual job.

http://www.gunnerside.info/index.html has loads of photographs and local history advice. Look at for the Sunter in some of the letters.

Thanks to all of those involved in these websites. Simply brilliant.

Forgive me whilst I jump around a bit here.  Stick with me and it will make sense.

First of all in 1861 in the Hamlet of Lodge Green, Gunnerside, Melbecks (and each of these names are used to fill in census forms between 1841 and 1901) we have the following data:

• William Sunter, 37, head, Gunnerside, , 1824, Grocer and Draper

• Hannah Sunter, 36, wife, Blades Yorkshire, abt 1825, Grocer’s wife

• Thomas Sunter, 16, son, Gunnerside, abt 1845, Lead miner

• James Sunter, 14, son, Gunnershide, abt 1847, Lead miner

• Joseph Sunter, 12, son, Gunnerside, abt 1849 lead miner

• William Sunter, 9, son, Gunnerside, abt 1852, scholar

• George Sunter, 7, son, Gunnerside, abt 1854, scholar

• Mally Sunter 2, daughter, Gunnerside, abt 1859, scholar

• Ann Sunter 2months, daugher, Gunnerside

This is important.  Look at the whole family and then look at the next posting…Census 1871

 Rather horrifically it also appears that at 12 years old Joseph was a lead miner!