The first Ostles lived on the abbey lands at Holm Cultram. Perhaps they looked after visitors in the HOSTEL there and that's how they got their name.

The Ostles moved to a larger farm at Newtown on the coast. Although rebuilt and extended many times, it is still a working farm and still in the hands of the family.

Thomas and Frances Ostle of Newtown joined The Society of Friends - the people known as Quakers. It seems that all Ostles now living are descended from their family.

The early Quakers were badly persecuted. Thomas Ostle was imprisoned in 1679 for refusing to pay his Tithes and his cousin John died in Carlisle Jail during 1694 after refusing to take a juror's oath.

Thomas's son Jonathan married Ruth Stordy and moved to Moorhouse, near Carlisle. Jonathan became a Quaker minister and travelled all over the British Isles.

During the Jacobite rebellion, Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed with the Ostles and Stordys at Moorhouse before laying seige to Carlisle.

The Quaker Ostles continued to farm at Newtown, attending the Beckfoot Meeting House. Many of their cousins moved to other parts of Cumberland.

Just ten miles down the coast, the new town of Maryport offered great opportunities. Jonathan Ostle, his wife and their family moved there. Their children and grandchildren were to become important members of the new community

The family from Goody Hills moved to Dearham and became miners. Moses and Margaret had ten children, John and Sarah had thirteen and Wilson and Sarah brought up a brood of fifteen -- all in a miner's cottage!

The family formed a syndicate to buy the schooner 'North Star' and Capt. Joseph Ostle became her master. He took his brother, Thomas, to settle in New Brunswick. The first Ostle in North America

Joseph Ostle of Maryport printed the very first timetable for the Maryport & Carlisle Railway. His brother, William, was a director of the railway company.

Wilson Ostle set up as a pottery manufacturer in Dearham. He made sturdy brown earthenware for everyday use and ran a grocer's shop as a sideline

John Ostle, from the original Newtown family, attended the opening of the Silloth to Carlisle railway and recorded the event in his journal.

Henry Ostle left his job as a miner in Greysouthen for the USA. He worked first in the mines of Pennsylvania and then joined relatives of his wife in Montana, founding a dynasty of ranchers there.

Thomas Ostle, a miner in Aspatria and the son of a railway navvy, founded another dynasty. His grandsons, also miners, travelled to both Canada and Australia.

And here is the newest member of the family! Born July 17, Olivia Isabella Ostle, both good Ostle names! Proud parents - Stuart and Linzi Ostle in Australia

. . but if you have an interesting Ostle, send me a picture and brief details to add to the book. There's an email link at the bottom of the home page.