Revisiting [Karen's contributions in blue]   All ideas welcome, good to question things.

John O'Keeffe (I think this is the spelling in the 1861 census - there is for sure, an O' ,and I think the lower parts of two ffs ) was apparently born in 1833 but was not quite sure of it!   This would make him 13 years older than wife Elizabeth, if it was true.  We know he is a school master, and numerate, and trustworthy. So why does his age than wander to a birth date of 1836?  [presumably to bring thier ages closer together - a very common thing people did when their ages were quite different was to bring them closer together].  He seems to be O'Keefe at his wedding and then he is known as Keefe. Is this the outcome of others filling out his census returns etc?[he is named as Mr J keefe in 1858 when attending the opening of the catholic Church in Scarborough]  Or did he choose to lose the O'? Karen thinks he would be avoiding prejudice against the Irish but I do not agree with this. [This is what people in the family told me when I began researching the family history in the 1980s - I was told that it was Mary nee Conroy who insisted they use the "O" because it was she who was especially pro-Irish]  He lives in an outpost of Catholicism where he has come as part of the Mission to them as the first schoolmaster at the Catholic School. I don't think they are anti Irish in this spot. They have far too much experience of oppression to be thus biased. Where did the O' go? And the extra f.? My feeling is that is was of no importance at the time as these spellings are all uses...... his son Joseph marries as O'Keeffe. But then Joseph's son is John O'Keefe.   [I suspect the use of the "O", or omission of it, in the birth registrations of the children of Joseph and Mary O'Keefe may have been dependent on who registered the birth]   I think I have been denied my full quota of letters in my name!
Karen has a book with dedication very clearly to O'Keeffe.  [this is a book with the date 1854 in the inscription - perhaps when he turned 21 or left ireland]    It must be that we have a liking for standard spellings that was not around in earlier times. If I changed the spelling of my name it would lock me out of various internet accounts. Things are different now.

Also, he must have had an Irish accent. So avoiding Irish prejudice would have been a bit difficult.

So here we have the first teacher at the new Catholic School. (1858)
He resigns this post around the time of his marriage for a clerical post at the Ironstone works. Which closes, and by 1871 he is " out of employ" which is bad luck for a man with two children and a rent to pay. [he is a "booking clerk out of employ" - I was never sure if this was for the railway or for the ironworks.  However, the Glaisdale ironworks opened in 1866 and closed in 1876.  maybe this is why John and Elizabeth went to live in Glaisdale if this is whre he worked for a while.   (He is known to have collected money towards the building of the church from workers at the iron works - this reported to me by the archivist at Middlesborough many years ago).  The Grosmont ironworks was 1862-1892] We don't know the date that he finished at the school and began at the Ironstone works. We must presume that there was better pay  as a clerk, because the status as schoolmaster was something to be prized. Maybe.  [I am pretty sure he left the school master job in order to earn more working, he was school master when he married.]

It was not a well paid job. The school could not have been very large. At the time, the school must have been attached to the church somehow ... the modern day school is housed in the  pre 1867 church building which also included the Presbytery for the priest.
I don't know if there was also another school in Egton Bridge or Egton maybe for non Catholic children. We must assume yes.

Just having read a history of Teachers and Education in Ireland I wonder that John Keefe was given the post. There is a record of  John Keeffe graduating from Queen's College in Cork around 1856 ish - as usual I cannot find the record when I need it - in Arts. But according to the information I just read through, it was not really the done thing for a Catholic to attend this college because of disapproval by the bishops of Ireland. Also, very few Catholics were admitted because generally speaking, they were not well educated ,to access further education.
 It is all very enigmatic.

What are the chances that " the Captain" ( first mate maybe) of a ship should land up in Egton Bridge and be appointed the first school master in a remote Catholic community? I could understand the situation if John had been educated in England, say Ampleforth or Stoneyhurst or even Ushaw.  Maybe if he had been in England before 1858. But to think that he came over from Cork? What is this about? It does suggest that the post was given him while he was resident in Cork and that he filled in his time after his education with learning to be a mariner. Cork was a good place for sailors but this is all very odd.  [I agree it seems likely the school master job was arranged while he was in Ireland, and he came over to take up the post.  Egton Bridge is mentioned in Irish newspapers as donating money to Irish causes.  It is possible the O'keefe's knew Andrew McCarthy who was priest at Egton around the time John went there.  As for the ship connection - there is no reliable evidence for this at all, though it is quite possible John arrived in Whitcby by ship, unless he came to Liverpool and made his wasy across country.   The Catholic archives found nothing in the EB school or other records, about his origins or how he came to be there.  Also, there is no trace of a baptism for him in Cork - could the story have been that it was his father who was baptised or married in Cork, rather than him?  We actually have no idea where he lived, all we have is that in the 1911 census "unknown" for place of birth is crossed through - was this written by Elizabeth? - and Cork written in it's place - strongly suggesting he was born in Cork.  But so convincing baptism found to date.]

It would seem that he and his wife Elizabeth moved to Glaisdale after their marriage. [possibly for the ironworks job as mentioned earlier]

 Before this John is involved with the Egton Bridge Horticultural Society and Show on St Thomas' Island (He lodges with a family in 1861) - which island is just before the mill in Egton Bridge. This  Society and Show was begun in 1859 and did not go well the first year. After that things improved. John never enters anything that he has grown - he is the Secretary dealing with the paperwork. He is not a grower. He is a Classer at another Show some years later though. [He is a classer in 1866 - the year before he married - he must have known something to be given a judging job?] However his FIL George Barker is a keen exhibitor  and wins many prizes  - as are many other familiar names. Joseph Lawson, Richard Barker etc. George grows winning gooseberries and these are exhibited in the Gooseberry Show, another organisation  - apparently around since 1800. George has been a winning shower for a long time before the Horticultural Society was founded! A George is mentioned in the 1820's but this was probably an earlier George Barker.

 In 1867 after his marriage John is involved with Penny Readings in Glaisdale. Press references to these span only two years. Penny Readings are a fashion in Whitby before this time. 

After this he is the Secretary for the Egton and Glaisdale Ploughing Society.... for around 8 years by Press release info. This is the competition for ploughing and hedge cutting. The committee have meetings at local hostelries ie The Tunnel Inn in Grosmont and other venues. The competition takes place in the winter.
This indicates that John was not very interested in growing things or that he did not have any time, or garden land. It also suggest that John was keen to get busy in Glaisdale until the children began to arrive and then his outlet was the Ploughing Society. John keeps to this for a good time and I hope he enjoyed the planning meetings and events. We don't know if the Press references and times they represent are determined by fashions for activities or by the proficiency of the organisers in getting press releases. It would suggest that John was a man who understood the ploughing of land though: that he cared about it. Or was he just being amenable? His obituary emphazises his kindness and goodwill.

Other social activities for him would include membership of the Guild of st Hedda and St Joseph in Egton Bridge. [John was not a member of the Guild of St Hedda's - I have been through all the Guild books, including the membership lists, at the RC Archives at Middlesborough and John never subscribes as a member of the Guild, or pays in to the funeral funds etc.  I suspect John was more interested in education and entertainment and would have found the Guild rather too restrictive and narrow, which was maybe why he never joined.]  Activities included walking round the area preceded by the Egton Bridge Brass Band and then a meeting - food - lectures  by the priest. One source cites this guild as being more influential than the parish priest " due to the strict rules for behaviour that were devised"( Margaret H Turniman.)

We see John more clearly in his musical activities. He played the violin and family legend has it, that he gave lessons in violin. He played at some time in a quadrille Band for balls and so on and he was given to singing at the Catholic Concerts in Egton Bridge. (Not Irish songs maybe, although some reports include others singing Irish ballads, but not John).  In one report he sings about Hot Codlings, a rather suggestive song about alcohol... he also sings in Glees.  (part singing usually of  a classical nature at this time) He is clearly a very musical man. He and his wife are believed to have sung in the church choir before their marriage. I hope they sung afterwards as well.

Employment.
 Looking at the census returns gives us a skewed picture. He is out of employ then a signal man, shopkeeper  -then a signal man and so on. [The census returns give him as a booking clerk in 1871 (presumably at the railway/), a railway signalman and gocer in 1881, a block signalman i n 1891, a railway signalman in 1901, and a pensioned retired signalman in 1911 South Eastern Railway]  His Obituary declares that he was a Signal Man for 25 years and he had a pension for this.  The date is given but I forget.  I believe he must have been a Signal Man from around 1875 . The Press reveals that, in addition to this, the family was giving  accommodation for visitors and this is documented from around 1890. I do forget. They were taking in visitors at Carr View, as were their daughters Eliza and Helen at some point. They also have paid guests when living back in Egton Bridge at St Hedda's Row.
The whole area was famous for beautiful scenery and there was much business to be gained.

His father in law and second wife, they were very much into the lodgings trade  (Esk Villa) and this is where we find the daughters of the family finding economic development. (Manchester) His sister in law Hannah Mary marries the nephew of Joseph Lawson [she married Isaac lawson in 1899 - in 1891 he is railway clark in Darlington, in 1901 he is Station master at Egton Bridge] the keeper of the Station Hotel in Egton Bridge.  Her husband Isaac has been working in Darlington prior to his appointment as Station Master at Egton Bridge. The prizes won by Hannah's husband Isaac as Station Master in Egton Bridge suggest she that she too is into growing stuff  and good at it too. I imagine hanging baskets of flowers. The building of Esk Villa would seem to be aimed at developing the business side of  Holiday Lodgings - instead of the traditional family trade of tailoring and shop keeping.  [It seems highly likely that it is Frances, George Barker's 2nd wife, who runs this - it is her name in all the newspaper lists of visitors]

Looking at the connections and family and social grouping for John, gives an interesting picture.
His sisters in law, Hannah and Esther were talented musicians, both capable pianists and organists. Hannah was also a teacher and Principal of her own school. [Hannah is an assistant teacher or teacher in 1881 and 1891.  In 1901 Hannah Mary Lawson is living at 1 Broomfield terrace, Ruswarp, and is the first listed in the household of 2, but is given as "partner" to the head of household (who is presumably not present that night) and her occupations as "Principle Private School" working from home on her own account, with a servant Annie SDoyle age 18 born in Anglesy, living in with her.   Assistant ]  He married into a very musical family.  A family that educated their girls. I wonder why his wife Elizabeth was not so gifted? Or was she?   [I seem to remember newspaper reports show she was involved in the helping with entertainment events]  
 He mixed with the whole community  and I would guess this was important to him.
Looking at the work and opportunities for progression on the railways - John did not do so well? He is a signal man which is labour rather than managerial.  [but you did have to be literate to do asignalman's job - communications and train movements had to be logged in a record book, and it does seem to have been a pensionable job]]
Isaac Lawson, his brother in law, is a station master.

 John and his wife took in some orphans from Bradford. The Glenn family were adopted by them and appear either in John's home or in the home of his grown up daughters. When one of the  Glenn family dies from injuries sustained in action in the second world war there is quite a thing about it in the Press. Father in law George also seems to have an orphan from Bradford living with him and second wife Frances,  in the 1891 Census. Anne Starr born in Bradford. Is she a servant or a foster child?

I boggle at the accommodation needs of so many children, foster children, and summer visitors!

Lastly John is listed in a Trade Directory as a dealer in Earthenware when in Glaisdale ie 1890. That is a bit of an anomaly.He was a signal man at that time. Perhaps he also had a shop (he is down as a shopkeeper either 1881 or 1891 I forget.) How would there be enough room for a shop?

Joseph Lawson - the keeper of the Station Hotel in Egton, he is a sportsman and was into hunting in his younger years.

John however, has no references to this kind of activity. In the old photos which we think were taken around 1867 ie the time of his marriage - he has a bowler hat. These details are significant of social class at the time. What does this signify?  [In 1858 at the opening of the RC church in Scarborough (or Whitby), he is described in newspapers as a "noteable" person.  In 1901 he is reported in the newspapers "At the Arncliffe Hotel: Mr J O'Keefe presents a silver albert and silver matchbox on Mr pearson leaving the district to join the Outh African Constabulary", and his obituary in the newspapers in 1915 make it clear he was a respected person.  Anuty kath thought of him as a "gentleman" and said his accent was more Dublin than Cork - but who knows!  I just wish someone had asked him about his Irish family.]  
 Elizabeth wears a blouse and skirt: she has a pretty  hat and a cloak. Remember that her father is a tailor by trade and a daughter at one point is a dressmaker.

If John's father was called Richard , why no Richard son? We understand that brother in law, Richard Barker was "the Black Sheep"  of the family -but Richard is present at many local gatherings and has office of some sort, he also had the tenancy of an Inn in the village of Egton [he is joiner's app 1871, grocer in 1881, joiner in 1891, at the Wheatsheaf Inn as innkeeper and farmer in 1901 [Etgon for all these), then in 1911 he is living at Old Boulby, Easington and is a mechanic at the Ironstone mines.  

Why no references to Ireland handed down by family?  [Was Elizabeth the dominant one?  from what aunty kath said she was quite a feisty character, so maybe his origins were not talked about?]

If John's father was a miller in any meaningful way, why cannot we find reference to this? It should leave an echo.   Was he exaggerating somehow, about the miller bit?  Was his father a farmer? With  a bit of an interest in corn milling? Not a man  notable as a miller.

Is the marriage record wrong as to name?  [I have often wondered if the name is wrong!]

[One other event which may be of importance is the warrant for the arrest of Peter Keefe reported in the newspapers 1873 - "Assault at Glaisdale". —John Monaghan and Peter Keefe had been summoned for assaulting Charles Framley, at Glaisdale, on the Ist inst. Defendants did not appear, and warrants were issued for their apprehension." 12 April 1873 - Whitby Gazette.  Who is Peter Keefe?   Was he a relative visiting John?  A P Keefe is also mentioned again in 1885 "As usual on St Stephen's day the Catholic colony at this village had their popular concert in the evening......by the choir of the church and songs by Miss...Barker .... and Messrs ... P. Keefe, R Barker ... J Keefe... vocal duet by Miss Clark & Miss Barker"  Again a tantalising record which might be a clue to relative of \John's.  There is a Peter Keefe born Waterford who lived in Staffordshire from 1849 - in 1851 he is "millwright", in 1861 Engline Fitter, becomes bankrupt 1868, millwright in 1871, railway Engine Fitter 1881, dies 1887.  All his sons are potters at some time growing up.  His grandson becomes an RC Priest at Stoke on trent and then at cannock.  ]