Frank Elgee
Frank Watson Elgee (born 8 November 1880 in North Ormesby (Middlesbrough) Yorkshire, England) was a published archaeologist, geologist and naturalist.
[3]He was born in Kings Road, North Ormesby the eldest of four children – Frank Watson (1880), Allan (1883), Edward (1885), and Amy Maria (1887–1942).
His mother, Jane née Coates (1851–1907), was in poor health but dealt with his early education and he attended the local Public Elementary School in North Ormesby.
His will to live was strong and he was taken to recuperate at Ingleby Greenhow near the foot of Urra Moor, North York Moors national park's highest point, here he took in the sights of the North Eastern moorland, the blue escarpments, the plant life, insects, birds and observed the Cleveland Hills from his wheelchair.
It was Ingleby Greenhow's Vicar, The Reverend John Hawell[9] - who was a natural history specimens collector, the choncology section secretary of "Clevelands Naturalists' Field Club" and later President in 1891, 1895, 1896, 1903 and 1904[10] – that attracted him to the subject.
[13][14][15] During the time he was not in work, he taught himself the languages Latin, French and German in addition to studying Botany, Geology, Conchology and Astrology.
This three-month stay was a defining moment of his life, he resolved to investigate and understand the area's origins that increased and fired his curiosity.
He also had published in 'The Naturalist' his findings and views on 'The Driftless Area of North-eastern Yorkshire and its Relationship to the Distribution of certain plants and animals, and Glacial Survivals'[19]
Frank Elgee as curator of the Dorman Museum, in 1927, uncovered parts of an earthenware cremation urn, together with burnt bone and Flint.
Trenches revealed stone rubbers, quartzite Hammer-Stones, burnt sandstones, flint scrapers and chips.
Whenever possible he still played an active part in the development of the museum and led groups to Orkney and Holy Island, Anglesey.
In 1937 he organised the excavation of the burial mound at Loose Howe but his failing health meant that the work was largely directed by his wife.
In 1938, Dr. Frank Elgee and his wife Harriett moved to Alton, Hampshire, though he continued to communicate with his former local archaeologists right up until his death in 1944.
Principally at the Bronze Age hill fort at Eston Nab and burial grounds at Loose Howe.
She had hoped he could be brought back to be buried on his beloved moors but was laid to rest on a hill in Alton Cemetery.
[41] Elgee's wife Harriett gave her epitaph – 'His labours had been Herculean; his physical strength was nothing but frailty; his monetary resources were meagre and he stands for the triumph of mind over body; of spirit over matter, a scholar saint of Yorkshire Moorlands; as having entered fully into his rights of pre-Eminent domain as their Genius loci, unto whom all is revealed'.
