Initially thought to read “J. McC.”, this plot marker is actually J. McG. – and that opened the door to John’s story, that of a young man who died early after a very mixed set of life experiences. From a troubled household to sporting fame, this is his story. John McGrail was born in Leeds …
This little plot marker has two sets of initials, and so far we only know the first set’s owner. The owner is, like so many others here buried under small plot markers, only a small child. Her story is brief. Mary Ann Tootill was born on August 1st 1875 to William and Ellen (Brindle) Tootill. …
This grave starts with the story of two offcumden, although the origins of one remains a mystery. Edward Callan, or Collon, was born in 1826 in Bristol. His father’s name was John and was a painter. And that’s all we know. No baptism or census return for an Edward Callan or any such similar spelling …
This plot marker displays carved initials that were clearly carved by someone who knew how to do it but wasn’t a formally trained stonemason – less crude than the Colemans in the lower yard, but still someone’s attempt to remember a lost loved one in a manner they could afford. We narrowed down the possible …
Just next to Grace Bell along the school path, another plot marker with three initials on that helped us illuminate this otherwise forgotten life. Christopher Wilson Procter was born in Stainforth, near Doncaster, in 1844 to John and Esther (Wilson) Procter. The Procters were North Yorkshire stock who had moved south in search of work, …
This plot marker has the initials AMJ on the front, and GG on the back. We don’t know who GG is, but we can work out who AMJ was. Alice Maria Blakey was born on December 23rd 1854, an early Christmas present for Thomas and Sarah (Marshall) Blakey of Charles Street, Shade. Thomas was a …
This husband and wife were no stranger to loss, and rest in this grave alongside four of their little grandchildren. Alice Howorth (or Haworth) was born in 1838 to Jeremy/Jeremiah and Rachel (Barrowclough) Howorth of Knowlwood. Jeremy was the licenseholder for the Spinner’s Rest and Alice grew up in this environment. You can find out …
Read more “35.8 – Alice and Charles Hollinrake and their grandchildren”
When you look at this gravestone you see four names and may assume they are the only people to be buried here, but as with many graves here that’s not the case. The first person to be interred in this grave is not mentioned on the gravestone. She was Maria Greenwood, who was born at …
Read more “16.13 – Joseph, Herbert, Janie and Thomas Travis, and Maria Greenwood”
This lancet with its still-clear ivy motif marks a grave with two small and only children, and a husband and wife whose bond remained beyond death and remarriage. Sally Haigh was born in the summer of 1845 to James and Ann (Dyson) Haigh of Walsden and was baptised at Walsden St. Peter’s in September of …
Read more “53.64 – Mary Ann, Rachel Alice and John Howorth, and Sally Hollinrake”
Researching the Todmorden families that came before us is a wonderful privilege and highly rewarding thing to do, every single name provides a whole new and entirely different story, you just never know where the research will take you. Sometimes you have a giggle at something quirky, sometimes it’s simply ‘wow’, quite often though (especially …
Read more “18.21 – Frances, Minnie and Annie Verity (unmarked)”