One of the more impressive plot markers in the yard here, it consists of a full-sized flat ledger with two initials at the base: G on the left side, F on the right. The year for the stones along from it is 1835, so we went looking, and there it was… The story begins with …
Two husbands, four children; some of them are here, along with the woman whose affection they all held in common. John Binns was born in 1811 somewhere outside of Todmorden. The short time he was alive and the time he was alive in means we know nothing else about him apart from that he was …
Read more “42.16 – John Binns and Joshua, Betsy and Richard Taylor”
Much like the story of Peter and James Studdard, this story is also about the people who aren’t here – the bridges. John and Ann are grandfather and granddaughter. Their stories are short, but the story in between…well! But first things first. John Staley was born in 1796 in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. Quite a …
These three siblings stayed close in life and death. There are many Crossleys in Todmorden and this batch weren’t one of the well off ones – not Crosslees or Crosleghs, but straightforward Crossleys. Not of Scaitcliffe but of Honey Hole. That doesn’t mean they were poor, but they weren’t the gentry. William Crossley, their father, …
A grave where we know little about the inhabitants, but we’ve done our best to bring them to life a little bit. Robert Suthers started out life with only one parent – born in Mereclough in 1807, by the time he was baptised in October of that year his mother Mary had already died. An …
Read more “42.25 – Elizabeth, Ellen, Robert and Betty Suthers”
The uniquely named Dransfield was a surprise for us – what a name, but what was its origin? If you want an answer don’t read on, because we don’t have one. Now that that’s out of the way, onto our story! Joseph Ratcliffe was born around 1815 to James and Sally (Fielden) Ratcliffe of Roundfield …
Read more “42.26 – James, Sarah Ann, Maria, Dransfield and Joseph Ratcliffe”
There are two names on this stone, a father, and his son, but only the father is actually in the grave. His son, Peter who is named died at sea, so has no known grave, which is why he is remembered here. The sole occupant of the grave, James Stuttard, was born in Oldham in …
This grave hold five siblings, four of which died very young. The fifth made it to adulthood but his life was needlessly chaotic, and one wonders what his poor parents made of it all. Those parents were James and Susan (Feber) Farrar of Todmorden, who were married at Heptonstall in March 1825. Just in time, …
Read more “42.34 – William, Sarah, John, James John and Howorth Farrar”
As always, the stories we tell aren’t always just of those buried here. There’s also those who might be buried here but aren’t named, and those who were left behind. This story starts with Edmund Mitchell, who was born in February 1810 at Lower Laithe to John and an unknown Mrs. Mitchell. Shore Baptist’s baptism …
They could have had a hefty monument, but children of three of the town’s wealthiest non-Fielden manufacturers and managers are buried here – you wouldn’t suspect would you? Of course one did have a Fielden connection, but it was purely business. Read on to find out more. Ellena Pilling, the uniquely-spelled first person buried here, …
Read more “42.56 – Ellena, Margaret, William Albert and Christiana Sutcliffe”