This double plot has two gravestones, and each one names a host of people. It “begins” with Fieldens but also incorporates Hollinrakes, so strap yourselves in for an occasionally convoluted tale of leatherworking, firefighting, early deaths and ripe old ages. Most of all it’s the story of one of the church’s most fierce and loyal …
Read more “43.56 and 43.57 – Thomas and Esther Fielden and family”
From Walsden to Wales – this grand grave holds two generations but the inscription spans three. The story begins with Mary Ogden. Mary was one of many born to her parents, James and Alice (Haigh) of Watty Hole. James died before 1841, and as usual Alice was left being supported by her children. He had …
Read more “43.58 – Mary Ogden and John, Jane and Samuel Fielden”
Servants to their own families..the women in this grave had a roof over the heads, but how hard were their lives? Not as hard as the wear to this stone would make you romantically assume. Yes, we had to “read” much of this stone by hand and by using geneaology resources to be certain of …
Read more “42.55 – Martha, James and Grace Booth, and Sarah Ann Pilling”
Three generations of women in one family rest here, and their story is one of wealth and heartbreak. Mary Hollinrake was born in 1802 in Todmorden to either Samuel and Mary or John and Hannah Hollinrake; unfortunately she was married by banns and so there’s no father’s name on any paperwork. Her marriage came in …
Read more “44.52 – Mary Lord and Mary, Kate, and Amanda Butterworth”
This grave holds two people from very different backgrounds, who both met a sad and early end – and of course, as with so many stories like this, there’s also the story of one person in particular who they left behind… Frank Nuttall, the second person buried here, was the first person born to this …
This handsome granite monument tells an interesting story – one of wealth, adopted families, and of course loss. Melina Leah – the Melina Stansfield of our story – was born in April 1844, one of the many many children of Robert and Mary (Parker) Leah of Edge Nook, which on the 1851 Census comes just …
Read more “V12.10 – John Clegg, Melina Stansfield and Melina Stoddart”
Like the story of Jane Chalcroft, this is one of a mother who followed her daughter to Todmorden and lived her final days in a school environment. Not noteworthy in itself maybe, but the fact that it’s the second such story is always interesting. Are there any coincidences in the graveyard? Harriot – yes, that’s …
Read more “44.60 – Harriot Yates and Elizabeth and Henry Stansfield”
After many, many days, researchers are stumped; how do these couples connect? The answer sees to be that they don’t. So here’s their stories, and perhaps someone knows the secret reason that they were joined together in death. Editor’s note: the connection has been found; we’ve tacked it onto the end of the post! William …
Read more “V7.12 – William and Ann Oldroyd, and Willie and Olive Marshall”
A family from Buckinghamshire that set down roots in Todmorden, and one woman’s occasionally turbulent life. Mary West was the oldest figure here, so we’ll start first with her. She was born in 1838 in Newport Pagnell to a “sculptor and carpenter” Thomas West and his wife Caroline, formerly Whiting. Thomas was a descendant of …
Read more “45.58 – William Robert Keys, Mary Carter, and James and Elizabeth Jackson”
Right at the front row of vaults stands this cross commemorating four siblings and a man who married into their family – the branch of the Greenlees family that was concerned with shoeing and veterinary practice at Der Street. This story is one of sisters who were doing it for themselves and a brother whose …
Read more “V1.5 – Charles Henry, Sarah and Alice Greenlees, and Arthur and Henrietta Corbett”