“In Death Not Divided”, as the obituary for Robert and Betsey begins, and as in life so in death. The obituary tells you quite a lot about this couple. Robert was a native of Burnley, who married his wife Betsey Stephenson there in 1869. They had known each other for quite some time; in fact, …
It’s not the what, but the how, for us. Mary was once the headmistress of the National School, and now her resting place is irrevocably tied up in its very fabric. Here you can see the list of names pulled from the headstone for the Crowther family in the 1980s, when a group of teenagers …
Read more “S7.5 – Benjamin, George, John, Susan, Ann and Mary Crowther”
This is another grave hidden under the school extension, and another explanation about why these graves matter. It starts with those we know are buried here and ends with those who we can only guess at, for now. Harold Allister was born in 1895 to James and Louisa Allister. In 1908 he can be found …
This stone is a great example of how we can’t always trust a gravestone, or a burial register, or indeed much else, to tell us the truth about someone. From our Facebook page, via researcher Holly: “Been very confused researching this headstone! Normally these things are a valuable tool for giving accurate names and dates. …
Read more “38.8 – Edward and Mary Billington, and Mills, Sarah, Thomas, Jane and John Duckworth”
As of August 2023, Samuel is our first possible murder victim. Is that enough to get your attention? Samuel Butterworth was born in either 1799 or 1800 to Thomas and Sally Butterworth of Nip-Square, Walsden. Because of the dates in which this family lived, there aren’t as many primary sources of information, so we have …
You know when sometimes you just…know? Well, we didn’t. We had no idea there were two stones side by side here. John Holt Jr. was, according to the lost sexton’s book, buried in the same plot as little Sarah Taylor just below John and Mary Ann. Actually though he was on the side of his …
Read more “40.38 and 40.39 – John, Mary Ann, and John Holt Jr.”
We’ve found a lot (a LOT) of displaced sidestones and even headstones in the graveyard, and at first glance these two burial plots seemed to be a similar situation. The Crossleys are buried at 7.41 according to the lost sexton’s book, and Enoch Sandow is buried at 14.18. However, two sidestones with Mary Ann and …
Read more “7.41 and 14.18 – Samuel, Mary Ann and Annie Crossley, and Enoch Sandow”
This grave caught the eye of one of our researchers because of Richard and Elizabeth sharing the same date of death. The story was a surprise, and another example of how there is no dignity in death when it comes to popular media. Richard and Elizabeth lived in poverty and may have also had some …
Read more “24.30 – Richard, Elizabeth, John and Mary Ellen Greenwood”
This plot marker was found lying on its back in row 43. We did know where it came from, and will update this post at a later date to explain further. We didn’t know initially, though, who LAD was. Plot markers can be awkward things. Many times the initials on them are the initials of …
Another one of our eroded stones that needed Ancestry’s help to decipher. Also another suicide contained within. Before we start, a word about holly. Holly is our least favourite plant in the graveyard. Not even ivy is capable of causing such damage. Ivy might crack stones, but holly erases everything it touches. Something to do …
Read more “37.27 – Lydia, George, Grace, Hannah, William and Hannah Lingard Marshall”