Murdoch is an enigma in the graveyard. His common-for-the-time name makes it hard to pin down his origins; he is not mentioned in any official records of the work he did; his cause of death poses nothing but questions. But he’s here, and with a magnificently carved stone, so this is what we know: “This …
This story is only going to focus on Peter for now – other research on his family may follow. Peter Davies (1790-1876) married Hannah Jackson in 1812 – her headstone can be found at St. Mary’s. Peter’s occupation was a sawyer, like his father before him (also called Peter) and his son (also called Peter, …
Read more “37.9 – Ann, John, Amelia and Peter Davies, and Margaret Little”
In Loving Memory of Fred Ingham, who died February 19th 1915 aged 26 years We didn’t expect to find Fred – he was right near the end of row 7, turned over and detached from any other grave, and he doesn’t exist on the transcript at all. So who was he? Born in Bury in …
Grace was one of the first graves adopted as part of the FOCCT project and is not untypical in being a single child buried here with no other family members anywhere in the graveyard. Todmorden was a place of industry and people came from afar – some stayed, some left again. Her parents were Francis …
This grave is linked to 34.27, Stephenson/Fielden/Scholfield. Mary Ann Scholfield (or Schofield, depending on the source) was born Mary Ann Mamwell, to Elizabeth and Emanuel Mamwell. Herbert, buried here aged 8, was also their son. Herbert died aged eight, only 3 days after his older sister, who herself was only 22 years old. Even sadder, …
Read more “34.28 – Herbert and Elizabeth Mamwell, Lucy Anne Ginley”
If you walk past without looking closely, you’d think this was just part of the border of the path. But it’s not – it’s someone’s burial marker. We looked closer. John William Yourn was born in 1875. His father, William, was originally from Chacewater in Cornwall, near Truro. His mother Betty was a local girl. …
Born Jan 5th 1896, died Dec 4th 1896. “Thy Will Be Done” Francis was the firstborn son of Harold “Harry” Slaney and his wife, Mary Eleanor (Lambert) Slaney. Harry was one of 7 children born in Acton, Staffordshire, that number including a younger brother named Francis. Harry’s first profession was that of gardener, but in …
Bridget Greaves was born Bridget Stanton in 1849 in Dublin. Because a lot of Irish records were accidentally destroyed over time, it can be hard to track people down before they arrive in the UK or some other country. The first time we find Bridget here is in Newchurch, Bacup, in 1871, lodging with the …
Read more “2.15 – Samuel and Bridget Greaves, James Luke Stanton”
You could be forgiven for missing Peter Carroll – his name is on the plinth of a larger, newer stone, whose inhabitants lived very long lives and whose names are picked out in black. But Peter is the reason this grave gets freshened regularly – he is one of the seven servicemen whose died in …
Read more “17.3 – Peter Carroll, Gilbert and Elizabeth Halstead”
This was listed as “unmarked”, but look – initials carved into the sidestones. JC, MC, KC and AC. We know that Michael Coleman (d. 1908). Kate (Catherine) Coleman (d. 1943), and John Coleman (d.1951) are buried there…but who is AC? Michael and Kate had a daughter named Annie, who married William Mayers and died in …
Read more “9.7 – John, Michael, Kate, and Annie Coleman (previously unmarked)”