This story was at times frustrating, but still fascinating – given that it spans 141 years that’s hardly a surprise! James Turner was born in Spotland in 1773. He grew up a weaver, of course, and made his way to Walsden and to Knowlwood specifically. At some point he married the first of his two …
Read more “39.3 – James and Betty Turner, and John and Sarah Ann Sunderland”
Oyez, oyez, oyez! Gather round and hear the tale of the OG Tod Town Crier – or what we know of it anyway. Thomas Greenlees was born in 1783 and while his early life is a mystery, we know that he started out as a cotton spinner who made a career for himself working for …
A family who were swept up in the Poor Law Riots, and an emigration that ended in tragedy. Henry Atkinson – the man of the house here – was born in Bowling, Bradford, in 1802. His father was a farmer but Henry was good with his hands and found himself apprenticing to a shoemaker, whose …
Read more “40.40 – William Sager, Henry, Thomas and Rachel Atkinson, and Ellen Horsfall”
The second of our wall-straddled graves at the back of the yard, just below the church itself. Who were these Ogdens? Thankfully a descendant has done a heavy amount of research into this family and shared it with us so we can publish it here. This grave contains the children of Joseph and Hannah (Haigh) …
Read more “43.22 – Nathan, Reuben, John, Hannah, Susy and Mary Ogden (inaccessible)”
“In Memory Of Wildsmith Burchell, Native of Arundel, Sussex, who died August 3rd 1839 aged 20 years. This Stone was placed by his disconsolate Mother, to perpetuate the Memory of a beloved Son, the youngest of 10 Children, suddenly left Orphans in the Year 1820“ With that name and that epitaph, you have to ask …