Generations and generations on one stone – some stories we know, some we don’t, and some we can only guess at. Zechariah Astin was born in Rossendale in 1782, and Betty…unknown last name…was born in Leeds in 1787. These Astins are the famous Astin and Barker Astins, even though they did live at Harley House …
There is only one person named on this low, sinking gravestone – Sidney (or Sydney) Jackson – but he may not be on his own. Sidney was born in Lion Street, Todmorden on the 3rd October 1863. Only his mother, Ann Jackson, is named on his birth certificate, his father’s name is left blank. He …
Some names get remembered because of their manner of death being unusual, or – in this case- spectacularly traumatic for a large part of the town. As with so many of these stories, we start with an offcumden and a local lad or lass. For this story the offcumden is William Livsey, who was born …
This was a confusing tale to research, complicated by the large number of Greenwoods in Todmorden and the regular recycling of names; we even wondered if one of these couples was first cousins! In the end the relationships were simpler than we feared. This grave holds a couple, their granddaughter, and her (no relation!) husband. …
Read more “42.59 – Sally, William, Charles and Mary Greenwood”
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”
This war grave is one of our Remembrance Sunday 2024 stories, sitting alongside that of Percy Smallwood. Percy died only five weeks before WW1 came to an end; Harry here died about seven weeks after. John Helliwell was born in Walsden in 1852. His father John was a railway porter and he and his wife …
Read more “V1.8 – Fanny, John, Harry, Charles Henry and Ann Horsfall Helliwell”
Following on from our story about Sarah Elizabeth and Mary Ann Hirst, enjoy another Hirst story. The story of these two is straightforward, but this grave contains a mystery: who was Maria Hudson? We’ll get to her at the end. Firstly, though, a recap on Arthur Hirst’s childhood. His parents George and Hannah Hirst came …
Read more “15.25 -Arthur and Hannah Hirst, and Maria Hudson”
“Being swallowed by a tree” is how we mark this stone as special on our transcript, and we’re lucky to be able to know as much as we do about the names on this stone. Thank you to the previous transcription efforts for helping us out here! Isaac Button was a brickmaker whose journey from …
This story was told on our Remembrance Sunday 2023 tour. This is another tale that is about a family, not just a soldier. As often happens, it is filled with tragedy, and not a little graphic detail. Reader discretion is advised. John Albert Barker was born in 1882 to John and Susannah (Marshall) Barker. Susanna …
Initially thought to read “J. McC.”, this plot marker is actually J. McG. – and that opened the door to John’s story, that of a young man who died early after a very mixed set of life experiences. From a troubled household to sporting fame, this is his story. John McGrail was born in Leeds …