The three Wilson children in this grave are another example of children whose families moved on and never came back – and also a reminder that access to medicine or medical knowledge wasn’t enough to save you back then. It’s also a mystery all of its own for other reasons… Matthew Wilson was born in …
Six children, some only young, some grown; the Wood family suffered some terrible losses which are masked by this ornate “wooden” cross. Who were they? Edwin Wood was born in Ashton under Lyne in 1853, the son of John Wood, a baker and German yeast dealer and his wife Sarah (nee Booth). The yeast was German, …
This grave holds a mother, two of her children, a grandson and a daughter in law; their story starts in Leeds, but also, in France! Mercy’s story comes first, and it’s not an uncommon story for the time. Mercy Smith was born in Wetherby in 1813 and at some point moved to Bramley with her …
Read more “41.60 – Mercy, Young, Susannah and John Henry Potentier, and Emma Stansfield”
Much like the story of Peter and James Studdard, this story is also about the people who aren’t here – the bridges. John and Ann are grandfather and granddaughter. Their stories are short, but the story in between…well! But first things first. John Staley was born in 1796 in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. Quite a …
There are two names on this stone, a father, and his son, but only the father is actually in the grave. His son, Peter who is named died at sea, so has no known grave, which is why he is remembered here. The sole occupant of the grave, James Stuttard, was born in Oldham in …
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”
This stone was readable in 2006 but no more; one day we’ll get that fixed, but for now, at least we’re able to tell the stories of those here. This grave in fact links back with another, shorter story- that of John and Mary Scholfield and their granddaughter Mary Halstead. Mary, you see, is the …
Read more “42.53 – John, Sarah, and John Sutcliffe Halstead (turned over)”
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”
A lad like any other lad who met an early end – one of three named here, in fact – and a wife and mother who had to carry on regardless. Samuel Thomas was born in 1855 to another Samuel, a railway labourer, and his wife Betty. He was the youngest of the four children …
Read more “11.22 – Samuel, Sarah Jane, Henry and Charles William Thomas”
Here’s a war grave that encompasses quite a bit more than “just” WW1; here we have wealth gained, wealth lost, new starts, domestic violence, and a little bit of Russian and Canadian intrigue. The story begins with George Hirst and Harriet Rowlandson of Knottingley, who married at Christ Church in East Knottingley in July 1851. …
Read more “15.30 – William, Thomas and Sarah Elizabeth Lord, and Joe Hirst and Mary Ann Shackleton”