This transatlantic grave had a larger story than met the eye at first. Mary Jackson (nee Ashworth) was born in 1813 at Roomfield Lanes, the daughter of Abraham Ashworth, a butcher, and his wife Betty (nee Barker). In 1834 she married Edmund (also known as Edward) Nuttall a cotton weaver, at St. Chad’s, Rochdale. In …
Read more “16.26 – Mary Jackson and Barker, James and William Nuttall”
A lot of people are remembered on this stone, although they aren’t all buried here – at least one is at rest over the pond. Abraham Crossley, the patriarch of this grave, might be a familiar name to you already. Fast forward and he was one of the two men killed when a fireplace they …
Read more “56.44 – Abraham, Susan and John Crossley, and Susan, Mary, Sutcliffe and Willie Mitchell”
This is one of the stones we liberated from a few inches of soil behind the Garden of Rest. It doesn’t tell much of a story, but do you always need there to be a story? James Nuttall was born in 1770 or thereabouts and grew up in the Stansfield ward area of the larger …
Read more “57.50 – James, Mally, Isaac and Elizabeth Nuttall (previously unmarked)”
There’s not a great deal we can say about those buried here, but the people around them lived colourful lives! Mary Nuttall, the third person mentioned on the stone, will be the first person we start with. Mary was born Mary Ann Sutcliffe in 1830. Her father Edmund was described on her marriage certificate as …
One of the first stories we told from under the school extension was that of the Dodd family – that was because on the two out of their three sidestones, which are unaccountably resting on the outside of the school extension, one included a hitherto unrecorded family member. Since then we’ve found unmentioned people, stones …
Read more “S2.9 – Herbert, John Robert, Betsy and Arnold Cunliffe, and Jack Uttley”
The farmer’s daughter who became a nurse and was one of several sisters who came to Todmorden. We can’t see her stone, but we can learn a great deal about her life. Catherine was born in 1839 in Arkholme, in the parish of Melling in Lancashire, just south of Kirkby Lonsdale. Her father John was …
Percy’s story is short, but the story of why he’s alone here is longer – so have both! First, his story as summarised by our Chair, Andy: “This is the grave of Percy Gill, he is reposing in Christ Church Graveyard. Percy is my 1st cousin, 3 times removed …… Aye, I don’t understand it …
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 …
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 couple died many years and many, many miles apart! What’s their story? Sutcliffe Thomas was born in September 1825. His parents Richard and Hannah, of Wadsworth, baptised him and his brother John at Longfield Wesleyan Chapel some time later. Sutcliffe apprenticed as a plasterer and in 1841 was found living with his (maternal) aunt …