Person Page - 152

     Fanny Grace Woodhouse was born on 20 February 1854 at London, Middlesex. She was the daughter of Henry Woodhouse and Hannah Beecroft. Fanny Grace Woodhouse was baptized on 30 April 1854 at Batley.¹
In the census of 7 April 1861 she was listed as the daughter of Henry Woodhouse at 8 Marina(?) Crescent, Great Crosby, Lancashire.²
Fanny Grace Woodhouse married Ernest Prior Bishop in 1878.³
In the census of 5 April 1891 Fanny Grace Bishop was listed at 44 Hampton road, West Ham, as wife of Ernest Prior Bishop.

     Spedding Sheard was born on 31 May 1853. He was the son of John Sheard and Elizabeth Ward. Spedding Sheard was baptized on 3 July 1853 at Batley.¹
In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as a scholar the son of John Sheard at Husband's Buildings, Batley.²
In the census of 2 April 1871 he was listed as a drawer the son of John Sheard at Commercial Street, Batley.³
Spedding Sheard married Susan Healey, daughter of Joseph Healey and Susan Sheard, on 18 December 1879 at Batley.^4,5
In the census of 3 April 1881 he was listed as the head of household at Peel St, Batley, as a woollen cloth drawer.⁶
In the census of 5 April 1891 he was listed as the head of household at 94 Commercial St, Batley, as a butcher.⁷
In the census of 31 March 1901 he was listed as the head of household at 94 Commercial Street, Batley, as a butcher on his own account.⁸

      Ann Eliza Ward was also known as Annie Elizabeth Ward. She was born on 11 December 1852. She was the daughter of John Ward and Emma Willans. Ann Eliza Ward was baptized on 7 March 1853 at Batley.¹
In the census of 7 April 1861 she was listed as a scholar the daughter of John Ward at Carlinghow, Batley.²
In the census of 2 April 1871 she was listed as the daughter of John Ward at Commercial Street, Batley.³
Ann Eliza Ward married William James Sheard, son of John Sheard and Elizabeth Ward, on 22 September 1873 at Batley witnesses were John Ward and John Sheard.¹
In the census of 3 April 1881 Annie Elizabeth Sheard was listed at Top of High St, Batley, as wife of William James Sheard.⁴
In the census of 5 April 1891 Annie Elizabeth Sheard was listed at 15 Hanover Street, Batley, as wife of William James Sheard.⁵

     Charles William Ward was born on 11 November 1849.¹ He was the son of John Ward and Emma Willans. Charles William Ward was baptized on 6 January 1850 at Batley.¹
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as aged 1 the son of John Ward at Carlinghow, Batley.²
In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as a scholar the son of John Ward at Carlinghow, Batley.³
In the census of 2 April 1871 he was listed as a banker's clerk the son of John Ward at Commercial Street, Batley.⁴
Charles William Ward died on 1 February 1892 at Bath Street, Batley, at age 42; He was described as late cashier at the West Riding Union Bank.⁵ He was buried on 4 February 1892 at the cemetery, Batley.

     Samuel Ward was born on 17 March 1851.¹ He was the son of John Ward and Emma Willans. In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as infant the son of John Ward at Carlinghow, Batley.²
Samuel Ward was baptized on 5 October 1851 at Batley.¹
In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as a scholar the son of John Ward at Carlinghow, Batley.³

     Charlotte Ward was born on 28 September 1854.¹ She was the daughter of John Ward and Emma Willans. Charlotte Ward was baptized on 29 October 1854 at Batley.¹
In the census of 7 April 1861 she was listed as a scholar the daughter of John Ward at Carlinghow, Batley.²
In the census of 2 April 1871 she was listed as the daughter of John Ward at Commercial Street, Batley.³

     Henry Ward was born circa 1856. He was the son of John Ward and Emma Willans. In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as the son of John Ward at Carlinghow, Batley.¹
In the census of 2 April 1871 he was listed as a scholar the son of John Ward at Commercial Street, Batley.²

     Ann Ellis was born circa 1822 at Batley. She married Joseph Hall, son of Joseph Hall and Elizabeth Taylor, on 21 November 1841 at Batley witness Thomas Hall.^1,2
In the census of 30 March 1851 Ann Hall was listed at Clerk Green, Batley, as wife of Joseph Hall.³
In the census of 2 April 1871 Ann Hall was listed at Clerk Green, Batley, as wife of Joseph Hall.

     John Willans was born in 1769. He was the son of James Willans and Susanna Brooke. John Willans was baptized on 21 May 1769 at Batley.¹
He married Mary King on 5 August 1790 at Birstall.²
John Willans died on 2 February 1837; aged 67.³

     Jack Wood was taken on as a farmer lad at Kirkham Gate by John Blackburn and a year later came to Batley to work as a carrier and farmer man combined. An interesting account of his retirement in 1910 is copied from an old typescript in my possession:-

50 YEARS WITH ONE FIRM

On Wednesday last the 23rd Instant (Martinmas Day)*Jack Wood completed fifty years service at Blackburn's Old Mill, Batley.

To celebrate the event a dinner was held at the Bath Hotel in the evening, to which a number of the oldest employees were invited. During the evening several presentations were made to him. Speeches were made by the Chairman (H.D. Smith) Ald. J.W. Blackburn, Mr. Harry Blackburn, Ben Gledhill, J. Tyrall, W. Roebuck, J.G. Curry, Allen Buckley and D. Sheard.

Songs, Duets, etc. were sung by Ald. J. W. Blackburn, Mr. H. E. Whitaker (Registrar) H. D, Smith, W. Farrar, Joe Wilson, B. Gledhill, W. Blackburn and J. A. Gregory.

On Martinmas Day 1860 Jack Wood entered the service of the late John Blackburn as a Farmer lad at Kirkham Gate. He came to Batley the following year to commence work as a Carrier and Farmer man combined. He has held this position ever since. He well remembers the late Mr. John Blackburn hunting with Clayton Harriers.

At that time Jack Wood ploughed and tilled the land now the site on which stands Skelsey Mill. The Cemetery, Woodwell, Bankfoot, were at that time open fields in which he worked regularly. He can speak about ploughing the fields then stretching from Commercial Street to Wellington Street at present known as the Batley Market Place.

He recalls the kindly interest the late John Blackburn took in his Competitors. How he used to send help in case of Fire or any other misfortune which befell them. In the spring of each year he used to enquire of the Rag Merchants, who nearly all owned or rented a piece of Arable land, if it was not time they were getting their seed in. They invariably excused themselves by saying they were too busy in the Rag Trade, and had no time to bother with Farming. As a result Jack used to be sent to lend a helping hand in ploughing and sowing. John Brown, Benj. Spedding (Father of the late George and James Spedding), John Gregory, John Spurr (Anthony Spurr's father) are a few of the Raggers referred to.

He distinctly remembers the Rejoicings at the close of the Crimean War, when sheep and Oxen were roasted whole, in nearly every town in England, also the Denby Dale Pie which was substituted for Sheep and Oxen.

He speaks of the following mills at Batley being built, Bankfoot, Alexandra, Little Orme, Dock Ing, Perseverance, Portions of Bottoms Mill and Queen Street Mills. The Cheapside Mill fire of 1860 was witnessed by him.

During the whole of his career as a Carrier he has only had to appear before the Magistrates once and that was for furious driving and risking the lives of the Passengers on a lurry.He was returning from Carlton with 31 of the sorkpeople who had been on a day's outing when the horses were frightened by something, and got out of control. Fortunately none of the passengers were any worse and Jack Wood got off with a fine. He still retains the summons which charges him with "Furious Driving and risking the lives of the Passengers on the Lurry".

He narrowly escaped being killed forty years ago by a Rag Machine "flying" in the Mill now occupied by W.J. R. Fox and Sons. He was ploughing at the time in the field where the carpet works are now erected. One of the Lags from the Rag Machine stuck him on the ear and rendered him senseless. He was carried home as one dead but fortunately survived. He still bears the scar where he was struck. Standing close by were the late Mr. George Blackburn and Ald. J.W. Blackburn who considered themselves very fortunate in escaping unhurt, as Pieces of Iron were flying in all directions.

Out of the 230 workpeople employed by Mr. Blackburn.

4 have served between 40 and 50 years
9 have served between 30 and 40 years
14 have served between 20 and 30 years
15 have served between 15 and 20 years
20 have served between 10 and 15 years

Most of these old employees are engaged in the shoddy department, the carpet weaving which employs nearly 100 hands having only been recently established.

     Mary King married John Willans, son of James Willans and Susanna Brooke, on 5 August 1790 at Birstall.¹
Mary King died in 1833. She was buried on 31 July 1833 at Batley ; aged 62 years.²

     Rebecca Willans Taylor was born on 7 May 1856. She was the daughter of William Taylor and Rebecca Spurr. Rebecca Willans Taylor was baptized on 5 July 1856 at Batley.¹
She died in December 1860 at age 4. She was buried on 8 December 1860 at Batley ; aged 4.¹

     Joseph Galloway was born circa 1831 at Batley. He was the son of John Galloway. Joseph Galloway married Janet Mayman in 1851.
Joseph Galloway married Elizabeth Stubley, daughter of Joseph Stubley and Frances Smith, on 21 February 1864 at Batley witnesses were Frances Mawson and John Mortimer.¹
In the census of 2 April 1871 he was listed as the head of household as a cloth dresser.
Joseph Galloway died in 1873.

     Simeon Woodhouse was born circa 1859 at Batley. He was the son of Henry Woodhouse and Hannah Beecroft. In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as the son of Henry Woodhouse at 8 Marina(?) Crescent, Great Crosby, Lancashire.¹

     Thomas Roberts married Sarah Stubley, daughter of Thomas Stubley and Sarah Williamson, on 1 November 1758 at Batley.¹

     Hannah Roberts was born on 23 January 1760. She was the daughter of Thomas Roberts and Sarah Stubley. Hannah Roberts was baptized on 2 March 1760 at Batley.¹

     James Roberts was born on 4 January 1761. He was the son of Thomas Roberts and Sarah Stubley. James Roberts was baptized on 1 February 1761 at Batley.¹

     William Moore Wooler was born on 16 February 1795.¹ He was the son of Robert Wooler and Sarah Maud Upton. William Moore Wooler married Sidney Maria Allbutt.
William Moore Wooler was a surgeon and also published at least two books, of which"On the Philosophy of Temperance and the Physical Causes of Moral Sadness" was published by Simpkin Marshall & Co, London in 1840 and reviewed in the Derby Mercury February 12th 1840 (Page 4, column 1). He is said to have asked Charlotte Bronte for advice about publication, but she advised against it.¹
He died on 19 February 1873 at age 78.¹

     Benjamin Chew married Martha Dixon on 26 December 1814 at St Peter's, Leeds.

     Louisa Wilson was born on 10 January 1824. She was the daughter of Daniel Wilson and Letitia Fox. Louisa Wilson was baptized on 7 March 1824 at Methodist New Connexion, Dewsbury.¹
She married Thomas Hirst Balmforth in 1843.²

     Thomas Hirst Balmforth was born circa 1823 at Birstall.¹ He married Louisa Wilson, daughter of Daniel Wilson and Letitia Fox, in 1843.¹

     Letitia Balmforth was born circa 1845 at Batley.¹ She was the daughter of Thomas Hirst Balmforth and Louisa Wilson. In the census of 7 April 1861 she was listed as a house servant the niece of Mary Sheard.² Letitia Balmforth married Michael Sheard Fox, son of David Fox and Margaret Sheard, in 1869.
In the census of 2 April 1871 Letitia Fox was listed at Bradford Road, Batley, as wife of Michael Sheard Fox.³
Letitia Fox married John Thomas Hepworth in 1876.⁴
In the census of 3 April 1881 Letitia Hepworth was listed at Field Hill, Batley, as wife of John Thomas Hepworth.⁵
She was listed in the census of 12 June 1900 at Tewksbury Town, Middlesex, Massachusetts, living with her son George; as a designer, woollen mill.⁶

     George Sheard Wilson was born in 1837 at Batley. He was the son of John Wilson and Martha Sheard. George Sheard Wilson was baptized on 12 January 1838 at Batley.¹
In the census of 6 June 1841 he was listed as the son of John Wilson at Havercroft, Batley.²
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as a piecer at a factory the son of John Wilson at Havercroft, Batley.³
In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as a woollen spinner the nephew of Mary Sheard.⁴

     Charles James Fox Wilson was born in 1831 at Batley. He was the son of John Wilson and Martha Sheard. Charles James Fox Wilson was baptized on 27 November 1831 at Batley.¹
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as a piecer at a factory the son of John Wilson at Havercroft, Batley.²
In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as a woollen spinner the son of John Wilson at Quarry, Batley.³

     Ann Wilson was born in 1829 at Batley. She was the daughter of John Wilson and Martha Sheard. Ann Wilson was baptized on 8 March 1829 at Batley.¹