Person Page - 73

     John Day was born circa 1787. He was baptized on 10 January 1788 at Batley.¹
He was the son of Joseph Day and Mary Scholefield. John Day married Sarah Blakeley, daughter of William Blakeley and Hannah Newsome, on 26 December 1808 at Parish Church, Batley, Witnesses were Joseph Wartley(?) and Jonas Sheard.¹
Hick Lane Mill.
I believe it was this John Day who was mentioned in the fourth part of a deed deed of 1823 as one of those in occupation of "that large and commodious scribbling and fulling mill lately erected" -------this on a piece of land near Rouse Mill , and mentioning appurtenances and rights to draw water from Wooler Beck to work a steam engine or engines, i.e.Hick Lane Mill.
In the census of 6 June 1841 he was listed as the head of household at Havercroft, Batley, as a woollen manufacturer.²
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as the head of household at J Ward's Hill, Batley, as a rag merchant aged 65.³
In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as the head of household at Bank Foot, Batley, as a widower, a rag merchant.⁴

     Joseph Day married Mary Scholefield, daughter of James Scholefield, on 19 October 1775 at Parish Church, Batley.

     Mary Scholefield was the daughter of James Scholefield. Mary Scholefield married Joseph Day on 19 October 1775 at Parish Church, Batley.

     Christopher Richard Greenwood was born circa 1791. He was the son of Richard Greenwood.
Christopher Richard Greenwoodwas of Dewsbury when he married Susanna Blakeley, daughter of William Blakeley and Hannah Newsome, on 14 January 1811 at Batley.¹
In the census of 6 June 1841 he was listed as the head of household at Union Mill, Soothill, as a book-keeper aged 50. (in the notice of his daughter's marriage earlier that year he was described as mill-owner).²
Christopher Richard Greenwood was buried on 30 September 1848 ; aged 57.¹

     Abraham Sheard was born on 4 October 1821.¹ He was the son of David Sheard and Martha Talbot.
Abraham Sheard was baptized on 21 October 1821 at Batley.²
In the census of 6 June 1841 he was listed as a woollen weaver, living with John Cowling and his wife Sarah who was his late mother's elder sister.³
Abraham Sheard married Maria Sheard, daughter of George Sheard and Ann Greenwood, on 18 April 1842 at Dewsbury both were of Batley Carr at the time of their marriage.⁴
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as the head of household at Commercial Street, Havercroft, Batley, as a widower, a hand loom weaver aged 29.⁵
Abraham Sheard married Sarah Tomlinson, daughter of John Tomlinson, on 20 July 1853 at Batley.²
In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as the head of household at Cobden Street, Batley, as a woollen cloth fuller.⁶
In the census of 2 April 1871 he was listed as the head of household at Commercial Street, Batley, as Postmaster, stamp distributor, bookseller, etc.⁷
In the census of 3 April 1881 he was listed as the head of household at Field Hill, Batley, as a stamp distributor and bookseller.⁸
In the census of 5 April 1891 he was listed as the head of household at 21 Field Hill, Batley, as a stationer and stamp distributor.⁹
Abraham Sheard died on 4 March 1898 at age 76.¹

     Jacob Sheard was born in 1825. He was the son of David Sheard and Martha Talbot. Jacob Sheard was baptized on 6 November 1825 at Batley.¹
He appeared on the census of 6 June 1841 with his mother and her second husband George Sheard at New Batley, Batley.²
Jacob Sheard died in 1842. He was buried on 22 October 1842 at Batley ; aged 17.¹

     Simon Peter Sheard was born in 1824. He was the son of Jonas Sheard and Eleanor Hey. Simon Peter Sheard was baptized on 11 July 1824 at Batley.
He was listed in the census of 6 June 1841 at Havercroft, Batley, as a woollen weaver, apparently lodging with a Nathaniel Foster and family.¹
He married Sarah Ann Heaton on 24 December 1843 at Wakefield.
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as the head of household at New St, Batley, as a rag dealer employing 2. With wife and daughter.²
Simon Peter Sheard, a woollen weaver, appeared on the census of 7 April 1861as a lodger in the household of publican Benjamin Chappel and Ann Chappel at Commercial Street, Batley.³ Simon Peter Sheard died in 1865. He was buried on 1 February 1865 at Batley.

     Martha Blakeley was born in 1819. She was the daughter of Jane Blakeley. Martha Blakeley was baptized on 18 September 1819 at Batley.

     Joseph Parker was born on 31 January 1799 at Batley. He was the son of Matthew Parker and Hannah Preston. Joseph Parker was baptized on 24 February 1799 at Batley.
In 1815 Joseph Parker was apprenticed to John Fox as a boy to learn the manufacturing business. An account given by Edwin Law describes this apprenticeship as to learn the shoddy trade.¹
His obituary tells us that it was when he was about 24 or25 that he set up in business on his own, a thrifty father having lent £40 to add to his own savings of around £50. He is said to have made heavy losses in his first year, but persevered and, adding rag sorting to his activities, became quite successful.²
Joseph Parker married Jane Blakeley, daughter of Abraham Blakeley and Martha Colbeck, on 8 November 1828 at Batley.^3,4
Joseph Parker described as his friend, was a trustee and executor of the will of Michael Sheard the Elder.

In about 1839 he entered into partnership with Michael Spedding, Phineas Fox and James Hall and Leeds cloth merchant Matthew Johnson. The partnership, styled Hall, Johnson, Spedding & Co are said to have been in business at Purlwell Mill.²
In the census of 6 June 1841 he was listed as the head of household at Providence Place, Batley, as a woollen manufacturer.⁵
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as the head of household at Providence Street, Batley, as a foreign agent in woollen rags and dyed goods, rag dealer employing 6 sorting girls, manufacturer employing 3 men.⁶
In 1856 Joseph Parker was elected vice-president of the newly formed Batley Chamber of Commerce.⁷
He was an described as an agent for Messrs Dodgson of Leeds and Morley. I believe that these were the Dodgshuns involved in setting up the mill in Germany mentioned under my account of John Blackburn.⁸
In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as the head of household at Providence Street, Batley, as a commission agent and rag dealer employing 11 persons.⁹
In 1866, on what was described as his retirement from public life, a dinner was held at the Crown Hotel, at which Joseph Parker was presented with a service of silver plate He was also presented with a testimonial in recognition of his services to Batley, signed by many local men including John Blackburn and several of the Sheards.¹
In the census of 2 April 1871 he was listed as the head of household at Providence Street as a woollen manufacturer employing 41 women, 28 men and 13 boys.¹⁰
An earlier connection of Joseph Parker as agent for the Dodgshuns has been noted, and for a time Arthur William Dodgshun , son of wool merchant Isaac, was in partnership with Joseph and his sons as woollen manufacturers and scrbbling millers at Batley, withdrawing from this in January 1873.¹¹
In the census of 3 April 1881 he was listed as the head of household at Field Lane, Batley, as a widower, a woollen manufacturer employing 101 men, women and boys.¹²
Joseph Parker died on 23 March 1884 at age 85.¹³

     Matthew Parker was baptized on 20 March 1766 at Dewsbury.¹
He was the son of Job Parker and Susanna Harrap. Matthew Parker married Hannah Preston, daughter of Joshua Preston, on 20 February 1787 at Batley.²

     Hannah Preston was born in 1768. She was baptized on 22 May 1768 at Batley.¹
She was the daughter of Joshua Preston. Hannah Preston married Matthew Parker, son of Job Parker and Susanna Harrap, on 20 February 1787 at Batley.¹

     Joseph Parker was born on 12 December 1829. He was the son of Joseph Parker and Jane Blakeley. Joseph Parker was baptized on 17 January 1830 at Zion Chapel, Batley.
In the census of 6 June 1841 he was listed as the son of Joseph Parker at Providence Place, Batley.¹
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as employed in his father's business the son of Joseph Parker at Providence Street, Batley.²
Joseph Parker married Hannah Senior, daughter of Joseph Senior and Elizabeth Colbeck, on 13 May 1852 at Batley.³
In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as the head of household at Providence Street, Batley, as a commission agent.⁴
In the census of 2 April 1871 he was listed as the head of household at Providence St, Batley, as Joseph Parker junior, a manufacturer.⁵
Joseph Parker married Mary Higgins in 1877 at Hunslet.⁶
In the census of 3 April 1881 he was listed as the head of household at Providence St, Batley, as a manufacturer, cloth.⁷
Joseph Parker died on 16 July 1900 at Batley at age 70.

     Rachel Parker was born on 15 February 1831. She was the daughter of Joseph Parker and Jane Blakeley. Rachel Parker was baptized on 26 March 1831 at Zion Chapel, Batley.
In the census of 6 June 1841 she was listed as the daughter of Joseph Parker at Providence Place, Batley.¹
Rachel Parker married Jeremiah Smithson in 1851.²
In the census of 30 March 1851 she was listed as a warper and bobbin winder of woollen the daughter of Joseph Parker at Providence Street, Batley.³

     Benjamin Preston Parker was born on 8 July 1835. He was the son of Joseph Parker and Jane Blakeley. Benjamin Preston Parker was baptized on 2 August 1835 at Zion Chapel, Batley.
In the census of 6 June 1841 he was listed as the son of Joseph Parker at Providence Place, Batley.¹
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as a hand loom weaver of woollen the son of Joseph Parker at Providence Street, Batley.²
Benjamin Preston Parker married Ann Heppleston, daughter of Robert Heppleston and Ellen Senior, in 1858.³
In 1893 Benjamin Preston Parker was listed in Kelly's Directory as a commission agent.⁴
He died on 22 April 1897 at age 61.^5,3

     Matthew Parker was born on 15 June 1838. He was the son of Joseph Parker and Jane Blakeley. Matthew Parker was baptized on 5 August 1838 at Zion Chapel, Batley.
In the census of 6 June 1841 he was listed as the son of Joseph Parker at Providence Place, Batley.¹
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as a scholar the son of Joseph Parker at Providence Street, Batley.²
Matthew Parker married Jane Akeroyd, daughter of William Akeroyd and Elizabeth Hall, in 1859.
In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as the head of household at Hume St, Batley, as a Shoddy merchant.³
In the census of 2 April 1871 he was listed as the head of household at Caledonia Terrace, Batley, as a woollen manufacturer.⁴
Matthew Parker died in 1900.

     Sarah Wilson was born on 25 February 1808 at Batley.¹ She was the daughter of Francis Wilson and Mary Blakeley. Sarah Wilson was baptized on 17 April 1808 at Batley.¹
She married Abraham Blakeley, son of John Blakeley and Mary Blackburn, on 2 February 1834 at Dewsbury.
In the census of 6 June 1841 Sarah Blakeley was listed at Havercroft, Batley, as wife of Abraham Blakeley.²
Sarah Wilson seems likely to be the one who died in 1857.
She was buried on 2 June 1857 ; aged 49.¹

     Reuben Blakeley was born on 8 May 1834. He was the son of Abraham Blakeley and Sarah Wilson. Reuben Blakeley was baptized on 24 June 1834 at Zion Chapel, Batley.
In the census of 6 June 1841 he was listed as the son of Abraham Blakeley at Havercroft, Batley.¹
Reuben Blakeley married Jane Blakeley, daughter of John Blakeley and Sarah Taylor, on 10 June 1855.
In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as an overlooker in a rag warehouse, aged 26 the son of Abraham Blakeley at Russell Street, Batley.²
In the census of 2 April 1871 he was listed as the head of household at Russell St, Batley, as a woollen rag merchant.
Russell Street had been where his father lived until his re-marriage in 1861.³
We hear of him that he:-
"possessed the musical gift in rare measure. Practically self-taught, having enjoyed only one quarter's tuition, he composed some scores, if not hundreds, of tunes and anthems which received and maintain more than local distiction. They helped to make the musical fame of Zion. He was organist and choirmaster there for thirty years, and devoted the products of his genius to its Sunday School anniversaries. 'Awake, my Lyre,' Sweet praises,' and 'Lange' are among his most famous tunes. His anthem, 'The White Horse' (Rev.xix,11), which requires twenty-five minutes for its rendering, has passages of much beauty and impressiveness. Some of his principal compositions were edited and revised by Henry Watson, Mus. Doc., in 1902, and published by Novello and Co. (1902) at half a guinea. The edition was quickly exhausted."⁴

In 1882 Reuben Blakeley emigrated to New Zealand with his younger children, sailing on the "Mallowdale."⁵
In 1890 Reuben Blakeley was elected Mayor of Kaiaipoi.
He died in 1904 at Kaiapoi, New Zealand.⁴

     Philip Blakeley was born in 1840. He was the son of Abraham Blakeley and Sarah Wilson. In the census of 6 June 1841 he was listed as the son of Abraham Blakeley at Havercroft, Batley.¹
In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as a woollen cloth fuller aged 21 the son of Abraham Blakeley at Russell Street, Batley.²
Philip Blakeley married Emma Graham, daughter of Benjamin Graham and Rachel (?), in 1862.³
Philip Blakeley died on 11 April 1911. He was buried at Cemetery, Batley, ; age 71.

     Ruth Blakeley was born in 1842. She was the daughter of Abraham Blakeley and Sarah Wilson. In the census of 7 April 1861 she was listed as as a house servant, aged 19 the daughter of Abraham Blakeley at Russell Street, Batley.¹
Ruth Blakeley married Charles Tyas in 1864.²

     Sarah Ann Colbeck was born in 1821 at Batley. She was the daughter of Samuel Colbeck and Hannah Durrans. Sarah Ann Colbeck was baptized on 4 February 1821 at Batley.
She married Joseph Sheard, son of Michael Sheard and Sarah Newsome, on 11 January 1840 at the Parish Church, Wakefield.
In the census of 6 June 1841 Sarah Ann Sheard was listed at Havercroft, Batley, as wife of Joseph Sheard.¹
In the census of 30 March 1851 Sarah Ann Sheard was listed at Havercroft, Batley, as wife of Joseph Sheard.²
In the census of 7 April 1861 Sarah Ann Colbeck was listed at Sunnybank House, Upper Batley, Batley, as wife of Joseph Sheard.³
In the census of 2 April 1871 Sarah Ann Colbeck was listed at Sunnybank House, Batley, as wife of Joseph Sheard.⁴
In the census of 3 April 1881 she was listed as the head of household at Spring Grove House, Field Hill, Batley, a widow aged 60.⁵
Sarah Ann Colbeck died on 13 August 1899 at Batley. She was buried on 15 August 1899 at Batley cemetery.
In 1900a stained glass window was installed in her memory in St Thomas's Church.

     James Sheard Critchley was born in 1866 at Batley. He was the son of Charles James Critchley and Ann Sheard. James Sheard Critchley was baptized on 24 January 1866 at Batley.
He died in 1866 at Batley. He was buried on 26 January 1866 ; aged 3 days.¹

     Emma Sheard was born on 8 May 1842 at Batley. She was the daughter of Joseph Sheard and Sarah Ann Colbeck. Emma Sheard was baptized on 5 June 1842 at Batley.¹
In the census of 30 March 1851 she was listed as a scholar aged 8 the daughter of Joseph Sheard at Havercroft, Batley.²
In the census of 7 April 1861 she was listed as aged 18 the daughter of Joseph Sheard at Sunnybank House, Upper Batley, Batley.³
Emma Sheard married Alfred Parker, son of Joseph Parker and Jane Blakeley, on 11 January 1865 at Batley.^4,1
In the census of 2 April 1871 Emma Parker was listed at Lower Soothill as wife of Alfred Parker.⁵
In the census of 3 April 1881 Emma Parker was listed at Albert Terrace, Batley, as wife of Alfred Parker.⁶
The family emigrated to Canada in in 1882. Emma Sheard died on 22 February 1914 at Toronto at age 71.

      Samuel Walter Sheard was also known as Samuel Walter Sheard at baptism. He was born on 11 August 1843. He was the son of Joseph Sheard and Sarah Ann Colbeck. Samuel Walter Sheard was baptized on 15 October 1843 at Batley.¹
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as a scholar aged 7 the son of Joseph Sheard at Havercroft, Batley.²
Samuel Walter Sheard married Martha Burton in 1879.³
In the census of 1881 he was listed as the head of household at 26 Wellington St, Doncaster, as an annuitant.⁴
Samuel Walter Sheard died on 26 November 1890 at age 47. He was buried in the cemetery at Doncaster.⁵ He was listed in the census of 5 April 1891 at 7 Providence Road, Doncaster, as living on her own means.

     Sarah Margaret Sheard was born on 8 April 1859 at Batley.¹ She was the daughter of Joseph Sheard and Sarah Ann Colbeck. Sarah Margaret Sheard was baptized on 8 May 1859 at Batley.¹
In the census of 7 April 1861 she was listed as aged 2 the daughter of Joseph Sheard at Sunnybank House, Upper Batley, Batley.²
In the census of 3 April 1881 she was listed as aged 21 the daughter of Sarah Ann Colbeck at Spring Grove House, Field Hill, Batley.³