Person Page - 8

     Samuel Ward was born on 2 October 1803.¹ He was the son of Samuel Ward and Hannah Spedding. Samuel Ward was baptized on 16 October 1803 at Batley.¹

     Michael Ward was born on 25 August 1805. He was the son of Samuel Ward and Hannah Spedding. Michael Ward was baptized on 29 September 1805 at Batley.
He married Mary (?).
In the census of 6 June 1841 he was listed as the head of household at Craven Heifer, Batley, as a Publican.¹
In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as the head of household at White Lee Road, Batley, a farmer and butcher aged 55, now widowed.²

     Mary Ward was born on 2 May 1807. She was the daughter of Samuel Ward and Hannah Spedding. Mary Ward was baptized on 17 May 1807 at Batley.

     Susanna Ward was born on 8 April 1809.¹ She was the daughter of Samuel Ward and Hannah Spedding. Susanna Ward was baptized on 30 April 1809 at Batley.¹

     Sarah Ward was born on 10 April 1811. She was the daughter of Samuel Ward and Hannah Spedding. Sarah Ward was baptized on 24 April 1811 at Batley.
She married Joshua Phillips on 12 November 1835 at Batley.¹
In the census of 6 June 1841 Sarah Phillips was listed as wife of Joshua Phillips.²
In the census of 30 March 1851 Sarah Phillips was listed at Brookroyd, Batley, as wife of Joshua Phillips.³
In the census of 7 April 1861 Sarah Phillips was listed at New Road, Batley, as wife of Joshua Phillips.⁴

     Elizabeth Ward was born on 2 March 1813 at Batley.¹ She was the daughter of Samuel Ward and Hannah Spedding. Elizabeth Ward was baptized on 25 March 1813 at Batley.
She married John Sheard, son of John Sheard, on 27 February 1840 at Batley.²
In the census of 30 March 1851 Elizabeth Sheard was listed at 2 Church Lane, Batley, as wife of John Sheard.³
In the census of 7 April 1861 Elizabeth Sheard was listed at Husband's Buildings, Batley, as wife of John Sheard.⁴
In the census of 2 April 1871 Elizabeth Sheard was listed at Commercial Street, Batley, as wife of John Sheard.⁵

     Francis Ward was born in 1815 at Batley. He was the son of Samuel Ward and Hannah Spedding. Francis Ward was baptized on 26 March 1815 at Batley.¹
In the census of 6 June 1841 he was listed as a rag merchant the son of Hannah Ward at Havercroft, Batley.²
Francis Ward married Harriett Kitson, daughter of George Kitson, on 29 December 1841 at Batley.¹
Francis Ward married Mary (?).
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as the head of household at 4 Holly St. East side, Hackney, as a woollen merchant.³
In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as the head of household at 4 Laburnum Cottages, Hackney, Middlesex, as a woollen rag merchant.⁴
In the census of 2 April 1871 he was listed as the head of household at 69 Shrubland Grove, Hackney, no occupation given.⁵
Francis Ward died on 20 December 1873 at London.

     Watson Ward was born in 1815. He was the son of Samuel Ward and Hannah Spedding. Watson Ward was baptized on 26 March 1815 at Batley.
In the census of 6 June 1841 he was listed as a male servant the son of Hannah Ward at Havercroft, Batley.¹
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as farmer's son the son of Hannah Ward at 185 Commercial St, Batley.²
Watson Ward married Mary Ann Fleming in 1853.³
In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as the head of household at Intack House, Batley, as a farmer of 15 acres.⁴

     John Ward married Mary (?).
John Ward died in July 1809. He was buried on 9 July 1809 at Batley.¹

     Charles Spedding was born in 1748 at Batley. He was the son of Robert Spedding. Charles Spedding was baptized on 17 January 1747/48 at Batley.¹
He married Mary Ellis, daughter of John Ellis, on 10 June 1773 at Batley witnessed by Joseph Beaumont and John Chadwick. Charles writes, Mary makes her mark.¹
Charles Spedding was described as a butcher at his children's baptisms.
He was probably the Charles Spedding who attended a meeting in 1787 concerning the setting up of a Girls Free School at Batley.²
He died in March 1819. He was buried on 26 March 1819 at Batley ; aged 70.¹

     Mary Ellis was born circa 1752; from age at death. She was the daughter of John Ellis.
Mary Ellis married Charles Spedding, son of Robert Spedding, on 10 June 1773 at Batley witnessed by Joseph Beaumont and John Chadwick. Charles writes, Mary makes her mark.¹
Mary Ellis died on 4 October 1831. She was buried on 6 October 1831 at Batley ; aged 79.¹

     Robert Spedding was born in 1775. He was the son of Charles Spedding and Mary Ellis. Robert Spedding was baptized on 5 February 1775 at Parish Church, Batley.¹
He died on 16 November 1778; in the 4th year of his age.²

     Sarah Spedding was born on 22 January 1777.¹ She was the daughter of Charles Spedding and Mary Ellis. Sarah Spedding was baptized on 11 February 1777 at Parish Church, Batley.¹
She died on 23 November 1778 at age 1.²

     Mary Spedding was born on 9 February 1779.¹ She was the daughter of Charles Spedding and Mary Ellis. Mary Spedding was baptized on 28 February 1779 at Batley.¹
She married Robert Fearnsides, son of William Fearnsides and Mary Ellis, on 8 August 1802 at Parish Church, Batley, witnesses John Spedding and Samuel Ward.¹
Mary Fearnsides was listed on the census of 6 June 1841 at Westgate, Dewsbury, as aged 60, wife of Robert Fearnsides.²
She was listed in the census of 30 March 1851 at 594 Market Place, Dewsbury, as an annuitant aged 72 born in Batley living with her son and his wife; as a butcher. There is a general servant Ann Whitley aged 12 born Ardsley.³

     Charles Spedding was born on 18 January 1781. He was the son of Charles Spedding and Mary Ellis. Charles Spedding was baptized on 11 February 1781 at Batley.
He died on 3 September 1781.¹

     John Spedding was born on 24 July 1782.¹ He was the son of Charles Spedding and Mary Ellis. John Spedding was baptized on 4 August 1782 at Parish Church, Batley.¹
He married Elizabeth Charlesworth, daughter of Bryan Charlesworth, on 10 January 1805 at Birstall.²

     Susanna Spedding was born on 27 September 1784.¹ She was the daughter of Charles Spedding and Mary Ellis. Susanna Spedding was baptized on 17 October 1784 at Batley.¹
She married Thomas Charlesworth.
Susanna Spedding died in 1822. She was buried on 7 July 1822 ; aged 38.¹

     Michael Spedding was born on 30 July 1786 at Batley.¹ He was the son of Charles Spedding and Mary Ellis. Michael Spedding was baptized on 6 August 1786 at Parish Church, Batley.¹
He married Hannah Ineson, daughter of George Ineson and Alice Taylor, on 14 December 1806 at Parish Church, Batley.¹

Hick Lane Mill

Michael Spedding and Michael Sheard were two of those mentioned in the fourth part of a deed as 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.
This must refer to Hick Lane Mill.
John Whitaker was said to have been apprenticed to later himself in business as a manufacturer and when that venture hit hard times a rag merchant, was said to have been apprenticed to Michael Spedding.²
In 1837 the firm of Sheard and Spedding was one of a number of local firms fined for offences against the Factory Acts.

From around 1837 Michael Spedding was in a partnership with Joseph Parker ,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.³
He was listed as the head of household in the 6 June 1841 census at New Road Side, Havercroft, Batley, as a wool manufacturer. Martha Ineson, 15, is listed as a servant.⁴

The Plug Riots of 1842

Michael Spedding was reported to have boasted, when the boiler tappers made their appearance at Hick Lane boiler house
"If I had had a good ash plant I could have driven them all away"
]In connection with the same event, a mother said,
"If my lad had not gone to the mill that morning things would have been different".
In those days the firing place had little protection, and a warm fire was apt to draw men who had more zeal for talk than work. This young lad-this mother's son- was there when the tappers came. They had considerable difficulty in carrying out their designs, and it was not accomplished until this young lad not only showed them how to do it, but actually did it for them. That lad and his mother were years before they saw each others faces. Some thirty years after, when walking down Hick Lane with him, he referred to this episode, and pointing across, said, "That is the mill whose boiler I tapt."
Men wondered how he had got away. His version was; "I got to a stream of water and laid me down in it, with only my face clear; there I lay for hours"

The same article tells us that Michael Spedding was the chief Magistrate for the area at the time.³
He married Hannah Butterworth, daughter of Thomas Butterworth, on 5 January 1844 at Batley.¹
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as the head of household at New Road, Batley, as a wool manufacturer and merchant.⁵
Michael Spedding died in 1856 at Hill House, Batley.^1,6 He was buried on 28 June 1856 at Batley.¹
An article iin the Batley Reporter says the Spedding family originally came from Cumberland, where they were farmers, but they drifted afield as horse dealers, and eventually settled in this district.⁷

     Jane Grimshaw Spedding was born on 28 February 1789.¹ She was the daughter of Charles Spedding and Mary Ellis. Jane Grimshaw Spedding was baptized on 8 March 1789 at Parish Church, Batley.¹
She married John Akeroyd of the Parish of Wragby, by licence on 13 July 1809 at Batley.¹ In the census of 6 June 1841 she was listed as the head of household at Havercroft, Batley, as Widow Ackroyd, a farmer.²
In the census of 30 March 1851 she was listed as the head of household at Havercroft, Batley, as a widow aged 62, a farmer of 12 acres. I believe Elizabeth Farrar who is present as a servant aged 12
to be her granddaughter, child of her daughter Jane.³
Jane Grimshaw Akeroyd died on 13 September 1855 at age 66. She was buried on 15 September 1855 at Batley.¹

     William Spedding was born on 22 April 1791.¹ He was the son of Charles Spedding and Mary Ellis. William Spedding was baptized on 25 April 1791 at Batley.¹
He married Hannah (?).
William Spedding died in 1823. He was buried on 9 February 1823.¹

     Grace Spedding was born on 7 August 1793.¹ She was the daughter of Charles Spedding and Mary Ellis. Grace Spedding was baptized on 1 September 1793 at Batley.¹
She died on 25 July 1794.²

     Robert Spedding was born circa 1708.
Robert Spedding may have married Mary Parker in 1733 A marriage bond for that year permits a wedding between the two in Batley or Dewsbury on the 4th of September. I have found no such marriage, but there are no marriages for that month recorded in Batley, and this could be an omission.
In 1751 Robert Spedding was parish constable, the year after John Spedding whose age was such that the two could have been brothers.¹
(A John married Susannah Healey in Batley on the 30th October 1729).
In 1752 Robert Spedding signed an attempt to revive the workhouse, as one of the chief freeholders and leaseholders.¹ In 1756 a valuation shows Robert Spedding to have a house and 25 acres. John had 6 acres, other houses valued at £2.00.¹
He died in September 1773 at Batley. He was buried on 22 September 1773 at Batley.²

     Michael Spedding was born in 1734 at Batley. He was the son of Robert Spedding. Michael Spedding was baptized on 19 May 1734 at Parish Church, Batley.¹
He married Hannah Walker on 4 May 1758 at Batley.¹
Michael Spedding died on 5 October 1794; aged 60 years.²

     John Spedding was born in 1735 at Batley. He was the son of Robert Spedding. John Spedding was baptized on 11 January 1734/35 at Parish Church, Batley.¹
He died in 1781.

     Joshua Spedding was born in 1737 at Batley. He was the son of Robert Spedding. Joshua Spedding was baptized on 15 February 1736/37 at Parish Church, Batley.¹
He died before 1743.