Monthly Archives: April 2023

SOUTH OSSETT INDEPENDENT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

©️ Francis Frith Collection

On October 4 1683, eleven Ossett people were prosecuted at Wakefield for being Dissenters. One of the latter, John Rider, refused to take the Oath of Allegiance and was fined £100 and sent to York Castle until the fine was paid. When the laws requiring attendance at the established church were eased on May 24 1689, two Ossett Dissenters, John Bradford and John Atacke, promptly applied for permission to hold meetings in their own houses and this was granted on October 8 1689.

The Toleration Act of 1689 made by the Parliament of England gave all non-conformists, except Roman Catholics, freedom of worship, thus rewarding Protestant dissenters for their refusal to side with James II. They had to promise to be loyal to the British ruler and their heirs.

Between 1691 and 1710 some 2,536 dissenting places of worship were licensed in England.

In Ossett, Richard Foster set aside part of his pressing shop for Thomas Dickenson, a nonconformist minister from Northowram, to preach. Thomas Dickenson married Hannah Foster, of Ossett, and together they had twelve children. He died on December 26 1743, having been minister forty-one years. His tombstone is still at Northowram.

These Ossett dissenters were described in ‘Two Centuries of Worship & Work’, (a book published in 1917 as a short history of the chapel), as ‘thoughtful,hard headed men in whom the emotional was not so strongly developed as the intellectual’.

Nonconformist: any English Protestant who does not conform to the doctrines or practices of the established Church of England. The word Nonconformist was first used in the penal acts following the Restoration of the monarchy (1660) and the Act of Uniformity (1662) to describe the conventicles (places of worship) of the congregations that had separated from the Church of England (Separatists). Nonconformists are also called Dissenters.

RICHARD FOSTER

Born in Ossett, Richard Foster (c.1648 – September 17 1730), was an independent dissident and cloth merchant. He was the son of Dame Foster (1614-February 2 1709) and Richard Foster (1623-September 20 1710), both of Ossett. His parents married around 1648 at a time of great change, as a result of the reign of Henry VIII of England. Richard Foster married Hannah Burnet Jackson (1658-1724) on January 23 1687 in Bilston and together they had seven children: Stephen Foster of London (1682-1719), Joseph Foster of Ossett (1693-?), Richard Foster of Flanshaw Lane (1686-1729), Hannah Foster (1674-1763), Benjamin Foster of New York (1699-1735), Elizabeth Foster (c.1685-1740) and Mary Foster (1693-1760). The Nonconformist Register, the register comprising numerous notices of Puritans in and around Yorkshire, started by Oliver Heywood (1630-1702) and continued by the Reverend Thomas Dickenson (1669-1743), describes Richard Foster as follows: Mr. Richard Foster of Ossett, my dear and honorable father-in-law, died on September 17 after suffering severe strangulation pain for a considerable time, he had been of great help as a Christian and as a merchant.’

A document that has been passed down through the generations is a letter written byThomas Dickenson, to his granddaughter in 1731 that references his father-in-law Richard Foster: ‘He feared God from his youth and over many, surpassed many others in gifts and knowledge, and God honored him by making him eminent in grace and usefulness as well. He was a solid and judicious Christian, strictly pious and devoted in his duty to God, and conscientious in his dealings with men.’

My dear child, in response to your earnest and repeated request, I have at last redeemed some time from my other necessary and urgent occasions to transcribe the sermon that I preached at Ossett on September 18, 1730, being the day my Dear and honored father-in-law, your good grandfather, was taken to the grave, having finished his career in this world, at 78 years of age. Children and grandchildren can and should consider a great and valuable blessing to be the posterity of those who feared God, occupied their time and place in the world with good purposes and were useful in their generation.

The first chapel was described in The Dewsbury Reporter as being ‘a barn like structure with stabling for the horses of the many members who travelled some distance to worship ; the benches were of the high-backed type and some were twice the size and were occupied by the older part of the congregation or by those with large families.

A deed of trust drawn up in 1737 stated: ‘the trustees will seize a piece of land on Southwood Green with the facilities erected there, with the intention and purpose that said chapel or meeting house be used and always employed as a place of worship by dissident Protestants who resort there to hear prayers, sermons and other religious duties and for the ease and necessary reception of the congregation and for no other use, intention or purpose.

Source: geni.com
A Subscription for the encouragement of the building of a Chappel on Ossett Green in the year 1733.

In 1719, Samuel Hanson agreed to be the regular pastor. He left Ossett in 1730 and was replaced in 1731 by Reverend Thomas Lightfoot of Long Houghton. In 1733 subscriptions were raised for the construction of a Congregational Chapel at The Green, Ossett.

In 1759, Rev Lightfoot was replaced by Richard Hodgson of Daventry (he wasn’t ordained until 1762). The Rev. George Haggerston of Hopton arrived in 1765 and served as a minister for twenty-two years. In 1788, the Rev. John Coulson of Yelverton became minister until 1793.

There was no minister for the two following years, but in 1795, the Reverend Thomas Taylor came to continue the work in Ossett. In 1806, Richard Foster, great-grandson of the first Richard Foster, officiated at the marriage of Reverend Thomas Taylor to Mary Rawson. Their son, Thomas Rawson Taylor, was born in Ossett in 1807. Mary and at least three of their children pre deceased Thomas and he died at Bradford in October 1853, aged 86 years.

THOMAS RAWSON TAYLOR

Thomas Rawson Taylor, son of the Reverend Thomas Taylor who was the minister at the Congregational Church on The Green, was born at Ossett on May 9 1807. The family left the area in 1808 and Thomas R was educated at the Free School, Bradford, then later the Leaf Square Academy, Manchester. From the age of 15 to 18 he was engaged, first in a merchant’s, and then in a printer’s office. Influenced by strong religious desires, he entered the Airedale Independent College at 18, to prepare for the Congregational ministry. His first and only charge was Howard Street Chapel, Sheffield. This he retained about six months, entering upon the charge in July 1830, and leaving it in the January following. For a short time he acted as classical tutor at Airedale College, but the failure of health which compelled him to leave Sheffield also necessitated his resigning his tutorship. He died March 7, 1835. A volume of his Memoirs and Select Remains, by W. S. Matthews, in which were several poems and a few hymns, was published in 1836. His best known hymn is “I’m but a stranger here”.

Source: Hymnary.org

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Many years after the death of the Rev. Thomas Rawson Taylor, his words were set to music by Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan who was not only one half of Gilbert and Sullivan but was also the composer of the music to ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ by Horbury Bridge curate, Sabine Baring Gould (1834-1924).

Image Source: Hymnary.org

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In 1808 the Rev. Robert Blake from Shelley took over the ministry. He resigned in 1813 and moved to Darwen before leaving England for America. In 1814. Rev. Samuel Neale became minister. In 1819 he left Ossett for London and the following year Rev. John Reeder replaced him until 1831, when he moved to Hamburgh. In 1833 Rev. William Tyler, from Keighley became minister; he resigned ten years later and moved to Whitchurch. In 1844 Rev. Samuel Oddie came from Elland. He was succeeded by Rev. J Folshaw in 1868.

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THE CONGREGATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL 1801-1973

The Congregational Sunday School at The Green commenced on Sunday April 21 1801, when the Rev. Thomas Taylor was the minister, and for 12 years the teaching was carried out in the chapel. In 1813 the first Sunday School was built, at a cost of £370 10s 2d.

The foundation stone of a new school was laid on May 24 1864 by Joseph Ellis, a former school superintendent. The total cost of the school was £294 11s 9d.

Wakefield Free Press – Saturday 12 August 1871

John Pollard and Enoch Pollard were the superintendents in 1901; Francis Giggal and George Bernard Lucas were the school secretaries. There were 26 male and 20 female teachers, and William Saberton, who was a teacher of the young men’s class, had celebrated his jubilee of service a year earlier.

This medal was for sale on Ebay in January 2022. Its whereabouts are unknown.

Source: Wakefield Libraries

THE BUILDING OF A NEW CHURCH

A third place of worship was built on this site and was in inaugurated on October 15 1883. The following is my transcription from the Batley Reporter, dated August 12 1882. (Anne-Marie)

Of the buildings in which they [the ministers] have officiated but little has been said. It is fitting, therefore, that some account should be given of them, and a description, necessarily brief, of the handsome and spacious structure which is now rising stone by stone on the old historic site.

The first was the pressing-shop, placed at the disposal of the infant Presbyterian congregation by Mr. Foster. [There is no record of the pressing shop in the church books or other documents to show what kind of an edifice it was, nor where it stood.] At the annual church tea meeting in 1881, Eli Pollard referred to it when he said: ‘‘In 1717 the first meeting place was opened. Was it a fine chapel such as we are about to build, with a spire on? No; if it had any elevation above the roof it would only be a chimney.” The building was used for nearly fourteen years, and gave place to a chapel, erected in 1733.

Described as a nearly square, somewhat barn like building – such as was common in the days when Nonconformity was struggling for existence – and had neither external architectural beauty nor internal convenient accommodation to recommend it, the chapel faced the main street, and it was bound on the north side by the path still existing, and which leads to the railway station and into the fields, and on the south by a building used chiefly for stables, a portion of which, there is reason to believe, formed the home of the Sunday school in its earliest days. At the rear was an open field, as at present, into which, by a clause in the deed of conveyance, workmen were permitted to go for the purpose of effecting any necessary repairs.

One of the aisles ran in front of the pulpit, which was placed against the wall on the north side. Underneath the pulpit was the clerk’s desk, an arrangement which at one time was very common in Congregational chapels. The singing pew was large and square, lower than the pulpit, and separated from it by the aisle. The pews were of the ordinary straight, somewhat high- backed, kind and a few of them were double the ordinary size and occupied by the wealthier portion of the congregation, or by those who had larger families than ordinary.

In front of the chapel was a small plot used as a burial ground. Interments took place within the chapel, the earliest being that of a venerable dame in 1735. The entry is in Dickenson’s Northowram registers:

July 11 1735 aged 89. Widw. Fothergill of Ossett, buried at the New Chapel.

There probably would be other deceased members of the congregation buried beneath the floor between that date and 1754, but, if so, no record exists. One for that year shows that on the 17th of February Mrs. Margaret Lightfoot, wife of the Rev. Thomas Lightfoot, the pastor, died, and that her remains lay there, he following her on November 3rd 1758. They were respectively fifty-four and sixty years.

The chapel was in use until 1849, when it was pulled down, but long before then it was found necessary to provide another place of burial, this being done by Mr. John Greenwood, in 1816. Interments were not discontinued then, as some of the monumental inscriptions show. The oldest legible in the little graveyard outside was the following, which occupied a position on the north side of the doorway of the last chapel.

Here lieth the body of Mary, wife of Joseph Hewit, of Ossett Green and daughter of Thomas Fozard, who departed this life the 8th day of October, 1736.

A loving wife, a friend most dear, A tender patient (sic) lieth here.

The rest of the inscription told that her husband and his second wife died on the same day, viz., September 30th 1826, he having attained the age of seventy-three years.

On the south side of the little area was, before the late demolition, a gravestone recording the deaths and interments of some members of the Dews family, but only these portions could be read, so decayed was the slab on which the inscriptions were cut. …

Luke Dews, who died May 24th, 1812, aged 40 years … Their son William died … 1815, aged 21 years. and their son John, died 1821, aged 20 years.

Next to this memorial, and close to the front wall of the chapel was another stone more defaced than its neighbour, so much so as to be quite undecipherable. Whether it occupied its original position may be doubted, for it had evidently been reduced in size by some mason in order to fit the place in which it was found.

In the old chapel and, it was presumed, in that which replaced it, was a monumental tablet placed in the north wall, with the following inscription carved on it:

Sacred to the memory of [the son of?] John and Jane Greenwood, of Sowood Green House, who died the 6th day of August, 1916, aged 14. He lived long enough to excite fond anticipations and to know the value of a Saviour’s biood ; then his Spirit took its flight into Eternity, to the great grief of his Relations and Friends.

Life’s a short summer. Man’s a flower, He dies alas, how soon he dies.

Also: To the memory of Grace, daughter to the above, who died the 28th day of December, 1916, aged 3 months.

Within the chapel were buried the remains of the Rev. George Haggerston, minister from 1765 to 1787, and whose death took place in 1792.

Much to the disappointment of the committee and the members of the congregation, no memorial was discovered in the shape of a foundation stone. It had been confidently expected that such would be revealed when the demolition was completed, and that within it would be found some interesting records placed there for the information of suceeeding generations, but unfortunately the builders of the edifice, and the then members of the church and congregation, were not mindful of those who had the next chapel to erect, and a valuable bit of local history is therefere wanting.

The building, like the one it supplanted, faced the main road. It was approached by a flight of steps leading across the tiny grave yard, and on entering a doorway supported by plain pilasters, the visitor found himself in a smal! vestibule, which gave access to the body chapel and the gallery, by stairs leading right and left. On the south side of the building were five square-headed windows above the gallery and four below ; and on thé north side were eleven in all, six above and five beneath. The pulpit stood near the east wall, and opposite was the singing pew of ample dimensions, The accommodation was for 700 people, includng children, many of whom were, at great inconvenience to themselves, placed in the south-east portion of the gallery. The pews, though an improvement doubtless upon those in the former chapel, were mainly constructed of the old wood, and were anything but poseful. The building was erected in 1850, and cost about £2,000, but, as has been painfully apparent during the time the workmen were engaged in pulling it down, much old material was used in its construction ; probably from motives of economy.

The reasons which led to the movement for the erection of another place of worship were thus stated by the Rev. J. P. Perkins, on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the new chapel, on Whit Tuesday. “The old chapel was incommodious and inconvenient. We have often lost individuals and families, being unable to supply them with seats and sittings; and a rising school and an earnest desire to retain our young people have urged on our enterprise.” The last sermon was preached in it on the 27th of May [1882], and it thus closed a brief career of thirty-two years.

As to the building now in course of erection, it is to seat 1,200 persons, a proportion being children, and is estimated to cost £5,500. The basement will be occupied by six spacious classrooms, and above is the chapel proper, which is to consist of nave, aisles, transept, and choir. Access will be given by three flights of steps from the main road, and on a level from the footpath leading to the railway station. There are spacious vestibules from which staircases lead into the gallery. The style of architecture is the pointed Gothic, freely treated. The front has a gable seventy feet high, the chief feature in which is a spacious doorway in a projecting portal, and five lancet windows, with shafts, having carved capitals, the whole of the lights being comprised in an arch occupying most of the gable. At the right hand corner is to be a tower and spire, the point of the latter being forty yards above the level of the road. At the side of the tower, and at the opposite corner of the front of the chapel, are semi-octagonal projections, in which are the gallery staircases. The transepts project about eight feet, have double gables, and near them are double lance windows lighting the sides of the structure, which will certainly be a great ornament to the neighbourhood, and a credit to the church and congregation, who have, in the face of many difficulties, undertaken its erection.

The architect is Mr. J. P. Pritchett, Darlington, and the contractors Mr. Henry Sanderson, Messr. Horsnell and Heald, and Messrs. Hepworth and Spurr, Ossett ; Messrs. Jas. Booth and Sons, Batley ; Messrs. Taylor and Parsons, Bradford; Weeks and Co., London ; and Messrs. Pycock and Sons, Leeds,

Batley Reporter and Guardian
Saturday 12 August 1882.

Dewsbury Chronicle and West Riding Advertiser – Saturday 06 November 1886

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The Green Congregational Church feast. I think this might be looking towards Healey. Year unknown.

The Congregational Church Choir, The Green, Ossett. 1897. I’m grateful to Margaret Wilby for the loan of this photograph. The house is ‘Calder Villa’ at Healey and was built in 1882 for Eli Townend.

The Green Congregationalists in Ossett Market Place. Year unknown.

An unknown group from The Congregational Church on The Green. Please get in touch if you can identify anyone.

This popular postcard, shows the interior of the church in 1910.

A different angle of the interior. Courtesy of the Outwood Community Website.

In 1917 the Rev John Gomer Williams, minister of Ossett Green Congregational Church, compiled a history of his church to commemorate its bicentenary. Due to the tragedy suffered by the townsfolk of Ossett, because of the events of the Great War (1914-1918), the celebrations were curtailed, the proposed new manse was not built and the planned new choirstalls were not made.

There are plenty of familiar Ossett names on this 1917 photo.

A troop of Girl Guides from the Congregational Church on The Green. 1920. The photo was taken in the playground of Southdale School.

Please get in touch if you are able to identify anyone or have any of their family history that you’d like to be considered for this website.

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In June 1950, Ossett Green Congregational Church held a garden fête in the grounds of Grange View, Healey Road, where a tea was provided by the owner, Mr GW Appleyard. This photograph appeared in The Ossett Observer.

Brenda Lucas was the Rose Queen, ring bearer was David Wilby and the attendants were Patricia Waring, Jennifer Whitaker, Glenys Auty, Beryl Moore, Joyce Oldroyd, Maureen Beckett, Elizabeth Foster, Carole Illingworth, Ann Riley, Pauline Smith, Kathleen Smith and Jean Tyler.

The spire of the Congregational Church looming over The Green, Ossett 1950s.

©️ Roger Hepworth

This photo shows how the church dominated the South Ossett skyline.

On Easter Sunday, April 22 1973, the last church service was attended by about 350 people, including the great-granddaughter of the Reverend George Sadler, who was the minister of this church from 1885 to 1892.

Ossett Observer June 29 1974. Demolition of the Congregational Church. The site was acquired for development by J&JM Asquith.

The demolition of the Sunday School on November 30 1974. I’m grateful to Michael McCarthy for these images from The Ossett Observer.

The Ossett Congregational Church was originally located at the NE corner of Ossett Green and Southdale Road. After it was demolished, the congregation moved to the United Reformed Church at Queen’s Terrace before amalgamating with the King’s Way Church, Wesley Street.

©️ Simon Austerfield 2016

©️ Rachel Driver 2021

The former site of the Congregational Church.

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OSSETT GREEN BURIAL GROUND

EXHUMATION OF BODIES

Around 1969 the old Burial Ground at Dimple Well, The Green, Ossett (formerly Radley Street) was bought by a builder.

According to eye witness accounts, the remains of those from the Dimple Well Burial Ground were removed and taken in a flat bed truck to the Zion Burial Ground at Gawthorpe. They were then placed in a mass pit without ceremony or marker. The burial ground at Gawthorpe is now in private ownership and horses graze between the gravestones which stand on this land.

Zion Burial Ground 2016
Photo: Anne-Marie Fawcett

NAMES OF BODIES EXHUMED & DATE BURIED

1Samuel Mitchell2nd March 1835
 Martha Mitchell30th March 1840
   
2Nancy Riley20th May 1837
   
3Elizabeth Butterfield20th May 1837
   
4William Ellis9th December 1826
 Joseph Ellis6th March 1828
 Hephzibah Ellis8th April 1830
 Henry Ellis24th January 1838
   
5Thomas Saxton2nd February 1822
 Robert Saxton27th January 1828
 Nancy Saxton11th October 1840
 Eliza Saxton9th September 1884
   
6Robert Saxton16th May 1849
 Susannah Saxton6th February 1859
   
7Susannah Saxton6th December 1859
 Benjamin Saxton8th May 1888
   
8Mary Ellis12th June 1840
 Joshua Ellis2nd November 1852
   
   
9Hannah Scott19th October 1811
 Charles Scott13th January 1826
 Martha Scott19th May 1853
 Mary Scott29th August 1833
   
10Thomas Mitchell17th November 1830
   
11Joshua Mitchell30th September 1828
 Enoch Mitchell4th December 1829
   
12Mary Mitchell14th December 1828
 Thomas Mitchell18th November 1829
 Martha Mitchell30th August 1844
   
13George Pickard7th March 1852
 Sarah Pickard14th May 1857
   
14Hannah Walshaw23rd.April 1837
   
15Philip Dews7th March 1861
   
16Mary Moss11th February 1851
   
17John Archer1st November 1822
18Sarah Wilson23rd September 1834
 John Wilson23rd January 1848
 Nancy Wilson2nd January 1843
   
19Nancy Grace16th February 1841
   
20Frederick Mitchell Briggs8th March 1850
   
21Seth Mitchell14th October 1839
   
22Joseph Mitchell13th January 1835
 2 children in infancy 
 Nancy Mitchell2nd September 1838
   
23Hannah Mitchell27th November 1845
 Nathan Mitchell10th August 1870
   
24James Briggs10th August 1839
 Mary Ann Briggs28th May 1840
25Henry Kenyon Ambler18th August 1877
   
26Grace Wilby4th December 1821
 Judith Scott14th May 1830
 Frances Wilby22nd February 1848
27Eliza Ward23rd March 1883
 Henry Herbert Ward5th October 1862
28F. W.Clegg7th August 1844
 Mark Clegg23rd March 1849
 Jemima Clegg13th June 1867
29Ann Mitchell13th March 1827
 Samuel Mitchell18th March 1833
 Sarah Mitchell7th July 1836
 David Mitchell18th March 1885
30Philip Oakes16th November 1853
 Thomas Edwin Oakes28th October 1881
31Jane Oakes31st Januaryl837
 Charles Oakes14th June 1837
32Nathan Oakes21st April 1830
 Benjamin Oakes22nd April 1828
 Edward Oakes4th April 1836
 Benjamin Oakes25th February 1846
 Nancy Oakes29th December 1860
33Nancy Ellis13th August 1874
 Philip Ellis7th January 1878
 Emily Jane Ellis4th November 1892
 Eli Ellis26th April 1894
34Samuel Oakes27th May 1851
 Nancy Oakes19th January 1851
 Jane Oakes27th June 1855
 Alice Oakes18th May 1858
 Benjamin Oakes23rd April 1851
35Joshua Briggs4th November 1858
 Hannah Briggs29th January 1874
36? CharlesMay 1858
37Susannah Clegg1st February 1865
 Emma Clegg14th July 1861
38Mary Brook26th July 1857
 Thomas Brook8th August 1857
39Hannah Archer2nd August 1852
 Abraham Archer21st January 1867
40Philip Brook1st August 1855
 Eli Brook28th March 1856
 Simon Brook9th June 1850
 Sophia Brook28th August 1862
 Harriett Brook14th August 1876
 J.C. Brook27th May 1885
41Francis Giggal18th May 1856
 Mary Giggal15th May 1887
42Harriett Jenkinson13th November 1871
 Joseph Jenkinson10th February 1873
43Joseph Haigh11th October 1864
 Sarah Haigh30th April 1900
44Elizabeth Audsley18th November 1830
 Mary Audsley29th December 1819
 Hannah, Martha, Isaac & Ann   – In infancy 
 Joseph Audsley4th February 1862
 Sarah Dews8th January 1889
45John Audsley13th December 1830
 Joseph Audsley27th July 1859
46Benjamin Banes11th March 1830
 Martha Banes12th July 1833
47Margaret Giggal1st March 1830
 David Giggal16th April 1835
48Millicent Ellis8th May 1847
49Sarah Ellis29th March 1834
 Samuel Ellis7th April 1846
 Mary Ellis24th April 1856
 Ann Bennett10th July 1852
 Mary Ellis24th April 1856
 Philip Ellis17th July 1877
50Thomas Pawson4th February 1837
 4 children in infancy 
 Rachel Pawson17th December 1865
51Joshua Moss11th July1830
 George Moss26th May 1872
52Benjamin Mitchell22nd June 1844
53John Boothroyd30th December 1862
 Susannah Boothroyd20th June 1876
54? 
55Jabez Radley 
 Hannah Radley2nd October?
 Jabez Radley23rd March 18?
 Martha Radley17th August 1871
 George Radley23rd February 1896
56George Saxton21st June 1865
 Martha Saxton19th November 1882
57Mark Pickard7th July 1865
58Hannah Pickard25th April 1862
 Andrew Pickard18th September 1890
 Hannah Pickard29th June 1891
59George Pickard10th June 1892
 David Pickard6th July 1882
 David Pickard (Jnr)17th February 1878
60Sarah ClaftonFebruary 1859
 ? Clafton12th April 1859
61Mary Ellis24th April l853
 John William Ellis18th May 1863
62Susan Ely1st June 1853
63Elizabeth Ely9th November 1851
 Martha Ely19th June 1853
 Thomas ?11th June 1879
64Edmund Dews7th July 1829
 John Archer17th July 1852
 Ann Dews12th May 1855
 John Archer17th July 1832

 Information supplied by the late Jean Crabtree, courtesy of Lawrence, Son & Thorp (Solicitors) Ossett

©️ Joan P Smith & Anne-Marie Fawcett

ROBERT SPURR

Spurr. A well known name in Ossett.

Robert Spurr was born in 1801 to Job and Hannah (née Sugden) of Streetside, Ossett. He was christened at Holy Trinity Church on February 22nd of that same year.

I was going to tell you how and where Robert lived and worked. But then I thought – let’s hear it from the man himself. The following is his account of his life and is offered here as it was written.

“Dear Brethren and Relatives, I take this opportunity to write the following lines for your instruction. When I was a child I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But when I became a man in 1822 I did not put away childish things; I still continued child like with little things, in stead of improving and strenthing my mind by scholership.

I walked from street to street, from field to field, seeking plesure but found very little. My wages was very small. I seldom had any money or very little in my pocket – so I went on from year to year untill 1824. Then I got married to Miss [Nancy] Dewhirst.

I then found I had been very foolish for I soon began to learn the cares of the world.

My wages been so very small, at Spring I went to work with Brother William out of doors. It was a very rainy, wet summer so we made very little money. So I thought I would try some thing else. I began to be a fancy weaver and, been a new work to me, I missed my way and made no thing of it. Then my Wife was taken very ill, and in 50 weeks after we was married. She Died in 1825, leaving me with one son a few weeks old when she Died – that is, our Joshua. My Mother [Hannah] and Sister Betty then took the charge of him. He was a very feeble Boy, but with great care he was brought up with them at a very easy cost untill he was over eleven years of age. So I had to sell part of my goods and go live with Father and Mother.

I then began to work for Brother John.

In December 1825 Wakefield Bank broke [‘The bank which went bankrupt was that of Wentworth, Chaloner, Rish-worth and Company. It was a London banking-house which had banks at York and Bradford, as well as at Wakefield. The fact that from the beginning of December wages could not be paid with that banking-house’s notes had immediate local repercussions] and there was a Great fall in the trade, so I and Brother David went on a tramp. We walked to Liverpool and back but we never got one bit of work. Some time after that I got work at Hunslet for a short time. Then I went to work at Leeds but I was very unwell and had to go home again. After that I went with Father [Job Spurr] and Brother James to work out of doors, but I soon took the typhus fever and for some weeks was very ill. When just recovering from that complaint I was seized with another long and bitter complaint which kept me in prison for 12 months. I could not go in search of work all that 12 months. Then my clothing was all worn out, so I sold 2 chares to buy a new hat. This was hard for me. My heart was fit to break – and while I am writing, I feel the smart of it.

I then went off with a very heavy heart to seek work.

I worked 3 months at Gildersome, making mens’ boots at 2s. per pair. After that, I came to work for Brother John again for some short time. But I wished again to try my weel of fortune else where, so I went to work at Leeds, up at Bank [The district known as Bank was the area approximately where Saxton Gardens estate in Leeds is today] and lived with Brother David but I slept at another place. I had not been there long before my master removed to Meanwood and all the shopmen went with them in number. This was a very pleasant place and I enjoyed the working days very well. It is a very healthy country in that land scape. There was parks, woods and groves. It was full of beauty. But when Sunday after noon came I was left alone because my shop mates went to the pub lick house to enjoy them selves. But I could not do that and support my self and my son.

My Master was very poor and liked his drop of ale, and he had very little money and little work, so when I had been there 18 months I had to leave 50s. of my wages in his hands and go work at Rodley. Rodley is a little place, built near the water side, where trading vessels is passing up and down. After I had been there a few weeks I went to Meanwood for my 50s., but there was nothing for me. After that, I went to Leeds and got a sommons for my money. When the day of trial came, I only got 20s. And bit by bit, after a long time, I got it all but a few Shillings.

In this Rodley shop there was 11 men in number. We had plenty of work and plenty of pastimes, such as sing, dance and drink, and all kinds of folly from morning till night. So time passed away when at our work very well-except that profane swearing that I never did practice, nor did I like to hear it. But when Sunday came I found it was all vanity and vexation of spirit. All my shop mates went to their own homes and I was left alone.

When sitting by the water side one sabbath day in a very solitary or retire place, under a green tree where no human eye could see me nor a voice could I hear, I thought of old Ossett, my parents and Brethren – how happy they all was, and I had been for some years a miserable man. Then I thought I would end it all by putting my self into the water and there have a watery grave. But I moved off for time to think of it.

Soon after that, the bailiff came with a writ for my master. Then his Lanlord came and sold his cattle and all his farming stock; and his Brother-in-law took a house at Leeds new road end, and I went with them. This house and shop was very small and every thing was very unpleasant to me. Then I thought I would leave them and try to get work in some other place.

Providence guided me to Bramley in August 1831. I then began to work for Mr. R. Pickard. [Ralph Pickard is mentioned in several Leeds Directories as a boot and shoe maker]. He was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church but as I did not like that creed I never went with them. The shop men here was 6 in number. I soon found they were sober, hard working men. This was a great change for me. In the 2 last mentioned shops we had dreadfull oaths and bitter cursing day by day. Here we all did sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. I had more comfort than I ever had at any previous shop for some years, and every Saturday morning I got my wage, from the first week to the last – this was what I never had in all my life! This put joy and happiness in to my heart more than all the vanity and folly I ever had.

Then one of my shop mates and my self began to go to the Baptist ChapeI. I thought it very strange when I saw men and women go down into the water, and the Minister in the water Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. But I heard them preach the word of truth-and reading for my self in the book, I found it to be true – so I went along with them, hoping to be in heaven with them. I believe that creed to be according to the new testament and generally agreed with their doctrines such as original sin, regeneration by grace, Baptizam and the Lord Suppor, free justification and adoption, the final perseverance of real believers, the eternal happiness of the rigteous and so on. But I did not very well like my lodgin house because he was a very drunken man, so I went to live with Wm Dearden.[ William Dearden was a fellow-member at Bramley Zion and his name appears on “The Roll”, the oldest surviving membership register of that church] He was a shoe-maker and a follower of Christ. His Wife was not very well. She got worse and worse, so a woman did often come in to help her. It was Miss [Mary] Marshall. I soon found she was, like my self, living in lodgens, with out Father and Mother, Sister or Brother, and so was I in Bramley.

So we thought one house would do for us both and, as soon has we got ready, we went to Leeds parish Church in 1833. Then she came to live with me and in 5 weeks after, Dearden’s Wife died, leaving him one little Boy. So we had to stop there and do all the work of the house, rent free. My Wife had the care of his Boy and the house work and to bind his shoes, so she had work enough. But in due time she gave birth to a little Girl – this is our Nancy – in 1834.Then she had another little Girl in 1835 – her name was Eliza. While living here we were very comfortable and got some goods for house keeping and saved 9 or 10 pounds in a money club.

As our familey was on the increase we wished to try our fortune in some other way. So after working for Mr. R. Pickard 5 years, I left him to commence business in 1836. So we then took a new house and removed into it. Then I went to Ossett to fetch my son, Joshua. When he got to Bramley he was full of trouble because he had no one to play with. But that soon left him because he got some play mates and after that he learned to be a shoemaker.

On the 26 of June George was born. We have now 3 small children. The first born was 2 years and 24 weeks old, besides our son Joshua. And business was all to learn and the trade all to get. I tried to open a small shoe shop and we soon began to get work and for a fue months we got on has well as could be expected. But we soon had a death also in this year – Oct 22 1836. It was Eliza.

In 1837 there was a general down fall in trade. The cloth trade was all most at a stand. And the people having so little work, we got very little money. My Wife took in some washing but when my work was ready the people got a good bit of it with out money which kept us very poor. Our shop was broken down and we lost all we had. Then we got into debt and had to struggle hard to get on.

We had also a birth in this year – Sep 16. His name was John, but he died in 3 weeks after. And all the money we could raise was 18d., so we had to get the grave made and a coffin on strap. Soon after they both came for some boots for that money, so we got them paid off. When Christmas was coming on, I spent all the money we could get to make up boots for the people, expecting to have a good return. But on December the 24 all the money that came into our house was 1s. for all our labour. So my Wife went to make her market and spent it all [Mary used the shilling to purchase as much as she could on the best terms possible], so on Christmas day we was as clear from money as a toad is from feathers. Our table was very scanty; we had plenty of poverty, because the people was feasting on our money.

And so we was from year to year, working and trying to get our bread day by day. In 1838 Sarah ann was born – Nov 21. And in 1841 the house we live in now was to be let. We wanted to have it, but how can we pay our rent off and take another house? I had to enter into a £6 money club and I had to go and buy the first share to enable me to pay my rent. It was sold by auction – I gave for it 27s. So I just got all the rent and left the house. We then entered our new house with all our debt. We have all the £6 club and intrest to pay, besides all other debts. This was a great burden.

And when Lydia was about one year old she fell sick and my poor Wife had to carry her in her arms to Leeds Infirmary and back. And then she died – May 22 1842, aged 18 months. But Hannah Maria was born – Aug 31 1842 – which made up the number again.

Hoping to see that day when we should owe no man any thing, we tried to open a small shoe shop 2 or 3 times, but we had to break down because we had the club to pay and other debts. Docter bills been very heavy for us to pay, they fetched it from us in boots. Or we paid it in cash. This kept us very poor. We had to work hard and live on a low diet for many years. But we went on, until March 25 1845 – then Cyrus was born. He was a very fine boy but in a short time his health gave way. He was like a tender plant for 18 months and then he got into good health again.

In 1847 the price of flour was very high – up to 4s. per stone. This made our trade very poor. But before the close of the year the price was reduced to about 2s. 6d. per stone. And on the 25 of December our Joshua got married and left us and followed shoemaking for many years.

We are left with 5 Children and no one to work but my self and my Wife. We laboured to get them food and raiment has well as we could, looking for that day when our Children would be able to help us. Cyrus was a strong boy, a Child of hope. We was looking to him to ade us in old age. But he fell sick and in March 12 1851 he died of a few days’ sickness. This great Change filled all our hearts with sorrow more than all the poverty we ever had. But I am very thankful and can say, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is with in me.” It would have been worse if my Children had been fatherless and my Wife a widow. But God knoweth our frame. He remembereth that we are but dust.

Now our Children is working and helping us, and the trade is better. Now we can get food and raiment as well as any other working man. And the time is come that we have paid all our debts and owest no man any thing. I have seen men live in poverty and die in debt. Some has goon into the poor house to live and die there. Some have goon from door to door beggin their bread. Some has goon out to work and was brought home dead – and many such things. So I have reason to thank God and take courage, for none of these things has yet come upon me.

After our debts was all paid, we then went on from time to time, trying to make a pair of boots now and then to get another shop, untill we had got 40 pairs of boots and shoes. We got a friend for the loan of £5 and paid it back at 10d. per month. Then we began to raise our shop, and our Joshua began to work for us. Our trade began to increase. Our minds was more at rest. Our famley was 6 in number. We was all pooling one way, getting along very well. Our health was good; our days was happy – Sundays and week days; our home was plesant; our gains was slowly on the increase – up to 1861.

This winter there was a very strong storm of frost and snow, so my Wife was confined in bed until spring. Then she got into better health and was able to do her work again. But on August 9 1862 she was taken ill with the Cholera and a very deal of cramp which had her more then 20 hours. This affiiction was so strong she never got the right strength of her body any more, and with all the means we could use she still continued unwell all winter.

In November our Nancy got married and left us, and in February 1863 our Sarah Ann got married and left us. So then we had to manage our busness and our affliction as well as we could. But we were just able to get our living and bear the expence with out geting into debt. In this way we went on from time to time until act 29 1864. Then she took to her bed and was never up one whole day and was only drest 2 or 3 times for 17 months. When she had sufferd much, night and day, more or less for 5 years, on the 24 of March 1866 she departed this life, aged 66. She boor her afflictions with patience and was willing to depart.

Our son George got married 4 weeks before the death of his Mother, so now you will see I am left with only one Daughter, that is Hannah Maria. She works at the Sowing Machine and follows the work of the house. So we are as well as anyone can expect. But I find my mind has been very much at wander for some time. I think my best way will be to take the advice of Soloman. He says there is nothing better for a man then he should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labour. It is the gift of God, for that his is portion while in this life. For we brought nothing into this world and it is certan we shall take nothing out. But has we are sent into this world to work for our daily bread in the sweat of our face untill we return to the ground, we must be content to do has well as we can while we are able to.

Conclude.

Now you will see I have been more then 40 years in the Wilderness. During this time there has been many a heavy storm in life. After I left Ossett I went from town to town, from shop to shop, working for different men and living and lodgin with other men for near ten years. Some times it was very unpleasant to me. Then I got married to a poor hard working woman. She was faithfull to her trust. We were united to gether near 34 years before she Died.

During our pass through life we have had births and deaths, times of sickness and of health; we have been in poverty and in plenty; we have had poor trade and good trade. But I do not remember at any time putting a price upon my goods to extortion from a customer that which was not right. I have often had two little for my labour that I might have a good conscience, beliving it would be better for us at the end.

We have had 8 Children [as well as Joshua] but lost 4 of them by Death. So now, as a working man, I think after all my poverty, if anyone has reason to be thankfull, it is me. For there is a deal of people in poverty and in debt, but all my debts is paid and all my Children is sober hard working Children (and I hope they are all resting on the faith of the Gospel of Christ).

And now I find my health is giving way and the time is fast coming that this place which knows me now will soon know me no more for ever. So when I have run the race and finished my course, you may all come then and see the end. R. Spurr”Bramley Leeds June 27 1867

Robert Spurr died two years later, aged 68.

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