William Wood and family

The double plot in the churchyard shown above is where William Wood and many of his immediate family were buried and / or remembered. The headstone now lies flat but with its memorial inscription visible and readable. Around the kerb edge are more memorial inscription to members of this large family, some more readable than others. This Wood family included the surviving WW1 soldier Alfred Wood, two other sons who died overseas and one who became a local landscape artist. The back stories for the WW1 soldier and his soldier brother-in-law have already been told at :- Alfred Wood M.M William Boswell and family Many members of this Wood family lived in or near Hesketh Place, Lightcliffe in buildings that were known for a time as Wood’s Buildings. Why? Because William’s stone mason father built them. He and even more members of this Wood family were also interred in the churchyard. Their story will be told later. Thomas Wood and family John Wood and family James Wood and family The Wood sisters and brother Walter Wood What follows is William Wood’s family story.

1

William Wood was born on 12th April 1840 to parents Thomas Wood and Ellen Spencer who had married in Halifax on 12th May 1834. Their growing family looked like this in 1841 and then in 1851.

1841 census 1851 census Thomas Wood 25 Mason Thos Wood Head 38 Stone Mason Ellen Wood 25 Ellen Wood Wife 34 Jane Wood 7 Jane Wood Dau 16 Twister in Emma Wood 5 John Wood Son 15 Spinner Wor John Wood 3 William Wood Son 10 ditto William Wood 1 Henry Wood Son 8 ditto Address Old Bank P.B., Southowram Hannah Wood Dau 6 Scholar Elizth Wood Dau 4 ditto Harriet Wood Dau 2 Address Old Bank, Southowram

Just before the next census ‘Overlooker’ William Wood married 27-year-old Lydia Bentham on 23rd March 1861 at St. John’s Church, Halifax. They were living next to his married brother John Wood in Southowram on census night 7th April 1861.

1861 census Wm Wood Head 20 Overlooker Carpet Works Lydia Wood Wife 27 Filler ditto Address 10 Railway Terrace, Southowram

But then in 1866 32-year-old Lydia Wood died. Widower William Wood married 24- year-old Rhoda Drake of Northowram on 25th January 1868. Rhoda, born 1843, was the daughter of John and Sarah Drake but was brought up by her mother and stepfather John Stocks Boocock after her father died and her mother remarried. On 15th May 1870 William and Rhoda Wood baptised two daughters Lydia and Sarah Ellen at St. Matthew’s Church. Herman, Mary, Spencer, Annie Elizabeth and Henry arrived before the 1881 census but only Herman was baptised at Lightcliffe on 5th January 1873. In the next decade sons Alfred, John and William Herbert completed the family. But 17-month-old William Herbert died on 10th February 1885 and became the first occupant of plot K53 on 14th February 1885. His brother John was belatedly baptised at St. Matthew’s later that year on 11th December. In 1871 William and his family lived next door to his brothers John and Henry and their families in Lightcliffe. On the 1881 census William and his family lived in the Armitage Building and William’s father Thomas and his brother John and their families both occupied Wood’s Buildings. The Wood’s Buildings were houses built by stone mason Thomas Wood and now known as Nos 1 – 6 Hesketh Place. The opposite side of the street is called East View as it looked out onto East Field. Eastfield Chapel built in 1529 was the name of the original church which the old St. Matthew’s Church replaced in 1775.

2

1871 census 1891 census William Wood Head 30 Foreman Carpet William Wood Head 50 Rhoda Wood Wife 27 Worsted Printing Overlooker Lydia Wood Dau 2 Rhoda Wood Wife 47 Sarah Ellen Wood Dau 11/12 Lydia Wood Dau 22 Address Filler for worsted printing Lightcliffe, Hipperholme cum Brighouse Sarah Ellen Wood Dau 20 Setting warps for carpet 1881 census Herman Wood Son 18 Unemployed William Wood Head 40 Mary Wood Dau 17 Worsted printing overlooker Stick dryer for printing Rhoda Wood Wife 37 Spencer Wood Son 15 Lydia Wood Dau 12 Apprentice for designer Carpet Worsted operative Annie Elizabeth Wood Dau 13 Sarah Ellen Wood Dau 10 Scholar Worsted winder Herman Wood Son 8 ditto Harry Wood Son 11 Mary Wood Dau 7 ditto Box boy for printers Spencer Wood Son 5 ditto Alfred Wood Son 9 Schoolboy Annie Elizabeth Wood Dau 3 John Wood Son 5 ditto Henry Wood Son 1 Address Ripley St., Lightcliffe Address Armitage Building, Lightcliffe

Notice how the working members of the family all seem to be employed in the manufacture of carpets almost certainly working for T.F.Firth & Sons at Bailiffe Bridge. This West Riding of Yorkshire company then set up production in the U.S.A.; first of all, in Philadelphia and then they bought another factory in Town of Cornwall, Orange County, New York. They needed skilled workers and encouraged members of their work force to go out there. The firm paid for an entire family’s passage and provided housing when they got there. There was also the promise that if they did not settle then they could return to their old jobs in Bailiffe Bridge. Young Spencer Wood, the apprentice carpet designer, may well have known some of the early emigrants. As explained earlier across the street from Hesketh Place is East View where a Booth family lived. Fred Booth moved to the USA in the 1880s, became the manager of the Firth carpet enterprise in Orange County at a place that was named Firthcliffe and eventually a very wealthy man. Although he died in the U.S.A. he is remembered on a headstone in the churchyard. Read his story at :- Fred Booth in Firthcliffe Spencer Wood made the same journey in 1897 to work at the carpet factory in Philadelphia. So instead of appearing on the 1901 UK census he appears on the 1900 USA Federal census. Although even in that short interval of time he had been back and forth across the Atlantic at least once. Also missing from the 1901 census was William’s father Thomas who died in 1891 and his wife Rhoda who died on 12th July 1899. She was buried with their baby son in plot K53 on 14th July 1899. Their eldest daughter Lydia had married John William Marsden in 1892; a daughter Winifred was born on 24th July 1893. Son Alfred Wood enlisted with the Royal Artillery Corps on 7th November 1899 not long after his mother

3 passed away. He was at the Shorncliffe Camp near Folkestone in Kent for the 1901 census. The rest of the family were in Lightcliffe.

1901 census Widower William and family were still William Wood Head 60 nearly all working for T.F.Firth & Sons at Retired Worsted Printing Overlooker Bailiffe Bridge and seem to have moved Sarah E Wood Dau 30 back into a family-built home in Hesketh Setter in Carpet factory Place with his married daughter close by in Herman Wood Son 28 Wakefield Road. ?Grinder? in Fly & Spindle Makers

Mary Wood Dau 27 1901 census Filler in Carpet factory John W Marsden Head 39 Carpet Weaver Annie E Wood Dau 23 Lydia Marsden Wife 32 Harry Wood Son 21 Address Wakefield Rd., Bailffe Bridge Turner in Fly & Spindle Makers John Wood Son 15 Creeler In Brussels Carpet Factory Their daughter, Winifred, was with her Winifred Marsden Granddau 7 grandfather and her aunts and uncles on st Address Hesketh Place, Lightcliffe 31 March 1901 probably because of the imminent birth of her sister Alice Marsden th born 7 April 1901.

More Wood marriages occurred in the next decade, the first in the U.S.A. Carpet designer Spencer Wood who had been back and forth at least three more times married Mary Ellen (Minnie) Wile(s) on 9th Mary 1908 in Philadelphia. . The marriage record notes both sets of parents confirming William Wood and Rhoda Drake as Spencer’s parents and stating that Minnie was the daughter of Thomas Wiles and Ellen Griffin. There is a ‘Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certificate of Birth’ for a Philadelphia born boy on 15th April 1908. ‘Carpet Designer’ Spencer (Allen) Wood and Minnie Wiles are named as the parents of this illegitimate little boy William Wood. Back in Lightcliffe soldier Alfred Wood married a soldier’s daughter Lily Amelia Boswall on 16th January 1909 in St. Matthew’s Church. Both gave their – presumably temporary – residence as 3 Hesketh Place, the home of Alfred’s father William. And then on 15th October 1910 Lily Amelia’s father William Boswall married Alfred’s older sister Sarah Ellen Wood again at Lightcliffe. Herman William Wood, the son of Alfred and Lily Amelia Wood, was born on 6th December 1910 at the Maryhills Barracks in Glasgow. For the 1911 census the Royal Field Artillery soldiers, Alfred Wood and William Boswall, and their wives were in army barracks in Sheffield and Aldershot respectively as recorded in their write ups. The Lightcliffe census returns are interesting not only for noting which members of the family were no longer in Lightcliffe but also for an ‘extra’ grandson. No, not Herman William Wood, he was with his mother at the Hillsborough Barracks, Eccleshall, in Sheffield. So, who was the youngster and why was he with his grandfather in Hesketh Place?

4

1911 census 1911 census William Wood Head 70 John William Marsden Head 49 Retired Carpet Worsted Overlooker Printing Tapestry Carpet weaver Mary Wood Dau 37 Lydia Marsden Wife 42 Filler Carpet Worsted Printing Winifred Marsden Dau 17 Annie Elizabeth Wood Dau 33 Housekeeper Tapestry carpet setter John Wood Son 25 Alice Marsden Dau 9 Brussels Carpet Wever Address 4 Hesketh Place, Place William Wood Grandson 2 Address 3 Hesketh Place, Lightcliffe These may have been the same properties that each family were in in 1901. As some The birthplace of the two-year-old of the Hesketh Place houses fronted onto grandson, William Wood, was Wakefield road this was sometimes Philadelphia, U.S.A recorded as their address.

There was a 1910 USA Federal census in which a 34-year-old widower Spencer Wood, an English born ‘Designer’ in a ‘Carpet Mill’ was living with his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John F and Bertha Wile, in Maddison Street, Philadelphia. It would appear that his wife Mary Ellen (Minnie) Wood had died but no death record has been found. Did his father make another transatlantic crossing taking his motherless son to be looked after by his Lightcliffe family? Or did one of them go out to the U.S.A. to collect the little lad? No record has been found for an infant William Wood travelling to England from the U.S.A. with or without an adult. But he was certainly with his paternal grandfather, an uncle and two spinster aunts on 3rd April 1911. John Wood was the only son at home on census night 1911, so where were Herman and Harry Wood? Both were definitely still alive but neither have been found in 1911. Perhaps they too had travelled overseas – read on. Later in the year on 3rd June 1911 John Wood married Violetta Baker at St. Matthew’s Church. They had two daughters Dorothy born 9th July 1912 and Margery born 12th May 1924. Mary Wood passed away on 4th September 1911 aged 37 years. She was buried next to her mother in plot K54 on 7th September 1911 and remembered on the kerbstone of the family’s double plot. The inscription is almost impossible to read but it says. Also of Mary their daughter

who died September 4th 1911 aged 37 years

Did Spencer Wood ever see his son again? Quite possibly as records for one more journey to the U.K. have been found for Spencer Wood. In 1912 just weeks after the Titanic went down, he sailed from New York to Liverpool on the Lusitania and then back again on the Mauretania. If T.F.Firth & Sons business brought him, as before, to Bailiffe Bridge, then it seems highly likely that he got to spend time with his son in Lightcliffe.

5

And then the Great War intervened. Alfred Wood survived the conflict as did Winifred Marsden’s future husband Harry Sugden. Harry Sugden was born on 4th November 1889, the son of labourer Luke and Mary Sugden. He was baptised at St. Mary’s Church, Wyke on 29th December 1889. On 29th November 1915 he enlisted with the West Riding Regiment but was later transferred to the North Staffordshire Regiment. His military record indicates that he was discharged at the beginning of 1917 as ‘No longer physically fit for war service’. He suffered ‘from Tuberculosis of both lungs with signs of a cavity in upper lobe of left lung.’ Harry Sugden married Winifred Marsden on 14th August 1920 at St. Matthew’s Church. They had two daughters Doreen and Brenda born in 1923 and 1930 respectively. Three members of this Wood family passed away in 1922: two in Yorkshire and one in Pennsylvania, USA. Forty-four-year-old Annie Elizabeth died on 9th July 1922 and then her father 82-year-old father William on 24th August 1922. Annie Elizabeth was buried with her sister in plot K54 on 12th July 1922 and William with his wife in the next- door plot K53 on 29th August 1922. Also of Annie Elizabeth their daughter

who died July 9th 1922 aged 44 years

WOOD Annie Elizabeth of 3 Hesketh-place Lightcliffe Halifax spinster 9 July 1922 Administration Wakefield 13 February [1923] to Herman Wood spindle maker. Effects £616 3s 11d. Former Grant 28 November 1922. And then over in the U.S.A. Spencer Wood was taken ill and died on 16th December 1922. His brother-in-law John Wile(s) was the informant on the death record. The cause of death was recorded as “Ill after gas poisoning probably accidental’. Spencer Wood was buried in Oakland Cemetery on 19th December 1922, but he is also remembered on the kerb stone of his family’s double plot.

A 1929 English probate record has been found.

6

WOOD Spencer of 164 West Cumberland-street Philadelphia Pennsylvania U.S.A died 16 December 1922 Administration London 31 July [1929] to William Wood plumber. Effects £270.

Presumably, the plumber William Wood was Spencer’s son. After his grandfather and aunts died where did this Willian Wood live and with whom? On possibility is with his bachelor uncle Herman Wood. The plumber has not been definitely identified in any subsequent records.

More is known, however, about Herman Wood as these newspaper snippets reveal. Halifax Evening Courier 19 March 1934 Local Artists Exhibition at Cartwright Hall, Bradford Halifax Evening Courier 22 February 1935 ….. Lightcliffe “The Bridle Path,” “The Path through the Mr Herman Wood of Hesketh place Fields” and “Bottom Hall Viaduct” are by Lightcliffe has just returned home from a an artist who has never had an art lesson in trip to Australia. Mr Wood had some his life – Mr Herman Wood, Lightcliffe - pictures accepted last year at the Spring and this is probably the reason for stiffness Exhibition at the Cartwright Memorial Hall in his painting. However, his treatment of Bradford cattle and horses is worthy of commendation. Herman Wood did indeed travel out to Brisbane on 29th September 1834 and arrived back to London on 14th February 1935. But why did he go to Australia? The clue may be the memorial inscription on the Wood kerbstone next to that for Spencer Wood.

Working back from this 8th June 1936 New Zealand death date a burial was found in the Anderson Bay cemetery, Dunedin for a Harry Wood, from Elgin Street, Dunedin who died on 8th June 1936 and was buried the next day. Both the burial record and an administration record say he was a grocer. His age was given as 65 but this looks like a transposed error for his actual age of 56. Five years later a widow, a native of Dunedin, Isabella Sarah Wood was buried in the same plot.

7

Using this information, the New Zealand marriage of a Isabella Sarah Raffills to a Harry Wood was found to have taken place in 1906. The couple had at least two children a son Kenneth Raffills Wood in 1912 and a daughter Isobel Rhoda Wood in 1914. The middle name Rhoda - after her deceased paternal grandmother – fits. So, it looks as if Harry Wood emigrated to New Zealand sometime between 1901 and 1906 although no emigration or travel records have been found. Whether the two brothers met in Australia or New Zealand cannot be confirmed but it seems a likely reason for the visits. There are more extracts from newspaper articles about Herman Wood’s art. He appears to have exhibited and sold paintings.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Leeds Mercury 30th January 1939 23 February 1937 Leeds Get a New Picture ART ADDITIONS TO THE LEEDS When the Yorkshire Artists’ Exhibition was GALLERY opened by Mr. Edmund Harvey in the Leeds Art Gallery on Saturday the picture Six from the Yorkshire Artists’ that got the first red star (to show that the Exhibition….. picture was sold) was one by Mr Herman At last month’s meeting the Gallery bought Wood, an oil painting “Landscape with from the Harding Fund “A Lightcliffe Cattle, Lightcliffe”. Stone Quarry” by Herman Wood, a Halifax Mr Wood lives at Lightcliffe. He loves and artist. This makes six pictures in all paints the country that lies at his doorstep. acquired for the Gallery out of this year’s Yorkshire Artists’ Exhibition. The picture has stone walls in it, and a field of dandelions. Leeds Mercury 27th January 1939 The artist is away on a cruise; he will not Portraits know yet that his picture is sold. Whoever ….. A charming contrast are the works of bought it presented it to the Art Gallery. Herman Wood, the Halifax artist, with their Leeds is fortunate to have it. homely and intimate appreciation of typical West Riding landscapes. Mr. Herman Wood of Hesketh Place, Lightcliffe appears to have gone on a winter cruise to Brisbane Australis departing from London on 31st December 1938. On the return journey the ports of call were Brisbane, Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle, Colombo, Aden, Port Said, Naples, Villefranche, Toulon and Gibraltar. He arrived back in the UK on 6th April 1939 before the outbreak of WW2 and the taking of the 1939 register. Read more about his art at Some of Herman Wood’s paintings in and around Lightcliffe Previously in Q2 1937 Alice Marsden had married William Wallace Davidson. And then her cousin Dorothy Wood married William Kenneth Collins at St. Matthew’s Church on 4th September as the following wedding announcement from the Halifax Evening Courier details.

8

Lightcliffe Wedding were Miss Margery Wood, sister, and Miss Lesley Collins, cousin of the bridegroom who Collins – Wood were attired in Victorian style dresses in heavy The wedding took place at St. Matthew’s satin and carried posies of carnations and Church Lightcliffe this morning, of William scabious to match. Kenneth Collins only son of Mr. E.H. Collins, The bride’s mother wore a brown ensemble of of Bradford, and Mrs. Dorothy Collins of heavy silk and the bridegroom’s mother a two- Morecambe, to Miss Dorothy Wood, elder piece suit of national blue flowered cloque, with daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Wood, navy hat and gloves. Mr. Ray Woodward, of Elmroyde, 216 Wakefield-road, Lightcliffe. Hipperholme, was best man, and Mr. Eric The Rev. F.E.Westmacott performed the Rushworth of Halifax, groomsman. ceremony and Mr. L.M.Ambler, F.R.C.O., was the organist. After a reception at the Mikado Café, Halifax, Mr. and Mrs. Collins left for their honeymoon The bride, who was given away by her father, in North Wales. They are to live at 23 Chester- wore a gown of oyster satin of simple cut, with road, Halifax. Juliet cap and veil to tone. She carried a shower bouquet of pink carnations. The bridesmaids

The 1939 register shows many of the extended Wood family living in houses previously known as the Wood’s Buildings which their grandfather had built. By then the Lightcliffe properties were known as Hesketh Place or in some cases a Wakefield Road address.

1939 register

William Davidson 22 Sep 1897 Male Railway Goods Porter Married 282 1 Alice Davidson 07 Apr 1901 Female Unpaid Dom D Married 282 2 Address 2 Hesketh Place, Brighouse, Brighouse M.B., Yorkshire (West Riding), England

HermanWood 06 Jun 1872 Male Spindle & Flier Maker Single 283 1 Address 101 Wakefield Road, Brighouse, Brighouse M.B., Yorkshire (West Riding), England

Sarah E Boswall 23 Apr 1870 Female Household Duties [Widowed] 284 1 Address 3 Hesketh Place, Brighouse, Brighouse M.B., Yorkshire (West Riding), England

John W Marsden 24 Jul 1861 Male Carpet Weaver Retired Married 285 1 Lydia Marsden 31 Aug 1868 Female Invalid Crippled Married 285 2 Address 4 Hesketh Place, Brighouse, Brighouse M.B., Yorkshire (West Riding), England

Harry Sugden 04 Nov 1889 Male Loom Tewer Tentiles Hea Married 287 1 Winifred Sugden 24 Jul 1893 Female Unpaid Dom D Married 287 2 2 closed entries Address 6 Hesketh Place, Brighouse, Brighouse M.B., Yorkshire (West Riding), England

John Wood 18 Oct 1885 Male Carpet Weaver Married 168 1 Violetta Wood 17 Aug 1886 Female Unpaid D-D Married 168 2 Margery Wood 12 May 1924 Female At School Single 168 3 Address 216 Wakefield Road, Brighouse, Brighouse M.B., Yorkshire (West Riding), England

Alfred Wood 25 Aug 1881 Male Army Pensioner (Retired) Married 52 1 Lily A Wood 04 Apr 1882 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 52 2 Address 7,9 Spout House Lane, Brighouse, Brighouse M.B., Yorkshire (West Riding), England

9

Sarah Ellen Boswall nee Wood was widowed as her husband, ex Royal Field Artillery soldier William Boswall, had died on 28 July 1938. The 76-year-old, who was born in the East End of London, was buried in the churchyard on 1st August 1938 in plot Q38. Daughter and mother Winifred Sugden and Lydia Marsden nee Wood died on 30th January 1940 and 21st September 1942 respectively and were both buried at Lightcliffe in plot R37 on 3rd February 1940 and on 24th September 1942. MARSDEN Lydia of 2 Hesketh-place Lightcliffe Halifax (wife of John William Marsden) died 21 September 1942 Probate Wakefield 21 October to Alice Davidson (wife of William Wallace Davidson) Effects £605 5s 9d A few weeks later bachelor Herman Wood died. Our Burial Search records say that he was buried on 12th October 1942 – actually his death date - in plot K53 but his name has not been found in the parish burial records. His name does appear on his parents’ headstone which is now laid flat on the ground. In loving memory of RHODA the wife of WILLIAM WOOD of Lightcliffe who died July 12th 1899 aged 56 years.

Also of WILLIAM HERBERT son of the above who died February 10th 1885 aged 17 months. AT REST

Also of WILLIAM WOOD who died August 24th 1922 aged 82 years. REUNITED

Also of HERMAN their son died Oct. 12th 1942 aged 70 years

This obituary appeared in the Halifax Evening Courier on 14th October 1942. MR HERMAN WOOD The death occurred on Monday at the Halifax years ago and had since made three trips to General Hospital of Mr. Herman Wood (70), Australia. Mr. Wood had a reputation as a 3 Hesketh-place, Lightcliffe. landscape artist, and in 1937 the Leeds City Art Gallery Purchasing Committee bought one of Mr. Wood was formerly employed in the his pictures, a painting of a local stone quarry. printing department at Messrs. T.F. Firth and His brother, Mr. Spencer Wood, also worked Sons., Ltd., Bailiffe Bridge, with which firm he at Messrs. Firths as a designer, but later went spent all his working life. He printed the first to America. Mr.Herman Wood was unmarried. drum made at the firm. He retired some 20 10

There is a probate record and then a newspaper report of his will, again published in the Halifax Evening Courier on 20th January 1943. WOOD Herman of 3 Hesketh-place Lightcliffe near Halifax died 12 October 1942 at The Halifax General Hospital Probate Wakefield 16 December to John Wood carpet weaver and Alfred Wood retired soldier. Effects £2199 13s 1d Local Will

Mr Herman Wood of 3 Hesketh- place, personalty £2,132 18s 1d. Probate has been Lightcliffe for many years employed in the granted to his brothers, John Wood, of 216 printing department at Messrs. T.F. Firth and Wakefield-road, Lightcliffe, and Alfred Wood, Sons Ltd., Bailiffe Bridge, who died on of Holly Bank, Hove Edge, Lightcliffe. October 12, left £2,199 13s 1d., gross, with net

Other probate records let you know what happened to the rest of the family. WOOD Lily Amelia of Holly Bank Hove Edge Lightcliffe Halifax (wife of Alfred Wood) died 12 February 1943 at Royal Halifax Infirmary Halifax Administration Wakefield 12 April to the said Alfred Wood retired fancy goods dealer. Effects £428 2s 5d Lily Amelia Wood nee Boswall was buried with her father William on 16th February 1943 in plot Q38. MARSDEN John William of 2 Hesketh-place Lightcliffe Halifax died 31 January 1947 Probate Wakefield 18 March [1948] to Alice Davidson (wife of William Davidson) and Harry Sugden weaving manager. Effects £422 13s 2d John William Marsden was buried with his wife and daughter in plot R37 ie close to his sister in law Lily Amelia Wood. WOOD Violette otherwise Violet of 216 Wakefield-road Lightcliffe Halifax (wife of John Wood) died 5 May 1947 at Royal Infirmary Bradford Probate Wakefield 16 July to the said John Wood carpet weaver Dorothy Collins (wife of Kenneth William Collins) and Margery Wood spinster. Effects £368 5s 5d Sixty-year-old Violet Wood was buried on 8th May 1947 in plot K53 where she was remembered with another kerb edge inscription. Later that year Q3 1947 her daughter Margery Wood married Douglas Charles West. They had a son David West in Q4 1949.

11

WOOD Alfred of 20 Morecambe-avenue Caversham Reading died 7 December 1948 Probate Oxford 10 February [1949] to Herman William Wood civil servant and Alice Davidson (wife of William Davidson) Effects £6462 5s 9d Alfred Wood died on 7th December 1948 and was buried in plot Q38 with his wife and his father-in-law who was also his brother-in-law, William Boswall. BOSWALL Sarah Ellen of 3 Hesketh-place Lightcliffe Yorkshire widow died 25 March 1952 Probate Wakefield 6 June to John Wood retired brussels weaver and William Wallace Davidson retired railway checker. Effects £1944 18s 4d Sarah Ellen Boswall nee Wood was the last surviving Wood sister. She was buried in plot Q38 across the green path from her family’s double plot with her husband, her brother and her sister-in-law on 28th March 1952. DAVIDSON William Wallace of 2 Hesketh-place Lightcliffe near Halifax died 4 November 1953 at The Royal Infirmary Halifax. Administration Wakefield 15 January [1954] to Alice Davidson widow, Effects £433 0s 3d William Wallace Davidson was buried in the new section of the churchyard plot NY S3 on 7th November 1953. The last surviving Wood sibling, John Wood, died on New Year’s Eve 1958. He was buried in the family plot K53 on 3rd January 1959. His memorial inscription on the kerb edge next to his wife’s inscription reads:- Also of the aforesaid JOHN WOOD

died December 31st 1958 aged 73 years REUNITED

WOOD John of 248 Wakefield Road Lightcliffe near Halifax died 31 December 1858 Probate Wakefield 12 March [1959] to William Kenneth Collins civil servant and Douglas Charles West commercial clerk. Effects £3375 9s 4d Of those still living in Hesketh Place that just leaves Alice Davidson and Harry Sugden, the daughter and son in law of Lydia Marsden nee Wood. The WW1 soldier Harry Sugden survived the war and tuberculosis. He died in 1976 but no probate record has been found. DAVIDSON Alice of 2 Hesketh Pl Lightcliffe Halifax died 3 November 1983 Probate Leeds 7 December. Not exceeding £40 000

12

Neither Harry Sugden nor his sister-in-law Alice Davidson are recorded in the burial records – perhaps they were cremated – but they are both remembered on these similar looking headstones albeit in different parts of the churchyard.

But there may be one more William Wood’s descendant buried in the churchyard, his granddaughter Margery West nee Wood, daughter of John and Violet Wood. Although the Burial Search transcribed from the parish records say that she was 79 years old when she was buried on 28th September 1998 this is probably a mis reading of 74. This death registration record gives her date of birth as that quoted on the 1939 register for Margery Wood.

NAME: Margery West DEATH AGE: 74 BIRTH DATE: 12 May 1924 REGISTRATION DATE: Sep 1998 REGISTRATION DISTRICT: Halifax INFERRED COUNTY: West Yorkshire

The Burial Search record also says that she was buried in an unknown plot within the middle churchyard which is unusual for a 1998 burial.

Her sister Dorothy Collins nee Wood was probably the lady with this probate record.

COLLINS, Dorothy of 1 Wood La Hipperholme Halifax died 7 August 1990 Administration Leeds 14 November £142 472

This time, the name of the street, Wood Lane, was probably just a coincidence! D.M.Barker March 2021

13