Samuel and Hannah Washington's Family

Samuel and Hannah Washington’s family

As already recorded Samuel Washington married Hannah Cordingley on 29th January 1824 at St. John’s Church Halifax, now Halifax Minster. They had a large family. Eldest daughter Susannah Washington was baptised on 19th December 1824 at St.Matthew’s Church, Lightcliffe as were all her siblings. Her father’s occupation was “Land Surveyor” and their abode was Helliwell Syke, Lightcliffe. This was the same occupation given when Mary Ann, daughter of Samuel & Hannah of Lightcliffe, was baptised on 31st December 1826. But after that father Samuel was recorded as “Land Agent”. Their abode when Eliza and then Edward were baptised on 9th February 1830 and 5th February 1832 was Fenny Royd. But then the Lightcliffe baptisms of Ellen Jane on 11th August 1833, Anna Maria on 9th August 1835, Caroline on 29th April 1838, Esther on 8th November 1840 and finally Catherine on 10th September 1843 were all given with the abode as Crow Nest. This was the address that the family were living at on census night 1841 next door to 85-year-old (Aunt) Ann Walker at Cliff Hill. Young Edward Washington, Samuel and Hannah’s only son, did not make it to the 1841 census as he only lived for five months. According to the parish records he was baptised, presumably as a matter of urgency, on the day he died. He was buried a few days later, on 16th February, in a new Washington plot CC*2. His is the first name on the memorial. In memory of Edward the son of Samuel and Hannah Washington of Fenny Royd who died

February 5th 1832 aged 22 weeks.

Forty-eight-year-old Hannah Turner nee Washington of Northowram was buried in Halifax on 24th June 1832. Her spinster sister Mary, aged 49 year, was buried in the Lightcliffe Washington family plot, Q*21, along with her brother Thomas. Then on 10th July 1839 they were joined by their eighty-five-year-old father James Washington.

Also of Mary daughter of the above James Washington who died August 15th 1837 aged 49 years

Also of the above James Washington died the 7th day of July 1839 in the 86th year of his age

This left the two surviving Washington sons and their widowed mother Esther in Lightcliffe on the 6th June 1841.

1841 census Samuel Washington 42 Land agent Hannah Washington 37 1841 census Susannah Washington 15 Mary Washington 14 John Washington 45 Farmer Eliza Washington 11 Esther Washington 88 Jane Washington 8 1 servant Anna Washington 6 Address Lightcliffe Caroline Washington 3 Esther Washington 8 Mo Mercy (doesn’t say) 16 F.S Address Crow Nest, Lightcliffe

Widow Esther Washington nee Mann did not live much longer passing away on 1st January 1842. Five days later, 6th January 1842, she was laid to rest with her husband and family in plot Q*21.

Also of ESTHER relict of the above James Washington who departed

this life 1st January 1842 in the 88th year of her age.

Samuel and Hannah Washington then lost their eldest daughter, Susannah, on 14th January 1846 aged 21 years. She was buried with her baby brother Edward in plot CC*2 on 21st January 1846 with the inscription: - Also of Susannah their daughter

who died January 14th 1846 aged 21 years.

On 11th February 1847 Samuel’s brother John Washington, a farmer of Lightcliffe, married a widow Sarah Allinson nee Wilkinson, also of Lightcliffe, daughter of another farmer George Wilkinson. It is interesting to note that the occupation of John’s deceased father, James Washington, was “Bookkeeper”. The Washington households looked like this for the 1851 census; Samuel and family having moved to Lidgate. This move occurred somewhere between 1841 and 1848 when “Poll for the Knights of the Shire” were taken. Samuel Washington’s address was Crow Nest in 1841 but had changed to Lidgate in 1848

1851 census 1851 census Saml Washington Head 53 Land Agent John Washington Head 59 Shop keeper Hannah Washington Wife 47 Sarah Washington Wife 57 Mary Ann Washington Dau 23 Alice Wilkinson 14 Servant Eliza Washington Dau 20 Address Hipperholme Anna M Washington Dau 15 Caroline Washington Dau 13 1851 census Esther Washington Dau 10 Bottomley family Catherine Washington Dau 7 Ellen Washington 17 Visitor Ann Drake 19 Servant Address Wadehouse, Shelf Address Lidgate, Lightlciffe

Seventeen-year-old Ellen Jane Washington was a visitor at Wadehouse, Shelf shown in the photograph from Malcolm Bull’s Calderdale Companion This was the home of Moses Bottomley, a worsted manufacturer who established the firm M.Bottomley & Sons fabric manufacturers at Victoria Mills, Shelf. Was Ellen Jane Washington visiting a friend, 18-year-old Lucy Bottomley, a daughter of the family?

Ellen and her sisters lost their mother Hannah Washington nee Cordingley on 26th July 1852. She was buried next to her children in a new Washington plot BB*2 in St.Matthew’s churchyard on 31st July 1852.

In memory of Hannah the wife of Samuel Washington of Lidgate

who departed this life the 26th day of July 1852 aged 49 years

Daughter Eliza Washington married solicitor Thomas Bradley Chambers, son of “Joiner” William Chambers, of Brighouse on 14th February 1856. One of the witnesses to the marriage was Moses Bottomley Junior. Then about a month later widower Samuel Washington married widow Elizabeth Sutcliffe nee Bottomley, daughter of (deceased) “Worsted spinner” George Bottomley, on 20th March 1856 at St.John’s Halifax. Again, the occupation of Samuel’s father, James, was “Bookkeeper”. The Bottomley family of Elizabeth Sutcliffe – she had married a John Sutcliffe in 1844 – had been connected with the Listers’ Shibden Hall estate for a long time. In 1699 another George Bottomley presumably one of Elizabeth’s direct ancestors was granted a lease on Shibden Mill by Samuel Lister, one of Anne Lister’s ancestors. Other owners/tenants included Elizabeth’s brothers Thomas and George Bottomley who used the Shibden mill as a worsted spinning mill in 1845. When Thomas died in 1854 George carried on the business. Their mother, widow Sarah Bottomley, was also listed as the innkeeper of Shibden Mill Inn in 1822 and 1845 and in between in 1838 as the innkeeper of Broad Inn, an alternative name for the same place. One of Elizabeth’s sisters Dorothy married Samuel Firth whose name appears as a witness to her marriage to Samuel Washington. The other witness was her sister Ann Bottomley who the widow Elizabeth Washington lived with in Horley Green, Northowram, until her death in 1876. Ann gave her occupation as “Innkeeper” and then “Retire Innkeeper” on subsequent census returns. She is probably the Ann Bottomley who died aged 83 in 1897.

Samuel and Elizabeth only had 20 months together before Samuel died. He was buried, in plot BB*2, with his first wife Hannah Washington nee Cordingley on 9th November 1857. Also of the above named Samuel Washington

who departed the Life the 4th day of November 1857 Aged 60 years

His name appears at the bottom of this list of York wills with his eldest daughter M(ary) A(nn) Washington also named.

But probably before his will was read his twenty-two-year-old daughter Anna Maria Washington also passed away on Christmas Eve 1857. She was buried with her baby brother, Edward, and older sister, Susannah, in CC*2, the adjacent plot to their parents. Also of Ann Maria their daughter

who died December 24th 1857 aged 22 years.

A few months later there was a happier occasion for the surviving Washington family when eldest daughter Mary Ann married John Briggs on 28th April 1858. Before the next census their sons Samuel Washington Briggs and Henry Washington Briggs were born.

1861 census 1861 census John Washington Head 67 Grocer Caroline WashingtonHead 22 Fund holder Sarah Washington Wife 66 Bread baker Esther Washington Sister20 Proprietor of House Address Grocer’s shop, Lightcliffe Catherine Washington Sis17 Proprietor of House 1 servant 1861 census Address Lidgate, Lightcliffe John Briggs Head 34 Corn Miller Mary Ann Briggs Wife 34 Again, Ellen Jane Washington was not Henry Washington Briggs Son 1 with the rest of her unmarried sisters. Samuel W Briggs Son 11/12 2 servants Address Bradford Road, Cleckheaton 1861 census 1861 census Richard Skilbeck Head 42 Farmer Thomas Bradley Chambers Head 36 Mary Ann Skilbeck Wife 35 Attorney at Law 5 Skilbeck children Eliza Chambers Wife 29 Ellen Jane Washington Visitor 26 Laundry Maid 1 servant Address Bilton Field, Harrogate, Yorkshire Address Bonegate, Hipperholme cum Brighouse

Sometime between 7th April 1861 and June 1863 the four unmarried Washington sisters seem to have moved to Eccleshall, Sheffield to the address given on this marriage announcement.

William John Chambers was the nephew of older sister Mary Ann’s husband Thomas Bradley Chambers, the son of his brother John Chambers. And like his uncle William John Chambers was a solicitor, probably in the same firm of Higham & Chambers of Brighouse of which Thomas Bradley Chambers was a senior partner. Two of William and Esther sons would also become solicitors, again most likely practising at some point in the Brighouse family firm. Samuel Washington’s sister in law, Sarah the wife of his brother John, died in November 1864. Although Lightcliffe parish records record that she was buried in St. Matthew’s churchyard on 16th November 1864 but her grave location is unknown. This left what remained of Samuel Washington’s family at these addresses on 2nd April 1871.

1871 census 1871 census Mahala Hall Head 58 Widow Farmer Thos B Chambers Head 46 Solicitor in (own) practice Joshua Hall Son 20 Eliza Chambers Wife 40 Sarah Hall Dau 19 2 servants John Washington 78 Widower Farm Servant Address Fieldhouse, Hipperholme cum Brighouse Another servant Address 1871 census Upper Green, Hipperholme cum Brighouse Ellen J Washington Head 37 Schoolmistress Catherine Washington Sister 27 ditto 1871 census Selina Harrison Servant 25 General Servant Mary A Briggs Head 44 Miller’s Wife Address 185 Cemetery Rd, “Napier Terrace, Corn Mill Eccleshall, Sheffield Henry Briggs Son 11 Scholar Samuel Briggs Son 10 ditto 1871 census James Briggs Son 9 ditto William John Chambers Head 33 Solicitor Pauline Briggs Dau 7 Esther Chambers Wife 30 John Briggs Son 5 Gertrude Chambers Dau 6 Scholar Address Wyke Lane, Wyke Thos Washington Chambers Son6 ditto George William Chambers Son 4 ditto 1871 census Edward Percy Chambers Son 2 John Briggs Boarder 44 Maltster Esther Eliza Catherine Chambers Dau 1 Address Caroline Washington Sis in law 33 Fundholder 836 Leeds Road (Cemetery Hotel), Bradford 3 servants Address Rydal Mount, Hipperholme cum Brighouse

The Maltster was almost certainly the 50-year-old John Briggs who died Q2 1877 in the Bradford district leaving a widow Mary Ann Briggs nee Washington. Her eighty four year old uncle, John Washington, died on 13th April 1878 and was buried with his parents in plot Q*21 on 16th April 1878, the last Washington to be buried in St.Matthew’s churchyard. Also of John Washington son of the above

who died April 13th 1878 aged 84 years

No probate record has been found for either John Briggs or John Washington but there are probate records for many of their relatives; perhaps because of all the solicitors in the family! From the probate records and the census returns the family can be tracked into the 20th century.

1881 census 1881 census Mary A. Briggs Head 54 Widow Annuitant John Illingworth Head 58 Wool Sorter Henry W. Briggs Son 21 Carpet Warehouseman Mary Illingworth Wife 53 Samuel W. Briggs Son 20 William W. Illingworth Son 25 Spinning Overlooker (Carpet) Harriette Illingworth Dau 23 James W. Briggs Son 19 Grocer’s man Herbert E. Illingworth Son 17 Caroline Briggs Dau 17 Dressmaker Jonathan W. Illingworth Son 12 Scholar Address Lower Wyke Green, Wyke 1 servant Caroline Washington Lodger 43 Annuitant 1881 census George W. Chambers ditto 14 Scholar Eliza Chambers Wife 47 Solicitor’s Wife Edward P. Chambers ditto 12 ditto Catherine Washington Sister 29 [should be 37!] Esther E. O. Chambers ditto 11 ditto 3 servants James C. Wernyss ditto 17 ditto Address Bradford Road “Fieldhouse”, Sarah J. Wernyss ditto 16 ditto Hipperholme cum Brighouse Address 15 Apaley Crescent, Manningham, Bradford 1881 census Thomas B Chambers Visitor 56 Solicitor 1881 census staying with a J.P. in Devon William John Chambers Head 43 Solicitor Esther Chambers Wife 38 1881 census Thos. Washington Chambers Son 16 Scholar Martha Carr Head 44 Annuitant Florence Elizabeth Chambers Dau 9 ditto Clara Peel Dau 22 Annuitant Eleanor Chambers Dau 7 ditto Ellen J. Washington Lodger 46 Annuitant 2 servants Address Address Rydal Mount, Parsonage St., 26 Parker’s Road, Nether Hallam, Sheffield Hipperholme cum Brighouse

The two sisters married to solicitors remained in their Hipperholme cum Brighouse family homes; as did widow Mary Ann Briggs and her family. But the three unmarried sisters, Ellen Jane, Caroline and Catherine Washington seemed to move to and from Sheffield staying with their married siblings and their families. Before the next census Samuel Washington Briggs and his brother Henry Washington Briggs, would move even further afield. They were part of the group of local carpet factory workers who took the opportunity to move to the U.S.A. when T.F.Firth & Son set up a carpet factory there in a place they named Firthcliffe, There is a memorial to one of these men, Fred Booth who became very wealthy, in the churchyard. Read about him and his nephew Corporal Fred Booth, two of our People of Interest. 15

As senior partner for the Brighouse firm of solicitors Higham & Chambers Thomas Bradley Chambers who died on 9th October 1885 held many positions according to Malcolm Bull’s Calderdale Companion including:-

• Clerk to the trustees of the Bradford to Huddersfield Turnpike (on the death of George Higham) • Solicitor to the Brighouse gas and drainage commissioners • Steward of the court baron and Manor of Brighouse • one of the solicitors of the Yorkshire & Lancashire Railway Company.

CHAMBERS Thomas Bradley 21 December [1886]. The Will of Thomas Bradley Chambers late of Brighouse in the Parish of Halifax in the County of York Gentleman who died 9 October [1885] at Field House was proved at Wakefield by Eliza Chambers Widow the Relict and William John Chambers Gentleman the Nephew both of Brighouse the Executors. Personal Estate £7,016 18s 6d

1891 census Mary Ann Briggs Head 63 Living on own means 1891 census Caroline Briggs Dau 27 Caroline Washington Head 45 Living on own means Address Batley St., Heckmonwike Eleanor Chambers Niece 17 Scholar Address 20 Rodney Terrace, Cheltenham 1891 census Rhode Baker Head 52 Lodging House keeper Charlotte Taylor Sister 53 Assistant Annie Baron Visitor 48 Ada Hardy Servant 16 1891 census Eliza Chambers Visitor 58 Widow William J Chambers Head 53 Solicitor Esther C E Chambers do 21 Esther Chambers Wife 48 Florence E Chambers do 19 Gertrude Chambers Dau 26 Address Thomas W Chambers Son 26 Solicitor 4 Marlborough Terrace, Bridlington Quay Edward P Chambers Son 22 Solicitor’s Clerk Catherine Washington 39 Living on own means 1891 census 2 servants Ellen Washington Head 56 Living on own means Address Rydal Mount, Parsonage St., Emily Rose Servant 20 Hipperholme cum Brighouse Address 8 Parkers Rd, Nether Hallam, Sheffield

For the 1891 census, Ellen Jane Washington was again on her own in Nether Hallam, Sheffield but her sisters were with other family members. The widowed eldest sister Mary Ann Briggs was with her daughter. The other widowed sister, Eliza Chambers, and the spinsters Caroline Washington and Catherine Washington appear to be either chaperoning some of their nieces, sister Esther’s daughters or living with her. The Chambers’ nephews, Thomas Washington Chambers and Edward Percy Chambers, appear to be following their father and his uncle into the legal profession, perhaps in the same practice. Although in 1891 widowed Eliza Chambers was only visiting Bridlington by 1901, she was living there with her niece – wrongly recorded as her daughter - Gertrude Chambers. And Catherine Washington was back at the Sheffield address which appears on subsequent probate records.

1901 census 1901 census Mary Ann Briggs Head 74 Widow Ellen J Washington Head 65 Living on own means Living on own means Catherine Washington Sis 55 Visiting Governess Caroline Briggs Dau 37 Elizabeth Jones Servant 20 Address 53 Cemetery Road, Heckmondwike Address 8 Parkers Road, Nether Hallam, Sheffield 1901 census Eliza Chambers Head 69 Living on own means Caroline Washington Sister 59 ditto 1901 census Gertrude Chambers Dau [should be niece] 30 William J Chambers Heaad 63 Solicitor Address 2 Victoria Terrace, Bridlington Esther Chambers Wife 59 Thomas W Chambers Son 36 Solicitor Edward P Chambers Son 32 Solicitor Florence E Chambers Dau 29 Eleanor Chambers Dau 27 2 servants Address Fieldhouse, Brighouse

The next decade would see the death of three of Samuel Washington’s daughters as their probate records detail. BRIGGS Mary Ann of 53 Cemetery-road Heckmondwike Yorkshire widow died 4 May 1903 Administration Wakefield 16 June to Caroline Briggs spinster Effects £287 7s WASHINGTON Ellen Jane of 8 Parker’s-road Broomhill Sheffield spinster died 22 November 1905 Probate London 10 January [1906] to Caroline Washington and Catherine Washington spinsters Effects £981 2s 6d CHAMBERS Eliza of Bridlington widow died 23 June 1906 at 8 Parker’s-road Broomhill Sheffield Probate London 31 January [1907]to William John Chambers and Thomas Washington Chambers solicitors and Gertrude Chambers spinster Effects £623 0s 5d

1911 census 1911 census Catherine Washington Head 67 Private means William John Chambers Head 73 Caroline Washington Sister 72 Private means Retired Solicitor Alin Webster Servant 20 Servant Esther Chambers Wife 70 Address 18 Parkers Road, Sheffield Florence Elizabeth Chambers Dau39 Poultry Farmer Eleanor Chambers Dau 37 Poultry Farmer The 1911 census recorded the number of Esther Eliza Catherine Grandage Dau 41 children a couple had. George Grandage Son in law 45 Address Crossways, Market Lavington, Wiltshire The Chambers had 7 all then alive and the Grandages 8 all then alive. 1911 census Thomas Washington Chambers Head 46 Solicitor Gertrude Chambers Sister 46 Edward Percy Chambers Brother42 Solicitor Address Fieldhouse, Brighouse

Bachelor Edward Percy Chambers, grandson of Samuel Washington, is recorded as a Major in the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment) with a “Seniority Date” of 21st December 1910. Then according to “Gazette Issue 31586” of 3/10/1919 he was awarded the

“Ordre du Merite Agricole, Chevalier”.

CHAMBERS William John of Field House Brighouse Yorkshire died 17 January 1918 Probate Wakefield 9 August to Thomas Washington Chambers and Edward Percy Chambers solicitors Effects £ 14 674 11s 3d. When William John Chambers died, he was buried in the Chambers family plot in Brighouse Cemetery where there is a rather splendid memorial. His wife Esther Chambers nee Washington joined him after she passed away on 18th November 1922. Her surviving spinster sisters, the last of the Washingtons, soon followed her as did one of her nephews. WASHINGTON Caroline of 18 Parker’s-road Broomhill Sheffield spinster died 9 February 1923 Probate London 27 April to Thomas Washington Chambers and Edward Percy Chambers solicitors. Effects £1571 14s 9d WASHINGTON Catherine of 18 Parker’s-road Broomhill Sheffield spinster died 6 May 1928 Probate London 1 June to Edward Percy Chambers solicitor and Florence Elizabeth Chambers spinster. Effects £1421 12s 2d CHAMBERS Thomas Washington of Field House Brighouse Yorkshire died 17 June 1929 Probate London 15 July to Edward Percy Chambers solicitor. Effects £53 375 9s. Samuel Washington Briggs died on 2nd July 1937 and was buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery, Concord, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, U.S.A. His brother Henry Washington Briggs almost certainly died in the U.S.A. too, sometime after the 1930 census on which he appeared. And then finally the probate of another of Samuel Washington’s grandsons gives Edward Percy Chambers’s death date.

CHAMBERS Edward Percy of Oakleigh 6 Wood-lane Headingley Leeds died 13 April 1947 Probate London 8 September to Edward Mallinson Tregoning and Walter Greenwood Robertshaw solicitors and Ada Florence Chambers widow. Effects £ 41 468 2s 4d Samuel Washington was born at the end of the 18th century. During the 19th century he was the land agent/steward to both Ann Walker of Crow Nest and Anne Lister of Shibden Hall. His daughters and grandchildren bring his story into the 20th century.

D.M.Barker June 2019