The entries for people & families with the surname Priestley are gathered together in this SideTrack.
This Page does not include people with other forms of the surname.
The individuals listed are not necessarily related to each other.
When interviewed for Crabtree's Tour of Calder Dale of 1833,
Mr Priestley of Sowerby Bridge
would not sign the petition supporting the Ten Hours Bill, although
he claimed to be
and when asked if they might see his work people he said
When interviewed at home, where she was ill, one of his
employees, Mary Holland, said that
He was (possibly) the Adam Priestley who supplied
to a Funeral Feast for Joseph Thwaite which was held on 6th
October 1854
He was a watchmaker [1851, 1861].
In 1887, he married Annie Agnes Rushton [1848-1???].
Partner in Priestley Brothers (Blankets) Limited.
He lived at Ovenden House [1905]
He died at Southport [12th January 1937]
He was buried at St George's Church, Lee Mount
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion.
He died 2nd June 1916 (aged 25).
He was buried at Bedford House Cemetery, Belgium.
[Enclosure No.4 VII D 7]`.
He is remembered on Luddendenfoot War Memorial
Children:
Born in Queensbury / Clayton.
He was
a member of Church Of The Holy Trinity, Queensbury /
a stone mason [1911] /
a monumental mason [1914].
In [Q3] 1913, he married Eveline Davidson in Halifax.
Children:
They lived at 9 Akeds Road, Halifax.
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 2nd Battalion
Coldstream Guards.
He was killed in action [2nd July 1917] (aged 27).
He was buried at Bleuet Farm Cemetery, Belgium [I E 7].
He is remembered on the Memorial at Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance
Born in Warley.
He was a woolsorter [1881, 1891, 1901, 1911].
In 1881, he married (1) Mary Ann Dixon [1861-1899] at Halifax Parish Church.
Children:
Mary Ann died in 1899 (aged 38).
In 1900, he married (2) Olivia Bloomer [1861-19??] in Halifax.
Children:
The family lived at
Born in Halifax.
He was
a plumber of Boothtown [1888] /
a plumber [1891] /
a journeyman plumber [1901].
In 1888, he married Faith Ann Asling [1866-19??] at Halifax Parish Church.
Children:
The family lived at
Arthur died in Halifax [Q4 1902] (aged 37).
In 1905, Faith Ann married Fredrick Edwin Lee [1877-1909] in Halifax.
Frederick Edwin died in Liverpool [1909] (aged 32)
He married Unknown.
During World War I,
he enlisted [May 1915], and
served as a Private
with the 22nd (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion
Northumberland Fusiliers.
He was gassed and suffered with trench feet. followed by pneumonia.
He returned to his unit [May 1917].
He died 9th September 1917 (aged 28).
He was buried at Hargicourt British Cemetery, France [I E 6].
He is remembered on the Memorial at Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance,
and on the Memorial at Saint Anne's Church, Southowram
He was
a brewer [1841, 1843] /
a glass manufacturer [1851].
On 21st October 1815, he married Elizabeth Wilson [1795-1857]
in Lincoln.
Children:
The family lived at
Charles died in 1851.
Probate records show that he left an estate valued at £200
Members of the family are remembered on the Lea family tomb at St Peter's Church, Sowerby
He lived at Mearclough House, Sowerby Bridge [1845]
In 1815, he married (1) Elizabeth Wilson at Edwinstowe,
Nottinghamshire.
On 24th September 1831, he married (2) Katharine Maria Busfeild at
Bradford Parish Church.
Children:
Baptised at Halifax Parish Church [23rd June 1785].
He was A liquor merchant at Halifax.
In October 1813, he was declared bankrupt
It is possible that Charles Thomas, took over his father's
business and bankrupted it.
On 13th April 1812, he married Susannah Foster at All Saints'
Church, Otley.
Children:
A Charles Thomas Priestley was buried at St Matthew's Church,
Chapel Allerton, [28th August 1845] (age 60)
Born in Halifax [April 1890].
By 1901, he had been adopted by Melinda & Thomas Willie Booth of Greetland.
He was
a dyer's labourer /
a Special Reservist in the West Yorkshire Regiment /
with the 2nd Battalion Border Regiment [enlisted 17th February 1909].
When stationed at Headley. Hampshire, he was sentenced to 2 months
imprisonment for theft by the civil authorities.
He was discharged from the army [23rd August 1911].
On 21st February 1914, he married Maud Stanley at Halifax Register Office.
Children:
The family lived at
During World War I,
he enlisted at Halifax, as Private
with the 10th Battalion
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).
On 20th November 1914, he was discharged for misconduct, having gone
AWOL on 2 occasions, struck a sentry and broken his arrest.
Later, he enlisted at Bradford, and
served as a Private
with the 2nd Battalion
East Yorkshire Regiment.
He was wounded [April 1915], probably during Second Ypres offensive,
and spent 6 weeks in hospital at Boulogne.
He was killed in the trenches at Kemmel [14th July 1915] (aged 25).
He was buried at Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium [J 32].
He is remembered on Brighouse War Memorial,
on the Memorial at Clay House, Greetland,
on the Memorial at Middle Dean Street Chapel, West Vale,
and on the Memorial at Saint George's Church, Sowerby
She married (1) Samuel Lister.
Samuel died in 1702.
In 1703, Dorothy married (2) Richard Sterne
Son of Eliza & James Priestley of Onoway, Alberta,
Canada.
Born in Elland.
His family went to live in Canada.
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with D Battery
49th Battalion
Canadian Infantry.
He was killed in action [8th October 1918] (aged 20).
He was buried at Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt, France.
He is remembered on the Memorial at Bethesda Methodist Sunday School, Elland
He was a card manufacturer at Halifax.
He married Mary Annie [1829-1900].
Children:
The family lived at 5 Park Road Halifax [1881, 1887]
He died 17th November 1875.
Mary Ann died 1st January 1900.
Members of the family were buried at Lister Lane Cemetery [Plot Number 467]
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 22nd (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion
Northumberland Fusiliers.
He died 5th June 1917 (aged 21).
He is remembered on the Arras Memorial, France [2 & 3],
and on the Memorial at Vale Baptist Church, Todmorden
He was
a stone delver [1881] /
a quarryman [1890] /
a stone quarry engineman [1891] /
an engine tenter [1901].
In 1879, he married Harriet Haigh [1859-1???] in Halifax.
She was a cotton speed tenter [1881].
She was a patient at the Royal Halifax Infirmary [1901]
Children:
The family lived at
Born 3rd September 1890.
Baptised at Christ Church, Pellon [13th August 1891]
He was a butcher's assistant [1911].
He was living with his uncle James Garnett [1901, 1911].
He lived at 17 Coton Street, Halifax.
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 2nd/7th Battalion
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).
He died in France / Flanders [24th April 1918].
He was buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France [P IX N 7B]
He is remembered on the Memorial at Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance.
Probate records show that he left effects valued at £110 14/-.
Administration was granted to his sister Blanche Jowett
She was one of the workers killed in the explosion at Lilly Lane Mill, Halifax [28th November 1850].
She was buried at Lister Lane Cemetery [Plot Number 4135]
Born 20th November 1848.
She never married.
After the death of her sister-in-law, Betsy, wife of her
brother James Nicholl Priestley, Elizabeth moved into
Ovenden House to look after her nephews,
John Whitaker, James Nicholl &
Albert.
Her brother, James died in 1893, when the eldest child was 15
and the youngest was 12, so Elizabeth was largely responsible
for seeing the children into adulthood, especially as their father
had been ill for some of the last years of his life.
She remained at Ovenden House until she died there [15th July 1941]
(aged 92).
Probate records show that she left effects valued at £28,510 17/-.
Probate was granted to her nephews
John Whitaker & James Nicholl
[Llandudno 10th October 1941].
She was cremated at Scholesmoor.
Her ashes were interred at St George's Church, Lee Mount [22nd
July 1941] with her brother James & family.
She married John Rawson of Brockwell.
She, her husband and daughter were buried at St Peter's Church, Sowerby:
Elizabeth Marianne [14th January 1876];
John [11th February 1899]
He married Rose [1850-1923].
Children:
Members of the family were buried at Mount Zion Methodist Chapel, Ogden
Born in Elland.
He was
a boatman of Westgate, Elland [1880] /
a waterman [1881] /
a boatman [1891]
In 1880, he married Elizabeth Ann Wilson [1857-1???] at Halifax Parish Church.
Children:
The children were baptised at Elland Parish Church.
The family lived at
Elizabeth Ann died in 1903 (aged 46).
Farrar died in 1908 (aged 51).
In 1911, Emma & Farrar were living with their
sister Mary Elizabeth and her husband John Fox.
Sons William Henry & Farrar served in
World War I.
Farrar died in the conflict
He was
a woollen piecener [1911] /
employed by Wright, Hamer & Sons, Greetland.
In 1911, he and his sister Emma were living with their older
sister Mary Elizabeth and her husband John Fox.
During World War I,
he enlisted [November 1915], and
served as a Private
with the 1st/5th Battalion
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).
His brother William Henry was also serving.
Farrar died 3rd September 1916.
He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France [6A & 6B],
and on the Memorial at Clay House, Greetland
He inherited Priestley Ing, Turvin.
He was recorded as being MP for Halifax [1648].
Question:
Can anyone reconcile this comment on his being MP with the familiar
reports that Jeremy Bentley was the first MP in 1654?
He married Sibella Drake.
They had no children.
After the marriage, they lived at Bentley Royd, Sowerby.
He was buried at Halifax Parish Church
at the upper end of the south aisle, near his brother,
Jonathan
See
Henry Root
He was
a member of St Augustine's Church, Pellon /
educated at St Augustine's School, Pellon /
a butcher's apprentice [1911] /
a cutter for Wood, Harris & Company /
a territorial.
During World War I,
he was called-up [August 1914], and
served as a Bombardier
with C Battery
246th Brigade
Royal Field Artillery.
He died of wounds [19th September 1917] (aged 19).
He was buried at Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Belgium [IV F 19.]
He is remembered on the Memorial at Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance,
and on the Memorial at Saint Augustine's Church, Pellon.
His brother Norman also died in the War
He was a music teacher [1905].
On 14th June 1905, he married Sarah.
Friend subsequently became licensee at the Manor House
[1911, 1917, 1931].
Friend died at the Manor House [23rd December 1931].
He was buried at St Anne's Church, Southowram
Baptised at Coley Church [20th February 1780].
He became a lock keeper living at Lock House, Colne, Lancashire [1841]
He married Mary [1782-18??]
Children:
The family lived at Three Rise Locks, Bingley [1851].
He died in Bingley [30th July 1855]
On 15th November 1819, he married Hannah Kirkman [1802-1871] in Manchester.
Hannah wife was described as
Children:
The family lived at White Windows
He was one of the subscribers to John Horner's book Buildings in the Town & Parish of Halifax [1835].
In 1837, he bought property – The Grange – in Chalfont,
Buckinghamshire, and went to live there.
He tried to sell White Windows without success, and the house
passed to his son, George.
Born 25th May 1858
Halifax card maker [1881].
In March 1886, he filed a patent for
In February 1887, he and his brother Louis Edmund filed
a patent for
In December 1887, he filed a patent for
In August 1892, he filed a patent for
He died 30th March 1934.
He was buried at Lister Lane Cemetery [Plot Number 467]
Baptised at Sowerby [23rd January 1822]
In 1901, it is possible that he was the adopted son living
with Jonas Aspinall and family
Three weeks after her birth, her mother Marianne died, at the
age of 39.
She married Frederick Edward Rawson.
After her husband's death, she completed the work of building the
church of St John the Divine, Thorpe.
She gave an endowment of £2,000 for the Vicar.
Members of the family were buried at St Peter's Church, Sowerby:
Frederick Edward [21st May 1879];
Harriet Susanna [30th November 1901]
He was a French polisher employed by Fielding & Bottomley.
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 6th Battalion
Yorkshire Regiment.
He was wounded at Arras [1917] and treated in Keighley Hospital.
He transferred to
with the 53rd Battalion
Labour Corps.
He was wounded by shell fire.
He died of wounds the following day [22nd October 1917] (aged 37).
He was buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium [XXII D 3].
He is remembered on the Memorial at Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance
He married Unknown.
Children:
He married Helen, daughter of Richard Gledhill
Children:
He married (1) Miss Lister.
He married (2) either Ann Preston or Ann Dean [5th
February 1650].
Children:
He served with the 2nd West Yorkshire Militia:
Captain [1819].
In 1819, he married Mary Page
at Gosport.
Children:
The family lived at Haugh End, Sowerby.
There is a marble tablet in memory of members of the family in
Sowerby Church.
Members of the family are also remembered on the Lea family tomb at
St Peter's Church, Sowerby
He married Alice Crabtree [18??-19??].
Children:
He married Susannah [1835-1893].
Children:
The family lived at
Susannah died 19th August 1893 (aged 58)
Henry died 11th December 1906 (aged 69)
Members of the family were buried at Stoney Royd Cemetery
He was
a member of the Boys' Brigade at St George's Church, Lee Mount /
a porter at Sowerby Bridge Railway Station.
During World War I,
he enlisted [February 1916], and
served as a Private
with the 18th Battalion
Durham Light Infantry.
He died 19th July 1918 (aged 19).
He was buried at Aval Wood Military Cemetery, Vieux-Berquin, France [II A 4-6].
He is remembered on the Memorial at Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance
Born in Midgley.
He was
educated at Battinson Road School /
an able swimmer /
a member of Trinity Wesleyan Chapel, Halifax /
a drapery apprentice [1911] /
a traveller for Tasker & Moses [1914].
During World War I,
he enlisted in 1914 and
served as a Private
with the 8th Battalion
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).
He sailed for the Dardanelles [2nd July 1915] and took part in the
landing at Suvla Bay [August 1915].
He died of enteric fever in the Dardanelles [3rd October 1915] (aged 22).
He was buried at Alexandria (Chatby) Military & War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt..
He is remembered on the Memorial at Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance
On 21st May 1922, he married Nellie Rawnsley in Halifax.
The couple died in Elland:
Irvine [11th November 1948];
Nellie [] (aged 1980)
In [Q3] 1874, he married Nancy Ramsden [18??-1???] in Halifax.
Children:
He was in business as a wholesale and retail draper at 8 Woolshops, Halifax [1845, 1851].
He employed 1 assistant [1851].
He was a member of the Halifax Board of Guardians [1869].
He married (1) Martha [1813-1867] from Ovenden.
Children:
The family lived at Woolshops, over the shop [1851].
He married (2) Mary [1848-1???] from Louth, Lincolnshire.
Children:
In May 1874, his shop – with dwelling house attached – was advertised
to let.
The family lived at Formby, Lancashire [1881]
He built houses at what was subsequently named Jammy Green, Illingworth
He married Unknown.
Children:
Around 1705, he married Sarah Hanson.
Children:
In 1706, he married (1) a widow, Mrs Sarah Surridge, at
Halifax Parish Church.
Children:
In 1732, he married (2) a widow, Mrs Mary Dixon from Keighley.
His great-grandchildren took part in the occupation of Shelf Hall during the Priestley Litigation in which they claimed
that James left the Hall to his family, but the building and
land were inherited by the Bottomley family
Born in Shelf.
Baptised at Halifax Parish Church [1st April 1776, he married Phoebe Webster [1741-1803] at
Halifax Parish Church.
Children:
The family lived at Foulridge, Lancashire.
He died in Foulridge, Lancashire [17th December 1824].
Phoebe died in Foulridge, Lancashire [26th April 1803].
The couple were buried at Colne Parish Church
He lived at James Priestley [1800].
He died 16th July 1804 (in his 93rd year)
He married Unknown.
Children:
He married Ann [1822-1???].
Children:
The family lived at Green Terrace, Halifax [1851]
Born in Luddenden.
He was a woollen manufacturer.
He and his father set up a woollen business in Luddenden [1863].
He was
a partner in James Milner & Company,
trading as J. N. Priestley & Company,
and
a partner in Priestley Brothers (Blankets) Limited
On 25th November 1874, he married Betsy Whitaker [1847-1884] in Todmorden.
Children:
The family lived at Ovenden House [1881, 1884, 1941].
Betsy died in 1884.
James's sister Elizabeth moved
into Ovenden House to look after the children.
His sons established Priestley Brothers (Blankets) Limited.
Members of the family were buried at St George's Church, Lee Mount:
Betsy [28th August 1884].
James died At Ovenden House [21st March 1893].
The ashes of his sister Elizabeth were buried with them [22nd
July 1941]
He was
a blanket manufacturer [1941] /
partner in Priestley Brothers (Blankets) Limited.
In 1914, he married Margaret Hartley in Halifax.
Children:
He married Ann Rhodes at Todmorden [1852].
Children:
During the goldrush, Jared and Ann sailed to Australia
aboard The Henry Gillespie.
They went to Bendigo, Victoria where their first 3 children were born.
They returned to England, but later went to Russia where they were
involved in the cotton industry.
The family went to live in Bury where Jared died.
Their infant daughters Rhoda and Annie were buried at Mount Zion United Free Methodist Church, Cornholme
In [Q1] 1860, he married
either Louisa Ann Firth
or Susan Hebblethwaite
in Halifax.
Children:
The family lived at Hanson Lane, Halifax [1887].
In 1891, Arthur & Elizabeth were living with
sister Harriet and her family
He married Unknown [16??-1665].
Children:
He married Lydia.
Children:
The children were born in Halifax
He married Mary Swift.
Children:
He returned to Halifax and lived at Boothtown House.
He married Betty.
Arthur Comfort says
Son of Joseph Priestley.
He was a friend of Oliver Heywood.
He married Unknown.
Children:
The Northowram Register records
that he
He married Mary, daughter of Israel Wilde.
Children:
Son of Joseph Priestley.
Question:
Is this John Priestley a duplication of one of the
other John Priestleys here?
In 1768, he married Elizabeth, widow of John Haigh
Wealthy manufacturer of kerseys and other coarse woollen cloths.
He made his fortune in London before returning to Halifax.
He bought the White Windows estate (where the family had been
tenants for 3 generations) from a distant cousin, Nathaniel Priestley
He built White Windows in 1768.
He was a subscriber to the publication of Watson's History.
He edited (and annotated) Some Memoirs concerning the Family of the Priestleys written by his great-great-uncle Jonathan Priestley.
In 1749, he married Susan Holdroyd.
Children:
He died at White Windows [September 1792].
See
Asquith Bottom House, Sowerby Bridge
Cloth merchant.
He was one of the subscribers to the Leeds Infirmary [1792].
On 19th December 1776, he married Elizabeth Walker.
This joined the Walker & Priestley families.
Children:
The family lived at
He died 23rd January 1801.
There is a marble tablet in memory of members of the family in
Sowerby Church.
See
Asquith Bottom House and
Thorpe Mill, Sowerby Bridge
He was an adjutant in the Bradford militia.
On 10th November 1832, he married Mary Skelton [1775-1858]
at Gretna Green, Scotland.
Children:
Son of John Priestley.
He and his brother Walker Priestley owned and operated Thorpe Mill.
On 16th/23rd November 1815, he married Marianne Lloyd at St
Michael-Le-Belfry, York.
Children:
Three weeks after Harriet's birth, Marianne died (aged 39)
He previously lived at the Forest View, Ovenden.
Recorded in 1874, when
he was the manager of the club house at Ovenden Cricket Club.
He was charged with selling beer without a licence.
The case was dismissed and Priestley was warned to sell only
to club members
He married (2) Ann [1832-1901].
John & his wives were buried at Lister Lane Cemetery
In [Q4] 1839, he married (1) Sarah Breedon Dyson [1814-1840]
in Halifax.
Sarah died 25th July 1840 (aged 26).
He married (2) Elizabeth [1815-1859], who was one of
Elizabeth Reynard (in [Q2] 1844),
Elizabeth Barker (in [Q2] 1849),
or
Elizabeth Crowther (in [Q4] 1855).
They were buried at St Martin's Church, Brighouse
In July 1853, he was charged with forging a receipt.
He had dealing with another tea-dealer, William Dawson
(or William Dawson Mortimer) of Bradford.
In June 1853, Dawson asked Priestley to settle an
account for tea.
Priestley claimed that he paid //10 on 17th Mary and produced
a receipt which he said was in Dawson's handwriting.
Realising that it was a forgery, Dawson seized the document.
Priestley then said that his brother had paid //10 to another
party by mistake, a statement which turned out to be false.
2 witnesses proved that the receipt was in Priestley's
handwriting.
A verdict of Guilty was returned with a recommendation for
mercy.
Priestley was imprisoned for 12 months with hard labour
He was landlord of the Peat Pitts, Bradshaw [1881-1882].
He married Susannah [1838-1893].
John died in 1882.
After his death, Susannah took over and was a farmer and
licensed victualler at the Peat Pitts [1882-1893]
quite in favour of the measure
no, not one
Priestley has a pocket in which he puts a strap and sometimes beats
them very severely ... the spinner has a stick to beat them with, and
sometime beats [them] with a billy-roller and raises great lumps on
[their] head
15 gallons of ale for (20 shillings)
Annie Agnes came from Bradford
Mary Ann, of Dean Mill, Midgley, was born in Westmorland, the
daughter of Thomas Dixon, farm servant
Olivia was born in Midgley
Faith Ann, of New Bank, Northowram, was born in Halifax, the
daughter of Thomas Asling, gas stoker
Elizabeth was born in Nottinghamshire
He adopted his wife's surname when they married
Samuel was a son of Samuel Lister, and sister of the
lady who married Dorothy's grandfather Henry Priestley
Mary Ann was born 5th December 1829
Harriet was born in Scammonden.
Her parents are not yet known
Elizabeth Ann, of Raw Royd, Elland, was born in Sowerby Bridge,
the daughter of Samuel Wilson, cotton spinner
Sarah was the widow of Willie Shaw, and had taken over
from Willie as licensee of the Manor House, Southowram
wealthy
an improved wheel, designed for use on ground tram rails, or for use
on highways
the application of a certain appliance for strengthening or steadying
cast steel card teeth employed in dressing silk waste
new or improved apparatus for automatically coupling railway
carriages, waggons and other forms of cars
improvements in machinery for pulling slivers or silk and other fibres
His wife was a daughter of Samuel Lister, and sister of
Samuel who married Henry's granddaughter
Dorothy
Alice was born in Mytholmroyd
Nellie was born in Elland
Nancy was born in Lightcliffe
Sarah was the daughter of John Hanson
Phoebe was the daughter of Jonathan Webster
Ann was born in Barkisland
Betsy was the granddaughter of Edmund Whitaker
Margaret was the daughter of Joseph Hartley
After his death, his widow married again, and as Mistress Briggs was
again a widow.
She bestowed abundance of cost upon repairing [Boothtown House],
making gardens, orchards, walks and a summerhouse.
Her daughter sold the house to Abraham Hall for £400
Mr John Priestley of Westercroft (my very dear Friend) was seiz'd
with some Illness on Friday, 9th September 1720.
was better next morning, went to Halifax, was at Northowram Chapel on
Lord's Day, went to Rochdale on Monday was very ill that Evening,
return'd Home on Tuesday, died on Friday abt 11 o'clock at night
Mary was the daughter of Samuel Skelton
Marianne was the daughter of Thomas Lloyd, [1750-1828],
of Barrowby Hall, near Leeds, and of Kingthorpe House, near Pickering.
He was Commandant of the Leeds Volunteers during Napoleonic
times