Malcolm Bull's Calderdale Companion : Foldout

Michael Stocks

Michael Stocks JP was the son of Michael Stocks of Upper Shibden Hall.

He was a solicitor; a partner in Stocks & Macaulay [1845]; a director of the Halifax Joint Stock Bank.

For a time, he was the only magistrate for Halifax. His liberal attitude to Chartists and Luddites led to the appointment of Dr Coulthurst as a magistrate.

He was a Radical candidate for the first MP for Halifax in 1832, but his views led to his not being elected. His supporters chanted

Success attend brave Stocks,
 We'll cheer him three times three.
He is the man for Halifax,
 and the friend of Liberty

At the first meeting of the Halifax Town Council on 31st May 1848, Stocks was elected as first the Mayor of Halifax in May 1848, but he declined the post and, in June 1848, John Baldwin was elected.

On 22nd January 1824, he married Mary Halliley at All Saints' Church, Dewsbury.

Mary was the daughter of Mr Halliley

Children:

Michael
Mary [1826-1880] who married [Halifax Parish Church 9th February 1847] Rev James Garvey [1817-1893] of Christ's College Cambridge
Harriet Jane [1829-1903] who married [1858] Rev Charles Garvey [1821-1900]
Emily Ann [1831-1888] who married [1861] Rev William Stephenson [1831-1880]
Joseph Halliley

James & Charles – the husbands of Mary and Harriet Jane – were the sons of Richard Garvey, Headmaster of Lincoln Grammar School.

The family lived at

Elm Wood, Shaw Hill [1841]
Catherine House, Northowram [1835]
Elm Wood House, Shaw Hill [1851]
Wood Hall, Downham Market, Norfolk
Latheronwheel, Caithness
Upper Shibden Hall, [1871, where he died 1872]

He gave St Mary's Church, Rhodes Street to the town in memory of his son Michael Stocks. He also gave £1,000 towards the construction of St Mary's Schools, Halifax.

In February 1861, he equipped about 100 members of the Rifle Volunteer Corps raised at Queenshead.

Mary died in September 1841; Michael died on 27th January 1872.

The couple were buried at Holy Trinity Church, Halifax.

Probate records show that he left effects valued at under £180,000.

See Francis Edwin Macaulay, Northowram Infants' School, John Rhodes Ralph, John Ridehalgh and Coley Church