This SideTrack looks at some aspects of the life and works of
| John Hartley : Biography |
John Hartley, the son of John, was born in Halifax [19th October 1839], and baptised at Illingworth [1st March 1840].
He became a Yorkshire dialect writer who wrote a great deal of prose and poetry – often of a sentimental nature – dealing with the poverty of the district.
He was educated at dame school and then at Park Place Academy before starting work as a pattern maker at Akroyd's Boothtown mill.
He studied design in evening classes at the Halifax School of Art. He painted in oils and watercolours, and he also illuminated manuscripts.
In 1857, he was inspired to write when he heard a poem which was read to celebrate the opening of People's Park.
On 23rd May 1859, he married (1) Martha Farrar.
Children:
The family lived at Range Bank, Halifax.
He was a member of the Beacon Club, and found fame when he recited his own dialect poem entitled Bite bigger at one of the club's meetings. The poem was published by Alfred Wilson whose son, Charles was also a member of the club. The leaflet was an immediate success, selling a large number of copies.
In 1861, he co-founded the Haley Hill Literary and Scientific Society.
Hartley went on to become the writer and editor of Wilson's Original Illuminated Clock Almanack.
In 1866, the family bought and moved to 2 Salisbury Place in Akroydon.
Martha died – possibly in childbirth.
In 1872, Hartley sold his house to the Halifax Industrial Society, and sailed to Québec – where he proposed to give readings – and then on to Montréal. The audiences were not the numbers he had expected. He worked as a canvasser for the Illustrated Canadian News.
In [Q1] 1877, he married (2) Sophia Ann Wilson in Bradford.
Sophia Ann was born in Halifax [26th February 1850], the daughter of Alfred Wilson.She was known as Mally
Children:
The family moved to the USA, staying in Buffalo, New York, Washington, and Philadelphia, where Sophia gave birth to son.
Question: The dates at this point are confused. Can anyone sort them out the sequence of events for me?
The family returned to England in 1875 and lived at Chelsea in London, Leeds, and various addresses.
In 1880, he became ill and announced the end of his public performances. He continued to contribute and edit the Clock Almanack throughout his travels. He wrote a considerable amount under the pseudonym Samuel Grimes.
John was a publican at The Druids' Arms, Westgate, Bradford [1881].
The family returned to Philadelphia in 1882. He became a freelance designer of carpets and textiles, and went into partnership with Patrick McCafferty. In 1894, his US bankers collapsed and Hartley sold up and returned to England. Two of his sons remained in America. The family lived in Leeds, and London, but John only returned to Halifax to attend the funeral of one of his old friends in April 1907.
In 1902, he collapsed as he gave a reading at a London restaurant, and retired again from public performances for several years.
In April 1907, he was elected Honorary Life Fellow of the Yorkshire Literary Society.
In 1909, he moved to Liscard on the Wirral.
Sophia died in Liscard from a virulent form of cancer [22nd January 1915].
He married (3) Annie John died of complications following pneumonia at his home in Liscard [18th December 1915, aged 76] – 2 months after the 50th edition of the Clock Almanack had been published. He was buried in Wallasey cemetery.
Annie survived him. She returned to Canada [1919], where she died of sarcoma [20th August 1920], and was buried at Rose Bay Cemetery, Victoria, British Columbia [21st August 1920].
| Some of John Hartley's work |
He published his poetry and writings in the Clock Almanack and in numerous separate publications
He wrote a considerable amount under the pseudonym Samuel Grimes
Published in 1878
A romantic novel about 3 sisters and other workers in a weaving mill.
There are many hints of his own life and times working in Halifax,
and of Edward Akroyd.
This was not written in dialect.
The book was dedicated to Halifax politician Sir James Stansfeld
A novel set on the local moors
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Malcolm Bull 2017 /
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Revised 14:55 on 14th May 2017 / zz_25 / 34
