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TOM
LAW
(1841-1901)
a
railway man
Abraham
Law was born in 1796 at SQUARE in Walsden, one of the youngest of
an enormous family. He became a clog and pattern maker, as his father
had been. Whilst only about 19 years old he married Susan Fielden
and they settled at Winterbutlee in Walsden where they had a family
of 4 children before Susan died prematurely in 1822, just 6 months
after the death of their 4th child. Abraham moved back to his own
family home at Square where he continued with his trade. It wasn't
long before he took a second wife. She was Nancy Crabtree, a neighbour
from Square. Nancy looked after her 3 stepchildren and provided
Abraham with a further 9. |
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The
original Cloggers Arms |
They
lived at the present number 10 Square Road, and following
the 1830 Act, they opened a beerhouse calling it the Cloggers
Arms. About 1840, when the railway was being built, the area
was full of railway labourers, and the beerhouse did well.
However, the Railway Company was building a new road, which
by-passed the old highway along a piece of land between the
old highway and the canal. Abraham was worried about this
being detrimental to his trade from passing travellers along
the highway. They would no longer pass his door. |
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He
and Nancy decided to build a brand new beerhouse right on
the new road between it and the canal. The front door would
attract the road travellers and the back door would be a welcome
sight to the canal men. The beerhouse was built along with
4 attached cottages, known as Birks Cottages, and Abraham
and Nancy moved in. The name of Cloggers Arms was retained
initially and the business thrived. In addition to selling
wines, ales and porter, the beerhouse was also a family grocers
and tea merchants. |
The
back entrance to the Cross Keys |
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Walsden
Church was also built during the 1840's. In 1848 it was consecrated
and dedicated to St. Peter. The sign associated with St. Peter
is, apparently, crossed keys. It seems that for this reason,
the beerhouse was re-named the CROSS KEYS; a name it still
carries today. Abraham died at the relatively early age of
54 whilst living at the Cross Keys. He is buried with his
parents at St. Mary's in Todmorden. Sadly, the headstone now
leans, broken and worn, against the side of a wall. |
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Here
lies the body of John son of Samual Law of Toad Carr
who died December 17th 1775
aged 3 years
Also
the body of Samual Law
of Square in Walsden
who was
interred on 11th June 1824
aged 79 years
Also
of Sarah his wife who was interred on 9th October 1836
aged 90 years
Also
of Abraham Law
who died at Birks Cottage
June
10th 1850 aged 54 years |
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Nancy
lived on at the beerhouse keeping the business running successfully
for the next 19 years. She is buried at St. Peter's in Walsden:
Nancy
wife of Abraham Law of Birks Cottage Walsden
died
Feb 23 1869 aged 64.
Also
Susan Law born Oct 24 1845 died March 27 1908
The
younger children of Abraham and Nancy were born at the Cross
Keys, including Thomas, their youngest son. He was born on
29th November 1841. Tom grew up in a family of girls. His
only full brother had died before he was born, his only half
brother had left home to work as a sawyer and his father died
when he was 8 years old.
This
particular branch of the Law family had never been hot on
religion. Baptisms were irregular and often done as a job
lot. Abraham, for example, was baptised on the same day as
his sister Sally, who was 17 at the time. There is no evidence
of non-conformism, and indeed, that wouldn't have gone down
too well with the Methodist elders considering Abraham's occupation
in life. |
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Rev.
Dowty was the incumbent at Walsden Church when Tom was a lad,
and history records that he was concerned as to the numbers
of unbaptised children amongst his parishioners. He organised
mass christenings during his afternoon services, with James
Lord and John Travis standing as sponsors. |
St.
Peters from the rear of the Cross Keys |
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It is said that
young Tom was down for one of these, and when it was his turn,
the Rev. Dowty added a second name for him, Golan, this being
Mr. Dowty's mother's maiden name. The
validity of this story is questionable because I can find
no trace of any baptism for Tom at St. Peters, and there is
no evidence he ever used his middle name. He was simply Tom
Law. I can, however, find evidence of mass baptisms during
the incumbency of Mr. Dowty. |
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As
a boy Tom attended LANEBOTTOM SCHOOL, quite a long walk away
for little legs. The schoolmaster then was his first cousin,
Matthias Law. No doubt Matthias paid special attention to
young Tom, which showed in his later life. His parents would
have paid 4d. a week for his education.
Lanebottom
School before the re-build in 1875 |
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After
leaving school, Tom stayed with his mother at the Cross
Keys, working as a telegraph clerk for the Lancashire and
Yorkshire Railway Company. He afterwards became a time-keeper,
and on the death of his brother-in-law, James Uttley, he
was appointed building inspector from Smithy Bridge to Thornhill
and branches, having at the time of his death nearly 50
men working in his charge.
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Holy
Trinity |
At
the age of 29, Tom married Betsey Astin, the daughter of John
and Ann Astin of Barker & Astin, Millwrights of Salford,
Todmorden. They married at Holy Trinity Church, Littleborough,
on 19th. August 1872 and went on to have 2 sons and 3 daughters;
Ann, Sam, Alfred, Mary and Sarah. In 1881 they were living
at 17, Square; maybe the old family home. |
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On
Saturday October 3rd 1896, whilst superintending the alterations
to the down platform at Walsden station, Tom was caught
by an express train, and one of his feet was injured, from
which accident he never fully recovered. The accident was
reported locally:
"A
fearful accident occurred at Walsden Railway station, by
which one person named George Fox of Sowerby Bridge was
killed, and two others injured, named Tom Law, railway inspector,
and Phineas Hitchen, labourer, also of Sowerby Bridge. Law
was taken home, and Hitchen was conveyed to Halifax Infirmary.
The injuries were done by the express train due at Todmorden
at 10-40am and came upon the men without warning."
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Tom
and his family were obliged to move to live in the village
of Sowerby Bridge as it was more convenient for his work.
Tom died there on 26th January 1901 at the age of 59. |
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Tom's
funeral took place at St. Peters Church, Sowerby, on Wednesday
January 30th 1901, when, in addition to his more immediate
friends, about 60 of the L & Y Railway Company's workmen
attended the ceremony, including a few friends from Todmorden
and Littleborough. The grave is a mixture of black marble
and stone, and sadly the heavy black marble cross has been
detached from its plinth. |
St.
Peter's at Sowerby |
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To
the dear memory of Tom Law,
Sowerby Bridge.
Born
November 29th 1841
died
January 26th 1901
Betsey
his wife April 7th 1925
In
memoriam
Sarah
who passed away April 20th 1902
aged 18 years
She
was sweet of heart |
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Tom's
obituary appeared in the 1902 Todmorden and Hebden Bridge
Almanac, part of which is reproduced below:
"Mr.
Law was a jolly man, and genial, and true. He did his duty
manfully and now he has gone all who knew him regret their
loss. He had many friends, and they sought his company for
his ready wit and quaint remarks had a winning charm for
all. Happy and light-hearted, and looking always on the
bright side of things, he went through his useful life as
a man should."
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Tom's
wife and 4 of their children continued with their lives in
Sowerby Bridge, living at 8, Waterloo Street in the village.
Son Alfred was a steam engine fitter and the girls were working
in the drapery and millinery business as assistants.
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