The Bilbrough Family of Gildersome and Bruntcliffe
James Bilbrough and his wife Mary Buckley, both born 1713
Left, Bruntcliffe Thorn crossroads is shown by a scattering of faint buildings within the red oval (most likely a representation and not meant to be accurate). From a 1706 Tithe Map made for Lord Dartmouth, he used it to manage his properties. Dartmouth’s plots are named and numbered. At that time, Bruntcliffe Thorn was no more than a wagon stop consisting of the Old Thorn Inn, a smithy, and a few farm houses. George Wood writes in his ‘The Story of Morley’ the following: “.... near the site of the Old Toll Bar House, there formerly stood a row of straw-thatched cottages, which, according to tradition, had been a noted wayside inn, whose walls in places were two or three feet thick. In a large open space in front of the building stood an old thorn tree of gigantic proportions. Frequenters of the inn took their mugs of ale and sat upon seats beneath the sheltering branches of the old tree; there they learned the news of the day from tinkers, packmen, waggoners, wayfarers, and wandering minstrels, who were the chief carriers of news from one part of the country to another.”
The Highway running top to bottom was called 'The Street', claimed to be an ancient Roman Road, then, as today, connecting Bradford and Wakefield. The road to the left ran down into the Spen Valley through Birstall and Gomersal and then to Huddersfield. The road going right ran past Morley and then to Leeds, five miles away. Map courtesy of the Morley Archives
The Highway running top to bottom was called 'The Street', claimed to be an ancient Roman Road, then, as today, connecting Bradford and Wakefield. The road to the left ran down into the Spen Valley through Birstall and Gomersal and then to Huddersfield. The road going right ran past Morley and then to Leeds, five miles away. Map courtesy of the Morley Archives
Earlier Generations Before James 1713
Right, in this 19th century map, the red circle indicates Huddersfield, where I believe James Bilbrough 1713 was born. Soyland is where his father was born and his grandfather lived.
James' first appearance in a Batley Parish record was 1736 on the occasion of his wedding. Batley Parish covered Bruntcliffe, Gildersome, Morley as well as Batley and other nearby villages. From then on, James left a trail of records indicating that he remained a permanent resident of that parish and that his abode was Bruntcliffe Thorn. There is no indication of a local birth in any record, and prior to that, no Bilbroughs (of any fantastical spelling) ever graced the pages of the Batley Parish records. So, from where did he come and how did he end up in Bruntcliffe?
The answer may lie in a 1713 Huddersfield Parish baptismal record that states "James son of John Billsborough". I would like to think that this James is the same James of Bruntcliffe, but I have no direct connecting evidence. In any other parish record of the period, there are no other candidates close in time and place. Huddersfield is less than 10 miles from Bruntcliffe and a move there would be of little or no inconvenience, even in those days. People were on the move in West Yorkshire as the economy was starting to boom, so why shouldn't James be one of them?
If the connection proves correct. James' parents would have been John Bilsborough, born in Soyland in 1686 and Elizabeth Ravelle of unknown origin. His grandparents would have been James Bilsbrough, born circa 1650 at an unknown location and Susan of unknown surname, location and birthdate. Soyland is just south and west of Halifax and a few miles from the Lancashire border. In that region in the early to mid seventeenth century, no other Bilbrough family seems to have existed. They could have been cloth makers or engaged in the woolen trade in some fashion. Soyland is situated in the Pennine Mountains, where the running water was ideal for certain mill technologies of the day. The frequency of the name spelled “Bilsborough” in parish records suggests that our family could have originated in Lancashire and the Village of Bilsborough near Preston. The other possibility is that James' grandfather was born in the area between Halifax and Bradford where there was small enclave of Bilbroughs (of various spellings) living in the early to mid 1600s.
In the chart below, James Bislborough (Generation 1) is shown at the bottom and his ancestors are shown in successive generations to the top, ending with Unknown Bilbrough (Generation negative 3). People with 99% certainty are shown in blue and speculative in green.
Right, in this 19th century map, the red circle indicates Huddersfield, where I believe James Bilbrough 1713 was born. Soyland is where his father was born and his grandfather lived.
James' first appearance in a Batley Parish record was 1736 on the occasion of his wedding. Batley Parish covered Bruntcliffe, Gildersome, Morley as well as Batley and other nearby villages. From then on, James left a trail of records indicating that he remained a permanent resident of that parish and that his abode was Bruntcliffe Thorn. There is no indication of a local birth in any record, and prior to that, no Bilbroughs (of any fantastical spelling) ever graced the pages of the Batley Parish records. So, from where did he come and how did he end up in Bruntcliffe?
The answer may lie in a 1713 Huddersfield Parish baptismal record that states "James son of John Billsborough". I would like to think that this James is the same James of Bruntcliffe, but I have no direct connecting evidence. In any other parish record of the period, there are no other candidates close in time and place. Huddersfield is less than 10 miles from Bruntcliffe and a move there would be of little or no inconvenience, even in those days. People were on the move in West Yorkshire as the economy was starting to boom, so why shouldn't James be one of them?
If the connection proves correct. James' parents would have been John Bilsborough, born in Soyland in 1686 and Elizabeth Ravelle of unknown origin. His grandparents would have been James Bilsbrough, born circa 1650 at an unknown location and Susan of unknown surname, location and birthdate. Soyland is just south and west of Halifax and a few miles from the Lancashire border. In that region in the early to mid seventeenth century, no other Bilbrough family seems to have existed. They could have been cloth makers or engaged in the woolen trade in some fashion. Soyland is situated in the Pennine Mountains, where the running water was ideal for certain mill technologies of the day. The frequency of the name spelled “Bilsborough” in parish records suggests that our family could have originated in Lancashire and the Village of Bilsborough near Preston. The other possibility is that James' grandfather was born in the area between Halifax and Bradford where there was small enclave of Bilbroughs (of various spellings) living in the early to mid 1600s.
In the chart below, James Bislborough (Generation 1) is shown at the bottom and his ancestors are shown in successive generations to the top, ending with Unknown Bilbrough (Generation negative 3). People with 99% certainty are shown in blue and speculative in green.
On to Bruntcliffe and Gildersome?
* William Bilsbrough born about 1717, place unknown. He married Susanna Chappel in Huddersfield on 2 Jan 1735, he died Jan 1784 in Rothwell, about 7 km from Bruntcliffe. The couple had many descendants, all with the surname Bilsbrough. Placement of William in this Family Tree is based on the following circumstantial evidence: 1) His surname Bilsbrough. 2) In the West Yorkshire Parish Records from that time, no better Bilbrough or Bilsbrough parental candidates exist. 3) He married a girl whose family was from the parish of Huddersfield. 4) William and Susanna named their first child John, possibly after William’s father. This was the traditional way of naming the first son. 5) They had a daughter named Lydia, a very uncommon name in any Bilbrough family; William’s aunt could have been Lydia Bilsborough born 1681. (see chart above). 6) Like James, William may have gone to live in the Morley vicinity after the death of his father and kept ties to Huddersfield. 7) James and William had remarkably similar names for their children.
James Bilbrough's Early Years?
Warning, this is purely speculation but it fits the facts as I know them.
John Bilbrough, sometimes spelled Bilsborough, was born 07 May 1686, in the village of Soyland, nothing is known of his earlier life until his marriage to Elizabeth Ravelle in 19 January 1707. A copy of the record of their marriage was in a Halifax Bishop’s transcript and the same record was made in nearby Elland. The Elland record was either a copy of a record made in Ripponden or an No records have been found on the birth of Elizabeth Ravelle but it's possible that she was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Revell of Morley or possibly Bruntcliffe. John was a prosperous weaver that could afford apprentices. This could explain how James b1713 came to live in Bruntcliffe which was less than a mile away from Morley. A year after their marriage, John and Elizabeth had their first child, John Bilsborough. He was born in the town of Huddersfield as well as at least three other children.
In Huddersfield around that time, wool manufacturing was on the verge of a major expansion and was busy and prosporous. Though I can’t say for sure, I think John Bilsborough was probably involved in some form of the cloth business.
In June of 1719, tragedy struck, and John Bilsborough the elder died. His wife, Elizabeth, was left with with four children. How she made her way and with whom she stayed is unknown, but there’s no doubt that she remained in Huddersfield. On the 4th of May 1721, Elizabeth Bilsborough remarried, this time to Joseph Senior of Huddersfield and her children must have joined her at the Senior residence. That August, her eldest son John died and was buried in Huddersfield’s St. Peter’s churchyard, most likely along with his father. Elizabeth was in her late thirties when she remarried and the possibility exists that she could have borne more children. Several children were born during the 1720s with Joseph Senior listed as the father, however, many Joseph Seniors lived in the area during that same period and sorting out who belongs to whom has proved impossible thus far. Best guess is that Joseph Senior died in 1725 followed by Elizabeth in 1728. I can only surmise at what happened to the children: Elizabeth and Susannah must have remained in the Huddersfield area, perhaps with their aunt Mary Stott (nee Bilsborough) near Elland. Elizabeth married Nicholas Peel in Elland in 23 Oct 1735 and Susannah married John Ellam in Huddersfield in 12 Sept.1739. Son James, age about 15, then went to live with his mother’s family in Morley, there he could easily have the learned the weaving trade from his grandfather who was a weaver. When his grandfather Ravell died, James inherited enough money to set himself up in business in Bruntcliffe.
James and Mary Bilbrough of Bruntcliffe
James Bilbrough and Mary Buckley are the earliest known ancestors we can prove existed in time and place. From them we can identify their children, their grandchildren; on and on, down to the present. Such proof, or “source”, can take the form of a church record, newspaper account, personal correspondence, a family tree, etc.. So, for James Bilbrough and Mary Buckley the first documented evidence we have is from the register of the Parish Church of Batley, the official church for marriages in the Morley area. It states the following: “James Bilberry” married “Mary Buckle” on 17 Jun 1736*. After that, a record from Morley Independent Chapel (see right) states that “Sarah Bilsbrough” was christened on 4 Oct 1751, and that her father was “James Bilsbrough of Brunclife”. Again, from the Morley register, we get the following entry: “James Bilbrough of Bruntcliffe, bur. 18 Nov 1780, aged 64”. Subtract his age from his death date and this tells us that James was born about 1713, an excellent match to the Huddersfield christening record that links James to the Soyland Bilsboroughs. Mary Buckley’s death is recorded at Morley Chapel, and reads: “Mary, widow of James Bilbrough of Bruntcliffe, bur. 16 Apr 1789, aged 76”. Those 18th century entries begin an unbroken link to all members of our Bilbrough family.
*The spelling of Bilbrough, as we know it today, didn’t become consistent until around the year 1800 or so. In 18th century Gildersome and Morley records, it can be found spelled Bilbery, Billberry, Bilsberry, Bilborow, Bilsbrough, Billsborough, Bilsborough and Bilbrough.
* William Bilsbrough born about 1717, place unknown. He married Susanna Chappel in Huddersfield on 2 Jan 1735, he died Jan 1784 in Rothwell, about 7 km from Bruntcliffe. The couple had many descendants, all with the surname Bilsbrough. Placement of William in this Family Tree is based on the following circumstantial evidence: 1) His surname Bilsbrough. 2) In the West Yorkshire Parish Records from that time, no better Bilbrough or Bilsbrough parental candidates exist. 3) He married a girl whose family was from the parish of Huddersfield. 4) William and Susanna named their first child John, possibly after William’s father. This was the traditional way of naming the first son. 5) They had a daughter named Lydia, a very uncommon name in any Bilbrough family; William’s aunt could have been Lydia Bilsborough born 1681. (see chart above). 6) Like James, William may have gone to live in the Morley vicinity after the death of his father and kept ties to Huddersfield. 7) James and William had remarkably similar names for their children.
James Bilbrough's Early Years?
Warning, this is purely speculation but it fits the facts as I know them.
John Bilbrough, sometimes spelled Bilsborough, was born 07 May 1686, in the village of Soyland, nothing is known of his earlier life until his marriage to Elizabeth Ravelle in 19 January 1707. A copy of the record of their marriage was in a Halifax Bishop’s transcript and the same record was made in nearby Elland. The Elland record was either a copy of a record made in Ripponden or an No records have been found on the birth of Elizabeth Ravelle but it's possible that she was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Revell of Morley or possibly Bruntcliffe. John was a prosperous weaver that could afford apprentices. This could explain how James b1713 came to live in Bruntcliffe which was less than a mile away from Morley. A year after their marriage, John and Elizabeth had their first child, John Bilsborough. He was born in the town of Huddersfield as well as at least three other children.
In Huddersfield around that time, wool manufacturing was on the verge of a major expansion and was busy and prosporous. Though I can’t say for sure, I think John Bilsborough was probably involved in some form of the cloth business.
In June of 1719, tragedy struck, and John Bilsborough the elder died. His wife, Elizabeth, was left with with four children. How she made her way and with whom she stayed is unknown, but there’s no doubt that she remained in Huddersfield. On the 4th of May 1721, Elizabeth Bilsborough remarried, this time to Joseph Senior of Huddersfield and her children must have joined her at the Senior residence. That August, her eldest son John died and was buried in Huddersfield’s St. Peter’s churchyard, most likely along with his father. Elizabeth was in her late thirties when she remarried and the possibility exists that she could have borne more children. Several children were born during the 1720s with Joseph Senior listed as the father, however, many Joseph Seniors lived in the area during that same period and sorting out who belongs to whom has proved impossible thus far. Best guess is that Joseph Senior died in 1725 followed by Elizabeth in 1728. I can only surmise at what happened to the children: Elizabeth and Susannah must have remained in the Huddersfield area, perhaps with their aunt Mary Stott (nee Bilsborough) near Elland. Elizabeth married Nicholas Peel in Elland in 23 Oct 1735 and Susannah married John Ellam in Huddersfield in 12 Sept.1739. Son James, age about 15, then went to live with his mother’s family in Morley, there he could easily have the learned the weaving trade from his grandfather who was a weaver. When his grandfather Ravell died, James inherited enough money to set himself up in business in Bruntcliffe.
James and Mary Bilbrough of Bruntcliffe
James Bilbrough and Mary Buckley are the earliest known ancestors we can prove existed in time and place. From them we can identify their children, their grandchildren; on and on, down to the present. Such proof, or “source”, can take the form of a church record, newspaper account, personal correspondence, a family tree, etc.. So, for James Bilbrough and Mary Buckley the first documented evidence we have is from the register of the Parish Church of Batley, the official church for marriages in the Morley area. It states the following: “James Bilberry” married “Mary Buckle” on 17 Jun 1736*. After that, a record from Morley Independent Chapel (see right) states that “Sarah Bilsbrough” was christened on 4 Oct 1751, and that her father was “James Bilsbrough of Brunclife”. Again, from the Morley register, we get the following entry: “James Bilbrough of Bruntcliffe, bur. 18 Nov 1780, aged 64”. Subtract his age from his death date and this tells us that James was born about 1713, an excellent match to the Huddersfield christening record that links James to the Soyland Bilsboroughs. Mary Buckley’s death is recorded at Morley Chapel, and reads: “Mary, widow of James Bilbrough of Bruntcliffe, bur. 16 Apr 1789, aged 76”. Those 18th century entries begin an unbroken link to all members of our Bilbrough family.
*The spelling of Bilbrough, as we know it today, didn’t become consistent until around the year 1800 or so. In 18th century Gildersome and Morley records, it can be found spelled Bilbery, Billberry, Bilsberry, Bilborow, Bilsbrough, Billsborough, Bilsborough and Bilbrough.
William Radford Bilbrough b1839 wrote the following:
“James Bilbrough built upon the unenclosed common near the cross roads a “two storey stone cottage”. The upper floor was one large room open to the roof. He was a woollen cloth maker and in this room stood some hand-looms at which he and those he employed sat throwing the shuttle. It was a common thing at that time in this district for both sons and daughters to work at home and if a man provided a house with a weaving chamber his family thought themselves well off. The sons worked with their father at the looms and the daughters with their mother spun the wool on their spinning wheels.”
No matter how James Bilbrough came to Bruntcliffe, he first appears as a resident in a Morley Old Chapel death record for his son William, dated 1748. So we can surmise that James arrived in Bruntcliffe sometime on or before that date. The following questions remain unanswered:
1) Where were James and Mary born and who were their parents? As to birth, for James, no other birth record yet found comes anywhere near the 1713 Huddersfield record. For Mary, a number of possibles exist in the parish records, none in Batley Parish but a few in the surrounding parishes. At this point, like her husband, no link had been made to any of them.
2) Where did James learn his weaving and business skills? In those days, there were three ways to acquire the knowledge of a trade. The first is to learn it from your father or close family member, the second is to become a contracted apprentice to a master and third to work in the trade as an unofficial apprentice, "under the table". There was a list made of all contracts between masters and apprentices called the UK, Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures, 1710-1811, no Bilbrough or close spelling appears at all. In 1714 and 1713 John Revell of Morley does appear as a master and his trade was Serge Weaver. Perhaps James did learn the trade from his grandfather?
3) Where did James get the money to build a house and finance such a prosperous enterprise? Before James' death in 1780, both sons had accumulated enough wealth to move away from home and set up in business for themselves. Did James start out in business from scratch or did he receive a generous dowery and/or legacy to help him on his way?
4) When was the Old Stone Cottage built? Good question. If James did in fact build it, it could have been built at anytime. If the family history is true, then I surmise that its construction may have begun in the 1740s. Who knows how long it took to complete. Location may have been the determining factor in the choice of building at Bruntcliffe. The crossroads were situated in the center of a prosperous commercial region and traffic through the village was significant. Between the years 1730 and 1740, the turnpike system was established in Yorkshire. Prior to that, traffic on the rugged roads of the region was limited to foot, small carts and horse or pack animal, making commerce between inland towns slow and cumbersome. The turnpike system brought wider and smoother roads leading to larger wagons and coaches traveling at greater speeds. Sections of the turnpikes were auctioned off as a concession and the leaseholder was allowed to collect tolls, but was also responsible for the maintenance on their section. The turnpikes were a huge boon to the woolen cloth industry and the towns and villages along these new roads prospered. Such was the crossroads at Bruntcliffe, which contained a toll booth and plenty of unused land between the road and the tilled fields. Lord Dartmouth owned this concession as well as most of the land in and around Bruntcliffe and it was to him a person went if he desired to build upon the “stray” (as William Radford Bilbrough called it). James must have received permission to build at the crossroads, that entitled him to pay an annual tithe to Lord Dartmouth.
“James Bilbrough built upon the unenclosed common near the cross roads a “two storey stone cottage”. The upper floor was one large room open to the roof. He was a woollen cloth maker and in this room stood some hand-looms at which he and those he employed sat throwing the shuttle. It was a common thing at that time in this district for both sons and daughters to work at home and if a man provided a house with a weaving chamber his family thought themselves well off. The sons worked with their father at the looms and the daughters with their mother spun the wool on their spinning wheels.”
No matter how James Bilbrough came to Bruntcliffe, he first appears as a resident in a Morley Old Chapel death record for his son William, dated 1748. So we can surmise that James arrived in Bruntcliffe sometime on or before that date. The following questions remain unanswered:
1) Where were James and Mary born and who were their parents? As to birth, for James, no other birth record yet found comes anywhere near the 1713 Huddersfield record. For Mary, a number of possibles exist in the parish records, none in Batley Parish but a few in the surrounding parishes. At this point, like her husband, no link had been made to any of them.
2) Where did James learn his weaving and business skills? In those days, there were three ways to acquire the knowledge of a trade. The first is to learn it from your father or close family member, the second is to become a contracted apprentice to a master and third to work in the trade as an unofficial apprentice, "under the table". There was a list made of all contracts between masters and apprentices called the UK, Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures, 1710-1811, no Bilbrough or close spelling appears at all. In 1714 and 1713 John Revell of Morley does appear as a master and his trade was Serge Weaver. Perhaps James did learn the trade from his grandfather?
3) Where did James get the money to build a house and finance such a prosperous enterprise? Before James' death in 1780, both sons had accumulated enough wealth to move away from home and set up in business for themselves. Did James start out in business from scratch or did he receive a generous dowery and/or legacy to help him on his way?
4) When was the Old Stone Cottage built? Good question. If James did in fact build it, it could have been built at anytime. If the family history is true, then I surmise that its construction may have begun in the 1740s. Who knows how long it took to complete. Location may have been the determining factor in the choice of building at Bruntcliffe. The crossroads were situated in the center of a prosperous commercial region and traffic through the village was significant. Between the years 1730 and 1740, the turnpike system was established in Yorkshire. Prior to that, traffic on the rugged roads of the region was limited to foot, small carts and horse or pack animal, making commerce between inland towns slow and cumbersome. The turnpike system brought wider and smoother roads leading to larger wagons and coaches traveling at greater speeds. Sections of the turnpikes were auctioned off as a concession and the leaseholder was allowed to collect tolls, but was also responsible for the maintenance on their section. The turnpikes were a huge boon to the woolen cloth industry and the towns and villages along these new roads prospered. Such was the crossroads at Bruntcliffe, which contained a toll booth and plenty of unused land between the road and the tilled fields. Lord Dartmouth owned this concession as well as most of the land in and around Bruntcliffe and it was to him a person went if he desired to build upon the “stray” (as William Radford Bilbrough called it). James must have received permission to build at the crossroads, that entitled him to pay an annual tithe to Lord Dartmouth.
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Made for Lord Dartmouth, approx. 1775, and covering roughly the same area as the earlier map above. A less sleepy Bruntcliffe is shown in this more accurate map. After at least 30 years of Bilbrough occupation, some evidence of their presence is noted. The red shaded area indicates the amount of land leased or owned by the Bilbrough family in the 1st half of the 19th century.
#1 indicates the location of the “Old Stone Cottage” as well as other dwellings. #2, Joseph Asquith’ house and barns, later to become the site of the Bilbrough’s malt kiln yard. #3, a field leased by John Bilbrough from Lord Dartmouth. #4, the site of the Thorn Inn and Farrier (blacksmith). #5, Joseph Asquith was a prominent presence in Bruntcliffe, he married Sarah Bilbrough, they lived in the house at #2. #6, Toll Keeper’s house, the toll bar was located at the intersection. |
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James and Mary's marriage was recorded at Batley Parish Church in 1736. In those days, all marriages had to be registered at the official local parish church, but births and deaths didn't. Whatever your denomination, baptisms and burials were registered at the church to which one happened to be a member. Of all their children, the only birth record to be found is for Sarah Born in 1751. That was at Morley Old Chapel. Why only the one out of at least eight children?
About a mile away from Bruntcliffe Thorn sat the village of Gildersome to the northwest and the town of Morley to the northeast. In their day, both were well known throughout the region for their Non-Conformist churches and congregations, Gildersome's Baptist Church and Morley's Old Chapel. From miles around, these two churches drew folk who were opposed to the Church of England on the grounds that the church’s hierarchy was too similar to the Catholic Church in structure. It was believed that this hierarchy was not part of the teachings of Jesus and therefore not essential to the worship of Christ. Such folk were called “Dissenters” or sometimes “Separationists”. There was religion in large doses and plenty of it within five miles of Bruntcliffe. Right: A page from the Gildersome Baptist Church Book clearly shows Mary “Bilbery’s” name in the lower right corner. She signed this entry with her Mark, a backwards “4” between her 1st and last name. On the left it reads: “Oct. 3, Rec. into Communion, Baptized since last ????????? Day” “Mary Bilbery is dead” Click on the page to enlarge. |
Morley Old Chapel
Gildersome Baptist Church as it appeared in the 1700s & 1800s
From the Gildersome Baptist Church book, 1756
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There may have been a doctrinal disagreement between James and Mary. Mary was baptized and was received into the congregation at Gildersome Baptist Church in 1756. Baptists often do this while in their early twenties but in this case Mary was 43. The family possibly attended services there but not as full fledged members. During this period, the Gildersome Church Book did not record any births at all, and the baptisms recorded were all adults and not infants. A difference of opinion probably ensued between James and Mary over which of the two churches to attend. When their son William died in 1748, the Baptist Church wouldn't admit him into their burial ground because he, nor either of his parents were confirmed members. So he was buried at Old Chapel. After that, Sarah's birth in 1751 was recorded at Old Chapel but that was all, her two younger sisters weren't recorded anywhere. There must have been a constant back and forth over which service to attend. In the end, when James and Mary died, they were buried together in the cemetery at Old Chapel Morley, despite Mary’s Baptist affiliations. Both sons, James and John, stayed with Morley Old Chapel, most likely because they became innkeepers and the Baptists forbade drink.
Rose Cottage before it was demolished in the 1960s
There is not much left to tell. James made a very good living for himself and his family. His two sons, James and John, prospered and increased the Bilbrough fortune. James b.1742 the older son moved to Gildersome and became a clothier, innkeeper, maltster and farmer. John b.1745 remained in Bruntcliffe, built the Angel Inn, farmed and kept up the clothing business as a wool comber. Concerning their other children: The two oldest daughters, Hannah and Elizabeth married two brothers from nearby Hartshead. Daughter Sarah married Joseph Asquith a wealthy farmer and land owner, he lived a few hundred meters from the Bilbroughs. Daughter, Martha married James Sykes of Kirkheaton and Mary possibly became involved with the Moravian church and never married. Bilbroughs continued to live at the Old Stone Cottage; later known as Rose Cottage. Around the mid 1800s it was purchased by a descendant, Edward Bilbrough. Bilbroughs lived there for over 170 years. It was demolished in the 1960s.
For descendants of James 1742: go to: James
For descendants of John 1745, go to: John
For descendants of James 1742: go to: James
For descendants of John 1745, go to: John
