John Murgatroyd (1835 - abt. 1864)

Born 19 May 1835 in Heaton, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Violetta (Spence) Greenwood — married 30 Jul 1854 (to about 1864) in Calverley Parish Church, Calverley, York, England

Descendants

Died about 1864 at about age 28 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

In 1835, May 19, John was born in one of the Town Street Cottages, (Highgate), Bradford to parents Abraham Murgatroyd and Mary Craven

In 1837, Feb 17, age 21 months, John was baptised at St Peter’s, Bradford Cathedral, Yorkshire, England, together with his brother James and sister Nanny. ^[1]

Town Street was what is today called Highgate (i.e. the main street of the area). Between Town Street and Back Lane (now called Rossefield Road) were a maze of small lanes providing access to the cottages.

As a young boy John joined his father at the quarry, working as a Flag Facer beside his two brothers James and William; they went on to become skilled stone masons.

John married Violetta on 24 July 1854, at the Calverley Parish Church )the Witnesses being Abraham Murgatroyd and Benjamin Spence, both recorded as being Masons) and they were both living in Idle, Yorkshire.

They had four children, Abraham, Belinda (who both died young), Mary Elizabeth and David.

Some of John's work can be seen in the carvings on St Barnabas' Church, Heaton. He also at one stage travelled south to work on a building at Portsmouth Harbour.

Unfortunately John Murgatroyd's life was very short. He died in 1864 from silicosis caused by working in the stone quarries as a stone mason.

Sources

1. ↑ West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: BDP14 Name John Murgatroyd Age 1 Record Type Baptism Birth Date 19 May 1835 Baptism Date 17 Feb 1837 Baptism Place Bradford, St Peter (Bradford Cathedral), Yorkshire, England Parish as it Appears Bradford, St Peter (Bradford Cathedral) Father Abraham Murgatroyd Mother Mary Murgatroyd

• Marriage - certificate (copy held by Great grandson GC)
• Family history (LM)