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Dragoon Guard Joseph Naylor (13th September 1823 - 10th January 1901)

Crimean War Veteran

Joseph Naylor who served in and survived the Crimean War was buried in plot B62

of St Matthew’s Churchyard. He appears to have been a Lightcliffe legend hence

this lovely memorial monument with its sword and inscription which reads :-

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Sacred

to the memory of

JOSEpH NAYLOR

of Lightcliffe

who served for 24 years and 315

days with the 5th Dragoon Guards.

Born Sept 13 1824 DIED Jan 10 1901.

---------------------------

This stone was erected by admirers

Of the above, including members of

The Boys’ Brigade and boys of

The Lightcliffe National School as

a memento of faithful service

Rendered to his country during

The Crimean Campaign, especially

At the battles of Balaklava, Inkerman,

And the Siege of Sebastopol.

His passing away in early 1901 was reported in the Brighouse Echo 18th January

1901 on page 5. The article was transcribed and submitted to YORKSHIRE

INDEXERS by Alan Longbottom.

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Veterans Career

Military Funeral at Lightcliffe –

Crimean.

On Monday the funeral took place at the

Lightcliffe Church graveyard of the late

Mr. Joseph Naylor, a well-known retired

soldier and one of the few remaining

veterans of the Crimean War belonging to

this district. Mr. Naylor, who had not been

well for a few years, caught a chill on Dec.

24th, when after taking a customary walk

he remained at the Lightcliffe Gun Club

field for a few minutes to watch a knur and

spell match. He was subject to Bronchitis

and the cold developed and ended fatally

on Thursday January 10th. He was 77

years of age.

At the funeral on Monday the coffin was

borne to the grave by a funeral party from

the Halifax Barracks. Twenty men of the

West Riding Regiment, under Colour-Sgt

Foster were sent by Colonel Le. Mottee,

for this purpose. There was also a

detachment from the Yorkshire Dragoons

under Quartermaster-Sergeant Binns. The

children from the village school, under the

schoolmaster Mr. Geo. Hague, and

schoolmistress Miss Berry, were drawn up

at attention as the cortege passed. Many

friends of the deceased also took this last

opportunity to pay him respect.

An Interesting Career.

The deceased was a native of Lightcliffe

and became a woolcomber by trade. Trade

being bad in 1846, he went to Leeds, and

not finding the work he wanted, his fancy

led him to join the Army. He was then

about 22 years of age. He enlisted in the

5th Dragoon Guards and from 1846 to

1854 was stationed with his regiment in

various parts of England. When the war

broke out, the regiment, which formed part

of the Heavy Brigade, was sent out to the

Crimea, and landed at Eupatoria.

He often told of the severe privations he

and his comrades had to undergo. They

landed without tents; towards sunset rain

fell continuously and soon the ground was

soaked with water, and the hollows filled

with it. When night fell the troops lay

down upon the deluged ground, and passed

their first night with rain streaming on

them from above, and mud around them

below. Officers were not better sheltered

than the men. It was a severe trial for the

troops, and its effects were visible in the

sick lists next morning. The Heavy

Brigade did not take part in the Battle of

Alma, but had much skirmishing between

that battle and the one at Balaclava. The

deceased veteran often compared the

charge of the Heavy Brigade with the one

of the Light Brigade. He said that whereas

they (the Heavies) accomplished what they

set out to do, and gained a complete

victory over Liprandi’s Cavalry, the Light

Brigade accomplished nothing, but gained

a little tinseled glory; and even the Heavy

Brigade was sent by Lord Lucan to help

back the remnants. The deceased, soldier-

like, very reluctantly spoke of personal

incidents.

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From the Battle of Balaclava, which was

fought on the 25th October, on to the

Battle of Inkerman, which was fought on

the 5th November, he had many narrow

escapes and exciting incidents. The

hardships were severe, icicles on his

moustache (when sleeping) and his beard

was either frozen to the ground, or frozen

fast to his overcoat. It was a trying time.

Then came the long and weary waiting.

Having driven the Russians inside

Sebastopol, they besieged the place for 12

long and weary months. Its fall marking

the first sign of peace. The Heavy Brigade

returned to England after two years in the

Crimea, the deceased having had a

marvelous time. He had not been in

hospital a day, nor received a wound

sufficient to warrant him to report himself.

Of the 250 men of the regiment who left

England at the beginning of the war, he

was one of 30 only that returned. He and

14 others were the only ones to bring back

the same horse they took out. His regiment

had a sumptuous banquet in Edinburgh

given by the city. He was stationed for

some years in Dublin, and was discharged

in Leeds, having served 24 years and 315

days. He held the two Crimean medals,

and had three clasps for the battles of

Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol. He

also had 4 good conduct badges (the full

complement) which entitled him to a

penny a day for each, bringing his pension

up to one shilling per day.

He returned to Lightcliffe, his native place,

and worked in the garden at Holm House,

then occupied by Mr. Ripley. He had to

give up work entirely seven or eight years

ago. He was a constantly steady man and

well thought of in the neighborhood

(By kind permisison of the Brighouse

Echo)

Joseph Naylor’s medal

This appeared when the medal was

put up for sale in 2015.

Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (No. 912 Corp. Jos. Naylor, 5th Dragoon Gds.) impressed naming, plugged and fitted with a swivel ring suspension, edge bruising and contact marks, very fine estimate £100-140.

Footnote

Joseph Naylor was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire. He enlisted into the 5th Dragoon Guards at York on 13 July 1846, aged 22 years. Serving in the Crimea, he was awarded the Queen’s medal with clasps for Balaklava, Inkerman and Sebastopol and the Turkish Crimea Medal. A ‘Heavy

Brigade’ charger. Discharged to a pension on 2 May 1871; he died in Halifax in 1894 [incorrect].

Joseph Naylor’s medal sold for £700 in November 2015

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Next is another account of Joseph Naylor’s life. The research was done by a relative Daphne Eyres nee Naylor and again reported in the Brighouse Echo.

Her research took her to the old Lightcliffe Cemetery where Joseph Naylor was

laid to rest on January 10th 1901. He served for 24 years and 315 days with the

5th Dragoon Guards.

He was born in Lightcliffe and went on to be employed as a woolcomber but as

work began to fall away he went to Leeds where on July 11 1846, then aged 21,

he enlisted and for the first eight years he was stationed in different parts of the

country. The 5th Dragoons were part of the Heavy Brigade which was in the more

successful battle prior to Balaclava. Joseph was awarded the Crimea Medal with

clasp hands for the battles of Alma, Inkerman and Balaclava. He was finally

discharged in May 1871 and returned home uninjured.

Daphne's research discovered that after his discharge he came back to Lightcliffe

and worked as a gardener for Mr Ripley at Holme House in Wakefield Road. On

Christmas Eve he took a walk in the Gun Club Field (near the Sun Inn), caught a

chill, became weak and died of bronchitis.

At his grave the head stone is very distinctive and has the inscription '…Sacred to

the memory of Joseph Naylor who served for 24 years and 315 days with the 5th

Dragoon Guards - Born 13.9.1824. Died 10.1.1901'.

This stone was erected by the admirers of the above including members of the

Boys' Brigade and boys of the Lightcliffe National School as a memento of

faithful service rendered to his country during the Crimean Campaign especially

at the battles of Balaclava, Inkerman and the Siege of Sebastopol.

Joseph was reported to have been one of the few soldiers from the Crimean

Campaign to have brought their horse back home with them. I am sure the

headmaster's school log book would make interesting reading for the day of the

funeral which he and no doubt many of the boys would have attended.

Daphne Eyres nee Naylor

Daphne also took the photograph below of Dragoon Guard Joseph Naylor on his horse. The painting is in the regimental museum in York. The caption reads:-

Private Joseph Naylor (1824 – 1901) 5th Dragoon Guard

who took part in the Heavy Brigade Actions at the Battle of Balaclava in October 1854

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Daphne Eyres, another Friend of St Matthew’s Churchyard, has also kindly confirmed that Joseph Naylor was the third son of Samuel and Sarah Naylor. Samuel Nailer – various spellings were used - was baptised at St Matthew’s Church on 10th April 1791, the son of a “Thos. Nailer”. He married Sarah Sowden on 3rd June 1811 at St John the Baptist, Halifax. Both the bride and groom were from Hipperholme. They baptised six children at St. Matthew’s Church, Lightcliffe over the next eighteen years. The eldest Wm Nailor was baptised on 17th November 1811 when no other information was given. He was followed by Thomas Nailor on 13th February 1814 and Mary Naylor on 31st August 1817. The abode for these two was given as “Hightown” and their father’s occupation was “Cloth Dresser”. For the baptisms of George Nailor on 3rd June 1821, the future Dragoon Guard Joseph Nailor on 30th November 1823 and Sarah Naylor on 23rd July 1829 Samuel was still a “Cloth Dresser” but their abode was Lightcliffe.

[Joseph Naylor’s baptism date and the fact that his burial record from January 1901

gave his age as 77 years would seem to suggest that he was born on 13th

September 1823 and not 1824 as the memorial inscription states.]

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Joseph’s brother Thomas Naylor married Mary Ripley on 29th April 1833 in Halifax.

They baptised a daughter Sarah Ann Nailer on 8th September 1833 at St Matthew’s

Church when Thomas was a “Delver”. When their son Samuel Naylor was baptised

at the same church on 11th August 1836 his father Thomas was a “Labourer” from

Lightcliffe. Another daughter Hannah had arrived before census night 1841 although

she was not baptised until later. On 6th June 1841 father Samuel Naylor was an

inmate of the Halifax Workshouse but it is not known why. The rest of the family

were in Lightcliffe as follows:-

William Naylor 25 Cordwainer

Sarah ditto 50

Mary ditto 20

George ditto 20 Labourer

Joseph ditto 15 Woolcomber

Sarah ditto 11

Address Lightcliffe, Hipperholme cum

Brighouse

Thomas Naylor 25 Stone Delver

Mary ditto 20

Sarah ditto 8

Samuel Naylor 5

Hannah ditto 3

Address Stoney Lane, Lightcliffe

Elder brother William Naylor married Susan Pearson in Halifax on 6th November

1842. He was a 30 year old “Cordwainer” and she was a 25 year old “Weaver”.

Both of them were from Hipperholme with William’s father Samuel Naylor being a

“Cloth Dresser” and Susan’s father John Pearson, a “Labourer”. They went on to

baptise three children at St Matthew’s Church; Harriet on 22nd December 1844,

James on 1st November 1846 and Ann on 15th February 1850. For each entry the

abode was Lightcliffe and William was a “Shoemaker”.

Brother Thomas Naylor and his wife Mary lost their 10 year old daughter Sarah Ann Naylor in 1844. She was buried in an unknown grave within the closed churchyard on 19th May 1844. Her fifty five year old grandfather Samuel Naylor of Halifax died on 13th January 1845 and was similarly buried on 16th January 1845. This was the same day that three of his grandchildren Hannah, Elizabeth and John Naylor, children of “Woolcomber” Thomas Naylor and his wife Mary, were baptised at the same church. Five year old Elizabeth only lived another year before she too was buried in St Matthew’s Churchyard in an unknown grave on 16th July 1846. Sister Mary Ann had her baptism on 21st February 1847 at the same church but Joseph had to wait to be ‘batch processed’ nearly ten years later.

By the time Mary Naylor married John Bell in Elland on 21st January 1848 her father

was recorded as Samuel Naylor, a “Cloth Dresser” although by then he was

deceased. John Bell was a 29 year old labourer as was his father Jonathan. Both

the 30 year old bride and her groom were said to reside in Brighouse. Mary had

previously baptised a son Henry Naylor at St Matthew’s Church on 22nd October

1843. John and Mary Bell baptised another son Jonathan Bell at the same church on

Christmas Day 1848.

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By the 1851 census Joseph Naylor had already joined the 5th Dragoon Guards. After

the various christenings, weddings and funerals these Naylor families were residing

as follows on 30th March 1851:-

Widowed mother, brother & sister Sarah Naylor Head 62

George ditto Son 29 Woolcomber

Sarah ditto Dau 21

*Henry ditto Grandson 7 Scholar

Address Hipperholme

Brother William & family William Naylor Head 35 Cordwainer

Susan ditto Wife 33

Harriet ditto DAu 6 Scholar

James ditto Son 4

Ann ditto Dau 1

Address Hipperholme cum Brighouse

Brother Thomas & family Thomas Naylor 37 Wool Comber

Mary ditto Wife 34

Samuel ditto Son 15 Wool Comber

Hannah ditto Dau 13

John ditto Son 6 Scholar

Mary Ann ditto Dau 4

Joseph ditto Son 1

George Sykes Lodger 28 Wool Comber

born Lightcliffe

Address Hipperholme

Sister Mary & family John Bell Head 34 Ag Lab

Mary Bell Wife 33

*Henry Bell Son 7 Scholar

Jonathan Bell Son 2

Address Dewsbury Rd, Rastrick

* Henry Naylor/Bell was probably with his grandmother but included in both households’ census returns

The lodger George Sykes would marry the Crimean Dragoon Guard’s sister, Sarah

Naylor on 17th December 1859 in Halifax. By then he was a 37 year old Labourer,

the son of another George Sykes, a gardener. Thirty year old Sarah’s father was still

given as the “Cloth Dresser” Samuel Naylor.

As well as sister Sarah’s marriage the intervening years had seen the death of

William’s wife Susan aged just 35 years. She was buried on 25th August 1853 in an

unknown grave within the closed churchyard of St Matthew’s Church, Lightcliffe. In

another unknown grave brother Thomas had previously buried another daughter, 15

year old Hannah, on 21st June 1853.

Brother Thomas’s son Samuel, a” Mason” like his father, had married Eliza Miller on

27th September 1857 at the parish church in Halifax. Eliza was the daughter of

David Miller, a Coachman. Both the bride and groom were 21 year olds from

Hipperholme although subsequent censuses record that Eliza was born in Ireland.

Their daughter Mary Jane was baptised at St Matthew’s Church, Lightcliffe on 18th

July 1858. The family were back there on 28th January 1859 to baptise three more

of Thomas and Mary’s children namely Joseph, William and Thomas. They do not

appear to have ever got round to baptising Isabel. As can be seen from the 1861

census addresses Samuel and family lived with or next door to his parents.

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Sister Mary and her husband John Bell also had two more children, Sarah and

William, baptised at St Matthew’s Church, Lightcliffe on 28th February 1859. Fanny

Jane Bell would be nearly ten years old when she was eventually baptised on 16 th

May 1869 but at least she was baptised!

Just as for the 1851 census Dragoon Guard Joseph Naylor does not appear on the

1861 census. Having fought in and survived the Crimean War which ended in 1856

perhaps he was not even in the country but the various members of his family were

residing as follows on the night of 7th April 1861.

Widowed mother and brother Sarah Naylor Head 72

George ditto Son 40 Labourer

Address Lightcliffe

Widower elder brother William William Naylor Head 49 Widower Boot

& Shoemaker

Harriet ditto Dau 16 Worsted Spinner

James ditto Son 14 Mason (smudged)

Ann ditto Dau 11 Worsted Spinner

Address Lightcliffe

Brother Thomas & family Thomas Naylor Head 47 Quarryman

Mary ditto Wife 44

John ditto Son 16 Cordwainer

Joseph ditto Son 11 Quarryman

William ditto Son 8 Scholar

Thomas ditto Son 3

Isabel ditto Dau 3 mnths

Address Stoney Lane Cottage, Lightcliffe

Brother Thomas’ son & family Samuel Naylor Head 25 Quarryman

Eliza Naylor Wife 24 born Ireland

Mary Jane ditto Dau 2

Address Stoney Lane Cottage, Lightcliffe

ie Next door to his parents

Sister Mary & family John Bell Head 43 Plate Layer

Mary Bell Wife 43

Henry Bell Son 17 Coalminer ie Mary’s son Henry Naylor

Jonathan ditto Son 12 Coalminer

Sarah ditto Dau 9 Worsted spinner

William ditto Son 6 Scholar

Fanny Jane ditto Dau 1

Address Lightcliffe,

Sister Sarah & husband George Sykes Head 38 Ag Lab

Sarah ditto Wife 30 Laundress

Address Ligthcliffe

Sarah Naylor, the mother of Dragoon Guard Joseph Naylor, died in 1867 aged 79

years. She was buried on 2nd May 1867 at St Matthew’s Churchyard, Lightcliffe in an

unknown grave. Earlier in the decade her grandson Samuel Naylor, son of her son

Thomas was also buried at St Matthew’s in an unknown grave on 9th September

1861. He was only 25 years of age. His 27 year old widow, the Irish born Eliza, then

married her first husband’s second cousin another Joseph Naylor, a 37 year old

widower on 16th May 1864. This Joseph Naylor’s grandfather, John, was the older

brother of Samuel’s grandfather, Samuel. To add to possible confusions both their

fathers were called Thomas.

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There were two more Naylor marriages at Halifax in August 1864. Henry Naylor, the

son of sister Mary, married Suzy Stott on 28th August 1864. He was a 21 year old

Miner from Hipperholme who gave his father as “John Naylor Plate Layer”, most

probably this was his step father, John Bell.

A year later Eliza and Joseph Naylor baptised two children on 31st December 1865

at St Matthew’s Church. They were his son Walter and their daughter Velinda. His

son Albert and daughter Ann from his first marriage to Mary Ann Schofield were

baptised on 15th May 1853 and 17th May 1857 respectively. Joseph and Mary Ann

had married on 8th February 1852 in Halifax. But she died aged just 30 years and

was buried in an unknown grave in St Matthew’s Churchyard on 5th November 1861.

Private Joseph Naylor, aged 46 and born Hipperholme, Yks, was still a Dragoon

Guard in 1871. He was with the 5th Dragoon Guards at the Cavalry Barracks on

Chapeltown Road, Leeds. But many of his relatives were still in Lightcliffe in 1871

including his nephew John Naylor who had married Ann Smith on 20th July 1869.

Widower elder brother William William Naylor Head 59 Shoemaker

Harriet Hepworth Dau married 26

Ann Naylor Dau 21 Mill Hand

Abraham Hepworth Grandson 2

Address Lightcliffe

Brother Thomas and family Thomas Naylor Head 57 Stone Quarrier

Mary ditto Wife 54

Thomas ditto Son 13 Stone Quarrier

Isabel ditto Dau 10 Half Time Scholar &

Worsted Factory

Sarah H ditto Dau 8 Half Time Scholar

& Worsted Factory

Address

Lower Waterclough, Southowram

Thomas’s son John John Naylor Head 26 Boot & Shoemaker

Ann ditto wife 25

Thomas ditto Son 5 months

Address Bailiff Bridge

Thomas’s remarried daughter in law Joseph Naylor Head 45 Farm Labourer

Eliza ditto (2nd) Wife 34

Albert ditto (his) Son 18 Worsted Carrier

Ann ditto (his) Dau 13

Walter ditto (his) Son 10 Scholar

Valinda ditto(their) Dau 5

Address Lightcliffe

Sister Mary and family with Brother George lodging with them John Bell 53 Head Labourer

Mary ditto Wife 53

Sarah ditto Dau 19 Mill Hand

William ditto Son 16 Printer

Fanny Jane ditto Dau 11 Scholar

George Naylor Lodger 50 Stone Dresser

Address Lightcliffe

Sister Sarah and husband George Sykes Head 48 Gardener

Sarah Sykes Wife 41

Emily Sykes Niece 16 Worsted Winder

Address Lightcliffe

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Apparently Joseph Naylor was discharged from the Dragoon Guards in May 1871,

when presumably he returned to Lightcliffe. But this was not the only change in his

life. On 1st April 1876 he married Harriet Gaukroger, daughter of Amos Gaukroger, a

Woolcomber. Both were recorded as being 44 years old and from Hipperholme. This

may have been a ‘duplication’ error as Joseph’s age would have been 52. One of

the witnesses to the marriage at Halifax was a George Gaukroger; probably one of

Harriet’s sons. Joseph Naylor’s occupation was a “Dyer” and no father was listed.

The 1881 census returns have Joseph Naylor again as a “Dyer” and the ‘right’ age

living with wife Harriet and her other son Frederick Gaukroger, confirming that we

have the ‘right’ Joseph Naylor.

Four of the five Naylor siblings would pass away before the 1881 census; all were

buried in St Matthew’s Churchyard, Lightcliffe. Eldest brother William Naylor died on

27 June 1874 aged 62 years and was buried on 30 June 1874 in plot C43 which was

owned by a James Naylor, probably his son. George Naylor aged 58 was buried on

6th January 1879 in unknown grave. Later that same year sister Mary Bell nee

Naylor died on 2nd November 1879 and was buried in plot B61 on 5th November

1879 B61. And finally Thomas Naylor passed away on 12th October 1880 and was

buried in plot F43. The remaining family appeared on the 1881 census as follows:-

Joseph Naylor Joseph Naylor Head 56 Dyers Labourer

Harriet Naylor Wife 50

Fred Gaukroger 20 Wife’s son Carpet

presser

Address Booth Building, Lightcliffe

Brother Thomas’s widow Mary Naylor Head 64 Widow

Isabel ditto Dau 20 Cotton reeler

Sarah H ditto Dau 18 Cotton reeler

Address

26 Hove Edge, Hipperholme cum

Brighouse

Brother Thomas’s son John John Naylor Head 36 Shoemaker

Ann Naylor Wife 35

Thomas Edward ditto Son 10

Willie Naylor Son 8

Smith ditto Son 6

Mary Martha ditto Dau 4

Hannah Maria ditto Dau 2

Fred Naylor Son 1 month

Martha Heaton Mother in law 61

Address Bailiff Bridge

Thomas’s remarried daughter in law Joseph Naylor Head 55 Labourer

Eliza ditto (2nd) Wife 42

Mary Jane ditto (her) Dau 22 Mill Hand

Belinda Naylor Dau 15 Mill Hand

Address Armatage[sic] Building,

Lightcliffe

Sister Mary’s widower John Bell Head Widower 63 General

Labourer

Fanny Jane Bell Dau 21 Cotton dresser

Address Booth Building, Lightcliffe,

Sister Mary’s daughter John Harrison Head 33 Engine Tenter at

Coal Pit

Sarah ditto Wife 29 Leaflet Printer

Henry ditto Brother 20 Labourer

Address Norwood Green

Sister Sarah and husband George Sykes Head 58 Gardener

Sarah Sykes Wife 51

Address Lightcliffe

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As can be seen from the addresses most of the remaining family lived close to one

another if not in the same building. Sarah Harrison was Joseph Naylor’s niece, the

daughter of his sister Mary. She had married John Harrison, a 23 year old “Engine

Tenter” from Hipperholme on 1st February 1873 at Halifax parish church. They were

living at Dudley Hill when they baptised their daughter Mary Ann Harrison on 6th

February 1876 at St Matthew’s Church, Lightcliffe

Joseph and Harriet Naylor were still in the Booth Building on census night 1891 but

the next census entry – Stoney Royd, Lightcliffe - was for his nephew Samuel’s Irish

born widow Eliza who was widowed again. Her second husband, the other Joseph

Naylor, was buried, again in an unknown grave, in St Matthew’s Churchyard on 7th

January 1885.

Joseph Naylor Joseph Naylor 66 Head Dyer’s Labourer

Harriett Naylor Wife 59

Address Booth Building, Hipperholme

cum Brighouse

Brother Thomas’s widow Mary Naylor Head Widow 74 Living on

own means

Isabel ditto Dau 30 Cotton Warper

Sarah H ditto Dau 28 Cotton Warper

Address

Lydget, Hipperholme cum Brighouse

Brother Thomas’s son John John Naylor Head 46 Shoemaker

Ann ditto Wife 45

Thomas ditto Son 20 Carpet Weaver

Willie ditto Son 18 Brass Finisher

Smith ditto Son 16 Carpet Cropper

Hannah ditto Dau 12 Scholar

Fred ditto Son 10 Scholar

Edith ditto Dau 8 Scholar

Lewis ditto Son 5 Scholar

Address Holme Cottage, Lightcliffe

Thomas’s remarried daughter in law Eliza Naylor Head 51 Widow

Walter ditto (Step) Son 30 Labourer

Mary J ditto Dau 31 Carpet Setter

Valinda ditto Dau 25 Carpet Setter

Bertha ditto Dau ( Granddau d/o Valinda) 6

Scholar

Norman ditto Son (Grandson) 1

Address Stoney Royd, Lightcliffe

Sister Mary’s widower John Bell Widower 73 General Labourer

Fanny J Ditto Dau 31 Carpet Filler

Next door to

Sister Mary’s daughter John Harrison 47 Head Engine Tenter

Sarah ditto Wife 39

Mary A ditto Dau 16 Dressmaker

Address

Walkers Building, Lightcliffe Road

Sister Sarah and husband George Sykes 68 Labourer (on roads)

Sarah ditto Wife 61

Address

Armytage Buildings, Halifax &

Wakefield Rd, Lightcliffe

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Brother Thomas’s widow Mary was buried on 24th July 1894 with her husband at St

Matthew’s Churchyard, Lightcliffe in plot F43 with the inscription:-

Thomas Naylor

Born January 6th 1814

Died October 12th 1880

Mary wife of the above

Born November 20th1816

Died July 21st 1894

Their daughter’s memorial inscriptions are along the side of the grave.

Ann PoGson

Born July 5th 1822

Died December 14th 1902

Isabella Naylor

Born November 11th

1860

Died December 7th 1912

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Sister Mary’s widower John Bell was also buried in St Matthew’s Churchyard ,

Lightcliffe on 6th February 1899 in plot B61 with the inscription:-

In memory of Mary Bell

the wife of JOHN BELL of Lightcliffe

who died November 2nd 1879 aged 62 years

Also of the above JOHN BELL

who died February 2nd 1889 [should be 1899] aged 81

years

Also of Fanny Jane daughter of the above

who died March 5th 1916 aged 56 years

Joseph Naylor’s brother in law George Sykes died on 18th March 1900 and was

buried in plot J72 (I72?) also in St Matthew’s Churchyard. And then, of course,

Joseph Naylor himself died on 10th / 11th January 1901 and was buried on 14th

January 1901 in the next grave to his sister, Mary Bell, in plot B62. Under the

heading grave owner for this plot B62 two names appeared, George Gaukroger and

then John Harrison with a date May 9/11 and the initials RPW. George Gaukroger

was the name of Joseph’s step son and John Harrison was the husband of his niece

Sarah Harrison nee Bell.

By the 1901 census the two widowed sister in laws, Harriet Naylor and Sarah Sykes,

lived next to each other in the Armitage Buildings, Hipperholme. Harriet was a 70

year old “Retired Domestic Servant” and 71 year old Sarah was “Living on own

means”.

Other Lightcliffe relatives this biography has tracked were recorded in 1901. Thomas’s remarried daughter in law Eliza Naylor Head Widow 63

Mary J ditto Dau 42 Carpet Setter

Bertha Naylor GrandDau 16 Cotton

Turner

Norman Ditto GrandSon 11

Address Wakefield Rd, Lightcliffe

Brother Thomas’s son John John Naylor Head 56 Shoemaker

Ann Naylor Wife 55

Smith ditto Son 26 Carpet Weaver

Hannah ditto Dau 22 Copyist Carpet

Designing

Fred ditto Son 20 Iron Moulder

Edith Dau 18 Assistant Teacher

Lewis Son 15 Grocer’s Assistant

Address East View, Lightcliffe

Sister Mary’s daughters John Harrison Head 52 Engine Tenter

Quarry

Sarah ditto Wife 50

Mary A ditto Dau 26b Dressmaker

Fanny J Bell Sister in law 41 Laundress

Address Sun Inn Buildings, Lightcliffe

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Not long after her husband died Harriet Naylor nee Gaukroger went to America to

join her sons George and Frederick who had already emigrated. At this point the

Harrisons took over the ownership of plot B62. Their daughter Mary Ann Harrison

married George Mallinson on 23rd January 1904 at Halifax parish church. He was a

32 year old “Hay and Straw Dealer” from Norwood Green, the son of Thomas

Bottomley Mallinson. They had three daughters Enid Mary born 11th November

1904, Nellie born 1st February 1907 and Dorothy born 10th March 1909 all in

Brighouse.

Nephew John Naylor died on 30th August 1909 aged 65 and was buried on 2nd

September 1909 in St Matthew’s Churchyard, Lightcliffe in grave plot F44, next to his

parents. His young, four year old daughter Mary Martha Naylor had already been

laid to rest there on 26th November 1881. Later, on 20th June 1927, his wife Ann,

aged 81 years, would be buried in the same plot having died on 16th June 1927.

Those surviving on 2nd April 1911 were recorded in the census as follows:-

Thomas’s widowed daughter in law Ann Naylor Head 65 Widow

Smith Naylor Son 36 Weaver

Lewis Naylor Son 25 Packer

Address

62 Smithy Carr Lane, Brighouse

Thomas’s remarried daughter in law Norman Naylor Grandson 21 Warehouse

Man Carpet Works

Eliza Naylor Head 73 Widow At Home

Mary Jane ditto 52 Dau 52 Setter Carpet

Works

Bertha Naylor GrandDau 26 Winder

Carpet Works

Address Wakefield Rd, Lightcliffe

Sister Mary’s daughters John Harrison Head 62 Quarry Engine

Man

Sarah Harrison Wfe 60

Fanny Jane Bell Sister in law 51 Char

Woman

Address 24 Huntock Place, Brighouse

Sister Mary’s granddaughter & family George Mallinson Head 41 Hay, Straw &

Corn Dealer

Mary Ann Mallinson Wife 36

Enid Mary Mallinson Dau 6

Nellie Mallinson Dau 4

Dorothy Mallinson Dau 2

Address 68 Marion St., Brighouse

Eliza Naylor died on 3rd May 1915 aged 78 and was buried in St Matthew’s

Churchyard on 6th May 1915 in plot H22 owned by her daughter. This daughter,

Mary Jane Naylor, was 63 years old when she died on 9th January 1922. She too

was buried in the churchyard in plot H20 on 12th January 1922. Another niece Fanny

Jane Bell was buried on 18th March 1916 with her parents in plot B61.

16

John Harrison died on 27th October 1926 aged 77 years. He was buried in St

Matthew’s Churchyard, Lightcliffe on 30th October 1926 in plot B62. This was the plot

where the Crimean War veteran, his uncle by marriage, was buried. John Harrison

probably took over the ownership of this plot when his widow Harriet Naylor nee

Gaukroger moved to America. It was also the plot next to where his wife’s parents

John and Mary Bell and one of their other daughters were buried.

At the time of the 1939 register Sarah Harrison, her daughter Mary Ann Mallinson

and all three granddaughters were living at 56 Elland Road, Brighouse. 88 year old

Sarah Harrison was described as being “Incapacitated” and no doubt being looked

after by her daughter Mary A. Mallinson who was doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties”.

Two of the granddaughters, Enid M. and Dorothy Mallinson were recorded as being

“Assistant Teacher (T.C.A)” whilst Nellie Mallinson was an “Engineer’s Wager Clerk”.

Sarah Harrison died on 1st July 1940 aged 89. On 4th July 1940 she too was buried

in plot B62 with her husband and her uncle, Dragoon Guard and Lightcliffe ‘legend’

Joseph Naylor.

This stone lies flat next to the Crimean War Veteran’s monument.

D. M.Barker

January 2016