Person Page - 16

     John Hirst was born circa 1792 at Cumberworth. He married Mary Hobson, daughter of Thomas Hobson and Ann Gaunt, on 9 December 1822 at Penistone.
In the census of 6 June 1841 he was listed as the head of household at Cumberworth as a fancy weaver.¹
John Hirst married Grace (?) on 21 June 1841 at the Parish Church, Huddersfield.²
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as the head of household at Common End, Skelmanthorpe, as a fancy waistcoat weaver aged 49.³
In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as the head of household at Common End, Skelmanthorpe, as a fancy waistcoat weaver.⁴
In the census of 2 April 1871 he was listed as the head of household at High Bridge Bar, Skelmanthorpe, as a turnpike gate keeper and yeast importer aged 70.⁵

     Isaac Binns was born on 24 October 1844 at Birkenshaw. He was the son of Abraham Binns and Sarah Mortimer. Isaac Binns was baptized on 15 December 1844 at Birstall.¹

He appeared as a scholar on the census of 30 March 1851 in the household of Abraham Binns and Sarah Binns at Birkenshaw.² Isaac Binns was educated  at various schools, with perhaps some first lessons in Birkenshaw. In his own writings he mentions four schools, Ben Preston's ( a Benjamin Preston is listed as a schoolmaster in the 1841 Batley census), a Methodist Day and Sunday school kept by Mr Hepplestone, the Grammar School, and the Wesleyan Day school kept by Mr. John Osborne. His obituary only mentions John Osborne's school, and it was there that he stayed on as a pupil teacher. We are told that although he passed his examinations early,"the scholastic profession was not adapted to one of so lively a temperament."

In that his book was originally a series of articles for the local paper which would have been read by friends and former schoolmates I see no reason for him to have given a false account. If he attended the Grammar School for a time, it may have been that his family could not afford to keep him there. His father died when he was thirteen, and this may have been preceded by a period of ill health. Isaac Binns was a half-timer at Bromley's mill, probably only a lad of twelve or so, and would have been able to contribute a shilling or two to the family income whilst still attending school for part of the day.

On leaving Mr Osborne's he found employment as a cashier at Messrs. Ward's provision merchants in Leeds.

In the census of 7 April 1861 he was listed as a scholar aged 16 the son of Sarah Binns at Soothill Lane, Soothill.³
Isaac Binns married Sarah Thurman Robinson, daughter of John Robinson and Grace Stubley, on 15 April 1868 at Wesleyan Chapel, Batley, by licence. He was described as a bookkeeeper on the marriage certificate.⁴

In the census of 2 April 1871 he was listed as a secretary in a woollen mill visiting his mother-in-law Grace Robinson.⁵

Isaac Binns; Dialect Author and editor

It was probably during the 1860s that became involved in the production of dialect almanacs which were something of a fashion at the time. The first of these seems to have been by Charles Rogers of Barnsley, who wrote under the pseudonym of "Tom Treddlehoyle" and whose Pogmoor Almenac first came out in 1843. Later the fashion spread to Batley.⁶
Isaac Binns was not the only Batley man to engage in writing these Almanacs, Abraham Lister was another.
One of his earlier ventures in dialect writing seems to have been "Tom Wallop" a humorous account of his experiences in the Birstall Rifle Brigade. If the Rifle Brigade's exploits were taken a little more seriously than those Isaac describes, there was sometimes, as at one encampment at which Benjamin Sheard was present with the Batley Brigade, an element of farce.
Isaac Binns was to produce his own dialect almanacs and similar writings, including:-

"T Bag o'Shoddy " written under the pseudonym of Uriah Wakatea. This is said to have been published by various publishers, and 1872 is said to have been the fourth year of publication.
"T'Coddy Miln" or more fully "T'Owd Original Coddy Miln Almanac" published by Senior of Heckmondwike.
"Heckmondwike Swashland Almanac" published by Senior of Heckmondwike

His obituary in the Batley News tells us of his editing other Almanacs, "Country Words", "T' Barnsla Foaks" and "Tommy Toddles" Almanacs, and writing serial stories including"Outlines and Notes," "On the Line" "The Argoanaut", "At the Last Victory" and "Fanny the Orphan" and "After Fifteen Years".⁷
Following the death of Charles Rodgers in 1874 he was to take on the role of "Tom Treddlehoyle" in editing the Pogmoor Almenac.

In October 1874 Isaac Binns was appointed Borough Accountant, succeeding Robert Shackleton, in which position he was to serve until his death. ( I do not know what Isaac earned, but his successor, cashier, of Soothill was awarded a salary of £200 per annum on his appaontment in September 1884).⁸ Isaac Binns seems to have tackled the isues involved in Local Authority finance with enthusiastic interest, and wrote a pamplet on the use of Sinking Funds to finance Public Works, in the form of a letter addressed to Alderman Fox. Another booklet is a series of Loans Repayment and Annuity tables for use by other accountants. On 1 March 1881 Isaac Binns and Michael Sheard were, with fifteen others, founder members of the Batley Antiquarian Society which met at the Princess Alice Coffee House in Wilton Street, Batley,  Sadly this was a short-lived Society, several of the early members dying in the next few years.

Isaac Binns must have had a wide circle of friends and correspondents, and among these was George Markham Tweddell , the Cleveland author, whose wife Elizabeth also wrote dialect works under her maiden name of Elizabeth Cole. George and Elizabeth were also strong supporters of a movement to improve conditions among the poor by giving them wider educational opportunities. This they put into practice by moving to Bury, where George became Head of a new Industrial School, and Elizabeth its Matron. On the closure of the school they returned to Cleveland, but with a growing family the 1870s saw a period of financial hardship and Isaac was one of the contributors to a "Purse of Gold" raised by George's friends to assist him.⁹
In November 1881 Isaac Binns received a letter from George with a biography of his wife, Elizabeth, whose work Isaac must have been interested in publishing.

From Village to Town

in 1882 came the publication of Isaac's book, "From Village to Town", subtitled,"A series of Random Reminiscences of Batley during the last 30 years."
The book betrays its origins as a series of newspaper articles, but, although partly written in a comic vein, tells us much about how our ancestors lived, worked, ate and even amused themselves. Isaac's anecdotes give us information about various characters mentioned elsewhere on this site including James Thurman, Robert Brearley, Abraham Lister, John Ward and Catherine Exley.¹⁰
Speaking of the unpaved, rutted, muddy roads of the Batley of his youth, he ascribes to John Beswicke Greenwood , old "Beswick" as he calls him, the epithet of "mucky Batley."¹⁰ Isaac Binns told of sitting in on Council Proceedings, and gave some account of the first Mayor, John Jubb.¹⁰
Isaac was cousin to Lizzie Stehr and I was charmed to hear from Jeannie Muller that her copy of "From Village to Town" was one that he gave to Lizzie.¹¹

Isaac Binns was a man of many interests, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical, English Dialect, Folk Lore; Yorkshire Archeological and Topographical societies. He is also said to have played an initiatory part in the formation of the Heckmondwike and Batley Naturalist Societies.
He is said to have caught a chill on a visit to Ingleborough, a favourite spot, on Good Friday and died on 6 August 1884 aged 39, the age at which his father had died. He was buried on 9 August 1884 at the Cemetery, Batley, following a service in Purlwell Wesleyan Chapel.
Obituaries brought tributes from friends, and in one a correspondent from abroad writes:-

"I was deeply grieved to read in your columns of the death of Mr Isaac Binns F.R.H.S. He was a man of culture, remarkable perception and brilliant talents. Though I believe his aquaintance with the classics was but of a limited extent, he possessed a very extensive knowledge of modern literature, and wrote pretty extensively in various directions. He deeply loved historical and archeological research, and was an ardent student of folk-lore. He was one of the best arithmeticians I ever knew, and I believe he could add up a column of figures, consisting of pounds, shillings and pence, all at the same time. But it was not merely in the working of accounts that he excelled, for perhaps he was one of the best financiers in the district. His knowledge of the general bearings of financial operations rank him as a thoroughly political economist. I never knew him take much interest in the political world; he preferred to rest in those calmer realms which are more congenial to a thoughtful student. He was a keen obsever of men and manners, and described his experiences in a 'racy' and interesting style, and many will miss the cheery welcome voice and mourn for the dear good fellow, who has left us for a happier country. He was not one of your morose students, who wouldn't enter into the pursuits of other men, but would set off with two or three companions and tramp 20 or 25 miles across the moors. He was a follower of Isaac Walton and often walked long distances with his line and rod. He liked sport, and whenever he shot at a bird or aimed at a target he was generally about the mark. He was one of the most energetic founders of the Birstall Rifle Corps, and to the last he remained an honorary member of the Batley movement. He was a respected member of the Order of Foresters, also an Oddfellow and a member of other societies. His kind disposition left many with happy memories of his personality."

Another obituary brought a poem, which can be seen by clicking on the icon here.¹²
(The paper has mistaken the author's name; this was by George Markham Tweddell , himself a dialect writer and more. Further information about him can be found at http://www.tweddellhistory.co.uk/).

     Sarah Thurman Robinson was born on 11 February 1848 at Batley. She was the daughter of John Robinson and Grace Stubley. Sarah Thurman Robinson was baptized on 16 March 1848 at Batley.
In the census of 7 April 1861 she was listed as as a scholar the daughter of John Robinson.¹
Sarah Thurman Robinson married Isaac Binns by licence, son of Abraham Binns and Sarah Mortimer, on 15 April 1868 at Wesleyan Chapel, Batley.²

In the census of 2 April 1871 she was listed with Isaac and their young son William visiting her mother Grace Robinson.³
Sarah Thurman Binns and her daughters Kate and Sarah visited Berlin, where my photograph was taken. I do not know if they were visiting friends or relations; it could be that they knew people working in the Blackburn mills or some other English venture.
Isaac had died in 1884, and in the census of 5 April 1891 she was listed as the head of household at 82 Purlwell Lane, Batley, as a widow.⁴
After thirteen years of widowhood Sarah Thurman Binns married William Todd in 1897.
Sarah Thurman Todd died on 20 November 1900 at Myrtle Cottage, Purlwell Lane, Batley, at age 52; aged 52 years.⁵ She was buried on 22 November 1900 at the cemetery, Batley.

     Willie Robinson Binns was born on 4 April 1869 at Batley.¹ He was the son of Isaac Binns and Sarah Thurman Robinson. Willie Robinson Binns was baptized on 25 April 1869 at Batley.¹
In the census of 2 April 1871 he was listed as visiting his grandmother Grace Robinson.² In the census of 5 April 1891 he was listed as as a clerk the son of Sarah Thurman Binns at 82 Purlwell Lane, Batley.³
In the census of 5 April 1891 he was listed as the head of household at 152 Purlwell Lane, Batley, Rate collector's clerk.
Willie Robinson Binns married Sarah Illingworth in 1896.⁴
In the census of 31 March 1901 he was listed as the head of household at Purlwell Lane, Batley, as a rate collectors clerk.⁵
Willie Robinson Binns witnessed the marriage of Arthur Senior and Sarah Grace Gertrude Binns on 7 August 1902 at Purlwell Wesleyan Chapel, Batley. Willie Robinson Binns died on 6 March 1933 at age 63.⁶

     John Sheard was born on 19 February 1807 at Batley. He was the son of Jonas Sheard and Eleanor Hey. John Sheard was baptized on 29 March 1807 at Batley.
He married Barbary Senior, daughter of David Senior and Sarah Castle, on 12 February 1827 at Batley witnesses James Sheard, Jos Scargill.¹
John Sheard died in 1831. He was buried on 1 October 1831 at Batley
; aged 24.¹ He was described in a death notice as a cloth miller and member of the Batley Band, of which his brother James was at one time the leader.²

     Kate Binns was born on 22 September 1871 at Batley.¹
She was the daughter of Isaac Binns and Sarah Thurman Robinson. Kate Binns was baptized on 22 October 1871 at Batley.¹

In the census of 5 April 1891 she was listed as as a clerk the daughter of Sarah Thurman Binns at 82 Purlwell Lane, Batley.²
Kate Binns married John Edward Webster in 1895.³
In the census of 31 March 1901 Kate Webster was listed at 107 Dark Lane, Batley, as wife of John Edward Webster.⁴
Kate Binns died in 1949 at Gomersal.

     Abraham Arthur Binns was born on 7 December 1873 at Birstall.¹ He was the son of Isaac Binns and Sarah Thurman Robinson. Abraham Arthur Binns was baptized on 12 April 1874 at Batley.¹
In the census of 5 April 1891 he was listed as a stonemason's apprentice the son of Sarah Thurman Binns at 82 Purlwell Lane, Batley.²
Abraham Arthur Binns married Florence Singleton in 1899.³
In the census of 31 March 1901 he was listed as the head of household at 12 Belvedere Road, Batley, a stonemason.
In the census of 2 April 1911 he was listed as the head of household at 88A Purlwell Lane, Batley, as a stonemason.⁴
Abraham and family emigrated to America in October 1920 sailing on the S.S. Haverford from Liverpool to Philadelphia. In the census of 1930 he was listed as the head of household at Haddon Township, Camden, New Jersey, as a contractor, concrete.⁵
Abraham Arthur Binns died on 18 August 1959 at California, USA, at age 85.⁶

     John Eldon Binns was born in 1876. He was the son of Isaac Binns and Sarah Thurman Robinson. In the census of 5 April 1891 he was listed as the son of Sarah Thurman Binns at 82 Purlwell Lane, Batley.¹
John Eldon Binns married Bessie North in 1902.²
In the census of 2 April 1911 he was listed as the head of household at 21 Rydall St., Holbeck, Leeds, as a foreman.³

     Henry Bayliss Binns was born in 1879.¹ He was the son of Isaac Binns and Sarah Thurman Robinson. Henry Bayliss Binns died in 1880.

     Sarah Illingworth was born circa 1873 at Osset, Yorkshire. She married Willie Robinson Binns, son of Isaac Binns and Sarah Thurman Robinson, in 1896.¹
In the census of 31 March 1901 Sarah Binns was listed at Purlwell Lane, Batley, as wife of Willie Robinson Binns.²
Sarah Illingworth died on 28 February 1955.³

     Isaac Binns was born in 1900 at Batley. He was the son of Willie Robinson Binns and Sarah Illingworth. In the census of 31 March 1901 he was listed as aged 6 months the son of Willie Robinson Binns at Purlwell Lane, Batley.¹
Isaac Binns died in 1982 at Batley.

     Frank Binns was born in 1905. He was the son of Willie Robinson Binns and Sarah Illingworth. Frank Binns died in 1979.

     Jane Blakeley was born on 16 January 1802. She was the daughter of Abraham Blakeley and Martha Colbeck. Jane Blakeley was baptized on 6 February 1802 at Batley.
She married Joseph Parker, son of Matthew Parker and Hannah Preston, on 8 November 1828 at Batley.^1,2
In the census of 6 June 1841 Jane Parker was listed at Providence Place, Batley, as wife of Joseph Parker.³
In the census of 30 March 1851 Jane Parker was listed at Providence Street, Batley, as wife of Joseph Parker.⁴
In the census of 7 April 1861 Jane Parker was listed at Providence Street, Batley, as wife of Joseph Parker.⁵
In the census of 2 April 1871 Jane Parker was listed at Providence Street as wife of Joseph Parker.⁶

     Maria Blakeley was born on 10 December 1799. She was the daughter of Abraham Blakeley and Martha Colbeck. Maria Blakeley was baptized on 25 December 1799 at Batley.
She married Joseph Smith, son of Richard Smith and Grace Hall, on 6 June 1819 at Batley witnessed by John Blakeley, Jo.Chadwick. He writes, she makes her mark.¹
In the census of 6 June 1841 Maria Smith was listed at Havercroft, Batley, as wife of Joseph Smith.²
In the census of 30 March 1851 Maria Smith was listed at Commercial St, Batley, as wife of Joseph Smith.³
In the census of 7 April 1861 Maria Smith was listed at New Street, Batley, as wife of Joseph Smith.⁴

     William Blakeley was born on 13 January 1761.¹ He was the son of John Blakeley and Sarah Swallow. William Blakeley was baptized on 16 January 1761 at Batley.
He married Hannah Newsome, daughter of Samuel Newsome and Susanna Swallow, on 27 July 1783 at Batley.¹
William Blakeley lived at Havercroft i in 1792.
He died on 19 December 1831 at Batley at age 70. William's Gravestone in Batley Parish churchyard says " for upwards of 50 years counter-singer in this Church."²

     Maria Blakeley was born in 1763. She was the daughter of John Blakeley and Sarah Swallow. Maria Blakeley was baptized on 20 March 1763 at Batley.¹
She married John Sheard, son of George Sheard and Hannah Blakeley, on 22 November 1784 at Batley both make their marks. Witnessed by William Blakeley and Thomas Parr.¹
Maria Blakeley died in 1817 at Batley. She was buried on 19 March 1817 at Batley ; aged 54.¹

     Mary Blakeley was born in 1772. She was the daughter of John Blakeley and Sarah Swallow. Mary Blakeley was baptized on 18 October 1772 at Batley.

     James Pyrah was born in 1754. He was the son of Joshua Pyrah and Sarah Beaumont. James Pyrah was baptized on 16 October 1754 at Batley.
He , described as of Batley, married Jemima Sheard, daughter of James Sheard and Sarah Killingbeck, on 25 August 1777 at Dewsbury.¹
James Pyrah was buried on 31 March 1816 at Batley ; aged 62.²

     John Blakeley was born on 14 October 1784. He was the son of William Blakeley and Hannah Newsome. John Blakeley was baptized on 24 October 1784 at Batley.¹
He married Mary Blackburn, daughter of Samuel Blackburn, on 8 August 1808 at Batley witnesses Wm Myers and Samuel Blakeley.¹
In 1823 He may have been the John Blakeley mentioned in the fourth part of a deed of 1823 as in occupation of "that large and commodious scribbling and fulling mill lately erected" -------this on a piece of land near Rouse Mill , and mentioning appurtenances and rights to draw water from Wooler Beck to work a steam engine or engines. In the census of 6 June 1841 he was listed as the head of household at Havercroft, Batley, as Woollen M, aged 50.²
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as the head of household at J Ward's Hill, Batley, as a hand weaver of cloth, a widower aged 66.³

     Sarah Blakeley was born on 24 January 1768.¹ She was the daughter of John Blakeley and Sarah Swallow. Sarah Blakeley was baptized on 16 March 1768 at Batley.

     Sarah Williamson married Thomas Stubley, son of John Stubley and Susanna (?), on 28 June 1727 at Dewsbury.¹
Sarah Williamson died in 1787. She was buried on 4 July 1787 ; as widow of Thomas Stubley of Batley.¹

     Abraham Binns was born circa 1820 at Wardle, Lancs. He was the son of Thomas Binns and Mary (?). Abraham Binns appeared as an agricultural labourer on the census of 6 June 1841 in the household of Mary Binns at Birkenshaw, Birstall.¹ Abraham Binns married Sarah Mortimer, daughter of William Mortimer and Betty Hopkinson, on 26 May 1844 at Birstall.²
In the census of 30 March 1851 he was listed as the head of household at Birkenshaw as a woolcomber, woollen.³
Abraham Binns and his family seem to have moved to Batley soon afterwards, and he is said to have worked as a woolsorter for Abraham Brooke , a leading Batley wool merchant.⁴
Abraham died on 8 February 1859.   He was buried at Gomersal Grove Independent Chapel.
An inscription on his grave there read:-
; "In memory of Abraham Binns of Batley who departed this life 8th Feb 1859 aged 39 years. Also three children who died in their infancy. Also of Mary Elizabeth daughter of the above said Abraham Binns, who departed this life on 9th April 1864 aged 7 years 3 months.
Also Isaac Binns Borough Accountant of Batley, eldest son of the above. Died 6th August 1884, aged 39 years and was interred in Batley cemetery."

     Samuel Blakeley was born on 16 August 1786. He was the son of William Blakeley and Hannah Newsome. Samuel Blakeley was baptized on 18 September 1786 at Batley.¹
He married Elizabeth Stubley, daughter of David Stubley and Ann Colbeck, on 4 November 1805.
In the census of 6 June 1841 he was listed as the head of household at Havercroft, Batley, as a woollen fuller.²
Samuel Blakeley died on 30 November 1847 at Batley at age 61.³

     Richard Swallow married Hannah Woodcock on 27 February 1727/28 at Birstall.¹

     Hannah Newsome was born in 1758. She was the daughter of Samuel Newsome and Susanna Swallow. Hannah Newsome was baptized on 17 August 1758 at Batley.¹
She married William Blakeley, son of John Blakeley and Sarah Swallow, on 27 July 1783 at Batley.¹
Hannah Newsome died on 17 November 1829.