This page includes life stories, death stories and reports about different people in all branches of my family tree, I hope that the reader finds it interesting.

 

 

THIS IS TAKEN FROM THE KEIGHLEY NEWS AND BINGLEY CHRONICLE DATED SATURDAY 2ND JANUARY 1943

 

Mr. and Mrs. Blakesley, of Holmeleigh, Harding Houses Crosshills, are very proud of their family record in the war for they have four sons and a son-in-law, who lived with them, serving in the Forces.

Gunner Joseph Blakesley of the Royal Artillery anti-tank gun section, joined in June 1940 and is now with the Eighth Army in the Middle East. He was at El Alamein and said in the last letter received that he had been spending a day sight-seeing in Tunis. In civil life he worked in the woolcombing department at Hayfield Mills.

Private Thomas Blakesley is in the Pioneer Corps and had served two and a half years. Before the war he was employed by Messrs. Woodrow at Junction Mills. He is serving in England.

The third son is Gunner Ronald Blakesley Royal Artillery, and so far as is known, is at present in Algiers. He joined the Forces in September last. In civil life he worked at the Sutton Wood turneries.

The fourth is Able-Seaman Harry Blakesley, serving with the Royal Navy, near Ceylon. He joined the Navy two years ago. Previously he worked at Hayfield Mills Glusburn.

The fifth member of the family is the son-in-law Flight-Sergeant Harry Wass now in the R.A.F. and previously in the Royal Hussars. He had nine years service with the regular army in India, was in the first Lybian campaign and also saw service in Crete, and while serving in that area had to swim several miles before he was rescued. He has served for over three years. His little boy was born four months after Sergeant Wass went to the Middle East and he has not yet seen him. He is attached to the Eighth Army in the Middle East.

The two remaining members of the family, Lawrence and Sam Blakesley are expecting to join the Forces shortly.

 

Lawrence did in fact join the Royal Navy and was at some point serving in Malta. Harry did not see his son until the war ended.

 

 

A SKIPTON CHILD DROWNED.

______

 

FALL INTO CANAL DURING PLAY.

 

A drowning tragedy, involving the death of a two-year old child, occurred at Skipton on Friday morning, the victim being Harry Burrows, an infant son of Mr. and Mrs. James Burrows, of 37, Eastgate, Skipton. The child, who was playing with an elder brother, ran down the steps leading from Coach Street Bridge to Springs Canal and stumbling, fell into the water. At the time there were no pedestrians about, and when help was forthcoming the child was dead.

 

The inquest was conducted on Friday evening last by the Craven district Coroner (Mr Edgar Wood).

 

Evidence of identification was given by the child’s father, who stated that the boy was aged two years and ten months. He went out at 10.50 a.m. on Friday morning with his brother, saying that he was going to play in the back street. He had not been out for a fortnight owing to the illness of another brother. Witness was at work at Keighley at the time and did not hear of the tragedy until 12-15 p.m..

 

The circumstances of the fatality were described by deceased’s brother, John Burrows, aged six years. “We went into the back street to play,” he said, “and Harry ran away from me down the steps to the canal. I ran after him and saw him fall into the canal. His feet caught in a “nick,” and he tumbled. I tried to get him out but could not reach him. I shouted but no one came, so I went and told my mother.” He added that he was looking through a shop window when his brother ran away from him.

 

MOTHER’S DISTRESS.

 

  Esther Atkinson, 4, Canal Street, Skipton, stated that at 10.50 a.m. on Friday she heard Mrs. Burrows shout “Oh dear me, my child’ what shall I do?” Fearing that something was amiss, she ran down to the canal and saw the boy in the water on the opposite side to the towing path. He was face downwards. Witness sent someone for a boat-hook and ran for a doctor. She had seen the children a little while before and told them to go home, and a day or two previously she had told them not to go near the water.

 

George Hewit, a plumber, of the Kings Arms Hotel, Skipton, said he was walking over Coach Street Bridge when he saw a woman who appeared to be in trouble, and on looking into the canal saw a child lying face downwards in the water. He went for a boat-hook and recovered the body and waited until medical aid was forthcoming. The child was dressed and his limbs were quite free, and witness saw no bleeding at all.

 

Dr. J. Barlow said he was called to see deceased at 11-45 a.m., and proceeded immediately to Coach Street Bridge. The child had been got out and he and Dr. G. A. Fisher applied artificial respiration until 12-45 p.m. but without producing any sign of life. He thought death would be due to drowning and not to shock.

 

The Coroner returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE TRANSCRIPTION OF THE STONE AT SKIPTON CASTLE (James Burrows)

 

A new entrance to the castle was built, with a chamber above, and a 

flight of steps leading up to the gateway. Above the entrance is the 

following inscription : — 

 

 

 

 

This Skipton Castle was repayred 

BY THE Lady Anne Clifford, Covntess 

Dowager op Pembrookee, Dorsett, and 

Montgomery, Baronesse Clifford, West- 

 

MERLAND, AND VeSEIB, LaDY OP THE HONOVR 

 

OF Skipton in Craven, and Shiripf- 

esse by inheritance OF the covntie 

of Westmorland, in the ye ares 1657 

 

and 1658, AFTER THIS MAINE PART OP ITT HAD 

LAYNE RVINOVS EVER SINCE DECEMBER 16- 

48, AND THE JaNVARY FOLLOWINGE, WHEN 

ITT WAS THEN PVLLD DOWNE AND DEMOL- 

ISHT ALMOST TO THE POVNDACON BY THE 

COMMAND OF THE PARLIAMENT, THEN 

SITTINGE ATT WESTMINSTER, BECAVSE 

ITT HAD BIN A GARRISON IN THE THEN 

CIVILL WARRES IN ENGLAND. ISA. CHAP. 

 

58, VER. 12. God's Name be praised. 

 

 

 

Jepson's Hospital 3 Water Skellgate Ripon

The hospital was founded by Zacharias Jepson an apothicara from Ripon in the year 1672. It was a home for orphan and poor boys. They were clothed and educated up to the age of 15 and a half. 

The hospital itself was the home of Zacharia Jepson and as stated in his will it was converted into the hospital to be managed to his wishes.

Above the front door there is a stone plaque with the inscription STIPS PAUPERUM with another plaque above the door of the masters  house with the inscription MEHITA MEA MISERATIO DOMINI ZACHARIAS JEPSON 1672.