Exley Chronicle Biographical Sketches

Description

Five pages of typed biographical sketches supplementing the Exley Chronicle (Typed). These provide detailed life stories for the seventh and eighth generation descendants of Robert Exley of Halifax (d.1647) who are “not in the direct line of descent to Albert Errington of Wellington, N.Z.” — that is, siblings and cousins of the direct NZ line.

Header note: “These are notes on some of the children of the seventh and eighth generations from Robert of Halifax, but who are not in the direct line of descent to Albert Errington of Wellington, N.Z.”

Transcription

Page 1

THOMAS EXLEY of Manningham and Parkwood House. 1812-95.

Seventh generation from Robert Exley of Halifax who died in 1647 [sic; Robert (1787-1867) was 6th generation]. Thomas was the eldest child of Robert and Jane Exley who had fourteen children and was born at High House, Rawdon, on 14 January 1812. Still in his father’s death [sic] in 1867 he helped at the farm at Croft House. I do not think Thomas ever took a position, but he was ever ready at heart to help neighbouring farmers. He was exceedingly fond of animals and of nature and knew about them that he had learnt in. Some were his special lodges. He never played a play or was not inclined to be a scholarly company. Thomas was probably less tall than his brothers, clean-shaven with brown hair and kindly forget-me-not blue eyes. Usually he wore the dress of a farmer except on evenings and Sundays. When his brother Joseph re-built Fourcross House in 1875 Thomas and the five sisters removed there from Brockroyd, where he died in May 1890 [sic; heading says 1895].

JOHN EXLEY of Manningham and Stonefall. Worsted Spinner. 1814-77.

Seventh generation. John was born on 6th September 1814, and was the second child of Robert and Jane Exley. He was born at High Rhodes. He married Anne Steel (date unknown). Their children were:

Elizabeth b. 1842. m. Mildred Virr of Girlington, in Parish Church Knaresborough, 8th September 1863. Their children were: Emily Virr b. 1866 m. Charles Edwin Short, 9th September 1891; Esther Atkinson b. 1868 d. young. Elizabeth and her husband Mildred lived at Otley. On her mother’s death their daughter Emily seems to have lived with her grandparents at Stonefall, Harrogate, and later with her Aunt Annie, Mrs. Ridgway of Sourceworth.
Robert b. 28th February 1844. m. Mary Conyers of Leeds in 1879.
Louise Jane b. 11th July 1852. m. Herbert Lewhist of Woodlawn, Apperley Bridge, 1878, at St. Paul’s Church Manningham. d. 21st July 1904. Their children were: Mabel, Nora, Florence, Norman.
Annie Sophia b. 31st November 1854. m. James R. Ridgway of Dewsbury, a member of the Society of Friends. They both died in 1921. Their only living child was Constance b. 9th July 1876, m. Arthur Middleton, Yacht builder of Gosport. Their children: Dorothy and Cyril.
John Henry (Jack) b. 17th August 1857. m. Lucy E. Speight 1884. He died 11th March 1919, at Beckett’s Park Hospital, Leeds.
Arthur b. 1859. d. from an accident in S.E. Africa 1887.
Charles b. 23rd October 1864. m. Alice E. Smith of Winchester, 1902. He died through an accident in U.S.A. in June 1927.

On leaving school John was taught the business of wool-stapling, not settling to that he became a fell-monger for a time. Then he took a farm at Winterburn in Craven, near Rylstone. Tiring of that he returned to wool-stapling and finally became a worsted spinner and manufacturer, in this he was said to be successful. John and Anne lived at Valley Field House, Hillam Rd., Manningham until 1872. The house was then offered for sale. It was described as containing dining, drawing and breakfast rooms, entrance hall, kitchen & storeroom and bathroom etc., on the ground floor; three bedrooms on the second floor, good cellaring and outside a garden, stable, coach house & other outbuildings. The house was not sold then for Robert, John’s eldest son lived there after his marriage. Later the Valley Field House was sold to the Midland Railway Co., and the present Manningham Station was built on its site.

John bought a beautiful old house at Stonefall, Starbeck Road, Harrogate, which is still in existence although part of the property has been made into a [?]. When John bought it he also bought its contents including much beautiful furniture, china and silver. He did not live long to enjoy its beauties. The daily journey to his business at Friminghaml from Harrogate proved trying and on returning home on 5th April 1877 he had a heart attack at Harrogate Station and died before he reached Stonefall.

John was buried on 1st November in the Graveyard at Manningham Chapel near the tomb of his father. After his death John’s sons carried on the Friminghaml Mill which John had bought from William and Joseph Hargreaves, worsted spinners of the Coral Company. Eventually the Bradford Corporation obtained a provisional order to acquire the property for the extension of their sewage farm.

Page 2

ANNE EXLEY of Croft House and Guiseley, Cross Green and Children. 1807-[?].

Seventh generation. Anne was the [?] child and second daughter of Robert and Jane Exley. She was born at Croft House in 1807. Anne married her second cousin, [details partially illegible]. [Text discusses Anne’s life, including property details and family circumstances.]

JANE EXLEY of Broomhays and Parkwood House. 1814-1930 [sic; possibly 1832-1926].

Seventh generation. Jane was the [?] child and third daughter of Robert and Jane Exley. She was born on 6th September 1832 at Croft House. [Discusses ownership of her father’s house and her husband’s death.]

Page 3

ETHEL EXLEY of Saltaire Bridge and Eastbrook Hall, Bingley. 1876-1938.

Eighth generation [sic; likely seventh]. Ethel was the ninth child and fourth daughter of Robert and Jane [?] Exley. She was born 27th March 1876 at Croft House, Rawdon. [Detailed life at Saltaire Bridge and Bingley, including church involvement.]

JANE EXLEY of Manningham and Fourcross House. 1814-1920 [?].

Seventh generation. Jane was the seventh child and third daughter of Robert and Jane Exley. She was born at Croft House in 1829 [?]. [Details about her life.]

SAMUEL EXLEY of Croft House and Croft House Rawdon.

Seventh generation. Samuel was the sixteenth [?] child and fourth son of Robert and Jane Exley and was born 23rd April 1838 [?] at Croft House. After leaving school he was apprenticed to his brother William as a loom mechanic. [Details about his working life, marriage, and family.]

Page 4

GEORGE EXLEY of Manningham and Fourcross House. 1834-1928 [?].

Seventh generation. [Details about George’s life, including his connection to Fourcross House, Bradford. Mentions his wife and children.]

JOSEPH EXLEY of Fourcross House, Rawdon. Wool-Stapler. 1836-1907.

Seventh generation. Joseph was the thirteenth child and sixth son of Robert and Jane Exley, and was born at Croft House on [?] December 1836 [?]. [Details about his business as a wool-stapler.]

ROBERT EXLEY of Manningham and United States of America. 1841-[?].

Eighth generation from Robert of Halifax d.1647. Robert was the eldest son of John and Anne Exley of Manningham, and was born in 1841 at Friminghaml [?]. In connection with the business he was involved with at Friminghaml Mill. [He eventually emigrated to America.]

To 1911 [?] Robert served on the Bradford City Council. After the Friminghaml Mill was up [for sale], he emigrated to America. [Details about his life in America.]

Page 5

JACK HENRY EXLEY of Finthorfield and Cape Town, S. Africa. d.1914/19.

Eighth generation from Robert of Halifax d.1647. John Henry, personally known as Jack, was the fifth child and second son of John and Anne Exley of Manningham and Harrogate. He was born at Valley Field House on 17th August 1857. Like his brother Robert he became a member of his father’s firm at Friminghaml.

During the 1914-18 war Jack joined the Army and was a Captain in the R.A.S.C. He died [from illness/wounds] 1918/19, was at Beckett’s Park Hospital, Leeds, and was interred at Lancaster Cemetery.

ARTHUR EXLEY of Manningham and United States of America. 1859-1887.

Eighth generation from Robert of Halifax. Arthur was the sixth child and fourth son of John and Anne Exley of Manningham and Harrogate. He was born at Valley Field House. He died in S.E. Africa from an accident in 1887.

CHARLES EXLEY of Cape Town, South Africa. 1882-[?].

Eighth generation from Robert Exley of Halifax d.1647. Charles was the [youngest?] son of John and Anne Exley of Manningham and Harrogate. [Details about his life in South Africa.] Charles was in England again in 1937 and we had the pleasure of seeing him.

People Mentioned

Seventh generation (children of Robert 1787-1867 and Jane Exley):

Thomas (1812-1895) — eldest, farmer, never married
John (1814-1877) — worsted spinner, m. Anne Steel, d. Stonefall
Anne (1807-?) — m. [cousin]
Jane (1832-1926?) — m. [?]
Ethel (1876-1938) — lived at Saltaire and Bingley [date seems too late for 7th gen]
Samuel (b. c.1838) — loom mechanic
George (1834-1928?) — Fourcross House
Joseph (1836-1907) — wool-stapler, rebuilt Fourcross House

Eighth generation (children of John 1814-1877 and Anne Steel):

Elizabeth (b.1842) m. Mildred Virr
Robert (b.1844) m. Mary Conyers, emigrated to USA
Louise Jane (1852-1904) m. Herbert Lewhist
Annie Sophia (1854-1921) m. James R. Ridgway
John Henry “Jack” (1857-1919), m. Lucy Speight, d. Beckett’s Park Hospital
Arthur (1859-1887), d. S.E. Africa
Charles (1864-1927?), m. Alice E. Smith, d. USA

Significance

These sketches provide rich biographical detail about the 19th-century Rawdon Exleys, filling in the social and domestic history beyond the genealogical data in the main Chronicle. They describe daily life, property ownership, occupations, and family relationships in the Rawdon/Bradford/Bingley/Harrogate area. Key details include John’s Valley Field House becoming Manningham Station, the Friminghaml Mill business, and family members emigrating to South Africa and the USA.

Exley Family History

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