Birstall Church (Gomersall memorials and graves) Jeffries Map (Showing the Gomersall home)

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1st Wife

Mary Lodge Beverley

2nd Wife

Agnes Shackleton

Children

William Joseph
Hubert
Frederick
Elizabeth
Mary
Agnes Hilda
Edward
John Ellis
Caroline
Harriet

Siblings

William Thomas
Mary


William Gomersall
(1821-1900)

William Gomersall of Otterburn was born on 26th November 1821 and christened at Kirkby Malham Church on Christmas Day. He went to Kirkby Malham School ('The Lambert School') which had been founded in 1604 and flourishes to this day albeit in a different location. In 1845 his father William Gomersall of Rectory Farm, Birstall Church, died, and by whose will inherited Hill House Farm in Otterburn, comprising 150 acres.

His sister Mary who was married to Joseph Holroyd, a draper in Halifax also inherited 150 acres in Otterburn. His brother William Thomas Outhwaite who was apprenticed to a Mr Spence a chemist and druggist in York, also inherited 150 acres in Otterburn.

Hill House farm had been tenanted by William Moorby and his wife Bridget from William's father, prior to William taking over in 1844.

The 1851 census shows William farming 320 acres, as he had now aquired additional land from his sister Mary Holroyd who with husband Joseph was carrying on a draper's business in Halifax.

William married Mary Lodge Beverley on 6th November 1844 at Wakefield Parish Church . Mary was born in Bank Newton the daughter of a farmer, John Beverley . Mary's unmarried brother, Anthony, was also living with them at Hill House jointly farming the 320 acres.

They had no children and Mary sadly died of peritonitis on 20th February 1853, aged 32. She is buried in Kirkby Malham Church yard by the south east wall.

 


William married again on 29th November 1853 in Leeds to Agnes Shackleton daughter of Joseph Shackleton a Corn Miller in Wortley, Leeds.

 

 



They lived together for the next 47 years until William's death in 1900. Agnes died on 25th November 1918 aged 86. By the 1861 census William and Agnes had 3 sons and 2 daughters, William, Hubert, Frederick, Elizabeth and Mary.

 

 



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