Gomersall Family History, Gomersall genealogy and Gomersall family trees

William Joseph Gomersall
(1855-1916)
An Autobiography
Part 1 - The first decade

This manuscript autobiography of William Joseph Gomersall was found in the 'Speight Collection' in Bradford Library Archive. WJ, as the family knew him, always aspired to be a poet and 'The Craven Poet' at that. This autobiography was written in 1897 when he was aged 52 and he probably intended that it might eventually form part of a publication of his works.

Nov 7th 1855	Born - Birthplace : Otterburn-in-Craven, a pretty hamlet - of 7 houses situated in the centre (or nearly so) of the Deanery of Craven - a land of Green Hills, Crags and Blue Mountains,- corresponding to the Skipton Livision of N.W. Yorkshire (North-West Riding of that county) - one of Yorkshires most beautiful and romantic districts - called by Mr. Harry Speight, the Yorkshire historian : 'TheCraven Highlands!' (Elliot stock 1892).

1855	Otterburn-in-Craven (Not its Northumbrian namesake) - is situated on the banks of the Otter Burn! Hence its name! This little stream I have dignified in my poems by the title of 'The Otter': The hamlet itself I have called 'The Heart of Craven' in a poem bearing for its superscription the above expression, and sketched out (and written for the most part) on my mother's birthday anniversary: January 10th 1892. During the journey from St. Leonard's to London, after preaching at the former place - at, least at Silverhill close by, where it is said the air is worth a guinea a - mouthfull?! This poem is quoted in Mr. Harry Speight's 'Craven Highlands' (see page 1 of M.S.) as containing 'a descriptive stansa, happily setting off the aspects of the place, (ie. Otterburn),' and is considered one of my best efforts. Thus much of my birthplace - at all events for the present.

1855 - 1865	Parentage: The eldest son of William and Agnes Gomersall. My Father: a Craven 'Statesman' (ie.'Yeoman'), who was born at Otterburn, his father, a native and resident of Gomersal, a township, belonging to Birstall, near Dewsbury, in the Spen valley. (N.B. I find Gomersall spelt with two l's in Dugdale and the Slauford(?) map), hence: Gomersal (one l -is the ancestral home of the Gomersalls (two l's) - my father's brother* was Lieut. Col. Gomersall, a 'much-respected officer under Wellington in the Napoleonic wars' (see Speight) [* should. read grandfather's brother.] My father : He did much to beautify Otterburn, but the estate was sold in 1885, and he has since retired to Skipton - the capital of Craven,- where he, and mother, and a surviving sister (Carrie), still reside. My father was, in his balmy days, a 'keen sportsman', an 'authority and writer on agricultural matters' (Speight), and he is the author of a 'brochure' entitled: 'Hunting in Craven' (Craven Herald Offices, Skipton). He is now in his 77th year, and bears age with a remarkable 'greeness'.

1855 - 1865	My Mother: a descendant of a Quaker (Society of Friends) family, traceable to the village of Ballater (Ireland), where Abraham Shackleton* kept a school,- my mother's maiden name is Shackleton-! and where the famous Edmund Burke was a pupil,- and an intimate friend of Richard Shackleton son of Abraham Shackleton. [* This is incorrect] My mother was born at Leeds (West House, New Wortley), the daughter of Joseph Shackleton, a corn Miller and she is the 'true and tender' mother of 11 of us, - 7 of whom survive! No trace of her birthplace remains - cottages now cover the site, and my fathers (and our) birthplace at Otterburn has undergone such structural change as to be hardly recognisable - such is the 'irony' of fate, in which word perchance, a sort of pun lies hidden!

1855 - 1865	The first decade of my life was spent at Otterburn - in - Craven,- during which time I was ever Natures fondest nursling. My education was attended to first by Dame Hudson (who lived at 'The Cottage' - one of the 7 'apple-garthed' houses of the hamlet) and then by a. resident Governess. Things distinctly remembered: 1.) A terrible thunderstorm: 2.) The fall of the ivy at 'The Cottage' and Dame Hudson's removal to Bell Busk 3.) School at Bell Busk - cold, and rheumatic fever -! 4.) Being bitten in the cheek by one of my fathers dogs!
	Part 2