people

Lister Lane Cemetery contains memorials to the people of Halifax, from the period between 1842-1969, from wealthy industrialists to ordinary working people. These are a few examples.

147. Francis Crossley 1817-1872. Manufacturer, Liberal MP, Creator of Halifax’s Peoples Park. Youngest son of John and Martha Crossley, founders of the Dean Clough carpet factory, he and his two brothers ( buried beside him) expanded the business so that it became the largest in the world. below: The People’s Park, designed by Paxton.

156. William Dyer dd.1895 First Governor of the Halifax Union Workhouse, Gibbet St, (below).

4200. Daniel Milton. 1780-1856, veteran of the battle of Waterloo, and under Wellington in the Iberian Peninsular war which shook the Napoleonic advance. A volunteer soldier, he served for 21 years. Buried in a public grave with no headstone, registered as labourer.
(below: Daniel’s medals)

5577. Ben Rushton, 1785-1853, hand-loom weaver , trained as a methodist preacher, campaigned throughout his life for the rights of the working classes, became a respected grass-roots leader in the Chartist movement. 10,000 people attended his funeral, which was mentioned in a dispatch by Karl Marx.

456. JH Whitley MP, Manufacturer: Cotton Spinner; Speaker of the House of Commons; Chair of Governors of BBC; first speaker on the World Service; turned down a knighthood on principle..

2892: Henry W Pohlman-
dd 1874. Pianomaker and grandson of Johannes Pohlman of Hanover, maker of the first pianoforte to be made in England in 1765.
Henry brought the family firm to Halifax in 1823. (below: one of Johannes’ pianos dated 1769, at Shibden Hall)

3353. William Duckworth.

Past Master. dd. Mdcccliv. Tyler of the Masonic Lodge of Probity, Southwood, Hx. The 1767 by-laws of the lodge required the Tyler to stand guard at the entrance, naked sword in hand, and refuse entry to anyone improperly clothed.

3936. William Henry Birtwhistle 1846-71. Carpet weaver, son of boot and shoe maker Thomas, initially on Bull Green. William followed his older sisters into factory work at the age of 5, attending school part time. Played the organ at Sion Congregational Church. Died of TB before birth of second child.

475. Joseph Dearnley Taylor, 1829-1902 .Co-founder and

first Secretary of the Halifax Permanent Benefit Building Society.

539. Rev. Michael Pickles, dd 1877. A Wesleyan Missioner in the settler country of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick from 1829, Pickles was the first “saddlebag” preacher for a large area covering 37 preaching places. He died in Halifax, Yorkshire , having returned for a brief visit.

801. George Henry Ainley, dd W Africa 1887, aged 34. George sailed as ship’s surgeon for the British & African Steam Navigation Company, which imported Palm Oil and Ivory from Africa. While the ship was loading at Port Lagos, George played in a cricket match between the European residents and ship’s officers. George contacted sunstroke, died the next day, and was buried at sea.

2064. Lt Adjutant John Hebden dd 1852, aged 73, served in the the Voltigeurs militia unit, raised from French Canadian inhabitants to fight alongside British troops defending lower Canada against American invasion. Mentioned in dispatches in 1813 for his bravery at the battle of Chateauguay when 400 Voltigeurs, Fencibles, and 170 Mohawk Indians routed 4,000 men under American General Hampton.