Obituary for Mrs Halewood

[Ann Morris]

Thank you for adding me to the Accrington Web. I am trying to find out information about my father's family. I know that he was born in Widnes and have traced his father and grandfather, also to Widnes. I have come across a cutting from an unidentified and undated newspaper referring to Mrs Halewood who died in her 72nd year at her daughter's home, Dowry Street, Accrington. The funeral was held at "the church and Clayton Cemetery." I presume the Church referred to was the Moscow Mill Street United Methodist Free Church as she is described as the widow of a formal chapel keeper. I had assumed she was my great grandmother, widow of Oscar Halewood, but I was not aware that he had moved to Accrington from Widnes in order to be a chapel keeper there. Mrs Halewood is described as being a dedicated socialist, and as having written to the "Advertiser" many times under a nom de plume. I am guessing it is a reference to the "Accrington Advertiser" which appears only to have existed under that name for two years. She is also described as attending meetings held at Crawshaws Hall.
Can anyone help with:-
1. Where I would find records of Chapel Keepers at the Moscow Mill Street united Methodist Free Church.
2. Where I can find archives for the Accrington Advertiser.
3. Where I can find records of those buried at Clayton Cemetery.
4. Any sources of information about active socialist groups in the Accrington area.
If this is my great grandmother, Emily Halewood, she would have died in 1931.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[cashman]

Sorry to be no help at all, but where is Clayton Cemetery?

[Margaret Pilkington]

I think the cemetery on the corner of Dill hall Lane and Queens Road West was known as Clayton Cemetery.
Although there is a cemetery attached to All Saints Church.....but I do not think that is the one.
I think that maybe the Library in Accrington would be the best place to seek out some of these answers....there are people at the library who have the expertise to research these issues.
It may be worthwhile e-mailing them Ann....or maybe a phone call.
They can be reached on this number. 01254 872385.
Their e-mail address is [email protected]

I hope this will provide you with the help to find the answers

[ferret man]

Think there were one or two graves in the church grounds on Barnes Square, can't think what gang it belonged to could have been Methodist's

[Margaret Pilkington]

Yes those did belong to the Methodist church, but this was not called Clayton cemetery.
I am convinced that it is the large cemetery on the corner of Dill Hall

[ossy kid]

Ann, the cemetery you are talking about is named that way because it is situated between the towns of Church and Clayton and as Margaret says

[ossy kid]

is on the end of Queens Rd. Sorry about the break.

[Margaret Pilkington]

I always knew it as Clayton cemetery....thank you for confirming that Ossy kid.

[ossy kid]

The Halewood buried at Church and Clayton cemetery is Hannah Halewood died Feb 1902 widow of William Halewood who died May 1899. They lived at 36 Nelson Square until the death of William when Hannah move to 64 Dowry St Accrington.

[cashman]

I was brought up from about 6/7 yrs old at 58 Dowry St. but that would be long after the Halewoods had gone, the Smiths lived at number 64 when i was yon that would be mid 50s.

[ossy kid]

I guess to answer your question Ann, this Mrs Halewood is not you gran BUT it is the Halewood on your clipping, William Halewood was a chapel keeper on his death notice. They lived in Oswaldtwistle until his death and then Hannah moved in with her daughter Hannah Gastall and James a grocer at 64 Dowry St Accrington. Hannah's maiden name was Houghton of Witton born 1830.

[ossy kid]

Following up Ann, the above Hannah and William are your gt grand parents, their son Oscar married married Emily Currier in June of 1877 at Immanuel Church Oswaldtwistle. Oscar died in March of 1933 in Prescot.
In the 1911 census the family were Oscar, Emily Ernest,Alec,Jessie and Albert and they lived at 47 Mersey Rd Widnes, Oscar was the foreman at a chemical works.
Hope this answers most of your questions. Regards, Bryan.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Well done Ossy Kid.....you have given this new member a good lump of information and I am sure she will be delighted with it.

[Ann Morris]

Thank you so much for all this information and for taking the trouble to pursue it. It is really helpful. I am planning to visit Widnes next year sometime, looks like I should come to Accrington as well.

[Ann Morris]

Thank you for your help. This has all been such a help.