The Family of James Crossley of Leeds

He was born about 1802 at Leeds.

X James Crossley, cloth dresser, married X Jane Walker, spinster, both of the parish, at St Peter's Leeds, after banns on 2 June 1834.  The witnesses were William Costelow and Thomas Thackrah.

The information in the marriage certificate of son James Walker Crossley matches the details in that of son William Crossley and the use of the name 'Walker' ties James and therefore his brother, William, to the cloth dresser then the innkeeper.

In 1841 at Pilot Street, Leeds, James was aged 30 a cloth dresser journeyman, Jane was aged 25, John aged 15 a warehouse boy, Sarah was aged 6, James was aged 3 and Emma was aged 1.  All were born in the county.

In the census of 1851, at Pear Street, James Crossley was aged 48, a cloth dresser and Jane was 57 (sic, but unlikely to have a 5 year old son - could it be 37?). Their children were Sarah Ann aged 16, Flax Mill, James, aged 12, a half timer Mill (i.e. he worked at the mill half the time whilst he was still at school), Emma aged 11 or 10, William aged 6 and Thomas aged 5, all born in Leeds. There is some perplexing variation in the data, compared with later censuses - the order of birth of the children seems sound though. In the Leeds directory of 1854 there was no Alfred Cross Street in the Street Index. It was also absent in the 1861 street index to the census.

In the census of 1861, at 2 Pease Street, James was aged 52, a press setter. His wife Jane was aged 47 and their children were William, aged 16 a setter press printer and Thomas, aged 13 a setter press printer. All were born in Leeds. In 1864, James' son, William, was married from Alfred Cross Street. James was described as an inn keeper . In 1866 James (as Jas) was living at a beerhouse, at 14 Alfred Cross Street, Leeds . Alfred Cross Street is described as being in Little London. In 1867 James' son, James Walker, was married from Cross Alfred Street. James is described as an innkeeper. In 1870 James was living at Oatland Inn, 14 Alfred Cross Street, Leeds. He was a beer retailer .

In 1864, James's son, William, was married from Alfred Cross Street.  James was described as an inn keeper.

In 1866 James (as Jas) was living at a beerhouse, at 14 Alfred Cross Street, Leeds.  Alfred Cross Street is described as being in Little London.

In 1867 James' son, James Walker, was married from Cross Alfred Street.  James is described as an innkeeper.

 

In 1870 James was living at Oatland Inn, 14 Alfred Cross Street, Leeds.  He was a beer retailer.

In 1871, at 19, Lorraine Street, James was aged 63, a retired innkeeper. His wife, Jane, was aged 57, and son Thomas was 23, a currier. All were born in Leeds.

James Crossley died 8 December 1877 at Belfort Street, Meanwood Road, Leeds (registered in the December quarter 1877 in the Leeds district, aged 70).  Probate of his will was granted 21 December 1877 at Wakefield to William Crossley, 17 Gower Street, Leeds, shoe manufacturer, the son (Thomas Thwaites lived in Gower Street in 1851) and Joseph Lister, Buslingthorpe Lane, Leeds, cow keeper, the executors.  James’s effects were under £50.  He was formerly of Rugby Road, Meanwood Road and late of Belfort Street, Meanwood Road, Leeds.

In 1881, Jane was living with her son James W. at 7 Rugby Place, Leeds. She was a widow aged 68 and born at Leeds.

There is a suitable death entry in the GRO indexes for Jane Crossley, aged 71, in the December quarter 1884, in the Leeds district (9b 361)3.

James and Jane's children were:

  1. Sarah Ann, baptised 31 August 1834 at St Peter's Leeds
  2. George, baptised 3 January 1836 at St Peter's Leeds
  3. James Walker, birth registered in the June quarter 1838 in the Leeds district (23 394)
  4. Emma, born about 1839 at Leeds
  5. William, born on 18 May 1844 at 10, Green Street, Leeds (North), father, a cloth dresser .
  6. Thomas, born about 1847/8 at Leeds

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Posted February 2017