George Schofield

Author: David Massey (re-edited April 2023

George Schofield, lived at Brow Top, was an over looker at a local mill and died on 10 March 1926 (born 1856 / 57). Buried with his second wife Sarah Jane and one of his daughters named Irene Jane Massey (nee Schofield).

A memorial can be found to his first wife in the churchyard at Christ Church in Friezland.

Research at the moment is as follows:

George Schofield (my great grandfather, born 1856/57) married his first wife Ellen Elizabeth Wood on 9 Sept 1885 at Christ Church in Friezland. They had 3 children:
Esther Ann Schofield, born 1886?
Mary Novella Beatrice Schofield, born 1 July 1887
Sarah Ann Schofield, born 1888

Ellen Elizabeth died on 25 March 1888 and I have seen her memorial in the churchyard at Christ Church.

George Schofield married his second wife Sarah Jane Taylor (my great grandmother) on 27 March 1899. They also had 3 children:

Mary B Schofield, born 1898?
George Enoch Schofield, born 18 Sept 1899
Irene Jane Schofield (my grandmother, born 21 July 1901, died 14 Dec 1996)

Sarah Jane died on 28 March 1917 and George died on 10 March 1926, with the memorial that you located being in the New Yard.

There are three family members, in particular, which I’m now trying to learn about.

Mary Taylor (one of Sarah Jane Taylor’s sisters and therefore my great great aunt). Born 26/06/1856, died 29/03/1952. Mary seems to have been a fascinating character, best described in a newspaper cutting recording her death as “Saddleworth’s oldest resident”. I’m attaching a copy of the cutting, a picture of Mary, her baptism record (apparently at St Chad) and, for interest, her probate. And the section in the cutting about her riding in a trap on Sundays from Greenfield to Holmfirth – that would have been quite a trip…

Mary Taylor is buried in Saddleworth Churchyard, along with her mother Mary (Buried 16/06/1897), father Enoch (Buried 27/09/1886), and her sisters Annie (Buried 08/06/1926) and Harriet Eliza (Buried 15/07/1939) and infant brother.

Maria Novella Beatrice Holmes, nee Schofield (one of George Schofield’s daughters and therefore my great aunt). Born 1 July 1887, married Neville Gladstone Holmes in 1918, died 23 August 1965. I don’t know whether she died in Saddleworth, so a search may draw a blank.

Charles Philip Holmes (Maria’s son and so my uncle, whom I never met). Born 23 June 1922, died 7 May 1988. If I can locate Charles’ grave I have a hope that it may give a clue as to whether he had children who would be my generation and so may still be alive today.

Enoch had 6 children (plus the unexpected reference to an infant death) Mary, Harriet Eliza, and Annie are in the same grave. The Parish Records indicate that they lived at Waterside Mill, Greenfield. Census records 1891 indicate Waterside Cottages. S meaning all the children were single at this time.

Sarah Jane my great grandmother being located in the grave of George.

As a benefit of the clearance work that has been done since our last visit we happened upon another family grave. That of her brother John Kenworthy Taylor.

John Kenworthy Taylor, (Buried 20/06/1916) his wife Emma Elizabeth (Buried 10/05/1923), and their daughter Hilda Mary (20/11/1956)

The whereabouts of Enoch’s other Son Charles Taylor, remains a mystery. Born 4/09/1862 and died 27/11/1935. There is the suggestion that he lived for some time in Huddersfield at a Surgical Home ? so perhaps not buried in Saddleworth!