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Kenyon Family Early History in Halifax
This part of the website will be continuously upgraded. Contributions from will be welcome (please email graemekenyon@hotmail.com)
Contents Go direct to each chapter by clicking on the chapter headings below.
Chapter 1 Origins.
Chapter 2 Joseph Kennan and Hannah Willey. The Willey Family of Northowram. The Birth of John Kenyon.
Chapter 3 The Kenyon Family in Norland, Halifax 1841
Chapter 4 The Kenyon Family in South Street, Halifax 1851
Chapter 5 Thomas and Elizabeth in Chaple Street, Halifax 1851
Chapter 6 The Kenyon Family Emigrate to New Zealand 1855 - 1857
Chapter 1 Origins
Joseph Kenyon
In recent years it has been assumed that the Kenyon family originated in Halifax, since our ancestor John was born and raised there. However no early documents have been found (so far) linking John's father Joseph to that parish.
In fact there is some evidence (1851 census) that Joseph was born in the town of Langwith, in Nottinghamshire - and that when he married Hannah he was a widower (see below) - and that he already had two children of his own (Thomas and Sarah Ann)
And since no record has been found (so far) of the birth of Thomas or Sarah Ann in Halifax it is possible that Joseph Kenyon was previously married in another place (perhaps Nottinghamshire) and came to Halifax as a widower, with two children, some time in or before 1831.
So far, efforts to find Joseph Kenyon's origins, or details of his early marriage, have been unsuccessful.
Researcher Kathryn Hughes wrote:
"The Nottinghamshire parish records have proved that there were some Kenyon’s living in Langwith at about the time that Joseph may have been there. They have also opened up the possibility of one of the two Ann’s being the mother of Joseph Kenyon.
"The Nottinghamshire parish records have proved that there were some Kenyon’s living in Langwith at about the time that Joseph may have been there. They have also opened up the possibility of one of the two Ann’s being the mother of Joseph Kenyon.
This newspaper article also establishes a link with Kenyon’s at Langwith. Could William be a brother of Joseph?"
The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent (Sheffield, England), Tuesday, November 05, 1878; pg. 3;
Issue 7528. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II
"Further research
The microfilm for Norton Cuckney St Mary’s parish registers could be ordered up from the Latter Day Saints so browse the entries and see if the baptism of Joseph could be located." (Kathryn Hughes 2012)
Issue 7528. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II
"Further research
The microfilm for Norton Cuckney St Mary’s parish registers could be ordered up from the Latter Day Saints so browse the entries and see if the baptism of Joseph could be located." (Kathryn Hughes 2012)
The two Anns referred to above are referenced here, from Kathryn Hughes:
"Langwith
1805 5 Sept Ann Kenyon age 50 (est birth 1755) buried at Norton Cuckney St Mary
1827 16 Dec Ann Kenyon age 64 (est birth 1763) buried at Norton Cuckney St Mary
Could one of these be Joseph’s mother? The transcriptions for Norton Cuckney St Mary start 1798 so it is possible that Joseph’s baptism is in the records not yet transcribed."
1805 5 Sept Ann Kenyon age 50 (est birth 1755) buried at Norton Cuckney St Mary
1827 16 Dec Ann Kenyon age 64 (est birth 1763) buried at Norton Cuckney St Mary
Could one of these be Joseph’s mother? The transcriptions for Norton Cuckney St Mary start 1798 so it is possible that Joseph’s baptism is in the records not yet transcribed."
Further research is necessary.
(When Joseph Kenyon married Hannah Willey in 1831, the record states that he was a widower.
Also, his first two children (Thomas and Sarah Ann) were both born before 1832.
So far we do not know the name of his first wife, when they married or when she died.
According to dates inscribed in the family bible, the first child (Thomas) was born on 21 December 1824,
at which time Joseph would have been 30.
The first wife must have died prior to 1831).
Was Charlotte Field the first wife of Joseph Kenyon?
A number of "trees" on Ancestry.com have assumed that the first wife of Joseph Kenyon (and the mother of Thomas and Sarah Ann)
is Charlotte Field (father William Field) who was baptised in August 1796 at Huddersfield (St Peter), just a few miles south of Halifax.
Indeed, there is a record of a marriage between Joseph Kenyon (labourer) and Charlotte Field (spinster) both of Halifax
on 30 March 1823, at the Parish Church of Halifax.
If it is the same Charlotte Field, she would have been 27 and Joseph 29. Their first child (Thomas) born about 9 months later.
We can say only that the marriage seems to have been at the right time
and in the right place.
Two other points of interest:
One of the witnesses is John Kenyon who made his mark "x"
(suggesting that Joseph may have a brother named John
or perhaps his father was named John.
The other point of interest is the name of the second witness (Thos. Beaver) who has no connection with the family but appears on most of the marriage certificates at that time. The same Thos Beaver witnessed the marriage between Joseph "Kenny" and Hannah Willey some 8 years later.
Perhaps we can infer that the marriages have taken place in the same church.
However, so far, there is no other evidence to support the assumption the Joseph Kenyon who married Charlotte Field is our person of interest.
We have no record of the births of Thomas and Sarah Ann or the death of Charlotte .
We have no record of the births of Thomas and Sarah Ann or the death of Charlotte .
Extensive research by Kathryn Hughes led her and me to the conclusion that our Hannah is descended from this family.
They are a part of a wider family, mainly of stone masons, who lived in Northowram.
The head is John Willey who in 1790 married Martha Fernside.
There were at least eight chidren from this marriage: James, Thomas, Hannah, Mary, Grace, Ann John and Samuel.
Hannah's mother Martha died in 1804 when Hannah was nine years of age.
John Willey then married Hannah Farrar and this couple produced at least four more children: George, Sarah, Jonas and Henry.
These four children were baptised at the non-conformist Halifax Square Independant Chapel.
(Note the marriage of George Willey to Nancy Gledhill in 1834. Later, in New Zealand, there is evidence of a long-standing connection between the Kenyons and Gledhills of Halifax.)
Hannah's mother Martha (nee Fernside) was buried on 18 April 1804, and John Willey re-married (to Hanah Farrar) six months later on 20 November 1804.
Kathryn Hughes wrote:
"Hannah Willey was only 9 when her mother died shortly after giving birth to her brother Samuel who unfortunately soon followed his mother. Her father John was left to look after the remaining 4-5 children. The youngest being around 2 years of age, it is not surprising that he quickly remarried.
John was obviously Christian, expressing his wish to be “buried in decent Christian burial” in his will. However it would appear that Hannah (nee Farrah) was non-conformist.
It is interesting to note that less than a year after her death when her son Henry died, although he was baptised as non-conformist, he was buried by his father in the Parish Church.
Hannah was 16 when her step mother [Hannah nee Farrar] died and as the eldest daughter may have had to help bring up her younger step-siblings. The youngest, Henry, was only 3 months old when his mother died, and only survived a further 7 months.
By the time John Willey made his will in 1824 he had moved from Northowram to Skircoat however no indication is given as to his exact address."
This last paragraph confirms that this Willey family had moved from Northowram to Skircoat by 1824, and is further evidence that this is indeed the family of "Hannah Willey, spinster of Skircoat" who married "John Kennan" in 1831.
Kathryn Hughes found the will of John Willey and transcribed it. She wrote:
"He seems to be of Christian faith and comes across as a loving father wanting his money to be split equally amongst his children and for the interest from his estate to be used “to pay a rent for a house for the children to live together” as their mother and step mother had already died. He also names and gives each child something separately."
"He seems to be of Christian faith and comes across as a loving father wanting his money to be split equally amongst his children and for the interest from his estate to be used “to pay a rent for a house for the children to live together” as their mother and step mother had already died. He also names and gives each child something separately."
Here is a summary provided by Kathryn, followed by the original document and transcript:
(The original "tree" provided by Kathryn Hughes mistakenly showed Thomas and Sarah Ann Kenyon as being the children of Joseph's wife Hannah.
The was done before we realised that Hannah was Joseph's second wife.
I have altered Kathryn's family tree here by correcting that error.)
John Willey 1830 - Will transcribed by Kathryn Hughes
In the name of God Amen.
John Willey mason in the parish of Skircoat in the County of York being very sick and weak and in perfect mind and memory thanks be to God calling into mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hand of Almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors nothing doubting but at the general resurrection it shall receive the same by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life.
I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form First I leave three hundred pounds of good and lawful money to be equally divided amongst my dearly beloved children when the younger child arrives at the age of twenty one years.
It is my devise that the interest which may arise for the money to pay a rent for a house for the children to live together to be a home for the children unmarried what surplus of money after the rent is paid the remainder to buy other materials for the house whatever the executors may think is most necessarily wanted for the benefit of the children that is not married.
Two hundred pounds is now in the hands of Messrs John Edwards & son Pye Nest near Halifax and one hundred pounds in hands of Miss Jowett Sowerby Bridge near Halifax if the above should albeit holding the money in their hands until the youngest child be twenty one years of age and pay interest on the same then the executors shall lodge it in some Bank or on land security.
When the youngest child arrives at the age of twenty one then shall the household furniture be distributed as follows viz
first I give unto my son James one silver pint and a large bible
second I give unto my son Thomas the children’s bed and bedding
third I give unto my daughter Hannah her bed and bedding
fourth I give unto my son John a mahogany chest of drawers
fifth I give unto my son George ? chest of drawers and cupboard
sixth I give unto my daughter Sarah an oak chest of drawers and an hand board
seventh I give unto my son Jonas the clock but if he should happen to die before he arrives at the age of twenty one then my son James to have the clock
and it is my devise that all the furniture to remain altogether until the youngest arrives at twenty one except some should marry and then if agreeable they shall have the lots as ordered before
eight I give unto my daughter Sarah the “ “
It is my desire that if any of the eight children should die before the youngest arrived at age of twenty one then the money must be equally divided amongst what children is living but if any should marry and have children and father or mother should die then the child or children to have the father or mothers share of the three hundred pounds but if any of my children should marry and die and have no children their shares to be divided amongst my children whatever may be living at the time before mentioned. What is written in this is a correct copy as spoken by John Willey.
In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal the first day of Janr one thousand eight hundred and twenty four the executors to be James Willey and Joseph Walton.
John Willey
Witnesses Joseph Walton, James Willey and Thomas Willey
Passed 1st Febr 1830
1.1. John Willey 1830 – Administration
The same day the will of John Willey late of Skircoat in the parish of Halifax in the Diocese of York deceased was proved by the ? of James Willey his son one of the Executors to whom Admon was granted having first sworn duly to administer.
Under £450
In the name of God Amen.
John Willey mason in the parish of Skircoat in the County of York being very sick and weak and in perfect mind and memory thanks be to God calling into mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hand of Almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors nothing doubting but at the general resurrection it shall receive the same by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life.
I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form First I leave three hundred pounds of good and lawful money to be equally divided amongst my dearly beloved children when the younger child arrives at the age of twenty one years.
It is my devise that the interest which may arise for the money to pay a rent for a house for the children to live together to be a home for the children unmarried what surplus of money after the rent is paid the remainder to buy other materials for the house whatever the executors may think is most necessarily wanted for the benefit of the children that is not married.
Two hundred pounds is now in the hands of Messrs John Edwards & son Pye Nest near Halifax and one hundred pounds in hands of Miss Jowett Sowerby Bridge near Halifax if the above should albeit holding the money in their hands until the youngest child be twenty one years of age and pay interest on the same then the executors shall lodge it in some Bank or on land security.
When the youngest child arrives at the age of twenty one then shall the household furniture be distributed as follows viz
first I give unto my son James one silver pint and a large bible
second I give unto my son Thomas the children’s bed and bedding
third I give unto my daughter Hannah her bed and bedding
fourth I give unto my son John a mahogany chest of drawers
fifth I give unto my son George ? chest of drawers and cupboard
sixth I give unto my daughter Sarah an oak chest of drawers and an hand board
seventh I give unto my son Jonas the clock but if he should happen to die before he arrives at the age of twenty one then my son James to have the clock
and it is my devise that all the furniture to remain altogether until the youngest arrives at twenty one except some should marry and then if agreeable they shall have the lots as ordered before
eight I give unto my daughter Sarah the “ “
It is my desire that if any of the eight children should die before the youngest arrived at age of twenty one then the money must be equally divided amongst what children is living but if any should marry and have children and father or mother should die then the child or children to have the father or mothers share of the three hundred pounds but if any of my children should marry and die and have no children their shares to be divided amongst my children whatever may be living at the time before mentioned. What is written in this is a correct copy as spoken by John Willey.
In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal the first day of Janr one thousand eight hundred and twenty four the executors to be James Willey and Joseph Walton.
John Willey
Witnesses Joseph Walton, James Willey and Thomas Willey
Passed 1st Febr 1830
1.1. John Willey 1830 – Administration
The same day the will of John Willey late of Skircoat in the parish of Halifax in the Diocese of York deceased was proved by the ? of James Willey his son one of the Executors to whom Admon was granted having first sworn duly to administer.
Under £450
The Birth of John Kenyon
According to the entry in the Kenyon bible, John Kenyon was born January 18 1833
Chapter 2 Joseph Kennan and Hannah Willey
In 1831 Joseph Kennan married Hannah Willey.
It is almost certain this is a record of our ancestors Joseph and Hannah, and the earliest positive record of them found so far.
Joseph Kennan of Halifax, Hostler, Widower
Hannah Willey of Skircoat, spinster
Married by Banns, 9th February 1831
Joseph Kennan (his mark)
Hannah Willey (her mark)
by Robert Lanath (Curator)
witnesses
Wm. Rushworth
Thos. Beaver
(Evidently the witness Thos. Beaver is connected with
Hannah Willey of Skircoat, spinster
Married by Banns, 9th February 1831
Joseph Kennan (his mark)
Hannah Willey (her mark)
by Robert Lanath (Curator)
witnesses
Wm. Rushworth
Thos. Beaver
(Evidently the witness Thos. Beaver is connected with
the Church, not the family of Joseph or Hannah, as his name appears on many of the contemporary marriage documents.)
Variations in name spelling are common in early documents, and usually of no significance.
Neither Joseph nor Hannah "Kennan" appear to have been literate, and would have relied on the registrar,
who would have spelled their names as he heard them.
Joseph's occupation at that time, hostler (or ostler) means that he was a groom or stableman, employed to take care of horses,
probably at an inn.
Neither Joseph nor Hannah signed their names. Both made their mark "X"
Neither Joseph nor Hannah signed their names. Both made their mark "X"
Joseph is recorded here as now living in the parish of Halifax, presumably with the children from his previous marriage,
Thomas and Sarah Ann, who would have been aged about 7 and 5 years respectively.
Hannah Willey is originally from Northowram, near to Halifax, as evidenced by the 1851 census record (see later)
and there is evidence of Hannah's family having moved from Northowram to Skircoat where she is now living, according to this record.
At the time of the marriage, Joseph and Hannah were both aged about 37.
The Willey Family of Northowram
The 1851 census document which records Joseh's place of origin as Langwith, Nottinghamshire,
also records that Hannah's birth place was Northowram, today an outer suburb of Halifax.
There are many Willey families in this area.
The 1851 census document which records Joseh's place of origin as Langwith, Nottinghamshire,
also records that Hannah's birth place was Northowram, today an outer suburb of Halifax.
There are many Willey families in this area.
The baptism of John Kenny 1834
The baptism document is not very clear, but by reference to other entries it can be transcribed as follows:
In the Parish of Sowerby Bridge, Halifax, York, 1834
When baptised: Oct. 3 born Janry 18
Child's Christian Name: John
Parents Name: Joseph and Hannah Kenny
Abode: Halifax
Trade: Carter
Ceremony performed by C. Roper
It is possible to infer from this document that John Kenyon's date of birth has been recorded here as January 18 1834.
Some later documents also carry this inference.
However it seems more likely that the date given in the family bible, probably by John himself, January 18 1833 is more likely to be correct.
Chapter 3 The Kenyon Family in Norland, Halifax, 1841
1841 Census record
Parish of Halifax
Joseph Kenyon 47 Far??er y
Hannah ditto 46 y
Thomas ditto 16 labourer y
Sarah ann ditto 13 y
John ditto 7 y
It seems at first glance that Joseph's occupation is "farmer" but this is unlikely as "farmer" means the owner of a farm and there is no evidence so far that Joseph owned a farm. It is possibly a transcription error. It is possible also that it means "farrier" which is an occupation to do with the care of horses. Indeed it may even be a mis-transcription of "carrier" from the census ennumerator's original notes. Joseph was previously reorded on his son John's baptism record in 1833 as "carter".
1841 Census record
Parish of Halifax
Township of Norland
Address: "Top oft Moor"
Address: "Top oft Moor"
Joseph Kenyon 47 Far??er y
Hannah ditto 46 y
Thomas ditto 16 labourer y
Sarah ann ditto 13 y
John ditto 7 y
It seems at first glance that Joseph's occupation is "farmer" but this is unlikely as "farmer" means the owner of a farm and there is no evidence so far that Joseph owned a farm. It is possibly a transcription error. It is possible also that it means "farrier" which is an occupation to do with the care of horses. Indeed it may even be a mis-transcription of "carrier" from the census ennumerator's original notes. Joseph was previously reorded on his son John's baptism record in 1833 as "carter".
The designation "y" beside each of the names means they are recorded as having been born "in this county". However no birth record of Joseph, Thomas or Sarah Ann has been found so far, in "this county."
Top Of't Moor is no longer "on the map".
However, researcher Kathryn Hughes provided an 1834 map of Norland which pinpoints the locality.
Norland is a rural area in
the Parish of Halifax.
It is on the south western outskirts of Halifax,
It is on the south western outskirts of Halifax,
near to Sowery Bridge
Top of't Moor was located near or among the buildings which exist today at the end of Kitson Lane.
Kathryn Hughes wrote to me in 2012:
"Norland Map 1834 [see map below]
The Norland township map of 1834 is in a poor state of repair, luckily the section showing Joseph Kenyon’s house in 1841 was just visible above the mend. It clearly shows the house as “Top ‘oft Moor” and when compared with the previous map in section 2.1 it can be seen that it was later known as Moor Farm.
"Norland Map 1834 [see map below]
The Norland township map of 1834 is in a poor state of repair, luckily the section showing Joseph Kenyon’s house in 1841 was just visible above the mend. It clearly shows the house as “Top ‘oft Moor” and when compared with the previous map in section 2.1 it can be seen that it was later known as Moor Farm.
The map was accompanied by a valuation book although this was for a slightly later date 1845.
It shows Top ‘Oft Moor in the ownership of Joseph Rosser Sanderson and leased to James Fielding It gives details of the property which includes 11 fields 687-697 and a number of buildings including a chemical works!..."
"...We hoped to ascertain from the Registry of Deeds at Wakefield was searched to try to ascertain how long Joseph Kenyon had been at Top’ oft Moor Norland and whether he owned the property.
We knew from the Norland 1805 valuation that the property that Joseph Kenyon lived in was called Clayhouse and owned by John Dyson and later in 1845 that it was called Top ‘Oft Moor and owned by Joseph Rosser Sanderson (see previous report dated 6/7/12 section 1).
On 8 Feb 1809 there was a deed entered for
John Dyson of Clayhouse (wife Elizabeth) and Nathanial Binns of Norland cordmaker
Farm or tenement previously known as Moor Farm and all and every cottage, barn, stable and other hereditaments and appurtenances
Formerly in the occupation of Isaac Walton his assigns now in the occupation of James Whiteley.
However all other references to John Dyson although they refer to Clayhouse it is apparent that they were not related to the property in Norland it seems that when he left the property he took the name ‘Clayhouse’ to use at his next property at Elland cum Greetland.
The only entry for Joseph Rosser Sanderson within the register was for a property in Leeds not Halifax.
There is no record of the property changing hands from John Dyson to Joseph Rosser Sanderson."
It shows Top ‘Oft Moor in the ownership of Joseph Rosser Sanderson and leased to James Fielding It gives details of the property which includes 11 fields 687-697 and a number of buildings including a chemical works!..."
"...We hoped to ascertain from the Registry of Deeds at Wakefield was searched to try to ascertain how long Joseph Kenyon had been at Top’ oft Moor Norland and whether he owned the property.
We knew from the Norland 1805 valuation that the property that Joseph Kenyon lived in was called Clayhouse and owned by John Dyson and later in 1845 that it was called Top ‘Oft Moor and owned by Joseph Rosser Sanderson (see previous report dated 6/7/12 section 1).
On 8 Feb 1809 there was a deed entered for
John Dyson of Clayhouse (wife Elizabeth) and Nathanial Binns of Norland cordmaker
Farm or tenement previously known as Moor Farm and all and every cottage, barn, stable and other hereditaments and appurtenances
Formerly in the occupation of Isaac Walton his assigns now in the occupation of James Whiteley.
However all other references to John Dyson although they refer to Clayhouse it is apparent that they were not related to the property in Norland it seems that when he left the property he took the name ‘Clayhouse’ to use at his next property at Elland cum Greetland.
The only entry for Joseph Rosser Sanderson within the register was for a property in Leeds not Halifax.
There is no record of the property changing hands from John Dyson to Joseph Rosser Sanderson."
"Land tax valuations were carried out every year in Norland they were searched from 1795 to 1832 however there was no entry for any Kenyons. The early valuations just include names of those paying the tax later the name of the property owner is also included. Using the name of the owner that we already know the property occupied by Joseph Kenyon in 1841 could be traced through the records
1783 James Whitley paying tax
1831 property registered as owned by John Dyson occupied by Thomas Fernside
1832 property registered as owned by John Dyson and occupied by George Binns
This is consistent with the previous valuations that had been searched at Calderdale archives in Halifax where in 1805 the property was owned by John Dyson and let to James Whitley but by 1845 owner and tenant had changed."
To this informtion can be added a land tax record found on Ancestry.com which shows Joseph Kenion occuying land in Norland in 1840,
the property of Mr. Sanderson.
This suggests that Joseph Kenion was not the owner of the land at Top of't Moor, but the occupier of a small part of it, and makes it quite unlikely that he was a "farmer" as apparently recorded in the 1841 census.
At this time, I would infer that his occupation may have been transcribed as "farrier" since he is variously recorded in other places as "ostler" "carter" and possibly "carrier" - all occupations associated with the care and use of horses.
Kathryn Hughes continues, in 2012:
"1.1. Geography of Halifax
Halifax parish was one of the largest in the country containing 23 townships, one of which was the township of Halifax itself the smallest of the 23 townships but with the largest population. It stands on the high slopes of the Pennines.
Ancient Halifax comprised three general levels, at the bottom are wooded valleys, above the woods are fields and farms above them is moorland. The moors were too wild for cultivation the valley bottom too steep and wooded to clear for farms therefore most early settlements of the parish were on the hills.
“Raistrick, Sowerby, Norland, Heptonstall, Illingworth, Soyland and Northowram were formerly the centres of trade and population... these upland situations held pre-eminence until the end of the eighteenth century... In those early days, when Halifax, Sowerby, Norland, Elland and other places contained very few houses, the men worked on large fields there were common to the township or hamlet. Each hamlet was like one farm and the produce of their fields was shared among the inhabitants” (Hanson, 1995).
"1.1. Geography of Halifax
Halifax parish was one of the largest in the country containing 23 townships, one of which was the township of Halifax itself the smallest of the 23 townships but with the largest population. It stands on the high slopes of the Pennines.
Ancient Halifax comprised three general levels, at the bottom are wooded valleys, above the woods are fields and farms above them is moorland. The moors were too wild for cultivation the valley bottom too steep and wooded to clear for farms therefore most early settlements of the parish were on the hills.
“Raistrick, Sowerby, Norland, Heptonstall, Illingworth, Soyland and Northowram were formerly the centres of trade and population... these upland situations held pre-eminence until the end of the eighteenth century... In those early days, when Halifax, Sowerby, Norland, Elland and other places contained very few houses, the men worked on large fields there were common to the township or hamlet. Each hamlet was like one farm and the produce of their fields was shared among the inhabitants” (Hanson, 1995).
Churches marked:
1 Halifax St John
2 Sowerby Bridge Christ Church
3 Sowerby St Peter’s
4 St Bartholomew Ripponden
5 St Mary’s Elland
5 St Mary’s Elland
6 St Matthew Raistrick
7 St Anne Southowram
8 St Matthew Lightcliffe
9 St John Coley
10 St Mary’s Illingworth
10 St Mary’s Illingworth
11 St Mary’s Luddenden
12 St Thomas the Apostle Heptonstall 13 St Pauls Cross Stone Todmorden
1.2. History of Halifax (1700-1860)
In 1714 during Daniel Defoe’s ‘Tour of Britain’ he provides a useful insight into the life of working people in the parish of Halifax:
“The sides of the hills, which were very steep every way, were spread with houses, and that very thick; for the land being divided into small enclosures, that is to say, from two acres to six or seven acres each, seldom more; every three or four pieces of land had a house belonging to it.
[The people were] all full of business; not a beggar, not an idle person to be seen, except here and there an alms-house... the people here, however laborious, generally live to a great age, a certain testimony to the goodness and wholesomness of the country, which is, without doubt, as healthy as any part of England... business is the clothing trade, for the convenience of which the houses are thus scattered and spread upon the sides of the hills, as above, even from the bottom to the top; the reason is... coals and running water upon the tops of the highest hills... [without which manufacturing] could not be carried on; neither indeed could one fifth part of the inhabitants be supported without them, for the land could not maintain them... [at] almost at every house there was a tenter, and almost on every tenter a piece of cloth for they are the three articles of that country's labour... [outside every house] we found a little rill or gutter of running water, they could not do their business without water, the little streams were so parted and guided by gutters or pipes, and by turning and dividing the streams, that none of those houses were without a river, if I may call it so, running into and through their work-houses.
Again, as the dying-houses, scouring-shops and places where they used this water, emitted the water again, ting'd with the drugs of the dying fat, and with the oil, the soap, the tallow, and other ingredients used by the clothiers in dressing and scouring, &. which then runs away thro' the lands to the next.
In 1714 during Daniel Defoe’s ‘Tour of Britain’ he provides a useful insight into the life of working people in the parish of Halifax:
“The sides of the hills, which were very steep every way, were spread with houses, and that very thick; for the land being divided into small enclosures, that is to say, from two acres to six or seven acres each, seldom more; every three or four pieces of land had a house belonging to it.
[The people were] all full of business; not a beggar, not an idle person to be seen, except here and there an alms-house... the people here, however laborious, generally live to a great age, a certain testimony to the goodness and wholesomness of the country, which is, without doubt, as healthy as any part of England... business is the clothing trade, for the convenience of which the houses are thus scattered and spread upon the sides of the hills, as above, even from the bottom to the top; the reason is... coals and running water upon the tops of the highest hills... [without which manufacturing] could not be carried on; neither indeed could one fifth part of the inhabitants be supported without them, for the land could not maintain them... [at] almost at every house there was a tenter, and almost on every tenter a piece of cloth for they are the three articles of that country's labour... [outside every house] we found a little rill or gutter of running water, they could not do their business without water, the little streams were so parted and guided by gutters or pipes, and by turning and dividing the streams, that none of those houses were without a river, if I may call it so, running into and through their work-houses.
Again, as the dying-houses, scouring-shops and places where they used this water, emitted the water again, ting'd with the drugs of the dying fat, and with the oil, the soap, the tallow, and other ingredients used by the clothiers in dressing and scouring, &. which then runs away thro' the lands to the next.
Then, as every clothier must keep a horse, perhaps two, to fetch and carry for the use of his manufacture, (viz.) to fetch home his wooll and his provisions from the market, to carry his yarn to the spinners, his manufacture to the fulling mili, and, when finished, to the market to
be sold, and the like... every manufacturer generally keeps a cow or two, or more, for his family, and this employs the two, or three, or four pieces of enclosed land about his house, for they scarce sow corn enough for their cocks and hens... if we knock'd at the door of any of the master manufacturers, we presently saw a house full of lusty fellows, some at the dye-fat, some dressing the cloths, some in the loom, some one thing, some another, all hard at work, and full employed upon the manufacture, and all seeming to have sufficient business.
As for the town of Hallifax it self, there is nothing extraordinary except on a market-day, and then indeed it is a prodigious thing, by reason of the multitude of people who throng thither, as well to sell their manufactures as to buy provisions... The church is old, but stately and venerable, and has in it many extraordinary monuments.. Here is a very good hospital, and a work-house of an antient establishment, and there are several charities, of like sort, in other parts of the parish.”
(Defoe, 1927)
The 18th century saw Halifax beginning to weave finer cloths and endeavouring to capture the worsted market. It was also a difficult time for farmers “by 1775 there was scarcely a single instance in the whole parish of a man’s living entirely by farming” (Hargreaves, 1999).
The men were also called upon to join the army during the Seven Year War, (1756-1763). Some were made to enlist; after 1757 each township had to prepare lists of their men between 18 and 45 years of age and the number of men required for the militia was selected by ballot.
be sold, and the like... every manufacturer generally keeps a cow or two, or more, for his family, and this employs the two, or three, or four pieces of enclosed land about his house, for they scarce sow corn enough for their cocks and hens... if we knock'd at the door of any of the master manufacturers, we presently saw a house full of lusty fellows, some at the dye-fat, some dressing the cloths, some in the loom, some one thing, some another, all hard at work, and full employed upon the manufacture, and all seeming to have sufficient business.
As for the town of Hallifax it self, there is nothing extraordinary except on a market-day, and then indeed it is a prodigious thing, by reason of the multitude of people who throng thither, as well to sell their manufactures as to buy provisions... The church is old, but stately and venerable, and has in it many extraordinary monuments.. Here is a very good hospital, and a work-house of an antient establishment, and there are several charities, of like sort, in other parts of the parish.”
(Defoe, 1927)
The 18th century saw Halifax beginning to weave finer cloths and endeavouring to capture the worsted market. It was also a difficult time for farmers “by 1775 there was scarcely a single instance in the whole parish of a man’s living entirely by farming” (Hargreaves, 1999).
The men were also called upon to join the army during the Seven Year War, (1756-1763). Some were made to enlist; after 1757 each township had to prepare lists of their men between 18 and 45 years of age and the number of men required for the militia was selected by ballot.
The latter half of the 18th century saw the start of the industrial revolution, new modes of transport were introduced, canals and roads instead of the old pack horse causeways, new inventions in the textile trades, introduction of machines to take the place of spinning wheels and hand looms and steam power came to the Calder Valley.
However these changes didn’t come easily the geography of the area made it difficult to establish trade routes. The Rochdale Canal only went as far as Sowerby Bridge with an extension to Halifax not being made until 1828. “Soon after the canal was built a printing press was brought to Halifax. It was impossible to carry such heavy goods over the old steep roads” (Hanson, 1995). However the canal only assisted transportation to a few locations, roads were needed and at the time there were few bridges. Merchants formed the Turnpike Trust collecting revenues from tolls and petitioning Government for permission to make roads. In 1845 there were about 50 carriers who made regular journeys from Halifax to various places,* pack horses were still working up until about 1850 and increasing use was made of horse drawn wagons (Hanson, 1995).
(* Note in 1833 Joseph's occupation was recorded as "carter" - an occupation referred to by Hanson as "carrier" - GK)
During this time there were also a great series of private acts of enclosure before the General Enclosure Act of 1845. The lords of the manor and landowners divided the common land among themselves “the poor man lost his right to pasture his cow, donkey or pig and the right to gather fuel in the woods or on the moors. Some men who had a small piece of land allotted to them could not afford to pay the increased rents or the cost of fencing or enclosing it... so sold it to a richer neighbour” (Hanson, 1995).
The canals and roads and the Enclosure Acts contributed to the movement of people from the hills to the valleys and into Halifax township itself. The low lying lands which had once been considered useless provided the best sites for mills and works.
There was also migration from outside the parish of Halifax, many of them Irish.
When machines were brought in men were thrown out of work. Many joined the Luddite movement and general uprisings against the mills and mill owners occurred in 1812-13. The mills preferred to employ cheaper child labour working them long hours. In 1830 Richard Oastler started campaigning for children’s working conditions but it was not until the 1847 Factory Act that children were restricted to a 10-hour day in cotton mills and not until 1861 that the act was widened to encompass children working in all factories.
Bradford manufacturers adopted factories and steam power more readily than Halifax men and without the transportation difficulties faced by Halifax overtook it in prominence in the worsted trade from about 1825.
The Chartist movement also saw great demonstrations in Halifax they called for a vote for every man regardless of whether they had land or not. They were shortly followed by more disturbances and a general strike known as the Plug Riots in 1842. The Anti Corn Law movement in comparison “had relied on argument and reason and no hint of evidence of violence was ever mentioned” (Hanson, 1995)
The Manchester Leeds railway arrived in the Calder Valley in 1842 but only reached as far as Sowerby Bridge passengers then going on to Halifax by omnibus. The branch line to Halifax was opened in 1844 but only with a temporary wooden structure, a stone station was not built until 1855 and connections Bradford, Leeds (via Bowling) and Keighley arrived in 1850, 1854 and 1879 respectively.
Halifax was changing and growing by 1850 there were 24 mills in the town. King Cross Lane still had fields on either side, but some new groups of houses were built in the higher part of Halifax Township and named after famous victories of the time – Trafalgar, Dunkirk and Gibraltar. In 1848 the borough of Halifax was incorporated and the town council elected by ratepayers sought powers to improve sanitation and water supply. It was desperately needed there was much disease and high infant mortality and death rate.
Bradford manufacturers adopted factories and steam power more readily than Halifax men and without the transportation difficulties faced by Halifax overtook it in prominence in the worsted trade from about 1825.
The Chartist movement also saw great demonstrations in Halifax they called for a vote for every man regardless of whether they had land or not. They were shortly followed by more disturbances and a general strike known as the Plug Riots in 1842. The Anti Corn Law movement in comparison “had relied on argument and reason and no hint of evidence of violence was ever mentioned” (Hanson, 1995)
The Manchester Leeds railway arrived in the Calder Valley in 1842 but only reached as far as Sowerby Bridge passengers then going on to Halifax by omnibus. The branch line to Halifax was opened in 1844 but only with a temporary wooden structure, a stone station was not built until 1855 and connections Bradford, Leeds (via Bowling) and Keighley arrived in 1850, 1854 and 1879 respectively.
Halifax was changing and growing by 1850 there were 24 mills in the town. King Cross Lane still had fields on either side, but some new groups of houses were built in the higher part of Halifax Township and named after famous victories of the time – Trafalgar, Dunkirk and Gibraltar. In 1848 the borough of Halifax was incorporated and the town council elected by ratepayers sought powers to improve sanitation and water supply. It was desperately needed there was much disease and high infant mortality and death rate.
Timeline 1760-1860
1774 North Bridge constructed
1779 Piece Hall constructed
1812-13 Luddite riots
1828 Extension of canal facilities to Halifax
1832 Reform Act giving Halifax 2 members of Parliament
1839 Chartist demonstrations
1842 Plug Riots
1844 Halifax branch line of Manchester and Leeds Railway completed
1846 Corn Law Acts abolished
1847 Factory Act
1848 Halifax borough incorporated
1850 Trains from Halifax to Bradford
1854 Trains from Halifax to Leeds (via Bowling)
1855 Permanent stone train station in Halifax
1863 Prince of Wales opened Town Hall
1879 Trains to Keighley
1774 North Bridge constructed
1779 Piece Hall constructed
1812-13 Luddite riots
1828 Extension of canal facilities to Halifax
1832 Reform Act giving Halifax 2 members of Parliament
1839 Chartist demonstrations
1842 Plug Riots
1844 Halifax branch line of Manchester and Leeds Railway completed
1846 Corn Law Acts abolished
1847 Factory Act
1848 Halifax borough incorporated
1850 Trains from Halifax to Bradford
1854 Trains from Halifax to Leeds (via Bowling)
1855 Permanent stone train station in Halifax
1863 Prince of Wales opened Town Hall
1879 Trains to Keighley
Above: 1851 map showing the Chemical Works (approximate location of Top Of't Moor). The location has been re-named Moor Farm.
Chapter 4 The Kenyon Family in South Street, Halifax, 1851
Some time between 1841 and 1851 the Kenyons moved from Top Of't Moor, Norland, into the town of Halifax itself.
The 1851 census shows the family residing in South Street, Halifax.
1851 Census Record
Parish of Halifax
27 South Street
Joseph Kenyon Married 54 Head Currier place of birth: Notts Langwith
Hannah ditto Married 54 Wife place of birth: Yorkshire Northowram
John ditto Unmarried 17 Son Currier's App place of birth: ditto Halifax
Parish of Halifax
27 South Street
Joseph Kenyon Married 54 Head Currier place of birth: Notts Langwith
Hannah ditto Married 54 Wife place of birth: Yorkshire Northowram
John ditto Unmarried 17 Son Currier's App place of birth: ditto Halifax
As with the 1841 census document, there are some issues here also.
There is no sign-off date for this 1851 document, but evidently it was prior to August 1851 as the ages of Joseph and Hannah are recorded as 56.
If John Kenyon was born on 18 January1833 (as recorded in the bible) then his age in 1851 should probably be 18 - again hinting that his true date of birth may have been 1834.
The most important issue here is the clear recording of Joseph as a "currier" by trade - and John as a "currier's apprentice."
The census enumerator's records are transcribed into a central register (a copy of which is shown above)
There is no sign-off date for this 1851 document, but evidently it was prior to August 1851 as the ages of Joseph and Hannah are recorded as 56.
If John Kenyon was born on 18 January1833 (as recorded in the bible) then his age in 1851 should probably be 18 - again hinting that his true date of birth may have been 1834.
The most important issue here is the clear recording of Joseph as a "currier" by trade - and John as a "currier's apprentice."
The census enumerator's records are transcribed into a central register (a copy of which is shown above)
and transcription errors are by no means unusual.
We can say with near certainty that Joseph, illiterate and with a history of much less qualified occupations (ostler, farrier, carter)
We can say with near certainty that Joseph, illiterate and with a history of much less qualified occupations (ostler, farrier, carter)
would not have completed the 6-year apprenticeship required in order to be recorded as a currier.
It seems more than likely the correct transcription should have been "carrier."
As for John's occupation: since he arrived in New Zealand in 1856 as a tradesman carpenter and joiner (together with his tools of trade)
It seems more than likely the correct transcription should have been "carrier."
As for John's occupation: since he arrived in New Zealand in 1856 as a tradesman carpenter and joiner (together with his tools of trade)
it is almost certain that the correct transcription should have been "carpenter's apprentice".
Mistakenly recording the father as a "currier" - it is easy to imagine that the clerk who transcribed the census enumerator's notes
has made a double error in recording john as a currier's (not carpenter's) apprentice.
Thomas Kenyon (now 26 years of age) is no longer residing with the family.
Documents in another section (below) will show that he is now living not far away at at the address of his mother-in-law Mary Town,
Thomas Kenyon (now 26 years of age) is no longer residing with the family.
Documents in another section (below) will show that he is now living not far away at at the address of his mother-in-law Mary Town,
with his new wife Elizabeth (Betty) Town and her two children James and John Town, at Chapel Lane, Skircoat, Halifax.
Sarah Ann also appears to be not with her family on the day of the census.
Sarah Ann also appears to be not with her family on the day of the census.
An ammendment to the document suggests a possible muddle between two neighbouring addresses - or perhaps Sarah Ann is at Number 28 South Street, next door.
It is more likely that that neighbour has a wife called Sarah Ann, and our Sarah Ann is somewhere else on the day.
Note also, two doors the other way, at 24 South Street, lives Elizabeth Kenyon, 65, widow, bread baker.
We have no idea if she is any relation of Joseph Kenyon.
Perhaps the most useful information in this document, apart from the South Street address, is that Joseph Kenyon is recorded as being born in Langwith, Nottinghamshire.
So far no corroborating evidence has been found on line, and further research is probaby needed in Langwith itself.
The Kenyons at South Street in the 1850s
Kathryn Hughes wrote:
"I have also just found an article on the sanitary condition of Halifax in 1850-51 which I expect you would find very interesting. There was an inquiry into the sanitary condition of Northowram and Southowram townships in May 1850 as the result of a petition from a tenth of the population rated for the relief of the poor in the two townships. The report summed up that there was an "absence of all means of cleaning, lighting, regulating buildings... and recommended that the Public Health Act 1848 should be applied through portions of Northowram and Southowram townships which were within the borough of Halifax." There was strong opposition in Halifax to the Act being applied and a public inquiry was held in February 1851 to determine the boundary of the Northowram and Southowram district and into the sanitary condition of the remaining portion of the Township of Halifax. There is a lot of detail in the article about conditions. The report confirms high mortality areas, giving street names, "it was long recognised that the area to the south west of the town, where Halifax and Skircoat Townships met and to windward of the prevailing wind and smoke from mill chimneys, was far pleasanter than the town itself, it attracted the building of desirable residences for the well to do and was still conveniently near to the industry and commerce of a rapidly developing industrial town."
So the Kenyons in South street were living in one of the nicer areas, this doesn't support the argument that they were poor."
"I have also just found an article on the sanitary condition of Halifax in 1850-51 which I expect you would find very interesting. There was an inquiry into the sanitary condition of Northowram and Southowram townships in May 1850 as the result of a petition from a tenth of the population rated for the relief of the poor in the two townships. The report summed up that there was an "absence of all means of cleaning, lighting, regulating buildings... and recommended that the Public Health Act 1848 should be applied through portions of Northowram and Southowram townships which were within the borough of Halifax." There was strong opposition in Halifax to the Act being applied and a public inquiry was held in February 1851 to determine the boundary of the Northowram and Southowram district and into the sanitary condition of the remaining portion of the Township of Halifax. There is a lot of detail in the article about conditions. The report confirms high mortality areas, giving street names, "it was long recognised that the area to the south west of the town, where Halifax and Skircoat Townships met and to windward of the prevailing wind and smoke from mill chimneys, was far pleasanter than the town itself, it attracted the building of desirable residences for the well to do and was still conveniently near to the industry and commerce of a rapidly developing industrial town."
So the Kenyons in South street were living in one of the nicer areas, this doesn't support the argument that they were poor."
I believe that in the 1860s both Joseph Kenyon and his son Thomas were carters (or carriers).
The Story of Old Halifax by T. W. Hansen (p231) states:
"In 1845 there were about fifty carriers who made regular journeys from Halifax to various places..."
This image was sent to me by
Dr. Gary Muffley.
Perhaps Joseph Kenyon was one of the "lurry" drivers shown here.
(A "lurry" is a 4-wheeled flat deck vehicle.)
The Story of Old Halifax
by T. W. Hansen
pages 209 and 210
Distinctive "Venetian" windows in South Street.
This was the first "row" of houses erected in the town.
It is quite possible that Joseph Kenyon and his family in 1851 were living in one of the houses depicted in Fig. 79 above.
by T. W. Hansen
pages 209 and 210
Distinctive "Venetian" windows in South Street.
This was the first "row" of houses erected in the town.
It is quite possible that Joseph Kenyon and his family in 1851 were living in one of the houses depicted in Fig. 79 above.
What remains of South Street today.
No sign of the venetian windows.
No sign of the venetian windows.
Evidently much of South Street and many of the other locations identified by the census enumerator in 1851 no longer exist.
Streets nearby to South Street, which were visited by the census ennumerator (such as "Middle Street", "Spice Cake Lane", "Garden Street" and "Back Street") do not appear on today's map of Halifax.
However, nearby York Street, Bull Close Lane and West Parade were part of the enumerator's walk, and confirm that
the South Street referred to is indeed the South Street, near King Cross Road, where the Kenyon's once lived.
The census enumerator in 1851 stopped at 23 households on the old South Street, the Kenyons being the last but one in the row.
The neighbours include trades people and even a lawyer.
The names and occupations of the heads of households are: (as best can be deciphered from difficult hand writing)
2 South Street: William Bantly(?), weaver woollen
3 South Street: Mary McLellan, shoe binder
4 South Street: James Hinds, labourer ag(ricultural)
5 South Street: John Ramskill, boot and shoe maker
6 South Street: John Lister, plasterer
7 South Street: Thomas Anderson, lawyer
8 South Street: Mary Binns, card setter forewoman
9 South Street: Thomas Shaw, stone mason
10 South Street: Robert Toplefs, hearth rug weaver
11 South Street: William Briggs, stone mason
12 South Street: James Garbutt, boot maker
13 South Street: William ?rentland, ? ? cart wright
14 South Street: Thomas Ellison, master weaver
18 South Street: George C. Ellis, cloth drefser
19 South Street: Cristopher Taylor, garden labr
20 South Street: Samuel Lumly, Chelsea (out) pensioner
21 South Street: Peter(?) Broadbent, cloth drefser
22 South Street: Thomas Bradley, cloth dresser
23 South Street: Thomas Crapper, card maker for flax
24 South Street: Elizabeth Kenyon, widow, 66, bread baker
Emma Kenyon, grand daughter, 17
William Wright(?), son in law, 23, worsted weaver
Martha ditto, wife of above, 31
Sarah ditto, daughter, ?
25 South Street: Joseph Hirst, carpet weaver
27 South Street: Joseph Kenyon, Head, 54, currier [possibly a mis-transciption of "carrier"]
Hannah ditto , wife, 54
John ditto, son, 17, currier's ap(prentice) [almost certainly should be "carpenter's apprentice"]
28 South Street: Joseph Walker, ?? dealer
https://maps.nls.uk/view/100947602
https://maps.nls.uk/view/100947602
Chapter 5 Thomas and Elizabeth Kenyon in Halifax in the 1850s
On Decemer 25 1850 Joseph's eldest son Thomas Kenyon, age 26, carter, married Elizabeth Town, 26, Spinster.
Joseph Kenyon is recorded here also with the occupation "carter."
Evidently neither Thomas nor Elizabeth were able to write their name.
Elizabeth Town in 1841
An 1841 census fragment ElizabethTown (15) with her mother Mary Town (65) at Chapel Street.
The ages are rounded to 5 years, and from a later census it is more likely that Mary was about 59 and Elizabeth, a late child, about 17.
By tracing the census enumerator's route, it seems this Chapel St. is somewhere in the Rochdale Rd./Burnley Rd./King Cross area and no longer exists.
Elizabeth's mother was a "card setter" which is presumably some kind of machine assistant
working in the textile industry.
1850
Evidently when she married Thomas in 1850 Elizabeth Town was a solo parent with two chidren: John Town and James Town.
Early birth registration lists suggest James may have been born in 1844, and John in 1846.
1851
In 1851 Thomas, Elizabeth and the two boys are recorded as living with Elizabeth's mother in Chapel Lane.
This record is split between two pages and has been cropped and joined.
The Head of the house is Mary Town, widow, 69. She is recorded as "Not able to work, receiving Parish Relief".
John Town aged 8 is recorded as a school boy. James age 4 is also, somewhat implausibly, recorded as school boy.
Both boys are recorded in their correct relationship to the Head of the family (Mary) as "grandson".
At this point the census enumerator seems to have had difficulty (or perhaps embarrasment) understanding the relationship of Thomas and Betty Keneyon. After erasing his first attempt (which looks like "lodger"), he has correctly recorded Thomas as "son in law".
Betty is, of course, John's wife - but to be precise she should be recorded here as "daughter" (of Mary, the head of this household.)
According to this record, Thomas Keneyon and Betty Keneyon are both 27 years of age.
Thomas Keneyon's occupation is "cart driver" and his wife Elizabeth (Betty) Keneyon is given the occupation here of "cart driver's wife."
The fact that John and James have their mother's maiden name (Town) tells its own story.
On the passage out to New Zealand they were recorded on the shipping list as John and James Town
but from the day they stepped ashore in New Zealand they are recorded on all subsequent documents as John and James Kenyon.
On his death certificate it is recorded that Thomas Kenyon had two sons.
There is some evidence that John Town was born in 1843, and this matches his age stated here as 8 years old in 1851.
There is a record of a James Town born in 1846 which could match the age stated here as 4 years.
The address, Chapel Lane, has not been identified. It is not clear if it is the same address (Chapel St.) which was recorded as Mary's address in 1841, but it may well be the same. The enumerator's route traverses Burnley Rd., Trimminham Ln., PlainTree Nest, Hill Top, (Babylon?) (Providence Place ?), (Granney Hill?) (Allen Fould?) (Allen Row?) and then (Chapel Lane?)
Perhaps someone with local knowledge and knowledge of the history of the early King Cross area can identify these now unmarked locations.
.
The census enumerator visited 13 households in Chapel Lane. The recorded occupations of residents in Chapel Lane include:
cloth dresser, spinner, bobbin carrier, wool sorter, shoe maker, cotton piecer, card maker, weaver, twister of cottin in a mill, laourer in land, drawer in worsted, carpenter's apprentice, post boy, labourer, railway labourer, weaver of cotton, weaver of woollen, plasterer of buildings, school girl, dress maker, wool comber, stone mason, school boy, cart driver....
Chapter 6 The Kenyon Family Emigrate to New Zealand 1855 - 1857
The circumstances which lead to the Kenyon family decision to emigrate are unnown.
The means of immigration are also unknown. Evidently Joseph Kenyon had an agreement with the New Zealand Company, as shortly after his arrival in New Zealand he was allocated (by ballot?) two town sections and also a small rural block close to today's Ratapihipihi reserve.
A few years after the first New Plymouth settlers from Devon and South Cornwall had established themselves in New Plymouth, a considerable number of new immigrants from Halifax arrived. It is evident that there was some organisation of effort, but the explanation for it is unknown today. Charles Hursthouse (who was linked to the Richmond-Atkinson"mob") had published a book promoting New Plymouth as an emigrant destination ("An Account of the Settlement of New Plymouth..." Charles Hursthhouse Jnr 1849 London: Smith Elder & Co). One of the sponsors of the book was Francis Ullathorne Gledill, an entrepreneurial character from Halifax and emigrant to New Plymouth in 1844, who was said to have held meetings in Halifax in1850 when he briefly returned to that city.
Joseph Kenyon would not have been able to read Hursthouse's book (though John might have) - but it is quite possible that he attended one of Gledhill's meetings. In fact it is possible that Joseph Kenyon and Francis Ullathorne Gledhill were personally aquainted - some years later in New Zealand, when Joseph Kenyon died, one of the trustees of his will was Thomas Gledhill, a less well-known brother of Francis.
For these reasons I am inclined to believe that the rather well-known (at the time) New Plymouth settler Francis Ullathorne Gledhill may have influenced the Kenyons in a decision to emigrate, not just to New Zealand but to New Plymouth.
The two young men of the family were the first to embark: John Kenyon, 22, single, carpenter - and his elder half-brother Thomas, 31, married, carter. Perhaps the plan was to send the two young men first before the rest of the family made what would have been a huge committment. It was fifteen months later before the rest of the family followed (Joseph and Hannah, their daughter Sarah Ann,
Thomas's wife Elizabeth and her two boys John and James.)
The information we have relating to the the Kenyon family emigration may be found on a new page
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