The Stories from the Stones 28 - 'The Missing Husband' George Redfern (1838 - 1909)

'Stories from the Stones'
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Story No 28, 'The Missing Husband' by Richard Galliford.
Richard adds that John Beardwood had done some remarkable research on this lovely story.

In affectionate remembrance of Elizabeth the beloved wife of George Redfern, of Brighouse near Huddersfield
who departed this life August 20th 1871 aged 32 years.
Also Hannah, the beloved wife of the above Geo. Redfearn
who died at Rochdale, November 25th 1898, aged 60.

There is no mention of the death of George on the gravestone and there is no record of his burial at Penistone, so where is he and why is he not here? To answer that question, the story of George’s life has been researched using official records and newspaper reports.

George was born on February 27th 1838 and baptised at Penistone Church by Rev. Sunderland on April 1st 1838. He was the son of Charles and Eliza Redfearn residing in Penistone town centre, where Charles was a tailor. In the 1851 census George,age 13, was recorded as a scholar living with his parents. At the next census, 1861, he was recorded as a saddler lodging in the house of Edward Dickinson, saddler, in Salford, Lancashire. (A saddler made, repaired and sold saddles and other leather equipment such as bridles and harnesses for horses, especially for those used in transportation.) So, in between those two census years he had carried out and completed an apprenticeship but the location is unknown.

Eight years later, in 1868, he married Elizabeth Milbourn in Halifax. Elizabeth, a dressmaker from Lincolnshire, came with an illegitimate 5 year old daughter, Sarah, who was born at Barrowby, near Grantham. In the April 1871 census George, Elizabeth and step-daughter were living in Brighouse where George worked as a saddler. (In that census and in all the subsequent ones George recorded Sarah as his daughter, not step-daughter.) Later that year, on August 24th, Elizabeth died suddenly; the cause of death was recorded as “Apoplexy”. She was brought to Penistone for burial although she had no connection with Penistone other than through George. Rev Turnbull, the Penistone vicar, conducted the burial service.

Shortly after the death of his wife George, with step daughter Sarah, relocated to Rochdale where he set up a saddlers business and remarried in 1875. His second wife, Hannah Halliwell, a spinster aged 36, although born in Halifax, had lived in Rochdale since she was a child. From 1875 until his death in 1909 George carried on his business as a saddler in various locations in Rochdale. Sarah left home temporarily around 1881 to work as a servant but had returned to the family home and business by 1891.

Hannah died in 1898, aged 60 years. At that time George was very involved with St Chad’s Church at Rochdale and was the Sunday School superintendent so it was rather strange that his wife, who had lived most of her life in Rochdale, was sent to Penistone for burial with his first wife. J B Stopford, curate of St Chad’s Church at Rochdale, travelled to Penistone to conduct the burial ceremony.

George suffered from diabetes for a long time and passed away on September 12th, 1909. The cause of death was certified as gangrene/diabetes. George had made his will shortly before his death on June 30th, 1909, in which he left everything to his 'daughter', Sarah, but there was no mention in the will of where he wished to be buried. On September 13th, the day after George died, Sarah purchased a grave plot in Rochdale Municipal Cemetery for which she paid £3. On September 15th 1909, George was buried in that plot (Grave No. 13047, Square N, Plot 22).

Sarah would have been aware of the Penistone grave. She was eight years old when her mother was buried there in 1871 and an adult when her step-mother was buried in the same grave in 1898. Also, the curate, who travelled to Penistone to conduct George’s funeral of his second wife, was still at St Chad’s Church and George had been the Sunday School Superintendent there for many years. George left assets valued at over £274 (worth £35,000 today) in his will, so there was money available for transportation for burial at Penistone. Sarah was the only near relative of George and the only beneficiary of his will so it was her decision to bury him at Rochdale.

In April 1914, almost five years after George’s death, a framed photograph was unveiled in the Sunday School to his memory which demonstrates how he was held in high esteem in the Church at Rochdale. The framed photograph bore the following Inscription:

George Redfern, entered into rest September 12th, 1909, superintendent 1895 - 1909.
A good worker and a faithful friend.
The gift of many past and present teachers, scholars and friends.

After George’s death Sarah moved from Molesworth Street to nearby Water Street, Rochdale, where in 1911 she opened a saddlers shop. In the census of that year she surprisingly recorded her place of birth as Penistone! Ten years later, in 1921, she had abandoned the shop and was employed as a housekeeper in the residence of a teacher and her aged mother. She again recorded her place of birth as Penistone!

In the 1938 Register she was living alone in Oldham Road, Rochdale, and supporting herself by “private means”. She never married.

She died on May 12th, 1943. She was cremated and her ashes were buried without ceremony with George in Rochdale cemetery. Subsequently, a gravestone was erected with the names of George, his step-daughter Sarah and his wives, Elizabeth and Hannah, both of whom are recorded on the gravestone at Penistone. Presumably, Sarah had made prior arrangements for the erection of this gravestone but there is no mention of it in her will. She left all of her estate to the Red Cross Society. She therefore united all the family on the gravestone at Rochdale but there is no mention that both wives of George were buried at Penistone.

The inscription on the Rochdale gravestone reads:

In loving memory of George Redfern of Molesworth St. Rochdale, who died Sep.12th 1910. Aged 71 years.
Also of Elizabeth, his wife, who died Aug. 18th (actually August 20th) 1871. Aged 31 years. (actually 32 years)
Also of Hannah, his wife, who died Nov. 25th 1898. Aged 60 years.
Also of Sarah, his daugh(ter) who died May 12th 194(3). Aged 80 years.

Thanks
Many thanks to Richard Galliford and John Beardwood for writing up this story. JB.