In Affectionate Remembrance of…..
This gravestone marks the resting place of John Dawson, his wife Betty and two children who died in infancy.
I spoke very briefly about John Dawson in November last year. He was the second of three generations of John Dawson’s (a father, son and grandson) to look after the water wheel and engine at Ickornshaw Mill.
John was born on 4th February 1812 in Cowling, West Yorkshire to John Dawson and Ann Watson. He was the youngest of nine children. Elizabeth (Betty) Benson was born 27th December 1812 but I don’t have any information about her parents.
John and Elizabeth were married on 26th April 1834 at St. Andrews Parish Church, Kildwick, West Yorkshire.
Between 1835 and 1853 they had seven children
Ann – born about 1835
John – born about 1838
Elizabeth – born about 1841
Alice – born about 1843
Matthew – born about 1846
Thomas – born about 1852
Martha – born about 1853
The two children who died young were Elizabeth (c 1850) and Alice (c1847). I haven’t researched this family in much detail yet so I do not have any information about the cause of death.
As mentioned above John was employed as an “engine tenter” for a number of years, eventually passing this role on to his own son John. In the 1841 census his occupation is “weaver” and in 1881 he was working as a “clock dresser”.
Elizabeth died on 5th July 1882 aged 69 and John on 29th February 1888 at the age of 76. They are buried at Cowling Parish Church.
you don't choose your family 