Aquilla Green was a corn miller in Halifax, born in Hipperholme and baptised a few months later on 13 November at Square Chapel in Halifax. He was twice married and as far as the records show had 4 boys with his first wife and a daughter with his second wife.Aquilla died on 23 June 1855 aged 52 and was buried in the Square Chapel churchyard. The ledger stone was removed during an excavation around the Square Chapel in 2014 and can now be found in Lister Lane Cemetery. The memorial inscription tells us that his infant son Joseph died aged only 19 weeks on 21 December 1826. Aquilla’s wife Hannah died on 2 May 1839 aged 43, and his mother also Hannah Green died aged 73 on 28 February 1841.
The parents of Aquilla, John (Jack) and Hannah Green lived in Mytholm and were tenants of the Shibden Hall Estate, owned by the Lister family. Jack was also a corn merchant and various mentions in Anne Lister’s diaries suggest the family were well known to Miss Lister who took over the estate in 1826.
John Green’s name is recorded on a list of guests at Joseph Lister’s funeral in 1817 (tenants to receive gloves) and at James Lister’s funeral in 1826 (to receive gloves and biscuits).
Jack Green’s dog gets a couple of mentions in relation to fighting with the Lister’s dog. Poor Con died from his injuries.
Aquilla Green's Gravestone. Photo by Jude Dobson
In 1829 Anne Lister records some gossip about Aquilla suggesting he had been connected with 'bad women'.
Anne Lister diary page, Jun 1831. West Yorkshire Archive Service Calderdale, SH:7/ML/E/11/0128
To view the full transcript go to:
Hannah (nee Sheard) married Aquilla Green on 3 October 1824 in the church of her home parish of Mirfield. Aquilla’s occupation was recorded as book-keeper. Within a few days, their first child John was born and he was baptised on 31 October at Mirfield Parish Church. Joseph was born around July 1826 and may not have been baptised before his untimely death at the age of 19 weeks. The couple’s third child George was baptised at Halifax Parish Church on 24 February 1828. Their youngest child Thomas was baptised at Mirfield Parish Church on 15 May 1831. The family’s abode is recorded as Mitholm, parish of Halifax and Aquilla’s occupation is recorded as a book-keeper.
By 1834, Aquilla Green is listed in the Pigot’s and Co. National Commercial Directory as a corn and flour dealer in Hipperholme. In March 1835, Aquilla made an agreement with Anne Lister to lease several closes of land (a number of fields) which was part of the Shibden Hall estate, located near Mytholm Farm. Aquilla agreed to pay an annual rent of forty five pounds of lawful English money in half yearly instalments on the feast of Pentecost and Saint Martin the Bishop in winter. Jack Green died aged 80 on 29 February 1836 and was buried in St Matthew’s churchyard in Lightcliffe. When Jeremy Lister died a month later, Aquilla Green is recorded as one of the coffin bearers at his funeral. Aquilla’s mother Hannah Green was listed as a guest to receive gloves and biscuits. They were also recorded on the list of guests at the funeral of Anne Lister (Jeremy’s sister) who died in October of that year.
In 1833, Aquilla approached Anne Lister to ask if she would build a corn mill at Mytholm for him to rent. Initially Anne dismisses this request but by 1837 she signs an agreement to build a mill for Aquilla Green. Listerwick Mill was to be built by 2 May 1838 for the sum of £1500 and to include 5 pairs of stones and a water wheel. The rent was agreed to be £250 per annum. Aquilla also had a corn mill at Cripplegate called Four Mills along with his business partner Thomas Kershaw.
Anne Lister diary page, June 1833. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale, SH:7/ML/E/16/0068
To read the full transcript go to: SH:7/ML/E/16/0068
Aquilla is recorded in the 1841 census as living with a female servant at Wilds Fold, Cripplegate. This was located where the small park is nowadays, opposite the Wool Merchants Hotel. John (16) was on the 1841 census as an apprentice draper living with a family in Cross Street Halifax. George (15) was recorded as living with a family in Southowram as an apprentice delver and Thomas (11) was a boarder at Warley School at Sowerby. Aquilla married his second wife Ann Casson Nalson on 11 June 1842 at East Ardsley Parish Church. They had a daughter Emily Jane Green in November 1849 who was baptised at Halifax Parish Church on 23 October 1851. In the 1851 census, Aquilla (corn miller, employer of 8 men), Ann Casson and Emily Jane were recorded as living in Horton Street, Halifax.
Aquilla died when his daughter was still very young. Ann Casson his second wife died aged 77 in 1896 and was buried at St Thomas’ churchyard in Greetland. Emily Jane Green went onto marry James William Davis at Bolton Abbey in 1871. Her husband was a business man, jeweller, geologist, an Alderman and Mayor of Halifax. They lived at Chevin Edge in Exley and had 6 children. The late Aquilla Green was mentioned in Mayor Davis’ obituary published in the Leeds Mercury in July 1893. Emily Jane Davis died aged 85 on Christmas Day 1935 and was buried in All Saints churchyard in Salterhebble. Aquilla’s youngest son Thomas died in Melbourne Australia in 1856 and his eldest son John was a draper and grocer who lived with his family near Queensbury. John Green died in 1896 and was buried in Holy Trinity churchyard at Queensbury.
The property (a dwelling house, cottage and outbuildings) on Horton Street belonging to Aquilla was sold by auction at the Fleece Inn in Halifax on 5 September 1862. It was sold to James Keshaw for the sum of £520.
Researched by Jude Dobson
Plan and particulars of properties, 24 Sep 1862. West Yorkshire Archive Service Calderdale, RU:162
Photograph of gravestone made for exhibition