We are following the Turner family line from Northowram. They have ties with the Clark/Clarke family of Scout Hall and other Northowram properties.
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To begin in 1721, Thomas Turner, a clothier, marries Sarah Sunderland and they have a child, Lawrence Turner in 1723. When he reaches adulthood, Lawrence Turner, a weaver, marries Martha Brigg in 1749. They have a child, Thomas Turner in 1751. By 1763 Martha, Lawrence's wife, dies. He marries again, to Mercy/Mary Lucas in 1764. They have a daughter, Martha Turner in 1769.
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The Grave stone we are investigating from the Square Church in Halifax for the Turner family is damaged and some names and dates are obscured or missing. This makes finding out some details difficult, such as the name of Thomas Turner’s wife. I think its most likely to be Grace Stephenson in 1777. Thomas is a manufacturer of Northowram and this is the most likely marriage given all other Thomas Turner marriages in 1770s are from different wards or unrelated jobs. Grace is a widow.
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Thomas Turner and his wife have a son, Clark Turner, who is born in 1778. Sadly, Clark Turner dies aged 4 years and 11 months. At this point they are living at Limed House, Northowram, although I’m unsure of which one, Upper or Lower Lime/Limed House.
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Thomas and his wife have another son, also called Clark Turner in 1783, and a daughter, Martha Turner in 1788.
Buried in the same plot as the first child, Clark Turner, is Martha wife of John Clark of Scout House Northowram who died Jan 1792. The gravestone suggests she was mother to Thomas Turner's wife. But that means he would have married a Clark and not a Stephenson, unless Martha was married more than once.
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Thomas Turner's wife dies in 1797 and is buried with Clark Turner and Martha Clark.
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Between 1805-1820 Land Tax records show Thomas Turner living at Limed House; landlord possibly Joseph Clark. This shows one of many family and monetary ties to the Clark/Clarke families of the Northowram area. In 1823, Thomas Turner died and was buried with his family at the Square Church.
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Clark Turner marries an Elizabeth Ibberson in 1805 of Kirkheaton. They live at Limed House. In 1834, Clark Turner is an Overseer of the Poor for Northowram and the year after he is one of many advertised as against Corporation Reform. In 1835, he was on the List of Electors for the Northowram Township of the Halifax Polling District in the election for the MP for the West Riding.
Article about Corporation Reform Halifax Guardian 22nd August 1835
​By the 1841 Census, Clark Turner is listed as a farmer, he is 55, his wife is 50. They do not have any children (or none survived to find in records). They are living at Boothtown (a slightly triangular house in Boothtown), and have a servant, Jane Rushworth, 15. Clark Turner dies in 1846 aged 63. His death notice said he was much respected. He left Elizabeth £4000, so that in the 1851 Census, Elizabeth is living at Boothtown, a widow, age 67 - “Retired Lady from interest of Money”. She died in 1857. They were buried together in a plot at the Square Church.
Researched by Anna Roe