Joseph Ross was born around 1786. He was a woolstapler living in Halifax. His job would have involved buying wool from the producer, sorting and grading it and then selling it on to manufacturers.
In the 1820s and 1830s he traded under the company name of Joseph Ross & Co. He was initially based at Silver Street and then Waterhouse Street where he paid rates on a house, warehouse and gighouse. He also had property at Cheapside. He was eligible to vote from 1832 and voted for the Whig politicians.
In 1839 his fortunes appeared to change as he was declared bankrupt. We don’t hear much from him for a couple of years but in 1842 he re-appears in trade directories as Joseph Ross, wool stapler, Cheapside. It appears it is now a one man business.
He died in 1850 aged 64. He did not appear to have left a will and presumably did not have much money as his wife Elizabeth ended up living in an almshouse.
Halifax Express 7th December 1839
Joseph married Elizabeth on 4th February 1819 at Ashton St Peter and Paul in Warwickshire. She was born in 1798, Elizabeth Beale on the border of Derbyshire and Warwickshire. The wedding was witnessed by William and Thomas Beale who are described as guardians. This presumably means that Elizabeth was under 21 when she was married.
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Following the death of Joseph, Elizabeth lived at first on Wade Street and then in Francis Crossley’s Almshouses at Belle Vue/Margaret Street. The criteria was to be over 60, of industrious habits, of good character, be of Protestant or Protestant Trinitarian (including non-conformist). Must also be destitute of property or other means sufficient for his or her support and if under 70 must be capacitated for labour by disease or infirmity.
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Elizabeth and Joseph had several children - Ann Beale (born 1819), Elizabeth (born 1822), Mary (born 1824), Margaret (born 1826), John Glendinning (born 1828), and Helen Coulthart (born 1830). The were all baptised at Square Chapel.
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John died in infancy (aged one) but the daughters all lived to adulthood. They appear to have been well educated. In 1851 Mary, Margaret and Ann are all living with Elizabeth at Wade Street and are listed as school mistresses. Looking at trade directories it seems that they ran their own school/academy, first at South Parade and then at Horton Street.
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Helen, Margaret and Elizabeth all died in their 20s. In the death notices for Helen and Margaret the cause of death is described as consumption (which we would now call TB (Tuberculosis). As well as the daughter of Joseph Ross, Margaret is also described in her death notice as the cousin of Mr John Ross Coulthart, banker, of Ashton Under Lyne and of Mr Alexander Glendinning of Seven Oaks, County of Kent, High Sheriff of that county in 1854.
Elizabeth Ross death notice Halifax Guardian 9th February 1850
Ann Beale Ross appears to have lived between Halifax and Atherstone in Warwick. In 1861 she is living with her aunt and uncle, William and Mary Lucas, in Athertsone and is a housekeeper. She died there in 1876 aged 57 and left her effects to her sister, Mary.
Ann Ross death notice. Halifax Guardian 5th August 1876
Mary was the only daughter to marry. She married Joseph Wadsworth who was a music teacher and tailor. They had three daughters – Helen, and twins Margaret and Annie.
In 1891 Mary is living with daughter Margaret, her husband Herbert, who is also a music teacher, and their three children – Helen, Eva and James.
In 1892 Mary moved with Margaret, Herbert and their children to Australia where she lived until her death in 1914, aged 90.
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Researched by Sarah Rose