Peter Reid and his wife Hannah were buried at Square Chapel more than 180 years ago. Their tombstone can no longer be seen but the tombstone schedule compiled about 50 years ago tells us that Peter of Halifax was a gardener and died in March 1835 aged 82 years old. Hannah was 79 years old at her death, two years after Peter, in March 1837. There was no further information on the ledger stone.
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A baptism record of one of the couple’s children informs us that Peter was born in Scotland at a place called White Hill and his own father was called James Reid. The location of White Hill has not been identified but a possible baptism record suggests Peter, son of James Reid may have been baptised in April 1753 at Fintray in Aberdeenshire.
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Hannah was almost certainly the daughter of George Metcalf from Masham, baptised in October 1756. Peter and Hannah were married in Masham, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The marriage record tells us that Peter Reid, aged 33 and a gardener, married Hannah Metcalf, aged 29, by licence, in June 1786.
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Baptism records of the children show a picture of some movement around Yorkshire, presumably Peter had to go where he could find work and relocate if necessary. The couple’s eldest son Peter was baptised in the Parish of Ripley, in May 1787. Another son James, was also baptised in Ripley in October the following year. George Reid was also baptised at Ripley Parish Church in April 1790. His record provides quite a detailed description of the family. George being the son of Peter, the son of James Reid of White Hill in Scotland and Hannah Reid the daughter of George Metcalf of Masham, born 21 January (1790).
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Another son, Thomas, was baptised at Square Chapel (independent church) in Halifax in June 1791. The parents were recorded as Peter and Hannah Reid of Halifax. Also in Halifax at Square Chapel, Jno (or Jonathan) Reid, son of Peter and Hannah, was baptised in September 1794 and birth date recorded as the previous month.
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The next baptism record found tells us that Peter and Hannah then had a daughter, born in March 1796. Jane was baptised in Mary 1796 in the parish of Wath near Ripon in North Yorkshire. The family was then living in the township of Norton near Ripon. Also born in Norton, another son William who was born in October 1797 and baptised at the parish of Wath near Ripon. Finally, the couple had what appears to be their last child, Thomas Metcalf Reid. By this time, they are back in the Halifax area. Thomas Metcalf was baptised at St Peter’s Church, Sowerby in October 1802. Their residence was recorded as ‘Bally Trees’ and father’s occupation ‘gardener’.
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Peter Reid (or Reed) does not feature in the trade directories of Halifax or North Yorkshire although his namesake is listed in Cumberland. This other Peter Reid died at Whitehaven in 1794 so some years before Peter Reid who shows up in church records in Masham, Ripley, Ripon and Halifax.
Peter Reid does, however, feature in the Township of Halifax Assessment of Poor Rate records between September 1818 and May 1830. The address is included in the record from 1821. Peter Reid lived on Haugh Shaw Lane in an area known as Trafalgar. It would today be in the King Cross area close to Vets 4 Pets and Tesco supermarket. The poor rate paid e.g. 3 shillings and 7 ½ pence in 1830, suggests the family lived in a modest worker’s property.
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Peter Reid and his wife Hannah were buried at Square Chapel more than 180 years ago. Their tombstone can no longer be seen but the tombstone schedule compiled about 50 years ago tells us that Peter of Halifax was a gardener and died in March 1835 aged 82 years old. Hannah was 79 years old at her death, two years after Peter, in March 1837. There was no further information on the ledger stone.
A baptism record of one of the couple’s children informs us that Peter was born in Scotland at a place called White Hill and his own father was called James Reid. The location of White Hill has not been identified but a possible baptism record suggests Peter, son of James Reid may have been baptised in April 1753 at Fintray in Aberdeenshire.
​
Hannah was almost certainly the daughter of George Metcalf from Masham, baptised in October 1756. Peter and Hannah were married in Masham, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The marriage record tells us that Peter Reid, aged 33 and a gardener, married Hannah Metcalf, aged 29, by licence, in June 1786.
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Baptism records of the children show a picture of some movement around Yorkshire, presumably Peter had to go where he could find work and relocate if necessary. The couple’s eldest son Peter was baptised in the Parish of Ripley, in May 1787. Another son James, was also baptised in Ripley in October the following year. George Reid was also baptised at Ripley Parish Church in April 1790. His record provides quite a detailed description of the family. George being the son of Peter, the son of James Reid of White Hill in Scotland and Hannah Reid the daughter of George Metcalf of Masham, born 21 January (1790).
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Another son, Thomas, was baptised at Square Chapel (independent church) in Halifax in June 1791. The parents were recorded as Peter and Hannah Reid of Halifax. Also in Halifax at Square Chapel, Jno (or Jonathan) Reid, son of Peter and Hannah, was baptised in September 1794 and birth date recorded as the previous month.
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The next baptism record found tells us that Peter and Hannah then had a daughter, born in March 1796. Jane was baptised in Mary 1796 in the parish of Wath near Ripon in North Yorkshire. The family was then living in the township of Norton near Ripon. Also born in Norton, another son William who was born in October 1797 and baptised at the parish of Wath near Ripon. Finally, the couple had what appears to be their last child, Thomas Metcalf Reid. By this time, they are back in the Halifax area. Thomas Metcalf was baptised at St Peter’s Church, Sowerby in October 1802. Their residence was recorded as ‘Bally Trees’ and father’s occupation ‘gardener’.
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Peter Reid (or Reed) does not feature in the trade directories of Halifax or North Yorkshire although his namesake is listed in Cumberland. This other Peter Reid died at Whitehaven in 1794 so some years before Peter Reid who shows up in church records in Masham, Ripley, Ripon and Halifax.
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Peter Reid does, however, feature in the Township of Halifax Assessment of Poor Rate records between September 1818 and May 1830. The address is included in the record from 1821. Peter Reid lived on Haugh Shaw Lane in an area known as Trafalgar. It would today be in the King Cross area close to Vets 4 Pets and Tesco supermarket. The poor rate paid e.g. 3 shillings and 7 ½ pence in 1830, suggests the family lived in a modest worker’s property.
Map by Arnot and Washington 1827 showing Trafalgar area of Halifax
Some of the couple’s children lived in the Halifax area with their own families. Thomas Metcalf Reid was recorded on the 1871 census as being born at Milehouse (likely Mill House, a transcription error) at Sowerby. Mill House was a large property owned by the Rawson family in Triangle, Sowerby.
It’s quite possible that Peter worked at the house as a gardener around the time Thomas Metcalf was born. Thomas Metcalf Reid latterly lived in Trimmingham Cottage in Halifax and like his father worked as a gardener.
Photograph of Mill House Triangle. Photographer and date unknown. Calderdale Libraries
Photograph of gravestone made for exhibition
Researched by Jude Dobson