Robert Flather was baptised at St John the Baptist Parish Church in Halifax (later the Minster) in April 1808 although his exact date of birth isn’t recorded.
His parents were William and Mary Flather – William was a clock maker in King Cross, Halifax and Robert had at least one sibling (a younger brother called William).
I'm a paragraph. ClBaptism of Robert Flather, Halifax St John the Baptist , Apr 1808. With permission from WYAS Wakefield, WDP53/1/1/8. Accessed via www.Ancestry.co.uk [15/10/2024]ick here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Robert married for the first time on 5th November 1828 at St John the Baptist, Halifax. His wife, Grace, was a similar age to Robert (20 years old) and her parents were George and Judah Goodall of Skircoat – George was a cloth weaver by trade.
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Robert and Grace’s first child William was baptised in May 1831 although his precise date of birth is unknown. Their subsequent two children sadly died in childhood; George died at 6 (1833-9) and Mary was only 2 (1843-45). As there was a considerable gap between the births of George and Mary, it’s possible there were other pregnancies or babies who died but there is no record of this. Their mother Grace died soon after in December 1847, at the age of 39.
The only other information known about the family is that in 1841 they were living on Paradise St. in the King Cross area of town and Robert was termed a mechanic. This is presumably a modest household; they have no live-in servants. Around 1842 they moved to Upper Gerrard St (or Gerrard St) where Robert is listed in trade directories of that time as a machine maker. Both Grace and her two younger children were buried in the family grave in Square Churchyard.
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In December 1848 after one year as a widower, 40-year-old Robert marries again at Square Chapel. His new wife Sarah was a spinster and was approximately 47 at the time. They live with William (Robert’s eldest and only surviving child of his first marriage) at 10 Gerrard St, Halifax and Robert is still a machine maker by trade.
Trade Directory of Halifax 1850
The next significant change for the Flather family is at some point in the 1850s they moved to 25 King Cross St in Halifax and Robert is now a clock maker. This seems like a step up in the world for Robert as by 1856, he is on the electoral register - indicating that he likely owns (or part owns) 25 King Cross St.
Although there is no definite proof, Robert’s father, William, may have died at this point. As Robert would have been around 50 years old at this time, it seems feasible that his father has died and he has inherited the business/property. William Snr. was listed in Trade Directories in 1830-1850s as a clock maker living on King Cross St. A further indicator is that Robert’s younger brother (also called William) is living next door and also on the electoral register. So perhaps William Snr. left his property/business to his two sons? Incidentally Robert’s son William still lives with his father and stepmother throughout this period of his 20s and 30s, as he remains unmarried. In the census of this period William Jnr. is described as a machine maker, then iron turner.
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Robert died in December 1870 at the age of 63 and was buried with his first wife and children. The only information available in Robert’s Probate is that his effects ‘are under £300’ so he apparently doesn’t own a house by that point, and indeed he wasn’t listed on the Electoral Roll after 1863. We know that by 1871 his widow, Sarah and her stepson William, are living at 1 Schofield Court at the time of the census.
Sarah Flather died in 1872 at the age of 71 and was buried with Robert and the rest of his family. It is unclear what happened to William (Robert’s only surviving child) at this point. We only know that he died at 45 years of age in 1876, but was not buried with rest of his family.
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​​​​Researched by Mandy Baynham
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Photograph of gravestone made for exhibition