John H Clayton
John Henry Clayton was the son of Samuel and Frances Clayton, and was baptised on the 6th October 1805 at St Peter's Church, Horbury. The 1841 census shows Samuel, Frances and John living at Aberford Road, Stanley, Wakefield. Samuel is a druggist.
John Henry married Mary Turner, daughter of farmer, Charles Turner on Christmas Day 1843, at St John's Church, Wakefield. John Henry was a joiner and his father Samuel is by now a now a cow keeper! Tragically, Mary died the following year.
Samuel Clayton died in 1849 and the 1851 census shows widowed John Henry living at Eastmoor, Wakefiled now working as a chemist and druggist. Living next door to him is his widowed mother, Frances, who is also a chemist and druggist.
I wonder why Frances isn't named on this gravestone? Samuel died on the 20th August 1849 and John Henry died in 1859. Frances outlived them all, dying on the 4th April 1867. She left an estate of less than £100 and her sole executor was the Superintendent of Constabulary.
The inscription reads:
"Sacred to the memory of Mary, the wife of John Henry Clayton of Eastmoor, near Wakefield, who departed this life September 7th 1844 aged 24 years.
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.
Also Samuel Clayton, father in law of the above who departed this life August 20th 1849 aged 72 years.
Also John Henry Clayton, husband of the above named Mary Clayton and son to Samuel Clayton who departed life on the 29th day of January 1859 aged 53 years."
Helen Bickerdike June 2017
