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Families
Jackson family
William George Jackson, Bill to his friends and Willie to his family, followed in his stepfather Thomas Jacksons footsteps for a while, working as a navvie on various Rail and Canal projects across the country.
William George Jackson (aka Smith) Born 2/7/1876 Grove St. Wantage, Berkshire, married on 3/8/1896, at Holy Cross Church, Quainton to Martha Harriet Mary Read I(b.1880), daughter of Robert Read, a carpenter of The Green, Quainton, Buckinghamshire.
Quainton being a major intersection for the railway providing a service into Baker Street, London and a connection for the Great Central Line from Manchester and the Midlands.
In 1896, their first child William was born and sadly died in that same year.
Other children:
Rachel Born 23/6/1897, 53 Bank Farm St, Leeds.
Martha Born 12/8/1898, 2, Wakefield St, Stourton, Hunslett. Died abt 1980 Balby, Doncaster.
James Born 1900
Thomas Born 1901
Edith Born abt 1904
Lily Born 1907 at Smallhedges Bridge, Sykehouse. Died 1960 Barlow, nr Selby
Annie (nance) Born 8/9/1908 Smallhedges. Died abt 2004 Scunthorpe, Lincs.
Betsy (Bessie) Born 16/11/1909 Smallhedges. Died 25/10/1977 Barlow, nr Selby.
Amos Born 1913 Smallhedges
Herbert (Bert) Born 1914 Smallhedges. Died 2000 Sykehouse
Mary Born 1917 Smallhedges. Died 1960 Thorne
Phyllis (Phyl) Born 18/8/1919 Smallhedges Died 13/4/1997 Doncaster
Harriet (Hetty) Born 18/10/1920 Smallhedges Died 21/1/2002 Thrybergh
There was another child, Robert, but no information can be found regarding him, it was thought that Martha had more
babies that were either miscarried or stillborn.
By 1897 William and Martha were living in Leeds where William was working on the Aire & Calder Navigation system, probably part of the Leeds-Cadeby or Leeds-Sheffield Canal. Two daughters were born to them in Leeds.
By 1901 the family were living in Cobbler Cottage, Braithwaite, Doncaster, where William was working on
the New Junction Canal, part of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation system. He spent the rest of his life around this district.
It seems that Martha was pregnant most of the time throughout her married life, fifteen live births recorded in all, she died in 1920, not long after the birth of her last child Harriet (Hetty).
Many of William and Martha's children were born at Smallhedges¹ (Smolledges) Bridge House, near Fishlake, where William was presumably the Bridge keeper. There were many swing bridges, so an attendant was needed to operate them, William was also associated with the Lock at Sykehouse.
Sometime in the 1930's William became an Inspector of Waterways and moved to Elm Cottage, Braithwaite, a hamlet in the township of Kirk Bramwith where in addition to his waterways duties he also ran a poultry farm.
It is said that all his grandchildren have very fond memories of Elm Cottage, which still exists today, though much altered.
After Martha's death in 1920, William's youngest child Harriet was cared for by Williams half sister, Mary Elizabeth (Polly) and her husband William William's (an ex navvie).
Harriet lived with them until her marriage in 1941, and always referred to Mary and William as her mum and dad and her son always called them Grandma and Granddad.
The Williams Fish & Chip Shop at the top of Northfield Lane, near to Pear Tree Cottage.
William's Fish shop was thought to be owned by William and Polly's son Harry, though his mother Polly was always
there helping in the day to day running of the business, the shop was at the top of Northfield Lane, next door to the
National Provincial Bank, and near to Pear Tree Cottage where Mrs Booth used to sell tea cakes from her front door. Standing outside the shop is Harry,
his Wife Nellie and Polly's niece Harriet Jackson, taken about
1933.
Harry Williams real name was Herbert, was born in abt 1897 in Tingewick, Buckinghamshire - his mother Polly, as a navvies wife, travelled with her husband, who followed the Canals and Railways as part of his work. While Polly helped her son to run the Fish shop William her husband worked at Thurcroft Pit, the shop was later sold by Harry, as he too began work at Thurcroft Pit, the shop continued as a fish shop with the new owners until at least the late 1940's.
William George Jackson continued to work right up until the day he died in 1952 aged 76.
He had in fact cycled several miles along the canal bank that day checking various points, he died after supper that evening.
Williams daughter Martha had kept house for him since the death of her mother Martha in 1920.
¹ SMALLHEDGE, a farm-house in the township and parish of Fishlake; 4 miles NNW. of Thorne, 9 from Snaith
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Story and photo's: A. Hanton (grandson)