Life stories

Cast of characters

Find out more about each of these former residents of Settle.

• John Armitstead

  (1831 – 1891) Giggleswick School had a good record for providing a charitable education for children in difficulty.  This could...

• Thomas Blanshard

   (1857 – 1898) The death or absence of a parent can affect children’s life chances. However, despite this, some children...

• Elizabeth Boothman

  (1818 – 1888) Many Victorians believed that ‘God’s purpose’ for women was to procreate. Child mortality was high, so having...

• Mary Bowman

  (1831 – 1890) Many Victorians believed that ‘God’s purpose’ for women was to procreate. Child mortality was high, so having...

• Alice Bowskill

  (1817 – 1879) Alice Bowskill was born in 1817 in Settle and had to contend with multiple mental health issues....

• Betty Buck

  (1843 – ?) If working class fathers died, widows and children could have a tough time making ends meet to...

• Thomas Burton

  Railway navvies had a tough, physical job and most were unmarried men in their twenties.  Their pay was relatively high,...

• Mary Cardus

  (1840 – 1888) Mary Cardus proved herself to be a good mother to several children, but was never able to...

• Robert Chapman

  (1833 – 1884) Many working class men were attracted to a well-paid career in the military that might take them...

• Mary Clapham

  (1798 – 1863) In the 19th century, women were expected to marry. If they remained spinsters, there were not many...

• James Clemmy

  (February – March 1839) In common with many areas of the country, infant mortality in 19th century Settle was very...

• John Cowburn

  (1814 – 1855) The 19th century provided numerous opportunities for middle class entrepreneurs to make their fortunes. Unfortunately, there were...

• Edwin Septimus Green

  (1843 – 1871) Edwin Green was a son of a surgeon from County Durham. Edwin followed in his father’s footsteps...

• The Handby brothers

  The stories of these three brothers demonstrate how different siblings’ lives can be, despite being brought up together in a...

• Mary Ann Hartley

  (1828 – 1920) Despite humble roots, Mary Ann Hartley made an impressive life for herself and her brothers. This may...

• Henry Hayton

  (1857 – 1897) The workhouse in Settle is thought to have looked after its inmates better than most, but the...

• Isabella Jackson

  (1814 – 1870) Contagious diseases caused a third of all deaths in the 19th century. Isabella Jackson was one of...

• The Jarry sisters

  Maria (1818 – 1893) and Alphonsine (1822 – 1912) Maria Louisa and Alphonsine Sarah Jarry, born in 1818 and 1822...

• Mary Lambert

  (1818 – 1843) Mary Lambert, born in 1818, was descended from wealthy Settle lawyers. In 1841, she married Hogarth John...

• John Griffith Owen

  (1853 – 1873) John Griffith Owen was born in Holyhead on Anglesey and, at the age of 17, moved to...

• Alfred Graeme Pierson

  (1862 – 1896) Alfred Pierson’s life goes to prove that money doesn’t necessarily bring happiness, and that marriage can be...

• Rodger Preston

  (1834 – 1911) Settle’s history tends to be recalled through the accounts of middle class and wealthy residents, but 80%...

• Charlotte Robinson

  (1859 – 1909?) Charlotte, born in 1859, was the youngest of nine children of successful Settle solicitor Henry Robinson and...

• Sophia Wainwright

  (1814 – 1874) Sophia Wainwright was born in 1814 in Kent. Her father was a military man who had served...