1824 – 1894
Joel Sanderson, was baptized at St Nicholas Church Bradfield on 7th March 1824. The third child, and second son of George Sanderson and Martha Ibbotson. (Older siblings, Martin born 1819, and Hannah born 1822). George was a Cutler, and the family lived at Low Bradfield. It is presumed by baptism and census records, the family home was Netherhouse Farm, adjacent to what is now the carpark.
Joel’s birth was followed by those of seven siblings. Alfred 1828, Sarah 1830, Malin 1832, Jarvis 1834, Amelia 1836, Morgan 1839, and Eliza 1844. We have been intrigued by some of the name choices, but the more unusual, seem to be local names.
On March 18th 1844, Joel married his second cousin Eliza Sanderson, at Ecclesfield Parish church. Eliza was the daughter of Thomas Sanderson and Mary Ann Siddons. They were both under 21 years, and both living at Bradfield. Joel described himself as a Farmer, and his father as a Cutler. Eliza’s father, Thomas as a Planter (of trees). The witnesses were Elizabeth and George Hattersley.
Son Albert was baptised 10 February 1845 at Bradfield Church. Joel’s father, George had been apprenticed as a Cutler. In 1845, when son Albert was born, Joel was operating as a cutler, but by the time Mary Ann was baptised in 19 November 1848 again at Bradfield. Joel was described as a labourer. The country cutlery industry was in decline.
It appears Joel and Eliza were taking no chances, as both children, were also baptised at Ecclesfield church on the same day as being baptised at Bradfield.
In 1847, the family suffered disease and death, when Joel’s mother died, of Typhus Fever. This was a disease of poverty, possibly caused by lack of income due to the decline of the cutlery industry. His brother Alfred and sister Eliza, also died within a couple of weeks of their mother, presumably from the same cause.
Three years later, in 1850, Joel’s father, George, died from liver disease. The children still living at home, were forced to leave and find work and accommodation elsewhere. Perhaps Joel and Eliza had been living in the Sanderson family home until this time, but by 1851, were living at ‘Hay Chatters’, a farm house in Bradfield, (Bradfield Dale) with children, Albert and Mary Ann. It had previously been known as Hay/Heigh House, but later became The Haychatters Inn.
By 1861, Joel and Eliza were living at Bradfield Dale Edge, as an Agricultural labourer. Next door were Eliza’s parents, Thomas and Mary Ann. Thomas was a Woodman. Son Albert, had left home to live with his apprentice master, William Bradwell, as a razor grinder apprentice. Daughters Mary Ann, and Elizabeth born 1852, were still at home. Elizabeth was baptised at Brightolmlee Wesleyan Chapel as an adult in 1881. Perhaps other children had been born, but died as young children.
By 1871, Joel and Eliza had moved to Brightolmlee, a small hamlet in High Bradfield.
In 1881, they were still living at Brightolmlee.
Joel died in 1890, and was buried at Stannington Christ Church on 10 June. He had been living at Knowle Top, presumably with or close to son Albert.
As yet we have been unable to identify a death record for Eliza.
NB: Elizabeth Sanderson daughter of Joel, married John Wimpenny 7th March 1869 at Cartworth Huddersfield. He was 33 years old. According to the marriage register, she was ’20’, (born 1849), however, she was not included on the 1851 census, and the 1861 census suggests a birth date of 1852. Strangely, she was baptised at Brightolmlee in 1881, as an adult (name given as Elizabeth Sanderson rather than Wimpenny), birth date given as 1857, (this possibly a mistranscription of 1851 or 2).
A son, Albert, was born to John and Elizabeth Wimpenny on 9th December 1869, and baptised on 10th March 1870 at Hinchliffe Mill, Wesleyan Chapel. Their abode was Hinchliffe Mill. The child must have died, as he was not included in the 1871 census.
The 1871 census shows the pair married, John aged 35 and Elizabeth 20 years. By 1891, John was described as a widower.