Powys-Lybbe Forbears - Person Sheet
Powys-Lybbe Forbears - Person Sheet
NameJoseph Priestley 
[195, p. 203], [19, Barptismal register of Northowram, Yorks of 1740-1], [194, W Robertshaw "Stott Hill Hall", Vol VII, 1933, pp. 192-215]
[195, p. 203], [19, Barptismal register of Northowram, Yorks of 1740-1], [194, W Robertshaw "Stott Hill Hall", Vol VII, 1933, pp. 192-215]Birthbef 18 Mar 1741
Baptism18 Mar 1741
Death14 Apr 1817
Burial20 Aug 1817, St Peter's Bradford
GeneralSuperintendent of Leeds & Liverpool Canal Co. for nearly 50 years.
FatherJoseph Priestley (->1769)
MotherGrace Morris
Spouses
ChildrenJoseph (ca1767-1852)
Marriage5 Apr 1769, St John’s church, Halifax, N Yorks [48, Licence for marriage issued by ABP of York’s surrogate on 2 Apr 1769]
Notes for Joseph Priestley
Of Stott Hill House, Bradford.
From "Pen and Pencil Pictures of Old Bradford" quoted by Malcom Hutton, <calum@austarnet.com.au> :
Page 203 This is in a Chapter entitled "Old Bradford Families and their Homes". Opposite page 203 is an engraving of Stott Hill House. Four tiny figures are outside the front gate, one on a horse, and a girl is skipping over a rope held by two others. The extract reads:
"In more recent times Stott Hill House was the residence of the Priestley family. Joseph Priestley was for several years chief manager of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Company. His son John, better known as Captain Priestley (in whose memory we have now Captain Street and Priestley Street), was an influential townsman in his day. One of his daughters became the wife of the late MR. FERRAND of St.Ives, and another was married to the late MR. J. A. BUSFEILD of Upwood."
Remember the book was published in 1890.
In Alumni Oxoniensis there is a Joseph William Priestley in 1830, 1st s. of John of Bradford, Yorks and also in 1821 a John P., 2nd s. of Samuel of Leeds, Yorks. Connected?
__________________________________________________________
In J A Busfeild's Fragments, p. 84 he refers to some magnificent plate presented to his wife's grandfather in 1814 by the proprietors of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal; hence he died after that date:
'From the same source there came to my wife [Mary Elizabeth née Priestley] a massive Silver Dinner Service, consisting of Soup Tureen and Dishes, weighing upwards of 300 oz: presented to Capt. Priestley's father, by the Proprietors of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, "in token of personal regard and friendship, October 1, 1814."'
_________________________________________________________
Related to the last are two internet snippets that need following up:
http://www.canals.btinternet.co.uk/canals/leedsliverpool.htm
1817 Now that Leeds, Bradford, Wigan and Liverpool had been reached, a new line was begun to connect the canal to another major industrial area of the north - Manchester. The easiest way to do this was to connect a branch from Wigan to the western end of the Bridgewater Canal at Leigh. The route was accepted and work began.
Meanwhile, the canal's Superintendent, Joseph Priestley, died after working for the company since construction had first begun. He was buried with honour and in Bradford Cathedral there is a memorial bearing canal images which is dedicated to him. In 1831 another Joseph Priestley (possibly his son) published the best contemporary account of canals and navigations in Britain. (Neither should be confused with Joseph Priestley the preacher and politician who discovered Oxygen and died in 1804).
There is a reference to this younger Joseph Priestley in:
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/jim.shead/PNRC0001.htm particularly the last paragraph:
Priestley's Navigable Rivers and Canals
The book was first published in 1831 as a companion work to Nichols, Priestley and Walkers Map of the Inland Navigation, Canals and Rail Roads, with the Situations of the various Mineral Productions, throughout Great Britain, based on the Ordnance Survey. The map was the work of John Walker of Wakefield, a land and mineral surveyor but suffered from two disadvantages: the scale was too small and the routes shown were as authorised by the relevant Acts of Parliament. Both these disadvantages were overcome by a set of maps produced by Bradshaw at about this time. The consequence of this was that while Walker's map was little used the book that was meant to accompany it became a standard reference work.
It should be remembered that the descriptions in the book are of the canals as authorised and that many of the lines described were altered during the course of construction and that some were never built at all.
The author was a canal manager who had worked on the Wilts & Berks canal and later on the Aire & Calder Navigation. He was also at one time on the committee of the Severn & Wye Railway & Canal company. He was the son of another Joseph Priestley who worked as an accountant for the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.
This would suggest that the younger Joseph Priestley was the brother possibly the younger brother) of my ancestor John Priestley. On second thoughts he is more likely to have been a son of John Priestley as no brothers have been found for John, only one sister.
It looks like Joseph Priestley the elder died sometime between 1814 and 1817 and that there might be a memorial in Bradford Cathedral that might give a little more information. [see below]
April 2018, TFPL: I have double checked for information of baptisms of children to Joseph and Mary Priestley and still nothing can be found on either FindMyPast of FamilySearch.
_________________
The memorial in Bradford parish church had on it (now, April 2018, confirmed, and corrected, by a photo of the memorial):
[The lines are all centrally lined up on the memorial and are solely carved in capitals.]
"This marble is inscribed
by the Company of proprietors
of the Canal navigation
from Leeds to Liverpool
to the memory of
Joseph Priestley Esqr.
as a mark of regard
for his able, zealous
and assiduous attention
to the interests of that great
and important undertaking.
His knowledge and great talents,
his inflexible integrity
and his determined
and faithful discharge of duty
in the most important
and arduous situation
of Superintendant
which he held under the Company
for hearly half a century.
Died 14th April 1817 aged 74 years."
Howver his burial record says he was 76, being buried on the 20th Aug 1817.
_________________
In J A Busfeild’s Source Genealogy volumes there are these notes of deeds:
“Aug 18 1775: Joseph Priestley, Gentn, took assignment of term affecting premises in Shelf, which by indres [indentures] of Sc & Rel dated 29th and 30th June last had been conveyed to him in consen [sonsideration] of £1725.”
“Feb 10 & 11 1769: Joseph Priestley the elder of Northoram yeoman conveyed to Joseph Priestley the yr of Halifax, gent, son & heir apparent of the sd Joseph Priestley the elder - All his estates in Shelf, Clayton & Northoram, in the County of York, in conson [consideration] of natural love & affection.”
_________________
TFPL, Aug 2018: I have had the interesting suggestion from Mike Clarke that the Joseph Priestly son of this Joseph Priestly and born c. 1767 was the son of an earlier marriage (or relationship) of this John Priestley.
The following marriages are candidates from FindMyPast:
1. 29 Oct 1764, Joseph Pristley of Southoram, comber, married Sarah Wadsworth of Halifax.
The problem with this is the profession of ‘comber’: not superintendent material!
2. 6 Oct 1765, Joseph Priestley of Huddersfield married Elizabeth Dyson of Huddersfield.
Not sure about this, need to see the image.
3. Marriage licenc for Joseph Priestley and Mary Greenwood.. His known marriage.
Nothing from Family Search.
On the other hand, Joseph Priestley senior, Superintendant, in his will referred only to his son John who was made executor and residual beneficiary of his estate.
_______________
TFPL, Apr 2020: I have found this non-conformist baptism on FindMyPast:
“Joseph son of Joseph Priestley of Shelf Baptized December 29 1761.” No mother named nor in any of these noncomformist entries.
Could this possibly be the baptism of the son Joseph who went on to write the guide to the canal maps and was manager of the Aire and Calder canal? This would make him 91 at death if the 1852 death was his, a tad old for those times but not impossible.
________________
I wonder if thiese docuemnts held at Bradford Record Office relate to his family of Shelf:
“BC0MM - MISCELLANEOUS MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION (MM/1-92)
Catalogue Finding Number MM38
Office record is held at Bradford, West Yorkshire Archive Service
Title Priestley family of Bradford, papers
Description Including Shelf deeds and Priestley family wills
Date 1730-1859”
_________________
From "Pen and Pencil Pictures of Old Bradford" quoted by Malcom Hutton, <calum@austarnet.com.au> :
Page 203 This is in a Chapter entitled "Old Bradford Families and their Homes". Opposite page 203 is an engraving of Stott Hill House. Four tiny figures are outside the front gate, one on a horse, and a girl is skipping over a rope held by two others. The extract reads:
"In more recent times Stott Hill House was the residence of the Priestley family. Joseph Priestley was for several years chief manager of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Company. His son John, better known as Captain Priestley (in whose memory we have now Captain Street and Priestley Street), was an influential townsman in his day. One of his daughters became the wife of the late MR. FERRAND of St.Ives, and another was married to the late MR. J. A. BUSFEILD of Upwood."
Remember the book was published in 1890.
In Alumni Oxoniensis there is a Joseph William Priestley in 1830, 1st s. of John of Bradford, Yorks and also in 1821 a John P., 2nd s. of Samuel of Leeds, Yorks. Connected?
__________________________________________________________
In J A Busfeild's Fragments, p. 84 he refers to some magnificent plate presented to his wife's grandfather in 1814 by the proprietors of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal; hence he died after that date:
'From the same source there came to my wife [Mary Elizabeth née Priestley] a massive Silver Dinner Service, consisting of Soup Tureen and Dishes, weighing upwards of 300 oz: presented to Capt. Priestley's father, by the Proprietors of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, "in token of personal regard and friendship, October 1, 1814."'
_________________________________________________________
Related to the last are two internet snippets that need following up:
http://www.canals.btinternet.co.uk/canals/leedsliverpool.htm
1817 Now that Leeds, Bradford, Wigan and Liverpool had been reached, a new line was begun to connect the canal to another major industrial area of the north - Manchester. The easiest way to do this was to connect a branch from Wigan to the western end of the Bridgewater Canal at Leigh. The route was accepted and work began.
Meanwhile, the canal's Superintendent, Joseph Priestley, died after working for the company since construction had first begun. He was buried with honour and in Bradford Cathedral there is a memorial bearing canal images which is dedicated to him. In 1831 another Joseph Priestley (possibly his son) published the best contemporary account of canals and navigations in Britain. (Neither should be confused with Joseph Priestley the preacher and politician who discovered Oxygen and died in 1804).
There is a reference to this younger Joseph Priestley in:
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/jim.shead/PNRC0001.htm particularly the last paragraph:
Priestley's Navigable Rivers and Canals
The book was first published in 1831 as a companion work to Nichols, Priestley and Walkers Map of the Inland Navigation, Canals and Rail Roads, with the Situations of the various Mineral Productions, throughout Great Britain, based on the Ordnance Survey. The map was the work of John Walker of Wakefield, a land and mineral surveyor but suffered from two disadvantages: the scale was too small and the routes shown were as authorised by the relevant Acts of Parliament. Both these disadvantages were overcome by a set of maps produced by Bradshaw at about this time. The consequence of this was that while Walker's map was little used the book that was meant to accompany it became a standard reference work.
It should be remembered that the descriptions in the book are of the canals as authorised and that many of the lines described were altered during the course of construction and that some were never built at all.
The author was a canal manager who had worked on the Wilts & Berks canal and later on the Aire & Calder Navigation. He was also at one time on the committee of the Severn & Wye Railway & Canal company. He was the son of another Joseph Priestley who worked as an accountant for the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.
This would suggest that the younger Joseph Priestley was the brother possibly the younger brother) of my ancestor John Priestley. On second thoughts he is more likely to have been a son of John Priestley as no brothers have been found for John, only one sister.
It looks like Joseph Priestley the elder died sometime between 1814 and 1817 and that there might be a memorial in Bradford Cathedral that might give a little more information. [see below]
April 2018, TFPL: I have double checked for information of baptisms of children to Joseph and Mary Priestley and still nothing can be found on either FindMyPast of FamilySearch.
_________________
The memorial in Bradford parish church had on it (now, April 2018, confirmed, and corrected, by a photo of the memorial):
[The lines are all centrally lined up on the memorial and are solely carved in capitals.]
"This marble is inscribed
by the Company of proprietors
of the Canal navigation
from Leeds to Liverpool
to the memory of
Joseph Priestley Esqr.
as a mark of regard
for his able, zealous
and assiduous attention
to the interests of that great
and important undertaking.
His knowledge and great talents,
his inflexible integrity
and his determined
and faithful discharge of duty
in the most important
and arduous situation
of Superintendant
which he held under the Company
for hearly half a century.
Died 14th April 1817 aged 74 years."
Howver his burial record says he was 76, being buried on the 20th Aug 1817.
_________________
In J A Busfeild’s Source Genealogy volumes there are these notes of deeds:
“Aug 18 1775: Joseph Priestley, Gentn, took assignment of term affecting premises in Shelf, which by indres [indentures] of Sc & Rel dated 29th and 30th June last had been conveyed to him in consen [sonsideration] of £1725.”
“Feb 10 & 11 1769: Joseph Priestley the elder of Northoram yeoman conveyed to Joseph Priestley the yr of Halifax, gent, son & heir apparent of the sd Joseph Priestley the elder - All his estates in Shelf, Clayton & Northoram, in the County of York, in conson [consideration] of natural love & affection.”
_________________
TFPL, Aug 2018: I have had the interesting suggestion from Mike Clarke that the Joseph Priestly son of this Joseph Priestly and born c. 1767 was the son of an earlier marriage (or relationship) of this John Priestley.
The following marriages are candidates from FindMyPast:
1. 29 Oct 1764, Joseph Pristley of Southoram, comber, married Sarah Wadsworth of Halifax.
The problem with this is the profession of ‘comber’: not superintendent material!
2. 6 Oct 1765, Joseph Priestley of Huddersfield married Elizabeth Dyson of Huddersfield.
Not sure about this, need to see the image.
3. Marriage licenc for Joseph Priestley and Mary Greenwood.. His known marriage.
Nothing from Family Search.
On the other hand, Joseph Priestley senior, Superintendant, in his will referred only to his son John who was made executor and residual beneficiary of his estate.
_______________
TFPL, Apr 2020: I have found this non-conformist baptism on FindMyPast:
“Joseph son of Joseph Priestley of Shelf Baptized December 29 1761.” No mother named nor in any of these noncomformist entries.
Could this possibly be the baptism of the son Joseph who went on to write the guide to the canal maps and was manager of the Aire and Calder canal? This would make him 91 at death if the 1852 death was his, a tad old for those times but not impossible.
________________
I wonder if thiese docuemnts held at Bradford Record Office relate to his family of Shelf:
“BC0MM - MISCELLANEOUS MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION (MM/1-92)
Catalogue Finding Number MM38
Office record is held at Bradford, West Yorkshire Archive Service
Title Priestley family of Bradford, papers
Description Including Shelf deeds and Priestley family wills
Date 1730-1859”
_________________
Will notes for Joseph Priestley
In his will of the 14th March 1817 he lists
His unnamed daughter (Sarah),
His daughter's husband, John Robert Ogden,
His daughter's children, unnamed,
His son John Priestley, sole executor and residuary legatee.
________________________________________________________
His unnamed daughter (Sarah),
His daughter's husband, John Robert Ogden,
His daughter's children, unnamed,
His son John Priestley, sole executor and residuary legatee.
________________________________________________________
Notes for Joseph & Mary (Family)
Their licence to get married in Halifax:
First name(s) Joseph
Last name Priestley
Age 27
Birth year 1742
Residence parish Halifax
Residence county Yorkshire
Licence year 1769
Licence date 02 Apr 1769
Intended marriage place Halifax PC
Spouse's first name(s) Mary
Spouse's last name Greenwood
Spouse's age 27
Spouse's parish Halifax
Spouse's county Yorkshire
Notes -
Document ordering http://www.york.ac.uk/borthwick/remote-services/copying/order-form
Record sequence number 28
Page number 243
Record set Yorkshire, Archbishop of York Marriage licences index, 1613-1839
__________________
And the church record:
First name(s) Joseph
Last name Priestley
Marriage year 1769
Marriage date 05 Apr 1769
Marriage place Halifax, St John
Church St John
County Yorkshire West Riding
Country England
Spouse's first name(s) Mary
Spouse's last name Greenwood
Groom's occupation Merchant
Groom's residence Halifax
Groom's parish OTP
Bride's residence Halifax
Bride's parish OTP
By licence or by banns Licence
Register number 1186
Record set Yorkshire Marriages
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
___________________
The photocopy of the Licence and Bobn has been obtained and it shows that the bond was guaranteed by Joseph Priestley himself and a William Greenwood, probably the father of the bride. An image of the marriage record should show the bride’s father.
___________________
First name(s) Joseph
Last name Priestley
Age 27
Birth year 1742
Residence parish Halifax
Residence county Yorkshire
Licence year 1769
Licence date 02 Apr 1769
Intended marriage place Halifax PC
Spouse's first name(s) Mary
Spouse's last name Greenwood
Spouse's age 27
Spouse's parish Halifax
Spouse's county Yorkshire
Notes -
Document ordering http://www.york.ac.uk/borthwick/remote-services/copying/order-form
Record sequence number 28
Page number 243
Record set Yorkshire, Archbishop of York Marriage licences index, 1613-1839
__________________
And the church record:
First name(s) Joseph
Last name Priestley
Marriage year 1769
Marriage date 05 Apr 1769
Marriage place Halifax, St John
Church St John
County Yorkshire West Riding
Country England
Spouse's first name(s) Mary
Spouse's last name Greenwood
Groom's occupation Merchant
Groom's residence Halifax
Groom's parish OTP
Bride's residence Halifax
Bride's parish OTP
By licence or by banns Licence
Register number 1186
Record set Yorkshire Marriages
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
___________________
The photocopy of the Licence and Bobn has been obtained and it shows that the bond was guaranteed by Joseph Priestley himself and a William Greenwood, probably the father of the bride. An image of the marriage record should show the bride’s father.
___________________