We came across this headstone and realised that it was for the 8 children lost to James and Tamar Atkinson that we researched a few weeks ago. The children were as follows:

• Sarah Ann 1860-1860 6 days debility from birth
• Robert 1862-1862 Convulsions
• William 1864-1884 age 21 years old TB over 3 months
• Walter 1872-1872 Bronchitis
• Jabez 1873-1894 21 years old who fell from a cart on Evenwood Bridge.
• George 1875-1875 General debility
• Lily (spelt Lilie on headstone) 1879-1879 Convulsions
• James 1880-1880 12-hour premature birth.

Such sad times. The children who survived were:

• James Henry (Harry) 1866 -1925
• Mary Ann 1867-1949
• Sarah 1870 -1926
• Joseph 1879-1958

Another of the Atkinson family graves that we uncovered of ivy a couple of weeks ago in the main part of the cemetery. Mary Ann Atkinson (1867-1949) married John Joseph Linsley (1871-1923), see photos below.

Their family was:

• Hannah Hilda 1895-1929 m Wilfred Lowson
• Raymond,
• John Linsley
• Marjorie
• Norah 1897-1984 m Samuel Marshall Rutter
• Betty (McConnell, teacher at Ramshaw School)
• Patricia Hilda
• Jabez 1901-1977 m Jane Ann Shaw (Jennie)
• Flora
• John Malcolm
• Flora Mary 1903-1938 m John Farquhar Shaw

Flora emigrated to Canada, in 1932 aged 29.  She came back to England to get her qualification for nursing (in Scotland) and was living with Norah and Marshall Rutter at 5 Rochdale Street Evenwood. She married John Shaw in Canada in 1933 and died in 1938 leaving 2 small boys.

John Joseph Linsley died in 1923.

In 1928, widowed Mary Ann travelled to Canada with her son Jabez, wife Jennie and their daughter Flora on board Canadian Pacific ship “Montcalm.”   They arrived back in England October 1929.

Above: April 1928: Mary Ann Linsley, Jabez holding Flora and Jennie.

Samuel and Norah were part of the Evenwood Methodist/ Wesleyan Choir and Samuel was also a member of Evenwood Parish Council.

Above: Evenwood Wesleyan Methodist Choir