"to the memory of the Rev. Mr. Robert Hargreaves, late curate of Todmorden, in Lancashire, died Aug. 6, 1770, aged 77. He was born in Farnhill, and was only son of Mr. James Hargreaves, an eminent tradesman." (At Farnhill lived Turner the soldier, whose fame is recorded in a local book on natural history, in a series of oil paintings in the possession of a descendant at Bradford, for having slain a tiger in India, and old people remember the travelling exhibition of Turner and the tiger.) In the chancel are stones to commemorate William Bawdwen, Esq., of Stone-gap, who died Jan. 22, 1776, aged 55, and Roger Coates, Esq., of Kildwick Grange, who died March 17, 1660, aged 41. Of the intermarriages of the Coates, Swires and Horsfalls, we have not space to write at present. A tablet bearing arms, is erected to the memory of Samuel Swire, Esq., of Cononley, died May 5, 1763, aged 62; Elizabeth his wife, died April 12, 1790, aged 85; Roger their son, died Jan. 22, 1778, aged 42, and Elizabeth his wife, died July 18, 1773, aged 43. Close to the south wall of the church is an inscription as follows: This stone rescues from oblivion the memory of Thomas Wade, of Silsden moor, who after a life of plainness, uprightness and temperance, died Feb. 11, 1810, in the 103rd year of his age." With notes from three more gravestones (at the east end,) we will conclude. (1) Thomas, eldest son of Rev. Thomas Marsden, Vicar of Kildwick and Skipton, died 14 March, 1850, aged 54. Maria Sarah, daughter Rev. Thomas, died 17 Oct., 1871, aged 71. Henry Horner Granger, surgeon, Skipton, grandson of Rev. Thomas, died 17 Oct., 1878, aged 64, and Elizabeth, relict of H. H. G., died 14 July, 1888, aged 75. (2) Rev. Mr. John Topham, late vicar, died August 5, 1733, aged 61. (3) Thomas Dewhurst, of Sutton, died Nov. 29, 1755, aged 31; a descendant of Thomas Dewhurst, late of London, minister. Mrs. Ann Dewhurst, of Sutton, died Nov. 15, 1758, aged 72, mother of above-said Thomas Dewhurst, of Sutton, and relict of above Thomas Dewhurst, late of London, minister. (It is marvellously true to name a son a descendant.) The Garforth or Garthford family have resided at Steeton more than three centuries, one of whom was vicar of Kildwick in 1659, and of Gargrave in 1667. The Plumptons held the manor of Steeton after the Steetons, and most of the manor was acquired by the Garforths in 1600-4. |