Jonas Sheard, "the son of Michael Sheard of Gomersall", was baptized on May 27, 1713 (BiPBT).
Copy of the baptismal record of Jonas Sheard from the Birstall Parish records
Marriage, Jonas Sheard and Dinah Kirk
Jonas Sheard of Greater Gomersall married Dinah Kirk on November 19, 1739 in Birstall Parish (BiPBT).
Copy of the marriage record of Jonas Sheard and Dinah Kirk
from the Birstall Parish records
Children
Jonas Sheard and Dinah Kirk had:
-
George Sheard (1740-1824) and Hannah Blakeley
Birth: George, "son of Jonas Sheard of Great Gomersall", baptized on September 14, 1740 (BiPBT)
Marriage: George Sheard married Hannah Blakely on November 14, 1762 in Batley Parish. He signed. She x'ed. Witnesses were Michael Sheard (who x'ed) and William Blakely.
Children: - John Sheard
John, son of George Sheard, Batley clothier, born May 7 and baptized on June 3, 1763 in Batley Parish (BPR).
Marriage: Marie Blakely
Children: See George Sheard, now or at the bottom of the page.
- Dinah Sheard
Dinah, daughter of George Sheard of Batley, clothier, was born April 28, and baptized on June 16, 1765 in Batley Parish (BPR).
Marriage: James Brigg
Children: See George Sheard, now or at the bottom of the page.
- Sarah Sheard
Sarah, of George Sheard of Batley, labourer, was born May 8, and baptized on June 28, 1767 in Batley Parish (BPR).
Marriage: John Turner.
Children: See George Sheard, now or at the bottom of the page.
- James, of George Sheard, Batley labourer, was baptized on June 31, 1770 in Batley
Parish
Death: James, the son of George Sheard of Batley, was buried on June 2, 1785 (BPR)
- Mary Sheard
Mary, of George Sheard, Batley labourer, was baptized on October 20, 1771 in Batley Parish (BPR).
Marriage: Mary Sheard and Isaac Newsome May 2_, 1793 witnesses Michael Sheard and George Sheard in Batley Parish.
Children: See George Sheard, now or at the bottom of the page.
- George Sheard
George Sheard baptized in May 1773, (Batley)
Marriage: George Sheard and Anne Greenwood June 13, 1794 in Batley Parish. George x'd. Witness Michael Sheard.
Children: See George Sheard, now or at the bottom of the page.
- Michael Sheard
Michael, baptism unknown, no later than 1775. The is a break of five years between the baptism of George in 1773 and the next child listed in the Parish Records. In this interval, Michael, the son of George Sheard was baptized, place unknown.
Marriage: Michael Sheard and Sarah Lister June 24, 1795. He signed, she x'ed
Children: See George Sheard, now or at the bottom of the page.
- Benjamin Sheard
Benjamin, of George Sheard, Batley Clothier, son of Jonas Sheard, by Hannah his wife daughter of Benjamin Blakely was born on December 21, 1777 and baptized February 8, 1778
Marriage: Benjamin Sheard and Elizabeth Chappel December 26, 1798 (BPR).
Witness: Benjamin Sheard was a witness to the marriage of Hannah Lister and George Stubley May 20, 1819.
Children: See George Sheard, now or at the bottom of the page.
- William Sheard
William, son of George Sheard of Batley clothier, son of Jonas, by Hannah his wife, daughter of Benjamin Blakeley was born March 28 and baptized May 30, 1780
Marriage: William Sheard married Grace Lister April 11, 1798, Batley. He signed. She x'ed. Witness: Benjamin Sheard
Note: Grace Lister was the daughter of Jacob Lister. Jacob Lister, butcher, was the son of George Lister and ____, his wife, the daughter of Abram Stubley. Abram Stubley was the the father of Rachael Stubley Law, the first wife of Benjamin Law. Benjamin's second wife was Lydia Sheard.
- Hannah Sheard and Robert Wilson
Hannah daughter of George Sheard of Batley clothier, son of Jonas, by Hannah, his wife, daughter of Benjamin Blakeley was born November 28, and baptized on December 25, 1782 (BPR)
Marriage: Hannah Sheard and Robert Wilson, December 27, 1802, Batley
Children: See George Sheard, now or at the bottom of the page.
- Jonas, son of George Sheard of Batley clothier, son of Jonas, by Hannah his wife, daughter of Benjamin Blakeley, was born on October 17, and baptized on December 25, 1784 (BPR)
- Michael Sheard (1742-1811) and Sarah Barber
Birth: Michael, "son of Jonas Sheard of Great Gomersall" was baptized on December 12, 1742 (Birstall Parish).
Marriage: Michael Sheard married Sarah Barber in 1763.
Children: See Michael Sheard
- Hannah, "daughter of Jonas Sheard of Great Gomersall" was baptized on
October 21, 1744 (Birstall Parish).
- Lydia, "daughter of Jonas Sheard of Great Gomersall" was baptized on September 29, 1746. (Birstall Parish)
- Suzanna, daughter of Jonas Sheard of Great Gomersall was baptized on
February 8, 1748 (Birstall Parish).
Death: Suzanna, daughter of Jonas Sheard of Birstall, was buried October 15, 1764. - Mary, daughter of Jonas Sheard and Dinah his wife, at Great Gomersall, Birstall Parish Born baptized January 8, 1750 "at meeting house in Gomersall" (Gildersome Baptist Church LDS film #81666211)
- John of Jonas and Dinah Sheard of Great Gomersall, Clothier, Birstall Parish, born July 14, 1754 baptized July 14 1754 at the "Brns" Chapel in Little Gomersall (Gildersome Baptist Church LDS film #81666211)
- James son of Jonas and Dinah Sheard of Gomersall, Birstall Parish, born 14 July 1756 baptized July 18 1756 at the "Brns" Chapel in Little Gomersall (Gildersome Baptist Church LDS film #0816621)
Children: See George Sheard, now or at the bottom of the page.
Jonas Sheard in Birstall and Batley Parishes
As indicated by the records for the children of Jonas Sheard's sons, George and Michael, and the death record of Jonas Sheard, the family moved from Birstall Parish to Batley in Batley parish sometime after the death of Suzanna in 1764.
Death of Dinah Kirk Sheard
Dinah Sheard M.S. (married sister) of Birstall Gomersall congregation died September 4, 1763 buried September 7, 1763. (Gildersome Baptist Church LDS film #81666211)
Death of Jonas Sheard
Jonas Sheard was buried in Batley Parish on December 13, 1789 (BPR)
Copy of the death record of Jonas Sheard
Legacy of Jonas Sheard and Dinah Kirk in Batley
George Sheard (born in Great Gomersal in Birstall parish in 1740) and his brother, Michael Sheard (born in Great Gomersal, Birstall Parish in 1742), the sons of Jonas Sheard and Dinah Kirk both moved to Batley in Batley parish 1762/63 or before. Both George and Michael were listed on various records as clothiers. They both had children baptized in Batley parish.
George Sheard has six sons: John born 1763, James born 1770 (died as a child), George born 1773, Michael born 1775, Benjamin born 1777, William born 1780 and four daughters: Dinah born 1765 married James Brigg, Sarah born 1767 married John Turner, Mary born 1771 married Isaac Newsome, Hannah born 1782 married Robert Wilson.
Michael Sheard had three sons: James in 1763, Jonas in 1770 and Michael in 1771. None of Michael's sons appear in later records in Batley Parish. Michael also had seven daughters: Hannah born 1765 married Abraham Newsome, Dinah born 1768 married William Walker, Mary born 1772 married Joseph Blakely, Martha born 1774 married Joseph Ackroyd, Sarah born 1777 married James Bowling and Thomas Auty, Elizabeth born 1779 married Benjamin Parr, Lydia born 1781 married Benjamin Law. Benjamin Parr and Benjamin Law were clothiers and partners. Benjamin Law's developed of shoddy around 1813 was a major factor in the economic growth and development of Batley. Many people, including some of the Sheards, made their fortunes in shoddy. Benjamin Parr's sons developed mungo, which also became an important economic factor for Batley.
George Sheard's son, Michael Sheard (1777-1837) had a son Michael (1798-1861). Michael, junior had five sons, John, Joseph, Benjamin, George and Richard. Michael and his sons formed the company, Michael Sheard and Sons. Michael Sheard and Sons bought out the other partners of the Hick Lane Mill. Originally a "company concern" this steam driven mill with the express purpose of making shoddy was built in 1822. The original group included Benjamin Parr, Benjamin Law's brother-in-law and former partner. However it did not include Benjamin Law. The Sheards took down the old mill and built a new one in it's place. They also purchased the Hick Well Mill, which they rebuilt and enlarged. Their business in 1880 was the largest in Batley and according to James Willans in The Rise and Progress of Batley (1880) the Sheards were among "the best employers in the district". However Malcolm Haigh in his History of Batley (1978) says:
"A report in the Leeds Mercury in June 1836 said that Messr Hall, Sheard and Co (Batley) had been fined 6 Pounds for working children in the night and others, under 10 years, for more than eight hours.......that Messrs Sheard, Spedding and Co of Hick Lane Mills had been fined 7 Pounds for working children under nine for more than eight hours......."Malcolm Haigh credits the Sheard with bringing electricity to Batley:
"Electricity made its incursion into town in 1882 when it was first given a trial at the Hick Lane works of Michael Sheard and Co."
The Sheards were also involved in coal mining. Malcolm Haigh says "Messr John, Joseph, Benjamin and George Sheard" were all Batley woolen manufacturers and directors of the Howley Park Company, a coal mining concern.
1822 Baine's Directory listed Michael Sheard and Michael Sheard, Jun as Flushing Manfrs. It also listed Benjamin Parr and Benjamin Law as flushing manufacturers.
The 1829 Pigot Directory listed George Sheard and Michael Sheard under flushing Manufacturers.
The 1834 Pigot's Directory listed:
- Sheard Benjamin, Batley
- Sheard David, Batley
- Sheard George & Co. Batley
- Sheard James, Batley
- Sheard Michael & Son, Batley
- Sheard Michael, jun. Batley
Furthermore it listed:
- Hall, Sheards & Co., Batley
- Sheard Michael and Joseph, Chickenley
- Sheard, Spedding & Co, Hick Lane Mill, Batley
In addition, James Sheard was listed at Wilton's Arms, James Sheard, under Batley Taverns and Public Houses.
