There are three records for the name Law in Birstall Parish between 1558 and 1664 (over a hundred years):

1. John Law married Margaret Challyner July 30, 1611 in Birstall Parish.
2. Wf of John Lawe of A (Adwalton) buried Jan 17, 1615.
3. John Law from B (Birstall) buried 2 Dec 1623

Note: John Law and Margaret Challyner could not have been the parents of James Law, Abraham Law and Grace Law. It is possible, however, that they were the grandparents.

There are only a handful of records for Law in Birstall Parish in the late 1600s and early 1700s. These records are connected to:

1. James Law (d.o.b. c 1644) and his wife, Alice Rouse who lived in Gomersall. (See James and Alice Law )
2. Abraham Law (d.o.b. c 1660). See below.
   Note: If Abraham Law was born in in 1660, as estimated by his age at death, he was not the son of Alice Rouse. Alice Rouse did not marry James Law until 1664. Abraham Law lived in Scholes.
3. Grace Law (d.o.b. c 1674) married Christopher Gott. They lived in Moithill/Holding Clough. See below.
   Note: It is possible Grace Law was the child of James and Alice Law. There is a seven year break in the baptismal records that coincides with the estimated date of her birth. If she was born in 1674 she could NOT have been the daughter of Abraham Law.

Note: There is a 17 year break in the records between 1746 and 1763.

Abraham Law, Scholes (c. 1660-1709) and Sarah Crowder

Birth: Abraham Law was born circa 1660 (based on tombstone inscription), parents unknown, place unknown

Note: If he was born in 1660, as suggested by his tombstone, Abraham was not the son of Alice Rouse who did not marry James Law until 1660.

Marriage: Abraham Law married Sarah Crowder in Birstall parish on May 9, 1692 (PRB)

Children:

1. John Law (c 1694-1764)
   Birth: John circa 1694 based on tombstone.
   Death: 1764 (tombstone inscription)

2. Lidiah d Abraham Law of Scoles, April 28, 1697 (PRB)
   Further Records: Lydia Law married Abraham Bentley 25 May 1726, banns No other information. If this is correct she would have been 29.

3. Abraham s Abraham Law of Scoles, May 3, 1699 (BT and PRB)
   Further Records: None

4. James Law (1701-) and Jane Turner
   Birth: James s Abraham Law of Scoles, April 22, 1701(BT and PRB)
   Marriage: James Law to Jane Turner 17 April 1726 no other information marriages Birstall Parish
   Note: Given the limited number of Law records in the parish this record is probably the correct one for James the father of Anne, Lydia, Elizabeth, Mary, Jane and Lydia. However, since no mother was listed on the baptismal records there is the possibility that Jane was not the mother of these children.
   Children:
   1. Anne, February 12, 1726 (real 1725) Scholes (BT)
   2. Lydia, May 11, 1727 (IGI. Not in the parish records. Not on Parish Index.)
      Death: another Lydia in 1738
   3. Elizabeth May 28, 1730, Scholes (BT)
   4. Mary December 29, 1731, Scholes (BT)
   5. Jane (may be James) December 2, 1734, Scholes (BT)
   6. Lydia May 5, 1738, Scholes (BT)

5. Mary, "the daughter of Abraham Law of Scholes", May 17, 1703 (BT and PRB)
   Further Record: None

Death: Abraham Law of Scholes October 6, 1709 (BT and PRB)

Death: Sarah Law of Scholes, widow, was buried September 16, 1730.

In June 2010, Rosalind Stead sent me the tombstone inscription of Abraham Law, his wife and their son, John.

LAW

Here lyeth the body of Abraham Law who departed this life at Scholes the 3rd day of October 1709 and in the 49th year of his age.

Here also lyeth the body of Sarah wife to the above Abraham Law who departed this life ye 14th day of September 1730 aged 66*

Also the body of John Law son of the above said who died August 5th 1764 in the 70th year of his age**

* d.o.b c 1664.

** d.o.b c 1694

Note: The following four people were most likely born during the 17 year break in the Parish Records and are most likely the grandchildren of Abraham Law and Sarah Crowder.

1. Sarah Law of Scholes married Thomas Skelton, cloth dresser, of Wakefield, on November 1, 1765. They both signed with their marks. No witnesses. Sarah was born no later than 1745.
2. Abraham Law and Mary Seller

   Birth: No later than 1751 based on an age of 20 at the time of his Marriage in 1771. ????? Son of John of Wike 6 March 1743 ??? or an unrecorded birth to one of the Laws of Scholes?? Most likely the later given the name, location and gap in the Birstall Parish records.

   Marriage: Abraham Law of Scholes married Mary Seller of Scholes by banns, September 15, 1771

   Children:

   1. John Law, cardmaker, (1772-1834) and Hannah Robinson

      Birth: Circa 1773 based on an age of 61 at his death.

      Cleckheaton Whitechapel: John Law: baptised 12 Jul 1772 at Cleckheaton Whitechapel, son of Abraham Law of Scholes (Elizabeth Whitehead, January 2011)

      Marriage 1799: P285 04 11 1799 JOHN LAW AND HANNAH ROBINSON BY ME JOSEPH OGDEN, WITNESSES JOHN WADDINGTON AND JOHN DRAKE courtesy of Rosalind Stead July 2010

      Children:

      1. P262 05 10 1800 Samuel (transcribed as SAME) SON OF JOHN LAW OF BIRKBY LANE, CARDMAKER (Rosalind Stead July 2010)
      2. Joseph Law (1803-18--)
         Birth: P265 27 03 1803 JOSEPH SON OF JOHN LAW OF BIRKBY LANE, CARDMAKER (Rosalind Stead July 2010)
         Marriage:
         1841 Census:
         1851: Cleckheaton Whitechapel, Westfield Lane, Joseph Law, head marr. age 48, card maker, born Clifton, Mary, wife age 54, William son age 18, sick no occupation, Ellen daughter 20, servant, Alfred son age 16 sick, all born Scholes.
         
      3. P273 02 08 1807 MARY dau OF JOHN LAW OF BIRKBY LANE, CARDMAKER (Rosalind Stead July 2010)
      4. P280 10 07 1811 JAMES SON OF JOHN LAW OF BIRKBY LANE, CARDMAKER (Rosalind Stead July 2010)
      5. Joshua - 26 Mar 1815 (Elizabeth Whitehead, January, 2011)
      6. Thomas - 09 1817 (Elizabeth Whitehead, January, 2011)
      7. Mary - 16 Apr 1820 (my 3 x great grandmother) (Elizabeth Whitehead, January, 2011)
      8. Sarah - 13 Apr 1823 (Elizabeth Whitehead, January, 2011)

      Death of John Law: 10 Jan 1834 at the Whitechapel Cleckheaton, Old Popplewell in Scholes, (courtesy of Elizabeth Whitehead, December 2010)

   2. Joseph c 1776 ?? See below

   3. Suzanne (1777 - 1794)

      The only other record I could find of a child of Abraham Law is Susy, baptised 07 Jan 1777 at Cleckheaton Whitechapel. This is then completed by Susannah Law's burial record again at Cleckheaton Whitechapel aged 15 years on 30 Jul 1794 (cause of death noted as consumption). Susannah is noted as 'the daughter of Abram Law of Birkby Lane, Hartshead' which ties in well with the Hartshead records for John Law. (Elizabeth Whitehead, January, 2011)

   Death of Abraham Law: Abraham Law of Clifton, buried at Cleckheaton Whitechapel on 30 Apr 1820, aged 79 years (Elizabeth Whitehead, January, 2011)

   Death of Mary Law: Mary Law of Clifton, buried at Cleckheaton Whitechapel on 15 Dec 1822, aged 81 years. (Elizabeth Whitehead, January, 2011) Note: These records tie up with likelihood that Abraham Law was the son of John Law of Wike, baptised on 06 Mar 1742, as shown in your research. (Elizabeth Whitehead, January, 2011)

3. Mary, the daughter of Sarah Law of Scholes, was buried September 5, 1774.
4. Joshua Law (c 1757-) and Ann Hirst
   Birth: Circa 1751 based on age at death. He was born during the 17 year break in the parish records. Given his occupation, residence and the use of the name, Abraham, there is a strong connection to the Laws of Scholes. In June 2010 Rosalind Stead wrote that she believes "Joshua to be the son of John baptized in Hartshead on 24 05 1752." *
   Marriage: Joshua Law of Scholes married Ann Hirst by license on August 27, 1777
   Children:
   1. Joshua, 1777 JOSHUA SCHOLES CARDMAKER, (Rosalind Stead, July 2010)
   2. Sarah Law and John Townend
      Birth: Sarah, May 21, 1780
      Marriage: Sarah Law married John Townend, December 28, 1800.
   3. Dorothy, April, 14, 1782 (Index)
   4. Hannah, December 10, 1783 (Index)
      Death: 1856 per family tombstone
   5. John, June 22, 1786 (Index)
   6. Molly, November 2, 1788 (Index)
   7. Benjamin, October 16, 1791 (Index)
   8. Elizabeth, October 20, 1793 (Index) 20 10 1793 ELIZABETH HEATON LANE (Rosalind Stead, July 2010)
   9. Abraham circa 1796 per family tombstone & 14 02 1796 ABRAHAM, HEATON LANE, CARDMAKER (Rosalind Stead, July 1010
      Death: 1835 per family tombstone
   10. Ann, May 10, 1801 (Index) 16 04 1801 10 05 1801 ANN, HEATON LANE, CARDMAKER (Rosalind Stead, July 2010)
       Marriage: Thomas Burnup per family tombstone.
       Death: 1886 per family tombstone
   Notes:
   • John (1786) and Benjamin (1791) do not show up in the censuses. No marriages in Birstall.
   Occupation: Cardmaker
   Residence: Scholes in 1777, Heaton Lane 1793, 1796 and 1801, Cleckheaton in 1833
   Tombstone of Joshua Law and related persons, courtesy of Rosalind Stead, July 2010:

   CLECKHEATON WHITECHAPEL

   LAW- 9E 908 NEXT TO PATH - HIGH

   Sacred to the memory of Joshua Law of Cleckheaton who departed this life the 2nd day of April 1833 aged 82 years

   Also of Abraham son of the above mentioned who departed this life on the 10th day of May 1835 aged 39 years

   Also of Ann wife of the above said Joshua Law who departed this life on the 10th day of February 1836 aged 82 years

   Also of Hannah daughter of the above Joshua and Ann Law who died November 18th 1856 aged 72 years

   Also of Ann the beloved wife of Thomas Burnup and daughter of the above Joshua and Ann Law who died at Heaton House June 2nd 1886 aged 85 years

   Also of the above named Thomas Burnup who died at Heaton House April 24 1888 aged 83 years

   Death of Joshua Law: 1833

   Death of Ann Hirst Law: 1836

*HARTSHEAD 1612 - 1812 RECORDS FOR JOHN LAW, courtesy of Rosalind Stead July 2010

BAPTISMS:
P75 17 01 1700 JOHN son of John
P77 08 01 1706/7 JOHN son of John
P78 26 02 1707 MARTHA daughter of John
P80 08 10 1711 MARY daughter of John
P91 28 10 1734 JOHN son of George Law of Sandal labourer
P105 24 05 1752 JOSHUA*, son of John Law Birkby Lane labourer


MARRIAGE

P285 04 11 1799 JOHN LAW AND HANNAH ROBINSON BY ME JOSEPH OGDEN, WITNESSES JOHN WADDINGTON AND JOHN DRAKE

BURIALS:

P201 21 01 1699 JOHN LAW BURIED
P202 09 07 1704 MARY WIFE OF JOHN LAW BURIED

Rosalind notes:

"all entries for John Law from the Hartshead transcript by the YAS from 1612 - 1812; as you will see Joshua is the only child of John baptised there so whether his mother or father died or whether he was passing through Hartshead at the time it is hard to say."

Elizabeth Whitehead pointed this other potential member of this family.

Birth: Circa 1776 Scholes, Yorkshire

NOT listed in Birstall Baptisms

Occupation: Card maker, per 1841 census

Marriage:

Children:

1841 Census: Joseph Law Card Maker age 65, Brickhouse, Clifton.

1851 Census: Brickhouse, Hartshead cum Clifton, Joseph Law head age 75, farmer, born Scholes Sarah wife age 45, born Scholes Joseph grandson age 21, farmer man born Clifton

Death:

Joseph Land and Hannah (or Nancy) _____

Birth: Calverley per Frank Peel

Marriage: per Frank Peel

Children: None per Frank Peel

Marriage: per Frank Peel

Children: None, per Frank Peel

Marriage: per Frank Peel

Nancy Naylor 1805 per Birstall parish Indexes.

Children:

1. Samuel per Frank Peel

   1807 per 1861 census and LDS, not listed baptismal Birstall index

   Marriage: Jane Issott per FP

   Children: John (who died in infancy), Ann, Alfred, Joseph, Henry, Mary, and James per FP

   1841 Census: --- Lane End, Law, Samuel, age 30, cardmaker, Jane age 30, Ann, 11, Alfred, 8, Joseph, 7, Henry, 5, Mary, 3, James 11 months.

   1851 Census: Cleckheaton, White Chapel: Four Land Ends, Samuel Law, widr. age 44, card maker, born Scholes, Ann 21, Alfred 19, born Bowling Joseph 17, born Bowling, Henry 15, born Bowling, Mary Jane 12, born Bowling, James 10, born Bowling, Samuel 8, born Scholes, Martha Ellen 4, born Scholes, Jane 1, born Scholes.

   1861 census: Upper Lane Square, Samuel Law 54, widower, card maker, employing 8 men and boys, Scholes, Ann Law 29, Dudley Hill, Henry Law 23, Dudley Hill, Mary Law 21, Dudely Hill, Samuel Law 18, Scholes, Martha Law 14, Sholes, Jane Law 12, Scholes, Emma Law 24, niece, Bradford Hannah Hill 26, servant.

   Note: "Samuel Law learnt the card making business at Dudley Hill with his half brother John", FP, italics mine

2. Martha per Frank Peel

   Marriage: John Bickby, Scholes

"The cardmaking trade was, at the time of which we are writing, a very flourishing business in Spen Valley, especially in Scholes and Cleckheaton. It is said to have been introduced into this locality by the Overend family, who were located at old Popplewell as early as 1698. In 1717, Robert Crosland, a member of the Society of Friends; began the business at Oldfield Nook, and it is still carried on there. In the immediate neighbourhood, Joseph Sellars, Wm. Sharp, James Taylor, and Richard Butterfield also engaged in the business. Messrs. Samuel Law and Sons have at the present day the honour of being the largest cardmakers in Cleckheaton, and therefore the largest in the world. The founder of the family was a resident of Calverley named Joseph Law. While yet a young man he migrated to Scholes, where he carried on for some years an extensive grocery business. This Joseph Law was thrice married, his only children by his third wife being Samuel and Martha Law the latter of whom married John Birkby, of Scholes. Samuel Law learnt the card making business at Dudley Hill with his half brother John, and married Jane Issott, of Dudley Hill, a superior woman both physically and mentally, by whom he had a large family, of whom John (who died in infancy), Ann, Alfred, Joseph, Henry, Mary, and James were, born at Dudley Hill. Samuel Law left that locality about 1840 to take the grocery business which had been conductedby his father at Scholes, but still adhered to the cardmaking trade. In 1850 Samuel Law and his brother-in-law, John Birkby, just named, carried on the cardmaking business in partnership in Horncastle Lane, Cleckheaton. Afterwards on John Birkby's decease, Samuel Law removed to "the Square" but the business grew to such great dimensions that a removal from this place was found to be necessary, and it is now worked at Moorland Mills (which have been several times enlarged to accommodate their evergrowing trade), and also at Rouridhill, the old-place, established and conducted for many years by the Broadbents. Five or six years ago this firm was made into a limited company, which is composed of members of the family and a few of the workpeople. "

Spen Valley Past and Present, by Frank Peel 1893.

Birth of Grace Law: C 1674, place and parents unknown

Note: It is possible that Grace was the daughter of either James Law and Alice Rouse or Abraham Law and Sarah Crowder.

Marriage of Grace Law and Christopher Gott: Grace Law married Christopher Gott January 9, 1694/95 (PRB)

Note All of the Gott record in the parish between 1687 and 1724 are connected with "Christopher" Gott, except for two female marriages. Of the records that include a place all but two are for Christopher Gott of Moithill. The other two are for Christopher Gott of Holding Clough.

Christopher Gott before his marriage to Grace Law

Birth:

Bastard:

1. Christopher bastard s Christopher Gott and Grace Pollard of D (DATE???)
(PRB)

Note: This was after the marriage to Mary

Marriage: Mary _________ (based on death record)

Children of Christopher Got and Mary ______:

1. John (twin), see next entry
   Death: John s Christopher Gott of Moithill October 5, 1689 (PRB)
2. Sarah Gott and Jonathan Nichols
   Birth: Sarah (twin)of Christopher Gott of Moithill August 10, 1687 (PRB)
   Marriage: Sarah Gott married Jonathan Nichols of Otley March 29, 1714 (PRB)
3. William s Christopher Gott of Moithill July 17, 1690 (PRB)
   Death: William of Christopher Gott of Moit hill February 7, 1690/01 (PRB)
4. Joseph s Christopher Gott of Moithill January 6 1691/92 (PRB)

Death of Mary, wife of C Gott: Mary wf of Christopher Gott of Moit hill December 30, 1693 (PRB)

1. John Gott (1695-) and Martha Willans
   Birth: John s Christopher Gott of Moithill November 24, 1695 (PRB)
   Marriage: John Gott of Moithill and Martha Willans, October 16, 1721 (PRB)
   Children:
   1. Mary d John Gott of Moithill July 31, 1722 (PRB)
2. Martha d Christopher Gott of Moithill October 20, 1697(PRB)
3. Alice d Christopher Gott of Holding Clough August 11, 1700 (PRB)
4. Grace d Christopher Gott of Holding Clough December 27, 1702 (PRB)
5. Tabitha d Christopher Gott of Houlding Clough March 11, 1704/05 (PRB)
6. William d Christopher Gott of Moitehill January 5, 1712/13 (PRB)

Death of Grace Law Gott: ???

Marriage of Christopher Gott and Sarah Gibson: Christopher Gott of Gildersome and Sarah Gibson April 25, 1715 (PRB)

Children:

1. Rachael d Christopher Gott of Moyt Hill September 16, 1716 (PRB)

Miscellaneous Law Records in Bristal Parish

• Richard Law

  March 3, 1713/14 baptism, Martha d Rosemand Marleton of B Richard Law the reputed father (PRB)

• Luce Law

  Luce Law married Joshua Pickles of Scholes May 9, 1714 (PRB)

• John Law of Wike

  Abraham the son of John Law of Wike baptized 6 March 1743

• Thomas Law (1717?) and Anne Traviss, born G, lived Heckmondwick

  Birth: Thomas of John of G baptized May 12, 1717 ???

  Marriage for Thomas: Thomas Law of Heckmondwick married Anne Traviss 16 May 1744, Birstall Parish (BT) No other info.

  Child: Sarah of Thomas Law of Heckmondwick 30 March 1746

• James Law, Gomersall

  James Law, Gomersal Poor House age 66, 23 January 1815 (Birstall Parish Death Records) Note: Born circa 1752

• James Law (c. 1752-1816)

  Martha and Mary daughters of James Law, Batley, clothier, Brown Hill, age 5 days 25 December 1816. (Birstall Parish Death Records)

• John Law, Dewsbury

  John Law married Alis Dikson Nov 6, 1581

BIRSTALL ST. PETER'S CHURCH LAW BAPTISMS 1806 - 1811

BIRSTALL ST. PETER LAW MARRIAGES 1724 - 1837