Matthew Bickerdike was born on 1 August 1810 to Matthew Bickerdike and Elizabeth in the Harewood area. He was baptised on 30 September 1810 at All Saints in Harewood and the register shows that they were “of Holling Hall” which is probably Hollin Hall.

Matthew married Mary Smith at All Saints Church in Harewood on 24 May 1834. Matthew was “of the parish of Addle”. They had the following children:

The 1841 shows that Matthew, Mary and the oldest three children (Mary Smith seems to be recorded twice) living at Lofthouse which I think refers to Lofthouse Farm on the Wyke Road not far from Lofthouse Lodge. Matthew was working as a farmer.

By 1844, when Matthew was born, the family had moved, possibly to Horsforth since Matthew junior was baptised at St Margaret’s Church. At the time of Alfred’s baptism in September 1846 they had definitely moved to Gipton and Matthew was working as a farmer.

The 1851 Census shows the family living at “Low Gipton” where Matthew is a “Farmer 41 Acres 1 laborer”. Living with them were his widowed mother Elizabeth, William and Joseph – nephews, and Elizabeth – niece.

The 1861 Census is a little more detailed in where the family were living, it records “Gipton – Oak Tree Farm” which I think was somewhere near Gipton Wood on Roundhay Road. Matthew is a “Farmer of 38 (1 man) and he is living with Mary, George, Elizabeth, Alfred, Gertrude, John, Anne and their grandson John T aged 6 (same ages as Anne!)

Matthew was still farming the 38 acres of Oak Tree Farm at the time of the 1871 Census, he was now 60 years old. Living at the farm with Matthew were Mary his wife, Mary, Elizabeth and Gertrude his unmarried daughters, John, his 20 year old son who worked as “Farmer’s assistant”, grandson John T and daughter Annie.

Mary, his wife, died in 1878 and by the time of the 1881 Census Matthew was a retired farmer living on Fir Green Lane in Boston Spa.

Matthew died on 22 June 1886 and was buried in St Matthew’s graveyard on 25 June.

  • Gravestone of Matthew Bickerdike

IN MEMORY OF
MATTHEW, SON OF
MATTHEW AND MARY BICKERDIKE
OF GIPTON WHO DIED APRIL 9TH 1844
AGED 11 MONTHS
ALSO SARAH DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED SEPTEMBER 21ST 1853
AGED 9 MONTHS
ALSO MARY THE BELOVED WIFE OF
MATTHEW BICKERDIKE
AND MOTHER OF THE ABOVE CHILDREN
WHO DIED DECEMBER 27TH 1878
AGED 65 YEARS
Heaven rejoices but nature weeps
ALSO THE ABOVE MATTHEW BICKERDIKE
FATHER OF THE ABOVE CHILDREN
WHO DIED JUNE 22ND 1886
IN THE 75TH YEAR OF HIS AGE
ALSO GEORGE SON OF THE ABOVE
MATTHEW BICKERDIKE WHO DIED
OCTOBER 28TH 1902 AGED 63 YEARS