There is some confusion with the dates for Matthew Bickerdike. He was the son of Matthew Bickerdike and Mary (nee Smith) and was probably born on 7 May 1844 and baptised on 26 May at St Margaret’s Church in Horsforth but died in 1845 being buried on 8 April 1845. The confusions arises because his baptismal register and burial register have the dates given above. His gravestone shown below says that he died on 9th April 1844 aged 11 months. I am assuming that the mason who did the gravestone got it wrong!
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