Edward Clark was born on 10 January 1840 in Chapel Allerton. He was son of Edward Clark and Jane (nee Cross)
The 1841 Census shows Edward living with his family in Potternewton, his father working as a quarryman.
In the 1851 Census we find that the family were living on Town Street and Edward Senior is a Delver / Quarryman.
Edward was still living with his parents and his younger brother, James, on Town Street at the time of the 1861 Census. Both he and his father were working as “Delver (Stone Quarry).
Edward Senior died in August 1863. Edward Junior married Margaret Kearton on 20 January 1864 at St Peter’s Church. Margaret was also from the local area and her father, John Kearton, was a mason. Edward and Margaret had the following children:
- Mary Edith (1866-1944)
- George Albert (1868-1956)
- Jane Eleanor (1870-1941)
- Alfred (1872-1930)
- Ann Elizabeth (1873-1875)
- Clara (1877-1926)
- John Edward (1880-1954)
- Emily (1882-1974)
In 1871 the Census tells us that Edward, Margaret and the three oldest children were living on Back Lane with Margaret’s sister Elizabeth as a guest. Edward is still working as a delver, Elizabeth is described as “formerly laundress” and “Subject to fits”.
By the time of the baptism of his daughter Ann Elizabeth in 1874, Edward has changed jobs and the baptism entry shows that he is now Sexton at the church. The 1881 Census confirms that he is working as “Sexton & Verger of Chapel Allerton” “Caretaker”. Margaret and the six surviving children are living with Edward at 9 Back Lane.
The 1891 Census reveals that the family had moved to 59 Victoria Street and Edward was still working as “Sexton”.
Edward was 61 years old by the time of the 1901 Census and was still living at 59 Victoria Street with Margaret, Mary Edith, Clara, John and Emily. He was still “Clerk and Verger” for the church of St Matthew’s.
He was still at 59 Victoria Street in 1911 living with Margaret, Mary Edith and Emily. Now 71 years old he was still working as “Verger & Sexton”.
Margaret died on 24 February 1917 and was buried in St Matthew’s churchyard on 28 February.
Edward died on 12 November 1927 aged 87 and was buried on 16 November in the graveyard of the church that he had served for 53 years.
In Affectionate Remembrance
of
ANN ELIZABETH
DAUGHTER OF
EDWARD & MARGARET CLARK
WHO DIED OCTOBER 28TH 1875
AGED 1 YEAR AND 7 MONTHS
ALSO
ANNIE CRAVEN CLARK
GRAND-DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED APRIL 25TH 1899
AGED 3 YEARS AND 10 MONTHS
ALSO OF MARGARET
THE BELOVED WIFE OF EDWARD CLARK
WHO DIED FEBRUARY 24TH 1917
AGED 75 YEARS
AT REST
ALSO OF THE ABOVE NAMED
EDWARD CLARK
53 YEARS CLERK & VERGER OF THIS PARISH
WHO DIED NOVEMBER 12TH 1927
AGED 87 YEARS
ALSO OF MARY EDITH
ELDEST DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED DECEMBER 25TH 1944
AGED 78 YEARS