Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Settle Graveyard Project
Michael Horner, tinsmith, musical instrument maker and explorer Settle tradesmen make up 35% of all the burials. Some were local and others were ‘offcumdens’. We had a wonderful variety of businesses in our bustling town, but Michael added extra value.
Michael Horner and Joseph Jackson discovered Victoria Cave on the hills behind Settle in 1837. Michael Horner was walking nearby the cave with friends and saw some foxhounds disappearing into some foxholes. He later went back and dug out the rocks and entered the cave, the first time it had been entered for 1200 years. Michael told his boss Joseph Jackson about it and Joseph took the very first early photographs of the cave and its findings. With these as evidence, Joseph obtained permission to explore the caves. Joseph realised its archaeological significance and it became a life’s work for Joseph, according to George Brown [LSA]. Michael’s role in this should not be forgotten.
Michael was born in 1813 in Feizor, one of 13 children [ph1]. In 1844, he married Ellen Coulton and they lived on Castle Hill in Settle. He ran his busy shop in the north west corner of the Town Hall. They had five daughters, although Catherine died in infancy.
Michael and Ellen died in the 1870s. Michael left a legacy for widow Ellen ‘as long as she remained a widow’ - she died within a year.
B27 In loving memoriam of Michael Horner of Settle who died Feby 11th 1878 aged 65 years. And also Ellen the beloved wife of the above who died March 8th 1879 aged 53 years. Also Catherine Ann their daughter who died in infancy March 21st 1855
Daughter Mary Horner continued living in Castle Hill, making a living as a dressmaker for some 46 years. Daughter Elizabeth Horner married a German, Hermann Paul Jerome, who was a wig maker with a shop in Ripon. Their son Tanny Jerome ran a photographic shop on the far left of the Shambles. In his spare time Tanny, 'a little man with dark brown eyes’ was busy. Cinema came to Settle in 1912 at ‘The Picture House’ in the Assembly Rooms on Kirkgate. Tanny was the manager and licensee. He ran silent films with projectionist Harold Smith. In 1927 the venue switched to the Victoria Hall as ‘The Picturedrome’ and ‘Kirkgate Kinema’, later to become known as the ‘Vic’. In 1939 Arthur Graham opened the ‘NuVic’ on the other side of the Market Place, where the Coop is now, taking over from Tanny. Tanny also ran a draper’s shop behind the Shambles and was known to be an unofficial bookie. He retired to the Isle of Man.
Michael’s parents are also in this grave. His daughters Mary, Elizabeth (Jerome) and Jane (Grimshaw) are buried together in Old grave G13 whilst daughter Margaret (Taylor) moved to Blackburn with their ten children.
In loving memory of Jane Grimshaw died Oct 25th 1907 aged 59 years. Also Mary Horner died Aug 29th 1924 aged 78 years. Also Elizabeth Jerome died Jan 18th 1933 aged 83 years. Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed. Old G13
Settle Graveyard Project
Michael’s nephew Michael Horner, talented photographer
Michael had a brother Thomas Horner, a house painter, who was the father of Michael and Anthony Horner, the Settle photographers. They had a shop opposite the end of the Shambles, now Field to Home, before moving to Station Road.
Young Michael Horner was fascinated with the new scientific process of photography, probably inspired by family friend Joseph Jackson. Michael spent four months at the leading studios in Manchester and was working commercially as a photographer from 1864 [SC, WSA].
In 1866 Michael married a recently widowed Lincoln girl Betsy Brown. They had two daughters, one of whom died an infant. Michael’s brother James married Betsy’s sister Ellen Selina a few years later.
Michael died aged just 26. His younger brother Anthony quickly learnt the ropes and continued the business along with Michael’s widow, Betsy. To say it was a successful business is an incredible understatement - that story is included in the Horners of the Old graveyard.
B29 MH died Dec 2(9 1869) Aged 26 years (a very small stone under the trees)
Michael is also commemorated on his wife’s gravestone with infant daughter Selina in Old grave D15. Selina was buried in the Ancient graveyard in 1868, just 18 months before Michael’s death. Let’s hope they are buried together.
In Memoriam Michael Horner died December 23rd 1869 aged 26 years. Selina daughter of the above died April 24th 1868 aged 6 months Betsy Mary, wife of the above Born Feby 23rd 1846 Died Jany 17th 1900
Their other daughter, Mabel, was born just four months before Michael died. She married a gardener, Edward Thompson. Mabel worked as a music teacher and later as a journalist in London - nicely progressive.
This account has been compiled as part of the Settle Graveyard Project. The project has recorded gravestone inscriptions, updated church records and researched the lives of those buried. The ‘Old Settle’ family tree on ancestry.co.uk includes all the families buried in the graveyard. The project is ongoing, and always welcomes queries, information and family
Settle Graveyard Project
knowledge on [email protected]. Latest news and events are on the Facebook page Settle Graveyard Project.
The life stories of people with italicised names have been researched as part of the graveyard project.
ph1 — photo with the kind permission of Tom Lord
SC — Settle Chronicle, WSA - Wildman’s Settle Almanac, with the kind permission of the North Craven Buildings Preservation Trust
