George Patterson 1790-c1844
George Patterson was possibly born in Crigglestone, W Yorkshire, about 1790. He married Mary Firth at High Hoyland 14 Feb 1814 (Mormon Records). He was the great-grandfather of George Ernest Patterson.
A Penistone marriage (within walking distance of Clayton) was witnessed by a George Patterson in 1814 (below). There were few Pattersons in the West Riding at the time, so the witness could well have been our George Patterson, who was aged 24 at the time. This document suggests that George was literate (the priest or minister signed for the two people married, but the three witnesses signed themselves, from the distinct handwriting - note the different styles of r).
At the 1841 census he and Mary were at Townend, Clayton, West Yorkshire -
George Patterson 50 Linen Weaver
William Patterson 25 Woolcomber
John Patterson 20 Woolcomber
Martha Patterson 20, Fancy Weaver
George Patterson 15 Fancy Weaver
Sarah Ann Patterson 12 Worsted Spinner - note, this census (the first to document the extent of child labour) was important in reducing the use of children, at least ones as young as these, in the textile industry.
Isaac Patterson 10 Worsted spinner
In the High Hoyland christenings of their children George and Sarah Ann(e) his name is spelled Paterson.
Subsequently, linen weaving was replaced by cotton and woollen weaving in industrial mills, so his was a declining industry.
George doesn't appear in the 1851 census, so presumably died between 1841 and 1851. Two George Pattersons are recorded in the deaths BMD -
- George Patterson died 1842, registered at Eccleshall Bierlow
- George Patterson died 1844, registered at Wakefield.
The second George Patterson seems the more likely, as Wakefield is a closer registry to Clayton than is Eccleshall (a suburb of Sheffield).
George and Mary had seven recorded children:
William 1815, the grandfather of George Ernest Patterson 1901-1966.
John 1821
Martha 1821
George 1825
Sarah Ann 1829
Isaac 1831
Harriet 1835