Professor C. J. Hiley

Charles Joseph Hiley was born on 14th March 1843 and baptised on 16th April that year at Cross Stone Church, Todmorden. He was the 9th and youngest child of John Hiley and Hannah Hiley (nee Bentley). John was a Spinner and the family lived at Midge Hole in Lumbutts. Midge Hole Mill was one of the Fielden group of mills.

Lumbutts c1910
(included with the permission of Daniel Birch)

By the age of 18 Charles was working as a Cabinet Maker. The family was still living at Lumbutts, their address being given this time as Causey. Causey or Causeway Mill was another name for Midge Hole Mill. All the family had worked in the Cotton Mill but by this time only Charles and his sister Emma were still living at home. Emma was a Frame Tenter and father John, now aged 65, a Cotton Packer.

In about 1867 Charles was appointed Organist at Heptonstall Parish Church. He was to hold this post for 43 years.

On 27th February 1869 Charles married Sarah Chaffer at Christ Church, Todmorden. The Census of 1871 showed them living at 3 Fair View in Todmorden along with their first child Fred, aged 1, the first of their 8 children. Charles was still working as a Cabinet Maker.

By the time of the census of 1881 the Hileys had moved to no. 8 The Crescent, Hall Ing. Fred had been joined by Mabel, John Walter and Amy Elizabeth. Two other children had died young - William Campbell had been born in 1878 but only survived for 2 months and Emily, also born in 1878, died at age 2.

The 1881 census described him as a ‘Professor of Music’. He was given this fine title on various documents about this time but there is no evidence to show how he earned it!

By 1891 the family had moved to Pavement, Todmorden. Living there with Charles and Sarah were Fred, a Cornmiller’s Clerk, Mabel, John Walter, Amy Elizabeth and Edith Hannah. Another child Mary Jane had died in 1887, aged 5. Charles’s occupation was again given as Professor of Music.

1891 census entry for Charles and family
(original image obtained from Ancestry.com - used with permission)
https://www.ancestry.com/

The family moved again and in 1901 were living at no 22 Rochdale Road. Charles’s occupation was now ‘Piano & Music Seller’. Fred had moved out of the family home but the 4 remaining children were still living with their parents. Mabel, aged 29, was a Piano Teacher. Charles served as a Town Councillor in Todmorden from 1903 to 1905.

Charles’s wife Sarah died in 1909, aged 66, and was buried at Christ Church. By 1911 the remaining family were living in Fielden Square – Charles, a Pianoforte & Music Dealer, Mabel and Edith Hannah, and a domestic servant.

Charles died in 1922, aged 79, and was buried on the 20th November at Christ Church. In the family grave are buried Charles, his wife Sarah, and children William Campbell, Emily, Mary Jane, John Walter, Mabel and Amy Elizabeth (who had married Sam Baldwin).

Probate was granted the following February to Fred Hiley, pianoforte dealer, and George William Jackman, assistant overseer. Charles left an estate valued at £2712 5s. 10d.

The family grave at Christ Church, Todmorden

More on the Professor in the next Blogpost

In the pink

There have been a lot of posts about soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War. A lot of websites (like the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site) give plenty of information about these men. But we don't always know as much about the men who survived.

Willie Hiley was born in 1874 in Sowerby Bridge near Halifax, one of the 10 children of John and Sarah Hiley. In the 1891 census he was described as a Worsted Tackler, and then a Worsted Spinning Overlooker in 1901 and 1911. In the 1939 register he was listed as a Retired Worsted Mill Manager. At this time he was living with his younger sister Elizabeth. It appears that Willie never married and he died in 1950.

Worsted is a high quality type of wool yarn. Although both are made from sheep's wool, worsted yarns or fabrics, as distinct from woollens, are considered stronger, finer, smoother, and harder than the latter. Worsted wool fabric is typically used in the making of tailored garments such as suits, as opposed to woollen wool, which is used for knitted items such as sweaters.

Willie served in the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) regiment which had its regimental depot in Halifax.

The following article appeared in The Halifax Courier on 21st October 1916.

Permission has been given by The Halifax Courier to include this article.