James Thomas Highley and the Robinson family

This is the next post in our series on Hileys/Highleys buried at Christ Church, Todmorden.

Alice Finch, the daughter of James and Alice, was born in Heywood near Rochdale in 1863. She was one of nine children and her father was a Whitesmith, or Tinsmith - someone who makes articles out of metal, especially tin. The family moved to Knowlwood near Todmorden soon after Alice was born. In 1881 they were living in Inchfield Buildings in Walsden and Alice was working as a Throstle Spinner.

In  1886 Alice married William Henry Robinson, a Wheelwright, in St Peter's Church in Walsden. The couple had 3 children, Edith, Annie and William Henry. William Henry junior was born in 1891, three months after his father had died.

In 1905 Alice married again, this time to James Thomas Highley, a Carter living in Rochdale Road in Walsden. He was the son of James and Ellen (nee Harrison). In 1911 James Thomas and Alice were living in Maitland Street in Walsden, along with Alice's three children. Alice died in 1940 and James Thomas in 1945.

Gravestone in Christ Church
William Henry (snr), William Henry (jnr), Alice and James Thomas Highley

William Henry (jnr) grew up in Walsden, working as a Picker Maker at Inchfield Works. He enlisted in September 1916 in the 207th Battalion Machine Gun Corps and served on the Western Front from March 1917. He was killed in action at Messines, aged 25, on 11th July 1917 and buried at Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Belgium, but his name is inscribed on the gravestone at Christ Church along with those of his parents.

William Henry's grave at Messines Ridge, Belgium

William Henry's name in the  Todmorden Garden of Remembrance