Introduction

This is the final part of a letter from George Haywood to his daughter married daughter Clarice. Part 2 (Grandfather Haywood's progeny) documented his boyhood, his relationship with his parents and grandparents, a broken leg and his stepmother's role in his leaving home. Here, he completes the Haywood family tree and introduces members from the various maternal branches.

The letter, continued

I never knew much about George Haywood (my Uncle) because he moved to South Yorkshire where he was married and he only came home occasionally at holiday times to visit his parents.

John Haywood married Ann Spencer at South Normanton, and it was with them I first made my home after leaving my own. They were nice people and had a nice home and were very happy together. They had two children a boy and a girl, Thomas and Lilly. For many years, Uncle John was Superintendent of the Sunday School of the congregational Church at South Normanton. Both are dead.

Elizabeth Haywood (Aunt Bessie) was a fine upstanding woman, one of the finest specimens of womanhood I ever saw, and was in the same class physically as my mother. She married Eli Spencer, a South Normanton man who was also a very fine specimen of physical perfection. They went to live at Wombwell Main in Yorkshire, England, and it was while acting in the capacity of Superintendent of Mines (general manager) at the Oaks Colliery, that an explosion took place which killed over 200 men. I forget the exact number. Uncle Eli was one of the rescuers who was in the mine when it exploded a second time and only escaped with his life by a hair’s breadth.

Eli and Elizabeth Spencer had a large family, ten boys and one girl, the girl coming last of all. Of these I knew only two, Sam and George, who used to come and visit with their grandparents on both sides. I used to have lots of fun with Sam on these occasions because he stuttered very badly and he used to make some very comical remarks, which aided by the stuttering were ludicrous in the extreme.

Lydia Haywood married Solomon Ball, who also was a fine specimen of physical manhood, but had no education. All he knew was “brute force” and of this he had more than his share. They had several children but I cannot remember their names.

All the members of the Haywood family were men and women of large stature, with two exceptions, John and Lydia, and even these were much above the average of the present day. And as they excelled in stature, they also excelled in the influence they had on those about them, and influence exerted for the good of others. Who can estimate the good done by Grandfather Haywood, or by his son, John Haywood in their capacities as Sunday School superintendents for so many years, the scores, yes hundreds of lives influenced for good by their example and precept. These things cannot be written on their tombs, but they are written deep in the hearts of men and women, of friends, of the children who came under their influence, of their kindred everywhere, in the book of great account, for this record is such a one as should make every member of the family proud of the name they bear. I remember once I asked Grandfather Haywood to give me a history of the family, etc., and he said the only thing he could tell me about our ancestors was that one member had been an Admiral in the English Navy. “The family has no history,” he said, “but you can mark it down that none ever broke the laws of the land, none ever did a dishonest act, none ever stole from their fellow men, and I hope this record will be kept up for ever.” I pass this on to you after all these years, and trust it may make the same impression on you and yours as it did on me so many years ago.

The Housleys

Your Grandmother Hannah Haywood, my mother, came from the Housley family, and her father’s and mother’s names were Benjamin and Charlotte. They had two sons, Benjamin and Samuel (who emigrated to New Zealand before I came to the United States). Also they had six daughters, Lydia, Hannah, Bessie, Emma, Ann, and Mary. Lydia married James Hill, a local preacher, a very big man. He was over six feet tall and well built in proportion. Emma also married a man named James Hill, but he was no relation to the other James Hill in the family. Ann married Jack Moakes who was one of the jolliest fellows I ever knew. He was always saying or doing something to make one laugh. After my mother’s death, aunt Ann came to keep house for us children and many weary, painful hours were made more pleasant and cheerful by his presence during part of the period when I was laid up with a broken leg. Mary married William Taylor and they kept a general merchandise store at South Normanton. He has been dead for many years, and Aunt Mary married again, and when I heard of her last, was living at Nottingham. All of these, both sons and daughters had large families except Samuel, who died in New Zealand, unmarried, many years ago.

Grandfather Housley was what was known as a “hosiery manufacturer.” He had 15 or 20 machines which made hose (we should call them stockings or socks), white, gray, or black, and these machines were located in the upper story of the house where his family was raised. This room would be about 80 or 90 feet long with two rows of machines in it, a narrow path down the middle, separating them. When work was plentiful, and all these machines were in operation, it often happened that one of the operators would start a song or a hymn, the music of which kept time with the movement of the machines, and it was one of the finest things I ever heard, to listen to these men and women singing all the parts in music. It sure was fine. Besides making ladies’ and children’s hose, Grandmother Housley took in large quantities of hose to be stitched, “seaming”, it was called, and these were let out to many different families to be “seamed” at so much per dozen pairs. In this way he employed a large number of people and was a public benefactor. Every week, on Fridays, there was sent away a large load of finished hose to Belper in Derbyshire, which was the headquarters for this kind of work. Both grandparents are buried in South Normanton Churchyard, and I have not heard anything from any other members of the family for many years.

Continued in column 2...

On your mother’s side of our family, her father’s name was Thomas Upton and her mother’s name was Dorothy Upton. They lived at Woodhouse Eaves near Loughborough in Leicestershire, England. And it was at Woodhouse Eaves Church where we were married on august 2, 1875. Thomas and Dorothy Upton had issue of 3 sons and 7 daughters. Thomas, Joseph, and Harry, Mary, Sarah, Eliza, Ellen, Annie, Elizabeth, and Harriett. Thomas Upton, Jr. was the father of that Harry Upton who was injured at Cambria, Wyoming, by having part of his hand blown off by an explosion of giant caps. Joseph Upton was never married that I know of, and when heard of last, was living at Mountsorrel in Leicestershire. Harry Upton is your Uncle Harry who lives in Sheridan, Wyoming. Mary Upton married William Foulds, and they lived at Woodhouse Eaves in Leicestershire England all their lives. They were both alive when last we heard of them, and I think they must be about 90 years of age. Sarah Upton married Thomas Harriman and they lived in Leicester England. They had several sons and daughters (your cousins) and for many years Thomas Harriman was Superintendent of City Parks in Leicester. He is dead now. Helen was married and they lived at Nottingham. I forget her husband’s name, but he died many years ago. Eliza Upton married George Davis and they lived at Oakham in Rutlandshire, England. Both are dead now, but they had a large family, boys and girls, of which Emily who visited us at Sheridan, Wyoming with her son Goeffrey) is one. Emily can tell you about all the rest of the family and her address is Mrs. Emily Checkley, 35 Harriett Street, Providence, Rhode Island. Elizabeth Upton married William Watts, and she now lives at Hawbern Cottage, Hathern near Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. William Watts has been dead for several years, but they had sons and daughters.

And so to me ...

To make this history complete, I should include our own family. Annie Upton married George Haywood on August 2, 1875. Of this union came issue, four sons and four daughters. – George Ernest Haywood born at South Normanton, Derbyshire, England on April 14, 1876; Clarice Amanda Haywood, born at Blackwell Colliery, Derbyshire, England on March 6, 1879. aurel Cora Haywood born at Blackwell Colliery, Derbyshire England on July 15, 1882, died at Omaha Nebraska Hospital April 17, 1902. Mabel Lillian Haywood born at Rock Springs, Wyoming, on September 15, 1884; Clinton Ivor Haywood born at Como, Park county, Colorado on December 27, 1886. Dora Vea Haywood born at Carbon, Carbon County Wyoming on June 7, 1889; Roy Leon Haywood born Cambria, Weston county, Wyoming on October 20, 1891; and Earle Gordon Haywood born at Cambria, Weston County, Wyoming on December 2, 1894.

I forgot to mention the family which came to my father by his second marriage. The maiden name of his second wife was Eliza Bacon, and of this union came issue – Richard, Eliza, Ann, Peter, Fanny, Albert, and Alice. Perhaps not in the order named, for I have never kept in touch with them, although Dick (my half brother Richard) corresponded with me until a few years ago. I don’t know whether they are all living or dead, or if living, where they live. I have made inquiries through your Uncle Joe several times, but cannot get any information about them.

These men and women of whom I have been writing were early in life taught to do well their part. And this they did to the extent of their ability. They were not rich as riches go now; none of them were statesmen or orators, although the local preachers had great influence; but they tired to do what good they could. They were honest, self-respecting, God fearing men and women, and I very much fear that there is a lesser number of this kind of men and women now than there ever ought to be. There would not be so many bank robberies, hold-ups and murders, so many failures in business through fraudulent operations if men believed more in the Golden Rule of “Doing unto others as they would wish that others should do to them.” This world need more than the things that gold can buy. It is not more money, or knowledge, or culture, or efficiency, but it is more heart, more sympathy, more helpfulness and brotherly love towards each other. When man learns the lesson of being truly helpful to his brother man, he has learned the greatest lesson in the school of life. And when he puts this lesson into every day practice he is doing the greatest work that God requires at his hand.

Please preserve this letter, and someday, see that the other members of the family get a copy of it. I have no copy of it, and it is written down just as it occurred to me.

And so I close with an earnest prayer that God’s blessing may be with you this Christmas and during the coming years. May He always watch over you and yours and keep you in His loving care, both now and always.

From your loving father,
George Haywood

Christmas 1920.

Reference

1. Sharpe, P: "A Stocking Frame at Sutton-in-Ashfield Library" in A Village of Considerable Extent: pg 14 South Normanton Parish Council 1982

Page added - April 28th 2008
Last updated - April 13th 2012

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