This page is devoted to urgent needs of the community and the burning questions people have about Cottingley.
Please e.mail the Webmaster m@cottingleyconnect.org.uk
if you can shed any light on or help with any of the requests and/or if you would like a question posting on the site.
BOOTH John born 1755/6. Does anyone know this family?
His children were all born at Cottingley.
They were, John 1784, William 1787, Mary 1789, Thomas 1790, Hannah 1795.
Their mother Mary died 1795, and Hannah died 1796 at Stocka Close Cottingley.
In 1799 John Booth married Mrs Phebe Hargreaves at Birstall.
A plaque in The church at Long Preston states; in memory John Booth, chief constable of the wapentakes of Staincliffe & Ewcross for upwards of 30 years. He departed this life the 16th Dec. 1819 in the 65th year of his age. Also Phebe, relict of the said John Booth died July 22nd 1835 aged 75 years.
Any information welcome. Please contact, doreenbenfell@hotmail.com
CABLE Stephanie - My Grandmother used to breed siamese cats all with the prefix Cottingley and then a word
beginning with 'C' such as Coffee, Coco, Cleo etc - I wonder if any of that line still exists locally...
HIRD John - David Fisher has an ancestor, John Hird (b1838 in Cottingley). He married David's
grandfather's aunt, Ellen Addy Wear. He would like to know more about the
family, too. Any information please email
David.Fisher@terramedia.co.uk
BANCROFT Sarah Ann Derek Martin (derek.g.martin@boltblue.com ) is researching his family history, and has an ancestor, named
Sarah Ann Bancroft born in 1835, this is her married name, and in the 1861 Census she
is shown as being born in Cottingley. She was a widow at that time, and she had two
son's and a daughter, in 1861 the eldest name Hudson Bancroft aged 6 , the other
named Abraham (his ancestor) aged 2, both born in Manningham, and abagail aged 5
months born in Bradford.
He would interested in any help in tracing her maiden name and family.
DEAN Thomas I am trying to find information about a relative who
lived in Cottingley near Bingley and had a large farm. His name was Thomas Dean and he died in the late 1960's.. He had a wife named Hannah I believe.
My Aunt and Uncle visited the area in the summer of 1967 and met several people who knew him. They stayed at the Sun Inn.
Thomas was my Mother's Grandfather.
Sandra Lauritzen - Cosmopolis - Washington - usa Any information please contact - lslauritzen@comcast.net
LEE George Albert I am looking for my any relatives of my grandad, my dads father. My dad
never knew him. We know he has since died, but wondered if anybody knows
anything about him. He was cremated at Nab Wood Crematorium on the
8/6/1966, aged 58 years old. His name is George Albert Lee. Any help towards
finding any information at all would be clearly welcomed. Contact. Tracey
from Hull 07791131333. Thankyou.
DICKINSON John In 1891 John Dickinson lived at 51 Smith Street. His wife was Anmnie
and there were 5 sons - John, William, Harry, Albert, Arthur and one unnamed daughter. The family name changed
from Dickinson in the 1881 census to Dickerson in 1909.
Any information contact Philip Andrew at ANDREWD790@aol.com
DAWSON - Robert Arthur and Charles Frederick - Artists
These two gentlemen were artists in the early 1900's and had many paintings exhibited. It may be
that some of their paintings were sold locally in the Bingley area. If you know of any, David (
Robert Arthur's grandson), would be interested in any information. It is known that both men painted Beckfoot Bridge
during their time at Bingley.
HIRD - I am interested in the Hird family who resided in
Cottingley for several years about 1810.
If you or anyone you know can help me out here I
would be most grateful. By the way I'm in Outback
Australia so find making the English connections
rather difficult at times. (Kez)
COTTINGLEY FAIRIES - Original prints and negatives. I am attempting to find out the
number of Original Cottingley Fairy photographs or negatives in existence. There are collections held by
the Brotherton Collection, the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, at least two lots were sold to private collectors
in USA, a further collection was sold to an unknown buyer in 2001. If you know of any more please email
Webmaster
PRIESTLEY Charles, Arthur, Gillies Charles and his wife (nee Gillies) resided at Cottingley Hall between 1887 and 1920
approximately. Mrs Priestley came from Apperley Bridge and Mr. Priestley from Thornton. Charles Priestley died
in 1893 in Algeria. There were two children - Arthur Geoffrey Briggs Priestley and Gillies Priestley. If
you are a descendant of this family or have any information about them, the Cottingley Village History Society
would be pleased if you could get in touch. Contact the Secretary
FREAR My father died whilst I was very young and I never really found out much
about his history or past family, I was however aware that he was a
Yorkshire man. His christened name was Edward Waller Frear and I recall a
name of Ada?? maybe his sister.
I believe he was born around 1895 give or take 5 years.
He married my mother Nita Lawson Jameson of which I have no history as she
was fostered/adopted as a baby.
Leeds, Newcastle and Durham are places that I remember being mentioned
If you have any information please e.mail Thomas Frear
Cottingley Rainbows need a new leader to help with their meetings on
Thursday evenings. If you are able to help out and think this could be you,
please contact Muriel Baines, the Guide Leader, on (01274) 560 361. Muriel
is, even now, sitting beside her phone waiting to put you in the picture and
discover, with you, whether this is a piece of service you can offer!
Incidentally, it's not just the Guides that are short staffed! Every
voluntary organisation in Cottingley (Scouts, Senior Citizens, Community
Association, Drop-in ) could do so much more if they could count on some
friendly, enthusiastic, regular help from able people with time on their
hands and a desire to serve in their hearts.
True, it's hard work - and it's demanding. It will challenge you and stretch
you. But you'll make new friends, you'll enrich the lives of others and
you'll be helping make Cottingley an even better place for us all to live
in! [wh]
MORTON Leslie married to DEVINE Ellen Cecelia parents of MORTON Fred Clifford
lived in Smith Street in the 1920's. If anyone has any information about the Morton or Devine family
please email sheenabrown1@aol.com or gbrown3469@aol.com .
CORBEY Charles and Mabel who lived in Smith Street in the 1930's. If you knew them or have
any information about them, their granddaughter would love to know. Please e mail me if you have any information.
PHOTOGRAPHS AND DOCUMENTS relating to old Cottingley
The History society would like to borrow photographs and documents for copying in order to
preserve past life in the village. It is intended to set up a permanent record of the village
and its life, its residents and its buildings. If you have any items you are prepared to lend
us for a short time please telephone 01274 820235. All material will, for security, be collected
and returned by hand.
We are also looking to record personal reminiscences. If you would like to tell us your stories of
village life in the past please ring the above number.
GLYDE William E of Shipley laid the foundation stone at Cottingley
Town Hall on Boxing Day 1863. The records state that he was presented with a silver trowel on that date.
Cottingley Village History Society and Cottingley Town Hall Trustees would dearly love to know if this memento
is still cherished by someone or any information as to its whereabouts.
WHITLEY David and WILLIS Martha were the first couple to be married at Cottingley Town Hall on 25th June 1878.
Cottingley Town Hall Trustees and Cottingley Village History Society would appreciate any information
about this couple, their descendants, family tree etc
.
Is anyone interested in volunteering for worthwhile work in Cottingley Primary School?
John Turner of Bingley Voluntary Action is co-ordinating 'Inter-generational work' in the village
and is hoping to enlist the help of some of the more mature people in the locality who may be interested
in going into the school to help some of the youngsters with their reading. If you could spare
a couple of hours a week please get in touch with him on 01274 781222 - or e.mail me and I will
pass any messages on.
Does anyone know or have any theories about why a
small area off Main Street was named QUEBEC?
Does anyone know or have any theories about why a road at
the edge of the village was named NEW BRIGHTON?
Whitaker
I am researching my family history. My mother's maiden name was Whitaker,
my grandfather was the last landlord at the old Sun Inn, and my grandmother worked at Cottingley
Hall. If anyone has any information which may be useful please email Cottingley Connect.
