My Old Ohio Home - Gratton

1886 Obituary of James Gratton

2026-01-24T00:00:00-05:00

From a typescript of the obituary, included in the Gratton family files and probably done by Wilfred Harrison.

Derbyshire Courier, November 13, 1886

An old Dronfield Liberal has just gone to that place where oppositions cease from troubling, and politicians are at rest. Jame Grattan, locally known as the Mayor of Dronfield, probably from the interest he took in the sittings of the local magistrates which he attended with greater regularity than any of the J.P's upon the Bench, died on Friday. Many years ago he was landlord of the Green Dragon Inn in that town. He was an enthusiastic Liberal and a firm believer in Mr. Gladstone and all his works, and was a familiar and prominent figure in all the demonstrations of the party which have taken place any time during the past half century. His advocacy of Liberalism was chiefly confined to narrating the stirring events which occurred during the first elections in the Division, and he was never so happy as when fighting his battle o'er again, in relating his exploits in connection with the agitation for the repeal of the Corn Laws. He took a gossiping interest in all local affairs, and his constant inquiry was if there was anything going off. At last he has gone off at the advanced age of 76.

Notes

James was buried on the 8th, so maybe the obituary meant he died on Friday the 5th, not the 12th.

Possibly a Letter from Emily Hall to Jane Billups

2026-01-15T00:00:00-05:00

Included in the Gratton family files collected by Wilfred Harrison (1905 - 1992), of Tenby, Pembrokeshire, a descendant of James Gratton, was the following letter, probably from Emily Hall to Jane Billups. Following the letter is a transcription and some notes regarding the people mentioned.

Transcription

My dear Niece, This your dear mother history. I thought you and John would like it.

Agness Gratton 4 daughter of James and Ann Gratton, born April 4th 1845 and was married Oct -- 1869. She came to America in 1873 and brought John Henry with her. Jennie was born June 15, 1874 and James William August 11, 1876, Tom September 1878, and dear mother passed away March 13, 1880 and entered Episcopal Church or the Church of England Cemetery Lewistown, Mifflin County, PA.

Do you know when James William died or where?

Notes

This looks to me like a letter that Emily (Gratton) Hall intended to send to her sister Agnes (Gratton) Billups' daughter Jane, or Jennie, some time after Agnes' death. Agnes and her husband Henry "Harry" Billups kept in touch with Emily after they moved to Pennsylvania, and their letters included the exact birth dates of their three children born in America. See Harry and Agnes (Gratton) Billups, Letters on this site. Of course it could have been one of Jennie's other aunts--perhaps Harry and Agnes had written other people besides Emily--but I'm guessing it was Emily since the letter was found with her papers.

It must have been written after April 27, 1882, since that is when James William Billups died.

The letter raises a few questions:

1) How did the writer know James had died?

2) Did Harry continue to write his in-laws in England after his wife died? How else would anyone in England know about James' death? If Harry was still writing as late as 1882, why aren't those letters with the other 35 in Emily's collection? Or did he write someone else, maybe the Boswells?

3) Does it tell us that Jennie and John were still together? If so, were they still with their father, Harry? Tom had been with his paternal aunt Naomi (Billups) Jackson in Pittsburgh since at least the date of the 1880 census.

4) But the biggest question to me is: Why was the letter never sent? Had the family in England lost touch with Harry? Had he, perhaps, written to tell them he was moving and then never wrote to tell them where?

Why Did Some Grattons Marry in Sheffield?

2026-01-14T00:00:00-05:00

While writing the article 1873 Letter from Agnes Billups, probably to Emily Hall, I asked myself some of the Grattons married in Sheffield, Yorkshire, and not in their home parish of Dronfield. I didn't know. But soon after finishing the article, I saw a topic on rootschat that raised the same question. The topic was called "Anything special about Pattingham" and is found at: https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=890798.msg7647584. Someone asked why a couple would marry in Pattingham when they lived 32 miles away. The answers included the statements:

"A vicar once told me that couples usually married in the large diocese church, which could be several miles from their homes."

"I believe, although I may be wrong, that the 'large church' mentioned is usually the mother church for the diocese. Many coupled chose to travel to and marry in the mother church in order to save money. If they married in their Parish church they had tp pay to both the Parish church and the mother church. Going straight to the mother church cut out a payment."

So that might be the reason why at least some of the Grattons married in Sheffield. I don't know for sure whether the parish church in Sheffield, St Peter and Paul, was the mother church for Dronfield in the 1860s, but I'm pretty sure that has been the case today since 1914. I'm not familiar with Church of England parish boundaries and the like, but a couple articles seemed to say that St Peter and Paul was granted cathedral status in that year and the diocese included Dronfield.

I say "at least some" because only 3 of the Grattons married at St Peter and Paul Church, namely Emily (in 1861), Agnes (1869), and Henry (1878). Maria married Henry Boswell at St Philip, Sheffield, in 1861, but Henry was living in Sheffield at census time that year. That may have been his home church. Francis married John Birley at St Silas, Sheffield, in 1873. I don't know where John was living in 1871.

Four of the marriage records said that both parties were living at the same address when marrying. That doesn't seem to be very likely, when you think about it. But a possible reason for that was in a different thread at rootschat, "Marriages mid 19c" at https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=884731.msg7577552#msg7577552, which included this comment:

Banns had to be called at both the bride's parish and the groom's parish. Much easier to live at the same address for the requisite period of time, and just use the one parish.

1829 Will of Joseph Gratton, of Brendwood Gate, Barlow, Derbyshire

2025-12-25T00:00:00-05:00

The following is a transcription of the August 3, 1829, Will of Joseph Gratton, of Brendwood Gate, Barlow, Derbyshire

Cover page, or outside of file box
Chest: 15 April 1830
Joseph Gratton, probate, Barlow
1 En Inf 100£

Chesterfield 15th April 1830
Let approbate of this will be made to Joseph Gratton the sole executor named therein.
He being first duly sworn and also that the personal estate will not amount to the sum of 100£

Testator died 4 February 1830

Before me, E.S.Remington, [his title is unreadable]

[page 1]
This is the last will and testament of me Joseph Gratton of Brendwood Gate, in the Parish of Great Barlow, and in the county of Derby, former made by me this third day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine.

First I order and direct that all my debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon as may be found possible after my decease.

Next I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Gratton all my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever. The same may be found subject to and chargeable nevertheless with all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses, and the following legacies. Namely to my three sons, George Gratton, John Gratton and James Gratton, I give and bequeath five pounds each. To my three daughters Nanny Hollingworth, Elizabeth Wolstenholme and Jane Gratton I give and bequeath five pounds each. To my two grandaughters [sic] Martha Gratton and Mary Gratton, the daughters of my late son Thomas Gratton I give and bequeath two pounds ten shillings each to be paid to them when they respectively come to the age of twenty one years. but should either the aforesaid Martha or Mary Gratton die before they attain the age of twenty one years, then I order and direct that the survivor shall be paid to her the sum of five pounds instead of two pounds ten shillings as before devised.

[page 2]

Next I give and devise (with the approbation of His Grace the Duke of Rutland) the good will and tenant rights of my farm at Brendwood Gate to my son Joseph Gratton, subject to the maintenance of my dear wife, Martha Gratton, who I order and direct shall have a comfortable maintenance and decent clothing provided for her out of the produce of my farm at Brendwood Gate, above named, during her natural life. And I further order and direct that it shall be optional with my dear wife either to remain with my son, Joseph Gratton upon my farm at Brendwood Gate, above named, or to receive from him the said Joseph Gratton the weekly sum of three shillings and sixpence to be paid out of the produce of my said farm to enable my dear wife to reside where she may chuse [sic].

And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Joseph Gratton sole executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time made and declare this only to be my last will and testament, in witness whereof I have, to this my last will, set my hand and seal this third day of August in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine.

Joseph Gratton
His X Mark

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Joseph Gratton for ans as his last will and testament in the presence of us, who have subscribed our names

[page 3]

This is a codicil of my last will and which I direct and order to be performed. Viz that should my Grandaughter Martha Gratton, the daughter of my late son Thomas Gratton happen to be destitute of a Home (?) and unprovided for, that my son Joseph Gratton my Executor provide her a maintenance and find her a home upon my farm at Brendwoodgate above named untill she can provide for herself And I further order and direct that the Legacies herein before devised to my sons George Gratton, John Gratton & James Gratton and to my Daughters Nanney Hollingworth, Elizabeth Wolstenholme & Jane Gratton be paid at the decease of my dear wife. In witness whereof I have to this my last Will and testament set my Hand and seal. This third day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine

Joseph Gratton

His X mark

signed in the presence of us who have set our names in the presence of the testator and of one another

George Stevenson
Adam Wilson

Note: page 3 was provided by user mckha489 at rootschat. The thread starts here:
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=895751.0

1859 Letter from Sarah and Maria Hall to their Parents

2025-04-29T00:00:00-04:00

Included in the Gratton family files collected by Wilfred Harrison (1905 - 1992), of Tenby, Pembrokeshire, a descendant of James Gratton, was the following letter from Sarah and Maria Gratton to their parents. Following the letter is a transcription and some notes regarding the people mentioned.

Transcription

6 George Street [later notation: Liverpool]
May 30, 1859
My dear Father and Mother

You will think us a long time since writing our last letter but we have been waiting for some money we have owing us for some work done. We have not received it as yet and you must know to live as cheap as we can it takes 10s/weekly. We pay 3s/ per week for lodgings, then it takes 6s/ to keep us, without anything else. We pay our rent every week to the day so we could not send any home at present. But don't think it unkind but we are a long way from home and if we had not a penny I don't know where to get one. Although we can have plenty to say [who say?] "if you are short Miss Gratton any time we will be most happy to lend you any thing you may want," but we never lend or borrow. If we have not it ourselves we do without. We have a many little things to send home. We know Emily might do them up well now she is at home, [or We know Emily might do them up. We know she is at home] but its no use sending one thing till we send all and we will do as soon as we can.

[A corner of the page is missing, affecting this next paragraph]

Dear Father Mother, we have not wrote to Denton as yet. I do not like to write to Miss Taylor, I would sooner write to cousin James ... send us word how she likes. We hope she w... very well. We have many little things for. I will tell you what we think we would ... to see her and the fare home ... ??/6 and sometime next month or the month after to ask cousin James to come up and bring Agnes with him and we will pay her fare. Come in the morning and go back at night. Then she will see us both and see Liverpool as well, as we can not both leave home at once as many might call about work, and so sure would it be the case if we were out. But just as you like send us word when you write.

I will tell you how we saw the other day George Topliss of Chesterfield but he goes by Roberts, not Topliss. He said he was going to America. He has been in Dublin. We have not seen him since. Send us word how wrote the address on the Sheffield paper you sent which we were very glad of. We sent a paper every week and one today along with this letter.

O I forgot we are leaving this house this week and they're (?) been out. I can not send you the number of the other house they have taken, but I will write you again this week and let you know as we want to hear from [you.] Give our kindest love to all friends and accept our kindest love Dear Father and Mother, Brothers and Sisters. Kisses for the Boys and Dear Sister Frank, they all must be getting big children by this. God Bless you all from your ever affectionate Daughters, Sarah [and] Maria Gratton.

Notes

There were a lot of people mentioned in the letter but the only ones I can identify are Sarah and Maria's sisters Agnes and Emily. I have a little information about the Jenkinson cousins and don't see a James mentioned among them. Maybe James was on the Gratton side of the family. I don't know who Denton is, and I am curious as to why the sisters didn't want to write Miss Taylor. As far as George Topliss, AKA Roberts, of Chesterfield is concerned, he is a complete mystery, as he might have been even then.

The letter was sent from 6 George Street, Liverpool. You can find it on the map off Old Hall Street, one street in from Chapel Street.

6 George St, Liverpool, 1854

Sadly, Sarah died within 7 months of the writing of this letter, on December 27, 1859. Notes on her findagrave page, presumably taken from her death record, say she had contracted pyemia (a type of sepsis) and died in the Workhouse, Brownlow Hill, at age 25. She is buried in Walton Park Cemetery, Liverpool.

Credits

The full map of Liverpool in 1854 can be found in the Harvard Map Collection of Harvard University at https://iiif.lib.harvard.edu/manifests/view/ids:10327532. The clip is provided by Harvard University for use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Sarah Gratton's findagrave page: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/274770192/sarah-grattan.

1873 Letter from Agnes Billups, probably to Emily Hall

2025-04-10T00:00:00-04:00

Included in the Gratton family files collected by Wilfred Harrison (1905 - 1992), of Tenby, Pembrokeshire, a descendant of James Gratton, was the following letter from Agnes Billups, probably to her sister Emily Hall. Following the letter is a transcription and some notes regarding the people mentioned.

Transcription

Dronfield June 11, 1873

My Dear Sister,

I want you to get my black waist finished for Saturday and Harry shall come for it if you can. For we are out on Sunday and I should like it and if you can't, do write by return of post. We all come home on Tuesday and all is well at present. With love to all from your loving sister, Agnes Billups

Notes

A waist is "A garment, or part of a garment, which covers the body from the neck or shoulders to the waist line" according to Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913).

A calendar might be helpful in understanding the rest of this letter:

This letter was most likely written to Agnes' sister Emily Hall, since the collection of letters and documents are in the possession of her descendants. It was written on Wednesday, June 11, 1873. On Monday, June 9, Agnes had been a witness at the marriage of her sister Frances Gratton and John Birley in Sheffield. The other witness was her sister Maria's husband, Henry Boswell. Emily and William Hall were living in Newbold, Derbyshire, in 1871.

Since this is written from Dronfield, I think Agnes might have left her two year old son, John, in Dronfield with her parents when she went to the wedding, and has now returned there to retrieve him. While in Dronfield she asks Emily to have her garment ready by Saturday so "Harry", likely Henry Boswell, can go and get it. Then on the following Tuesday Agnes, John, and the Boswells plan to return home to Attercliffe.

Agnes' husband, Harry Billups, had already left for America in March, so she can't be referring to him when she says "Harry shall come for it."

For more details on the Hall and Billups families, see the Pennsylvania Families tree on this website.