Betty Earnshaw (c.1826-1852) née Mettrick
Betty Earnshaw (née Mettrick) was a victim of the Holmfirth Flood of 1852, along with her son Abel, and other members of her family.
Biography
Betty Metterick was born around 1826, the daughter of James Mettrick and his first wife Mary, and was baptised on 26 November 1826.
She married her neighbour Enos Earnshaw on 30 April 1843 at All Hallows, Kirkburton. They had one known child:
- Abel Earnshaw (1844-1852)
Enos Earnshaw travelled to New York aboard the Elizabeth Denison in July 1846 and seemingly never returned. By 1870, he had apparently remarried and was a yarn dresser residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The 1851 Census lists Betty and Abel residing on Water Street, Hinchliffe Mill, with her father James. In total, there were 14 people living in the property, 9 of whom perished in the Holmfirth Flood the following year.
Death
Betty Earnshaw died in the early hours of 5 February 1852, along with her son, when a devastating flood killed many of the residents of Water Street.
Her naked body was found by James Clegg in the River Calder at Mirfield later on the same day as the flood and taken to the Ship Inn, Mirfield. A local coroner, Mr. Lee, held an inquest with a verdict of "found drowned" on Saturday 7 February. A short while later, someone from Holmfirth[1] arrived and identified the body.[2]
Her surviving relatives were not "able to bear the expense of her removal to Holmfirth" and she was buried on 7 February at St. Mary's Church in Mirfield.[3][4]
Notes and References
- ↑ Possibly Daniel Crosland who was hoping it was the body of his granddaughter Mary. See "The Dreadful Accident at Holmfirth" in Halifax Guardian (14/Feb/1852).
- ↑ "The Bursting of the Bilberry Reservoir and the Deluge of Holmfirth Valley" in Leeds Intelligencer (14/Feb/1852).
- ↑ "The Catastrophe at Holmfirth" in Leeds Mercury (14/Feb/1852).
- ↑ "The Dreadful Accident at Holmfirth" in Halifax Guardian (14/Feb/1852)