Clementina Kaye (1837-1925) née Cartwright

This page is part of the Holmfirth Flood Project which aims to make content available to researchers in advance of the 175th anniversary of the 1852 Flood which will be commemorated in 2027.

Clementina Cartwright was one of the eleven 1852 Flood Orphans.

Biography

She was born on 21 November 1837, the daughter of clothier John Cartwright and his wife Mary, and was baptised on 28 January 1838 at Holy Trinity, Holmfirth.

In 1841, the Cartwright was living at Underbank, Wooldale.

In 1851, Clementina was living with her widowed mother and siblings at Newtown, Holmfirth.

During the early hours of 5 February 1852, the failure of the Bilberry Reservoir embankment caused a torrent of water to flood down the Holme Valley. The Cartwright's home was flooded and widow Mary "had a very narrow escape from drowning" — she later died from typhoid fever, which she likely caught from from her son-in-law John Earnshaw.

The United Committee of Huddersfield and Holmfirth — "appointed for the collection and management of the funds for the relief of the sufferers by the bursting of the Bilberry Reservoir" — had appointed a subcommittee to investigate the circumstances of those orphaned by the flood. Clementina was awarded 3s. 6d. per week until she reached the age of 16.

She married spinner Hinchliffe Kaye of Upperthong on 20 June 1858 at Queen Street Wesleyan Chapel, Huddersfield. The couple had six known children:

  1. Charles Hinchliffe Kaye (1858-1931)[1]
  2. Mary Jane Kaye (c.1860-?)[2]
  3. George Henry Kaye (c.1862-?)
  4. Florence Kaye (c.1867-1926)
  5. Clara Kaye (1868-?)[3]
  6. John William Kaye (c.1872-?)

By 1871, the family had moved to Saddleworth.

At the time of the 1921 Census, 84-year-old widow Clementina was living at Thurston Clough, Delph, Saddleworth, along with her eldest son Charles.

Clementina Kaye died in January 1925 and was buried on 17 January at St. Thomas, Friarmere, Lancashire.

Notes and References

  1. ↑ Born 20 August 1858. Married Alice Buckley on 16 June 1886 at St. Thomas, Friarmere, Lancashire. Died October 1031.
  2. ↑ Married Samuel Lees on 25 January 1885 at St. Thomas, Friarmere, Lancashire.
  3. ↑ Married William Frederick Hadfield on 22 August 1900 at Holy Trinity, Dobcross.