George Creaser (1802-1879)

George Creaser was a tailor, chemist, optician and telescope manufacturer who lived most of his life in Meltham.

Biography

He was born in Scampston, North Yorkshire, in 1802, the son of Francis and Elizabeth Creaser, and was baptised on 18 July 1802.

His older brother was tailor John Creaser (1786-1875), who also moved to Meltham from North Yorkshire. John was the grandfather of noted local Francis William Creaser (1858-1954).

He married Hannah Turner on 20 June 1835 at All Hallows in Almondbury. The couple had one known child:

  • Sarah Creaser (1836-?)[1]

Hannah died aged 33 in March 1840 and was buried on 19 March at St. Bartholomew, Meltham.

Creaser designed the Oddfellows' Hall in Meltham, which was built in 1851.

The Meltham Mechanics' Institution held an excursion in July 1853 to the newly built observatory of Ebenezer Tinker, Esq. — known as Tinker's Monument — at Pike Law near Holmfirth.[2] The Huddersfield Chronicle reported that the observatory had been equipped with "several powerful telescopes, under the superintendence of Mr. Creaser, of Meltham" but sadly the "hazy state of the weather" meant that little could be observed through them. Instead, the day was ended with a fireworks display.

He travelled to Derby to give "a most interesting lecture" on the topic of "The Science of Astronomy" to the Staveley Mechanics' Institution on 16 November 1853.[3]

The Chronicle recorded the following lectures given by Creaser to the Meltham Mechanics' Institution:

  • 1855 — two lectures on topic of "Chemistry", which included "several practical experiments, which were highly amusing to the large and attentive audience"[4][5]
  • October 1856 — a short lecture on "Optics" at the Mechanics' Institution, which was apparently aimed at a younger audience[6]
  • January 1865 — lecture on "The Physiology of the Human Eye"[7]

He also gave a lecture on the topic of "Astronomy" in October 1868 to the Meltham Working Men's Club.

Huddersfield Chronicle (10/May/1879)

Sarah Creaser died in September 1878 and was buried on 26 September at St. James, Meltham Mills.[8]

George Creaser died aged 77 on 21 April 1879 and was buried on 23 April at St. James.

His Last Will and Testament was proved by shopkeeper Ephraim Manchester of Meltham Mills and by Joah Lawton, the superintendent and manager of the Meltham Convalescent Home. The two men then arranged for the sale of Creaser's property and belongings at an auction held on 19 May.

Notes and References

  1. Born 1836 and baptised 27 November 1836 at St. Bartholomew, Meltham.
  2. Pike Law was situated 3 miles east of Holmfirth, according to "Pleasure Excursion to Pike Law" in Huddersfield Chronicle (09/Jul/1853).
  3. "Staveley Mechanics' Institution" in Derby Mercury (23/Nov/1853).
  4. "Meltham" in Huddersfield Chronicle (16/Jun/1855).
  5. "Meltham Mechanics' Institute: Annual Soiree" in Huddersfield Chronicle (02/Feb/1856).
  6. "Meltham: Mechanics' Institution" in Huddersfield Chronicle (11/Oct/1856).
  7. "Meltham: Lecture" in Huddersfield Chronicle (14/Jan/1865).
  8. Although the burial register entry is undoubtedly for Sarah, oddly it gives her age as 28.