#10784, Joseph CROSSLEY

Joseph Crossley was baptised 28 2 1814 at the Square Chapel, Halifax.

He was brought up in a small house in Dean Clough in Halifax. After the death of his father, he became the second partner in John Crossley and Sons (Carpet Manufacturers). His unremitting attention to business enabled his brothers John and Frank to give much of their time and effort to public work. He was a man of "wonderful energy and strong decision of character"; he took no part in public life and though a magistrate, never served in that capacity. In 1863, he built 21 almshouses (architect: Roger Ives and Son); after his death, these were increased to 48 by his son Edward), at Arden Road, Halifax. He was shy of having his benefactions made known, and shrank from what might appear ostentatious in regard to them; he knew well the old folk in his almshouses and rarely when at home, failed to attend their religious meetings both on Sunday and week-night. He was a Congretationalist and attended Square Chapel (which he and his two brothers had built), but he was liberal to all religious bodies and notably to the Primitive Methodists, a sect he highly respected. With his brother, they rented a house on Windermere in Westmorland; on 21 7 1868, whilst staying there he had a serious fall from his carriage on the shores of Ullswater which broke one of his thigh bones. He recovered enough to return home to Broomfield in Halifax but then died of heart disease two months later.

Joseph Crossley was buried 19 9 1868 at the Lister Lane Cemetery, Halifax.

Taken from the family records of Robert (Robin) Morley Fletcher. (1935-2015)
Vanessa Griffith (2016)