Percy Holden Illingworth was the son of Henry Illingworth. Henry was born 6 November 1829 in Bradford. His father, Daniel, founded Whetley Mills in Bradford. Henry, with his brother Alfred, would eventually run the mill between them. Henry married Mary, daughter of Sir Isaac Holden, in 1860. In 1861 they were living in Horton, Bradford.

Percy, the fourth of five children, was born 19 March 1869 in Bradford. In 1871 the family were living in Manningham. By 1891 they had moved to Wood End Hall in Thornton Le Street, near Thirsk. Henry died 23 September 1895. In 1901 Percy was living with his widowed mother at Lady Royd Hall in Allerton.

Percy was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge where he studied law. He became a barrister and he was called to the Bar, Inner Temple 19 November 1894. He served in the Boar War 1899 – 1902.

Representing the Liberal Party Percy lost the 1900 General Election in Shipley by just 61 votes. However he became the M.P. for Shipley when he was elected, unopposed, in the 1906 General Election.

Percy married Mary Coats 16 January 1907 in Paisley. Mary was the daughter of George Coats of the firm Coats Ltd. Of Paisley. They had three sons.

Percy held various junior Government post including Chief Government Whip from 1912. He died suddenly 3 January 1915 from food poisoning due to eating a bad oyster. He was buried in the family vault at Undercliffe Cemetery in Bradford. 

 

James Ince was the son of John Ince. John was born c1852 in Bradford. He married Grace Firth 12 January 1876 at Bradford Cathedral. In 1881 they were living at 18 Upper Green in Baildon with John working as a warp dresser.

James, the third of six children, was born 1882 in Baildon. By 1891 the family had moved to 11 Upper Green in Baildon. In 1901 James was working as a general labourer and was the head of the house at 37 Helen Street in Saltaire. Living with him was his mother and three of his siblings.

James, a spinning overlooker living at 16 Park Street in Shipley, married Martha Hannah Smith 16 February 1907 at St Pauls Shipley. From before 1911 to 1919 they lived at 22 Herbert Street in Saltaire.

Martha died in Bradford in 1941. James’s home was 36 Kingston Road in Thackley when he died at Bradford Royal Infirmary 22 March 1946. In his will he left £4345 16s 4d (worth c£164k) to his brother, Ernest, and a Norman Keighley.

In 1916 James appeared before the Shipley Military Tribunal and appealed against military service as a conscientious objector. His appeal was refused, but we do not know if he served his country or not. John Ince, is the cousin of James Ince.

Isles, Gilbert
23 August 1895 – 1986

Gilbert Isles was the son of Samuel Isles. Samuel was born c1840 in Eccleshill. He married Sarah Jane Stamp in 1882. They lived in Eccleshill where Samuel was a plasterer.

Gilbert, the second youngest of eight children, was born 23 August 1895. He attended Eccleshill parish church Sunday school. In 1911 he was an office boy for a cloth manufacturer. In June 1913 he was reported as finishing second in a 120 yards race at the Clayton Band’s Carnival.

Gilbert served in WW1.

Report from the Shipley Times 29 September 1916: -

Private Gilbert Isles has been wounded in the left wrist, and is in Hammersmith Hospital, London. He is in the West Yorkshire Regiment. He had been previously wounded in the left arm. His home is at 10 Holdsworth Buildings, Eccleshill.

Having survived the war, Gilbert married Winifred Wilman at St Jude’s, Manningham 29 September 1920. They had three daughters: Margaret born 25 October 1921, Theda 10 January 1925, and Sheila in 1927. They lived at 2 Lane End in Baildon, moving to 73 Albert Rd, Saltaire around 1933. By 1935 they were at 21 Glenholme Rd, Baildon where Gilbert was an order clerk in a woollen mill. From 1946 to 1951 they lived at 9 Albert Rd, Saltaire.

Their daughter, Margert, married Thomas B. Grimshaw in 1942. In 1946 & 1947 she was living with them, without her husband. Their daughter, Shelia, married Norman Lonsdale in 1948.The newlyweds lived with them until 1950.

Report from the Shipley Times 3 January 1951: -

“Two men were injured when a car skidded in Keighley Rd, Saltaire and collided with a trolley standard.

They were Gilbert Isles, of 9 Albert Rd, Saltaire, who had a cut to his head and chest injuries, and William R. Adams, of Bradford, who received a cut on his head.

Both men were taken to Salt’s Hospital where Adams had three stiches inserted. He was allowed to go home after treatment, and Isles was later transferred to Bradford Infirmary.

By 1952 Gilbert was living at 3 Katherine St, Saltaire. He died in 1986. Winifred died in 1990.