Abraham William Hill ( 1847 - 1918) was my great grandfather. He was born in Bradwell, Derbyshire and moved to Stocksbridge aged about 14 with his parents and brothers and sisters. His father, also Abraham William (1814 -1873), and mother, Martha (nee Evans) were both from Bradwell and were contemporaries of Samuel Fox there. Martha died in 1895 and is buried with Abraham at Bolsterstone, just over the wall from Sundial Cottage.

 
My great grandfather was the 7th of 12 children, some of whom died before the move to Stocksbridge. Others came with their parents and stayed in the area.
 
On December 26th 1870 at St. Mary's, Bolsterstone my great grandfather married Nancy Roebuck. Nancy was born in Shepley in1848. Her parents were James and Ann and she was one of 8 children.They were in Stocksbridge by the time of the 1861 Census. James was working at Fox's as a wire drawer. He later farmed at Hunshelf, living at Cote House Farm where the 1881 Census has Nancy and Abraham living in a cottage belonging to the farm. By then they had 4 children, Albert, my grandfather, born 1871; Mary (Polly) born about 1873; Annie born about 1877; Ada born 1879. Emma was born in about 1882.
 
  In 1876 Albert married Savilla, daughter of George Bailey and Eliza Ann (nee Wragg) of Stocksbridge. My father, Frank, was the 2nd of Albert and Savilla's  6 children. By the time my dad was born they were living in Attercliffe but his birth certificate says he was born at Goit Side, Stocksbridge. I presume Savilla went to her parents to give birth.
 
Albert sadly died in a drowning accident in 1910 aged 39, and is buried with Savilla at Tinsley. I assume they were married at Bolsterstone as were all Albert's sisters.
Mary (Polly) became Mrs. Joseph Woodcock and one of her sons still lives in Stocksbridge; Annie married John Woodland and, I believe, moved to Crookes, Sheffield. One of her children, Ellen, taught Maths at Abbeydale Girls Grammar School, Sheffield. Ada married Wilson Crapper and one of their sons lives in Deepcar; Emma married Albert King and they had no children.
 
Abraham died in 1918, just after the Jubilee of Stocksbridge Wesleyan Methodist Church where he was a Sunday School teacher for many years. He is buried at Bolsterstone with Nancy, their daughter Ada and her eldest son, Alfred.
 
I am sure there will be descendants of my great grandfather's brothers and sisters living in the area still, and I would love to learn more about them. I know there are Roebucks there still but I wonder if there are any of the Baileys, Evans or Wraggs. Any information would be most welcome.
 
Pat Hill © 2001