Rev.JAMES BOND

JAMES BOND was born in 1779 at Kendal, Westmorland, true, according to the 1851 census, but the unanswered question relates to who his unknown parents were and naturally their ancestors. In carrying out a family genealogy, there has to be a time period where one can state with absolute certainty that this is the reference point; a place from which all family descendents are traceable with source material, and a place where all ascendants with unconfirmed data is speculative.

At the age of 21 years, James Bond was resident at Midgley in the West Riding of Yorkshire, newly married to an Ann Butterfield of Ovenden; and he gave his occupation as being a ‘Papermaker’. Was this just because he was working at the local Midgley Dean Mill or because he had learnt his trade whilst living at or near to Kendal prior to moving? There are currently no records available at the Kendal Records Office archive to substantiate his parents, so this is where speculation commences and becomes the ‘grey area’ of research.

Papermaker James Bond had six children, the eldest son was named JOHN and the eldest daughter AGNES, and by coincidence the only family at or near to Kendal were also a JOHN BOND of New Hall, Hagg, near Staveley, married to an AGNES CLERK of Strickland Kettle. At this point in time, the English naming pattern was popular whereby the first children took the Christian names of their grandparents. It is therefore quite feasible this John Bond of New Hall and Agnes Bond daughter of WILLIAM CLERK and SUSAN AIREY could have been the papermaker’s parents. New Hall was (and still remains occupied) a farmstead at the little village of Nether Staveley, and John also farmed at Gateside, further, there was a ‘weir’ on the river Kent at nearby Cowen Head that had a paper-mill owned by Michael & Richard Branthwaite. Could this be where James Bond learnt his trade, perhaps before going to the Dean Mill at Midgley in Yorkshire?

In 1726 John Midgley of Booth was making paper at Dean Mill on Luddenden Brook, which had two water wheels, one being for the glazing mill. These mills were operated from 1792-1921 by the firm Jonathan Bracken and Sons. Luddenden is the next village to Midgley.

Where at Midgley did James Bond live? - On his marriage entry detail, he gave his residence as ..

“The Vicarage”, and naturally one would think such a place belonged to the local Church, but to the best of knowledge there was no Parish Church at Midgley, only nearby that of ‘St.Mary the Blessed Virgin’ at Luddenden with Luddenden Foot. Apparently the “Vicarage” had been a water-powered mill in which woolen cloth was fulled, and where paper was probably manufactured in the 18^th century. At the beginning of the 19^th century the fulling mill became redundant and the Mill buildings were converted to Cottages. The site was called the “Vicarage” because the rent was bequethed to support the curate at Luddenden by JOHN MIDGLEY. In 1840 the Cottages were sold to Jonathan Bracken, who as mentioned above owned Dean Paper Mill.

Papermaker James Bond was without doubt a well-read man, so where as a child was he educated? There were very few educational establishments in the Kendal area of Westmorland, but at nearby Gateside there was a Chapel School run by Rev. THOMAS AIREY, maybe this preacher was brother to HENRY AIREY (Susan’s father), he taught the village children, and could subsequently have been the master and later mentor of James Bond. There was also a school provided on subscription by George Jopson actually at Staveley, a small Church of England primary school from 1755 to 1840 when it was rebuilt. This old school could well have been where James started his early education.

If the aforementioned family of John Bond and Agnes were the papermaker’s parents, then one can trace backwards a speculative lineage as far as the mid 16^th century. It must be acknowledged that in the centuries leading up to the mid-eighteenth, villages had very small populations, some with only a few families, and it is reasonable to suppose that similar named families were related one way or other. Only by probably some form of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test on old excavated remains could the answer be resolved as records for this period in time are mainly lost or were non-existent.

In 1801 JAMES BOND the ‘papermaker’ was living in the Midgley area at the ‘Vicarage’, in the heart of the Halifax Woollen Industry at Broadfold, having travelling over the packhorse trail from Westmorland, his faith was strong and he was a firm believer of Christian ways. The established “organised” Church of theological and ecclesiastical principles was perhaps never a real attraction to him, but rather that of men and women whose bonds of union were love of the same Divine Lord, and a passion for prayer and Bible study, after all he was now amongst the non-conformists. The Independent chapel he attended was at Booth (closed abt.1988), the Rev. Josh Pollard was the Minister, he baptised all the Bond siblings, and probably had a profound influence on the family.

James became a devoted un-denominational Christian, an Independent, at a time leading from when ‘Dissent’ was considered being in league with the powers of darkness and a dangerous enemy to the internal peace and unity of the State. Persecution often befriends rather than blights a cause, and so it was in this case. Rowdy crowds, befitting a disorderly rabble, had preyed on Dissenting ministers, and only through their zeal, scriptural knowledge, preaching ability and desire of a true Church of Christ that such Independents prevailed.

It cannot be said exactly where JAMES BOND received his religious instruction in Yorkshire; but it may not have been too far away, for at EWOOD HALL, between Midgley and Mytholmrody, an Academy was run by the Rev.JOHN FAWCETT, and in all probability this was where James attended. Over a hundred years ago, a plate was found and named The Brearley Plate which related to the educational establishments run by the Rev.John Fawcett, - the Plate story is well worth viewing

Ewood Hall was a single Manor house with its estate in the township of Midgley. The Farrar’s (Farrer, Ferror) families resided there in the 16^th century. The Royalist troops camped at Ewood before the Battle of Heptonstall in the 1643 Civil War, and in 1752 JOHN WESLEY preached there, and with his brother Charles visited the Hall on numerous occasions. This would be in the early day’s of Methodism when the Independents held a strong footing.

There were other possibilities like the Airedale Academy, which was founded in 1800 as “The Academy of Idle” (near Bradford), not too far over Ovenden Moor on way to Shipley. This Academy was established to train young men to become Independent Ministers, and it replaced the two Independent Academies of Heckmondwike (founded 1781 by the Rev. James Scott, formerly of Tockholes) and Northowram. The Academy of Idle was at Upper Chapel, Idle. Later in 1826 the Academy changed to become “Airedale Independent College”. The Library of Dr. Williams, which held records of Independents, confirmed the ministry of James Bond at Marsden, but did not have knowledge of which Academy he attended.

In 1823 James Bond, now a preacher, became the Independent Minister at Clayton West. Two years later on 29^th May 1825 he accepted the invitation to the pastorate at MARSDEN, and on the 22^nd June he removed his family there, and was ordained 17^th August, the same year. The Ministry of Rev. JAMES BOND 1824-1846 was recorded in a book titled the “History of Marsden Congregation Church”, written by Rev. Luke Beaumont in 1900 to commemorate the Churches first 100 years, and a whole chapter was devoted to Rev. James Bond. This latter source of information was obtained for me by Mrs Christine Starkey, the Librarian of the Huddersfield & District Family History Society, who most kindly provided me with a copy to read. I cannot stress enough the excellent personal service these Family History Societies offer to their members. There was not a manse for the minister at Marsden at that time, but within months, friends in the congregation, and neighbourhood engaged to subscribe a certain sum to erect one, but this fell short of the amount required and the rest was borrowed on interest £86.10s to get the shell of a house. That it was “a shell of a house” was clearly so, for it was said “There is not a bedroom in the minister’s house ceiled off, nor chamber, study, house or school under-drawn ”. Following an appeal, £171 was raised and the house made convenient. The manse adjoined the chapel, and the minister Rev. James Bond paid a rental of £2 per annum for the privilege. Congregational support was always relied upon, and to illustrate this point further, on the 20th of June 1837, when King William IV died, to express their grief, the Church decided to have a black pulpit cushion. After two years it was thought prudent to cast off his mourning, and to get a new cushion of crimson silk velvet, the cost of which was something over two guineas. This necessitated another appeal, with the result that the new and brighter cushion was paid for, and a surplus left in hand. In 1858 a new Chapel was erected, financed again by subscription.

The ministry of Rev. James Bond was of a unique character. He not only preached and attended to the spiritual needs of his flock, but he was famous as a healer of physical sores, his ‘salve’ being remembered and used fifty years after his parting, at least up to the turn of the century. Whilst the only education some people got was received at his day school, what subjects the curriculum embraced we do not know, but the penmanship taught would have been of the highest order. In that useful art James Bond was indeed a master, and the Rev. Beaumont in his book of 1900 said “ It would be difficult, almost impossible, to find his equal amongst modern ministers”. Sample letters to the Church Deacons penned by James in 1837 and 1846, produced by the quill in candlelight, are now placed in the West Yorkshire Archives, they illustrate his talent and confirm his educational ability. The spiritual side of his ministry resulted in steady progress. Not a year passed but some one confessed discipleship and joined the Church, in all he Baptised 865 persons at Marsden.

Music was also his love. Church and orchestral music being encouraged with choral singing of tunes lofty and plain enthused by the congregation. A choir was established in 1806, and under his guidance in 1829, instruments were introduced. In time the choir became renowned, and could even be considered forefront in contributing to the early days of the most famous but not the oldest of the Yorkshire choral societies, perhaps even the Huddersfield Choral Society, which was founded in 1836 by sixteen local musicians. This latter choir recruited its members mainly from the mixed choirs of nonconformist churches, and maybe the Marsden Chapel was a contributor. The Huddersfield Choir was and still is today particularly well known for its performances of Handel's Messiah. The Marsden Congregational Chapel choir sung pieces from Handel’s oratorios and also included Kent, Leach, and Croft anthems. On special occasions, with pride and glee, renderings of “Batley Carr” with its many repetitions of lines, was most vigorously performed. When the Marsden choir was originally formed, strict compliance to rules was instituted. Each member paid sixpence monthly towards the choir fund, and was fined tuppence (two pence) for neglect. The tutor was paid two shillings each week and was to pay the same sum himself if he neglected his work. Singers had to be in their places promptly, and a fine was paid of two pence for any unreasonable absence. Even the stewards were to forfeit two shillings each if the account of finances was not presented by a certain date. Considering how much Mill textile workers earned practically 200 hundred years ago, the above fines were certainly an appreciable amount to pay, so it’s no wonder they were very attentive, and became excellent choristers. The time came when Rev. James Bond his work as Pastor was finished, having served God and the Church for over twenty-one years he sent in his resignation, dated October 14^th 1846. James Bond continued to reside in Thimble Street, Marsden. For close upon ten years he was spared, but on 25^th March 1856, in his 76^th year, he was called to his reward. His remains were laid in the chapel burial ground, and a tombstone marked it with an inscription, sadly though, when the new Chapel was built in 1858, and again in the 1930’s (now The United Reformed Church) they were removed elsewhere unknown. Siblings of James Bond were mostly employed in the Wool and Cotton Industry, working at local Mills. Their occupations varied and included working as a ‘wool comber’, ‘wool weaver’, ‘burler’, ‘cotton roller coverer’, and ’cotton carder’ etc.

So, my James Bond, WHERE DID YOU COME FROM? Certainly not “From Russia with Love”, and were your parents John Bond and Agnes Clerk from Staveley, Westmorland? perhaps one day future generations may find the missing answers, as hopefully more information sources are discovered.

Peter. W. Bond

ÓCopyright

Rev. 16.04.06