Dear Terry,
Some births and deaths info.
Benjamin Crowther - born around 1790, Scholes/Birstall area. Died age aged 62, 8 Mabgate Fold, 27.3.1852. I know approximately where his grave in Beckett St. is.
George Crowther - born 1827, baptised feb.3rd at Birstall. married Sarah Ann Denison, Feb. 9th 1850, Leeds parish Church. He was originally a cloth dyer, but worked as a coal leader, then maybe as a dyer again, before running a 'swingboat' at travelling fairs. After he became a publican in the late 1870's, he then took over a lodging house at 7 East Street. In his will of 13.6.1892 he bequeaths his money and personal property to his children. Caroline is given special mention - 'I give and bequeath absolutely to my daughter Caroline for her own separate and sole use all Fixtures and Furnishings on or about the premises now occupied by me at Seven East Street, Leeds'...He seems to have turned the lodging house over to her, since his death certificate has his profession as a 'pattern dyer'. He died on 30.5.1894. His wife pre-deceased him on 25.6. 1884 (at 'Stainburn Street'). George had a lot of children, three of whom died in infancy.
William Crowther - George's son, born 19.10.1859 at 8 Mabgate Fold. He worked in the pub with his father, and by 1901 was a 'Carter'. He married Hannah Enoch on 12.8. 1885, but she died on 1.3.1886. He re-married to Margaret Jane Mackenzie on 13.12. 1887. Maggie was born 9.5.1862 at 17, Young Street, Aberdeen. By 1881, she was working as a 'woolen weaver' at Mirfield, living with her sister Euphemia, and younger brother John. Wiiliam died of cancer of the lower jaw on 29.5.1908. (This is not a common cancer, and may be connected to the fact that in the 1871 census he is listed as a 'matchmaker'. Matchmakers often smoothed the matches orally and many contracted this cancer - known colloquially as 'phossie jaw'.) Maggie Mackenzie died of pneumonia on 4.12.1911. She was a woman of such ample girth that, apparently, the coffin had to be lowered from the window of her dwelling. Another family tale has it that her younger brother turned up athe funeral wearing a kilt and Scottish regalia, and was punched by one of Willie's sons, on the grounds that he'd never cared about her whilst she was alive... She was buried separately from Willie, as he was interred in George's grave along with George's wife Sarah, Hannah Enoch, Annie Gallagher, and Benjamin Johnson. The grave was, therefore, officially classified as 'full'.
Willie and Maggie had at least 8 children. These included Euphemia (born in 1890) - who looked after the young ones when both parents were dead. I remember meeting her at my Grandad Crowther's funeral in 1967. I also met another of their children - yet another Benjamin. He lived in Beeston and was still alive in the 1980's, though I had no further contact with him. The youngest child, my grandad - Henry - was born on 25.10.1902, and died 12.12.1967. My cousin Gary Murphy did ALL the research which I'm quoting from, and he was unable to find birth certificates for the other children - Benjamin (ibid), John, William, and George.( The other children were Robert - born in 1897, and Mary Ann, born in 1900)
As for dwelling places. Mabgate Fold was demolished in the late nineteenth-century when the Hope Iron Foundry was extended. The extension took the form of a grand neo-classical building which is still standing. If you go into the yard there, there are cobbles probably left over from Mabgate Fold, and there is an incongruous building in the corner which may be a remnant of the Fold. The building adjoins the grim and filthy Lady Beck which is mainly covered, but you can still see it beneath Hope Street Bridge. This area was called the 'Leylands' and was infamous for its insanitary conditions. Disease was rife. Linsley Fold is gone, but part of New Church Lane is recorded on the Leodis photo website, as are images of Wool Street, and Weavers Square. Stainburn Square/Street was demolished in the early 1930's. I know of no images of it.
When I was a boy, I remember that Grandad Crowther had photographs of Willie, and of Maggie on his wall. Alas, when he died, his wife seems to have thrown them away. I can't remember them with any accuracy now.
I'll have to do another reply concerning the genetic ancestry.
Best wishes,
Paul