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(25) SAMUEL JESPER, third son of Samuel and Elizabeth Jesper.
Born 4-12-1801 at Dygood's Farm, Purleigh.
Married 26-4-1826 at Lothersdale, Hannah Wilson, eldest daughter of Richard and Deborah Wilson of Thornton-in-Craven. Hannah Wilson was born 31-12-1802, died 24-6-1849, and Samuel Jesper married secondly, Nov. 13, 1851, Lucy Tunstall, eldest daughter of Croudson and Ann Tunstall of Alvaston Grove, Nantwich, who died 5-1-1873, aged 61.
Died 24-3-1876 at the residence of his son T.W. Jesper, York.
Samuel Jesper came when young from Essex to the
North of England and was apprenticed to the woolen drapery business at
Stockport, Cheshire. He afterwards started business on his own account
at Macclesfield, in or near which town the rest of his life was spent.
Samuel Jesper was a devout Friend, for over 50 years a member of the Cheshire
Monthly Meeting--serving as overseer and elder, and delighted to entertain
those traveling in the ministry and visiting the Quarterly and Monthly
meetings: he took great interest in the welfare of his fellowtownsmen and
was an Alderman for some years: on more than one occasion he was earnestly
solicited to take the Mayoral chair, but his conscientious
objection to take or administer oaths prevented him from accepting this
honour. As a striking example of the esteem in which he was held may be
quoted the fact that the bells of the parish church were rung on the occasion
of his youngest daughter's wedding--an almost unique tribute to a
quakeress. We have before us a copy of the minute of condolence passed
by the Macclesfield Corporation on his death; it, or rather the letter
from the Mayor to his eldest son, reads:--
"I beg to express to you and the several members of your family how greatly the Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough, together with myself, feel the loss of the late Alderman Samuel Jesper. His many kind and amiable qualities will long be remembered by his friends; and the conscientious fulfillment of duty to his political and religious convictions must be recognized with thankfulness now that so much he advocated has been accepted by his countrymen."
Samuel Jesper's first wife was the sister of
Charles Wilson who married Susannah Jesper (No. 10): she, too, was a most
devout Friend and the curious in such matters will find a lengthy memoir
in the Annual Monitor. Her mother, a minister in the Society, predeceased
her by only two years and she also finds a place in that--in those days--occasionally
rather depressing publication.
Samuel Jesper's second wife, Lucy Tunstall, was an equally prominent member of the society, the daughter of an elder, and ministered most devotedly to her youngest step-son, Sylvanus, whose health was always delicate and who died at the early age of 22. Her unremitting care of this youth aggravated the malady from which she herself died.
Samuel and Hannah Jesper had nine children--hereafter numbered 26 to 34:--
(26) THOMAS WILSON JESPER, Born 3-2-1827 at Macclesfield. Married (firstly) 21-11-1850, Ann Thistlethwaite, daughter of John and Margaret Thistlethwaite of Leeds, who died 23-8-1865 aged 40; (secondly) 22-2-1867, Mary Ann Tennant, daughter of John and Elizabeth Tennant of Countersett, Wensleydale, who died 29-6-1886, aged 65; (thirdly) 22-11-1887, Alice Esther Ward, daughter of Samuel and Frances Emery Ward of Rye Farm, Morenton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, who survived him and is now living with her step-daughter at Bournemouth.
Thomas Wilson Jesper entered his father's business,
but after a short time joined his brother Charles in a cotton mill at Preston.
This mill they held until the close of the cotton famine, Thomas Wilson
Jesper working incessantly on the distress committee, and the mill itself
being used for relief work. In 1868 he entered into partnership as a Coal
Agent with his brother-in-law, Samuel Tennant, at Darlington, removing
to York in 1875 where he remained until his death on 2-5-1901. By his first
wife he had three children:--
(a) ELEANOR JESPER, Born 5-9-1851 at Macclesfield, kept house for her father on more than one occasion, (nursing her step-mother Mary Ann Jesper, through a long, trying illness) and for her brothers, with Charles Jesper prior to his marriage, and with Alfred Jesper after his first wife's death. She is living unmarried, with her father's widow, at Bournemouth.(b) ALFRED JESPER, Born 19-1-1853 at Hanley: married firstly at Liverpool, 16-5-1877, his half second cousin Maria Tennant (she was also niece to his father's second wife), daughter of William and Maria Tennant who died 24-3-1906 aged 55; secondly 28-8-1907 at York, Lilly Jane Wright who survives him. Alfred Jesper was a coal agent, succeeding to his father's business on the latter's death. He died 18-3-1913 at York, leaving, by his first wife, one son.
(i) WILLIAM ALFRED JESPER, Born 30-3-1878 at York, married 6-6-1906 at York, Eleanor Tuff, daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth Ann Tuff of York. He is the author of this more or less veracious chronicle.(c) CHARLES JESPER, Born 3-12-1854 at Hanley. Married 30-4-1895 at York, Agnes Sinclair Mckay, daughter of William Mckay J.P. the then Lord Mayor. Died 18-11-1900 at the Great Northern Hotel, London, when in town on business. He was for some years General Goods Manager of the North Eastern Railway and held in high esteem by both officers and staff. He left three children.
(i) LESLIE CHARLES JESPER, Born 21-6-1896 at York. At the outbreak of the Great War he joined the Public Schools Batallion of the Royal Naval Division, took part in the Gallipoli operations, and was invalided home towards the close of 1915.
(ii) NORMAN MCKAY JESPER, Born 21-6-1896 at York (a twin with Leslie). In August 1914 he was employed in a bank at Constance and for a few days was under arrest. He has recently completed a course of training with the Inns of Court O.T.C. and is now a commissioned officer with the Grenadier Guards--"Somewhere in France."
(iii) SIDNEY WATSON JESPER, Born 6-6-1900 at York.
(27) SAMUEL JESPER, Born 29-6-1828 at Macclesfield. Married, 17-11-1859,
Susannah Smith, daughter of Lewis and Susannah Smith, who died 5-5-1901.
Samuel Jesper served his apprentice with his uncles Charles Wilson and
Joseph Jesper and on coming of age was taken into partnership. About 1876
he took charge of the Penrith and Carlisle branches--opening out further
branches at Appleby and Dumfries, and taking the then manager of the Penrith
branch into partnership. The partnership was dissolved in 1885, Samuel
Jesper retaining the Carlisle and Dumfries establishments. Though a successful
businessman in the early part of his career, his latter years were troubled
by financial losses--the most serious of which was due to the defalcations
of an employee. He died at "Underwood," a residence he had built for himself
near to Penrith, on 6-2-1899 leaving five children:--
(a) LOUIS BEDFORD JESPER, B. 3-9-1860 at Preston. Married 10-3-1887 at Yealand Conyers, Amelia Mary Hannah Bragg, daughter of Robert and Jane H. Bragg of Lancaster. He was apprenticed to Wilson Jesper & Co., Penrith, and afterwards was for some years with his mother's cousin Herbert Beddal of London. Subsequently he entered Wilson Jesper's Carlisle Branch and was ultimately taken into partnership by his father. On the latter's death he assumed full control of the Carlisle business, which he retained until recently. He and his wife live at Carlisle, and have had three children:--
(i) ERIC JESPER, B. 31-3-1888 at Carlisle. An exceedingly precocious youth of great promise but delicate health. We have before us poems written by him in very early days which shew decided skill in versification coupled with depth of feeling quite unusual in a boy. He entered his father's business at the age of 18, but his health broke down after a short time and he died at Carlisle, 13-4-1907 in his twentieth year.
(ii) MURIEL JESPER, B. 24-8-1892.
(iii) DOROTHY JESPER, B. 15-8-1899.(b) LUCY ISABEL JESPER, B. 9-8-1861 at Preston, entered the nursing profession and for 15 years held the post of Assistant Lady Superintendent at the Liverpool Royal Infirmary. In 1911 she took up a course of study at the Royal Sanitary Institute, London, obtained her diploma, and is now Lady Sanitary Inspector and Health Visitor at Shrewsbury.
(c) MARY ALEXANDRA JESPER, B. 8-3-1863 at Preston. Lived at home until the death of her parents and has since been engaged in secretarial work.
(d) FLORENCE JESPER, B. 26-5-1867 at Preston. Lived at home until the death of her parents. For some years conducted a school for young children at Penrith, and is now taking a course of secretarial training at Kennsington College.
(e) WILSON JESPER, B. 24-11-1868 at Preston. Apprenticed to Samuel Harlock of Nantwich, and later entered the business of Wilson Jesper & Co. for whom he acted as book-keeper and traveller for some years, He is an accomplished violin player.
(28) ELIZA ANN JESPER, B. 10-9-1829 at Macclesfield: kept house
for her brother Samuel until his marriage, and for her father after the
death of his second wife. On his death she removed to Garstang where she
built a small house in which she lived until her death, 11-9-1906.
(29) WILLIAM HENRY JESPER, B. 21-4-1831, D. 12-1-1832.
(30) CHARLES ALFRED JESPER, B. 28-6-1833, D. 18-2-1834.
(31) CHARLES RICHARD JESPER, B. 3-10-1838 at Macclesfield. Married,
14-2-1861 at Morley, Wilmslow, Hannah Wright Chrimes, daughter of Joseph
and Sarah Chrimes of Fulshaw, near Wilmslow. He was in business with his
brother, Thomas Wilson Jesper (as Jesper Bros.) in the Caledonian Mill
(cotton), Preston. Charles Richard Jesper was a man of much originality
and is said, inter alia, to have originated the idea of Railways in the
Isle of Man. He died 6-8-1889 at Seacombe. His widow is living in Manchester.
They had seven children:--
(a) CHARLES FREDERICK JESPER, B. 20-7-1862 at Preston; married 31-10-1894 at Manchester, Alice Ravenscroft, daughter of John and Ann Ravenscroft. He has made a specialty of Homeopathy, and is practicing in Southport as a Homeopathic expert and consultant. He is also a professional artist and designer. Clerk to Southport Preparative Meeting since 1909. He and his wife live at Southport.(b) SARAH EMILY JESPER, B. 31-8-1864, died 20-12-1864.
(c) HERBERT JOSEPH JESPER, B. 8-5-1866 at Preston; married 8-6-1903 at Netherfield, Lizzie Butler, daughter of Joseph Ashwell and Jane Butler of Gedling, Notts. They reside at Peterborough and have had three children:--
(i) GRACE ELSIE JESPER, B. 23-3-1904, D. 16-8-1904.
(ii) JOSEPH WILLIAM ERNEST JESPER, B. 26-3-1905.
(iii) FLORENCE ADA JESPER, B. 23-12-1907.
(d) EDITH SARAH JESPER, B. 14-10-1868, died young.
(e) MARGARET EMILY JESPER, B. 8-8-1871, died young.
(f) ERNEST SAMUEL JESPER, B. 3-5-1873 at Manchester, died 14-7-1901 at Withington, Manchester. A musician--violin and viola.
(g) ADA CAROLINE JESPER, B. 12-10-1876 at Macclesfield; now living with her mother at Manchester.
(32) DEBORAH JESPER, B. 27-2-1841 at Macclesfield. Married, 7-6-1866
at Morley, near Macclesfield, John Satterthwaite, son of William and Jane
Satterthwaite of Lancaster. The Satterthwaites are an old Quaker family
whose ancestors came from Colthouse, near Hawkshead in the Lake District.
John Satterthwaite was born 25-10-1833, was a cottonspinner in Manchester,
1857-60, leather dealer in Preston, 1860-1887. He lived in Preston until
1894 when he became a director of the Lancashire Banking Company and removed
to Lancaster. He was Mayor of Preston, 1877-8 and a J.P. for the Borough
of Preston and County of Lancaster. Deborah Satterthwaite died at Preston
9-3-1875 and John Satterthwaite married for the second time Lucy Jesper
(No. 12). He died 22-10-1903 at Scotforth, leaving one son, William Henry
Satterthwaite, B. 24-12-1872, married 22-12-1900, Constance Mary
Hall,--a Solicitor and Notary Public practicing in Lancaster.
(33) HANNAH MARIA JESPER, B. 17-7-1843 at Macclesfield. Married 27-7-1864 at Macclesfield, John Jackson, son of Jonathan and Elizabeth Jackson of Calder Vale, near Garstang. John Jackson was in business as a cotton miller with his brothers; the mills suffered at the time of the Cotton Famine, but afterwards recovered; he was in addition a yeoman farmer and landowner. He died 12-4-1885 at Calder Vale, leaving his widow with a family of six children (two had died)--Ada, Henry, Ernest, Albert, Wilfred, and Elizabeth. The last named, better known as "Leila"--now Sparkes, needs no introduction to a body of readers numbering so many Ackworth Old Scholars.
Hannah Maria Jackson now lives at Kendal with her eldest daughter.
(34) SYLVANUS JESPER, Born 7-5-1849, entered his father's
business for a year or so, but was always delicate and died 30-3-1871 from
"heart disease brought on by severe cold." There is a five-page memoir
in the Annual Monitor for 1872.
And thus, having said something about every member of the family,
we come to
THE END
CHAPTER IV-THE CHILDREN OF JOHN
CHAPTER V-THE CHILDREN OF THOMAS