Swinton Barnsley British Co-operative Society
Richard Walker, born circa 1832 in Barugh, Barnsley, is my third great grand uncle and son of Joseph Walker and Sarah Leech.
In 1858, in Darton, Barnsley, Richard married Elizabeth Howcroft. Together, they issued two children, called, Bertha and Joe.
Richard’s wife, Elizabeth, died in 1862 in Gawber, Barnsley. Richard married again, in 1865 in Saint Thomas the Apostle Church, Gawber, to Sarah Ann Mellars. Richard and Sarah issued three children, called, John William, Arthur and Mary Alice.
Saint Thomas the Apostle
Richard was a Stonemason, like his father, but by the time the 1871 Census was conducted, Richard was a Stonemason and Grocer. By the time the 1881 Census was conducted, Richard was the Store Manager of the Cooperative Store, Church Street, Gawber. At some point between 1881 and 1891, Richard and his family moved to Swinton, near Rotherham and Richard died there on 3rd January 1891.
MEXBOROUGH & SWINTON TIMES.
JANUARY 9, 1891.WALKER. – January 3, at 30, Station street, Swinton, Richard Walker, stone mason, aged 58.
North View (third house from left)
Three months after Richard’s death when the 1891 Census was conducted, his wife, Sarah, was the Store Manager at 30 Station Street. 30 Station Street was the address of the Barnsley British Cooperative Society in Swinton and I discovered that this address is currently the location of the Salvation Army Charity Shop, where, coincidentally, my mother worked as a volunteer for around seventeen years. I suspect though that 30 Station Street originally incorporated what is now the Cinamon Indian Cuisine Restaurant (formerly a branch of the Yorkshire Bank).
Richard & Sarah’s grave
Sarah moved into her daughter’s home, North View, Station Street, after she retired.
Sarah died in July 1906 and below is her obituary.
MEXBOROUGH AND SWINTON TIMES, SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1906
SWINTON NOTES AND NEWS.
We regret to hear of the death of Mrs. S. A. Walker, of Station Street, Swinton. For many years, more than twenty, Mrs. Walker was the manageress of the Co-operative Stores, during which time she won the respect and esteem of a very large circle of friends who will be sorry to hear of her demise. The deceased lady who lived with her daughter, Mrs. Oates, of Station Street, had been indisposed for a considerable time, and her death was not altogether unexpected. The interment took place on Thursday at Gawber Cemetery, near Barnsley.
WEEK 42 