Gideon Shaw

GIDEON SHAW

On the basis of his baptism record, Gideon was probably born in 1828 in Elland, West Yorkshire; the son of Thomas and Martha Shaw. He was baptised on Sunday 6 July 1828 at the Elland Chapelry.

When the UK Census was taken on 6 June 1841, Gideon was living in Little Bradley, Elland with Greetland, West Yorkshire with his parents and three siblings. He was then aged 13. This record suggests that his mother was Catherine. One possibility is that Martha died between 1828 and 1841 and that Thomas remarried.

When the UK Census was taken on 30 March 1851, Gideon was living at 46 Town Street, Rothwell, West Yorkshire with his employer, Charles Hampson (a master shoemaker) and his family. He was then aged 23 and employed as a journeyman shoemaker.

Gideon was married for the first time on Wednesday 15 September 1858 in Featherstone Church, West Yorkshire to Mary Bland, a widow. He was then probably aged 30, still employed as a shoemaker and living in Whitwood, Castleford, West Yorkshire.

When the UK Census was taken on 7 April 1861, Gideon was living at 22 Carlton Street, Castleford with Mary and his three step-children, Maria, Sarah and William Bland. By the time of the census, Gideon had his own business as a shoemaker and employed 4 men. Maria, then 19, was employed as a servant, Sarah, aged 17, was employed as a dressmaker and William, then 11, was a scholar.

When the UK Census was taken on 2 April 1871, Gideon was living at 32 Carlton Street, Castleford with Mary and two of his three step-children, Maria and William Bland. This suggests that, although they had been married for 13 years, Mary had not had any children with Gideon. By the time of the census, Gideon still had his own business as a shoemaker and was employing 4 men. Maria, then 29, was still employed as a servant while William, then 21, was employed as a tobacconist. Gideon’s step-daughter, Sarah, had married Barnabas Bramley in 1864.

Gideon was widowed on Saturday 2 September 1871 when Mary died of ascites (dropsy). They had been married for almost 13 years.

He was married for the second time on Monday 25 November 1872 at Headingley Church, Leeds, West Yorkshire to Jane Bibby. He was then 44, continuing his profession as a boot maker and still living in Castleford.

The 1873 Castleford Electoral Register indicates that Gideon’s home and shop was still in Carlton Street.

On the birth of his son, Tom, in 1874 Gideon was continuing his profession as a cordwainer (shoemaker) and still living in Carlton Street, Castleford.

When the UK Census was taken on 5 April 1881, Gideon was living at 83 Carlton Street, Castleford with Jane and their five children. He was then aged 53 and still had his own business as a cordwainer, employing two men. The children were Louisa (7 and a scholar), Tom (6 and a scholar), Charles (3), Allen (2) and Henrietta (5 months).

The 1888 Castleford Electoral Register indicates that Gideon’s home and shop was still in Carlton Street.

When the UK Census was taken on 5 April 1891, Gideon was living at 111 Carlton Street, Castleford with Jane and their six children. He was then aged 63 and still running his own business as a shoemaker. The children were Louisa (17), Tom (16 and employed as a shoemaker), Charles (13 and employed as a bottle maker), Allen (12 and a scholar), Henrietta (10 and a scholar) and Gideon (4). Also living in the house at the time of the Census was Allen Taylor, a boarder aged 53 and employed as a coal miner.

On the marriage of his son, Tom, in 1898 he still declared his profession as a cordwainer.

Gideon died, aged 72, on Sunday 10 June 1900 at the Leeds Infirmary. The cause of death was senile gangrene, diabetes and septicaemia. Trade and other directories suggest that Gideon had lived in Carlton Street continuously from at least 1857 until his death. He was buried on Wednesday 13 June 1900 in Grave number 492 at All Saints Church, Castleford. Gideon and Jane had been married for 27 years and had had 6 children.