• Ann’s People

    George Sackville Sutherland

    George Sackville Sutherland was Ann Walker’s eldest nephew and the second child of George Mackay Sutherland and Elizabeth Sutherland (née Walker). He was often known as Sackville, and to avoid confusion with his father, George Mackay Sutherland, I will refer to him as Sackville throughout this blog. Birth and Baptism Sackville was born on 11 March 1831 – the date is mentioned in a letter between Ann and her sister Elizabeth, and twice mentioned in Anne Lister’s journal.1 Sackville was likely born in Crow Nest, Lightcliffe, as the Sutherlands had returned there in January 1831.2 He was later baptised in St Matthew’s Church in Lightcliffe (Now Old St Matthew’s Churchyard)…

  • Ann’s People

    Elizabeth Sutherland’s Will

    Elizabeth Sunderland, née Walker wrote her will in 1842; it can be found in her son-in-law’s (Stansfeld) family archive in Wakefield.1 Elizabeth Sutherland died on December 28, 1844, leaving husband George Mackay Sutherland and four surviving children: Mary (who would die the following year), Elizabeth (1832-1872), Ann Walker “Annie” (1837-1917), and Evan Charles (1835-1913), the eventual heir to the Walker Estates.She was buried on January 5, 1845 in the churchyard of St Mary’s Church in Wimbledon, then in Surrey, now in the London Borough of Merton. The church at St Mary’s was completed in 1843, and is the fourth to stand on the site; there has been a church there…

  • Ann’s People

    (Aunt) Ann Walker

    Family Ann Walker was the youngest of five children born to William & Elizabeth Walker in 1757. Her siblings were Mary (1747-1822), William (1749-1804), Elizabeth (1750-1829) and John (1753-1823). 1   The Walkers were wealthy wool merchants, owned stock and a vast amount of property that only grew over time. Ann, like her sister Mary and brother William never married. Her sister Elizabeth married John Priestley and brother John married Mary Edwards. John & Mary were the parents of Ann Walker of Crow Nest. Ann Walker Sr was Ann’s aunt. After Ann’s sister Mary died in 1822, she was referred to as Mrs. Ann Walker or Ann Walker Sr. In…

  • Ann’s People

    William Walker, Junior

    By Ashleigh Kobevko and Deb Woolson Birth & Family William Walker was born in Halifax in 1748 to William Walker and Elizabeth Caygill. He was baptised in Lightcliffe on 3rd March 17481. Elizabeth Caygill was William’s father’s second wife, as his father’s first wife, Mary Wainhouse of Pye Nest, died after 7 years of marriage. Elizabeth Caygill was the sister of John Caygill, who donated the land where the Piece Hall was built. William Walker Junior had siblings; Mary born 1747, Elizabeth born 1750, John born 1753 and Ann born 1757. He was Ann Walker’s uncle. His father William Walker Sr (1713 – 1786) was a wealthy merchant and owner…

  • About Ann

    The Last Days of Ann Walker

    By Diane Halford and Leitner Daleen (updated 21st February 2023) Ann Walker died on 25th February 1854 in her childhood home, Cliffe Hill. It is often said that not much is known about Ann Walker’s life before or after Anne Lister. But once more, if we dig more deeply into the archive, we can piece together some information about the last days of Ann Walker.  Trigger Warning: illness, death After living at Shibden Hall with Captain Sutherland and his family and then, after his death, with long term friend Lydia Fenton, (nèe Wilkinson) Ann had moved back to her childhood home, Cliffe Hill, after her aunt died. It is mentioned…