My husband's great grandfather was Christopher Hird bapt. at Grinton on 24 June 1863, the son of Christopher Hird & Eleanor Birkbeck who married at Grinton on 18 December, 1849. This Christopher in turn was bapt. on 21 September 1823, the son of William & Elizabeth Hird of Grinton.

Christopher Hird (1863) was a farmer of Fremington (between Reeth & Grinton).

Would love to hear from anyone related to or having information on this line.

Regards
Joan Shiels

I am not an HIRD,I believe mine is from Bradford via my grandmother's deserted husband and adopted by my Grandfather. In the 1881 census my g/grandfather Robert Henry Wensley lived in Arkengarthdale with his mother Rosa,(easy to find on 1881) I am almost sure he had a neighbour called HIRD.
My main reason for this reply is that I have a Birkbeck in My Wensley tree.Nellie Birkbeck married Charles Wensley in 1792 at Grinton and with my Wensley's coming from that area we may make a match

Hi Joan,
My Great Grandfather was also called Christopher Hird he was born in 1871 in Grinton and married Mary Caroline Wiseham his father was Christopher Hird born 1823 and married Eleanor Birkbeck on 18th Dec 1849 his father was William Hird born about 1781 and married Elizabeth born about 1787 i think her surname was Cherry!
My Grandmother was Minnie Hird Christopher's daughter born 1901she married Richard Bowers.
Regards
Eric Hutchinson

I have an Elizabth Hird married William Harker married in Low Row Grinton have you any links to this Elizabeth

Hi Joan,

Thanks for your message. I'm afraid I haven't come across the marriage of your Elizabeth to know if she was related, but on my database I have a John & Margaret Hird, nee. Harker, living at Lealough, Grinton, in 1777. Please could you email me off-list with dates of Elizabeth etc., thanks.

All the best
Joan

Very interesting. I need to find out more about the Cherrys of Swaledale - looking at IGI, it is a fmily which goes back a long way in the area. I am researching the Cherry family in Heptonstall and there seems to be some connection - see below - it's a Census entry for 1851 for Melbecks

I am really looking for a Thomas who might have been born around 1790 and moved to Heptonstall possibly via the lead mining connection.

CHERRY John/Head/32/Lead ore dresser/Yks/Heptonstall
CHERRY Ann/wife/30/Yks/Heptonstall
CHERRY Jane/dau/8/Yks/Reeth
CHERRY Tho'/son/6/Yks/Heptonstall
CHERRY Simon/son/4/Yks/Reeth
CHERRY Sarah Ann/dau/11m/Dur/Walsingham

My Grandfather was Christopher Hird of Home Farm Femington,
His 2nd wife Mary nee Wiseham died in 1928.
My mother Margery was the youngest of Christophers children,
she died in January 2001.
I spent some of my childhood at Home Farm before my grandfathers death.
Yours
Patricia Gasson

MY GRANDFATHER WAS CHRISTOPHER HIRD,MY MOTHER WAS HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER MARGERY ,.
MINNIES SISTER.
I REMEMBER HER BEING CALLED WINNY AND LIVING IN CATERICK.
YOUR MOTHER I THINK IS BETTY HUTCHINGS LIVING IN REETH.
YOUR AUNT I THINK MUST BE JEAN OTOOLE?
WOULD LOVE TO HERE MORE.

My mother was Margery Hird your Grandmother Minnie Hirds sister,I spent time at the farm in Fremington and with your mother Betty.Would love to hear from you .

Alec, you must have changed your email address since we were last in touch. Mine is still the same.
I've found something that you may be interested in. Harold Johnson and his wife, Beatrice had a daughter in 1924, Frances E. As I said a while back, there is no record of Frances Eleanor Hird being born, either in the GRO index or the parish registers, maybe my nan wasn't a Hird, but was brought up by them as I've also found a death of Harold Johnson in Dewsbury in 1934 and Beatrice in 1929. But as he was still with his wife a year after your dad was born, your grandad has to be James Albert Baxby Hird. All 3 children(Harold, Thomas & Mary) were born in Hudderfield to James and Eleanor, Frances was born to Harold and Beatrice, and it wasn't until 1926 that the went to Manchester where a 5th daughter, Veronica died less than a year old.

Alan Holt