The Society of Friends, or Quakers as they are generally styled, though the name was given them in derision, have not had a strong following in this township. George Fox never came into the township to preach, and there was never a Friends' Meeting House erected here, though some members of the Society, who resided in the township, got licences for preachings in their homes. In my "Nonconformity in Idle" will be found some notices of these places from 1689 to 1700, as well as persecutions of various members from 1689. George Fox had missioned the district ten years before the Restoration. Mention is made of James Marshall, 1660; Zachary Udall or Yewdall and Ephraim Sandall both of Idle, 1661; James Marshall fined again in 1670, 1682, 1686; and in 1682 and 1686 Ephraim Sandall was heavily fined. John Adcocke had a smaller fine imposed in 1686. Thomas Bowmer, of Windhill, and Ann his wife, and Sarah wife of William Denbigh, of Windhill, were fined in 1686 for being present at a forbidden meeting or conventicle.
In 1672 the Old Chapel was registered as the meeting place for Congregationalists at Idle, and Thomas Ledgard's house (Doctor Lane, now called Crow Trees,) for Presbyterians, as also Samuel Stable's house.
In October, 1689, the house of James Marshall, Idle Thorp, was registered by the West Riding Magistrates as a meeting or preaching place for Quakers, and Widow Hall's barn at Windhill was registered under the names of Richard Simson, William Garth, Joshua Sandall, and others. In July, 1689, the Old Chapel was again registered by the Congregationalists at the request of Mr. Jonathan Wright, preacher, but in 1689, August, the Magistrates revoked this certificate. Thomas Ledgard's house was secured in July, 1689, at the request of Thomas Ledgard and John Stead. At Wakefield Sessions, October, 1697, Zachary Yewdall desired to have the house he dwelt in at Idle to be recorded for the people called Quakers, which was granted. Though there was no meeting-house built within Idle township, a small plot of ground was appropriated at the corner of a field in Westtield Lane as a burial place for Friends and their families just before the death of George Fox. Over the gateway is the date 1690, and within the four substantial walls are stone seats formed by the basement of the walls being wider. This style will be found at Ayrton and other old Quaker establishments, and was intended to accommodate the congregations when burials took place. The same style was adopted by Mr. Smith, of Thackley End, when he established his family burial ground, though that plot is circular, not square. In the Westfield Friends' burial ground there are three stones only, and one of them is blank. After 1700 until recent years the Friends seldom placed memorial stones in their graveyards. The two inscribed stones record:
"Here lyeth interred the body of Ierimiah son of Zachary Yewdall of Idle who departed this life the 31st of the first month Anno Domini 1690."
The first month at that time began with March, not January. The second gravestone confirms this custom:
"Here lyeth the body of Benjamin Swaine of Thackley who departed this life the 23rd day of the First Month called March, Anno Domini 1692."
Amongst the manuscripts of Mr. Hardaker. of Thackley, formerly of Calverley and Guiseley, I saw an office copy of an indenture respecting this plot made between Jonas Adcock of Idle, callimanco maker, of one part, and William Hustler of Bradford, Thomas Wilson of Eccleshill, John Grimshaw of Calverley, and Jas. Thompson of Rawdon, dated 1788, reciting that whereas Thomas Yewdal, late of Leventhorpe hall, in Bradford-dale, clothier, deceased, by indenture of Nov. 13, 19 George II. (1746), did grant, sell and convey to William Hird of Rawden, yeoman, Benjn. Sandal of Idle, callimanco maker, Jonas Adcock of Idle, callimanco maker, and Thomas Yewdall of Leventhorpe Hall, clothier, the ground in the south-west corner of a field called Westfield, 15 yards square, then walled, fenced, &c., adjoining Westfield Lane on the south, land formerly Benjamin Bartlet's on the west, the Westfield on the north and east, for the remainder of 5000 years at a peppercorn rent if demanded, to permit and sufl'er the people of God who are commonly called Quakers, or that henceforth or at any time or times hereafter shall profess, maintain and hold forth the said Christian principles and doctrine, to meet or assemble together on the said parcel of ground when they shall "think fitt or have occation" for the worship and service of God or any other matter concerning Church fellowship, and to bury said people called Quakers therein from the parishes of Calverley, Bradford, Guiseley, Bingley or elsewhere in Yorkshire, and to hack, grave, dig, delve, &c., and to allow free liberty of ingress, egress and regress into the said parcel to any persons employed in making graves, and to permit the said people called Quakers to erect and build any house or houses for their meeting together, in walling, seating, &c. The remaining trustees to elect successors subject to approval of Rawdon meeting; those who forsook Quaker principles had to be disqualified forthwith.
From this it seems that Mr. Benj. Bartlet, a famous Quaker apothecary and antiquary, had been owner of the Carcase-end Farm. A few years ago the walls were becoming dilapidated, and no meetings had been held there or any interment made for nearly eighty years, I sent notice of this trust deed to Rawdon Friends, who on its authority took the responsibility of restoring the wall, and for about five years a meeting has been held each summer about July on a Sunday afternoon, by Quakers from Rawdon, Greengates and Bradford. At the first and second of these annual gatherings I gave by request the story of local Quakerism, with outlines of their principles. These addresses were printed at the time. Somewhere about 1825, the last interment here took place; his name was David, so I was told by an old inhabitant, and this agrees with David Yewdall's burial of 1825. I have not been able to obtain authentic records of burials here, either from Rawdon, Leeds, or London Friends' Meeting Clerks; nor from the registers hid away disreputably at Somerset House, and therefore can only add, by favour of Mrs. John Yewdall and Mr. Zachary Yewdall, those referring to persons of their surname. In my "Notes on Shipley, Idle and District" may be seen a view of the gateway, of this ground, and in my Magazine, ("Yorkshire Notes and Queries," and " County Magazine,") there are printed notices of the trusteeship.
Hugh Udal held of Sir Ingram Clifford, 53 acres 2 roods in Windhill in 1579 at the yearly rent of l6s. 3d. The survey tells us that Hugh Udale held at Windell by assinment from Peter Gibson, who had his interest from Thomas Clifford, Esq., who held the lease under Sir Ingram Clfford, Knt., and ladie Ann his wif., namely half of messuage called Windell, with barnes, &c., an oxgang and a half and a clea (or seventh part,) with Lathe Garth (1 rode). Hen bancke (2 rodes), Nether Broad Close (1 ac. 2r.), Upper Broad Close (3 ac. 1 r.). East Nether Broad Close (2 ac. 1 r. 4 perches), Laverack Roide Close (6 ac. 1 r. 16 p.), CoUinge Close (3 r.), New Inge, Leaz, Little Close, Brear Close, Brome Closes, Long Carrs, Birk Roide, Cock Gladdinge, Inge Spots, with common pasture.
Hugh Yewdale or Udale died in 1604, and his will was proved at York the same year. His son Walter was the father of Zachary, born 1638, who conveyed the burial plot in Westfield Lane, which bears the date 1690 over the doorway. Thomas Yewdall, of Leventhorpe Hall, Thornton, was son of Zachary and father of Jeremiah, born Dec. 24, 1705. Thomas Yewdall's wife was named Grace. Jeremiah was father of William, born at Haigh Hall, Greengates, in 1760. The Rev. Zachary Yewdall, the famous Wesleyan Methodist travelling preacher, whose portrait and memoir appear in the Methodist Magazine, was one of the sons of the Haigh Hall, Eccleshill, family.
Grace, daughter of Thomas Yeadall, of Windhill, was baptised at Calverley Church, Nov. 15. 1577.
William, son of Hugh Yeadall, of Windhill, was baptised August 23, 1579.
Thomas, son of Hugh Yeadall, of Windell, was baptised April 28, 1581.
Elizabeth, daughter of Hughe Yeadall of Windell, was baptised June 18, 1583.
Christofer, son of Hughe Yeadall, of Windell, was baptised August 6, 1587.
Agnes, daughter of Hughe Yeadall, of Windell, was baptised June 14, 1590.
Mary, daughter of Hughe Yeadall, of Windell, was baptised Nov. 30, 1592.
Walter, son of Hughe Yeadall, of Windell, baptised May 20, 1595.
Thomas Yeadall and Jane Kirkbye were married at Calverley Church, Oct. 10, 1598.
James Boyth and Jane Yeadall were married at Calverley June 12, 1604.
Ralph Robson and Jane Yeadall were married at Calverley, April 2, 1631.
A daughter of Hugh Yeadall was buried at Calverley, June 13, 1598.
Thomas Yeadall was buried there Sept. 6, 1602.
Hugh Yeadall was buried there June 15, 1604.
Thomas Yeadall of Windell, was buried Oct. 12, 1630.
Agnis Yeadall, of Windhill, was buried May 27, 1644.
Thomas Bayne and Mary Yeadall were married at Calverley, August 8, 1665.
Zechariah Yeadall and Mary Lawson were married there Jan. 15, 1666, new style.
Susan, wife of Walter Yewdall, was buried at Calverley,. Nov. 24, 1666.
Thomas, son of Walter Yeadall of Windill, was baptised Dec. 14, 1628.
Jeremie, son of Walter Yeadall of Idle, was baptised March 18, 1632 (new style.)
Aune, daughter of Walter Yeadall, baptised May 24, 1635.
Zacarye, son of Walter Yeadall, baptised Nov. 25, 1638.
In 1668, Widow Yewdall was taxed at 6d. for a War Fund, and in 1692 Zachary Yewdall was charged 9s. 4d. assessment for the War Fund, and he was one of the two collectors. In 1707, Thomas Yewdall paid the Constable rate, Idle.
Judith, wife of Zachariah Yewdall of Ollerton, was buried at Calverley, 1760.
John Yewdall married Sarah, daughter of William Mitchell of Rawdon; their son Mitchell Booth Yewdall, of Idle, was baptised in 1824. John Yewdall died in 1839, aged 62; Sarah Teale, his wife, in 1858, aged 77.
On a very old stone bearing the name of John Bucke, in Calverley Churchyard, there is also the inscription, Elizabeth Yewdall, died April 7, 1831, aged 78.
The following are the notes supplied to me by Mrs. John and Mr. Z. Yewdall:
YEWDALL: from Bradford Prepar. Meeting; Register of Births commences 8mo., 1652.
1708, viii., 5, at Idle, Thomas And Zachary, twins, sons of Thomas and Grace.
1713, iii., 15, at Thornton, Ellenor, dau. of Thomas and Grace.
1715, xii., 29, at Thornton, Alice, dau. of Thomas and Grace.
1733, x., 28, at Thornton, Mary, dau. of Jeremiah and Mary.
1745, i., 31, at Thornton, Thomas and Ehzth., son and dau. of Thos. and Elizth.
1747, xi., 2, at Thornton, John [died young?] son of Thos. and Elizth.
1749, v., 14, at Thornton, William, son of Thos. and Elizth.
1750, vi., 14, at Thornton, Anne, dau. of Thos. and Elizth.
1752, v., 7, at Thornton, John and Mary, son and dau. of Thos. and [Mary ?]
1756, xii., 17, at Thornton, Joseph, son of Thos. and Elizabeth.
1759, iv., 2, at Thornton, David, son of Thos. and Elizabeth.
1777, iii., 2, at Chapel Allerton, Thomas1 son of John and Catharine, mason. Chapel Allerton, not member.
1780, vi., 2, at Chapel Allerton, Elizabeth,2 dau. of John and Catharine, Chapel Allerton, not member.
YORK REGISTER:
1703, x., 29, Mary, dau. Thomas and Grace, Idle.
1705, xii., 24, Jeremiah, son of Thomas and Grace, Idle.
1708, viii., 5, twins, as above: Bradford.
1710, xi., 19, Grace, dau. of Thomas and Grace, Idle.
1713, iii., 15, Ellenor, dau. of Thomas and Grace, Thornton.
1715, xii., 29, Alice, dau. of Thomas and Grace, Thornton.
1733, x., 28, Mary, dau. of Jeremiah and Mary, Thornton.
1745, i., 31, Thos. and Elizth., twins, Thomas (junr.) and Elizth., Thornton.
1747, xi., 2, John, son of Thomas and Eliz., Thornton.
1749, v., 4, Wm., son of Thomas and Eliz., Thornton.
1750, vi., 14, Ann, dau. of Thomas and Eliz., Thornton.
1752, v., 7, John and Mary, twins, Thomas and Eliz., Thornton.
1756, xii., 17, Joseph, son of Thos. and Elizabeth, Thornton.
1759, iv., 2, David, son of Thos. and Elizabeth, Thornton.
MARRIAGES:
Thomas Yewdall, Idle, and Grace Parker, Idle, at Rawdon, 1702, xii., 4.
Eleanor Yewdall, Idle, and Thos. Wood, clothier, Glusburn, at Brfd., 1715, xii., 22.
Martha3 Yewdall, Idle, and Jas. Bond, Bowling, at Brfd., 1720, vi., 31.
Mary, dau. Thomas Y., clothier, and Thos. Dewhirst, Whalley. at Brfd., 1724, ii., 29.
Jeremiah Y., Thornton, and Mary Adcock, Idle, at Rawdon, 1732, iii., 4.
Mary, dau. late John Y., of Horton, and Joshua Cordingley, North Bierley, at Brfd., 1761, vi., 3.
DEATHS:
Yewdall —, 1665, v., — , wife of Zachariah, buried at Horton.
Yewdall Zachary, (senior) 1709, iv., 21, of Idle, buried at Idle.
Yewdall Zacharia, [1709 or] 1710, x., 11, 2 years 2 months, of Idle, son of Thomas and Grace, buried at Idle.
Yewdall Grace, 1728, xii., 18, of Thornton, dau. of Thos. and Grace, bur. at Bradford, 1728, xii., 22.
Yewdall Mary, 1734, ix., 16, of Thornton, wife of Jeremiah, bur. at Bradford, 1734, ix., 20.
Yewdall Thomas, 1745, xi., 5, of Thornton, bur. at Bfd., 1745, xi., 8.
Yewdall Jeremiah, 1746, vi., 7, son of Jerem. and Sarah, bur. at Idle, 1746, vi., 11, not a member.
Yewdall John, 1748-9, i., 3, of Leventhorpe Hall, in Thornton, son of Thomas and Eliza, bur. at Brfd. on the 5th.
Yewdall Alice, 1758, iv., 1, of Leventhorpe Hall, dau. of Thos. and Grace, bur. at Brfd., on the 3rd.
Yewdall Grace, 1754, ix., 13, dau. of Jerem. and Sarah, bur. at Idle, on the 15th, non-member.
Yewdall Grace, 1764, viii., 13, of Allerton, widow of Thomas, of Leventhorpe, bur. at Bradford, on the 15th.
Yewdall Thomas, 1766, vi., 21, of Idle, bur. at Bradford on the 23rd.
Yewdall Joseph, 1770, v., 9, aged 23, son of Jerem. and Sarah, buried on the 12th, at Idle, non-member.
Yewdall Sarah, 1770, v. 26, aged 16, dau. Jerem. and Sarah, buried at Idle, on 28th; non-member.
Yewdall Elinor, 1771, viii., 20, of Eccleshill, dau. of Jeremiah and Sarah, bur. at Idle on 22nd, non-member.
Yewdall Esther, 1779, v., 18, about 10 months, of Eccleshill, dau. of John, (stuff-weaver) and Ann, bur. at Idle, next day, non-member.
Yewdall Thomas, 1777, vi., 12, 22 years old, of Horton, comber, bur. on the 15th at Idle, non-member.
Yewdall David, 1825, xii., 20, aged 67, of Idle, buried on 25th at Bradford (? if Idle.)
Thomas Yewdall, who married Grace Parker, and tbeir son Thomas, whose wife's name was Elizabeth, were trustees of the Westfield Ground in 1746. Jeremiah Yewdall, who was born at Idle, went to Leventhorpe in Bradford-dale with his father, but they returned to Idle, leaving Thomas, the twin son, at Leventhorpe. Jeremiah had married firstly. Mary Adcock, and secondly Sarah Ogden, but was disowned by the Friends on the latter occasion because the ceremony was performed by a priest. Their son William, of Haigh Hall, born 1760, died 1829, was father of David, who died at Calverley in 1874, and grandfather of Messrs. John and Zachary Yewdall, the latter now residing at Calverley. The pedigree thus gives a clear run for more than three hundred and fifty years, and there are few families, yeomanry or gentry in the West Riding, that can equal the Yewdalls with proofs so reliable and centralized in one township.
Hugh Yewdall, of 1578, must have been born before 1550. It is likely that he was of the same family as Nicholas Udal, the famous Puritan author, and I am of opinion they can be traced to the Yewdalls, or Udalls, of Yewdale in Westmorland, though the family tradition inclines to a French origin. Walter, Hugh's son, died in 1604, and was succeeded by his son Zachary, who established the Friends' Burial Ground. His son Thomas was the father of Jeremiah, the father of William, of Greengates, who died in 1829, the father of David, who died at Calverley in 1874 the father of Zachariah, who now resides at Calverley, the father of several sons, one of whom bears the old family name Zachary, and another, Frank, died at Lahore in India last year.
[1] Buried at Meadow Lane, Leeds, 1781, v., 25, about 4 years.
[2] Buried at Meadow Lane, Leeds, 1781, v., 27, about 1 year.
[3] Widow of Zachariah.
Source: Idle Upper Chapel burial registers and graveyard inscriptions, Page 134 - 141
edited by J. Horsfall Turner.
Published 1906: Harrison and Sons, Printers, Publishers, Etc., Queen Street,
Bingley.