
Having spent time writing - and posting on my website - other people’s cowkeeping family histories (including some wonderful old photos), I’ve finally found the time to do the same for my own family. But, before my publishers go apoplectic, I should say that in writing these articles about my ancestors I have avoided using material already included in my books – so, most of this information is previously unpublished.
The first three articles, available to view via the links on the left of the screen (hover cursor over 'The Joy Family'), are as follows:
To set the scene, here is my paternal lineage as known to date:
7th great-grandfather – Christopher Joy (1672-1754)
6th great-grandfather – John Joy (b.1698)
5th great-grandfather – Anthony Joy (1731-1801)
4th great-grandfather – Anthony Joy (1762-1830)
3rd great-grandfather – Thomas Joy (1797-1868)
2nd great-grandfather – Daniel Joy (1825-1896)
1st great-grandfather – Anthony Joy (1863-1937)
Grandfather – Anthony Percival Joy (1889-1972)
Father – Anthony Eric Joy (1919-2007)
Me – Anthony David Joy (b. 1958)
The Joy family tree has its roots deep in the Yorkshire Dales – specifically, the village of Hebden, in Wharfedale. And it was from there that more than one branch of the family tree reached out and flourished in the city of Liverpool.
My 2nd great grandfather was Daniel Joy. He was one of eleven children of Thomas Joy (1797-1868) and Elizabeth Bowdin (1800-1852):
The first three articles, available to view via the links on the left of the screen (hover cursor over 'The Joy Family'), are as follows:
- Daniel Joy (1825-1896)
- Anthony Joy (1863-1937)
- Anthony Eric Joy (1919-2007)
To set the scene, here is my paternal lineage as known to date:
7th great-grandfather – Christopher Joy (1672-1754)
6th great-grandfather – John Joy (b.1698)
5th great-grandfather – Anthony Joy (1731-1801)
4th great-grandfather – Anthony Joy (1762-1830)
3rd great-grandfather – Thomas Joy (1797-1868)
2nd great-grandfather – Daniel Joy (1825-1896)
1st great-grandfather – Anthony Joy (1863-1937)
Grandfather – Anthony Percival Joy (1889-1972)
Father – Anthony Eric Joy (1919-2007)
Me – Anthony David Joy (b. 1958)
The Joy family tree has its roots deep in the Yorkshire Dales – specifically, the village of Hebden, in Wharfedale. And it was from there that more than one branch of the family tree reached out and flourished in the city of Liverpool.
My 2nd great grandfather was Daniel Joy. He was one of eleven children of Thomas Joy (1797-1868) and Elizabeth Bowdin (1800-1852):

Anthony (1820-1849) – Baptised at St Michael’s, Linton, on 8th October 1820. Died at a relatively young age (28) on 12.05.1849. Buried at St Wilfrid’s, Burnsall.
Thomas (1822-1893) – Baptised at St Michael’s, Linton on 24th March 1822. Married Mary Ann Brown on 18th December 1845 at St Michael’s, Linton. Lived in Ilkley where he worked as a gamekeeper. He had one son: Augustus Bowdin Joy (1846-1899), who married Elizabeth Brumfitt and had a daughter - Hilda Mary Joy (1882-1915) - who was a casualty on the Lusitania (see link on left of screen). Augustus, a ‘commercial traveller’, died in the USA (86 Dorchester Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts) on 18th March 1899.
Elizabeth (1823-1824) - Baptised at St Michael’s, Linton on 23 November 1823, lived for only 23 weeks and was buried there on 3 April 1824.
Elizabeth (1824-1891) – Baptised on 19th June 1825 at St Wilfrid’s, Burnsall; buried there on 21st December 1891. Married James Waddilove (1824-1899) on 21st March 1849. Children: William (1851-1893) and Hannah (1856-1921).
Daniel (1825-1896) - My great-great-grandfather. [Click on the ‘Daniel Joy’ link on the left of the screen].
George (1826-1904) – Born on 18th December 1826 and baptised at St Wilfrid’s, Burnsall on 4th February 1827. He moved to Liverpool to keep cows with his brother, Orlando, and sister, Hannah. Married Mary Ann Maria Spracklin (1840-1915) on 2nd August 1866 at St George’s, Everton. Buried at Holy Trinity, Wavertree. Children: Mary Elizabeth (1867-1939), Florence Spracklin (1870-1958), George Andrew Spracklin (1871-1883), William Orlando (1872-1900), Edward Spracklin (1876-1950) and Tom Spracklin (1879-1918).
Mary Ann (1830-1879) – Baptised on 15th August 1830 at St Wilfrid’s, Burnsall. Married Jeremiah Hardacre (1830-1896) on 13th December 1858 at St Michael’s, Linton. Buried at St Peter’s Church, Rylstone. Children: Elizabeth Mary (1868-1936), Sabina Hannah (1870-1923) and Ellen Ann (1875-1876).
Orlando John (1833-1881) - Moved to Liverpool to keep cows (1861) with brother, George, and sister, Hannah. On 6th April 1876 he married Hannah Daggett at St. John the Evangelist Church, Knotty Ash, Liverpool. By 1878 he was the proprietor of the Midland Hotel in Ilkley. Buried at St Wilfrid’s Church, Burnsall. Children: Elizabeth Hannah (1876-1950), Orlando John (1877-1878), Elsie (1878-1945) and Orlando William (1881-1963).
Horatio (1835-1836) – Died 18 months old. Buried at St. Wilfrid’s Church, Burnsall.
Hannah (1836-1868) – Moved to Liverpool to keep cows with her brothers (1861). Married Thomas Stockdale (1835-1893) of Hebden on 22nd February 1866 at St John the Evangelist Church, Knotty Ash, Liverpool. Returned to Hebden to live at Rainlands Farm. Died July 1868 aged 32. Buried at St Wilfrid’s Church, Burnsall. Children: Betsy (1866-1943) and Hannah (1868-1946).
Unnamed (1838-1838) – Infant (4 hours). Buried at St Wilfrid’s Church, Burnsall.
Thomas (1822-1893) – Baptised at St Michael’s, Linton on 24th March 1822. Married Mary Ann Brown on 18th December 1845 at St Michael’s, Linton. Lived in Ilkley where he worked as a gamekeeper. He had one son: Augustus Bowdin Joy (1846-1899), who married Elizabeth Brumfitt and had a daughter - Hilda Mary Joy (1882-1915) - who was a casualty on the Lusitania (see link on left of screen). Augustus, a ‘commercial traveller’, died in the USA (86 Dorchester Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts) on 18th March 1899.
Elizabeth (1823-1824) - Baptised at St Michael’s, Linton on 23 November 1823, lived for only 23 weeks and was buried there on 3 April 1824.
Elizabeth (1824-1891) – Baptised on 19th June 1825 at St Wilfrid’s, Burnsall; buried there on 21st December 1891. Married James Waddilove (1824-1899) on 21st March 1849. Children: William (1851-1893) and Hannah (1856-1921).
Daniel (1825-1896) - My great-great-grandfather. [Click on the ‘Daniel Joy’ link on the left of the screen].
George (1826-1904) – Born on 18th December 1826 and baptised at St Wilfrid’s, Burnsall on 4th February 1827. He moved to Liverpool to keep cows with his brother, Orlando, and sister, Hannah. Married Mary Ann Maria Spracklin (1840-1915) on 2nd August 1866 at St George’s, Everton. Buried at Holy Trinity, Wavertree. Children: Mary Elizabeth (1867-1939), Florence Spracklin (1870-1958), George Andrew Spracklin (1871-1883), William Orlando (1872-1900), Edward Spracklin (1876-1950) and Tom Spracklin (1879-1918).
Mary Ann (1830-1879) – Baptised on 15th August 1830 at St Wilfrid’s, Burnsall. Married Jeremiah Hardacre (1830-1896) on 13th December 1858 at St Michael’s, Linton. Buried at St Peter’s Church, Rylstone. Children: Elizabeth Mary (1868-1936), Sabina Hannah (1870-1923) and Ellen Ann (1875-1876).
Orlando John (1833-1881) - Moved to Liverpool to keep cows (1861) with brother, George, and sister, Hannah. On 6th April 1876 he married Hannah Daggett at St. John the Evangelist Church, Knotty Ash, Liverpool. By 1878 he was the proprietor of the Midland Hotel in Ilkley. Buried at St Wilfrid’s Church, Burnsall. Children: Elizabeth Hannah (1876-1950), Orlando John (1877-1878), Elsie (1878-1945) and Orlando William (1881-1963).
Horatio (1835-1836) – Died 18 months old. Buried at St. Wilfrid’s Church, Burnsall.
Hannah (1836-1868) – Moved to Liverpool to keep cows with her brothers (1861). Married Thomas Stockdale (1835-1893) of Hebden on 22nd February 1866 at St John the Evangelist Church, Knotty Ash, Liverpool. Returned to Hebden to live at Rainlands Farm. Died July 1868 aged 32. Buried at St Wilfrid’s Church, Burnsall. Children: Betsy (1866-1943) and Hannah (1868-1946).
Unnamed (1838-1838) – Infant (4 hours). Buried at St Wilfrid’s Church, Burnsall.
Daniel and three of his siblings - George, Orlando and Hannah - all moved to Liverpool; Daniel and George remained, whereas Orlando and Hannah returned to Yorkshire. An account of their lives and times, keeping cows in Liverpool, is included in my book, Liverpool Cowkeepers.
The final article describes one of those unusual gems that occasionally turn up when researching your family history. It's the story of my second cousin twice removed, Hilda Mary Joy, who was lost at sea following the torpedoing of RMS Lusitania.