John Cliff

John Cliff

(My 3xGreat-Grandfather)

John Cliff is one of my favorite ancestors!

He was one of the early policemen in Leeds - actually he appears on the first page of the first "joining book". I had special permission to view the police records at Wakefield registry office and it was really fascinating.
Especially his records in the "Conduct book". He was dismissed after a couple of years in the service for "improper conduct whilst on duty and insulting the watch committee". It doesn't say what he did, but a few weeks later he was readmitted after "expressing contrition". It was possibly the fact that he had a young family at the time, and employment prospects were not good for weavers - due to the new machinery. So he had to get his job back - even if it meant eating humble pie. He went on to have an exemplary career in the police force - being promoted several times and eventually reaching the position of "first class inspector".

I always think that John wanted me to find out about his family - he certainly left plenty of clues. Such as in the naming of his children - giving them grandmothers (Hall & Marshall) and even great-grandmother's (Brook) maiden names as middle names.
He also left behind a family bible, with his family beautifully recorded in copper plate writing.

Details

Born:		5-May-1819, Holbeck, Leeds
Father:		Isaac Cliff
Mother:		Mary Marshall

Married:	1. 15-Sep-1838, Leeds 
		2. Q4 1867

Spouse:		1. Elizabeth Appleyard (B.26-Oct-1817, D.1876)
		2. Harriet Elizabeth Harrison

Died:		1-Jun-1889, Leeds

Children:	Mary Cliff
		B. 7-Aug-1839, D. 17-Sep-1858


		George Marshall Cliff
		B. 16-May-1841, D. 5-Jun-1842


		Eliza Marshall Cliff, 
		B. 24-Feb-1843, M. to William Hopton,  D. 27-Oct-1869.  

		Samuel Hall Cliff
 		B.22-Apr-1845,  M. 21-Dec-1858 Hannah Maria Lupton, D. 4-Aug-1921

		Martha Cliff
		B.30-May-1847,  D. 20-Sep-1849


		Sarah Brook Cliff
		B.6-Jun-1849,  D. 15-May-1867


		John Albert Cliff
		B.22-Feb-1852, M. 20-Apr-1886 Betsy Marsh, D. 24-Mar-1899 East London Cape of Good Hope, South Africa

		George Arthur Cliff
		B. 19-May-1854,  M. 20-Nov-1886 Hannah Midgley 

		Thomas Henry Cliff
		B. 21-Nov-1856,  D. 13-Jul-1864


		Jane Hannah Cliff
		B. Feb-1859,  D. Feb-1859


Occupation:	Watchman
		Police Officer
		Police Sergeant
		Police Inspector

Additional Information

Baptism:

Leeds Parish Church	
Born 5th May 1819, John son of Isaac and Mary Cliff, Holbeck clothier. Baptised 30th May 1819.		

Marriage:

September 15th 1838, Leeds Parish Church.	
John Cliff, minor, Bachelor, clothier, Wortley.   Father Isaac Cliff, Clothier		
Elizabeth Appleyard, minor, Spinster, Wortley.  Father George Appleyard.		
Signed: 		John Cliff	
			X Elizabeth Appleyard's Mark	
Witnesses: 		Samuel Hall 	
			Elizabeth Hall.	

Newspaper:

Leeds Mercury � Monday 3rd June 1889

Deaths:
Cliff � On Saturday 1st June at Stourton, suddenly, John Cliff, aged 70. (Will be interned at New Wortley cemetary this day at three O� Clock. Friends will please accept this, the only intimation). (Also on Saturday 8th June).

Police Records

Leeds Police Force: Joining Book

(page 1)

Name: 			John Cliffe
Age in 1860:		41
Height:			5ft. 9in.
Eyes:			Blue
Hair:			D. Brown
Complexion:		Fresh
Born:			Holbeck, Yorkshire
Prev. Employment:	Weaver
Recommended by whom:	R. Ripley
Address: 		Leeds
Date of Appointment:	August 12th 1842

Leeds Police Service: Conduct Book

John Cliff, Segt. B.

Rewards & Promotions

1842 Aug. 12th Appointed to Police Constable 1846 April 3rd Re-appointed Police Constable on expressing contrition. 1846 Dec. 4th Promoted to the 2nd Class. 1858 Dec 3rd Promoted to the rank of Sergeant. 1862 Oct. 3rd Appointed Sergeant of the Beeston District, vice Barraclough superannuated. 1871 Jan. 6th Promoted to the rank of Second Class Inspector. 1874 May 8th Promoted to the rank of First Class Inspector.

Complaints & Punishments

1846 March 8th Fined 5/- and dismissed the Force for improper conduct when on duty and insulting the Watch committee.

Census Details:

1841: Ramstler's Buildings, Wortley

		
John Cliff	Head	Wool Weaver	M	20	M	Yorkshire
Elizabeth Cliff	Wife			M	20	F	Yorkshire
Mary Cliff	Daut.				1	F	Yorkshire
George Cliff	Son				1 mon	M	Yorkshire
Also:						
Isaac Cliff	Head	Woolweaver	M	65	M	Yorkshire
Mary Cliff	Wife			M	65	F	Yorkshire

1851: 169, Gelderd Road, Wortley

				
John Cliff	Head	Police Officer	M	31	M	Holbeck
Elizabeth Cliff	Wife			M	33	F	Wortley
Mary Cliff	Daut.		Scholar		11	F	Wortley
Eliza Cliff	Daut.		Scholar		8	F	Wortley
Samuel Cliff	Son		Scholar		5	M	Wortley
Sarah Cliff	Daut.				1	F	Wortley

1861: 8, Burgess Street, Wortley

 			
John Cliff	Head	Police Sergeant	M	41	M	Holbeck
Elizabeth Cliff	Wife	Housewife	M	43	F	Wortley
Eliza M. Cliff	Daut.	Mule Piecer (woolen)	18	F	Wortley
Samuel H. Cliff	Son	Wool Cloth Warehouse Boy15	M	Wortley
Sarah B. Cliff	Daut.	Wool Bobbin winder	11	F	Wortley
John A. Cliff	Son	Scholar			9	F	Wortley
George A. Cliff	Son	Scholar			6	M	Wortley
Thomas H. Cliff	Son	Scholar			4	F	Wortley

1881: 18, Queen Street, Rothwell

				
John Cliff	Head	Inspector Of Police Retired	M	61	M	Leeds
Harriet Eliz. Cliff	Wife				M	49	F	Monmouth

Trade Directories

1870 John Sergeant Town St, Beeston 1872 John Police Inspector 23, Kendall Place, Kendall Lane

Cliff Family Bible

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