15 St. John's Square - Charles William Carr

Charles William Carr was a resident of 15 St. John's Square for at least 37 years from 1901 until his death in 1937. His trade was printing and publishing newspapers and advertising space for the people of Wakefield and the West Riding.

Charles William Carr was born 19th May 1859 at Hatfeild Road, Wakefield. His parents were Esau Carr and Ann Carr, formerly Hepworth. Esau was a printer compositor at the Express Newspaper Office. This was the Wakefield Express which is still published today. As a compositor he would be setting up the pages of type. Ann was unable to write and left her mark on the birth certificate of Charles William. Hatfeild Road may be what is known as Hatfeild Street now between Trinity Walk Shopping Centre and College Grove north of the city centre (1).

Esau Carr and Ann Hepworth had married 8th November 1856 in Wakefield (2 & 3).

Charles William had one sister and brother who were Anne Elizabeth and Edwin Percy; born in 1857 and 1871 respectively. Sadly Anne Elizabeth died in 1862 (4, 5 & 6).

Charles William was baptised 9th October 1859 at Holy Trinity, Wakefield. Holy Trinity Church no longer exists but was situated where George Street met Thornhill Street not far from the back of what is now the Ridings Shopping Centre. Esau's occupation was a printer (7)

His baptism at Holy Trinity makes sense when the 1861 Census is viewed which showed the family living at Southgate which still exists and is by the Ridings Shopping Centre, south of the city centre. Esau's occupation appeared to be a storeman of printers (8)

The map below published slightly earlier in 1851 shows Southgate top left with Holy Trinity Church to the centre right (9).

Map showing Southgate & Holy Trinity Church, Wakefield 1848. © Ordnance Survey & National Library of Scotland (9)

The 1871 Census recorded over two pages shows that Esau was a printer and was living in Belle Vue with Ann and Charles. This was further out of the city of Wakefield and looking through the nearby census pages it was near Regent Street not far from what would now be Wakefield Trinity rugby league ground and Sugar Lane Cemetery (10)

Charles William Carr, 1871 England Census © The National Archives & Find My Past (10)

Charles William Carr, 1871 England Census © The National Archives & Find My Past (10)

The 1881 Census found Charles William living with his parents and younger brother Edwin at Albion Street, Wakefield which was close to Hatfeild Road where he was born and north of the city centre. Albion Street was laid out in the 1820's as a low cost working class and middle class housing which was much more spacious than the cramped and unpleasant housing in the yards and alleyways in the centre of Wakefield (11 & 12).

Charles was working as a printers compositor. His father Esau was a newspaper proprietor and editor. Harriett Hepworth, age 75, an aunt of Charles William's mother Ann was also living the family.

The running of the newspaper appeared to have been a family concern as living next door to Esau and Ann were John and Mary Carr and their two children, Mary and Francis. John was two years older than Esau and was also born in Menston, so was likely to be Esau's older brother or cousin. John was listed as a newspaper proprietor and his son Francis was a compositor (11).

Charles William Carr, 1881 England Census © The National Archives & Find My Past (11)

On the 23rd September 1882, Charles William married Rose Ann Squire by banns at St. John's Church, Wakefield. John's occupation was a printer and he was listed as living in Albion Street; the same as 1881. Esau's occupation was editor, so he was still very much in control of the business (12).

In the Jul-Sep 1883 quarter Charles William & Rose Ann had their only child Madelene Carr (14).

By 1891 Charles William, Rose Ann and Madelene had moved to the more upmarket surroundings of "Cliff Villas", 4 Newstead Road. Charles was working as the Printer's Manager but was still employed. They were comfortably well enough off to have a general domestic servant (15)

Charles William Carr, 1891 England Census © The National Archives & Find My Past (15)

4 Newstead Road shown on the somewhat later map from 1953 below is the building today occupied by Holroyd Miller Estate Agents. See the photo beneath the map.

Map showing Newstead Road, Wakefield 1953. © Ordnance Survey & National Library of Scotland (16)

4 Newstead Road, Wakefield. © Ancestral Enquiries 2025 (17)

An article from the Leeds Mercury from 31st July 1891 confirmed the death of Esau Carr on 30th July 1891 at the age of 59. It also revealed that Esau was the proprietor and editor of the Wakefield Herald which he had bought in 1880. Prior to that he was connected to the Wakefield Express for thirty years which suggests he started with them at age 18 (18)

Leeds Mercury, 31th July 1891. © British Newspaper Archive & Find My Past (18)

A similar headline appeared in the Sheffield Independent also from 31st July 1891. It revealed that the Wakefield Herald was part of the Conservative Newspaper Company Limited and that Esau started business as a printer in Westgate. It confirmed that just before his death Esau had erysipelas which is a superficial infection of the skin (19 & 20).

Sheffield Independent, 31th July 1891. © British Newspaper Archive & Find My Past (19)

The Index of Wills and Administrations confirmed that Esau's will was proved on 7th September 1891 and Charles William Carr was one of the executors, along with the unusually named Wakefield schoolmaster called Grimshaw Grimshaw. Esau left a personal estate of £2,067 16s 3d (21).

The newspaper article stated that Esau only had one son. A search of the civil registration death index identified a registered death for Edwin Percy, age 19 in the January to March quarter, 1890 in the Wakefield District (22).

Up until 1898 land and buildings were not stated in the wills index unless it was a freehold property which had been leased to a tenant for a fixed term of years (23)

Esau Carr, Probate Calendar, 1891 © Principal Probate Registry and Ancestry (21)

The bottom right of the last page of each edition of the Wakefield and West Riding Herald confirmed the paper was published at the Steam Printing Works, Pemberton House adjoining Westgate Railway Station, Wakefield. It confirmed the printer and publisher Charles William Carr was residing at Cliff Villas, St. John's, Wakefield which was likely to be 4 Newstead Road rather than Cliff Villa itself which was close by. The irony was that Charles was publishing a Conservative newspaper from the former home of Pemberton Milnes who was a cloth merchant and dissenting Whig (24, 25, 26 & 27).

Wakefield & West Riding Herald, 11th February 1893. © British Newspaper Archive & Find My Past (24)

Pemberton House, Westgate, Wakefield. © Ancestral Enquiries 2025 (26)

Pemberton House Blue Plaque, Westgate, Wakefield. © Ancestral Enquiries 2025 (27)

By July 1894 Charles William Carr had gone into partnership with Anthony Hewitson. This was shown on the bottom right of page 8 of an edition from the Herald dated 22nd February 1896 where both Carr and Hewitson are mentioned as proprietors and publishers. Hewitson bought the Herald fully from Carr, later in 1896 (25 & 28).

Wakefield & West Riding Herald, 22nd February 1896. © British Newspaper Archive & Find My Past (28)

Charles William Carr appeared on an electoral roll from 1895 for a property at Milton, Street, Stanley, near Wakefield. His qualification for having a vote in parliamentary and parochial elections was that he had a freehold house. His abode was stated as the Herald office, Westgate (29).

Charles William Carr, Milton Street Electoral Register, 1895. © West Yorkshire Archive Service & Ancestry (29)

In 1899 he appeared on another electoral register in respect of freehold houses at Bragg Lane End, Wrenthorpe, near Wakefield which entitled him to vote in parochial elections only. His abode was now listed at St. John's, so this was likely to be around the time he moved to 15 St. John's Square (30).

Charles William Carr, Bragg Lane End Electoral Register, 1899. © West Yorkshire Archive Service & Ancestry (30)

He appeared on another electoral register from 1900 in respect of freehold houses at Daw Green, Crigglestone, near Wakefield which entitled him to vote in parochial elections only (31).

Charles William Carr, Daw Green Electoral Register, 1900. © West Yorkshire Archive Service & Ancestry (31)

Thirty eight further electoral registers for these three properties were identified continuing up to 1905 for Bragg Lane End and 1915 for Milton Street and Daw Green. They may have possibly been inherited after the death of his father Esau or from increased revenue from printed advertising.

By 1901 Charles William and Rose Ann were confirmed living at 15 St. John's Square with daughter Madelene. They had a general domestic servant. Charles was a printer and publisher and was an employer (32).

Charles William Carr, 1901 England Census © The National Archives & Find My Past (32)

In December 1906 Charles was working as a publisher of an advertising sheet when a report in the Leeds Mercury confirmed he had a dispute with Normanton pork butcher called Kappes. Carr sued him for £1 16s for advertising which Kappes stated he had not signed for. A handwriting expert confirmed the writing on the form did not belong to Kappes and Carr lost the case (33)

In 1911 Charles and Rose Ann were living in relative comfort at 15 St. John's Square. They had nine rooms including the kitchen but excluding any scullery, landing or bathroom. Charles was still a printer and publisher and was an employer. Their daughter Madelene, now 27 was still living with them (34).

Charles William Carr, 1911 England Census © The National Archives & Find My Past (34)

An article in his former newspaper the Wakefield and West Riding Herald on 23rd December 1911 confirmed Charles W. Carr Ltd printers were based at King Street, Wakefield. Charles had to go to court after he received two charges under the Factory and Workshops Act. Two workers, Lily Woodson and May Shaw were employed from 8am to 8pm and on the Saturday they commenced work at 6am until dinner time. However, this was contrary to the Act posted up in the factory which stated the time to commence work was 8am. Charles Frances Wright who was H.M. Inspector of Factories (Home Office) visited the premises and interviewed both ladies who said they were doing overtime. Time of work could only be altered three months in advance. The forewoman at the factory had asked Carr if the ladies could start at 6am on the Saturday to finish off some urgent work which he agreed. Carr could have legally let them start at 8am and allow them to work later into the afternoon. The Bench agreed that Carr had acted in ignorance and would only have to pay the costs in both cases which totalled 18s (35)

Wakefield & West Riding Herald, 23rd December 1911. © British Newspaper Archive & Find My Past (35)

Madelene Carr the daughter of Charles William and Rose Ann was married to Francis Norman Whiteley on 27th December 1913 at Calcutta, Bengal, India (36).

Madelene Whiteley died on 26th May 1917 and was buried on 27th May 1917 at Kasauli, Bengal, India (37).

Madelene's husband, Francis Norman Whiteley was from Wakefield and in 1901 was living close to the Carr family at 15 Burton Street and by 1911 was a chartered accountant (38 & 39).

The 1921 Census showed that Charles was now a retired newspaper proprietor and still living at 15 St. John's Square with Rose Ann (40).

Charles William Carr, 1921 England Census Household Schedule © The National Archives & Find My Past (40)

Charles William Carr, 1921 England Census Address Schedule © The National Archives & Find My Past (40)

Charles William Carr died on 13th March 1937 from acute bronchitis at Clayton Hospital, Wakefield just a short walk from his home at 15 St. John's Square. His death was registered by his brother in law Ernest Squire (41).

Charles William Carr Death, 1937, Wakefield. © General Register Office (41)

The Leeds Mercury reported the death of Charles William Carr 16th March 1937 confirming he was the former editor and proprietor of the Wakefield Herald which was one of the oldest Conservative newspapers in the country and that he later continued in business as a master printer (42).

He was a member of the Paxton Society which existed in Wakefield from 1877 to 2018. It was a gardening society formed when wealthy mill owners and landlords with large houses had gardens to maintain. Head gardeners and labourers who lodged near stately homes where they worked would meet socially. It was named after Sir Joseph Paxton, born in 1803 who was a gardener, architect and member of parliament best known for designing Crystal Palace, London. The society would put on flower shows locally several times a year (43).

Leeds Mercury, 16th March 1937. © British Newspaper Archive & Find My Past (42)

The Index of Wills and Administrations confirmed that probate was granted to Rose Ann Carr on 24th May 1937 with Charles leaving effects of £2,194 6s 3d (44).

The 1939 Register taken on the 29th September 1939 shows that Rose Ann had moved to 200 Hallgate, Cottingham near Hull to live with Ernest and Alice Squire. The register stated she was incapacitated which may have been the reason for her move away from St. John's Square which was four floors including the basement. Ernest had been the informant on the death certificate of Charles and was likely to be the younger brother of Rose Ann (44).

Rose Ann Carr, 1939 Register. © The National Archives, Kew, London & Find My Past (45)

Rose Ann's death was registered in the October to December 1941 in the Lincoln District, age 83 (46).

Sources:

1. Charles William Carr Birth, Apr-Jun 1859. General Register Office. Wakefield, Vol 9c, Page 36. www.gro.gov.uk

2. Esau Carr & Ann Hepworth Marriage, Oct-Dec 1856. FreeBMD , Civil registration database. Wakefield, Vol 9c, Page 67. FreeBMD - Search

3. Esau Carr & Ann Hepworth Marriage, 1856. England Select Marriages, 1538-1973. FHL Film No. 1542075, Reference ID P18, # 35. Original data: England, Marriages, 1538–1973. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013. England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973 - Ancestry.co.uk

4. Anne Elizabeth Carr Birth, Jan-Mar 1857. General Register Office. Wakefield, Vol 9c, Page 31. www.gro.gov.uk

5. Edwin Percy Carr Birth, Oct-Dec 1871. General Register Office. Wakefield, Vol 9c, Page 35. www.gro.gov.uk

6. Anne Elizabeth Carr Death, Oct-Dec 1862. General Register Office. Wakefield, Vol 9c, Page 19. www.gro.gov.uk

7. Charles William Carr, Parish Baptism Register, Holy Trinity, Wakefield, 1859, page 53. West Yorkshire England, Church of England , Baptisms, 1813-1910, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910 - Ancestry.co.uk

8. Charles William Carr, 1861 England Census. Archive reference: RG09; RD: Wakefield; Sub district: 4Wakefield; ED11; Piece No. 3424; Folio 50; Page 8; Schedule 41, digital image, Find My Past. England, Wales & Scotland Census. Original held by The National Archives, Kew, London. Record Transcription: 1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk

9. Ordnance Survey Map, Wakefield Sheet 8, 25.344 by 38.016 inches, Surveyed 1848, Published 1851. Digital image, National Library of Scotland. View map: Ordnance Survey, OS town plan - Wakefield - sheet 8 - Ordnance Survey Town Plans of England and Wales, 1840s-1890s

10. Charles William Carr, 1871 England Census. Archive reference: RG10; RD Wakefield; Sub district St. Sandal; Piece No. 4615; Folio 83; Page 37; Schedule 212, digital image, Find My Past. England, Wales & Scotland Census. Original held by The National Archives, Kew, London. Record Transcription: 1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk

11. Charles William Carr, 1881 England Census. Archive reference: RG11; RD Wakefield; Sub district St. Wakefield; Piece No. 4576; Folio 16; Page 25; Schedule 120. Record Transcription: 1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk

12. Celebrating Wakefield, Amberley Publishing 2023, Paul l. Dawson, page 21.

13. Charles William Carr & Rose Ann Squire Marriage, Parish Marriage Register St. John the Baptist, Wakefield, 1882, Page 191. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England , Marriages & Banns, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by West Yorkshire Archives. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935 - Ancestry.co.uk

14. Madelene Carr Birth, Jul-Sep 1883. FreeBMD , Civil registration database. Wakefield, Vol 9c, Page 49. FreeBMD - Search

15. Charles William Carr, 1891 England Census. Archive reference: RG12; RD Wakefield; Sub district Wakefield; ED1; Piece No. 3748; Folio 12; Page 17; Schedule 99. Record Transcription: 1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk

16. Ordnance Survey Map, SE3221SE-A. 16 by 16 inches, Surveyed 1953, Published 1954. Digital image, National Library of Scotland. View map: Ordnance Survey, SE3221SE - A - Ordnance Survey 1:1250 scale map - Ordnance Survey National Grid Maps, 1940s-1970s

17. Photo of 4 Newstead Road, Wakefield, May 2025. Original by Ancestral Enquiries.

18. Leeds Mercury, 31st July 1891, page 5. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Leeds Mercury 31 July 1891 Page 5 | findmypast.co.uk

19. Sheffield Independent, 31st July 1891, page 7. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Sheffield Independent 31 July 1891 Page 7 | findmypast.co.uk

20. Cellulitis and erysipelas. British Association of Dermatologists British Association of Dermatologists

21. Esau Carr, 1891. England & Wales National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills & Administrations), 1858-1998. Original data: Principal Probate Registry. Digital image, Ancestry. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 - Ancestry.co.uk

22. Edwin Percy Carr Death, Jan-Mar 1890. General Register Office. Wakefield, Vol 9c, Page 38. FreeBMD - Search

23. Ancestral Trails, Sutton Publishing, 2005, Mark Herber. Wills and Administrations, page 217.

24. Wakefield and West Riding Herald, 11th February 1893, page 8. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Wakefield and West Riding Herald 11 February 1893 Page 8 | findmypast.co.uk

25. Pemberton House, 122 Westgate, David Scriven, Wakefield Research Group, Wakefield Historical Society, 2022, Page 10 & 11 The Elephant and Castle A5

26. Photo of Pemberton House, Westgate, Wakefield, June 2025. Original by Ancestral Enquiries.

27. Photo of Pemberton House blue plaque, Wakefield. Wakefield Civic Society, June 2025. Original by Ancestral Enquiries.

28. Wakefield and West Riding Herald, 22nd February 1896, page 8. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Wakefield and West Riding Herald 22 February 1896 Page 8 | findmypast.co.uk

29. Charles William Carr, Milton Street, 1895, page 14. West Yorkshire, England Electoral Registers, 1840-1962. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962 - Ancestry.co.uk

30. Charles William Carr, Bragg Lane End, 1899, page 15. West Yorkshire, England Electoral Registers, 1840-1962. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962 - Ancestry.co.uk

31. Charles William Carr, Daw Green, 1900, page 12. West Yorkshire, England Electoral Registers, 1840-1962. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962 - Ancestry.co.uk

32. Charles William Carr, 1901 England Census. Archive reference: RG13; RDWakefield; SDWakefield; ED1; Piece No. 4284; Folio 11; Page 14; Schedule 76. Record Transcription: 1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk

33. Leeds Mercury, 12th December 1906, page 3. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Leeds Mercury 12 December 1906 Page 3 | findmypast.co.uk

34. Charles William Carr, 1911 England Census. Archive reference: RG14; RD504; SD4; ED1; Piece No. 27377; Schedule 170. Record Transcription: 1911 Census For England & Wales | findmypast.co.uk

35. Wakefield & West Riding Herald, 23rd December 1911, page 2. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Wakefield and West Riding Herald 23 December 1911 Page 2 | findmypast.co.uk

36. Madelene Carr & Francis Norman Whiteley Marriage, 1913. India Select Marriages, 1792-1948, FHL Film No: 527902. Original data: India, Marriages, 1792-1948. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013. India, Select Marriages, 1792-1948 - Ancestry.co.uk

37. Madelene Whiteley Death & Burial, 1917. India Select Deaths & Burials, 1719-1948. FHM Film No. 463382.Original data: India Deaths and Burials, 1719-1948. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.: FamilySearch, 2013. India, Select Deaths and Burials, 1719-1948 - Ancestry.co.uk

38. Francis Norman Whiteley, 1901 England Census. Archive reference: RG13; RDWakefield; SDWakefield; ED1; Piece No. 4284; Folio 14; Page 20; Schedule 114. Record Transcription: 1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk

39. Francis Norman Whiteley, 1911 England Census. Archive reference: RG14; RD7; SD3; ED23; Piece No. 577; Schedule 1. Record Transcription: 1911 Census For England & Wales | findmypast.co.uk

40. Charles William Carr, 1921 England Census. Archive reference: RG15; RD504; SD4; ED1; Piece No. 22480; Schedule 290. Record Transcription: 1921 Census Of England & Wales | findmypast.co.uk

41. Charles William Carr, Death, Jan-Mar 1937. General Register Office. Wakefield, Vol 9c, Page 87. www.gro.gov.uk

42. Leeds Mercury, 1937, 16th March 1937, page 6. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Leeds Mercury 16 March 1937 Page 6 | findmypast.co.uk

43. Wakefield Express, 16th March 2018. Flower society has to call time after 140 years

44. Charles William Carr, 1937. England & Wales National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills & Administrations), 1858-1998. Original data: Principal Probate Registry. Digital image, Ancestry. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 - Ancestry.co.uk

45. Rose Ann Carr, 1939 Register. Archive reference RG101; ED: JBGA; Schedule No. 44; Sub Schedule No. 3; Item No. 4; Line No. 42. digital image, Find My Past. Original held The National Archives, Kew, London. Record Transcription: 1939 Register | findmypast.co.uk

46. Rose Ann Carr Death, Oct-Dec 1941. FreeBMD , Civil registration database. Lincoln Vol 7a, Page 934. FreeBMD - Search