In 1709, at Kirkburn, Yorkshire, our Bielby family had unprecedented grief to endure. In somewhat typical manner of parish records, no detailed causes of death were entered into the notes. However, a simple takeaway was plenty of misery. On August 28 1709 the records noted that Elizabeth Bielby, the wife of Joseph, was buried. Then on November 8 1709 the same records listed the burial of Joseph Bielby. So, from this turn of events there were 6 children, Mary, Michael, Elizabeth, Peter and Jonathon, left as orphans.
Fortunately, the Kirkburn parish stepped in and helped out. A few years later circa 1715, our Peter Bielby, was set up with an apprenticeship as a shoemaker, but that’s a blog for another day.
