What a find. I love small-town newspapers. They are a treasure for great stories. A week or so ago I found two great articles for Henry Heap. Henry Heap was my 3x great-grandfather on my maternal line. He lived in Stalybridge, Cheshire, England, in the 1800s. In the 1841 census Henry’s profession was a Publican, in other words he ran a pub.

On 15 October 1870, page 7, column 6, the Ashton Reporter ran the story that Edward Heap of London, Robert Heap of Stalybridge, and Charles Henry Southall of Stayley were claiming a third share of freehold houses in Heap Street, Cocker Hill, Stalybridge. Edward had come up from London specifically for the hearing. They each claiming a third share, was objected to by the Liberals (who are the Liberals?). According to the will of Henry Heap, auctioneer, where the property in question was to be held in trust for sale until sold by the trustees at their discretion. I’m unsure about the terminology of their vote being struck out and the reference to the will “in law does not give the proper qualification, …” I am curious now if and when they may or may not have received their one third share of the property on Heap Street in Staleybridge, England.

Going back a few years, the Manchester Examiner published a piece on May 22, 1847, relating to what they titled, “Extraordinary Proceedings at Stalybridge.” Henry Heap was cause for much head shaking and 😮 (oh my goodness). The facts as reported by the Manchester Examiner. Mr. James Hall, churchwarden, and James Heap traveled from Stalybridge to London with partitions for an investigation into the conduct of Reverend France to be presented to members of parliament. In the meantime Rev. France had appointed Henry Heap as his churchwarden ( the person in charge of church upkeep). Henry Heap went to the James Hall home for the keys to the chapel, but he was refused. Having been refused the keys, he went to the chapel, where he broke open the doors and removed the surplice for cleaning to prepare for Rev. France’s use on the coming Sunday. Apparently for the first time in almost a year. Once the surplice was retrieved Henry secured the chapel once again with “fresh” locks. Mr Hall was called back to Stalybridge, arriving on Saturday evening. Sunday morning Mr. Hall proceeded to the chapel with a blacksmith to remove Henry Heaps’s locks. Henry Heap, along with others (the Examiner called them bailiffs), interrupted them and took possession of the chapel. Mr. Hall asked that they leave, but they refused, and Mr. Hall left to return with reinforcements (“several men”) and removed Henry Heap and his men from the chapel. Mr. Hall and his men appeared to have locked themselves in the chapel until Henry and Mr. Ousey appeared along with Rev. France. Mr. Heap and Mr. Ousey, along with other “bailiffs,” used a “sledge hammer” to open the doors. Not surprisingly, a crowd formed; the chapel was filled with men, women, children, “and dogs barking.” some people were smoking, walking up and down the aisles with their hats on, some cursing and swearing, “and several being intoxicated.” Shortly, Rev. France entered the vestry, donning the surplice, he mounted the pulpit and commenced the reading of prayers amongst the chaos. A several magistrate were sought to resolve the situation but all refused saying that “ the applicants were equally as bad as those they complained of. After the prayers had been read Rev. France left the chapel guarded by some of the police. The Manchester Examiner stated, “The ‘nav vies’ and others who had kept possession, left in the evening.

Upon reading this and the previous article shown, I was so entertained by the chaos that seamed to surround Henry Heap and the goings on in Stalybridge.

I returned to look at my facts on my Henry Heap the Publican, who married Mary Woolley and had three children, yes one was Edward, but was he ever in London? One was Robert and one was my ancestor John Woolley Heap. After Mary died Henry married Eliza Stokes. I have no children found from that marriage. No James Heap. Henry Heap, retired Publican died in 1882. Oops! This Henry Heap died in 1870 and was an auctioneer. This was Not our guy! Oh but what a great story. So glad I found this possible cousin to our Henry. We often find in the same communities due to the tradition of name patterns several individuals with the same name, in the same generation. This requires us to look at all the facts to determine exactly which Henry Heap is being referred to in those records we find. Was our Henry Heap having to explain to friends and acquaintances that no that was not him in the paper but his cousin?

Hope you have a great week,