| 2. | James Shepley Chatterton was born on 12 Mar 1839 in Kerridge, Cheshire, England (son of Joseph Chatterton and Hannah Cheadle Shepley); died in 1929 in Bury, Lancashire. Notes:
Census;
1841, Bollington, Cheshire, Age 2. (41-30)
1851, Lord Street, Bollington, Cheshire, son, age 12. Cotton Worker. (51-37)
1861 The Pickel, Wedgwood, Staffordshire. Lodger (m). age 22. Colliery, Banksman (61-299)
1871 65 South Garden Street, Bury, Lancs. Head (m). age 32. Woolen Warehouseman (71-255)
1881 9 Canning Street, Moorside, Bury. Lancs. Head (m). age 42. Warehouse Textiles. (81-272)
1891 3 New Vernon Street, Moorside, Bury. Head (m). age 52. Prudential Assurance Agent. (91-232)
1901 4a Vernon Street, Moorside, Bury. Lancs Head (m). age 62. Commision Agent (own Acc). (01-271)
After his father Joseph died, James moved to Bury and found work as a carrier with a Horse & Cart between Bury & Manchester.
James married for the first time at St Johns Church Bollington, to Mary Bowyer,
James & Eliza had 11 children (3 died in Infancy). At the age of 60 he retired to Greenmount, Bury. He Became known as the "Milestone KIng". He was so Called because each year on his birthday a poem appeared in the Bury Times marking the milestone in his life. he submitted his last poem at the age of 90 as he lay on his deathbed. He gave instructions that if he lived untill his birthday it was to be published. If not it was to be destroyed. He died on his ninetieth birthday and it was printed.
He and Eliza are buried in the United Reform Church Graveyard in Bury.
The poems below are transcribed from an old typewritten copy of his own words
WHITE NANCY
J S Chatterton, Greenmount, Bury
Once a year I have climbed this hill for years past. I climbed it again on July 8th 1919 when the following lines were suggested.
Once again I have called on Miss Nancy
Once again I have climbed up this hill
And although my age is oe'r eighty
I have the strength to climb it still.
Its years since I left this dear village
Yet sometimes I visit it still
And climb up this hill to see Nancy
Dear Nancy on top of the hill
As I sit on Miss Nancy's doorstep
I can hear the church bells chime
And looking across the valley
There's a scene that's almost sublime.
Before me is the Vale of Ingle
On my right are the Rainow Hills
And along the beautiful valley
Are meadows and murmuring rills.
On my left is the dear little cottage
Where my eyes first saw the light
And the mill where I went top labour
From early morning ?til late at night.
I can see the place where a battle
I fought with a village lad
And the fields where happy hours
Were spent with my mother and dad
I can see the hill called Beston
Higher up the hill called Nab
And away in the distance Pot Shrigley
Where the bluebells are to be had.
Then again I see Billinge and Harrop
With their rustic and rural life
Far away from the noise of the village
With its struggles and daily strife
It's a pretty stiff climb up to Nancy
But you're amply repaid when you're there
For I think a more beautiful pictures
There cannot be found anywhere.
As I look on the scene before me
What memories each scene revives
Scenes where the dramas of life were acted
But of the actors but few survives.
Now as I sit upon Nancy's doorstep
And thing that this visit may be
The last I may pay to Nancy
And the last of these views I shall see
And I feel just a tinge of sorrow
And imagine I hear the refrain
That some dear this dear old Nancy
Will be only remembered by name
For she in the course of nature
Will one day just crumble and fall
For the signs of decay are upon her
And she's going the way of us all
But I'm sorry she's so much neglected
While standing up here in the cold
I think she deserves better treatment
If only because she is old.
J S Chatterton, Greenmount, Bury
James,s Last Poem:
ANOTHER MILESTONE
J S Chatterton, Greenmount, Bury
Ninety miles I have come on my journey
Another mile to the past has now gone
And the next ah the next if I reach it
Will be the milestone of life ninety-one
The last mile it has been rather trying
And has put all my strength to the test
But I'll stay here awhile by the milestone
And take some refreshment and rest
I wonder sometimes how much further
On life's journey I still have to go
But I can't lift the veil of the future
For that is God's secret you know
I know I can't trip it so lightly
As I could at my three score and ten
For I've had to bear some heavy trials
And I've been to the furnace since then
But I've weathered the storms and survived them
For there's always been one by my side
Who has promised He never will leave me
And strength for each day will provide
Yea! I've braved many storms on my journey
But old oak is beginning to bend
And I look for the light in the window
And I ling for the rest in the end
For when my life's journey is ended
A new life to me will be given
A life not measured in milestones
For there are no milestones in heaven.
J S Chatterton
Written for his 90th birthday milestone, 12th March 1929, the day he passed away.
(Read James Sheply Chatterton 1839-1929 The Milestone King History & Photo of him & Eliza *Obit 1/4)
Birth:
James was born at 4 .20 am, in the cottage attached to Adshead Farm House, at the top of Lord Street, kerridge
James married Eliza Hayes in 1868 in Prestbury, Cheshire. Eliza (daughter of John Hayes and Lydia (?) Hayes) was born in 1846 in Bollington, Cheshire, England; died in 1926 in Bury. Lancashire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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1869 - 1942 (73 years)
