William Critchlow (1882-1943)
People in this story: Harriet Phoebe Reeves (née Critchlow) · William Critchlow
William was born to Harriet Phoebe Critchlow (called Phoebe), the youngest daughter of Samuel Critchlow & Ann Shenton. She was an unmarried at the time and working as a dressmaker so William lived his early years with his mum and grand-parents in Cellarhead, Werrington near Wetley Rocks, Staffordshire.
William was 10 years old by the time his mother met and married Thomas Reeves, a coal miner (or hewer “under ground” according to the 1901 census) in 1892. They would go on to have a further 2 daughters, Elizabeth Reeves (1894) and Mary Reeves (1898).
In 1907, William appeared in court and the case was reported in the Staffordshire Evening Sentinel on the 1st August 1907:
The Staffordshire Sentinel (1 August 1907)
LEEK POLICE COURT – WEDNESDAY.
(Before Major-General Phillips and Messrs. A.Ward, JP Sheldon, AS Boucher, R Wright, W Hassall and H Allen)
CRUELY TO A HORSE at Wetley Rocks – Joseph James, cattle dealer, Rownall, Wetley Rocks, William Critchlow, cattle drover, Cellarhead; and Frederick Hughes, butcher, Wetley Rocks, were all charged by Seymour Corbett, Inspector of the R.S.P.C.A., with cruelty to a house at Wetley Rocks on July 10th. Mr. Sword, of Hanley, defended.—The evidence of Beatrice Jane Bettany, of Wetley Rocks, was that on July 10th at 7:50 pm. she was in Mill-lane, Wetley Rocks, when she saw James and Critchlow in a trap. Critchlow was driving and James was beating the horse with a stock or a stick. The horse was going at a furious rate, and was unable to make the turn they wanted. The horse got on a wall, and the men did not get out, but continued to beat the horse, and afterwards the horse fell full length in the road, and James began to kick it. It was eventually got up and went away.—William Turner, gardener, Wetley Rocks, said he saw the men beat the horse in a cruel manner. It went down twice, and on the James threw a coping stone on to the ribs of the horse.—Frank Weaver, Heath House, Cheddleton, said he saw both Critchlow and Hughes beat the horse, and that there was a lot of blood on the road.—P.C. Stanford said he saw James and Critchlow driving at 7 o’clock on the evening of July 10th, and when he received the complaints he went to James’ farm and Critchlow showed him another horse. He afterwards tried to find the horse and Critchlow advertised tor the horse which was alleged to be lost.—The horse was produced and was inspected by the Bench.—James, the defendant, said the horse went all right until they were returning from Leek Market, and it then plunged and threw itself at Leekbrook. At Mill Lane, Wetley Rocks, the horse again threw itself down, but he did not strike the horse. Critchlow only used the whip.—The other defendants corroborated.—Mr. Sword submitted for the defence that the defendants only treated the horse in the manner which other people would have treated a vicious animal. The Chairman thanked Miss Bettany for coming forward and giving evidence.—James and Critchlow were each fined £5 and costs or two months hard labour; Hughes was fined 10s. without costs.
By 1911, William had moved to board in a house in Rose Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent and was working as a coke works labourer but by 1921, William had moved backt to Wetley Rocks and was working as a Farm Hand doing general work with the farmer Eliz Whithurst at Overmoor Farm, Cellarhead, living on the farm.
In his farm work, William was responsible for cows and occasionally had to move them from one field to another. In 1933, an incident occurred when a car drove into his herd (reported amongst a range of motorcar incidents in the Staffordshire Evening Sentinel!):
The Evening Sentinel (7th April 1933)
RAN INTO COWS
Driver’s View Obscured By Lorry
William Bullock, aged 20, of 16, James Street, Bucknall, was fined £2, and ordered to pay £1 special costs, when summoned at Stoke today, before the Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate Mr. Bertram C. Brough, for driving a motor-van without due care and attention on March 13th. Defendant did not appear.
Superintendent C.A. Clarke said the prosecution was the result of a collision with two cows at Ash Bank, Werrington. Defendant was on his correct side of the road, and coming towards him were some cattle. When defendant approached the cattle, one of the drovers held up his hand for defendant to stop, but defendant took no notice of the signal and crashed into two of the cattle, knocking one over and injuring the other. Defendant would have a clear view of about 60 yards before reaching the cattle. In a statement to the police, the Superintendent added, defendant said that there were 12 to 15 beasts all across the road. He immediately applied his brakes, the statement proceeded and was almost at a standstill when the near-side front mudguard and headlamp caught a red cow which was almost square across the road. The cow was not knocked down and did not appear to be injured in any way. A motor-lorry which was stationary on the road, prevented his swerving to avoid the cow. Had the lorry not been there, he might have avoided the cows, the statement concluded.
Evidence in support of the opening statement was given by Police-constable James and William Critchlow. The latter. who was assisting to drive the cattle, said two cows were injured, but not badly.
Mr. Brough said he had read a letter sent by defendant.
William was not out of the papers long and in 1936, he was in trouble for trying to move a cow with tuberculous:
The Evening Sentinel (15th October 1936)
FAILURE TO REPORT COW’S CONDITION
Five Defendants Fined at Leek For failing to report a tubercular cow, five persons were summoned at the Leek Police Court, yesterday.
The defendants, all of whom pleaded Not Guilty, were fined as follow: John Jennings, of Brookhouse-lane, Bucknall, 10s.; William Critchlow, of Cellarhead, Werrington, £1; Thomas Blakeman, of Folly-lane, Cheddleton, £3; Joseph Cantrell, of New House Farm, Rushion, £5; and George Smith, of Red Earth Farm, Rudyard, £3.
For failing to record the movement of the animal Blakeman was tined £1, and similar summons against Jennings was dismissed on payment of 4s. costs. A summons against Critchlow for failing to report the movement of the cow was dismissed, and a similar, summons against Cantrell was with-drawn.
Defendants were each ordered to pay £1 9s. 6d. costs in connection with the cases of failing to report a tubercular cow.
Evidence was given that since July 8th. the cow had as some time been in possession of one or other of the defendants.
All the defendants said that they thought the cow was in order and all right when they had it.
In the 1939 Electoral Roll, William was still working as a farm labourer and in that same year, his mother Phoebe Reeves died at the age of 79 years old. A mere 4 years later on 19th January 1943 at the age of 60, William died at 41 Bank Street, Cheadle of Chronic Nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys). He lived within the Wetley Rocks area for most of his life.