Joseph Pearson

     Joseph Pearson was buried at Upper and Lower Wortley Cemetery, Wortley, West Yorkshire, England.¹ He was born on 27 November 1801 at Wortley, Yorkshire, England.^2,3,4 He was the son of James Pearson and Sarah Cliffe. Joseph Pearson married Mary Dean, daughter of Joseph Dean and Margaret Foyer?, on 10 June 1824 at St Peter's, Leeds, Yorkshire, England; Joseph Pearson was a clothier when they married. Witnesses were John Hartley and Robert Hargrave.^2,5 Joseph Pearson died on 13 December 1885 at Armley, Yorkshire, England, at age 84; His grave indicates he was 85 years old upon his death, and also that he as a Wesleyan local preacher for 63 yers.^1,2 His estate was probated on 23 December 1886 at Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; "The Will of Joseph Pearson, late of Armley in the Borough of Leeds in the County of York who died 13 December 1886 at Armley was proved at Wakefield by Joseph Dean Pearson of Bludellsands in the city of Liverpool, Agent for a Firebrick Company and James Cliff Pearson of Cookridge-street Leeds, Rent Collector, the sons the Executors."⁶
     He appeared on the census of 1841 at Wortley, Yorkshire, England; Joseph Pearson, 35, brickmaker, Mary, 40, Joseph, 11, woolen dresser, Mary, 9, Sarah, 15, James, 4, James Deane, 20, woolen carder, and James Clay, 35, groom.⁷ He appeared on the census of 1851 at Wortley, Yorkshire, England; Joseph Pearson, 49, b. Wortley; Mary 50, Sarah 25, Mary, 19, James C., 14, all b. Leeds, and Mat D., 8, b. Wortley.⁴ He witnessed the marriage of Mary Towler and Joseph Dean on 16 August 1851 at St Peter's, Leeds, Yorkshire, England; The marriage certificate lists that Joseph was 36 and Mary was 26, both residing in Wortley. Witnesses were Joseph and Mary Pearson.
By 1861, Joseph was a widower.⁸ Joseph Pearson appeared on the census of 1861 at Armley, Yorkshire, England; Joseph Pearson, 59, brick maker, Wortley, Mary, 60, b. Leeds, William Scott, son-in-law, 19, wood pattern maker, Margaret A. Scott, dau, 18, and granddaughter Emily, 1 mo, b. Armley. Also in their household were Emma Pearson, 28, dau-in-law, and granddaughters, Mary E. Pearson, 7, b. Armley, and Eliza, 5, b. Wortley. Emma was listed as married.⁹ He appeared on the census of 1871 at Armley, Yorkshire, England; Joseph Pearson, 69, b. Wortley, and Mary, 70, b. Leeds, along with granddaughter, Emily Scott, 10. Emily was daughter of Wolliam Scott and Margaret Ann Foyer Pearson.¹⁰ He appeared on the census of 1881 at Armley, Yorkshire, England; Joseph Pearson was listed as father-in-law and a widow in 1881, aged 79 years. He was residing with William Rhodes 54, wife Mary, 49, b. Leeds, and Frederick, 21, an architect.¹¹