The Towlers were another fertile family. Bartholomew Bentley Towler and his wife Ann Marsden had at least seven children, with little James being the last. James was less than 7 days old when he died in May 1842 and was buried in the infants’ corner, EX21. Their daughter Betty Marsden died in 1843, aged 20 and is buried nearby in EX15.
Bartholomew and his sons worked as agricultural labourers, living in Upper Settle where cheaper housing was available. On 5th January 1866, wife Ann, aged 68, was beaten up by Joseph Young settleresearch@gmail.com 8 Settle Graveyard Project as she intervened between him and his poor wife Elizabeth. Joseph was pulling his wife into the street by her hair. ‘Mrs Towler went to the rescue and struck the prisoner with a stocking she had in her hand, whereupon the prisoner turned upon her and kicked her.’ Dr John Simpson found some of the small bones of Ann’s ankle broken and continued to treat her for the next month. When questioned, wife Elizabeth charitably said that he was ‘generally a good husband except when under the influence of drink’ — some things never change.
The shock of this attack may have affected Bartholomew who died in the middle of February, just five weeks later, aged 70. Ann lived another 12 years before she died, aged 80. Bartholomew, Ann and their 25 year old son William are all buried somewhere in the Ancient graveyard, hopefully near daughter Betty and infant son James.