George Wainwright

[Bayleaf]

While doing some research on the Porter Valley recently, I came across this item.

George Wainwright of Whiteley Wood

Born 1714 at Bamford, George learned the trade of weaving and moved to Dronfield in 1739 where he lived until 1743. He then moved to Totley, and in 1744 married Hannah Camm. He lived most of his life at Totley, where he assisted visiting Methodist preachers, who originally preached outdoors, but he soon invited them to use his house.

He then moved to Whiteley Wood. Quote from the Sheffield Iris of 25th April 1805 – “ We are informed that there is now living at Whiteley Wood, near this town, a man called George Wainwright, in the 100th year of his age. He is a weaver and works at his trade, is stout and hearty, and can walk faster than most young men, is not short of breath, but is likely to live as long again as he has done”. (They were 9 years out, but there was only George to remember, and he obviously had lost count!)

During the last years of his life it was customary for someone to provide a repast for himself and his descendants on the anniversary of his birthday as a tribute of respect to his age and character.

The last of these was on Sunday 28th January 1821, and assumed something like a parochial festival. He died on 15th April 1821, and left 5 children, 28 grandchildren, 78 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, a total of 113 living descendants!

[ in Drury, Charles; A Sheaf of Essays by a Sheffield Antiquary, Northend, 1929]