Newsletter of the Haskell Family Society, Vol 3 # 2, Page 3
PC William Haskell
By Ann Haskell
extractWilliam Haskell was born 29 June 1851 in Groveley (near Barford St. Martin) in Wiltshire. He died on 9 January 1911 and was interred at Undercliffe Cemetery in Queensbury, Yorkshire, his last address being presumably at 40, Chapel Lane, Queensbury. During 1900-1901 he was at the Crown Inn in North Wing, Bradford, and in 1895 lived at Nelson Place in Morley, Yorkshire. His wife, Leah (Humby. b 1852), died in nearby Dewsbury on 1 January 1895 and was interred at St. Peter's Churchyard.
William is known to have left Groveley at the beginning of the 1870's. His police service record (kindly supplied by the West Yorkshire Police Community Affairs Department. P.O. Box 9, Wakefield) states that PC 670 Haskell joined the and was pensioned from the force on January 1899. The record shows that William joined the force at age 22 years, 4 months. William was stationed at East Morley, West. Morley and Dewsbury, Yorks. On 10 February 1874 he suffered a slight blow to the head in a Barnsley election riot, and on 11 October 1884 the fingers of his left hand were crushed when a flagpole fell on him.
On 1 March 1874 William's police service rank advanced from grade 3 to grade 2 and on 1 June 1874 from grade 2 to grade 1. On December 1880 he was appointed to a good conduct medal and on 21 July 1887 promoted to Sergeant. Nine years later his luck apparently turned, and on 15 December 1896 for unexplained reasons he was reduced from Sergeant to First Class Constable and deprived of his good conduct medal. On 1 January 1899 he was pensioned from the force at the rate of £50 18.4d. per annum.
A record of William's will, located by our historian at Somerset House, London, shows the effects of his estate to be valued at £26.4.7d, and that William has married for a third time. The entry reads:
William Haskell, 40, Chapel Lane, Queensbury, Yorks. Will dated 17/12/1910. Proved at Wakefield 20/2/1911 by Sarah Elizabeth Haskell, relict."
Executors to be Herbert Heap and my wife Sarah Elizabeth Haskell. To my daughter, Mrs Clarisa Mary Francis, my sewing machine and my small bedstead, bed and bed clothes belonging thereto. To my son Ernest William Haskell all my personal clothing. To my sons, Edgar Percy Haskell and Charlie Haskell, each a wooden clothes box respectively. Residue in trust for my wife Sarah Elizabeth Haskell, and at her death to my son Charlie Haskell.
Signed by testator. Witnesses: Robert Alfred Drake, Schoolmaster, Queensbury, and David Spencer, 55 High St., Queensbury,
Of the ten children known to have been born to William and Leah Haskell only four survived their father. William died at age 59 years.