The Minor Family of Somerset

Of Ovendon Hall
Halifax Antiquarian Society, 1925 "Excursion to Ovenden Hall"
On June 18th, 1651, William's name is replaced by that of his so
n, Joseph Fourness.
Joseph Furness was born in 1603, and was thus 48 years old whe
n he came into possession of the Ovenden Hall Estate. As he wa
s one of the leadingmen of this neighbourHood during the Civi
l War and Commonwealth periods a more extended notice will be ne
cessary.
The following paragraph from the Memoirs of Jonathan Priestley
, of Winteredge, sheds a flood of light on the early career of J
oseph Furness. SpeaKing of his brother, John Priestley, he says
, -
"after he was taken from school, and a good hand of writing, an
d welltaught in arithmetics, he was put an apprentice to John M
itchell, being partner with Robert Hall; they did keep a facto
r in Blackwell Hall in London. After my brother had been some t
ime employed in business in the country, his master found him s
o ingenious and capable of business, he sent him to London toMr
. Joseph Fourness, who was their factor in Blackwell Hall at tha
t time.After Mr. Fourness had given him an induction into busi
ness and saw him fit to manage the trade there, he came down int
o the country and was admitted by John Mitchell and Robert Hal
l a partner in the trade."
"My brother John carried on the trade at London, to the great sa
tisfaction and advantage of the three partners. John Mitchell d
ied and left only two daughters, Mary and Hannah; he left eithe
r of them 800 pound sto their portions and gave charge on hisde
ath bed to his daughter Hannah to marry no other but John Priest
ley. Mr.Joseph Fourness married Ephon, widow of John Mitchel
, and some time after Hannah Mitchel, according to her father'
s mind and will, was married to my brother John at Halifax and p
resently returned to London and lived several yearsin Basinghal
l Street."
"Joseph Furness apparently lived at Booth Town duringthe lifeti
me of his first wife, but immediately upon her death moved to Ov
enden Hall, and it was here that he brought his second bride. t
his second marriage coincided with the eclipse of the Commonwalt
h, which event ended his public career, and his energies were he
nceforth directed into o ther channels.His first wife bore hi
m no children, but his second brought with her the two childre
n of James Oates, and the year after presented him with twins
. Probably it was this sudden acquisition of a fair sized famil
y which made it necessary for him to consider the housing questi
on for the present stately mansion was built at this time, beari
ng the date 1662. The children of Joseph Furness were Martha an
d Mary born 1660-61, Samuel born 1662, John born 1664, died 1680
. Lydia who married John Martin. It is a curious fact that th
e twins were the first children to be baptised in the newly erec
ted font at the parish Church after the Restoration. Martha mar
ried June 14, 1681 John Dunn, the son and heir of Joshua Dunn, m
ercer, of the House at the Maypole in Halifax. Mary married Wil
liam Livesay of Halifax."
"From now onwards Joseph Furness's chief interest seems to be ce
ntred in land and property and he bought upone estate after ano
ther in the Ovenden Township until he had attained quitea consi
derable rent roll."
"Joseph Furness died at Ovenden Hall, March 3, 1676 aged 73 year
s.
There is a puzzling entry in the Northowram Register: "Joseph fo
urnesse, buried at Halifax, March 5, 1696, aged 73"
This however should be read in conjunction with the entry: "Sara
h, wife of Joseph furnasse, buryed at Halifax March 28, 1682"
This Joseph Furness is therefore not Joseph Furness of Ovenden H
all, though the coincidence of date and age is striKing.
Neither Joseph Furness nor his first wife appears to be buried i
nthe family grave at Halifax Church. It is possible that they w
ere both bured at St. Mary's Church, Illingworth. The earlies
t gravestone