The New Zealand Connection

An interesting email was received recently - from New Zealand!. Helen Smith was researching her ancestors and, through our website, found burial & grave details of her gr gr gr grandparents Alice and John Backhouse and their son George.

John was born in Armley and baptised 6 Mar 1791 at St Peter Leeds. He was a farmer and maltster. In 1851 he lived at Springwood farm, Roundhay. He died at Burley 16 Nov 1867 and was buried in Roundhay 20 Nov 1867.

Alice (nee Todd) was born in Nosterfield and christened 18 Jan 1795, West Tanfield. She died 10 May 1863 and was buried 13 May 1863 Roundhay. She married John Backhouse on 25 Aug 1821 in East Witton. Their children were John Fletcher (1823-1872), Annie (1825-about 1867), Elizabeth (1827- ), George (1829-1854), Katharine (1833- ), Jane (1833- ), Richard (1835- ), Maria (abt 1839) - all born in Burley, baptised in Headingley and later living in Roundhay.

The story goes that Annie Backhouse, daughter of the above mentioned Alice and John, eloped with the gardener Joshua Smith. She was reputed to be the first woman to graduate from Leeds University. Annie and Joshua Smith had the following children in Roundhay: Catherine (1846), John (1848), Jane (1850), William (1851-1937), Joseph and Thomas. Later in life Annie drowned herself at Kirkstall Abbey. It is believed her suicide would have occurred about 1867.

Alice and John Backhouse's eldest son, John Fletcher Backhouse, emigrated to Australia circa 1851, was employed as a gardener in South Brighton, Victoria, Australia, and died 24 September 1872.