The distinctive steeple-shaped monument in Section3 of the cemetery marks the resting place of the Claughton family.
James Claughton was born in Esholt in May 1818, the son of John and Mary Claughton. By 1851 the family had settled
in Chapel Street, Eccleshill, where James then aged 32 was working as a school master.
In 1849 James married Sarah Ann Turner and their early years together were marked by the loss of three infant daughters.
They went on to have two sons; Jonathan and Nathaniel, but tragedy struck again, when Nathaniel died in 1870 at just
thirteen years old. His mother, Sarah Ann herself died young in 1859.
James remarried in 1863 to Elizabeth Armstrong, a teacher from Kirkstall. Together, they made their
home at Moorfield Terrace in Eccleshill and had one son together, John.
James taught for many years at the at the Salem Congregational Chapel’s Day School. In 1864 he resigned his post
to take charge of the old school on Idle Road (it is unclear from records which school this is). Alongside his day job,
he served for many years as a Congregational teacher in Eccleshill. Their last home was on Ebenezer Street, Eccleshill,
the place where Elizabeth died in 1886 and James in 1890.
Section 3 F 13,14,15