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Black Bull Inn, Millbridge, Liversedge. Owned by Samuel Middlebrook and subsequently John Middlebrook

John Middlebrook

1812-1866

 

John Middlebrook was born on the 20th July 1812 in Morely, Yorkshire to Samuel and Hannah Middlebrook ( nee Nicholson) and was baptised on August 30 of that year at Batley All Saints.

John was the 4th of 5 children, and eldest son  of Samuel and Hannah Middlebrook.  It appears John may have spent his early adult years in the Army if the census records of 1841 are to be believed. - he is living with father Samuel at the Black Bull Inn but his occupation is stated as "Army" . By 1847, though when he married Ellen Farrer of Pontefract, he is recorded as a "Spirit Merchant". His father, recently deceased had left the Black Bull Inn to John. 

John remains at the Black Bull, running the pub until the family emigrate to New Zealand.
We are unsure why they decided to leave an established business and travel half way around the world to make a new life, but there are hints in  stories past down through the family, that John had become increasingly interested in the Wesleyan Church and the beliefs therein were that bringing up your family in the atmosphere of a pub was not conducive to a good moral upbringing. 

Whatever the reason, John and Ellen and their 7 children ( the eldest, Ellen having died in 1857) boarded the White Wings Vessel Shalimar in August 1862 and sailed first to Melbourne, and then on to Auckland arriving in December of that year.

They purchased land in Whangarei, and also in the Matakohe area, but it is clear that John's health was failing as in 1866 there are newspaper advertisements trying to sell the land due to the ill health of the owner.

In 1866 John has a butchers shop in Victoria Street West ( taking the occupation that his father had learned before he purchased the Black Bull, and also the occupation of his grandfather). But sadly, on the 5th of  July 1866, only 3 and a half years after their emigration,  John Middlebrook died of Pulmonary Consumption (Tuberculosis) .

1866 Auckland Street Directory showing John Middlebrook as Butcher in Victoria Street West.

PARENTS OF JOHN MIDDLEBROOK

2010 - present

Hannah Nicholson 1788-1818

2010 - present

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