John Robert Hallam of Highgate Farm, Hayfield, Derbyshire, 1891-1960
John Robert Hallam was born on 1 Apr 1891 at Naze Farm, Chinley, the eldest child of Joseph Hallam, a fifth generation blacksmith, and his wife Frances Ann nee Gregory. The couple had married the previous December, when Frances was five months pregnant. His middle name presumably came from his maternal grandfather Robert Yates, and there was a long tradition of the name John in the Hallam family.
Soon after their marriage John's parents separated and John grew up with his mother Frances and grandmother Mary Gregory at Naze Farm, and later with Frances and her uncle William Yates at Gorsty Low Farm, Chinley. His father was a journeyman blacksmitth and in 1901, when John Robert was 10 years old, he lived in Wiltshire. As such, John Robert had little contact with his father when growing up. It is not known whether John Robert attended the funeral of his grandfather Joseph at Chinley Independent Chapel in 1910 - but if he did there was perhaps the awkward circumstance of seeing his father there for the first time in a long time.
John Robert's younger brother Frank fought in World War I, but by 1914 John Robert had married Clara Ruth Cooper and was farming with her family at nearby Highgate Head Farm, in Hayfield. As a result, John would have been exempt from conscription. The couple had three children between 1916 and 1925 and lived at Highgate Head Farm for the rest of their lives.
John Robert was a keen shepherd, a tradition that continued with his son. In 1937 he was a member of the Shepherds Society.
John Robert died on 21 Dec 1960 at Highgate Head Farm and was buried at Hayfield cemetery. His wife Clara died five years later and was buried with him. Their two unmarried children were buried with them: John Joseph (Jack) in 1967 and Mary Cooper in 1994.
Soon after their marriage John's parents separated and John grew up with his mother Frances and grandmother Mary Gregory at Naze Farm, and later with Frances and her uncle William Yates at Gorsty Low Farm, Chinley. His father was a journeyman blacksmitth and in 1901, when John Robert was 10 years old, he lived in Wiltshire. As such, John Robert had little contact with his father when growing up. It is not known whether John Robert attended the funeral of his grandfather Joseph at Chinley Independent Chapel in 1910 - but if he did there was perhaps the awkward circumstance of seeing his father there for the first time in a long time.
John Robert's younger brother Frank fought in World War I, but by 1914 John Robert had married Clara Ruth Cooper and was farming with her family at nearby Highgate Head Farm, in Hayfield. As a result, John would have been exempt from conscription. The couple had three children between 1916 and 1925 and lived at Highgate Head Farm for the rest of their lives.
John Robert was a keen shepherd, a tradition that continued with his son. In 1937 he was a member of the Shepherds Society.
John Robert died on 21 Dec 1960 at Highgate Head Farm and was buried at Hayfield cemetery. His wife Clara died five years later and was buried with him. Their two unmarried children were buried with them: John Joseph (Jack) in 1967 and Mary Cooper in 1994.