Albert Aloysius PILLEY

  General Notes:

Albert Aloysius Pilley was born in Worksop on 29th September 1840. He was baptised in St. Mary's Catholic Church, Worksop on 18th October 1840. His mother died when he was just 6 years old, and it was just over a year later that his father re-married. He died at Broad Lane, Sheffield on 28th Novemeber 1902, aged 61. He was buried at St Michael's Cemetery, Rivelin, Sheffield on 2nd December 1902, plot JOS Y 82.

He married Sarah Ann Furniss in St. Marie's, Sheffield on 23rd January 1862. Sarah was born in Sheffield on 30th July 1839, the daughter of George and Eliza Furniss. When they married Albert gave his address as 3 Pond Street, Sheffield and his occupation as a book-keeper, Sarah lived at Leadmill Road, Sheffield. She died in 1918 at 3 Oak Villas, Cliffe View Road, Sheffield, where she is recorded as living with her daughter Genevieve in the 1911 census. She was buried at St Michael's cemetery Rivelin on 30th November 1918,

In 1861 when Albert was listed with his parents on the census his occupation was described as a merchant's clerk. Albert, Sarah and their children were listed on the 1871 census at 78 Suffolk Road, Sheffield where Albert was by now a general hardware merchant (partner in Hepworth, Pilley & Co - Cutlery Merchants, General Commission Agents and Importers of Foreign Merchandise). By 1881 they were on the rise and living at 8 Chippinghouse Road with Albert being described as a cutlery manufacturer employing 3 men. He was still a partner of Hepworth, Pilley & Co. of 10 & 12 Market Street, and was so until the company was dissolved by mutual consent in 1882 (to be carried on by two other partners as McClelland Brothers). Sadly, some time later the family fortunes waned, Albert, possibly due to a `double crossing' business partner, faced bankruptcy - his elder children had to help at work at the cutlery workshop and the family had to move. In 1891 they were living at 28 Highfield Place with Albert now described as a cutlery manufacturer and illuminating artist. By the time of the 1901 census Albert is just described as an artist illuminator living at 176 Broad Lane with his wife Sarah and daughters Genevieve (Librarian) and Winefrede. Albert was an organist at St. Marie's Church, Sheffield for many years. He was also a renowned illuminating artist. He had rediscovered the lost art of applying gold to vellum without it peeling off when the vellum is rolled. He produced many significant addresses and scrolls including addresses to commemorate the appreciation of Rev.Cannon Samual Walshaw of St. Marie's, Sheffield (1895), Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubille (1897), the opening of Sheffield Town Hall by Queen Victoria (1897) and John Ruskin's 80th Birthday (1899). He passed this skill on to his daughter Vieva (Constance Genevieve) and they worked together to produce a number of works.

  Burial Notes:

Grave number Jos Y 82

  Noted events in his life were:

• Residence: Relationship: Head, 1871, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England.

• Residence: Marital Status: MarriedRelationship to Head: Head, 1881, Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorkshire, England.

• Residence: Relation to Head: Head, 1891, Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorkshire, England.

• Residence: Relation to Head of House: Head, 1901, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England.

Albert married Sarah Ann FURNISS, daughter of George FURNISS and Eliza CLARK, on 23 Jan 1862 in St Marie's, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. (Sarah Ann FURNISS was born on 31 Jul 1839 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, died on 26 Nov 1918 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England and was buried on 30 Nov 1918 in St Michael's Cemetery, Rivelin, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England.)