John Whiteley – aka John Almighty and Boniface John – was born at Longbottom, Luddendenfoot [25th March 1788].
He was the son of John Whiteley, and the brother of Tabitha Whiteley.
He became Constable at Sowerby where he described himself as
a lynx-eyed thief catcher
He was a woollen spinner [1810]; an auctioneer; a policeman; an author; a hedge-lawyer; a lay preacher; a supporter of Boulderclough Chapel.
On 12th June 1810, he married Alice, the widow of Captain Jennings, the landlady of the Inn who was much older than he. They married at Halifax Parish Church. Thus, in 1810, he became landlord of the Star Inn, Sowerby.
Children:
He preached sermons in an upper room at the Star Inn – popularly called The Star Chamber – where he used a postboy's wooden box as a pulpit. During these meetings, some of the congregation went downstairs to drink.
In 1824, there was an attempt to murder Whiteley,
that most vigilant of all constables
Newspaper reports told how, about 1:00 am on Saturday, 24th July 1824, Whiteley was roused from his bed by a knocking at the door of his lodgings. Leaning out of his window, he saw a man with his left hand covering his face and heard a feigned voice saying
Sir, I am a friend, come to tell you an important secret, and that is, I know where the 3 men now are whom you have been seeking for so long; but, if you drop the searching altogether, it will be better for you; and I further tell you, that you may get a larger sum of money if you will not produce the stolen goods at the next York Assizes
Whiteley said that he was disposed to do his duty, and the man replied
and so do I
and fired at Whiteley with a double-barrelled pistol, but missed Whiteley who had withdrawn. He pursued the villain without success. On the following Wednesday evening Whiteley's valuable house dog was stolen.
He announced that he would deliver a sermon at 6:00 pm on 5th September 1824,
at which time and place it is hoped that all murderous thieves will attend to receive edification, which the forthcoming discourse will unquestionably impart
Around 1830, Whiteley was prosecuted at York, charged with supplying liquor during prohibited hours on a Sunday. He defended himself and was acquitted.
In 1832, he offered to stand as Whig MP for Halifax.
After a long and painful illness, Alice died on Thursday 9th May 1833. The Leeds Mercury described her as
of a charitable and humane disposition, and by her death many persons have lost a benevolent and kind friend. For a long period, she has been a pious Christian, and at last died happy in the Lord
In July 1833, Whiteley he advertised in the Halifax Guardian for a wife, declaring that he was
in immediate want of a real good handsome prime wife
His generous nature – and his new wife – resulted in his falling on bad times.
In 1837, he rebuilt a cottage next to the pub to hold preaching meetings. During these meetings, the sale of liquor ceased at the pub.
In November 1837, he was charged with stealing £250 from James Barraclough of Sowerby. He was acquitted of felony, but the case was tried as a civil cause at York.
In December 1843, he announced that he was giving a good dinner to 300 of his friends and that he had invited 300 more. In a report on the event, on 13th January 1844, The Leeds General Advertiser said that they would have to decline his invitation, and added
he cannot do less than send us a hare for thus advertising his generosity, not that we would at all insinuate that he has anything to do with poaching; far from it. His other vocations of inn-keeper, auctioneer, and preacher would preclude him from enjoying The delights of a shiny night
In 1849, he fell into debt and sold the Star Inn and moved to live at Mill Bank.
In 1852, he was admitted to Halifax Workhouse where he died at the age of 70, in 1858. An obituary in The Leeds Mercury described him as
a strange character, and though of decidedly weak intellect, was crafty and cunning. He was once very well to do in the world, and was not over scrupulous as to what he said and did. For some years, he has been in the depth of poverty, ending his miserable life in the workhouse
His portrait at the Star Inn is said to be the focus of supernatural happenings
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Malcolm Bull 2017 /
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Revised 21:32 on 8th August 2017 / qq_165 / 9
