Clara Hesketh was born on Febuarary 9, 1877 to Jacob and Aminda (Hinchcliffe) Hesketh in Low Valley, Darfield, Yorkshire, England. Clara had a brother William Hesketh and a sister Alice Hesketh, she also had the folowing half-brothers and sisters Jacob Edger Hesketh, Harrison, Fedrick, Howard, Lesley, Ethel, George, Ida, and Merton. Clara's mother Aminda was born in 1845 in Yorkshire, England, she passed away in Brisbin, PA, the date is unknown.Clara made at least 3 trips across the Atlantic. First in 1880 she departed from Liverpool on the SS British Empire and arrived in the port of Philadelphia on February 14, 1880 with her father Jacob, mother Aminda, sister Alice and brother William. She again crossed the Atlantic from Liverpool in 1887 on the SS British Prince and arrived in Philadelphia on February 5, 1887.
Clara married Henry Lester September 27, 1897 in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania and had eight children (see Henry Lester for thier links). As of 1900 Clara and Henry resided in Rush TWP Phillipsburg which is in Centre county Pennsylvania. At that time they had two children William Henry Two years old and Minta ten months. By 1910 the family had moved and where residing in Croyle TWP, Cambria county Pennsylvania, sadly thier daughter Minta had died but by that time they had four more children, Lucy Elizabeth eight years old, Jacob six, James Patrick four, and Sarah Ellen two months, unfortunetly Sara Ellen would not survive. Clara and Henry had one more child that didn't survive the name is unknown. In 1911 Clara gave birth to thier last child Ingles M. The family resided in South Fork for a number of years then moved to Johnstown, in 1937 the family lived at 412 Ash St. Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Clara outlived Henry by 16 years, and out lived most of her children, she lived to be 91 years old. In the end she lived with her son Jacob Lester on his farm in South Fork. I've been told Clara kept her English accent to the end. Clara (Hesketh) Lester was a loving wife, devoted and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She passed away in Lee Hospital Johnstown, Pennsylvania on October 3, 1967. Clara was survived by her sons Jacob and James, 25 grandchildren, 71 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
Marriage license and application
Wedding article Phillipsburg Daily Journal1937 Johnstown Pennsylvania DirectoryObituary Johnstown Tribune Democrat
William Henry Lester
Minta Lester
Lucy Elizabeth (Lester) Finigan
Jacob Lester
James Patrick Lester
Sarah Ellen Lester
Ingles M. Lester
