The Little Listers

In Anne Lister’s generation, there are three siblings who died in infancy. They’re often mentioned in passing when researchers refer to Anne’s immediate family, but often without much detail beyond the dates of their birth and death. This collective profile aims at aggregating in one place what is known about these little Listers.

John Lister (1789 - 1789) 

John Lister was the first child of Captain Jeremy Lister and Rebecca Lister (née Battle). The boy was born in Welton on the 22nd of July 1789. John's birth is mentioned by Jeremy in a letter to his brother James:

"I take the liberty to inform you Mrs Lister got her Bed of a son the 22nd July she recovered very well the first ten days, but I am sorry to say she has not been so well since, indeed she is now very far from being out of danger, I cannot think of leaving her in her present situation" 

7 August 1789, SH:7/JL/88

In a previous letter, Jeremy had reported to James:

"I was happy to find Mrs Lister doing very well and still continues to recover as well as can be expected the little gentleman is a fine fatt lad always hungary which is thought a good sign -" 

30 July 1789, SH:7/JL/87

During a visit to Welton in the summer of 1789, Martha Lister of Shibden Hall wrote back to her brother James and said John is "like Nancy" (Anne Lister senior, SH:3/LL/273). Jeremy would then also give his brother an update about the state of John's health:

"Mrs Lister is at present pretty well but has been under the necessity of weaning the child, which business was commenced last Wednesday therefore wish to stay here till I know what affects her milk may have when turned. The little lad has been very ill owing it is supposed to its mother's milk not agreeing with it which is the cause of its now being a weanling. It has been since better tho not so well as we could wish"

22 August 1789, SH:7/JL/91

In a letter to her brother James from the 10th of September 1789, Aunt Anne mentions that she and Martha were "very sorry to hear so Indifferent an account of our little Nephew, but hope with care he may yet do well" (SH:7/LL/275). Unfortunately, John died in Ovenden, on the 11th of September 1789, whilst under the care of his wet nurse. He was buried in the Halifax Parish Church the next day.

Jeremy Lister (1801 - 1802) 

Jeremy Lister was Anne Lister's youngest brother. He was born at Market Weighton on the 27th of September 1801 and baptized there two days later. Little Jeremy died in Beverley, in February of 1802, when he was under the care of his wet nurse. He was also buried at Beverley.

Infant Lister (1806 - 1806) 

In 1806, Rebecca Lister gave birth to a stillborn child. Had she lived, the girl would've been Anne Lister's younger sister. James Lister made a note about her whilst building the pedigree of the family:

“[Jeremy Lister's] wife was brought to bed of a Daughter (stillborn) on Sunday April 6th 1806, about seven o'clock in the morning”(SH:7/ML/B/30)

Almost nothing is known about her, but a burial record proves that she was indeed buried at the Halifax Parish Church.

References

• Green, Muriel M. "A Spirited Yorkshire-Woman: the Letters of Anne Lister of Shibden Hall, Halifax." Library Association Thesis (1939): 215.

• Liddington, Jill. "Female Fortune: The Anne Lister Diaries, 1833–36-Land, gender and authority." In Female Fortune. Manchester University Press, 2022.