Matthew was born in Bourne Fen, Lincolnshire, England in 1842. He married
Mary (born 1844) from Market Deeping, Lincolnshire when he was 24 in 1866.
Together they had 9 children:
John Richard Tales born 1868 - Became a painter in Thurlby & later in
Ilkley, West Yorkshire
James Tales born 1869
Annie Tales born 1872
Dinah Tales born 1876
Mary Jane Tales born 1882 - Became a housemaid/domestic servant in Market
Deeping 1891
Joseph Tales born 1877
William Tales born 1880
Samuel Tales born 1882
Elizabeth Tales born 1885
Matthew is recorded as being an innkeeper in 1881 of The Wheel,
Market Deeping, Lincolnshire. The children went to school in Thurlby, Lincolnshire. The
family then moved to Ikley, West Yorkshire, England. Records show that Mary, John Richard,
Joseph & William lived at 14 Crossbeck Road, Ilkley in 1891.
1904 John R.Tales, 86 Ash Grove, Ilkley, West
Yorkshire
Mrs Mary Tales, Dressmaker, 31 Wellington Street, Ilkley
William Tales, 7 Kimberly Street, Ilkley
1912 /1922/ 1927/ 1936 John Richard Tales, Painter, Ash Grove, Ilkley
The painting & decorating business has continued to present day. The
business is now run by Jeff Tales the great grandson of Matthew Tales.
In 1914 Matthew Tales took some of the children to Canada to live. His wife Mary &
some of the children remained in Ilkley - waiting for Matthew to collect them & take
them to Canada to live. Unfortunately, Matthew returned to England on the Empress of
Ireland. From that day on the family remained in two halves- half in England & half in
Canada.
