oct 15, 1859 - Harry Stokes gains notoriety as "Man Woman"

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The inquest into Harry's death was reported in the local press, with headlines such as 'A WOMAN PASSING AS A MAN FOR FORTY YEARS' – the Manchester Examiner; and 'HARRY STOKES THE MAN WOMAN' – The Salford weekly News. The stories were reprinted in papers across the country.

News reports on Harry Stokes' death inquest appear to show that his gender variance was generally known and accepted by the working class community he was part of. The Manchester Examiner reported: "Harriet Taylor, who lives in the neighbourhood, said she knew Stokes well. He was a bricksetter. The proper name was Harriet Stokes, but he went by the name of Harry Stokes. Some years ago Stokes married a woman in Manchester. They lived together as man and wife, and kept a beershop in Quay Street, Manchester. Several of the jury recollected the case, and that ballads were composed and sung in the streets on its being known that the supposed man was a woman".

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