Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Briercliffe, John
BRIERCLIFFE or BREARCLIFFE, JOHN (1609?–1682), antiquary, was an apothecary in Halifax, where he was born, and where, on 4 Dec. 1682, he died of a fever at the age of 63. He made various collections relating to his native town and parish. His 'Surveye of the Housings and Lands within the Townshippe of Halifax,' 1648, was said to have been in the library of Halifax church, but according to Watson, who published his 'History of Halifax' in 1775, there had been no such thing there for twenty years. Watson says he had in his possession 'Halifax inquieryes for the findeinge out of severall giftes given to pious uses,' written 22 Dec. 1651. Thoresby (Vic. Leod. p. 68) refers to his catalogue of the vicars of Halifax, and inscriptions under their arms painted on tables in the library of that church.
[Watson's History of Halifax (1775), pp. 454-5; Gough's Topography, ii. 434.]