Category Archives: Renwick

Samuel Faulkner, Harry Renwick and a football team

Published: September 15, 2007    Last modified: May 22, 2022

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Left, wearing cap: Samuel Faulkner, husband of Annie Faulkner (née Annie Ashforth)
Right, wearing cap: Harry Renwick, husband of Jessie Renwick (née Jessie Ashforth)

This photograph from the family collection is in terrible condition: dog-eared, creased, torn and cut through. The reverse of this photograph is covered in what appears to be simple financial arithmetic.
Once again the photograph is without a date stamp, so I can only estimate the date being circa 1920-1925.

My mother has identified the two adults:

Left, wearing cap: Samuel FAULKNER 1875-Deceased, husband of Annie FAULKNER (née Annie ASHFORTH 1877-Deceased)
Right, wearing cap: Harry RENWICK 1885-1959, husband of Jessie RENWICK (née Jessie ASHFORTH 1887-1954)

This photograph has very little contrast and has faded badly so at the moment I cannot readily identify any of the young lads who make up the football team, though one or more of the RENWICK boys may be in this photograph.

Clara Renwick, Jessie Renwick, Robert Renwick, Ernest Renwick and Frank Renwick

Published: September 14, 2007    Last modified: November 8, 2016

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Back row, left to right: Jessie Renwick, Robert (Bob) Renwick
Front row, left to right: Clara Renwick, Frank Renwick, Ernest Renwick

Another photograph of the RENWICK children from our family collection:

Jessie RENWICK 1908-1982
Robert RENWICK Deceased
Clara RENWICK 1912-Deceased
Frank RENWICK 1915-1949
Ernest RENWICK 1918-Deceased

This photograph does not have a date stamp but was probably taken about 1918 at the rear of 41 Burton Street, Hillsborough, Sheffield 6.

Harry Renwick, Clara Renwick and Jessie Renwick

Published: September 9, 2007    Last modified: November 8, 2016

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Left to right: Harry Renwick, Clara Renwick, Jessie Renwick

I am not at all certain about the young boy being Harry RENWICK 1910-1934. My mother's identification of the male children in the family of Harry RENWICK 1885-1959 and Jessie RENWICK (née Jessie ASHFORTH 1887-1954) conflicts with some of my research.

I will document this further when time allows. I am hoping the contacts I have made with descendants of this line will be able to help resolve this issue.

Updates:
2011-12-28 Further research seems to confirm that the young boy is indeed Harry RENWICK 1910-1934.

Clara Renwick 1912-Deceased

Published: September 5, 2007    Last modified: November 8, 2016

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Clara Renwick 1912-Deceased, 30th December 1928

This photograph of Clara RENWICK 1912-Deceased has a date stamp on the reverse of '30 DEC 1928'. By my calculations this would make Clara 16 years of age when this photograph was taken.

Douglas Roy Williamson: Died 30th December 1963, aged 23 years

Published: August 2, 2007    Last modified: February 15, 2017

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Noelene Eleanor, Donald Raynor, Trevor Martin and Harry Ivan (Tim) Williamson

An enormous amount of thanks must go to 2 relatives from the ASHFORTH / RENWICK line who contacted me and provided amendments and corrections to this previously published post regarding the untimely death of Douglas Roy (Dion) WILLIAMSON. To read the original post please click here.

I can now confirm it was Jessie RENWICK 1908-1982 who emigrated to New Zealand and it was Jessie's son Douglas Roy WILLIAMSON 1940-1963 (Dion) who fell to his death from the (then) recently constructed Cole Brothers department store in Sheffield city centre.

The pictures you have of the wedding party are my great grand parents Harry and Jessie RENWICK. I was born at 41 Burton Street, we have photos of Clara (my grandmother) and she did not emigrate to New Zealand but her sister Jessie did. - SH

The person who you mention that fell to his death from Cole Brothers was my mothers cousin Dion WILLIAMSON (son of Jessie from New Zealand) - SH

In 1963 Dion (Douglas) came to the UK after travelling and fell to his death on the 30th December 1963 aged 23. He is buried at Wardsend Cemetery with Harry and Jessie RENWICK. We have one of the last pictures of Dion taken on Christmas Day at 41 Burton Street, Hillsborough, Sheffield. - LE

Updates:
2009-01-27 Thanks to KW for providing the full name of Dion WILLIAMSON.

Clara Ashforth, Jessie Renwick, New Zealand: Intrigue

Published: April 4, 2007    Last modified: February 13, 2017

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Noelene Eleanor, Donald Raynor, Trevor Martin and Harry Ivan (Tim) Williamson

The four children in the above photograph were born in New Zealand though whether to Clara or Jessie I cannot recall. What I do recall quite clearly and I remember it often being repeated, is that in the 1960's one of these children (by now in their late teens or early twenties) travelled to England, and while taking some photographs from the newly erected Cole Brothers building (a local large department store) fell down a lift shaft and died of his injuries. It was certainly reported in the Sheffield Star so a trawl through their archives should probably give me the exact date.

Hopefully sometime soon I will ask my mother to go over this story in more detail and try and establish a more comprehensive timeline of events.

Updates:
2007-07-31 Very exciting news. Descendants of the ASHFORTH / RENWICK line have left comments and sent an email regarding this post and provided further details of this branch of the family tree. I will endeavour to repost with corrections and amendments as soon as possible.

2007-08-02 I have amended, corrected and created a new post regarding the death of Douglas Roy WILLIAMSON 1940-1963. To read this update please click here.

2007-08-04 Using FreeBMD I have found a marriage record for Clara ASHFORTH 1895-1932 and Henry James WILLIAMSON 1894-1965. The marriage took place at Sheffield in the June quarter of 1919. To read this update please click here.

2009-01-28 Thanks to KW for kindly contacting me and providing a great deal of information regarding the families of Henry James WILLIAMSON 1894-1965, enabling me to correct and clarify this article.

It was Douglas Roy WILLIAMSON 1940-1963 who died as a result of injuries sustained in a fall. - KW

The four children in the photograph above were from the marriage of Henry James WILLIAMSON 1894-1965 and Clara WILLIAMSON (née Clara ASHFORTH) 1895-1932. - KW

Douglas Roy WILLIAMSON 1940-1963 was from the marriage of Henry James WILLIAMSON 1894-1965 and Jessie RENWICK 1908-1982. - KW

To read this update please click here.

2015-03-16 This link to Henry James WILLIAMSON 1894-1965 may help clarify the marriage details.

Old Comments:

ashforth/renwick
Submitted by susan horsfield on Sat, 2007-07-14 13:56
harry renwick is my great grandfather,clara renwick is my grand mother who married john barber ,my mothers name was joan barber and she had a sister called rene and a brother called jack.ernest renwick was my uncle ,my sister and i visit the ashforth and renwick graves at wardsend cemetary.we have several family photos of all these people and also frank and bob .i was born at 41 burton street where we used to live with my great grandparents,sadly my grandparents and my own parents are deceased, i would love to hear from anyone who knows of our family .the person who you mention that fell to his death from cole brothers was my mothers cousin dion williams (son of jessie from nz).please do not hesitate to contact me for more information if wanted. sue

Wedding Party: Burton Street, Sheffield

Published: February 13, 2007    Last modified: February 4, 2017

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Wedding Party, Burton Street, Hillsborough, Sheffield

According to my mother this photograph is of a wedding party at a house on Burton Street, Sheffield, Yorkshire, though she doesn't remember whose marriage was being celebrated.

Mother is the toddler on the front row dressed all in white and looking a little mesmerised. This photograph is most likely circa 1928.

Given time I'm hoping she will be able to identify some more of the children shown in this photograph and maybe even remember the names of the bride and groom.

Updates:
2007-08-02 I was contacted by some relatives who provided invaluable information regarding this photograph. To read more about the people in this photograph click here.

2016-11-06 The lady on the back row, second from the left, is Jessie WILLIAMSON (née Jessie RENWICK 1908-1982)

Harry Renwick and Jessie Renwick (née Jessie Ashforth)

Published: February 4, 2007    Last modified: May 22, 2022

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Front row l-r: Frank Renwick, Harry Renwick, Ethel Ashforth, Ellen Ashforth (née Ellen Tomlinson), Ernest Renwick
Back row l-r: Clara Renwick, Robert Renwick, Jessie Renwick

Like most families we have 'shoe boxes' and 'biscuit tins' stuffed full of old photographs. Sadly most of these photographs have never been catalogued and so the subject or place can no longer be identified. My mother is custodian of our family's collection, so borrowing a few at a time I am hoping to digitally scan as many as possible. Beginning with those which we can readily identify I hope to archive these to both digital and paper based media.

This is one such photograph. It depicts Harry RENWICK 1885-1959, his children, sister-in-law and mother-in-law. Since his wife Jessie RENWICK (née Jessie ASHFORTH 1887-1954), my great grand aunt, was alive and well is not in the photograph we can only assume she was probably behind the camera. This photograph was taken in the backyard of one of the hundreds of terraced houses on and around Burton Street, Sheffield. Harry RENWICK 1885-1959 and Jessie RENWICK (née Jessie ASHFORTH 1887-1954) and family lived at 41 Burton Street just above Burton Street School which I believe is now a community centre.

Fortunately my mother is blessed with a superb memory and can identify all those in the above photograph. After further research here is some additional information:

Frank RENWICK 1915-1949 - died of TB, aged about 23 years.
Harry RENWICK 1885-1959 - married Jessie ASHFORTH 1887-1954
Ethel ASHFORTH 1889-Deceased - suffered from epilepsy and was eventually admitted to Middlewood Hospital, Sheffield where she remained until her death.
Ellen ASHFORTH (née Ellen TOMLINSON 1855-1943) - my great grandmother, lived into her nineties.
Ernest RENWICK 1918-Deceased
Clara RENWICK 1912-Deceased - married John BARBER Deceased.
Robert RENWICK Deceased - died of Tuberculosis, aged about 23 years.
Jessie RENWICK 1908-1982 - emigrated to New Zealand and married Henry James WILLIAMSON 1894-1965.

Updates:
2007-08-02 Thanks must go to SH for leaving the comments re: RENWICKS / ASHFORTHS.

"The pictures you have of the wedding party are my great grand parents Harry RENWICK 1885-1959 and Jessie RENWICK (née Jessie ASHFORTH 1887-1954). I was born at 41 Burton Street, we have photos of Clara (my grandmother) and she did not emigrate to New Zealand but her sister Jessie did." - SH

"Harry RENWICK 1885-1959 is my great grandfather, Clara RENWICK 1912- is my grand mother who married John BARBER, my mothers name was Joan BARBER and she had a sister called Rene and a brother called Jack. Ernest RENWICK 1918- was my uncle, my sister and I visit the ASHFORTH and RENWICK graves at Wardsend Cemetery. We have several family photos of all these people and also Frank and Bob. I was born at 41 Burton Street where we used to live with my great grandparents, sadly my grandparents and my own parents are deceased, I would love to hear from anyone who knows of our family." - SH

I have amended some of the details and hope this time to have correctly identified everyone.

2007-09-09 I am still rather confused over the boys' names in this photograph. Subsequent research leads me to question my previous research. To read a later post outlining this issue click here.

2008-12-30 Further research shows Ellen ASHFORTH's maiden name to be TOMLINSON not PASLEY so I have amended this article.

2010-11-02 To read about my visit to Wardsend Cemetery and the location of a RENWICK / ASHFORTH grave please click here.

Old Comments:

These are my great great
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2016-06-23 11:32
These are my great great grandparents. This is amazing.

Ashforth and Renwicks
Submitted by susan horsfield on Sat, 2007-07-14 21:34

The pictures you have of the wedding party are my great grand parents Harry and Jessie Renwick. I was born at 41 Burton Street, we have photos of Clara (my grandmother) and she did not emigrate to New Zealand but her sister Jessie did. If you would like any further information please contact me.

Edit: Email address removed to thwart spammers.

Wardsend Cemetery, Owlerton, Sheffield

Published: May 11, 2005    Last modified: May 22, 2022
Wardsend Cemetery

Headstone right - Harry, Emily and George Waller
Headstone left - Albert Ashforth, Harry Renwick, Frank Renwick

I came across the Friends of Wardsend Cemetery site a few years ago, though it would appear not to have had any major updates since. Unfortunately the site uses flash, java applets and music arrrrgh... and I had to open it with Internet Explorer rather than my usual Firefox. It really needs a re-design to be more user friendly. Nevertheless it provides some interesting information, though I don't know how active this group is. The site advertises tours of the cemetery and also gives a contact phone number.

I am aware some of my ancestors are buried at Wardsend Cemetery, Owlerton, Sheffield so maybe I will try the contact number and see if tours are still available.

Updates:
2007-01-20 This site is still operational and now works with Firefox.

2010-11-13

Recently I received an email from the Friends of Wardsend Cemetery advising me of a change of web address.
The 'Friends of Wardsend Cemetery' now have a new website at:-
http://www.friendsofwardsendcemetery.btck.co.uk
which replaces the old one. The new site will be updated on a regular basis, unlike the old site.

The website is much improved and I have updated my links to point to the new address.

The group is still very much active and I recently met with them at a Family and Local History Day at Bradfield Village Hall. To read my article 'Family and Local History Day, Bradfield Village Hall' please click here.

I also attended one of the tours of Wardsend Cemetery organised by The Friends of Wardsend Cemetery, highly recommended, but take some stout footwear! To read my article 'Wardsend Cemetery - The guiding spirit of George Waller' please click here.