Tag Archives: New Zealand

Wardsend Cemetery: Harry and Jessie Renwick (née Jessie Ashforth) and Dion Williamson

Published: January 12, 2017    Last modified: February 21, 2024

Wardsend Cemetery

While searching for a plan of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield (which I have now obtained) I came across links to Wardsend Cemetery, Sheffield.

Wardsend Cemetery is a place I have visited in the past (see the Related Posts at the end of this article) since this is where some of my ancestors were laid to rest. In this post I described finding the headstone of Albert ASHFORTH, Harry RENWICK and Frank RENWICK.

Well to cut a long story short, several years ago I attended a Family and Local History Day, at Bradfield Village Hall, Sheffield and purchased several CDs, of which one is an index of burials with some inscriptions from Wardsend Cemetery, courtesy the Friends of Wardsend Cemetery.

Looking at my notes regarding the RENWICK and ASHFORTH ancestors who are buried at Wardsend, I came across the following inscription which I had found on the aforementioned CD:

In loving memory of a dearly loved wife and mother Jessie RENWICK who
fell asleep 14th May 1954 aged 67 years
Also Harry the beloved husband of the above who died 10th October 1959
aged 74 years
“Re-united”
Also Dion son of Harry and Jessie WILLIAMSON of New Zealand and
grandson of the above who died 30th December 1963 aged 23 years
“Till we meet again”

Dion (Douglas Roy) WILLIAMSON 1940-1963 of New Zealand, who died as a result of a sad and tragic accident during a visit to Sheffield, was also laid to rest at Wardsend Cemetery, alongside Jessie RENWICK (née Jessie ASHFORTH 1887-1954) and Harry RENWICK 1885-1959.

In previous visits I have not been able to find this headstone, but since I plan to visit Crookes and Burngreave cemeteries in the not too distant future I thought it may be worth while exploring Wardsend Cemetery before the vegetation, once again, begins to obscure the headstones. Anyone who has visited Wardsend Cemetery in the last 20 years will understand what a formidable task this is!

Notes:
The last time I visited Wardsend Cemetery it was in a terrible state; I doubt this has changed. To view more photographs of Wardsend Cemetery, please click here.

Noelene Eleanor, Douglas Roy, Trevor Martin and Harry Ivan (Tim) Williamson

Published: January 28, 2009    Last modified: November 20, 2016

[PiwigoPress id=997 lnktype='albumpicture' opntype='_self' size='me' url='https://familyhistoryjournal.com/gallery']

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

This photograph from my mother's collection is of Noelene Eleanor, Donald Raynor, Trevor Martin and Harry Ivan (Tim) WILLIAMSON. These are the four children from Henry James WILLIAMSON 1894-1965's marriage to Clara WILLIAMSON (née Clara ASHFORTH 1895-1932). Clara died at Wellington, New Zealand on the 28th April 1932.

I originally posted this photograph with an article regarding the death in Sheffield of Douglas Roy WILLIAMSON 1940-1963. To view the original article please click here.

Thanks to KW who contacted me and passed on a considerable amount of new information regarding the WILLIAMSON families; I can now clarify the details of the children in the photograph. Henry James WILLIAMSON 1894-1965 married twice, his first marriage was to Clara WILLIAMSON (née Clara ASHFORTH 1895-1932), his second to Jessie WILLIAMSON (née Jessie RENWICK 1908-1982), Clara's niece. The children in the photograph were born to Henry James WILLIAMSON 1894-1965 and Clara WILLIAMSON (née Clara ASHFORTH 1895-1932).

Douglas Roy WILLIAMSON 1940-1963 was the third child of Henry James WILLIAMSON 1894-1965 and Jessie WILLIAMSON (née Jessie RENWICK 1908-1982).

Clara Ashforth and Henry J Williamson: Marriage

Published: August 4, 2007    Last modified: February 15, 2017

2012-02-14-16-03-06-01

I have found a marriage record for Clara ASHFORTH 1895-1932 and Henry James WILLIAMSON 1894-1965. The marriage took place at Sheffield, Yorkshire, England in the June quarter of 1919.

I have also found a likely date of birth for a Henry James WILLIAMSON 1894-1965 in the June quarter of 1892.

I now need to obtain the certificate for this marriage, since this may hold some clues to whether or not Henry James WILLIAMSON 1894-1965 was born in England or New Zealand. I have added this to my task list.

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

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

[PiwigoPress id=997 lnktype='albumpicture' opntype='_self' size='me' url='https://familyhistoryjournal.com/gallery']

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

[PiwigoPress id=997 lnktype='albumpicture' opntype='_self' size='me' url='https://familyhistoryjournal.com/gallery']

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

Harry Renwick and Jessie Renwick (née Jessie Ashforth)

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

[PiwigoPress id=986 lnktype='albumpicture' opntype='_self' size='me' url='https://familyhistoryjournal.com/gallery']

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.