Category Archives: Ashforth

Ernest Ashforth 1905-1990 and Emily Ashforth (née Emily Bellamy 1903-1992)

Published: February 10, 2009 Last modified: January 12, 2017

Emily Ashforth (née Emily Bellamy 1903-1992) and Ernest Ashforth 1905-1990

In this photograph my grandfather Ernest ASHFORTH 1905-1990 is in his element: in a pub, with a pint of beer and no doubt in his pocket a still smouldering pipe. My grandmother Emily ASHFORTH (née Emily BELLAMY 1903-1992) is wearing one of her fur coats, from her collection of fur coats, perhaps with just a whiff of mothball.

Shortly after Ernest died I recall driving to Emily's flat in Langsett Close, Hillsborough, Sheffield in order to take her for a day out in Derbyshire. In the early nineties fur coats had moved into the realm of not being 'politically correct' though I doubt Emily was even aware of the term. Long before she opened the flat door I could smell the mothballs. On opening the door, there she stood, resplendent in fur coat and carpet slippers.

No point arguing, carpet slippers are comfortable and she is not changing into shoes!

Unperturbed I helped her into the car and we drove off towards Derbyshire. Soon we were sat in a tea shop at the village of Tideswell. Within minutes Emily was chatting with a captive audience of tourists, so it was only a matter of time before she was in full flow, recounting in full, gory details of her long list of 'surgical operations'. By this time Emily had poured some tea into her saucer and in between tales of life and death at the hands of the surgeons, was slurping loudly, as is the way in Sheffield.

Ernest and Emily Ashforth (née Emily Bellamy): Bridlington

Ernest Ashforth 1905-1990

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Wycliffe 11 Football Club 1908-9

Published: February 1, 2009 Last modified: November 10, 2016

Wycliffe 11 FC 1908-9

The caption on the reverse of this photograph reads:

"Dear brother just a few lines to you..." illegible... "present..." illegible... "from your sister Jessie and Harry."

This is almost certainly a photograph sent by Jessie ASHFORTH 1887-1954 to her brother (my great grandfather) William Henry ASHFORTH 1873-1926. Harry is almost certainly Harry RENWICK 1885-1959, Jessie's husband.

Jessie and Harry were married at Sheffield during June 1908. The photograph is dated 1908-9, so I suspect they were already married when this card was sent, and since I am certain one of the words is "present" then it could well be thanking William for his wedding present.

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Ernest Ashforth 1905-1990

Published: January 30, 2009 Last modified: November 19, 2016

Ernest Ashforth 1905-1990

My maternal grandfather Ernest ASHFORTH 1905-1990.

Like many men in Sheffield he spent a good deal of his working life at various steel works in the city. While working at one of the steel companies he suffered a severe back injury. He eventually finished his working days as a stores-man at Elsworths, a saw manufacturing company based at Herries Road, close to the Sheffield Wednesday football ground.

So it was quite fortunate he happened to be an avid supporter of Sheffield Wednesday.

Ernest and Emily Ashforth (née Emily Bellamy): Bridlington

Ernest Ashforth 1905-1990 and Emily Ashforth (née Emily Bellamy 1903-1992)

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Florence Ashforth (née Florence Flowers 1876-1973) and Marjorie Green (née Marjorie Ellis 1912-1988)

Published: January 29, 2009 Last modified: January 17, 2017

Left: Florence Ashforth (née Florence Flowers 1876-1973)
Right: Marjorie Green (née Marjorie Ellis 1912-1988)

This photograph of Florence ASHFORTH (née Florence FLOWERS 1876-1973) and Aunt Marjorie, Marjorie GREEN (née Marjorie ELLIS 1912-1988) was probably taken in the early 1960s. I'm not sure of the location though it certainly is not 4 Hawksley Road, Sheffield 6, where at this time Florence lived. The photograph may well have been taken at Aunt Marjorie's house on the Wisewood Estate, Sheffield.

Updates:
2010-01-14 I made a little time to carry out some research on Marjorie GREEN (née Marjorie ELLIS 1912-1988) (Aunt Marjorie). Marjorie ELLIS was the youngest daughter of George ELLIS 1860-Deceased and Emily Ellis (née Emily ROSEWARNE 1865-1944), born September 1912 at Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. Marjorie GREEN (née Marjorie ELLIS 1912-1988) married (Jim) James GREEN d.1988 at Sheffield, March 1937.

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

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

Noelene Eleanor Williamson, Donald Raynor Williamson, Trevor Martin Williamson and Harry Ivan (Tim) Williamson
<a href="https://familyhistoryjournal.com/?s=Williamson">Read more...</a>

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, Jessie Renwick, New Zealand: Intrigue

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

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George Knapton 1903-Deceased and Edith Bellamy 1906-1993

Published: January 14, 2009 Last modified: February 12, 2017

Edith Knapton (née Edith Bellamy 1906-1993)

Edith KNAPTON (née Edith BELLAMY 1906-1993) whom I always knew as Aunt Edith was the younger sister of my grandmother Emily ASHFORTH (née Emily BELLAMY 1903-1992). Edith married George KNAPTON 1903-Deceased at Sheffield, Yorkshire in June 1926.

My recollections of Aunt Edith are:

A very loud voice.
A great gossip (in the nicest sense).
A shopkeeper (and owner of numerous shops, though not all at the same time, in and around Hillsborough, Sheffield).
Always referred to sweets as 'spice', which she always offered me when I visited her sweet shop at Holme Lane, Hillsborough, Sheffield.

Uncle George was the complete opposite: quiet and patient, and I seem to recall had an interest in electronics.

Aunt Edith and Uncle George had two children, a boy and a girl, both of whom, as far as I know, are still alive, so I will withhold their names for privacy.

During the summer of 1991 my younger sister and I decided to take our grandmother Emily who was still residing at Hillsborough, Sheffield to visit her sister Edith whom she had not seen for many years and who now lived at Bridlington, East Yorkshire. Edith's husband George KNAPTON 1903-Deceased was now deceased and Emily's husband Ernest ASHFORTH 1905-1990 had died at Sheffield in September 1990. Edith's son had moved away from Sheffield and settled at Flamborough near Bridlington, East Yorkshire and Aunt Edith who in her latter years lived close by her sister Emily at Sheffield, had taken up residence in a care home at Bridlington so her son could oversee her welfare. Both Emily and Edith were now in their eighties. My sister and I both felt that this might be the last chance that the sisters had of ever meeting again.

We arranged with Edith's son to meet at his house at Flamborough. He collected Aunt Edith from her care home and we collected our grandmother from Sheffield and drove to Flamborough, East Yorkshire. I had not seen Edith since she had moved to Bridlington and it was many years since I had seen her son. I was struck by how much weight Aunt Edith had gained, so much so, that for quite some time Emily failed to realise that this person was her sister Edith. Edith's son and his wife were very hospitable and we had an entertaining day listening to family reminisces.

A few weeks after this visit our grandmother Emily suffered a debilitating stroke that left her with limited movement. Emily died in November 1992 and her sister died a few weeks later in January 1993. So it turned out to be quite fortuitous that we arranged the meeting when we did.

I attended Aunt Edith's funeral at Sheffield and to date this has turned out to be my last meeting with the remaining members of the BELLAMY branch of the family.

Notes:
If any members of the BELLAMY / KNAPTON branches of the family happen to read this I would very much like to hear from them. To access my contact form please click here.

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Mrs Ellen Ashforth: Shopkeeper

Published: September 7, 2008 Last modified: November 18, 2016

Ellen Ashforth (née Ellen Tomlinson) 1855-1943

Looking through my notes I came across an entry I made but never commented on.

This entry is to be found in White's Trade Directory, Sheffield, 1911:

Mrs Ellen Ashforth, Shopkeeper, 41 Burton Street

At the time of her son William Henry ASHFORTH 1873-1926's marriage to Florence FLOWERS 1876-1973 in December 1895, Ellen ASHFORTH (née Ellen TOMLINSON 1855-1943) is residing at 172 Cuthbert Bank Road, Hillsborough, Sheffield, Yorkshire. Cuthbert Bank Road cuts across Bamforth Street and Burton Street.

I cannot confirm this is my gg grandmother Ellen ASHFORTH (née Ellen TOMLINSON 1855-1943) but it could well be.

Updates:
2009-01-25 I had completely overlooked the fact that the Renwicks / Ashforths were known to be living at 41 Burton Street.

2010-09-21 The death certificate for Ellen ASHFORTH (née Ellen TOMLINSON 1855-1943) records her death as 10th July 1943 at 41 Burton Street, Sheffield. I think it is safe to assume that the entry to be found in White's Trade Directory, Sheffield, 1911 for Mrs Ellen ASHFORTH (née Ellen TOMLINSON 1855-1943) is that of my gg grandmother.

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George Ashforth 1814-Deceased and Leah Webb 1816-1901

Published: August 31, 2008 Last modified: February 15, 2017

A couple of days ago I recieved an email from a gentleman researching George ASHFORTH 1814-Deceased and Leah ASHFORTH (née Leah WEBB 1816-1901).

This aroused my curiosity and I decided it was about time I updated this site and provided a few more articles.

Looking at my research notes for my ASHFORTH line I am acutely aware that for the time being at least I have gone no further back than George ASHFORTH 1814-Deceased and Leah ASHFORTH (née Leah WEBB 1816-1901).

According to my research George and Leah raised 5 children:

Sophia ASHFORTH born abt. 1841 Manchester, Lancashire, England.
John ASHFORTH born abt. 1843 Salford, Manchester, Lancashire, England.
Emma ASHFORTH born abt. 1845 Salford, Manchester, Lancashire, England.
Susannah ASHFORTH born abt. 1849 Stalybridge, Cheshire, England.
William Henry ASHFORTH born 20th February 1851 Bacon Island, Nether Hallam, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England.

This is confirmed by the England and Wales Census 1861:

FHJ Ref: 030
Census: England and Wales Census 1861
Place: Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
Household: George Ashforth

SURNAME	FIRST NAME(S	REL	STATUS	SEX	AGE	WHERE BORN
Ashforth	George	Head	Married	Male	47	Bradfield, Yorkshire
Ashforth	Leah	Wife	Married	Female	45	Kingswinford, Staffordshire
Ashforth	Sophia	Daughter		Female	20	Manchester, Lancashire
Ashforth	John	Son		Male	18	Manchester, Lancashire
Ashforth	Emma	Daughter		Female	16	Manchester, Lancashire
Ashforth	Susanna	Daughter		Female	12	Stalybridge, Cheshire
Ashforth	William H	Son		Male	10	Sheffield, Yorkshire

To view this table full width please click here.

My interest is in my gg grandfather William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899 and I have already obtained his birth certificate in order to establish the maiden surname of his mother. I carried out further research and discovered the following marriages:

ASHFORTH, Sophia (Spinster, age Full, residing at Cromwell St).
Married James CASSON, on September 5, 1863, by Chas Sisum Wright (Banns) at
St Philips Church, Shalesmoor. Father's name is George ASHFORTH (Filesmith).
Married in the presence of Thomas J YATES, Mary Ann YATES.

ASHFORTH, Harriet (Spinster, age 18, residing at Penistone Rd).
Married Herbert WOODCOCK, on December 24, 1876, by C R Killick (Banns) at
St Philips Church, Shalesmoor. Father's name is John ASHFORTH (Metal Smith).
Married in the presence of Joseph BAILEY (mark), Betsy MORTON (mark).

ASHFORTH, Emma (Spinster, age Minor, residing at Cromwell St).
Married William BRAMELD, on February 21, 1864, by F. Williams (Banns) at
St Philips Church, Shalesmoor. Father's name is George ASHFORTH (File Smith).
Married in the presence of George ASHFORTH, Susannah ASHFORTH.

ASHFORTH, William Henry (Batchelor, age 23, File Cutter, residing at 172 Cuthbert Bank Road).
Married Florence FLOWERS, on December 25, 1895, by H.A. Goodwin (Banns) at
St John the Baptist Church, Owlerton. Father's name is William Henry ASHFORTH (File Cutter).
Married in the presence of Charles Henry STEVENSON, Mary REVINGTON. (Note: This is REMINGTON on the actual marriage certificate).

The researcher I mentioned at the beginning of this article is interested in the descendants of John ASHFORTH and hopefully we may be able to help one another with our research.

Updates:
2017-02-15 At the time of writing this article I was not aware of the family being in the England and Wales Census 1851. The census of 1851 shows the eldest child being Joseph ASHFORTH 1837-Deceased born at Birmingham, Warwickshire. To view the England and Wales Census 1851 for the household of George ASHFORTH 1814-Deceased please click here.

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William Henry Ashforth 1851-1899: Birth Certificate

Published: December 8, 2007 Last modified: February 4, 2017

Certificates

I have received the birth certificate of William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899 from Sheffield Register Office. The maiden surname of Leah ASHFORTH 1816-1901 the mother of William Henry is shown to be WEBB and she is living at Bacon Island, Nether Hallam, Sheffield.

Bacon Island was one of the areas of Sheffield affected by the great flood of 1864, when the Dale Dyke reservoir burst its banks.

To view my transcription of the birth certificate for William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899 please click here.

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William Henry Ashforth 1873-1926: Birth Certificate update

Published: December 8, 2007 Last modified: February 4, 2017

Certificates

Regarding my recent request for the birth certificate of William Henry ASHFORTH 1873-1926, March 1873, Sheffield Register Office replied with this box ticked:

"Unfortunately the details in the register differ from the information given. (Mother's details differ)"

I must admit I was not expecting this, but taking another look at my research I reason:

1) My search for William Henry's birth reveals only two likely candidates:

i. March 1873, William Henry ASHFORTH, Sheffield (the certificate I requested)
ii. December 1875, William ASHFORTH, Ecclesall Bierlow

2) The first candidate is now confirmed incorrect; I did have some doubts since I expected the district to be Ecclesall Bierlow and not Sheffield. The second candidate I will dismiss due to the date; all my research shows a birth around 1872 to 1873.

3) Since William Henry was probably born before William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899 and Ellen TOMLINSON 1855-1943 married, he may have been registered with his mother's maiden surname TOMLINSON
Another search reveals:

i. September 1872, William Henry TOMLINSON, Ecclesall
ii. December 1873, William Henry B TOMLINSON, Sheffield

The first entry records the district of Ecclesall, therefore this is the most likeliest.

My transcription of the England and Wales Census 1881 records the following:

FHJ Ref: 035
Census: England and Wales Census 1881
Place: 5 Ct 15 Woodside Lane, Brightside Bierlow, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
Household: Henry Ashforth

SURNAME	FIRST NAME(S)	REL	STATUS	SEX	AGE	OCCUPATION	WHERE BORN
Ashforth	Henry	Head	Married	Male	33	Metal Smith (Wr)	Sheffield, Yorkshire
Ashforth	Sarah	Wife	Married	Female	32		Sheffield, Yorkshire
Ashforth	William H	Son		Male	8	Scholar	Sheffield, Yorkshire
Ashforth	John	Son		Male	5	Scholar	Sheffield, Yorkshire
Ashforth	Lucy	Daughter		Female	2		Sheffield, Yorkshire
Ashforth	Ann E	Daughter		Female	3		Sheffield, Yorkshire

To view this table full width please click here.

FHJ Ref: 018
Census: England and Wales Census 1881
Place: Back of 70 Daniel Hill St, Nether Hallam, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
Household: William Henry Ashforth

SURNAME	FIRST NAME(S)	REL	STATUS	SEX	AGE	OCCUPATION	WHERE BORN
Ashforth	William H	Head	Married	Male	30	File Cutter	Sheffield, Yorkshire
Ashforth	Ellen	Wife	Married	Female	27		Sheffield, Yorkshire
Ashforth	William H	Son		Male	8	Scholar	Sheffield, Yorkshire
Ashforth	Rosa	Daughter		Female	6	Scholar	Sheffield, Yorkshire
Ashforth	Annie	Daughter		Female	3		Sheffield, Yorkshire

To view this table full width please click here.

This second record from the England and Wales Census 1881 matches all names and dates with my research. Therefore since I cannot find a birth for William Henry ASHFORTH (other than the one that has already proved negative) I am inclined to go with my theory that his birth certificate is registered under his mother's maiden surname i.e. William Henry TOMLINSON.

I will apply for this birth certificate:

September 1872, William Henry TOMLINSON, Ecclesall.

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Family History Journal

Looking for clues...

Category Archives: Ashforth

Ernest Ashforth 1905-1990 and Emily Ashforth (née Emily Bellamy 1903-1992)

Wycliffe 11 Football Club 1908-9

Ernest Ashforth 1905-1990

Florence Ashforth (née Florence Flowers 1876-1973) and Marjorie Green (née Marjorie Ellis 1912-1988)

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

George Knapton 1903-Deceased and Edith Bellamy 1906-1993

Mrs Ellen Ashforth: Shopkeeper

George Ashforth 1814-Deceased and Leah Webb 1816-1901

William Henry Ashforth 1851-1899: Birth Certificate

William Henry Ashforth 1873-1926: Birth Certificate update