Harry Renwick and Jessie Renwick (née Jessie Ashforth)

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

Family Group: Ashforth ~ Renwick
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
<a href="https://familyhistoryjournal.com/?s=Ashforth+Renwick">Read more...<a>

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.

Joseph Allen and Hannah Allen

Published: January 30, 2007    Last modified: May 22, 2022

Joseph Allen and Hannah Allen
Church of Saint Peter, Hayton, Nottinghamshire

In May 2006 we travelled to Retford, north Nottinghamshire and met up with Juanita Lewis and her son Al Lewis. Juanita and Al had travelled from the USA on a weeks holiday in order to discover more of their family history. The day turned out to be full of surprises and the discovery of this headstone was one of them.

Juanita is researching the ALLEN line of her family so we spent some time visiting various locations Juanita and Al wished to see, with Al doing an exceptional job driving on the 'wrong side' of the road and negotiating the narrow lanes of north Nottinghamshire.

Our first visit was to the Church of Saint John the Baptist at Clarborough. Unfortunately as is the norm in these times the church was locked so we wandered about the graveyard, took some photographs and searched the headstones for clues.

On leaving Saint John's, and quite by accident, we came across the Church of Saint Peter at nearby Hayton. It appeared many of the headstones had been removed so we wandered in and amongst those that remained searching the legible headstones for family names. As usual many of the inscriptions, due to time and erosion, were now illegible so we were tremendously lucky to we find a headstone for Joseph ALLEN and Hannah ALLEN which was perfectly legible.

The inscription on the headstone reads:

Loving Memory Of
Joseph
Beloved Husband Of
Hannah Allen
Died May 24th 1927
Aged 74 Years
At Rest
Also Of Hannah
Wife Of The Above
Died March 19th 1976
Aged 83 Years

It was only this evening while studying my photographs of the headstone in order to decipher the inscription that I noticed, and even then only after several readings, the difference in ages.

As yet I have not had the time to carry out further research into which line of the ALLEN families Joseph may originate. Indeed Juanita may be a good starting point in trying to answer this question.

Old Comments:

Gravestone Hayton Churchyard Nottinghamshire
Submitted by Neil Jacklin on Sat, 2010-01-02 12:03

Edgar, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment. Research shows there to be several ALLEN lines in and around the Clarborough, Nottinghamshire area. This information is very welcome and I will make Juanita aware of these facts, since she too is researching an ALLEN line from this area.

Gravestone Hayton Churchyard Nottinghamshire
Submitted by Edgar Allen on Fri, 2010-01-01 14:55

The Gravestone to which you refer is that of my late grandfather Joseph and grandmother Hannah Allen. You are indeed correct with regard to the differences in their ages and the same curiosity that led me to trace my family tree. My grandmother Hannah or as I found her real name Annie married my grandfather in 1912 in Lincoln. He was aged 60 and she was 20. Hannah was my grandfathers second wife and had been the housemaid to him and his first wife Anne when they lived in Sheffield. I have not been able to establish why, but after the death of his first wife my grandfather moved to Carr Road in Lincoln. When he married Hannah (Nee Annie Hodkin) she was already 7 months pregnant with my Aunt Emma and clearly the reason they married.

So far I have traced the male line of my family Allen back to 1720 in Sheffield where they were cutlers and file makers. I have not been able to trace any association to the Allen's that lived in the villages of Little Gringley and Clarborough.

Good wishes and good luck with your research.

Edgar Allen

George William Frost and Mary Ann Whitham: Marriage

Published: January 28, 2007    Last modified: November 14, 2016

In this previous post I recorded George FROST and Mary Ann WHITHAM being the witnesses at the marriage of Joseph BELLAMY 1857-Deceased and Mary Ann BELLAMY (née Mary Ann TURNER 1861-Deceased). Intuition told me these two witnesses were probably friends of Joseph and Mary Ann and it could be productive to spend a little time searching for a marriage between this couple.

This time my intuition proved correct and I found George William FROST and Mary Ann WHITHAM were married during September 1880 at Sheffield, Yorkshire.

Joseph Bellamy and Mary Ann Turner: Marriage Certificate

Published: January 25, 2007    Last modified: May 22, 2022

Here are the details from the Marriage Certificate of Joseph BELLAMY 1857-Deceased and Mary Ann BELLAMY (née Mary Ann TURNER 1861-Deceased).

Marriage Certificate
Registration District: Sheffield
Date: 1879
Marriage solemnized at: St Stephens Church in the Parish of St Stephens, Sheffield in the County of York
No.: 329
When Married: December 1st 1879
Name and Surname: Joseph Bellamy, Mary Ann Turner
Age: 23, 20
Condition: Batchelor, Spinster
Rank or Profession: File Cutter, _____
Residence at the time of Marriage: Bond Street, Bellefield Lane
Father's Name and Surname: William Bellamy, Edwin Turner
Rank or Profession of Father: File Cutter, Spring Knife Cutler
Married in the: Church of St Stephen according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church, by____or
after Banns by me J N? Scholefield
This marriage was solemnised between us: Joseph Bellamy his X mark, Mary Ann Turner her X mark
in the Presence of us, George Frost, Mary Ann Whitham her X mark

Visit the website for the Church of Saint Stephen, Netherthorpe, Sheffield.

Photograph 1 of Church of Saint Stephen, Netherthorpe - GENUKI
Photograph 2 of Church of Saint Stephen, Netherthorpe - GENUKI

So now I can confirm Joseph BELLAMY 1857-Deceased's father as one William BELLAMY 1824-Deceased and Mary Ann BELLAMY (née Mary Ann TURNER 1861-Deceased)'s father as one Edwin TURNER 1827-Deceased. It also provides me with 2 hitherto unknown addresses.

Of further interest are the two witness names of George FROST and Mary Ann WHITHAM. Are they family or friends?

Sabbatical: Visit of Juanita and Al Lewis

Published: January 17, 2007    Last modified: November 14, 2016

Juanita and Al Lewis
Church of Saint John the Baptist, Clarborough, Nottinghamshire

It has been the best part of one year since I made a post to this journal. My father passed away February 2006 and as a result the search for my family's history lost momentum.

Despite this sad event, 2006, from the family history perspective was not without its high points. In this post I mentioned a lady from the US with whom I had exchanged family history details. Well in June 2006 as part of her 80th birthday celebrations Juanita LEWIS and her son Al LEWIS made the trip to England in order to carry out further research into ALLEN family history in and around the Retford area of north Nottinghamshire.

My wife and I travelled to Retford, Nottinghamshire to meet with Juanita and Al at their hotel. We then spent an enjoyable day driving to some of the locations Juanita and Al wished to visit. We had a truly wonderful time following up some of the names and places recorded in Juanita's notes.

To read more about Juanita and Al's visit please click here.

Coprolite

Published: January 16, 2006    Last modified: November 28, 2016

I'm not sure how I came by this link about Coprolite or why it has taken such a long time to find, but since it pertains to Coprolite and the village of Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, I thought I should record it here. My line of JACKLIN's originate from this area; the England and Wales Census 1871 records my great great grandfather Daniel JACKLIN 1842-1897's occupation as 'Coprolite labourer'.

Wikipedia also has an entry for Coprolite.

Updates:
2016-11-28 Another very good article about Coprolite: The Coprolite Industry in Meldreth. Meldreth is just a few miles from Orwell and Whaddon where my JACKLIN and PEARCE lines originate.

The Workhouse

Published: January 16, 2006    Last modified: November 6, 2016

The Workhouse - The story of an institution...

"The Workhouse often evokes the grim world of Oliver Twist, but its story is also a fascinating mixture of social history, politics, economics and architecture.
This site is dedicated to the workhouse — its buildings, inmates, staff and administrators, even its poets"

is a fascinating insight into the life of the working class during the 18th and 19th centuries. This should dispel any romanticist illusions of life in Victorian England.

William Crofts and Louisa Loveday

Published: January 13, 2006    Last modified: November 6, 2016

Headstone: Louisa Crofts (née Louisa Loveday)
Church of Saint Helen, Grove, Nottinghamshire

This could well be another sad story.

In the churchyard of the Church of Saint Helen, Grove Nottinghamshire, is this headstone for Louisa CROFTS (née Louisa LOVEDAY), wife of William CROFTS of Little Gringley. I remember taking this photograph with the intention, at a later date, of determining Louisa CROFTS' maiden name. I thought she may well be an ALLEN. Unfortunately I had to face my camera into very strong sunlight, as a result this photograph is of very poor quality. If at sometime in the future I have the opportunity to return to Grove, I will locate the headstone and try again.

A search online with appropriate dates reveals just one wedding for the district of East Retford (the most likely district). The March quarter of 1875 returns the following marriages:

CROFTS, William
HUTCHINSON, Mary Jane
LOVEDAY, Louisa
OSTLER, Aaron

So did William CROFTS of Little Gringley marry Louisa LOVEDAY? If so was Louisa already sick and likely to die? Is this the reason they married? Or was Louisa just unfortunate to die immediately after her marriage.

Or is this all just conjecture! Perhaps I will never know.

Updates:
2006-01-13 A search of marriages after 1875 in the district of East Retford returns these for the June quarter of 1879:

BOND, Jane
CROFTS, William
EBSWORTH, Algernon Frederick
VERNON, Mary Frances H

Is this the same William CROFTS? Did he marry again? Interestingly the owner of Grove Hall at this time was a VERNON. Is there a connection?

This definitely is conjecture!

2006-01-14 Well I was correct about the link between VERNON and Grove Hall. Mary Frances HARCOURT-VERNON married Algernon Frederick EBSWORTH on the 24th April 1879. Certainly this couple would have had a rather different lifestyle to poor William CROFTS.

Read more about Mary Frances HARCOURT-VERNON and Reverend Algernon Frederick EBSWORTH at thePeerage.com.

I presume William CROFTS married Jane BOND. This may be of use to other researchers.

2007-03-11 I did indeed take another photograph of this headstone. When Juanita and Al Lewis visited the UK we visited the Church of Saint Helen at Grove and I came across this headstone again. Unfortunately we were short on time and the sun was positioned exactly as the year before. Consequently the later photograph is more over exposed than the original!

John Allen and Elizabeth Bird

Published: January 13, 2006    Last modified: May 22, 2022

Ever since I started researching my family history I have been frustrated by the apparent lack of information available for my great great grandfather John ALLEN 1831-Deceased.

I know he lived at Little Gringley, Nottinghamshire, but there were many branches of the ALLEN family in and around the parish of Clarborough, Nottinghamshire and it has been difficult to associate the various individuals with the various households.

Well thanks to a very kind lady from the USA with whom I may share a common ancestor, many of these quandaries have been resolved. I now have a father, mother and siblings for John ALLEN 1831-Deceased the father of my great grandmother Ziller JACKLIN (née Ziller ALLEN 1858-1949).

John ALLEN abt.1789-Deceased born about 1789 and Elizabeth ALLEN (née Elizabeth BIRD 1796-Deceased) born 17th January 1796 married on the 28th November 1816.
John and Elizabeth raised 9 children (there may have been others that died in childhood) and I will list them in chronological order:

Gervase ALLEN, born 1817
Mary ALLEN, born 1818
George ALLEN, born 1823
William ALLEN, born 1824
John ALLEN, born abt. 1827
Harriet ALLEN, born 1828
Vincent ALLEN, born 1833
Jane ALLEN, born 1834
Hannah ALLEN, born 1837

I have a slight discrepancy with the date of birth for John ALLEN (son) but I'm sure a little more research will resolve this.

This lady has a great deal of information regarding the ALLENs who emigrated to the USA in the latter half of the 19th century and I will eventually document and comment on some of these branches.

Updates:
2007-01-30 Having met with Juanita Lewis (the lady I mention) and compared research, Juanita believes we have two distict lines of ALLEN families and two John ALLENs. I am inclined to agree and desperately need to obtain further documentation.

Old Comments:

Family in the island of Puerto Rico
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2006-01-27 22:55

We have your same last name, ancestors came to the island, it seems that the soldier that came or Marine that came in the 1800's liked it so much that he stayed,
if you want more info let me know
my name is Elizabeth.

Vincent Allen: Update

Published: January 8, 2006    Last modified: November 14, 2016

In this post about Vincent ALLEN, I surmised he and John ALLEN may be brothers.

A recent comment on this post states:

"The 1841 census has both John and Vincent in the same household as John and Elizabeth ALLEN at Little Gringley."

I am very grateful for this information and I will follow this line of research a little further.