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.
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 | REMARKS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | REMARKS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
I now have the marriage certificate for William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899 and Ellen TOMLINSON 1855-1943. I have transcribed this certificate, though I am struggling to decipher some of the names.
Samuel TOMLINSON 1826-1854 is the only surprise; I was expecting Ellen's father's forename to be William. More research is required.
To view my transcription of the marriage certificate for William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899 and Ellen TOMLINSON 1855-1943 please click here.
In order to progress research of my ASHFORTH line I have ordered the following certificates from Sheffield Register Office:
William Henry ASHFORTH 1873-1926 - Birth Certificate
William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899 - Birth Certificate
William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899 and Ellen TOMLINSON 1855-1943 - Marriage Certificate
I am hoping these certificates will reveal a few clues regarding parentage.
Updates:
2008-10-02 To view the outcome of the request for the birth certificate of William Henry ASHFORTH 1873-1926 please click here.
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Ellen Ashforth (née Ellen Tomlinson 1855-1943)
For some time now the name Leah ASHFORTH (née Leah WEBB 1816-1901) has been niggling away at my mind. Each time I chat with my mother regarding the ASHFORTH line, and I mention Ellen ASHFORTH (née Ellen TOMLINSON 1855-1943), my mother reminds me she thought her forename was Leah.
With this in mind and thinking we may be talking about different generations I decided to carry out some serious research. Several hours later I seem to have established a number of leads worth following.
Some time ago while searching online I came across the death of one Leah ASHFORTH aged 85 years in the district of Ecclesall Bierlow, Sheffield.
Leah ASHFORTH is not a terribly common name, on the one hand this limits the number of results but on the other hand Ashforth is often interchanged with Ashford, Ashcroft, sometimes Ashworth and possibly other connotations.
George ASHFORTH 1814-Deceased and Leah ASHFORTH (née Leah WEBB 1816-1901) first appear as a family in 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 | OCCUPATION | WHERE BORN | REMARKS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Almost certainly 'William H ASHFORTH' is my gg grandfather William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899. The other children have proved more difficult to research since these are the first individuals in my ASHFORTH line to be born outside of Sheffield.
Come the England and Wales Census 1871 and now only Leah and William Henry are listed:
FHJ Ref: 031
Census: England and Wales Census 1871
Place: Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
Household: Leah Ashforth
| SURNAME | FIRST NAME(S) | REL | STATUS | SEX | AGE | OCCUPATION | WHERE BORN | REMARKS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashforth | Leah | Head | Widowed | Female | 54 | Seamstress | Staffordshire | |
| Ashforth | William Henry | Son | Male | 20 | Sheffield, Yorkshire |
To view this table full width please click here.
There is no record of Leah ASHFORTH in the England and Wales Census 1881 and 1891 but she reappears in the England and Wales Census 1901:
FHJ Ref: 032
Census: England and Wales Census 1901
Place: Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
Household: Leah Ashforth
| SURNAME | FIRST NAME(S) | REL | STATUS | SEX | AGE | OCCUPATION | WHERE BORN | REMARKS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashforth | Leah | Head | Female | 87 | Living on own means | Kingswinford, Staffordshire |
To view this table full width please click here.
Only to die shortly afterwards age 85 years abt. June 1901.
It would appear George ASHFORTH 1814-Deceased travelled around the Sheffield, Manchester and West Midland regions of England before possibly settling back at Sheffield, Yorkshire. I have established Leah ASHFORTH (née Leah WEBB 1816-1901) was born at Kingswinford, Staffordshire, England but despite all my research I am still missing Leah's maiden surname.
Updates:
2007-12-02 Once again I have spoken with my mother regarding Leah ASHFORTH. My mother definitely recalls Leah being around in her (my mother's) childhood, which means it cannot be the Leah of this article since she passed away in 1901. My mother recalls 'her' Leah being into her nineties before she passed away. I seem to be going round in circles on this one; who is this mysterious Leah ASHFORTH?
I have completed my transcriptions of the following certificates:
Rosa ASHFORTH 1874-Deceased - Birth Certificate
To view my transcription of Rosa ASHFORTH 1874-Deceased's birth certificate please click here.
William Henry ASHFORTH 1873-1926 and Florence FLOWERS 1876-1973 - Marriage Certificate
To view my transcription of William Henry ASHFORTH 1873-1926 and Florence FLOWERS 1876-1973's marriage certificate please click here.
I have now received from Sheffield Register Office the marriage certificate for William Henry ASHFORTH 1873-1926 and Florence ASHFORTH (née Florence FLOWERS 1876-1973).
William Henry ASHFORTH 1873-1926 and Florence ASHFORTH (née Florence FLOWERS 1876-1973) were married at the Church of Saint John the Baptist, Owlerton, Sheffield on the 25th of December 1895.
This really only confirms what I already know. Though it does verify William Henry's father as William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899.
Updates:
2007-11-25 I have now transcribed the marriage certificate for William Henry ASHFORTH 1873-1926 and Florence ASHFORTH (née Florence FLOWERS 1876-1973). To view my transcription please click here.
At long last I seem to have found a maiden surname for the spouse of William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899. I have received from Sheffield Register Office the birth certificate for Rosa ASHFORTH 1874-Deceased.
Rosa ASHFORTH 1874-Deceased was born on the 23rd of February, 1874 at 83 Duncombe Street, Nether Hallam, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. Her father is William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899 and her mother Ellen TOMLINSON 1855-1943.
My notes show I have a baptism record for Rosa ASHFORTH 1874-Deceased:
Ashforth, Rosie (adult) (of 172 Cuthbert Bank Rd).
Baptised December 5, 1888, by AH Rhodes at St John the Baptist Church, Owlerton.
Parents name(s) are Helena; William (File-cutter).
Rosa ASHFORTH 1874-Deceased is recorded as an adult. It would appear both William Henry ASHFORTH 1873-1926 and Rosa ASHFORTH 1874-Deceased were born before their parents were married.
This probably explains why Rosa was nearly 15 years of age when she was baptised.
My notes show a marriage in 1876 for William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899 and Ellen TOMLINSON 1855-1943. I will submit a request to Sheffield Register Office for this marriage certificate.
Notes:
The Church of Saint John the Baptist, Owlerton, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England.
Updates:
2007-11-25 I have transcribed the birth certificate of Rosa ASHFORTH 1874-Deceased. To view her birth certificate please click here.
I really should have obtained the marriage certificate of my great grandparents William Henry ASHFORTH 1873-1926 and Florence ASHFORTH (née Florence FLOWERS 1876-1973) before embarking on a search for my great great grandfather William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899.
Other than information found in the England and Wales Census 1881, searches for a date of birth for both my great grandfather William Henry ASHFORTH 1873-1926 and great great grandfather William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899 have not produced any conclusive results.
A search for Rosa ASHFORTH 1874-Deceased one of my great great grandfather William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899's daughters yields a single record, a birth during June 1874. Variations of Rosa i.e. Rosey, Rosie, Rosanna and Rosalind produce results outside my expected dates.
Therefore I have gone ahead and ordered from Sheffield Register Office the following certificates:
William Henry ASHFORTH 1873-1926 and Florence ASHFORTH (née Florence FLOWERS 1876-1973) - Marriage Certificate
Rosa ASHFORTH 1874-Deceased - Birth Certificate
Hopefully the birth certificate for Rosa ASHFORTH 1874-Deceased will reveal her mother's maiden name.
This marriage certificate is much more problematic:
William Henry ASHFORTH age 22 years married Lucy Ellen LOCKWOOD age 19 years at St. Stephen's Church, Sheffield on the 11th of June, 1867.
The names, ages and dates appear to point to this marriage being that of my gg grandfather William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899 the other details suggest these families are from a far wealthier background than I expected.
The Rank or Profession of William Henry ASHFORTH is recorded as 'Silversmith'. His father Henry ASHFORTH is also recorded as 'Silversmith'.
The Rank or Profession of William LOCKWOOD, the father of Lucy Ellen LOCKWOOD, is recorded as 'Bracelit Maker' [sic].
Previous searches have shown the surname ASHFORTH linked to Silversmiths both in Sheffield and London.
The England and Wales Census 1891 records:
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 | REMARKS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
I am certain the household shown above from the England and Wales Census 1881 is the correct family and the marriage certificate I have obtained belongs to another ASHFORTH line.
Updates:
2007-11-03 I now have a maiden name for the mother of William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899. To read this update please click here.