The Braithwaite Genealogy Page

Part of the Jackson Family History

Alternative web address: www.hilarymaryjackson.co.uk/Braithwaite.htm

Updated 15 April 2012

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Micklethwaite tree

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Dixon Family Our Canadians Braithwaite Research School Days Vaughan Family Abraham Thompson

David McPhaden's Family

Tomlinson and Dawson Families

Researching the Braithwaite family has proved interesting in that there seems to be quite a few people researching the same 'branches' as me.  Cousins and second cousins who have close connections with West Melton. 

My mother was Mary Alice Irene Hickling who was born in Rawmarsh, near Rotherham, Yorkshire, in 1902 (the Hickling Family website can be accessed by following the above link); she married my father, Albert Braithwaite, who was born  in West Melton, Rotherham on 27 June 1896 at 26 Winterwell Road.  They were introduced to each other by Great Aunt Emma Gash who had moved to 69 Winterwell Road when she married Herbert Simms. (Please see the Gash Family website - above, for further information.)

CERTIFIED COPY of an ENTRY of MARRIAGE

Pursuant to the Marriage Acts, 1836 to 1898

1925, Marriage Solemnized at Rawmarsh in the Parish of Rawmarsh in the County of York

No

When married

Name and Surname

Age

Condition

Rank or Profession

Residence at the time of marriage

Father's name and surname

Rank or profesion of father

435

December 26th 1925

Albert Braithwaite

Mary Alice Irene Hickling

29

 

23

Bachelor

 

Spinster

Motor driver

-

52 Kilnhurst Road

 

52 Kilnhurst Road

Josiah Braithwaite (deceased)

Willie Hickling

Miner

 

Miner

Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England after Banns; by me

Frederick George Scovell, Rector

Albert and Irene signed the register and the Witnesses were Edith M Gash and Norman Hickling

52 Kilnhurst Road was the home of Willie and Mary Hickling's, Irene's parents; Edith M Gash was my Mother's cousin and Norman Hickling was her brother.

Clicking on a photograph will give a larger, clearer image, press your 'BACK' button to return here.

Group photograph at Irene Hickling and Albert Braithwaite's wedding Key to group photograph Mary Alice Irene Hickling and Albert Braithwaite Picture 1 was taken outside in the back yard of 52 Kilnhurst Road, Rawmarsh, the home of Mary and Willie Hickling - my mother and father's wedding group photograph.

Picture 2 - identifying the guests in picture 1 (see table below)

Picture 3 the bride and groom, this photograph was kindly sent to me by my newly found distant cousin Susan Principe who lives on Vancouver Island in Canada.

We can't identify everyone on the wedding group, so if anyone can fill in the blanks or know that we have wrongly identified someone, please use the email address at the bottom of the page.

Key to Picture 1:

1 William F Hickling 2 Mr Pennycook 3 Mrs Pennycook 4 5 6
7 Horace Buncall 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 Hilda Evans 15 Edith Braithwaite 16 17 Albert Braithwaite 18 ?Lucy E Simms?
19 Gertrude Simms 20 Emma Simms 21 22 Irene Hickling 23 24
25 Charles Chapman 26 Jane Ethel Briggs 27 28 29 Edith Gash 30 Leslie Hickling
31 32 Martha Braithwaite 33 Norman Hickling 34 Mrs Farnsworth 35 Mr Farnsworth 36 Beatrice Chapman
37 38 Ethel (Effie) Braithwaite 39 Cyril Chapman 40 Beryl Pennycook 41 Elsie Briggs 42 Mary Hickling
43 Lucy Simms* 44 45 Lillian Briggs 46 Alice Briggs 47 48
*Not marked on the key is the boy on the right next to (43) - I think this is Jack, Lucy Simms's grandson

 

I knew my father's father was called Josiah Braithwaite and that he had married Hannah Cupit.  Dad had told me that Hannah's mother, Annice Cupit, had been raped whilst working as housekeeper for a schoolmaster in Dronfield.  The Schoolmaster had paid her a sum of money to leave Dronfield.  I have not found anything yet to substantiate this. 

Dad went on to tell me about David McPhaden - he said that David was a collier who had come to board with them in Winterwell Road at West Melton.  Dad said that he spoke with a local accent, so did not originate from Scotland or Ireland.  He had been lodging at Great Houghton, near Barnsley working at Houghton Main, then at Wath Main Colliery.  He also added that David had then changed his name for some reason to 'David Johnson' - Dad said he did not know of any reason why this had happened.

David, according to dad, had become 'friendly' with his mother, and when Josiah died, they eventually married in 1918.  Dad emphasised that his Mother had been unhappy because Josiah was unfaithful and that David had comforted her.

At first, I could not  find a record of Hannah's marriage to David.  My cousin, Doris thought that they did not go through a marriage ceremony.  When the BMD index records became available on 1837 on line, I was able to locate my Grandmother Braithwaite's second marriage to David.

I knew that Josiah and Hannah had 11 children - Jim, Beattie, Annie, Billy, George, Harry, Edith, Albert, Gertie, Lucy and Effie.  My Father maintained that some of these children were David's.    However, his sister Lucy disputed this - she said they were all Josiah's children. 

My Great Aunt Emma, who had lived in Winterwell Road and had introduced my Mother and Father, was the source of Dad's story.  Other members of the family believed that only Lucy was David's child.

This was all I knew when I started to research the Braithwaite family tree.  I began by looking in the 1881 Census at Family Search and I found Josiah living with his brother Thomas in Brampton Bierlow (West Melton), near Rotherham -

1881 Census - Living at New Street, Brampton Bierlow, Yorkshire

Thomas Braithwaite, Head, age 29, Collier, born Stocksbridge Sarah Braithwaite, wife, age 25 born Stocksbridge Emily, daughter, age 6, a scholar born Stocksbridge Alice, daughter, age 5, a scholar born Stocksbridge Frances, daughter, age 1 born Dronfield Josiah Braithwaite*, brother, unmarried, age 21, a Collier, born Stocksbridge

* My Grandfather

Thomas Braithwaite had married Sarah Marsh registered in Wortley, in the December quarter of 1873 V9c page 366.  It was shortly after the 1881 Census, that Josiah Braithwaite married Hannah Cupit.

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Josiah Braithwaite = Hannah Cupit

My paternal grandparents

Their Marriage Certificate shows -

CERTIFIED COPY of an ENTRY of MARRIAGE

Given at the GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE

1881, Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of Brampton Bierlow in the County of York

No

When married

Name and Surname

Age

Condition

Rank or Profession

Residence at the time of marriage

Father's name and surname

Rank or profesion of father

214

May 29th

Josiah Braithwaite

Hannah Cupit

21

20

Bachelor

Spinster

Miner

-

West Melton

West Melton

Robert Braithwaite

William Cupit

Labourer

Miner

Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church after banns; by me

Jno. Cheeseman B.a., Vicar

Josiah and Hannah signed their names and the Witnesses were Thomas Braithwaite and Ann Marsh

Hannah's picture is on Photo Gallery 2.    The witnesses were Thomas, Josiah's brother and Ann Marsh may have been the sister of Thomas's wife, Sarah.

William Cupit = Annis Skevington

My Great Grandparents

After purchasing Josiah and Hannah's marriage certificate, I was then able to locate Hannah's Mother and Father's marriage on the BMD website and obtain their marriage certificate detailing -

CERTIFIED COPY of an ENTRY of MARRIAGE

Given at the GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE

1842, Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of Kirkby in Ashfield in the County of Nottingham

No

When married

Name and Surname

Age

Condition

Rank or Profession

Residence at the time of marriage

Father's name and surname

Rank or profesion of father

61

January 10th 1842

William Cupit

Anis Skevington

Minor

Minor

Bachelor

Spinster

Collier

-

Kirkby in Ashfield

Kirkby in Ashfield

Joseph Cupit

Thomas Skevington

Collier

Collier

Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church after banns; by me

Richard Brough Maltby

William and Anis signed their marks and the Witnesses were Josiah Brown X his mark and Annis Taylor

for further information regarding the Cupit/Skevington connection please visit their page.

Josiah's birth certificate was the next to be obtained -

CERTIFIED COPY of an ENTRY of BIRTH

Given at the GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE

REGISTRATION DISTRICT Wortley & Penistone

1859 BIRTH in the Sub-District of Penistone in the Counties of York

Columns 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

No

When and where born

Name (if any)

Sex

Name and Surname of Father

Name and Maiden Surname of Mother

Rank or Profession of Father

Signature, Description and Residence of Informant

When Registered

Signature of Registrar

170

Fourth July 1859

Greenmoor Hunshelf

Josiah

Boy

Robert Braithwaite

Harriot Braithwaite formerly Micklethwaite

Agricultural Labourer

X the mark of Harriet Braithwaite Mother

Greenmoor, Hunshelf

Thirtieth July 1859

John Bedford Registrar

This contained a name which I had never heard connected with our family before - a Micklethwaite! I then searched the BMD website for Robert and Harriet's wedding and promptly sent off for the copy of the certificate.

Robert Braithwaite = Harriet Micklethwaite

My Great Grandparents

Robert and Harriet's wedding certificate revealed -

CERTIFIED COPY of an ENTRY of MARRIAGE

Given at the GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE

1849, Marriage solemnized at Peniston in the Parish of Peniston in the County of York

No

When married

Name and Surname

Age

Condition

Rank or Profession

Residence at the time of marriage

Father's name and surname

Rank or profesion of father

78

February 12th 1849

Robert Braithwaite

 

Harriet Micklethwaite

of full age

of full age

Bachelor

 

Spinster

Farmer's Man

 

-

Green Moor

 

Green Moor

Cristopher Braithwaite

 

Benjamin Micklethwaite

Farmer

 

Schoolmaster

Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church after banns; by me

S Sunderland, Vicar

Robert signed his name & Harriet signed her mark & the Witnesses were Joshua Illingworth & Mary Blackwell X her mark

Robert and Harriet Braithwaite (nee Micklethwaite) lived in Green Moor, Hunshelf after they were married. Searching the 1841 Census for Witness, Mary Blackwell, I have found a 'Blackwell' family on the entry above the Micklethwaite family living in Greenmoor, the entry being headed by Francis Blackwell, 'Inn Keeper' - and there is a Mary Blackwell, but her age is shown as 7 years (she would have been 15 in 1849).  There was a Joshua Illingworth, age 13 living at Crane Moor. 

Alongside Harriet's father's name, it should state "deceased" as Benjamin died in 1848; unfortunately, I do not know if Cristopher was alive at this time.  I have obtained a death certificate for a Christopher Braithwaite, Farmer who died in 1844 whilst living at New George Street, Sheffield but I can't be certain whether this is Robert's father until I obtain more information - details found on this certificate and another possible candidate can be seen here

My research to find Cristopher and Robert Braithwaites' early life appears further down this page.Return to top

Penistone Church Bolsterstone Church The Wesleyan Church at Deepcar Robert, Harriet and Thomas Braithwaite Hartwith

1 Penistone Church Robert Braithwaite and Harriet Micklethwaite were married at Penistone Church on February 12th 1849
2 Bolsterstone Church Robert Braithwaite paid 6d subscription in January, 1873 for use of the Bolsterstone Hearse - see "gleanings from the parish magazine"
3 The Wesleyan Chapel at Deepcar According to Harry Eastwood's History of Stocksbridge, Robert Braithwaite was one of the founders of this Wesleyan Chapel, opened in 1868.  Harry wrote that Robert was the first Superintendent and Treasurer.
4 Robert, Harriet and Thomas Braithwaite It felt wonderful finding these images in Harry Eastwood's work.  I have yet to try to contact Harry's family to get permission to use these images.
5 St Jude's Church and School complex In all Census Records, Robert Braithwaite is shown as born in Hartwith, Yorkshire.  There's the Church, the school, schoolmaster's house, the vicarage and a few farms - nowadays an exceedingly small agricultural hamlet.  This picture is taken looking up the road at the Church and school buildings, behind the buildings a few yards away is the very large vicarage.

---o0o---

Wanting to find out more about the Micklethwaite family, I typed "Micklethwaite" into the Google Search engine and eventually came across the Rootsweb Worldconnect Geology Project -

http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com:80/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?includedb=bolsterstoneorig I then keyed in Harriet Micklethwaite into the search and found her almost straight away and also I found the Bolsterstone web site - http://www.bolsterstone.de

On this site I found information about two other people who were researching the Micklethwaite family.  One was a descendant of my father's sister Beatrice Braithwaite who married Charles Chapman.  Beatrice and Charles were Carl Chapman's grandparents.  Although Carl Chapman provided an email address, he has not responded to any of my efforts to contact him.  I have also found  Carl Chapman on a site connected to Nottinghamshire where he is researching the Cupit/Skevington branch of the family tree.  This time I found an address and posted a letter, containing my postal and email address.  However to date he has not responded.  I really did want to contact him because he has published his version of our family on the web and has mistakes regarding several of the families of the children of Josiah and Hannah and in particular he has quoted wrong information about my father, Albert Braithwaite.

I also contacted Connie Goldring who is also researching the Micklethwaites and Connie has been extremely helpful. 

Thanks to Connie, I now have quite considerable information on the Micklethwaite ancestors and on Benjamin Micklethwaite especially.  This information, can be found on the Micklethwaite Family page.

Included in the World Connect Project information was the birthplace of Robert Braithwaite, given as Hartwith, Yorkshire.  Looking on the Internet for Hartwith, I found a website with a link to Hartwith.  This looks like a page to bookmark as they have formed a Hartwith Heritage Group - details of this are shown below. 

I contacted the Hartwith Heritage Group and in their reply they included their website address -  http://www.hartwith.org.uk/ they also enquired about my interest in the area and offered their help.  This link is no longer working but there's a pdf document about their work on http://www.lhi.org.uk/docs/st_judes.pdf 

Bewerley Park Camp School, Pateley Bridge

Incidentally I went on a residential holiday with Rawmarsh Haugh Road Secondary Modern School to Bewerley Park Camp School at Pateley Bridge when I was 12 in 1952.  The picture on the right is a copy of the post card showing the Camp School - this is taken from my booklet which was produced during my stay there.  The centre is quite close to where the Robert Braithwaite was born.  The School is still an active Outdoor Centre, their website can be accessed here -

 http://northyorks.outdoored.co.uk/bewerleypark/ unfortunately there is nothing now mentioned regarding the history of the school, but I did manage to obtain a booklet which contained photographs of courses held before the 1970's.  I have included some information about my experience at Bewerley Park on my School Days page.

Robert and Harriet Braithwaite's children were:

John, born 1850, Hunshelf Yorkshire Thomas, born 1852, Wortley, Yorkshire Jane, born 1854, Hunshelf, Yorkshire Benjamin, born 1856, Hunshelf, Yorkshire Joseph, born 1858, Hunshelf, Yorkshire Josiah*, born 4 Jul 1859 Robert Reynard, born 1864, Bolsterstone Yorkshire George, born 1868, Bolsterstone, Yorkshire

*My Grandfather

Looking through Penistone fiches at Barnsley Archives, I found the birth of Robert and Harriet's first child

Page 102

B A P T I S M S solemnized in the Parish of Peniston

in the County of York in the Year 1850

Nos

 809 No 816

When

Baptized

Child's

Christian Name

Parents Name

Abode Quality, Trade, or Profession By whom the Ceremony was performed

Christian

Surname

March

24th 

No. 813

John

Son

of

 Robert

Harriet

Braithwaite

Braithwaite formerley Micklethwaite

Hunshelf Farmer

J.M.Allister, Curate

Born Nov 6th 1849

The above baptism record shows Robert Braithwaite's occupation as Farmer, whereas on his marriage certificate it states "Farmer's man", but by 1851 he was described as "Labourer at Quarry" -

1851 Census

The Braithwaits (no 'e') shown as living at Wellhouse, Hunshelf -

Robert Braithwait, Head, age 27, born Hartwith, York, Labourer at Quarry

Harriot Braithwait, Wife, age 24, born Bradfield, Yorks

John Braithwait, son, age 1, born Hunshelf, Yorks

See photographs below for picture of Wellhouse Farm and cottages on Hunshelf Bank.  Click here for a map showing this area - scroll down for the actual map but note the option of a much older map is not working. 

There were four families on the 1851 Census with the address Well House and on the next page was Joshua Illingworth - this was the name of the male witness at Robert and Harriet's' wedding.  Joshua was unmarried, born Thurgoland and living at Burton under Edge which is quite close to Well House on Hunshelf Bank, as can be seen on the above mentioned map; Joshua's occupation was 'Quarry labourer' and he was living with his brother William, who was also a labourer at the quarry.  Both brothers were probably workmates of Robert Braithwaite.  At this time there were several quarries being worked in the area.

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1861 Census

The Brethwkaite's (another unique Ancestry.co.uk spelling!) shown as living in Greenmoor, Hunshelf -

Robert Brethwkaite, Head, age 37, born Harwthwith, Yorkshire, Labourer

Harriott Brethwkaite, Wife, age 34, born Bradfield, Yorkshire

John Brethwkaite, son, age 11, Works at Wire Mills, born Hunshelf, Yorkshire Thos Brethwkaite, son, age 9, Works at Wire Mills, born Wortley Lordship, Yorkshire
Jane Brethwkaite, daughter, age 7, Scholar, born Hunshelf, Yorkshire Benj'n Brethwkaite, son, age 5, Scholar, born Hunshelf, Yorkshire Joseph Brethwkaite, son, age 3,  born Hunshelf, Yorkshire Josiah Brethwkaite*, son, age 1,  born Hunshelf, Yorkshire

Note Harwthwith = Hartwith                                                                         *My Grandfather

Robert and Harriet's sons, Joseph and Benjamin, died between these Census dates. 

Another Micklethwaite researcher, Andrew Shaw has found Joseph's burial in Bolsterstone St Mary's Churchyard, the date of burial was  10 Jan 1863, the place of death noted as Horner House - Joseph would have been 5 years old.  I have found the death of Benjamin in the FreeBMD lists, the death being registered at Wortley, during the March Quarter of 1865. 

1871 Census

The Braithwaites shown as living in Haywoods - close to Stocksbridge, just down the hill from Hunshelf

Robert Braithwaite, Head, age 47, born Hartwith, York, Banksman at Colliery

Harriett Braithwaite, Wife, age 44, born Bradfield, Yorks

John Braithwaite, son, age 21, born Penistone, Yorks, Clog Maker

Thomas Braithwaite, son, age 19, born Tankersley, Yorks, Coal Miner Jane Braithwaite, daughter, age 17, born Penistone, Yorks, Umbrella  Maker Josiah* Braithwaite, son, age 11, born Penistone, Yorks, Coal Pit Boy Robert  Braithwaite, son, age 7, born Bradfield, Yorks, Scholar George Braithwaite, son, age 4, born Bradfield, Yorks, Scholar

*My Grandfather

Jane Braithwaite married in 1873, a marriage being registered at Wortley in September, but to date I have only been able to speculate regarding a spouse for Jane.  she later married Joe Bancroft a shoe maker. See 1881 Cenus

---o0o---

On a visit to Sheffield Archives, I found some original manuscripts of Joseph Kenworthy, the Stocksbridge historian  and included in one of his booklets was -

Gleanings from the Bolsterstone Parish Magazine 1873-1885

The following lists of names were carefully recorded at the time to enable Subscribers and their descendants to claim the advantages accruing to them by virtue of their family name

But time, that relentless foe of all which Man so vainly regards as permanent is fast rendering such 'lists' obsolete though our interest need not diminish because a perusal will always afford instructive reading to those who love to compare the present with the past - see handbooks Nos 10 and 18 devoted to Family Names, etc in Hunshelf and Waldershelf in the reign of Richard the Second - and 'Some Old Sunday School Registers' and what we can learn from them

BOLSTERSTONE HEARSE

At a vestry meeting held in Bolsterstone Church on Wednesday, July 12th 1871, the following were the Fees fixed to be paid for the use of the New Hearse

 

s d
By subscribers in or out of the Parish (without horse) 1 0
By non subscribers in the Parish (without horse) 3 6
By non subscribers out of the Parish (without horse) 5 0
A horse if required provided for persons within the Parish (24 hours' previous notice being given to the Keeper of the Hearse) on the payment of the extra charge of 3 6

Both subscribers and Non-subscribers out of the Parish to make their own arrangements for the use of a Horse in case they wish to hire one.

Mr Joseph Wainwright has been apointed by the Churchwardens to take charge of the Hearse.

The following is a complete List of Subscribers and a copy of the list may now be had by each Subscriber on application to the Church Wardens

January, 1873

[Extracted from the long list]

  £ s d
Braithwaite, Robert, Haywoods 0 0 6
Micklethwaite, Joel, Bacon Row 0 0 6
Micklethwaite, Amos, Stocksbridge 0 2 0
Marshall, Thomas, Stocksbridge 0 2 0

I wonder if they used the service?!  Joseph and Benjamin Braithwaite had died before this scheme was in place.Return to top

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The following photographs of Hunshelf and Green Moor were taken on a dull day in March 2005:

  Well House FarmLooking down the drive to Well House CottageWellHouse Cottages, Hunshelf BankWellHouse Cottages, Hunshelf BankStocks at HunshelfStone from old schoolGreenmoor schoolGreen Moor SchoolThe Rock at HunshelfThe Rock at Hunshelf

The above photos are of the Hunshelf area as it is today; where the Micklethwaite and Braithwaite Families lived and worked.

Photo No.1 shows Wellhouse Farm - Robert and Harriet Braithwaite were living at Wellhouse at the time of the 1851 Census.  This area is known as Hunshelf Bank.

Photo No.2 is taken from the drive of Wellhouse Cottage - showing Deepcar/Stocksbridge in the background.   Wellhouse Farm is just up the hill from Wellhouse Cottage - after talking to Phyllis Crossland, author of 'Echoing Hills' and 'Years of Grace', I believe that the Braithwaite family probably lived within the cluster of buildings around Wellhouse Cottage; these are clearly shown on the Alan Godfrey Old Ordnance Survey Map of Stocksbridge for the year 1903.  This was also where Benjamin Micklethwaite's second school was situated, his first school being just up the road at Burton under Edge.  Wellhouse in earlier times was called 'Gin House'.

Photo No.3 & 4 - Wellhouse Cottages; picture number 4, clearly shows Wellhouse Farmhouse in the top left corner of the photograph.

Photo No.5 - the stocks are still available in Hunshelf, not in their original position but moved to a prime spot on the main road near the pub.

Photo No.6 - this photograph shows a stone plaque which is in the wall in front of the old school at Greenmoor.  "This SCHOOL was BUILT BY SUBSCRIPTION 1836" is engraved on the stone.  That school was where my 2 x Great Grandfather Benjamin Micklethwaite lived and taught.  Read Benjamin's story   The Braithwaite children may have gone up the hill to this school or down the hill to Stocksbridge.

Photo No.7 and 8 shows two views of what was the second school building erected in 1879 but is now a residential property, I think divided into several dwellings.

Photo No.9 and 10 Above left are two photographs of The Rock at Greenmoor.  Connie Goldring remembers going to a pub at Hunshelf with her husband and her in-laws, and one saying that one of the relatives was the publican at some time.  The Rock is an old pub and presumably the Braithwaite or the Micklethwaite family could well have had a pint or two in there.  We visited The Rock in 2006, but unfortunately it was closed and did look unoccupied - not very good when you're hungry and thirsty!

---o0o---

Below is the 1881 Census Entry for Robert and Harriet Braithwaite (but note the spelling)

Living at Fanshaw Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire - Dronfield is about seven miles from Hunshelf:

Robert Breathwate, age 51, born Hartwith, York, Labourer at Steel Works

Harriett Breathwate, wife, age 54, born Outerbridge (sic), York

Robert Raynard Breathwate, son, unmarried, age 17 born Bolsterstone, Yorks, Labourer at Steel Works

George Breathwate, son, age 13, born Bolsterstone, Yorks, scholar

William James Smallbone*, Boarder, unmarried, age 27, born Woodborough, Wiltshire, an Assurance Agent

The above entry is Josiah's mother and father, my Great Grandparents; the spellings are different, but nevertheless this is the family in 1881.  Looking at the original census return though, I believe the age of Robert to be 57 as according to Carl Chapman's research, he was born about 1824 in Hartwith, the son of Cristopher Braithwaite - my Great, Great Grandfather.  It is hard to read with the digits 5 and 7 placed so close together. 

* I have received an email from Colin Briggs, who found this website while, as he wrote - "chasing my wife's ancestors".  Colin's wife's Great Grand Uncle was the Boarder, William James Smallbone, living with the Braithwaite's in Dronfield.  He was the brother of her Great Grandfather, Henry William King Smallbones who at this time lived on Mill Lane, Dronfield. 

Colin added that the Post Office Lane, mentioned in the following census entry for John Braithwaite and his family, cannot be found on Dronfield maps because it was a local temporary name for a section of Mill Lane where a post office was situated..  Colin and his wife are members of the Old Dronfield Society and they have carried out some research into the area around Mill Lane and the section named "Post Office Lane" in this and other Census records.

Also living in Dronfield on Post Office Lane were Robert and Harriet's eldest son John.  John had married Annie Silverwood, the marriage shown on BMD as being in the Dec. quarter of 1873.   Their 1881 Census entry shows:

John Braithwaite, age 31, born Penistone, York, Labourer at Steel Works

Annie Braithwaite, wife, age 28, born Penistone, York

Gertrude Braithwaite, daughter,  age 7, Scholar, born Yorks,  Bradfield

Edith Braithwaite, daughter,  age 3 born Derby, Dronfield

Infant Braithwaite, son,  no age given born Derby, Dronfield

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The following entry shows Robert and Harriet's daughter Jane married to Joe Bancroft and living in Green Lane, Dronfield:

Joe Bancroft, Head, Marr, age 30, Shoe Maker, born Yorkshire, Loxley

Jane Bancroft, Wife, Marr, age 27,  born Yorkshire, Deinhead

Harry Bancroft, Son, age 5, Scholar, born Yorkshire, Royde

Walter Bancroft, Son, age 4, born Derbyshire, Dronfield

Sarah Bancroft, Daur, age 1, born Derbyshire, Dronfield

Visiting Stocksbridge Library I found a book "Steel Town Dronfield and Wilson Cammell 1873-1883" by John Austin and Malcolm Ford.  This book explains why some of the Braithwaite family moved from Hunshelf/Deepcar to Dronfield and subsequently to Workington.  The Dronfield steel rail making plant owned by Wilson Cammell was set up in March 1873 on Callywhite Lane, Dronfield and workers came from all over the country to work there, houses were built for these migrant workers, including Fanshaw Road where Robert and Harriet lived. 

The company flourished and were doing well even when there was a recession, but they were lured to close the Dronfield works and move "lock, stock and barrell" up to Workington.  The Braithwaite families living in Dronfield migrated with them up to Workington. 

According to the Dronfield Web:

For ten years the town enjoyed boom conditions. The population rapidly increased, new areas of housing were built and many shops were opened.

The coal and the steel industries both suffered a decline in the 1880s and by 1883 the rail making plant had been removed to Workington in Cumberland in an operation which astonished the commercial world.

The economic slump and the Wilson Cammel removal left Dronfield a stricken town with hundreds of empty houses and it was many years before there was a return to relative prosperity.

http://www.dronfield-jun.derbyshire.sch.uk/logbook.htm is a link to extracts from the school log book of Dronfield Junior School - this emphasises the devastating effect caused by the steelworks when they abandoned the town for Workington.

---o0o---

I have been unable to trace Robert and Harriet after the 1881 Census and was working out how I could access the Dronfield Parish Registers to see if they had died, when I thought I'd check FREEBMD once more.  It does say on this site that updates are occurring all the time and this week (July 2005), I found both Robert and Harriet had died, not in South Yorkshire or Derbyshire but in Cumberland!  So I sent for their Death Certificates and repeat this information here:

CERTIFIED COPY of an ENTRY of DEATH

Given at the GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE

Registration District Cockermouth

1888 DEATH in the Sub-District of Workington in the County of Cumberland

Columns 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

No

When and where died

Name and surname

Sex

Age

Occupation

Cause of death

Signature, description and residence of informant

When registered

Signature of registrar

176

Second January 1888, Northcote Street, Workington, USD

Harriet Braithwaite

Female

61 years

Wife of Robert Braithwaite, Steelworks Labourer

Bronchitis

7 days  Certified by

C McKerrow MB

R Braithwaite, widower of deceased present at Death, Northcote Street, Workington

Third January 1888

John Litster Registrar

and two years later Robert died:

CERTIFIED COPY of an ENTRY of DEATH

Given at the GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE

Registration District Cockermouth

1890 DEATH in the Sub-District of Workington in the County of Cumberland

Columns 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

No

When and where died

Name and surname

Sex

Age

Occupation

Cause of death

Signature, description and residence of informant

When registered

Signature of registrar

9

Eighth May 1890, Harrington Road, Westfield Workington, USD

Robert Braithwaite

Male

67 years

Steelworks Labourer

Broncho-

Pneumonia

6 days  Certified by

C McKerrow MB

Robert R Braithwaite, Son  present at Death, Harrington Road, Westfield, Workington

Eighth May 1890

John Litster Registrar

---o0o---

1891 Census

 My Grandparents - Living at 43 York Street, Brampton Bierlow, Rotherham, Yorkshire

Josiah Braithwaite, Head, married, age 32, coal miner employee, born Green Moor, Yorkshire

Hannah Braithwaite, Wife, age 29, born Derbyshire, Selston

Arthur J Braithwaite, son, age 9 Born West Melton, Yorkshire

Beatrice Braithwaite, Daughter, age 7, born Rotherham

William Braithwaite, son, age 4, born Hoyland

Annie Braithwaite, Daughter, age 2, born West Melton, Yorkshire

George Braithwaite, son, age 4m Born West Melton, Yorkshire

Annis Cupit, Ma-Law, widow, age 68, born Codnor Park, Derbyshire

David Johnson*, Boarder, single, age 25, Colliery Labourer (Em'ee), born Sheffield, Yorkshire

Born 4 Jul 1859, Green Moor, Hunshelf 18 May 1861, Selston Born Jan-Mar 1881 Rotherham 9c p649 Born Rotherham 24 Oct 1883 Born Apr/Jun 1886 Barnsley 9c p229 Born Jul/Sep 1888 Rotherham 9c 630 Born Oct/Dec 1890 Rotherham 9c 667

Born

 1823

Born about 1865

               * this is David McPhaden under his assumed name! (Referred to by my father here.)

Please visit David McPhaden's Family Page for more information.

Hannah Braithwaite's mother, Annis Cupit, my Great Grandmother, died soon after the 1891 Census -

CERTIFIED COPY of an ENTRY of DEATH

Given at the GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE

Registration District of Rotherham

1891 DEATH in the Sub-District of Wath in the County of York

Columns 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

No

When and where died

Name and surname

Sex

Age

Occupation

Cause of death

Signature, description and residence of informant

When registered

Signature of registrar

455

Twentieth April 1891

43 York Steet, West  Melton, Brampton Bierlow, Wath USD

Annis Cupit

Female

68 years

Widow of William Cupit, Coal Miner Old Age. Certified by W M Barnam

X The mark of Betsy Bradley Present at Death, West Melton

Twenty first April 1891

A H Foers Registrar

Column 7 - Betsy Bradley was a neighbour living next door at No 45 York Street.

---o0o---

In 1891 Josiah's brother Thomas Braithwaite had moved back nearer to his birth place and was now living in the Parish of Bradfield at No. 7 Haywood Park, close to Stocksbridge, in Deepcar, just down the hill from Hunshelf.

Thomas Braithwaite, Head, age 39 Coal Miner, born Yorkshire, Wortley Sarah Braithwaite, wife, age 36 born Yorkshire, Penistone Emily, daughter, age 16, a dressmaker apprentice born Yorkshire, Bradfield Alice, daughter, age 15, an umbrella hand, born Yorkshire, Bradfield Frances, daughter, age 11, scholar, born Dronfield Robert Raynard*, son, age 3, born Bradfield Florence, daughter, age 1, born Yorkshire, Bradfield Sam Marsh, Lodger,** single, age 27, a coal miner, born Penistone, Yorkshire

* Robert Raynard Braithwaite - This states Robert Raymond on the transcription but looking at the Cenus schedule its definitely Raynard.Return to top                                                                                                                                             ** Sam Marsh was Sarah's brother

Jane and Joe Bancroft were at Manchester Road, Stocksbridge in 1891, but note that their two youngest children were born in Durham and Cumberland, so it looks as though they may also have migrated to Workington, but came back to live in Stocksbridge -

 Joe Bancroft, Head, age 40 Shoe Maker, born Yorkshire, Loxley Jane Bancroft, Wife, Marr, age 37,   born Yorkshire, Penistone Harry Bancroft, Son, age 5, Scholar, born Yorkshire, Bolsterstone Walter Bancroft, Son, age 14, born Derbyshire, Hasland Sarah Bancroft, Daur, age 11, Scholar, born Derbyshire, Dronfield Willie Bancroft, Son, age 9, Scholar, born Derbyshire, Dronfield Annie Bancroft, Daur, age 7, Scholar, born Durham, Stockton Ruth Bancroft, Daur, age 4, Scholar, born Cumberland, Workington

Robert and Harriet Braithwaite's younger children had moved from Dronfield up to Workington, Cumberland and were living at 18 Gray Street, St John's -

Robert Raynard Braithwaite, head, married, age 27 born Yorkshire, Stocksbridge, Rail Straightener

Margaret Braithwaite, wife, age 27, born Ash Hurst, Kent

Herbert F Braithwaite, son, age 8 months, born Cumberland, Workington

George Braithwaite, lodger, age 23, born Yorks, Stocksbridge, Steelworker

Frederick J Barnes, visitor, age 22, single, born Cumbld, Workington, Clerk at steelworks

Robert W  Barnes, visitor, age 18, single, born Cumbld, Workington, Decorator's apprentice

Robert had married Margaret Barnes - found on FreeBMD - June quarter 1888 registered in Cockermouth.

I found the following when I joined the CUMBERLAND-L@rootsweb.com email list.  A lister, Sam Greany, transcribed stories from The Whitehaven Gazette archives and this appeared - although I have no way of knowing if this is 'our R. Braithwaite'

The Whitehaven Gazette, Thursday, July 1, 1897 - Police Intelligence - Whitehaven:

R. BRAITHWAITE was fined 20s or fourteen day's imprisonment for
cruelly working a horse in an unfit state.

 

Robert and Harriet's son John and his family had also moved up to Workington and in 1891 were found at 16 Roper Terrace, Workington:

John Braithwaite, Head, M, age 41 Steel Works Labourer, born Penistone, Yorkshire Annie Braithwaite,  wife, M, age 38, born Penistone, Yorkshire Gertrude Braithwaite, daughter, single, age 17, a dressmaker,  born Penistone, Yorkshire Edith Braithwaite, daughter, single, age 13, a scholar, born Derbyshire, Dronfield Ernest Braithwaite, son, age 10, a scholar, born Derbyshire, Dronfield Clara Braithwaite, daughter, age 7, a scholar, born Cumberland, Harrington John C. Braithwaite, son, age 4, born Cumberland, Workington

---o0o---

Brampton Ellis SchoolWinterwell RoadPrincess StreetPicture 1 - Schoolhouse at West Melton, with school just behind - my Father and his brothers and sisters could have gone to this school

Picture 2 - This is Winterwell Road - the houses unfortunately have been demolished.  Josiah and Hannah were here at the time of the 1901 Census.  I remember visiting my Auntie Beattie here with my Mother and Father when I was a girl.  York Street, where the family lived in 1891 is also gone, 'York Gardens' though is where York Street might have been.

Picture 3 - This is Princess Street - this street was especially built and paid for by local businesses to house new families coming from other areas to work in the collieries.  My Great Aunt Lucy and Uncle Charlie Simms lived here at the time of the 1901 Census. Information on the Simms Family page.

 

1901 Census

Josiah and Hannah had moved to 26 Winterwell Road, West Melton:

Josiah Braithwaite, Head, age 41, Coal Miner Hewer Under, Born Yorks, Greenmoor Hannah Braithwaite, Wife, age 39, born, Notts, Selston
 James A Braithwaite, son, age 19, Coal Miner Labourer Under, Born Yorks, West Melton Beatrice Braithwaite, Daughter, age 17, born Yorks, Rotherham

William Braithwaite, son, age 14, Screen Boy Colliery Above, born Yorks, Hoyland

Annie Braithwaite, Daughter, age 12, born Yorks, West Melton George Braithwaite, son, age 10 Born Yorks, West Melton Harry Braithwaite, son, age 8, Born Yorks, West Melton Edith Braithwaite, Daughter, age 6, born Yorks, West Melton Albert* Braithwaite, son, age 4 Born Yorks, West Melton Gertrude Braithwaite Daughter, age 2, born Yorks, West Melton

David McPhaden, Boarder, single, age 35, Coal Miner Labourer Below, born Yorks, Sheffield

Note - back to his original name!

* My father - please follow the hyperlink to read about my father Albert Braithwaite in World War I.

In 1901, Josiah's brother Thomas was still living at No 7 Haywood Park, described now as Deepcar -

Thomas Braithwaite, Head, age 49 Coal Miner, born Yorks, Wortley Sarah Braithwaite, wife, age 46 born Yorks, Stocksbridge Emily Braithwaite, daughter, age 26, a dressmaker, own account working at home, born Yorks, Stocksbridge Alice Braithwaite, daughter, age 25, an umbrella frame fitter, born Yorks, Stocksbridge Robert R Braithwaite, son, age 13, an umbrella frame fitter, born Yorks,  Stocksbridge Florence Braithwaite, daughter, age 11, born Yorks, Stocksbridge Horace Braithwaite, son, age 8, born Yorks, Stocksbridge

There is an entry which I think might be Thomas and Sarah's daughter Frances, living in Thurgoland at the home of widow Mary Raworth and her son Robert; Frances Braithwaite is described as being Mary's niece; looking back at other census records Mary's husband was Joseph Raworth and he was a Stone Cutter; they were shown in other records to be born Hunshelf.  Return to top

---o0o---

---o0o---

Jane Bancroft (nee Braithwaite) by 1901 was a widow and living with her children, still on Manchester Road at Stocksbridge,

Jane Bancroft, Head, Widow,  age 47,   born Yorkshire, Penistone

Harry Bancroft, Son, age 25, Insurance ???, born Yorkshire, Stocksbridge

Walter Bancroft, Son, age 24,  Steel worker, born Derbyshire, Hasland, Nr Chesterfield Willie Bancroft*, Son, age 19, Steel worker, born Derbyshire, Dronfield Annie Bancroft, Daur, age 16,  born Durham, Stockton on Tees

Rosena Bancroft, Daur, age 4,  born Yorkshire, Stocksbridge

Joseph's death aged 40, in 1891 was registered at Wortley, July/Sept Quarter; Rosena was born Apr/June 1897 registered at Wortley - whose daughter is Rosena? 

Tragedy struck the family after the 1901 census, Jane's death was registered at Wortley in the July/Sept Quarter at the age of 47.

Missing from the above family is Sarah and Ruth - Sarah was in Stoke Newington working as a General Domestic servant

Home of Samuel C. Scott, Wesleyan Methodist Minister and his Wife, Susan Sarah Bancroft, Servt, single, age 21, General Domestic, born Dronfield, Derbyshire

Ruth was a little closer to home in Normanton, Derbyshire, working as a Domestic Servant:

Home of James Parr, Retired Pawnbroker and his Wife, Betty Ruth Bancroft, Servt, single, age 14, General Domestic, born Workington, Derbyshire (sic  - yes it does state Derbyshire!)

* I have received an email from a descendant of Willie Bancroft - Max Bancroft who lives in Sydney, Australia. Max has informed me that Willie left South Yorkshire to live in Scotland - Willie was Max's grandfather; Willie's son - Joe Bancroft, born 1928 was Max's father.

John and Annie Braithwaite had settled in Workington and were living at 325 Snapes Row:

John Braithwaite, Head, age 51, Steelworker foreman over labourers on Railbank, born Yorks, Penisstone Annie Braithwaite, wife, age 48 born Yorks, Penisstone Gertrude Braithwaite, daughter, age 27, a dressmaker, own account working at home, born Yorks, Stocksbridge Edith Braithwaite, daughter, age 23, a dressmaker, own account working at home, born Derbyshire, Dronfield Ernest Braithwaite, son, age 19, an Steelworker on Railbank, born Derbyshire, Dronfield Clara Braithwaite, daughter, age 17, born Cumberland, Harrington John C Braithwaite, son, age 13, Errand boy, born Cumberland, Workington

---o0o---

The Internet has proved to be a wonderful source for me, for instance, I typed "John Braithwaite" into the Google search engine and one of the items listed was the Guest Book of Jane Lach's Bolsterstone website.  There was an email dated 2002 from Elizabeth Nash, part of which I repeat below:

"Just found your site and am particularly interested in the descendents of Cristopher Braithwaite. I am the Great grandaughter of John Braithwaite and Annie Silverwood and have information of their children,  grandchildren etc."  John and Annie Braithwaite nee SilverwoodJohn and Clara Cartwright nee Braithwaite with their four daughters

With this message was an email address, however this 'bounced' but I found a 'Nash' telephone number on the BT website and tried it.  And I found another distant cousin! 

Elizabeth's connection is John and Annie's daughter Clara, shown above in the 1901 Census, aged 17.  Clara married John Cartwright and they have four daughters, Thora, Ruth, Barbara and Clara.  Elizabeth's mother is Ruth and she kindly sent me the photographs shown above.

Picture 1: John and Annie Braithwaite nee Silverwood.  John was Robert and Harriet Braithwaite's eldest son.

Picture 2: John and Annie's daughter Clara with husband John Cartwright and daughters (from left: Thora, Ruth, Barbara and Clara. 

Elizabeth sent me more information regarding this 'branch' of our Braithwaite family:

John Braithwaite's birth was registered March quarter 1850 at Wortley; he married Annie Silverwood on 6 Oct 1873 in Penistone - both signed the register and their witnesses to their marriage were James Moorhouse and Ann Ayres; Their residence at the time of the marriage was given as Heywoods.  Annie's parents were Benjamin Silverwood and Annis Morton.  Their children were:

Gertrude Braithwaite; born c1874, Bradfield, YKS; married Thomas Roper (1874-1921); son Harold born 1903 in Workington.
Edith Braithwaite born c1878 Dronfield, DBY; married Frederick Drabble born (1875-1925); their children were Roy (1906-1925); Olive (1909-1920); Leslie (1913); Ivy (1916-2002); and Herbert (1919)
Ernest Braithwaite born c1882 Dronfield, DBY; married Ann Wildgoose; their children were Florence,  Edna, Gertrude, Annie and Ellen
Clara Braithwaite born 1 Jan 1884 in Harrington, Workington, died 5 Jul 1963 in Maryport.  Clara married (7 April 1909) John William Cartwright born 16 Jul 1883 in Workington, died 16 Nov 1957 in Workington.  (John's parents were Eli Timothy William Cartwright and Mary Ann Boardman.) Clara and John's daughters were Thora, Clara, Ruth and Barbara.
John Clement Braithwaite born 1887 in Workington; John married Harriet (surname not known)

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Braithwaite died 23 June 1931 and was buried at Salterbeck Cemetery, Workington; and his wife Annie died in Workington on 24 August 1937.Return to top

---o0o---

The 1901 Census record shows Robert and Harriet's son, Robert Raynard Braithwaite had moved to 4 Albert Street, St Michaels, in Workington  -

Robert R Braithwaite, head, married, age 37 born Yorkshire, Hunshelf, Steel Rail Worker

Margaret Braithwaite, wife, age 37, born Ashurst, Kent

Herbert F Braithwaite, son, age 10, born Cumberland, Workington

Robert R Braithwaite, son, age 6, born Cumberland, Workington

Fred V Barnes, Boarder, age 31, married, born Cumberland, Workington, Ironworks Timekeeper

Ann Barnes, visitor, age 71, widow, born Cumberland Workington

But no George! 

There was a death for a George Braithwaite on Free BMD in 1900, I sent for this and I'm 99% certain this is George:

CERTIFIED COPY of an ENTRY of DEATH

Given at the GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE

Registration District Cockermouth

1900 DEATH in the Sub-District of Workington in the County of Cumberland

Columns 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

No

When and where died

Name and surname

Sex

Age

Occupation

Cause of death

Signature, description and residence of informant

When registered

Signature of registrar

275

Twentythird January 1900, 31 Pearson Street,, Workington, UD

George Braithwaite

Male

32 years

Steelworker

Disease of the Spine

 Certified by

J.H. Dudgeon L.R.C.P.

R.R. Braithwaite, Brother  Present at Death, 25 Darcy Street,  Workington

Twentythird January 1900

James Pool Registrar

 

I have contacted the Bereavement Services for the District of Workington, at Allerdale Borough Council.  They informed me that Harriet, Robert and George were buried at Harrington Road - they wrote:

"they are all buried in Harrington Road cemetery in council owned graves. Because the graves are not purchased they will not have headstones on them.

Robert Braithwaite was 67 years old when he died and is buried in section 10E grave number 32

Harriet Braithwaite was 61 years old when she died and is buried in section 10D grave number 55

George Braithwaite was 32 years old when he died and is buried in section 12B grave number 57"

---o0o---

After the 1901 Census, Josiah and Hannah Braithwaite's family increased to 11 children:

James A Braithwaite born 9 Aug 1881 at New Street, West Melton Beatrice Braithwaite born 24 Oct 1883 at 4 Manse Place, Westgate, in Rotherham William Braithwaite born 1886 in Hoyland, Barnsley  Annie Braithwaite born 1897 in West Melton George Braithwaite born  1891 in West Melton Harry Braithwaite born 1892 in West Melton
Edith Braithwaite born 24 May 1894 in West Melton

Albert Braithwaite*

Born 27 June 1896 at 26 Winterwell Road, West Melton

Gertrude Braithwaite born 24 June 1898 at 27 Winterwell Road, West Melton Lucy May, born 1903 in West Melton Ethel (Effie) born 6 Nov 1905 in West Melton

*my Father                                       

I need to check the registers for the dates on my next visit to Doncaster Archives. 

Although I have since checked the Wath Parish Registers I have not been able to find the Braithwaite family as yet.  They may have been christened at West Melton or may be at a non-conformist church or chapel.

Please see photo galleries two and three for photographs of this branch of the Braithwaite family.

James Arthur Braithwaite married Martha Hellewell; their children were:

Arthur Cupit Braithwaite married to Winifred - they had no children - he was a successful bulldog breeder

Kathleen Braithwaite married to Wilfred Archer and they had one daughter, Mary.

Jim Braithwaite married Nellie Rollin and they had two daughters, Jean and June.

Mary Braithwaite married Sam Phillips and they had a daughter, Pamela

Jack Braithwaite married Louie Wydell - they had no children

Beatrice Braithwaite married Charles Chapman

William Arthur Chapman 1910-1912

Harry Chapman, born 1915

John Chapman 1918-1943 died in Tobruk during the African campaign of World War II

Cyril married Mary Mather and they had a son, Carlton

William Braithwaite married Sarah Sanderson

Sarah Braithwaite born 1911

George Braithwaite married Doris Bailey and they had 4 children: Alan, Anne, Anthony and Pamela

Ronald Braithwaite married Edith and they had 2 children: David and Susan

Marjorie Braithwaite married George Lawton

Annie Braithwaite married Arthur Hall in 1910 and their children were:

Joseph Hall married Ivy and they had two children

Albert Hall married Lucy and they had a daughter Susan

Annie and Arthur Hall died in the 1918 flue epidemic and Joseph and Joseph were 'adopted' by Annie's sister Lucy and her husband Walter Kenworthy.

George Braithwaite married Mary Hannah Beevers in 1915 and their children were:

Horace Braithwaite married Edith Wilkinson, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Lindsay and they had a son, Kenneth

Edna Braithwaite married Herbert Lawton

Leonard (Len) Braithwaite married Sheila Denise Armstead in 1952; they had 2 daughters, Anne Denise and Julie Dawn.

Paul Hadfield married Len's daughter Anne Denise Braithwaite and informed me that George and his son Len were miners at Wath Main and Manvers; Len worked 49 years at Wath Main and lived mainly in Barnsley Road, West Melton.  Len who had moved to live closer to his daughter and son in law in Wakefield, sadly died in March 2008.

Harry Braithwaite married Martha Anne (surname might be Utley) and their only son:

Harry Braithwaite remained a bachelor.

Edith Ellen Braithwaite married William Stanley and their daughters were Renee, Ethel and Marion.

Renee Stanley married Jack Sanderson and they had 2 sons, Peter and Michael

Ethel Stanley died of pneumonia in February, 1941, age 19

Marion Stanley married Ernest Picton and they had a son, Stephen

Albert Braithwaite married Mary Alice Irene Hickling on 26 December 1925 and their children were:

David Roy Braithwaite 1927-1994 married Alma Elizabeth Driver and they had 3 children, Ann Mary, David Richard and Susan

Hilary Mary Braithwaite married Barry Jackson; they had one daughter, Wendy

Gertrude Braithwaite married Reginald Clift Evans 9 February 1916 and their children were:

Hilda Evans born 1922

Doris Evans

Freda Evans born 1924

Marie Evans born 1940

Lucy May Braithwaite married Walter Kenworthy in 1920 and their son was:

Harold Kenworthy was born in 1920; he died at the age of 17 of tuberculosis

As previously mentioned when Annie and Arthur Hall died, their sons came to live with Lucy and Walter.

Ethel (Effie) Braithwaite married George Haywood on 28 February 1927 and their daughter was:

Dorothy Haywood was born in 1931 and she married Derek Gibbons in 1954.

---oOo---Return to top

The 1911 Census has been published early and I have found the family on the Household transcript living at 26 Winterwell Road, West Melton:

Josiah Braithwaite, Head, age 52, Coal Miner Hewer, Born Greenmoor, Yorks Hannah Braithwaite, Wife, age 49, born, Codnor Park, Derby George Braithwaite, son, single, age 20, Colliery Labourer, Born West Melton, Yorks Harry Braithwaite, son, single, age 18, Colliery Labourer, Born West Melton, Yorks Edith Braithwaite, Daughter, single, age 16, born West Melton, Yorks
Albert* Braithwaite, son, age 14, Colliery Surface Labourer, Born West Melton, Yorks Gertrude Braithwaite Daughter, age 12, School, born West Melton, Yorks Lucy May Braithwaite, Daughter, age 12, School, born West Melton, Yorks Ethel Braithwaite, Daughter, age 5, School, born West Melton, Yorks David McPhaden, Boarder, single, age 46, Colliery Labourer, born Sheffield, Yorks

*My Dad.  There was extra information available in this Census, but not all is shown in the transcript - it does however state that Josiah and Hannah Braithwaite had been married for 29 years. 

Josiah's brother was still living at 7 Haywood Park, Deepcar and the transcript included the number of years Thomas and Sarah were married as 37 -

Thomas Braithwaite, Head, age 59, Licensed Pedlar, born Yorks, Ecclesfield Sarah Braithwaite, wife, age 56, born Yorks, Penestone (sic) Florence Braithwaite, daughter, single, age 21, Umbrella Dept, born Yorks, Bradfield Horace Braithwaite, son, single, age 18, Coal Mine Trammer, born Yorks, Bradfield Benjamin Goodwin, Boarder, single, 28, Steelwork Labourer Tyre Dept, born Derbys, Wormhill Frank Langley, Boarder, single, 20, Sieman Pitman Steel Dept., born Yorks, Parley St., Rotherham

I then searched for Thomas and Sarah's son Robert and found that he was now married to Elizabeth and they were living in Stocksbridge at 26 Haywood Park, Deepcar and had been married for one year:

Robert Raynard Braithwaite, Head, age 23, Railway Axle Furnace Man, born Yorks, Stocksbridge Elizabeth Braithwaite, wife, age 24, born Yorks, Stocksbridge Elsie Braithwaite, daughter, single, age 1, born Yorks, Stocksbridge

Free BMD has a marriage registered at Wortley in June 1909 for Robert Raynard Braithwaite and Elizabeth Illingworth

I was in Doncaster Local Studies Library trying to find the Jackson family in Carcroft in the 1918 electoral roll, when I found the following entry:

Register of Electors, 1918

DONCASTER PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION

OF THE WEST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE

POLLING DISTRICT ADWICK-LE-STREET (A)

TOWNSHIP OF ADWICK-LE-STREET.  ADWICK WARD

 DIVISION I

POLL. DISTRICT A                                                        TOWNSHIP OF  ADWICK-LE-STREET 

                                                                                                                                ADWICK WARD

ALEXANDRA ROAD - continued

(1)

No.

(2)

Names in full.

Surname first. 

(3)

Residence or Property occupied or abode of non-resident occupier 

(4)

Qualification.

Parliamentary.   Local Govt.

90

91

Braithwaite, Robert Reynard 

Braithwaite, Elizabeth

 12 

12

R             O

HO         HO

 

---o0o---

Josiah died in 1914 - I obtained a copy of the death certificate - here are the details:

CERTIFIED COPY of an ENTRY of DEATH

Given at the GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE

Registration District of Rotherham

1914 DEATH in the Sub-District of Wath in the County of York

Columns 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

No

When and where died

Name and surname

Sex

Age

Occupation

Cause of death

Signature, description and residence of informant

When registered

Signature of registrar

464

Eleventh October 1914, 26 Winterwell Road, West  Melton, Wath UD

Josiah Braithwaite

Male

55 years

Coal Hewer Tuberculous Meningitis; Certified by A Johnston MB

J A Braithwaite, son. Present at Death, 52 Winterwell Road, West Melton

Thirteenth October 1914

J A V N Jeffery Registrar

When Josiah died, it must have been assumed that Hannah would have married David McPhaden.  I eventually found their marriage whilst trawling through 1837online - Oct/Dec quarter 1917 Rotherham 9c 1430:

CERTIFIED COPY OF AN ENTRY of MARRIAGE

Given at the GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE

1917.                 Marriage Solemnized at The Register Office Rotherham 

in the District of Rotherham in the Counties of Rotherham and York

No

When married

Name and Surname

Age

Condition

Rank or Profession

Residence at the time of marriage

Father's name and surname

Rank or profesion of father

84

Third November 1917

David McPhaden

 

Hannah Braithwaite

52 years

 

56 years

Bachelor

 

Widow

Coal Miner

 

-

26 Winterwell Road, West Melton, Rotherham

26 Winterwell Road, West Melton, Rotherham

Neil McPhaden "deceased"

 

William Cupitt "deceased"

Stove Grate Worker

 

Coal Miner

Married in the Register Office according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the  by Certificate; before by me,

Watson H Harrison, Registrar and W C Harrison, Supt Registrar

David and Hannah signed the register; the Witnesses were James Arthur Braithwaite and Martha Braithwaite

Please following this link for more information on Hannah and David McPhaden

---o0o---

Visiting West Melton churchyard, I found the graves of Josiah and another grave some distance away which had a gravestone with David and Harriet McPhadens' burials recorded.

Brampton ChurchEngraving on Josiah's gravestonePicture 1 - Christchurch, West Melton - the graves of Josiah, Harriet and David McPhaden are to be found in the church graveyard here.

Picture 2 and 3 - The headstone of Josiah Braithwaite - this is one of several gravestones which have been moved to the edge of the churchyard - I remember my Father receiving notification that this was to happen, however, I can't remember the reason why they were moved.  Josiah's headstone reads "In loving memory of JOSIAH beloved husband of HANNAH BRAITHWAITE who died October 11th 1914".  The gravestone of Harriet and David can be seen by following the above link.

 

The index for Probate records are now on Ancestry.co.uk and this gives the following information for the wills in the name of McPhaden:

---ooOoo---

Visiting North Yorkshire - searching for Christopher and Robert Braithwaite

Barry and I travelled North on 21 October 2004 in search of my Braithwaite ancestors.  We first of all visited Cundall, just off the A1 near Dishforth.  I took a few photographs of the village and the church.  Cristopher Braithwaite, who I believed was baptised at Cundall Church.  We looked round the churchyard examining the gravestones, but could not find any graves with Braithwaite names on except for one - Jane Braithwaite who died 7 July 1920 aged 74 years and her husband Thomas who died 22 July 1924 aged 83 years; with their son Edward Thomas aged 76 died 3 Oct 1948. 

These could of course be relatives of Cristopher Braithwaite - I had found a Cristopher Braithwaite born 1814, Cundall, Yorkshire on the Internet and made a note, but I cannot remember which website I found this information.  Robert was born about 1824, so this could not have been my 2 x Great Grandfather.

I had telephoned the North Yorkshire County Record Office at Northallerton and arranged an afternoon visit.  This Record Office holds the Parish Registers and Ecclesiastical records for Cundall and for Hartwith where according to Census information, Robert Braithwaite was born.  We arrived there earlier than anticipated so I spent three hours there going through the relevant microfilmed records.

The early records for Cundall were very hard to read, being very faint.  The index did show a surname of a Braithwaite born in 1818 but with no other information, so I searched on the microfilm for this entry.  I found that on page One of this series of entries dated 1813 to 1814 that there was some hand writing down the right hand margin of the almost empty page.  This read -

The Original Entries of which the Surnames alone are here copied are in a former Book, of Parchment, bound in Rough Calf; intermixed with entries of Burials.

The heading on page one revealed - "BAPTISMS folemnized in the Parifh of Cundall (alias Cundale) in the County of York in the years 1813 & 1814."Return to top

As already mentioned there was no entry for Braithwaite until Page 5 -

BAPTISMS folemnized in the Parifh of Cundale in the County of York in the Year 1818 and 1819.

When

Baptized

Child's

Chriftian Name

Parents Name

Abode

Quality, Trade

or Profeffion

By whom the

Ceremony

was performed

Chriftian Surname

Four entries appeared here showing only the year and the Surname of each child

1818

No. 37.

 

 

Braithwaite

 

 

Three entries appeared here showing only the year and the Surname of each child

And in the right margin, written vertically was - "Surnames of Entries In a former Book."

I noticed that the Microfilm was from The Church of Latter Day Saints.  The Archive Clerk told me that I might find more information at the Leeds Archives Office as they hold the Bishop's Transcripts.  Another visit for the diary!

Continuing through the register I did find evidence of a Christopher Braithwaite - and this was a fully completed entry -

BATISMS folemnized in the Parifh of Cundale in the County of York in the Year 1838 and 1839.

When

Baptized

Child's

Chriftian Name

Parents Name

Abode

Quality, Trade

or Profeffion

By whom the

Ceremony

was performed

Chriftian Surname

Six entries appeared here before the following:

1839

April 7

No. 239

Ruth,

Daughter of

Christopher

and

Keziah

Braithwaite

Norton

Labourer

Joshua Laycock

One entry appeared here

Christopher was spelt with 'Ch' not as shown on Robert and Harriet's wedding certificate. Their home was given not as Cundall, but as Norton.  Looking on the map, this was probably Norton le Clay.

Christopher and Kezia Braithwaite could be related - I now know that they are not my 2 x Great Grandparents.

I did find two more Braithwaites though, the first was "Geo Braithwaite".  He appears in three Banns of Marriage entries as a witness, he actually signed his name too.  No 'X' for George!  He might have been a Churchwarden. Also a marriage which appears to be our Braithwaites and possibly the parents of Christopher -

Banns of Marriage between Thomas Braithwaite and Thomasin Reynard, both of this Chapelry were published on three several Sundays the said

No 83

Thomas Braithwaite of this Chapelry and

Thomasin Reynard of this Chapelry

were Married in this Chapel by Banns

this twelth Day of November in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Seven by me Geo. Fletcher Minister

This Marriage was folemnized between us Thomas Braithwaite

Thomasin Reynard X her mark

In the presence of Thos Shaife

Rob. Inman

Thomasin's REYNARD surname has been used in the Braithwaite families of South Yorkshire as a second forename leading me to believe that these just might be my 3 x Great Grandparents.

Looking on FreeBMD I discovered a death for a Thomasin Braithwaite, registered at Knaresborough, Vol 23, page 203.

I then browsed through Knaresborough entries for the 1841 Census and found an entry which might be the same Thomasin Braithwaite living in Blucher Street; shown as age 75 in the female column, however the forename was abbreviated to Tho with a small letter above which did look like an 's' followed by 'Braithwaite' and a dash in the occupation column.  I can't make out whether she was born in County or not.  This is the entry: 

PLACE HOUSES NAMES AGE & SEX PROFESSION, TRADE, ETC WHERE BORN
Uninhb Inhab M F In Cty Not Cty
Blucher Street   / Tho's Braithwaite   75*   - ?  
      Jon'n Wild 50   Hatter Y  
      Jane   -do-   45   Y  

Area - Knaresborough; Folio 9A Page 13; HO107/1285/13 ED2 remainder

*I wonder if this is Thomasin - age shown in female column could be a mistake, of course.

I have now received Thomasin's Death Certificate:

CERTIFIED COPY of an ENTRY of DEATH

Given at the GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE

Registration District Knaresbro

1842 DEATH in the Sub-District of Knaresbrough  in the County of York

Columns 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

No

When and where died

Name and surname

Sex

Age

Occupation

Cause of death

Signature, description and residence of informant

When registered

Signature of registrar

373

Fifteenth of January 1842, at Hilton Lane

Thomasin Braithwaite

Female

78 years

Wife of Thomas Braithwaite Agricultural Labourer

Old Age

The mark of X

Jane Wilde  Present at the Death Hilton Lane, Knaresbrough

Seventeenth of January 1842

Joseph Wilson Registrar

The writer of the above certificate wrote "Thomas Braithwaite", then inserted 'in' between the two names.  I still have to find evidence of a connection to Thomas and Thomasin Braithwaite and our Braithwaite family.  The Jane Wilde who was present at the death of Thomasin is shown on the above 1841 Census record, presumably wife of Jonathan Wild(e), Hatter. 

January 2008 - On  the Message Boards for Harrogate, Yorkshire I had seen a message advising someone to get in touch with Nidderdale Museum in Pateley Bridge as they had documents relating to families who used to reside in the neighbourhood in the 1800's and earlier.  I contacted the Museum to see if they had any information about my Braithwaite family.  I am very grateful to them for sending me an Excel spreadsheet file containing mentions of the Braithwaite name in Knaresborough, Hartwith and other villages in the area.  These included Thomas Braithwaite and his widow, also a Jane Braithwaite and a Robert Braithwaite.  These were for the relevant dates which could well be my Braithwaite family.  I need now to follow this up by obtaining the Knaresborough Parish Records or even the Poor Law Records at the LDS Church to find if I can prove that it is 'our' Braithwaite connection.  The Nidderdale Museum in Pately Bridge is well worth a visit - see their website  - www.nidderdalemuseum.com

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I have found a Christopher Braithwaite in the 1841 Census - living in Sheffield:

Christophor Braithwaite,

age 80, a shopkeeper - born Yorkshire

Mary Braithwaite, age 50 - NOT born Yorkshire

They were living in ED10, Sheffield (South) at Charles Street; there is also a death for a Christopher Braithwaite - District Ecclesall Bierlow; June quarter 1844 Vol 22 page 73, age 83; and the National Burial Index has a Christopher Braithwaite listed - burial date 20 June 1844, age 83, at Sheffield, St Mary. Here are the details found on the above Christopher Braithwaite's death certificate:

CERTIFIED COPY of an ENTRY of DEATH

Given at the GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE

Registration District Ecclesall Bierlow

1844 DEATH in the Sub-District of Ecclesall Bierlow in the County of York

Columns 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

No

When and where died

Name and surname

Sex

Age

Occupation

Cause of death

Signature, description and residence of informant

When registered

Signature of registrar

278

Sixteenth of June 1844, New George Street

Christopher Braithwaite

Male

83 years

Farmer

Natural decay

Robert Aveyard.

In attendance 27, Button Lane

Twentieth of June 1844

W T Kidd - Registrar

Robert and Martha Aveyard appear in the 1841 Census living in Eldon Street, Sheffield, both aged 45, both born Yorkshire and Robert was a Chappel Keeper (sic) and at the same address was Elizabeth Richards, age 15, 'Ind' born Yorkshire.  In the 1851 Census, Robert and Martha Aveyard are shown living at the address shown on the death certificate, 27 Button Lane, Sheffield: 

Robert Aveyard, Head, Marr, aged 58, Bill Poster,  born Yorkshr, Leeds

Martha, wife, Marr, aged 47,  born Yorkshr, Sheffield William Atkin, Lodger, Un, aged 34, Saw Maker,  born Derbyshr, Norton

A Robert Aveyard was a claimant for compensation after the Sheffield Flood claiming "out of business" for a business premises at 209 Burton Terrace, Attercliffe Road.  Robert claimed £28.17s.6d, but was awarded £15 on 21 February 1865.  In the 1861 Census he is living at 209 Attercliffe Road:

Robert Aveyard, Head, Marr, aged 66, Bill Poster,  born Leeds, Yorks,

Sarah, wife, Marr, aged 53,  born Sheffield, Yorks

I found Christopher's death recorded in St. Mary's Church, Bramall Lane, Burial Register:

BURIALS at ST MARY'S CHURCH, in the the Parish of Shef-

field, in the County of York in the Year 1844

Name. Abode. When buried. Age. By whom the Ceremony was performed

Christopher Braithwaite

No. 684

New George Street June 20th 83 yrs St. J. Mitchell

On the A2A index I found that Rotherham Archives were holding four files for property purchased and later sold by a "Christopher Braithwaite of Rotherham, shopkeeper".  These were dated from March 1820 to July 1825 and covered a property in Westgate, Rotherham named "Welsh Lass".  Christopher had purchased this property from William Craven of Rotherham, Gent, paying £200 on 20 March 1820 and a further £49 in May 1820.  Three documents covered this sale and the fourth document was for Lease and Release of the same property, Christopher giving up the property on 20/21 July 1825.  One of the Archivists at Rotherham Archives thought that the premises were probably used by Christopher as a Beerhouse similar to what is now called a "Beer-off".

The Indenture describes Christopher as being "late of Awkley in the County of Nottingham but now of Rotherham".  "Awkley" now Aukley is now in Yorkshire, east of Doncaster, near Finningley. 

I have found a marriage on IGI for a Christopher Braithwaite to Elizabeth Hancoats taking place on 14 December 1818 at Doncaster.  This could well be the same Christopher Braithwaite.  Looking up this marriage at Doncaster Archives, Christopher and Elizabeth were married at St George's Doncaster:

MARRIAGES folemnized in the Parish of Doncaster

in the County of York in the Year 1818

Christoper Braithwait                                               of this Parish

and Elizabeth Hancoats                                             of this Parish

were married in this       Church       by    Banns      with Confent of

_________________________________this fourteenth Day of

  December   in the Year One thoufand eight hundred and Eighteen

By me Geo: Robt: Birke - Curate

This Marriage was folemnized between us Christopher Braithwait X Mark

                                                                     Elizabeth Hancoats 

In the Prefence of George Hepworth and Thos Bradley

No. 414

The compiler of the register had spelt Christopher's forename differently; Braithwaite without the 'e'. There were no clues to prove conclusively that these are my 2 x Great Grandparents, so the search goes on  . . .

--ooOoo--

Consulting FreeBMD list for deaths, I found two other entries for Christopher Braithwaite, both were in Cockermouth, Cumberland and I sent for the first one which was an 1845 death.

Unfortunately this was not my 2 x Great Grandfather, this was Christopher Braithwaite age 16 months, son of John Braithwaite of Waterloo Street, Cockermouth.  The second entry for Cockermouth was June 1855 Vol 10b page 287.

The second death certificate has arrived and it is the death of a Christopher Braithwaite age 64:

CERTIFIED COPY of an ENTRY of DEATH

Given at the GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE

Registration District Cockermouth

1855 DEATH in the Sub-District of Cockermouth in the County of Cumberland

Columns 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

No

When and where died

Name and surname

Sex

Age

Occupation

Cause of death

Signature, description and residence of informant

When registered

Signature of registrar

378

First April 1855, Union Workhouse, Cockermouth

Christopher Braithwaite

Male

64 years

Labourer

Apoplexy of long standing

 (Certified)

John Campbell present at the death, Union Workhouse, Cockermouth

Third April 1855

John Pattinson Registrar

In the 1851 Census Christopher is shown as an inmate of Cockermouth Workhouse:

Name and Surname of each Person who abode in the Institution on the Night of the 30th March, 1851 Position in the Institution Condition Age Rank, Profession or Occupation Where born Whether Blind or Deaf-and-dumb
Male Female
Christopher Braithwaite Pauper Widower 60   Gardener Cumberland, Keswick -

I am trawling through the 1841 trying to find both Robert and Christopher, to date I have only found the previously mentioned entry for Christophor and Mary Braithwaite in Sheffield.  I am copying details of every BRAITHWAITE I find in the 1841 Census for Yorkshire - these are to be found on "Searching for the Braithwaites" page as they may be of use to someone.

Some of our Braithwaite Family are included within Andrew Shaw's Family History please follow this link.Return to top

---o0o---

If anyone wants to get in touch with me regarding anything on this site please please contact me at -

hilary.jcksn "followed by" @googlemail.com and if anyone objects to anything being included on any page, or if you spot any

errors/assumptions made, please also let me know.

Updated 15 April 2012