The Charlesworth families of Yorkshire

If you have read some of this blog you know that my grandparents on my fathers side were Albert Parkinson and Alice French.  I have looked at many of the Parkinson family but who was Alice French?   My father’ middle name was “Charlesworth” and I often wondered where it came from, and was glad mine was only “Charles”.  This name, French, and that of Charlesworth,  go back a long ways in Yorkshire, England, particularly around the area of Huddersfield.  There are hundreds if not thousands of Charlesworth names.   So, here is a sketch of the two families and how they come together.  This post focuses on the Charlesworth family and the next looks at the French family.

Charlesworth Family many of these family members worked in the wool industry in some way and a few were small lot farmers. They lived around Penistone, Wooldale, Holmfirth and Kirk Burton, all close together and very close to Huddersfield.  Please note that the dates may not be correct.  Much of the older material builds on the research of others and available on Ancestry.com

Note:  the numbers represent generations.

(1) Johannes Charlesworth  (1610-1690) married Sarah Greene (1641-1700).

• Maria Mary  Charlesworth (1662-1730) married Benjamin Armitage and in 1702 they moved to the USA, Philadelphia region.
• (2) Joseph  Charleworth (1685-1756) born in Penistone, in the Yorkshire Dales, married Anna Hawksbury (1679-) in 1699.
  • Maria Charlesworth 1701
  • Jeremiah Charlesworth 1703
  • Helena Charlesworth 1704
  • Joseph Charlesworth 1706
  • John Charlesworth 1709
  • (3) Benjamin Charlesworth 1712  born in Penistone, Yorkshire. Married Ann Sauderson (1721-)
    • Alexander Charlesworth  (1733-1789)
    • Mary Charlesworth 1740
    • Benjamin Charlesworth 1744
    • Hannah Charlesworth 1750
    • (4) John Charlesworth (1762-1820) born in Holmfirth, very close to Penistone,  married Elizabeth Firth (1753-1819)
      • Lydia Charlesworth 1787
      • Joseph Charlesworth 1791-1856
      • (5) George Charlesworth (1796-) bor in Wooldale, very close to Penistone,  married Ann Spink (1796) in 1822
        • Matilda Charlesworth 1823-1865
        • Charlotte Charlesworth 1826-1896 married Aaron Bray (1823-1877)
          • Ruth Bray 1845
          • George Bray 1847
          • Miranda Bray 1849
          • Charles North  Bray 1853
          • Ann Bray 1855
          • John Bray 1858
          • Ben Bray 1860
          • Louisa Bray 1863
          • Alice Bray 1867
        • (6) Sarah Charlesworth (1832-) born in Kirkburton, Yorkshire,  married Joe French (1831-1877).  After Joe’s death Sarah married George Oldroyd.
          • George Henry  French 1856   married Sarah A. xx (1861-)
            • Joe French  1882
            • Elizabeth French 1887
            • Willie French 1889
            • Edith French 1895
            • Charley French 1898
          • Eliza Ann  French 1860
          • Emma French 1862
          • Malinda French 1868
          • (7) Alice French (1871-1922) married Albert Parkinson (1870-1950) and moved to Canada.
          • • (8) Roy Parkinson (1914-)
              • (9) Gary Parkinson (1940-)  and this is me!
                • (10) 2 children
                  • (11) 3 children

              Frances Parkinson (1898-1954)