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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Yorkshire (West Riding) => Topic started by: boxted boy on Sunday 04 August 13 15:45 BST (UK)
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I am trying to trace the birth place and anything about the parents of Thomas Henry Ashworth b 1863 son of Dr and Mrs T Ashworth of Harrogate he married Florence Jane Bowett and they had 2 sons Thomas and Reginald he also trained as a doctor but then joined a touring repertory company and rose to become it's chief comedian.
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Thomas Henry Ashworth appears to have been born in Lancashire - there is a birth registration for Thomas Henry Ashworth in the December quarter of 1862 - Bolton 8c, page 616 - FreeBMD.
Born 12 December 1862 and baptised 8 January 1863 at St Peter, Preston. Son of Henry and Alice Ashworth of 16 Spring Gardens. Henry is a Lass Piecer. :-\
Doesn't look like your man then :o BUT that is the only registration for Thomas Henry Ashworth in England and Wales, in the period January 1860 - December 1865.
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I'm not sure that the baptism is of the same child :-\
1871 census shows a family in Bolton - Robert Ashworth with wife Susan, and a number of children, including Thomas Henry aged 8, and born Bolton.
Perhaps you could tell us where you have obtained the information that Thomas Henry is the son of Dr H Ashworth of Harrogate, and/or his marriage to Florence Jane Bowett - I cannot find a marriage at all on FreeBMD for a Florence Jane Bowett. :'(
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Not sure, but could this be their marriage :
Marriages Dec 1916
Thomas Ashworth
Florence J Browett
Lambeth, Vol 1d, page 705
Pels.
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Thomas and Reginald
There are two children with the surname Ashworth, mother's maiden name Browett.
Born - 1917 and 1919.
Pels.
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1901 census shows a Florence Jane Browett, aged 15, as daughter of Henry Leonard and Ann Browett, born Hornsey - Henry is a Storekeeper at HM Prison, and residing at Spring Grove, Kempston, Bedfordshire.
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Thanks Bumble B and Pets for all your help I got most of the information from his tribute in the local Torquay paper which also included the fact that he was a successful sportsman while in Yorkshire playing right wing tree quarter back for the County held the a English amateur half mile record and swam for Yorkshire I do have proof of his marriage to Florence Jane Browatt and the birth certificates of both children Florence also had Ursula in 1914 before their marriage she was later adopted.But I can not find the family before 1916. The newspaper also said he was the son of Dr and Mrs T Ashworth
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Just noticed Pels that you do have the right information for the marriage and birth certificates for the 2 boys, Florence also had Ursula in 1914 who was later adopted by Thomas.
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Found the newspaper article ! :D
But like you, so far - that's as good as it gets ? :-\
Pels.
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Many thanks Pels for all your efforts I was just hoping with all the references to Yorkshire somebody might have found newspaper stories of his younger years to give me a clue of where he came from.
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Just for curiosity - do you believe all of what was written ?
This sounds awful, but at the moment I'm not convinced it was entirely factual.
When you say you have proof of their marriage - have you seen the certificate and if so, what was the name of Thomas's father ? Thomas Henry Ashworth (as we know him) doesn't exist until the time of his marriage, which was nearly fifty years after his birth ?
Pels.
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I must admit that I came to the same conclusion that all might not be as written but I would have thought what was written about his sporting achievements were true that there must have been something written about him in the local papers also if his father was a doctor there must have been something written about him my friends relation has the marriage certificate I must see if I can have a look at it. Many thanks again for your interest and yes those 50 years are a mystery.
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Hi Pels I now have the marriage certificate for Thomas Ashworth and Florence Browett dated 10th Nov 1916 Thomas was 45 and a lecturer to Cinematograph Film Production and his father was Henry Ashworth a Physician (deceased ) It has not helped me but though you might like to know.
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Couldn't resist having yet another look and yes you're right, it still doesn't help.
What a shame. :( :(
All the same, I really appreciate you telling me, thankyou.
Pels. :)
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Ha !! Just a minute ! :D
I am trying to trace the birth place and anything about the parents of Thomas Henry Ashworth b 1863 son of Dr and Mrs T Ashworth of Harrogate
Which is absolutely spot on, according to the death registration :
Death, Jun qtr 1936
Thomas Ashworth, age 73
Newton A., Vol 5b, page 175
But ......
I now have the marriage certificate for Thomas Ashworth and Florence Browett dated 10th Nov 1916 Thomas was 45
Therefore according to his marriage, Thomas claims to have been born in 1871 ??
I was so busy looking to see what Thomas's father was called, I didn't pay attention to his age. A couple of years we get used to, but seven/eight years surely isn't that usual once you reach the 1900's. Please tell me this isn't a typing mistake !
;D ;D
Pels.
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I'm now even more confused than I was before (not difficult for me) :o
The initial request was for THOMAS HENRY Ashworth son of Dr T Ashworth. However, now it appears that THOMAS HENRY married and died as THOMAS. Initially his father is Dr T Ashworth, and yet on his marriage certificate he is HENRY.
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I'm now even more confused than I was before (not difficult for me) :o
The initial request was for THOMAS HENRY Ashworth son of Dr T Ashworth. However, now it appears that THOMAS HENRY married and died as THOMAS. Initially his father is Dr T Ashworth, and yet on his marriage certificate he is HENRY.
Dr and Mrs T Ashworth of Harrogate
I thought it could be Dr and Mrs T Ashworth, meaning Thomas's mother was possibly Mrs T Ashworth ? So we could be looking for Dr Henry Ashworth with his wife's initial being 'T' ?
Not that I can find them, whatever they're called ! :D
Pels.
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Thanks Pels - neither can I, certainly not with a father who was a doctor. I have to admit that I hadn't thought of only Mrs Ashworth being T. I'm sure it's more usual that a couple takes the husband's initials.
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It's difficult because 'boxted boy' was quoting word for word what the newspaper reported.
So not easy to understand what the person who wrote the article meant.
I'll type it out to make it clearer.
Pels.
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The Western Times, Thursday, April 9th 1936
Friend of Film and Stage Stars.
Former South Devon Cinema Manager Dead.
Mr. T. Ashworth of Tedburn.
Friend of famous stage stars, champion of British Films, and known all over England and Scotland, Mr Thomas Ashworth of Causeway Cottage, Tedburn St Mary, formerly manager of the Empire Cineam, Ellacombe, Torquay, passed away in a Torquay nursing home on Friday.
Varied Career.
The son of the late Dr. and Mrs T. Ashworth of Harrogate, Yorks, had a varied career. He intended to become a medical practitioner, like his father, and he had passed most of the examinations when he ran away from home to join a touring repertory company. He rose from the position of understudy to chief comedian and later became a variety agent. This was in the days of the old time music halls.
During the course of his business Mr Ashworth became acquainted with many famous personalties, such as Marie Lloyd, Dan Leno, Little Tich, Fred Karno and Charlie Chaplin, with all of whom he was very popular on account of his genial personality.
On the outbreak of the war, although too old to join the forces he toured the country with a lantern lecture, describing scenes at the front, and with the birth of the film industry transferred his attention to cinemas.
Extensive Travel.
He became general manager of Wilkinson's Film Bureau, one of the pioneer film companies, and later was associated with Moss Empires, Film Booking Offices, and W. and F. Films Ltd. In this connexion he travelled extensively throughout Great Britain, and it was said he knew every town in England, Scotland and Wales.
During his residence in Cardiff he was Chairman of the Kinematograph Renters' Society and organised many functions in aid of film charities. He left Cardiff in 1921 and came to live at Tedburn St Mary near Exeter, travelling during the week and returning home at weekends.
In 1930 he became manager of the Empire Cinema, Ellacombe, Torquay, where he speedily established a reputation as a champion of British fims.
He retired from this position in 1934 on account of ill health and up to the time of his death had been practically bed-ridden for two years.
Fund of amusing stories.
A man of genial character, Mr Ashworth's large circle of friends included Gracie Fields, Stanley Lupino and the late Oscar Asche. He was well known in Torquay and in the film world, and had an inexhaustible fund of amusing stories about people he had met. He had often been told that if he had written a book of his experiences he would have made a fortune. He leaves a widow, two sons and a daughter.
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I've omitted one or two bits and pieces, but this is the gist of it.
Pels.
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Thanks for that - I see what you mean about Mrs T Ashworth - rather ambiguous really as it's not definite whether both are deceased, or only one. BUT - we know that Dr Ashworth was deceased, because it says so on Thomas's marriage certificate and that his name was HENRY. So, it must be Mrs T..... :)
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He intended to become a medical practitioner, like his father, and he had passed most of the examinations when he ran away from home to join a touring repertory company.
He rose from the position of understudy to chief comedian and later became a variety agent. This was in the days of the old time music halls.
Fund of amusing stories.
A man of genial character, Mr Ashworth's large circle of friends included Gracie Fields, Stanley Lupino and the late Oscar Asche. He was well known in Torquay and in the film world, and had an inexhaustible fund of amusing stories about people he had met. He had often been told that if he had written a book of his experiences he would have made a fortune.
What that obituary tells me - he was also very talented at weaving a jolly good yarn.
When every applicable Ashworth I've looked at appears to have worked in the cotton industry.
I'd loved to have met him.
:) :)
Pels.
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Well Pels & Bumble B you have both been very busy I can confirm that on the marriage certificate he is down as 45 yrs of age and his father is Henry so I agree with you something is wrong as his age is given as 73 at his death in 1936 and yes the T is most likely to be his mother and like you the only Ashworths from that part of the country seem to have worked in the cotton industry I was just hoping that if all that was written was true then there must have been at least a death report of his father in a local paper. Many thanks again to you both for all your efforts.
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Do a free search for Thomas Ashworth born Harrogate on the official 1911 website and you will see that there is a person living in Lambeth, born 1872. We aren't allowed to do 1911 look ups, but look him up on there or any other 1911 census site and you might be pleased with his occupation.
Claims to be married with a child, but I can't see the marriage anywhere. Age ties in with his 1916 marriage and he's in the right place, claims to be born in the right place, and has the right sort of job.
Alan.
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How interesting ;D Took me a while to find, as Ancestry have the place of birth as "Rogate" ::)
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Hi Alan I have a print out of the 1911 census and it does look that it could be our man but it raises a few more questions it states that he has been married for 6 3/4 years to Theadona May who is 28 and have a son Harry 6 Again well done Alan
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I think that this is the same Thomas Ashworth just noticed that in 1911 he lived in the parish of Lambeth and he got married at Lambeth Register Office in 1916