HORSFALL - Todmorden, Nelson & Colne, Rochdale

[yelkcub]

I am researching a HORSFALL family who came originally from Todmorden (Stansfield mainly). Some members moved to the Nelson area early in the 19th century, and some of those then migrated south to Rochdale (specifically Whitworth). If this connects with anything in your research I would be pleased to hear from you to exchange information
Ian

[ThrelfallYorky]

There's an excellent Todmorden website, and Bull's Todmorden companion, with loads of links to local history / names and graveyard records, and registers. Can't recall the actual names to type in, but if you just put "Todmorden" into a search engine, ignore the ones from other countries than England, you'll soon find it. Good hunting. There are quite a lot of Horsfalls still in the area, I think.

[PJ Cosgrove]

From his obituary published in the Rochdale Observer, Sat Nov 19, 1898, p. 3: 'James Horsfall was born in the year 1835 at Chamber House, Great Marsden near Briarfield, in Lancashire... While still a lad he came to reside with his uncle Hiram, who lived near Whitworth. Here among our own hills, he remained for some time, but he had no settled occupation. At the age of 17 he went to reside at Todmorden, having found employment as gardener for the late Abraham Stansfield at his extensive nurseries.'
Married Louisa Wass in 1860, Rochdale. Died Healey Nursery, Rochdale 1898. James and Louisa are my g-g-grandparents.
PJ Cosgrove, Sydney, Australia 29/5/2024

[Gillg]

As a former Rochdalian the name Horsfall is familiar to me, but can't think at the moment why.  Perhaps there was a family business of that name.  It does seem to have been the name of the architect of some of the Victorian buildings in the town.

[yelkcub]

Hello PJ
The Hiram Horsfall you mention was, I think, the brother of my great grandfather, whose name was Hiram. My great grandfather, Frederick and his much younger brother James were sons of Hiram Horsfall (born Heptonstall 1810), the first of the Horsfall family to live at Whitworth. Hiram's father was Abraham (born 1786), who by 1841 had Chamber Hill farm in Briarfield, some way north of Whitworth. Abraham was born to a large family in what is now Todmorden.

Now ... Hiram (my g-g grandfather) died young in 1852 in his mid-thirties. When Hiram died his wife, Ann (Barker), was pregnant with a son, who was named Hiram after his late father. This Hiram would have been the 'Uncle Hiram' you mention. About a year later Ann remarried to a much older man called Robert Rudman, but 'your' Hiram retained the Horsfall surname. My great grandfather Frederick Matthew Horsfall was the son of Hiram and Ann. He was born in 1849 and had siblings (Anne, Thomas, Mariah) born obviously before Hiram, their father's death. After Anne's remarriage she gave birth to a son in 1855, Joseph Rudman––who was, therefore, the half brother of Frederick and 'your' Hiram.
Hope you can make sense of the above. Turning it into a diagram will help. Note that the first Hiram was born 1810, not the date given elsewhere.

Best wishes IAN

[yelkcub]

Hi, Gillg
My Horsfall forebears (and there were quite a few of them) came originally from the area now known as Todmorden. Early in the 19th c they migrated (sensible move) to the Colne area of Lancs, then a branch moved down to Whitworth. No architects --mostly smalltime farmers, though one of them was for many years publican of The Red Lion, Whitworth. Horsfall is still the name of a smallish area of Todmorden ... there is even a Horsfall Hall. IAN

[Tin man]

Gillg,
You've just jogged the memory of another former Rochdalian. I was reading earlier of the designer of Rochdale cemetery in 1855, a man called Abraham Stansfield, assisted by 2 geologists, James Horsfall of Healey nursery and Robert Law of Todmorden. - second paragraph of Historic Development:

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1001565?section=official-list-entry

[yelkcub]

That's great, TM.
PJ Cosgrove will be delighted to learn (if he doesn't already know) that his forebear James Horsfall was clearly eminent in his field, a skilled horticulturalist and garden designer.

[ThrelfallYorky]

"Great Marsden" was the original name of Nelson, near Burnley, in Lancashire.
TY