*Midgley of East Riding Yorkshire*
_*Note: The 'Ridings', or 'Trithings' which had existed from Anglian times were abolished late last century [1973] and replaced with names such as Humberside, East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire. At the same time the boundaries, much to the consternation of true Yorkshire people, were rearranged. The region in question along with Northumberland was held for many centuries by the powerful baronage of De Percy. The De Percy's held huge swathes of land in the East Riding attested to by the many places named after them. They held the earldom of Northumberland and retained lands in the 'Bruce Fee' until 1314 when King Robert Bruce, by defeating the English army under Edward II,  had his lands in England forfeited.

Beverley 

Jonathan Midgley d.1712 was an attorney at law and three times mayor of Beverley. Jonathan Midgley of Beverley is mentioned as part of a pedigree by Ralph Thoresby found in Ducatus Leodiensis [1715].  He was the son of Richard Midgley, grandson of John Midgley, great-grandson of Richard Midgley of Breary [Breary Hall near Bramhope] and gr-gr grandson of Edward Midgley of Midgley near Halifax. It may be his son, also named Jonathan whose tablet and obelisk with an urn dated 1788 are found in  Brandesburton Church, [NE of Beverley] E. R. Y.

                                       The Midgley name appears to have ended in Jonathan of Beverley's line but continued in Samuel of Alwoodley and Ann Scaife.

The 'Breragh' mentioned in Catherine Middleton's Lupton pedigree and the 'Brerehagh' in Thoresby's Ducatis is Breary Hall nr. Bramhope:⁷

NORWOOD HOUSE BEVERLEY
Jonathan had Norwood House built about 1760. " It was designed by Thomas Atkinson of York, one of the leading Yorkshire architects in the reign of George III. Together with the gardens and grounds it has been described by the Garden History Society as a very good example of a gentleman's residence and mini-estate.
The house contains various architecturally important features including a fine staircase, plasterwork on walls and ceilings, fireplaces and original woodwork. The exterior is notable for its elegant facade of attractive brickwork, stone dressings and ornamentation. The garden to the rear of the house still exists in its original form, including a ha ha separating the lawns from the rest of the grounds. In 1907 Norwood House was purchased by the East Riding County Council from the owners at that time, the Broadley family, for use as a school. The Beverley High School for Girls opened in 1908 with Norwood House forming a major part of the school's accommodation. It was used as classrooms, staff living accommodation, boarding pupils' dormitories, library, kitchen and school dining room. This usage continued, with some modifications (boarding had ceased by the end of World War II although some staff members continued to live in Norwood House for some years afterwards) and the library continued to be used by the school until the autumn of the year 2000 when that function transferred to the new resource centre which had been built between Norwood House and the main school building."

THE HISTORY OF NORWOOD HOUSE BEVERLEY
"Norwood House Beverley was built in the 1700's for Jonathan Midgley - Attorney, Alderman and three times Mayor of Beverley. Norwood House passed to the Beverley family through Mary Beverley (nee Midgley) and it remained in this family's possession until 1833. In 1834 Norwood House was sold to Henry Broadley (MP for the east Riding) and remained used by his family until his death in 1851 after which time the property was rented to various tenants as detailed below. In 1907 the then East Riding County Council purchased the property from the Broadleys to be used for a school. The Grade 1 listed House and Gardens are a perfect example of a mini-estate with much of the original layout of the grounds and walks remaining as detailed in Burroughs map of the mid 18th Century."

The Building is of  "red brick with painted stone dressings. Centre block under a wide pediment and 2 low angle wings terminating in small square pavilions to form forecourt. Centre block of 3 storeys, 5 windows wide. Ground floor faced in rusticated stone. Centre door has vermiculated rustication to architrave and other member, plain consoles, pulvinate frieze, 3 key blocks, cornice with bad mould broken over consoles, 8-panel door and fanlight. 2 elaborate contemporary wrought iron lamp brackets. 1st floor moulded cill string with balusters inset under each window. Centre window has stone architrave broadening out at base and resting on stone plinths to form a composition with the doorway beneath. It is crowned by pulvinate frieze and cornice. Other 1st floor windows have gauged brick arches surmounted by light stone cornices. 2nd floor windows have stone cills and gauged arches. Block bracketed crowning cornice in wood. Full width triangular pediment contains a cartouche framing a bull's eye. From this pediment husks trail down to the cornice. 3 plinths to pediment, possibly originally supporting urns now missing. I side wing has been completely rebuilt, the other to the west of 1 storey has 2 windows facing south and east respectively, set in arched recesses. Stone string and moulded cope to parapet, with balusters inset over the windows, stone base. Terminal pavilion of 2 storeys has Venetian window in stone set in recessed arch facing east into the forecourt. 1 plain window in arched recess faces south. Stone string and base. Roof hipped to centre is slated and has been raised 3 feet with little disfigurement. Garden front is a simpler version of south front with wood cornice, fine stone doorcase and an elaborate glazed door. Library block of about. 1825, built for William Beverley, the fittings being of Grecian style. Interior: possesses a fine staircase with carved tread ends, and some notable stucco work and Chimneypieces. The Drawing Room has an important Rococo ceiling based on Colon Campbell's design for a ceiling for Compton Place, Eastbourne. Palladian' overdoor and marble mantel with stucco overmantel containing a composition of cherubs' heads. The stucco work is in the style of Joseph Page of Hull. The doorcases are derived from a plate in Kent's 'Designs of Inigo Jones'. A remarkable house of modest dimensions.

BEVERLEY, NORWOOD, (north-west side)
Gates, gate piers and railings to Norwood House 2 pairs of stone gate piers of c .1780, rusticated and with square crowning blocks, oval modillions inset, and supporting enriched balls on moulded bases, ball finials to eastern piers missing at time of resurvey. Good wrought iron railings and 2 pairs of gates.

Residents of Norwood House

    1765 - 1778 Jonathan Midgley, Attorney, Alderman and Mayor of Beverley 1752, 1766 and 1774.

    1778 - 1791 Mary Midgley (widow of Jonathan)

    1791 - 1794 Mr. Jones (tenant)

    1795 - 1834 William Beverley (father was related to George Washington, first president of the United States of America, by marriage) J.P., Mayor of Beverley

    1806 - 07 and Deputy Lieutenant of the East Riding.

    1834 - Sold to Henry Broadley, MP for the East Riding.

    1838 - 1851 Sophia Broadley (sister to Henry)

    1851 - 1867 Charles Reynard - Second son of the Reynards of Sunderlandwick Hall, Driffield (Landowner and Gentleman)

    1867 - 1879 William Young, Corn Merchant of Bedale, North Yorkshire.

    1879 - 1889 Captain Edward Hill, Merchant and Shipowner.

    1889 - 1904 Charles Newbald, Shipping Manager for Wilson Shipping Co.

    1905 - 1906 Countess of Ravensworth (of the Denman Family)

    1907 - 2002 Norwood House and its 12 acres of gardens became vacant in 1906 and was purchased from Col. Harrison Broadley for £5,000 on 13th April,

     1907 -  by East Riding County Council. On the 23rd September, 1908 at 8:50am Norwood House was opened as Beverley High School for Girls.

In 2002 a campaign was begun to raise £2m to save Norwood House. Norwood "belongs to the age of the Prince Regent, Brighton Pavilion and masked balls". But after being vacated by Beverley High School the Grade 1 listed building faced an uncertain future as it rapidly deteriorated.

Jonathan Midgley Esq. of Beverley also purchased Lissett containing 1,150 acres of land along with Ribston Hall. This along with Norwood House later passed by marriage into the Beverley family who in 1836 conveyed Lissett to Joseph Dent Esq.


BEVERLEY CORPORATION MINUTE BOOK   1707 - 1835

10 October 1720  (M. Jonathan Midgley)  The Archbishop of York to be asked to appoint a time when “some of this Body” may wait upon him.

21 August 1721  “Mrs Mayoress” (Mrs Jonathan Midgley) desired to take upon herself the trouble of managing and providing “against Thursday sevenight” the ten pounds given by Sir Michael Warton to the Chamber for a treat.

23 October 1723  The M., R., and three others desired to wait on Mr Moyser to consider the dispute between York and Beverley about tolls; Mr Midgley appointed the attorney in the cause and to have leave to inspect the charters.


 5 December 1737  At the request of Alderman Midgley, it is conceded that Jonathan Midgley, one of the Attorneys of the Court of Common Pleas at Westminster, shall be admitted one of the Attorneys of the Court of Record held before the M. and A., vice his father.

 3 December 1750  Lease of the Trinities to Ald. Midgley for 21 years at £4 10s p.a., the tenant to keep the pest house in repair.

15 July 1751  Ald. Midgley to acquaint Mr Constable that the Corporation cannot comply with the terms of his letter re the repairs of Hull Bridge Road.

 7 January 1754  (D.M. Jonathan Midgley)  The Corporation Arms to be fixed in front of the Shambles and executed by Jeremiah Hargraves, “the carver,” who agrees to do the work for seven guineas.

16 March 1761  Certain Aldermen named to have leave to take the town charters to lay before Mr Emmanuel Jefferson of Howden with respect to Beverley burgesses’ freedom from toll, and recording that a lawsuit is now pending with Jefferson in respect of tolls demanded from Beverley burgess at Howden market and fair; further ordered that Ald. Midgley, appointed attorney in the cause, be empowered to effect a compromise if necessary, on Jefferson executing a proper instrument paying his own costs and recognising Beverley freemen’s right of exemption from tolls.
19 January 1764  The M. to have permission to take the seal to his own house for the C.S. to be affixed to a petition on the turnpike roads mentioned above.
Notwithstanding the order relative thereto, Ald. Midgley authorised to make the best terms he can between Atkinson, the Vicar of Hollym, and the parishioners.

13 October 1766  (M. Jonathan Midgley, D.M. Wm Waines)  Reciting that any sheep “belonging to neighbouring towns” and depastured on Westwood or Hurn to be impounded at 3d per head (half to the P.M.s and half to the person bringing in the sheep).

Sheriff Hutton
A Richard Midgley is recorded as having a son, Richard, ch. at Sheriff Hutton on the11th April 1734³   He had a son, Richard, christened 20th February 1769 who married Hannah Nicols and moved to Kirby Grindalythe where they had ten children, Richard was the parish clerk. Another Richard Midgley married an Elizabeth Luddrington at Sheriff Hutton in 1772 and had four children who were born at Foston by Malton. One of these was also called Richard and he married Jane Watson at Middleton on the Wolds. They had seven children, the last being born a few months after his death in Strensall where they had lived for a few years judging by the birth places of the children.

1. William Watson Midgley, born 19th February 1809 in Market Weighton. He became a smith and farrier at Sheriff Hutton.

2. William Midgley and Jane_______ who married and had two children:
i) Wilson Midgley ch. 19th December 1852 at Sheriff Hutton.
ii) William Thomas Midgley ch. 6th August 1848 at Sheriff Hutton.

3. Mark Midgley b. 15th June 1813 at Strensall, he became a tailor. He had four sons born in Pocklington:
 i) John who became a house painter,
 ii) Richard
iii) Mark who became a photographer in York
iv) Charles who worked as a stone mason.

4. Samuel Midgley b. 1814 at Strensall ch. 6th October 1814, d. 1900 at Normanton.
bur. Masbrough near Sheffield. His wife was Sarah Wright who also came from Strensall  but they were married at Linton-on-Ouse. Samuel and Sarah had six children:

William Midgley, the eldest, born 1st April  1839 at Kelfield, [north of Selby] East Riding.
He became a police superintendant for the West Riding Police Division. Superintendant Midgley lived at 1,Grove Street, Dewsbury in 1898. He is recorded in the 1881 census as an Inspector of Police at Normanton. He had a number of postings throughout Yorkshire [from the 1881 census of the childrens birthplaces]
 He  married Elizabeth Lee about 1869 . Elizabeth was born abt. 1839 at Weldale They had three children:
 

5. Jane who lived at Easingwold
6. Elizabeth
7. Mary who was born postumously and christened 7th July 1820. [Richard being buried 2nd April 1820]
8. James Midgley. Five years after Richard's death,  Jane [Watson] Midgley gave birth to James Midgley at Appleton-le-moors, near Lastingham [christened 18th Jan 1825] then moved back to Strensall and later managed the Crown and Cushion public house in Sheriff Hutton.
James worked on farms at Strensall and Sheriff Hutton and then became a tenant farmer at Birks Farm, Buttercrambe [near Stamford Bridge]. There used to be a castle with moat at Buttercrambe but only the motte survives.
James married Ruth Lockwood. Ruth's mother was Hannah Midgley who lived at Kirby Grindalythe in the Yorkshire Wolds, on part of the Sledmere Estate and was daughter of Richard Midgley, the parish clerk. James and Ruth had 13 children:
 

For a photograph of the Midgley's of East Yorkshire  at a 1910 wedding contact Kath Bonson.
The photograph is dated by Kath from her great aunt Marjorie (born 1906) who was one of the bridesmaids and her brothers who are sat at the front. Kath's great grandfather and grandmother are also there:
 1 = Marjorie Humphries Midgley (great aunt) born 1906
 2 = George Midgley (great grandfather) born 1873 a farmer at Birks farm, Buttercrambe
 3 = Harold Midgley (great uncle) born 1901
 4 = Elizabeth Rose Midgely (nee Humphries - great grandmother) born 1867
 5 = Oswald Midgley (great uncle) born in 1899
 6 = Hubert Midgley (great uncle) born in 1903

                                                                                                  Threshing Day at Birks Farm, 1890's

Doris Naylor, nee Midgley has recently written a book about the Midgleys' Farming in East Yorkshire from which the above photograph has been taken.
See the full story from the "Yorkshire Post" dated 21st June 2003 kindly sent by Joseph Stocks
Kath Bonson managed to get a publisher for her book on her Grandmother, Daisy Midgley.
It has information about their family including lots of photographs & family trees going back to her grandparents and great grandparents as well as life on the farm at Buttercrambe in the 1920's. 116 pages. 190 photos + other illustrations. Copies are available for £3.75 plus postage.  Contact: Kath Bonson  for more details.

Ian Powers also has relatives going back to this area.
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Christopher Mi[t]chelson /Midgeley bap. Hutton's Ambo 1758. He was known by the names of Midgley and Mitchelson between 1796 and 1817 before the Midgley name became entrenched. He married  firstly Anne Midgeley [d. 11th December 1796 at Huttons Ambo]. Anne appears to have died early in the marriage. Christopher may have assumed, from his wife, the name Midgley⁴.
Secondly he married Mary Layton of Acklam by licence on 8th October 1798.
Hutton's Ambo may have been undergoing enclosure in 1805 so it appears as a result of this that Christopher and Mary moved to Acklam [six miles south of Malton]. David Midgley thinks many of the Acklam and Duggleby census entries were their descendants. Christopher and Mary had at least ten children:
 

It may be that the John Midgeley, son of Christopher, was buried at Acklam in November 1798 at Hutton's Ambo.
Christopher Mitchelson was buried as a Midgeley on the 3rd March 1825, his widow was named Mary Midgeley on the 1841 Acklam census and her death certificate.
There is a record of a Christopher Midgley ch. 23rd August 1851, father Thomas Midgley, mother Ann at Acklam by Malton³.

Thomas Midgley* born Acklam 4th July 1807, married Ann Pudsey of Thorpe Basssett at St. John's Parish Church, Acklam 16th August 1829. They were well into their 80's in the 1881 census.
Thomas and Ann had at least ten children all born at Acklam:
 

3. John Midgley# was born at Acklam abt. 1835, the fourth child of Thomas and Ann Midgley. John married Ann Rawling 6th August 1859 at Kirby Grindalythe Parish Church. They settled at Ann's home village of Duggleby.
 

A George Midgley was  born Duggleby 1854/5 . George rented land at Langton and Acklam Wold. Married Louis Amy Nutbrown at Kirkburn 27th March 1885, died 4th March 1912.
Children were:
 

For 1892 a Francis Midgley is described as a farmer and valuer in West Hutton⁵.

David Patterson, brought up in Norton, Malton & now living in Leeds is the son of Anne Patterson, whose mother was the sister of Flora Midgley of Acklam, David's great great aunt. David's mother supplied pictures for Tom Midgley's two books on Wolds Farming
Does anyone know anything of the brothers of Flora Midgley, especially about one who went under mysterious circumstances to Canada , enlisted in the Canadian Army and unfortunately was killed on the Somme.
Contact: David Patterson, Leeds. [sorry David, I've misplaced your email address]

Thomas Midgley
From the I.G.I. he was christened 6th August 1876 at St. Leonard's, New Malton, father: Mark Midgley Mother: Mary.
From the 1881 census:
Dwelling: Unitarian Chapel Yard
 Census Place: New Malton, York, England
 Source: FHL Film 1342161     PRO Ref RG11    Piece 4812    Folio 15    Page 21
 Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Mark MIDGLEY M 29  M Duggleby, York, England
 Rel: Head
 Occ: Ag Labr
Mary H. MIDGLEY M 27  F Malton, York, England
 Rel: Wife
Thomas MIDGLEY   4  M Malton, York, England
 Rel: Son
 Occ: Scholar

This appears to be the same family as in the IGI, note the age of 4 given by his parents for Thomas could make his birth 1876 or 1877 depending on which half or end of the year he was born in. The IGI gives his christening as 6 August 1876, the 1881 census was on 31st March thus if his christening was as given he would have been 4 years and 8 months, his parents probably wrote his last birthday on the census form i.e. 4 years of age.
Thomas attended Milne School. His father married Mary Wilson who owned a Singer Sewing Machine shop. He ran away to Edinburgh with a friend and joined the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders serving in the Sudan Campaign of 1898.
He then married Elizabeth Purvey in August 1901 and in later years was a Branch Secretary of the British Legion in Reading.
Contact: Des Rowe
Sue Gabriel has added information to the family of Mark Midgley born at Duggleby in 1852. As mentioned above he married Mary H. Wilson who is a predecessor of the branch of Wilson which produced Harold Wilson, Britain's Labour Prime Minister in the 1960's, later Lord Rievaulx. His son Thomas was christened at St. Leonards, New Malton in 1876.. Thomas was married at Cairo, parish of Alexander, Illinois, U.S.A. to an extraordinarily beautiful American Indian lady [perhaps Elisabeth] who was tall and had blue-black hair.
Sue's elder sibling's knew her as an 'Indian princess'. Thomas met the 'princess' whilst working to help the Illinois Indians at a Jesuit mission. One of Thomas's daughters also married a Canadian Indian who operated from the U.K. during WWII with the Canadian Airforce. Sue is researching Mark's parents.
Contact: Sue Gabriel
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Contact: Karen Millar
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Contact: Allen Midgley  Secondary address  
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2) George born 1865 Acaster Malbis [1881- indoor farm servant]
3) Elizabeth born 1876, Huntington².

Contact: Thomas Stuart Midgley
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Dennis Bayley has Anne Matilda Midgley who married his wife's* great-grandfather in 1877. The Thomas's lived in and around Sunderland.(*nee Thomas.)

Anne, Matilda the eldest child was not at home with the rest of the family during ther 1871 census

1871 Census 
Reisiding Stranton, Co. Durham
Joseph Midgely Head M 39 Sutton, Yorkshire b~1832 Occupation 'Coin Metre'
Jane E Midgley Wife F 42 Frodingham, Yorkshire* b~1829 Wife
Joseph Midgley Son M 13 West Hartlepool, Durham b~1858 Scholar Later a Officer H M Customs [See # below]
Sophia Midgley Daughter F 11 West Hartlepool, Durham b~1860 Servant Nurse
William C Midgley Son M 9 West Hartlepool, Durham b~1862 Scholar
Mary Midgley Daughter F 7 West Hartlepool, Durham b~1864 Scholar
Jane E Midgley Daughter F 4 West Hartlepool, Durham b~1867 Scholar
Richard Midgley Son M 2 West Hartlepool, Durham b~1869 Son
Susan J Midgley Daughter F 0 West Hartlepool, Durham b~1871 Daughter

* Probably North Frodingham, Holderness, ERY. Sutton is in Holderness near Hull.

Anne/Ann Matilda Midgley would be 15 years of age in 1871 and was away from home in service as a 'general Domestic servant' in the 1871 census:

Residing Stranton
Joseph Charles Smith Stepson M 16 Byker, Northumberland
Sarah Smith Stepdaughter F 13 West Hartlepool, Durham
Thos W C Smith Stepson M 11 West Hartlepool, Durham
Ann M Midgley Servant F 15 West Hartlepool, Durham

Joseph and Jane appear to have moved to Co. Durham for work. 

Jane Elizabeth from BDM  appears to be surnamed Noble. She was christened 19 April 1829 at North Frodingham, Yorkshire. Her father was William Noble and mother Ann.

The Noble family are in the 1861 census:
Residing Railway Street, Stranton, Co. Durham. 
William Noble Head M 60 Nafferton, Yorkshire Occupation: Waterman
Ann Noble Wife F 52 Sleights, Yorkshire
William Noble Son M 26 North Frodingham, Yorkshire
Jane E Noble Daughter F 22 North Frodingham, Yorkshire
Anthony Noble Son M 20 North Frodingham, Yorkshire
Ann Noble Daughter F 18 North Frodingham, Yorkshire
Richard Noble Son M 15 North Frodingham, Yorkshire
Ellen Noble Daughter F 11 Stockton, Durham

ANOTHER BRANCH
Census 1891:
Residing Grey Street., Tynemouth
Joseph Midgley Head M 33 County Durham, England Occupation Officer H M Customs#
Elizabeth J Midgley Wife F 31 County Durham, England
John W Midgley Son M 9 County Durham, England
Jane E Midgley Daughter F 7 Northumberland, England
Charles P Midgley Son M 5 Northumberland, England
Florence J Midgley Daughter F 3 Northumberland, England
Joseph E Midgley Son M 1 Northumberland, England
Alice L Midgley Daughter F 0 North Shields, Northumberland, England

1901 Census: 
Residing Jackson St., Tynemouth
Joseph Midgley Head M 43 West Hartlepool, Durham
Elizabeth J Midgley Wife F 42 West Hartlepool, Durham
John W Midgley Son M 19 West Hartlepool, Durham
Jane E Midgley Daughter F 17 No Shields, Northumberland
Charles P Midgley Son M 16 No Shields, Northumberland
Florence I Midgley Daughter F 14 No Shields, Northumberland
Joseph E Midgley Son M 12 No Shields, Northumberland
Alice S Midgley Daughter F 11 No Shields, Northumberland
Frank Midgley Son M 7 No Shields, Northumberland
Fred Midgley Son M 5 No Shields, Northumberland
Albert Midgley Son M 4 No Shields, Northumberland
Earnest Midgley Son M 1 No Shields, Northumberland

1911 Census:
Residing Weymouth, Dorsetshire
Joseph Midgley Head M 52 West Hartlepool, Durham
Elizabeth Jane Midgley Wife F 51 West Hartlepool, Durham
Charles Preston Midgley Son M 25 North Shields, Northumberland
Florence Ida Midgley Daughter F 22 North Shields, Northumberland
Joseph Edward Midgley Son M 21 North Shields, Northumberland
Alice Sophia Midgley Daughter F 20 North Shields, Northumberland
Frank Midgley Son M 17 North Shields, Northumberland
Albert Midgley Son M 14 North Shields, Northumberland
Ernest Midgley Son M 11 North Shields, Northumberland
Ronald Midgley Son M 9 North Shields, Northumberland
Contact: Dennis Bayley

Could all these major groups of Midgley families in the East Riding be connected?
They are all tantalisingly close to each other and all originate from farming families.
There is already a connection between Karen and David's Wilson Midgley b. 1875 Duggleby and Kath thinks that George Midgley born 1854/5 Duggleby is the same as George Midgley the 13th child of Ruth [Lockwood] Midgley.

                                  .

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7. Ralph Thoresby. Ducatus Leodiensis, 1715.

8. The Registers of the Parish Church of Adel, in the County of York, from 1606 to 1812, p. 111.

Links:
1. Duggleby
2. The Yorkshire Detective