Midgley of  Halifax



Halifax Parish Church The Halifax Parish Church
Dedicated to St. John the Baptist, this building was erected  about 1116-1120, the present building dates from the mid 1400's. Between 1106 and 1121 the monks of Lewes Priory of St. Pancras were granted the land in this portion of the manor of Wakefield by either the first or second earl Warenne whose castle was at Reigate in Surrey and his Yorkshire manor of Wakefield. However if we examine the approximate dates for the respective William Warennes we find that William II is the more likely of the two to have granted the parish church at Halifax to the Cluniac order of monks who had previously been granted a priory at Lewes in 1077. It is also clear that it was the second earl who acquired the manor of Wakefield. A young William II de Warenne also founded a Cluniac priory at Castle Acre, Norfolk about 1090. We might also note that the De Lacis of  the honour of Pontefract also endowed a Cluniac priory at Monk Bretton or Lund near Barnsley. Monk Bretton Priory was originally founded by Adam FitzSwein in 1154 as a Cluniac house. The priory was dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene of Lund, Lund being the local Norse place-name for a sacred grove. This name is still recognised in the names of Lund and Lund Wood nearby. This house, like the Cluniac Priory, of St. John's at Pontefract was patronised by the powerful De Laci family. In relation to Lund, Mary Magdalene was the patron of the Knights Templar. The Cluniacs became extremely wealthy until their zeal diminished in the late1100’s.

                     

The Cluniac churches established by the black-robed monks of Lewes through their benefactors, the Warenne family. Later the priory at Lund near Barnsley came under the Benedictine Order.

 

William I de Warenne
b.1055
d.1088
     William II de Warenne [William de Placetis]
b.1071- 1081
d.1138

Had a motte and bailey on the left bank of the River Calder near Wakefield.
It was William I de Warenne who introduced the Cluniac Order into England at Lewes when he established Lewes priory.


      

  


Eldest son of William the first earl Warenne. William II  built the first Sandal Castle, probably of timber. He  married Isabel de Vermandois [her second marriage after Robert de Beaumont, the first earl of Leicester, d. 1118]. The second earl carried the Warenne Shield.  
He sought to marry Edith Ceann mhor [a.k.a. Eadgyth, Maud, Matilda Atheling and 'Good Queen Maud', d. 1118], daughter of Malcolm Ceann mhor, [Malcolm III], but Edith was married to Henry I Beauclerc in 1100. This marriage may have been the reason for William's hatred of Henry, and helped in causing William to join Henry's son Robert Curthose in a rebellion. In 1101 earl William II supported Robert Curthose against Henry I and for a time was banished from the kingdom for his efforts but was reinstated by Henry two years later and redeemed his position by distinguishing himself at the Battle of Tinchebrai [1106] during a Normandy conquest against Curthose.
It may be for this supportive action that William was granted the manor of Shelf, north-east of Halifax before being granted the manor of Wakefield. One version states that as a result of William's loyalty, Henry I also granted him the Wakefield estates in 1107. Sir William de Miggeley appears to have held lands at Shelf in the early 1300's.
The second earl had two children [some sources state six], William and Adeline.
Adeline married Henry Ceann mhor de Huntingdon, Prince of Scotland [b. 1114 d. 1152] earl of Northumbria and Huntingdon. Prince Henry's fifth child, David became earl of Huntingdon. One of Henry's grandchildren, Isabella  married Robert de Bruis [Bruce] of Scotland. The title earl of Huntingdon was lost with David's son's death [John Le Scot] as David was succeeded by three heiresses.
  Grave cover ca. 1150 Halifax Church

                                                 John Talvas was rector of Halifax Church in 1150.


At Halfax parish Church there is an adjoining chapel, the Rokeby Chapel named after its benefactor William Rokeby who was a vicar at Halifax and later Archbishop of Dublin. There are many family coats of arms shown on the nave ceiling of the church including the Midgley heraldic arms In 1911 Joseph Horsfall Turner recorded these arms in The Coats of Arms of the Nobility and Gentry of Yorkshire  where on page 224 he describes how in 1816 many of these were removed from the ceiling of  the church chancel while the remainder were repainted. Three can be little doubt that the family coats of arms here were those of benefactors to the parish church. Before the repainting Horsfall records that the Midgley arms here were Gules a fess between six six garbs Or.  In ~1312, arms of a similar pattern for Sir Thomas de Sheffield occur but with the field and tinctures reversed i.e. Or a fess between six garbs gules. [Parliamentary Roll]

Other local arms of familiar names displayed on the ceiling were: 

King William I [Gules two lions guardant passant Or*]

 Earl Warenne [Chequy Or and Azure.]

 Lacy of Cromwellbottom [Argent, six pellets, 3, 2, 1 sable.]

 Savile [Argent on a bend sable three owls proper impaling.]

Waterhouse [Or a pile engrailed sable impaling, sable, a wolf  salient and in chief three mullets argent.] 

Chamberlain [Sable, a chevron between three escallops argent.]

Farrer of Ewood [Argent on a bend engrailed sable three horse-shoes argent.]

Lister of Shibden Hall [Ermine on a fess sable three mullets Or, a canton gules.]

Greenwood [Quarterly 1 & 4 sable, a chevron ermine between three saltires argent; 2 & 3 gules a fess between three oak trees Or, three escallops argent.]

Cockcroft [Cobcroft] of Mayroid [Sable, an elephant passant argent on a chief azure three mullets Or, pierced.]

Murgatroyd [Argent three crosses fleury sable, five times pierced of the field.]

Thornhill [Gules, two bars gemels and a chief argent] These were also recorded by John Burton in 1758 as being in one of the windows of Selby Abbey [Mon. Ebor]

.....amongst many others. 

* According to Sir Bernard Burke 1884. and still maintained as correct today. These are also those those of King William II,  King Henry I and King Henry II before his marriage  [1152] to Queen Eleanor of Aquitane, confirmed in 1154. Thereafter Henry II used three lions as did Richard I, John, Henry III, Edward I and  Edward II.

THE MANOR OF HALIFAX  

The Waterhouse family were lords of the manor of Halifax from at least the reign of Henry III. See: Waterhouse-Farrer-Midgley connected pedigrees (Gedcom) The Waterhouse family greatly increased the industry of the town during the 1400's in the time of John Waterhouse who died 1539. John Waterhouse of Shibden recorded in 1565 that his grandfather John Waterhouse (d. 2 Jan 1539) was 97 years of age (thus born abt. 1446). In his grandfather's youth (say about 1459) there were 13 houses in Halifax. By 1565 there were 'twenty and six score' (520 houses).
Thus:
abt 1459 there were 13 houses
In 1565 there were 520 houses.
i.e. a 40 fold increase in 106 years. 

THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME HALIFAX
Some suggest that there is a link between Halifax and St. John the Baptist. The hypothesises suggests that medieval knights, perhaps Knights Templars [KnightsHaliax Parish Church early 1800's of St. John of Jerusalem in England] brought the head of St. John, called by the Templars, Baphomet, to Halifax. To support this some refer to the common belief  that the name Halifax means 'holy face' and indeed the parish church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist [feast day: 24th June, Midsummer Day] whilst St. John's head is part of Halifax town's coat of arms.
Whittaker has pointed out that the origin of Halifax's name has been 'variously given'. The name 'Halyfax' is first mentioned in 1116, merely thirty years after the Domesday Book, in which it is not mentioned as such. Thus the name seems to have coincided with the time that the monks of Lewes were granted land here, almost 200 years before the demise of the Templars. However, the origin of the place-name is well open to debate. 

Whittaker stated that "the town of Halifax cannot boast of great antiquity; its name is not found in Domesday Book, nor is it mentioned in any ancient record, before a grant of its Church was made by Earl Warrein to the Priory of Lewes, in Sussex". Whittaker suggested that the name was half Saxon [Anglian] and half Norman and that "formerly, in the deep valley where the church now stands, was a Hermitage, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the imagined sanctity of which attracted a great concourse of persons in every direction.  There were four roads by which the Pilgrims entered, and hence the name Halifax, or Holyways, for fax in Norman French, is an old plural noun, denoting highway........"
The prefix hali may be derived from words meaning either holy, or a personal name, and the element fax or gefeaxe may be derived from words meaning a division of land, or coarse grass land or highways.
Camden provides us with a  legend that the town was originally known as Horton and The Chapel in the Grove and changed its name to Halig-fax or Halifax as it grew. Camden identified fax as meaning hair, which related to the story of Aelred and the virgin.
William White in 1837 also recorded four ways, by which the town of Halifax could be entered, they each pointed towards the parish church as their common centre; "these were the roads by which the pilgrims approached the object of their devotion, and hence the name Halifax, or Holy Ways; for fax, in Norman French, is an old plural noun, denoting highways" [we find this name ending also in Kippax].


If, as the folklore implies, St. John the Baptist's face was buried under the Halifax Church, which remained as a rectory until 1273, it would have become an international place of pilgrimage, which it never did. If it were a face, then it was more likely to be a carved representation or painting. John the Baptist's severed head is generally believed to have been buried in Damascus, Syria.  For some reason John became the Wool Weavers patron saint perhaps identified with the paschal lamb which also appears on the Halifax coat of arms. See Midgley dna By 1252-1253 John de Warenne 7th earl [d. 1304] granted free warren in Halifax to he monks. This meant that they could freely hunt here. In 1276 lord Ingelard Turbard/ Turbart10 is mentioned as the vicar of Halifax as is Halifax northbridge.9 By 1316 the lord of Halifax was the prior of  'Levevick', i.e. Lewes, Sussex..11

However examining the text of Domesday Book [1086] I find that there is an entry as the phonetic, Werla . feslei . Werla has been identified as Warley, a township just within the N.W. sector of the modern day Halifax. FESLEI has been identified by some as HALIFAX. Where the name Halifax originated, we can see from the above discussions, it is not clear but we  have in a record of the C.P.R. for William de Miggeleye a reference to its medieval rendering of  'Frisleye' in 1337, ten years into King Edward III's reign.

This indicates that 'Werla' and 'Feslei' were separate places or in 1086 two places very close to each other considered as one. The name Halifax seems to have evolved after this date, perhaps phonetically from a combination of Werla and feslei. From 'Werla feslei'  in 1086 to  'Werla faslei' to 'Ali-fesley'  to the sounds of 'Alif-exley' when the 'ley' was dropped or slurred  to form the text spelling of  Hali-fax . If we seriously mumble and mangle the name Werla feslei [there were many migrants here during the town's industrialisation] it can sound like Halifax, so perhaps its origin is not so latent. We see something similar with Belper in Derbyshire which believe it or not was originally the Norman-French Beaurepaire, the two syllables were retained but the original name was phoneticised.
Halifax parish church has the Midgley coat of arms emblazoned on the church ceiling and with the industrial involvement of the Midgley family in the town, the indications are that William de Miggeley was granted land near Halifax at Shelf in the 1330's. At that time of course Halifax was still a small Yorkshire village ['township'] and not the industrial complex it later became. So next time you see 'Halifax Building Society' you might recall a little piece of medieval history and think 'Werla Feslei Building Society'.

August 11 1337 Tower of London -
'Grant for life, in recompence of his long service in the Chancery, to Benedict de Norrnanton, king's clerk, of the lands in Frisleye and Shelf, co.York, which William de Miggeleye, deceased, held of the grant of the present king. By K. & C.'
[C.P.R., Edward III, 1334-1338, p. 492.]

The Magna Via Leading from Halifax Parish Church to Wakefield and thence to London and the South is the so-called 'Magna Via'.  This was traced in 1920 by T.W. Hanson to Clark Bridge climbing the Old Bank along Beacon Hill Road passing below Beacon Pan where there were paving stones. Then on to Barraclough Lane, via Dark Lane to Dumb Mill below Hipperholme railway station.7

Piece Hall
This large trading house has a large number of shops present similar to the now demolished markets in Huddersfield.
A directory of local merchants and manufacturers in 1787 recorded a Francis Midgley having a shop in the Arcade, John Midgley with a shop in the Rustic Gallery and another John Midgley had a shop in the Collonade section1.

The Arcade Royale
A covered shopping arcade similar to the Huddersfield Markets, opened in 1912. It was built by the Halifax developer, Walter Midgley, and was designed by local architects Clement Williams and Sons. It was a set of small units until 1951 when it was taken over by the Halifax Co-operative Society and converted into a single store in 1967.


MANY COATS OF ARMS from the the nave ceiling of St. John the Baptist, Halifax

"On the roof of this church are painted, in different compartments, the following arms, (1.) Wilkinson; (2.) Archbishop Tillotson; (3.) Savile, impaled with four others, viz. 1st, Gules, three lions passant guardant; Qdly, Howard; 2dly, Warren; 4thly, Gules, a lion rampant argent.  (4.) Archbishop Sharp; (5.) Lister; (6.) Farrer, a martlet for difference; (7.) Farrer, no distinction.  ( 8.) Sable, a chevron between three escallops argent. ( 9.) Cockcroft, of Mayroid, but the colours, as I apprehend, mistaken; a martlet for difference; (10.) Same arms, crescent for difference; (11.) Greenwood, impaled with another coat, forgot.-( 12.) Prescot; (13.) Argent, a chevron gules between three elephants passant sable.  (14.) Argent, a fess between three crescents gules. (15.) Savfle.  (16.) Argent1 a lion rampant gules. (17.) Argent, on a pale gales between two   three towers of the first, and in chief, gules, a crescent betwen two escallops   (18.) Naylor; (19.) Argent, on a fess sable, between three crescents, as many mullets, gules, or some-thing like it; for this and two others quartered with it, I could not distinctly make out, owing to their great distance from the eye,  (20.) Midgley, of Midgley.  (21.) Argent, a plain cross azure. 
unknown arms with three tortoises in chief (22.) Argent, two bars gemells gules, and in chief three torteauxes.  (23.) Argent, three pales sable.  (24.) Same as the last.  (25.) Lister, but wants the canton.   (26.) Waterhouse.  (27 and 28.) The Cloth-workers' arms.  (29.) Lindley.  (30.) Drake, impaled with......... (31.) Or, a chevron gules between three towers argent. (32.) Argent, in chief gules, three escallops   (33.) Azure, on a chevron argent, between three griffins passant or, three escallops gules.  (84.) Naylor.  (35.) Murgatroyd, as I take it.  (36.) Sable, a fess lozengy, and in base an escallop argent, on a chief indented of the second, three escallops of the first.  (37.) Same as No.35.  (38.) Sable, a chevron between three roses argent.  (39.) Midgley of Midgley. (40.) Livesey.  (41.) Argent, two bars nebule, over all a bend gules, quartered with, Argent, a chief indented sable.-(42.) Bameden, of Crawstone.  (43.) Argent, three crosses forme, five times pierced of the field (44.) Gules, a griffin passant or.  [Some of these are now left out, and the arrangement is totally different.-J.H.T.]"
.

- From Halifax Families and Worthies, J. Horsfall Turner 1883.



Richard Midgley of Midgley recorded as a testamentary burial in Halifax Church 1556. [History of Halifax by Samuel Midgley, 1789 , p. 247.]

Richard Midgley of Midgley was buried at Halifax Church in 1569.[Ibid., p. 393.]

MEMORIUM TO MIDGLEY.
On the wall in the north chapel is a monumental inscription:
"Near this place resteth the body of MARY, daughter of WILLIAM MIDGLEY, Master of Arts, late of Headley, now of Sowerby, who was born March 3, 1696, and departed this life November 7, 1704. The inscription includes the Midgley arms of Sable two bars gemel Or on a chief of the second, three caltraps of the first. [Dugdale's Visitation of Yorkshire ]

Mortal by birth, short my stay, here sleeps my dust,
My better part joins consort with the just."


Above this: "Exuviae GULIELMI MIDGLEY, A. M. Curat. de Sowerby, juxta depositae Maii 10o, 1706. Anno Aetatis 34."
i.e. William Midgley, A.M. curate of Sowerby, died May 10th, 1706. Aged 34 years. [From History of Halifax by Samuel Midgley, 1789, pp. 231-232; Halifax Families and Worthies, J. Horsfall Turner 1883.] See Headley and Thornton line
William Midgley, the curate of Sowerby died of a palsy and was buried within the parish church of Halifax. [History of Halifax by Samuel Midgley, 1789, p. 304.]

William Midgley died of a palsy May 7, 1706, buried in Halifax Church aged about 30. [The History and Antiquities of Halifax, Rev. R.J. Watson, 1775.]

William Midgley Gent. of Halifax, daughter Mary who married Thomas Holdsworth son of Thomas Holdsworth [d. 23rd June 1709 or 25th October 1710] of Ashday, Southowram Gent. and Phoebe Oats. Mary was buried at Holdsworth Chapel. [The History and Antiquities of Halifax, John Watson, 1775, p. 381.]

  MIDGLEY. 
Cut on a blue stone within a raised stone border painted over, and fixed to the north wall of the Rokeby Chapel, beneath the  second window from the west. 
Arms. — (Sable), two bars gemelles (or), on a chief (of the second)  hree calthrops (of the first) — Midgley. 
Near this place Resteth the Body of  Mary, Daughter of William Midgley, Master of arts, Late of Headley, now of  Sowerby, who was born March the third  1696 & Departed this life November 7th 1704. Mortal by birth, short my stay, here sleeps my dust. My better part loynes consort with the lust. [Monumental and Other Inscriptions in Halifax Parish Church]

William Midgley, gentleman, M.A. of Halifax had a daughter Mary who married Thomas Holdsworth of Ashday. He was bap. 4th July 1677 in Halifax, d. 20 April 1735 at Halifax and bur. 23rd April in Halifax Parish Church where a monumental inscription was noted in Dugdale's Visitation of Yorkshire [pp. 107-108.] Mary died earlier on 25th October and was also buried in the parish church with a monumental inscription. [Ibid.] Thomas and Mary had at least five children:

1. William.

2. Thomas who became a curate at Sowerby.

3. John.

4. Phoebe ['Pheebe'] b. 1709 and married on 25th June 1739 at York, William Drake of Fixby [b.~ 1711]

5. Frances.

  On a large monument of stone fixed to the south wall of  the Holdsworth Chapel, between the third and fourth windows from  the east.  Holdsworth Arms - Argent, on a stump of a tree raguled and eradicated, in  bend a crow perched near the top (proper)  impaling, gules, a fess between six garbs, or [Midgley]. 

                                                                  Thomas
                                  Holdsworth of Ashday (otherwise Ashdale) in Southowram
                                 Died the 20th Day of April 1735 in Ye 56 Year of his Age

HALDSWORTH. 
Cut on stone within a raised stone border, fixed to the south wall  of the Holdsworth Chapel between the third and fourth windows  from the east. 
Arms. — (Argent), the trunk of a tree raguled and eradicated in  bend (proper) — Holdsworth. 
Near this place Lyeth the Body  of Thomas Haldsworth of  Ashday in Southowrom, Gentleman,  who Departed this Life the 23rd of  June 1709: And also the Body of  Mrs. Phebe Haldsworth, his Wife, the Daughter of Mr. James Oats, of Lands Head in Northowrom, who Departed this life the 12th of October 1709. And also the Body of Mary Haldsworth, the Daughter of William Midgley, of Hallifax, Gent : And Wife of Thomas Haldsworth, son of the above mentioned Thomas Haldsworth, who Departed this life the 25 of October 1710. [Monumental and Other Inscriptions in Halifax Parish Church]

  In 1694 William Midgley of Halifax was one of two plaintiffs relating to an inheritance of Gilbert Deane's property in Sowerby and Wakefield. The entry also mentions Josiah Midgley, gentleman. [TNA C6/410/13.] See Headley and Thornton line

  William Midgley gentleman of Halifax [Who may be the same as above] had a daughter Susannah who married Thomas Greenwood, clerk on 28th May 1711 at York Thomas Greenwood on 28th March 1745 [18 George II] was late of Elphabray Hall, in Ryall Park, Erringden but now of New House, Luddenden, Midgley.

  William Midgley, gent. was 'to be ensigned' into the Third West Yorkshire Militia on 19th September 1810. [The London Gazette, part 2, p. 1691.]


Samuel Midgley died July 18 1695, he was the author of "History of Halifax" written before 1695 and published in 1789. This work provides a full account of what came to be known as the Elland Feud.
                                                                 
page 357 History of Halifax

- This statement is supported by the work of  the Rev. R.J. Watson who wrote The History and Antiquities of Halifax, 1775

                                                                                 Read and download Samuel Midgley
's magnum opus [Google Books]

Mayor of Haliax Samuel T. Midgley Samuel Thomas Midgley [Mayor of Halifax in the late 1800's] "Samuel Thomas Midgley was Lord Mayor of Halifax three times. He was a pioneer of bootmaking machinery and a relative of Samuel Midgley of Bradford, the prominent muscician and author. Also Mrs. Janet Midgley cook book author." - from a translated indenture with details of an apprenticeship scheme. Samuel  was mayor in 1877, 1878 and 1893.
Chapter 11 of Midgleyana informs us that a genealogical tree tracing  back to Samuel Midgley b. 1785 of Bierley near Bradford  married Sarah Crowther born 1783. They produced thirteen children of whom the eighth, Henry, born 1822, married Ellen Rushworth born 1827.  This Henry in turn produced eleven children of whom the sixth was the William Henry.

Alex thinks that the name Crowther in the above Sarah provided the middle name for Ellis Crowther Midgley [below].
Alex is searching for Samuel's marriage certificate that may contain details of Samuel's father which should take him back to the 1700's, this might then be linked to others in these web pages.
Contact : Alex

Ellis Crowther Midgley had a son, Herbert Lee Midgley born Halifax, lived at Leeds. Ellis was the son of Samuel Thomas Midgley according to the 1871 census. In the 1881 census Ellis appears as a footwear manufacturer:  A photograph sent in by a reader appears to be that of a visit by the Duke & Duchess of York, the future George V and Queen Mary sometime in 1902.  Ellis seems to have employed many people.  The entourage were guests of the Marchetti's, directors of John Crossley & Sons who lived at Manor Heath.
  Midgley Footwear  
  Dwelling:    9 Kingston Villa
Census Place:    Halifax, York, England
    Source:    FHL Film 1342052     PRO Ref RG11    Piece 4401    Folio 56    Page 20
    Marr    Age    Sex    Birthplace
Ellis C. MIDGLEY    M    25     M    Halifax, York, England
    Rel:    Head
    Occ:    Boot Manufacturer
Margt. MIDGLEY    M    26     F    Halifax, York, England
    Rel:    Wife
Herbert L. MIDGLEY    U    2     M    Halifax, York, England
    Rel:    Son
Fredk. W. MIDGLEY    U    1     M    Halifax, York, England
    Rel:    Son
Selina HARGREAVES    U    22     F    Halifax, York, England
    Rel:    Serv
    Occ:    General Servant
Ada JOHNSON    U    17     F    Leeds, York, England
    Rel:    Serv
    Occ:    General Servant

Contact: Peter Midgley
and : Alex



Lewis Midgley married Sarah Emma Vickerman in 1910 at Halifax. Migrated to Canada
Also see North Bierley



Charles Midgley married Rosina Kershaw. Migrated about 1909 to Philadelphia U.S.A. Son Thomas Midgley born 1903 Halifax.
Contact: Jean Midgley

Mayor of Halifax: 1877-9 & 1893-4, Samuel T. Midgley. See Haworth Page
From the 1881 census a Boot and Shoe Manufacturer.:
 Dwelling: Elm Wood Shaw Hill
 Census Place: Skircoat, York, England
 Source: FHL Film 1342053     PRO Ref RG11    Piece 4406    Folio 89    Page 19
 Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Samuel T. MIDGLEY M 50  M North Bierley, York, England
 Rel: Head
 Occ: Boot Manufacturer Alderman & Magistrate Employing 50 Men 25 Women & 25 Boys
Hannah MIDGLEY M 52  F Northowram, York, England
 Rel: Wife
Samuel S. MIDGLEY U 18  M Halifax, York, England
 Rel: Son
 Occ: Scholar
Mary MIDGLEY U 16  F Halifax, York, England
 Rel: Daur
 Occ: Scholar
Arthur W. MIDGLEY   14  M Halifax, York, England
 Rel: Son
 Occ: Scholar
Annie E. MIDGLEY   7  F Halifax, York, England
 Rel: Daur
 Occ: Scholar
Emily M. SMITH   15  F Horningfield, York, England
 Rel: Serv
 Occ: Domestic Serv (General)

For others see list of  Midgley of Halifax from the 1881 census



DOWNLOAD a Word document for I.G.I. Midgley of Halifax


 
Haliax Parish

Map Source: Midgleyana.
See Lady Day Hearth Tax 1672 for Halifax


Kevin and Gillian Midgley have found a large number of documents in their loft relating to their Midgley family branch particularly of Halifax and Illingworth.

Descendants of Unknown Midgley c 1770

Generation No. 1

1. UNKNOWN1 MIDGLEY He married UNKNOWN DETAILS OF WIFE .

Children of UNKNOWN MIDGLEY and UNKNOWN MOTHER are:
2. i. MICHAEL2 MIDGLEY, b. Manchester, Lancashire.
ii. EDWARD MIDGLEY.

More About EDWARD MIDGLEY:
Occupation: Edward's occupation was as a farmer,
located in Wigan Lancashire.

3. iii. FREDERICK MIDGLEY.

halifax - click for enlargement

Generation No. 2

2. MICHAEL2 MIDGLEY (UNKNOWN1) was born in Manchester, Lancashire. He
married ANNE LIGHTOWLER. She was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

More About MICHAEL MIDGLEY:
Occupation: Michael's occupation was as a mechanic / clock maker
Residence: Illingworth, nr Halifax

More About ANNE LIGHTOWLER:
Residence: At the time of Anne Lightowler's marriage to Michael Midgley she
was living with her parents (Silius and Ruth Lightowler - farmers) in
Southowran Bank, nr Halifax

Children of MICHAEL MIDGLEY and ANNE LIGHTOWLER are:
4. i. JOSEPH3 MIDGLEY, b. May 21, 1816, at 8:00am; d. December 3,
1876, Joseph died at 60 years of age.
5. ii. SIMEON MIDGLEY.
6. iii.LEVI MIDGLEY.
7. iv.WILLIAM MIDGLEY.
v. JANE MIDGLEY.


3. FREDERICK2 MIDGLEY (UNKNOWN1) He married UNKNOWN.

More About FREDERICK MIDGLEY:
Medical Information: Physical: Fredrerick only had one eye
Occupation: Frederick was employed as Parish Clerk for Illingworth, nr
Halifax
Residence: Lived in Pharaoh Lane, Halifax

Children of FREDERICK MIDGLEY and UNKNOWN are:
8. i. EDWARD3 MIDGLEY.
9. ii. JOHN MIDGLEY.
iii. HORATIO MIDGLEY.
iv. SARAH MIDGLEY.
v. MARY MIDGLEY.


Generation No. 3

4. JOSEPH3 MIDGLEY (MICHAEL2, UNKNOWN1) was born May 21, 1816 in at 8:00am,
and died December 3, 1876 in Joseph died at 60 years of age. He married
RUTH COCKCROFT. She was born December 16, 1814 in at 9:45 pm, and died May
12, 1870 in Ruth died at 55 years of age.

More About RUTH COCKCROFT:
Residence: At the time of Rurh Cockcroft's marriage to Joseph Midgley, she
was living with her parents (James and Jane Cockcroft) at Wood Street Hayley
Hill, Halifax

Children of JOSEPH MIDGLEY and RUTH COCKCROFT are:
10. i. ALFRED4 MIDGLEY, b. June 16, 1844, Halifax, West Yorkshire
at 9:40 pm; d. February 26, 1920, 51 Long Road, Newton Heath (Hyde),
Cheshire. Alfred died at 75 years of age.
ii. EMMA JANE MIDGLEY, b. January 16, 1843, at 5:14 am; d. July
15, 1843, 7 months of age. Emma Jane was buried in Illingworth Church with
Sarah Hannah, Charles and Joe in one brick lined grave..
iii. ALICE MIDGLEY, b. December 14, 1846, Alice Midgley was born
at 6:45 pm; d. June 17, 1863, 16 years of age.
iv. SARAH HANNAH MIDGLEY, b. September 2, 1849, Sarah Hannah
Midgley was born at 8:00 am; d. November 7, 1849, 9 weeks and 3 days of age.
Sarah Hannah was buried in Illingworth Church with Emma Jane, Charles and
Joe in one brick lined grave..
v. CHARLES MIDGLEY, b. February 7, 1851, Charles Midgley was
born at 7:50 pm; d. March 12, 1851, 3 weeks and 3 days old. Charles was
buried in Illingworth Church with emma Jane, Sarah Hannah, and Joe in one
brick lined grave..
vi. JOE MIDGLEY, b. August 5, 1852, Joe Midgley was born at 5:46
pm; d. August 22, 1852, 17 days old. Joe was buried in Illingworth Church
together with Emma Jane, Sarah Hannah and Charles in one brick lined grave..


5. SIMEON3 MIDGLEY (MICHAEL2, UNKNOWN1)

Children of SIMEON MIDGLEY are:
i. NOT KNOWN4 MIDGLEY.
ii. NOT KNOWN MIDGLEY.


6. LEVI3 MIDGLEY (MICHAEL2, UNKNOWN1) He married (1) NOT KNOWN. He
married (2) UNKNOWN in Remarried on the death of Levi Midgley and emigrated
to the USA with her step son, Henry.

Children of LEVI MIDGLEY and NOT KNOWN are:
i. GEORGE4 MIDGLEY.
ii. HENRY MIDGLEY.

More About HENRY MIDGLEY:
Emigration: Emigrated to the United States with his
step mother, who had remarried on the death of his father.
Occupation: Henry's occupation was as a bookseller,
paper hanger and decorator.

iii. MARY ANNE MIDGLEY.


7. WILLIAM3 MIDGLEY (MICHAEL2, UNKNOWN1)

More About WILLIAM MIDGLEY:
Occupation: Willaim's occupation was as a bookseller and owner a library,
being based in Market Street

Child of WILLIAM MIDGLEY is:
i. WILLIAM4 MIDGLEY.


8. EDWARD3 MIDGLEY (FREDERICK2, UNKNOWN1)

Children of EDWARD MIDGLEY are:
i. MARY4 MIDGLEY.
ii. SALLY MIDGLEY.
iii. ANN MIDGLEY.


9. JOHN3 MIDGLEY (FREDERICK2, UNKNOWN1) He married UNKNOWN.

More About JOHN MIDGLEY:
Occupation: John ' s occupation was as a wholesale grocer. He was based in
Lewis Street and / or Portland Street, Halifax

Children of JOHN MIDGLEY and UNKNOWN are:
i. WALTER4 MIDGLEY.
ii. ROLAND MIDGLEY.
iii. FRED MIDGLEY.


Generation No. 4

10. ALFRED4 MIDGLEY (JOSEPH3, MICHAEL2, UNKNOWN1) was born June 16, 1844 in
Halifax, West Yorkshire at 9:40 pm, and died February 26, 1920 in 51 Long
Road, Newton Heath (Hyde), Cheshire. Alfred died at 75 years of age. He
married RACHEL LOUISA PRATLEY August 29, 1866 in St Pauls Church,
Cheltenham, Glocs. She was born January 15, 1842 in Hampton Wick nr Hampton
Court, Middlesex, and died May 9, 1889 in 85 Alexandra Road, Manchester.
Rachel Louisa died at 47 years of age.

Notes for ALFRED MIDGLEY:
Alfred Midgley worked at the following educational establishments:
a) Socham College, Watton, Norfolk.
b) Whitchurch National School, Whitchurch, Herefordshire
c) St John's National School, Dewsbury Moor, Yorkshire
d) Presteign Boys National School, Presteign, Radnorshire
e) Longdon National School, Rugeby, Staffordshire
f) Milnsbridge National School, Huddersfield, Yorkshire
g) St Paul's Academy, Alma Street, Stanary, Halifax, Yorkshire
h) St Mary's National School, Newton Moor (Hyde) Cheshire
i) Rostherne Boys School, Knutsford, Cheshire

The following is a copy extract from a notebook, written in pencil, by
Alfred Midgley

Leaving Rostherne, March 188(8) I commenced business as a grocer ? merchant
at 55 Alexander Road, Mosside, Manchester. I left Rostherne with a wife and
10 children. Following March Emily Louisa died of consumption aged 16 and
was buried at Wilhangton Cemetry, Southern Manchester and in May the
following year my (?) Rachael Louisa died aged (47) and in the following
March (188)9 my daughter Edith Florence. I left Manchester, the business
having proved a failure and removed to 79 Old Road, Lowery Field, Hyde,
Cheshire to grocer & off licence and (?) March 31 188

Note:The dates are inaccurate as Emily Louisa died in March 1889, Ruth
Louisa in May of the same year and Edith Florence in February 1890.

More About ALFRED MIDGLEY:
Baptism: Illingworth Church, nr Halifax
Burial: Southern Cemetery, Manchester
Occupation: Alfred Midgley was a school master, teaching english,drawing and
drill.

More About RACHEL LOUISA PRATLEY:
Burial: Southern Cemetery, Manchester

Children of ALFRED MIDGLEY and RACHEL PRATLEY are:
11. i. EDWIN PERCIVAL5 MIDGLEY, b. March 16, 1886, Rostherne,
Knutsford, Cheshire at 10:45 am; d. May 18, 1974, Farnborough, Kent.
ii. ALICE MIDGLEY, b. July 12, 1867, Whitchurch, Herefordshire
at 5:15 pm; d. March 21, 1922, 51 Long Road, Newton Heath (Hyde), Cheshire.
Alice died at 54 years of age.

More About ALICE MIDGLEY:
Baptism: Baptisted at St James Church, Halifax
Burial: Southern Cemetery, Manchester

iii. EMILY LOUISA MIDGLEY, b. June 20, 1869, Presteigne,
Radnorshire at 12:40 pm; d. March 7, 1889, 85 Alexandra Road, Manchester.
Emily Louisa died at 19 years of age.

More About EMILY LOUISA MIDGLEY:
Baptism: Baptisted at St Pauls Church, Cheltenham,
Glocs
Burial: Southern Cemetery, Manchester

iv. JOSEPH HENRY MIDGLEY, b. March 23, 1871, Longdon, Rugeley,
Staffordshire at 10:30 am; d. August 14, 1892, 79 Old Road, Hyde, Cheshire.
Joseph died at 21 years of age.

More About JOSEPH HENRY MIDGLEY:
Baptism: Baptisted at St Pauls Church, Cheltenham,
Glocs
Burial: Southern Cemetery, Manchester

12. v. CHARLES ALFRED MIDGLEY, b. January 1, 1873, Halifax, West
Yorkshire at 10:45 pm; d. June 2, 1936, Charles died at 63 years of age..
vi. EDITH FLORENCE MIDGLEY, b. August 11, 1874, Milnesbridge,
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire at 8:00 am; d. February 6, 1890, 85 Alexandra
Road, Manchester. Edith Florence died at 15 years of age.

More About EDITH FLORENCE MIDGLEY:
Baptism: February 25, 1879, Baptisted at St James
Church, Halifax on 25 February 1879
Burial: Southern Cemetery, Manchester

vii. ROSA GERTRUDE MIDGLEY, b. August 2, 1876, 19 Lewis Street,
Halifax at 6:10 am; d. December 26, 1942, 1518 Ashton Old Road, Manchester.
Rosa Gertrude died at 66 years of age..

More About ROSA GERTRUDE MIDGLEY:
Baptism: February 25, 1879, Baptisted at St James
Church, Halifax on 25 February 1879
Burial: Southern Cemetery, Manchester

viii. FREDERICK GEORGE MIDGLEY, b. June 19, 1878, 19 Lewis Street,
Halifax at 12:30 am; d. March 23, 1898, 79 Old Road, Hyde, Cheshire.
Frederick died at 19 years of age..

More About FREDERICK GEORGE MIDGLEY:
Baptism: February 25, 1879, Baptized at St James
Church, Halifax on 25 February 1879
Burial: Southern Cemetery, Manchester

13. ix. ARTHUR WILLIAM MIDGLEY, b. June 4, 1882, 174 Cheetham Hill
Road, Dukinfield, Cheshire at 11:00 am; d. February 21, 1956, Withington
Hospital, Manchester.
x. WALTER RAYMOND MIDGLEY, b. March 13, 1884, Newton Moor
(Hyde), Cheshire; d. September 26, 1918, Cambria, France.

More About WALTER RAYMOND MIDGLEY:
Baptism: April 5, 1885, St Marys Church, Newton Moor
(Hyde), Cheshire
Military service: Walter was a Private soldier
serving with the 2/7 Kings Liverpool Regiment when he was killed in Northern
France
Occupation: Prior to Walter's enlistment into the
Army he was employed on the The Great Central Railway. He was employed in
the Traffic department, his last station being Ashton.


Generation No. 5

11. EDWIN PERCIVAL5 MIDGLEY (ALFRED4, JOSEPH3, MICHAEL2, UNKNOWN1) was born
March 16, 1886 in Rostherne, Knutsford, Cheshire at 10:45 am, and died May
18, 1974 in Farnborough, Kent. He married HANNAH BARDSLEY August 19, 1907
in St Marys Church, Newton Moor (Hyde), Cheshire. She was born August 23,
1885, and died August 1977.

More About EDWIN PERCIVAL MIDGLEY:
Baptism: May 2, 1886

Children of EDWIN MIDGLEY and HANNAH BARDSLEY are:
14. i. WALTER JAMES6 MIDGLEY, b. September 25, 1919.
ii. EVA MIDGLEY, b. December 1908; d. June 18, 1934.
iii. IRIS MIDGLEY, b. February 26, 1910; d. October 1995.


12. CHARLES ALFRED5 MIDGLEY (ALFRED4, JOSEPH3, MICHAEL2, UNKNOWN1) was born
January 1, 1873 in Halifax, West Yorkshire at 10:45 pm, and died June 2,
1936 in Charles died at 63 years of age.. He married EMMA CAPSTICK July 21,
1902 in St Andrews Church, Dent.

More About CHARLES ALFRED MIDGLEY:
Baptism: Baptisted at Longdon, Rugeley, Staffordshire
Burial: Dent, Yorkshire
Residence: Ash Villas, Church Lane, Sale, Cheshire

Children of CHARLES MIDGLEY and EMMA CAPSTICK are:
15. i. ELLA6 MIDGLEY, b. April 6, 1903.
ii. JOHN MIDGLEY, b. November 11, 1921; m. EVELYN, June 6, 1945.


13. ARTHUR WILLIAM5 MIDGLEY (ALFRED4, JOSEPH3, MICHAEL2, UNKNOWN1) was born
June 4, 1882 in 174 Cheetham Hill Road, Dukinfield, Cheshire at 11:00 am,
and died February 21, 1956 in Withington Hospital, Manchester. He married
(1) SARAH JANE GOLDING August 30, 1899 in St Marys Church, Newton Moor
(Hyde), Cheshire. She was born August 6, 1881, and died January 11, 1921.
He married (2) ELLEN CONSTANCE OSBOURNE February 21, 1925 in Pinner Parish
Church, Pinner, Middlesex.

More About ARTHUR WILLIAM MIDGLEY:
Baptism: July 1, 1883, St Marys Church, Newton Moor (Hyde), Cheshire
Burial: St Marys Church, Newton Moor (Hyde), Cheshire

Children of ARTHUR MIDGLEY and SARAH GOLDING are:
i. ARTHUR6 MIDGLEY, b. November 19, 190; d. September 17, 1945;
m. EDNA COOPER.
ii. JOHN ALFRED MIDGLEY, b. February 26, 1901; d. March 9, 1919.
iii.ALICE GERTRUDE MIDGLEY, b. April 10; d. June 6, 1928.
iv.IVY MIDGLEY, b. October 29, 1909; d. August 30, 1928.

Contact: Kevin and Gillian Midgley - Address updated 7th September 2012

Halifax early 1800's
                                              Halifax circa 1828
             Source: A New and Complete History of the County of York, Thomas Allen

 

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Midgley Memorabilia


Sources:
1. Piece Hall Survey.
2. 1881 census for England extraction
3. Midgley, John Franklin, Midgleyana, Mills Litho, Capetown, 1968.
4. I.G.I. 1994 extraction
5. Horsfall Turner, J. H. Halifax Families and Worthies. 1883.

6. Crabtree, John. A concise history of the parish and vicarage of Halifax, in the county of York. 1836. - download pdf.                     

7. Hanson, T.W. The Story of Old Halifax. 1920.  

8. Monumental and Other Inscriptions in Halifax Parish Church

9. Horsfall Turner, J. History of Brighouse, Rawtenstall and Hipperholme, p. 49.

10. The first vicar of Halifax in 1274 d. 1315-1316.

11. Nomina Villarum, p. 361.


© Copyright Tim Midgley, April 2002, revised 1 May, 2021.