todmorden

Todmorden and Heptonstall

Todmorden and Heptonstall lie in Calderdale on a main road over the Pennines from Rochdale through Littleborough, Todmorden, Heptonstall past Midgley to Halifax.

Todmorden
Glen Midgley is researching William Midgley born about 1827 in Todmorden, son of John born about 1790.* William was a Lancashire farmer who at one time held five-hundred acres. He married Maria Sagar/Sager and they lived at Sagar Fold near Burnley in the late 1800's. They married 3rd November 1846 at St. Mary's Church Clitheroe, Lancashire, her father was Edmund Sagar.¹ * Glen seems to think that Jackie Hendry has located William's parents as John Midgley and Mary Wadsworth, with William their son beinmg baptised on the 8th June 1829 at Heptonstall. There is also a John Midgley who married Susan Fielder on the 30th December 1823 at St. Mary's Church, Todmorden.¹

John Midgley Edward Sagar/Sager==28 April 1816====Mary Embley
|    |
William Midgley======3rd Nov. 1846=======Maria Sagar/Sager
Farmer of Waddington |
   _______________________________________________________________________
   | | | |
   John James Edmund Sagar Amos Elizabeth
b. 1st Oct. 1847 b.1848    b. 2nd June 1850 b.1856
To New Zealand
Contact: Glen Midgley

Text file for Midgley of Todmorden

A pedigree of the Midgley's of Rochdale descending from Midgley of Bottomley Fold near Todmorden, constructed by Martin B. Gillett with additions. [N.B. the link between William b. 1758 and James b. c. 1724 is not yet found. William b. 1758 is shown on the I.G.I. as having a father named William not James, this William was born in 1831 and was married in Rochdale in 1752.]

1841 CENSUS HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD INDEX OF THE TOWNSHIP OF TODMORDEN AND WALSDEN:

Midgley Francis     Stansfield            Kitson Royd     25     cotton weaver     y = born in county b~1816
Midgley     Hannah     Walsden            General Wood     40     house keeper     y b~1801
Midgley     John     Stansfield             Kitson Royd     50     farmer                     y b~1791
Midgley     John     Walsden     Butcher Hill     55     shoe maker     n b~1786
Midgley     Joseph     Walsden     Hollings     50     labourer     y b~1791
Midgley     Luke     Walsden     Knowlwood     24     cotton spinner     n b~1817
Midgley     Martha     Langfield        Stackhills     70     independent     n b~1771
Midgley     William     Walsden     Inchfield Fold     20     cotton spinner     y b~1821
Midgley     William     Langfield     George Street     25     tailor                     y b~1816
Midgley     William     Stansfield          Kebcote     40     inn keeper     y b~1801
Midgley     William     Stansfield           Proud Row     69          independent     y b~1772

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GRAVE PLOTS FOR CHRIST CHURCH TODMORDEN:
William Midgley                        1 Fair View     30-Mar     1907     62

James Edward Midgley    74 Longfield Rd     21-Nov     1938     55

Hannah Mary Midgley     Longfield Rd     25-Jan     1961     70

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MEMORIAL INSCRIPTIONS FROM THE BURIAL GROUND AT LUMBUTTS CHAPEL:
C21. G.bk.no. 177.

Marble cross with side stones.

To the memory of Luke Midgley of Hurstly, Kilnhurst Rd. Todmorden

who died March 3 rd 1931 aged 65 years.

Also Alice Ann his wife who died Jan. 20 th 1918 aged 52 years.

Also Alice Agnes his wife who died March 5 th 1929 aged 72 years.

*******
C25. G.bk.no. 184.

Sculpted grit stone lancet with marble side pillars .

In loving memory of Samuel Midgley of Mount Pleasant, Shade, Todmorden.

Born Aug. 6 th 1845 . Died Feb. 28 th 1900.

Thy will be done.

Also of Hannah beloved wife of the above who died Sept. 15 th 1932 aged 82 years .

At rest.

Also of George H. Stansfield of 1, Strines St. Walsden, nephew of the above

Died Nov. 18 th 1948 aged 68 years .

At rest.
***********************
D5. G.bk.no. 223 and 224.

Lancet and low ledger. Grit stone.

" Not my will but thine be done ".

In loving memory of Benjamin, son of William Henry and Lucetta Midgley of Lee.

Died Feb.13 th 1905 aged 20 years.

Also Arthur, Eliza and Edwin children of the above interred at Birchcliffe.

Also Private Ernest Midgley, Aged 20 years ,

reported missing in France, May 27 th 1918 , afterwards presumed dead.

Also of Lucetta, wife of Wm. Henry Midgley . Died March 10 th 1936, Aged 79 years .

In loving memory of Ernest son of Amos and Edith Midgley ,138 Halifax Road, Todmorden

died Feb. 27 th 1927 aged 8 years .

Also of Jack their son Causey West Farm, Lumbutts , died Dec. 19 th 1937 aged 17 years .

Also of Will their son died Sept. 5 th 1940 aged 16 years .

Also an infant.

In loving memory of the aforesaid Amos Midgley died 6 th Jan. 1949 aged 52 years .

Also Edith Emily wife of Amos Midgley died Dec.1 st 1965 aged 69years
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Heptonstall
O.E. heope or heopa + tun-stall, meaning 'a farmstead where rose-hips or brambles grow'
In 1253 recorded as Heptonstall. In the 1200's a chapelry was established by the Norman families Soothill and de Laci at Heptonstall Township. Until Luddenden Church at Midgley was built, inhabitants had to travel to Halifax Parish Church even for burials until the 1600's
Heptonstall lies high in Calderdale, a Pennine Pass.This town was a point where the manor of Wakefield had to be controlled at its western extremity. It became important in contolling the route over the Pennines from Lancashire and Cheshire to West Yorkshire. Part of the town was burnt down during the Civil Wars between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers, in Charles I's time. Heptonstall Slack and Hebden Bridge Lanes lie within the township.
In the churchyard are at least five extant gravestones bearing the surname Midgley but none were found in the older double-sided headstones which are now laid flat³
Glen Midgley has identified millstone grit headstones for Thomas, Amos, Lettice and Captain Benjamin Midgley. Jackie Hendrie is also researching William Midgley born about 1827 in Todmorden who in 1841 lived at Weavers Square, Heptonstall.² William and Maria were the parents of four children:
1. John James Midgley b. 1847 who was heir to his father's farm,
2. Edmund Sagar Midgley was born 1st October 1848 at Waddington, Yorkshire and migrated to New Zealand.
3. Amos Midgley b. 1850, christened 2nd June 1850 at Waddington, Yorkshire¹ Amos married Elizabeth Evans of Birkenhead and they had six children:
* Annie b. 1880.
* Harry b. 1882.
* Minnie b. 1886.
* Beatrice b. 1888 at Bowden, Cheshire
* Elizabeth b. 1890.
4. Elizabeth Midgley b. 1856.

Contact: Jackie Hendrie

Some Midgley families of Ewood appear to have resided here and moved into the Colne Valley of Lancashire in the early 1600's, intermarying with the Hartley's. email contact Patricia Junkin

Sources:
1. I.G.I.
2. 1841 census
3. e-mail comm. Paul Hesketh March 2003
4. Todmorden and Walsden site

Midgley:
   Rochdale | Quakers of Rochdale | Blackburnshire