Midgley of Bradford

Flowing through Bradford from Thornton and Clayton, [ early Midgley residences ]  is Clayton Beck which flows into the River Aire by a devious route through Bradford centre.  This Beck drains what was called in the past, Bradford Dale.
Cocker Beck flows from the Bradford vicinity into the River Calder. Thus it lies on a watershed between these two river systems.
Bradford is now a huge industrial connurbation which includes the subdivisions of Eccleshill, Bierley, Great & Little Horton, Manningham, Heaton, Undercliffe and West Bowling.  The name Eccleshill  from Celtic & O.E. indicates the proximity of a Romano-British Christian church.
Horton  from O.E. indicates a "dirty or muddy farmstead", Heaton was Hetun in 1160, whilst Bowling [Bolling] suggests "a place in a hollow" [O.E.].
Bierley [Birle in D.B.] derives its name from Old English Burgh + leah, "a woodland clearing by the stronghold". This may indicate that the early Anglians had a fortification here. The Bierley iron ores have been known to have been used from Roman times until the late 1800's. A road may have deviated from the main Roman road between Manchester & York to access the site.
In Domesday Bradeford Manor is mentioned:
 

A manor is mentioned in Domesday Book at 'Bolling' [Bowling].
 

Bolling Hall was owned by the Bolling family from about 1165 until the end of  the English Civil War  when the Parliamentarians dispossessed them of their property. The hall stands opposite Bowling Park on the Bradford - Bierley road.
Derek Midgley has snapped a photograph of a Coat of Arms at Bolling Hall. This Coat also appears on the roof of Halifax Church and Ashday Hall, Southowram.
See Midgley Arms and Crests

Derek notes that Coats of Arms at Bolling Hall date from 1645, the ones in the small lead-light windows vary in date and may represent Arms of those who married into the Bolling family. Some of the window examples were brought from Bierley Hall⁸.
The Arms gules a fess beween six garbs Or. is very similar to that of the Earls of Chester
except the Earls had a background colour of azure or grey.
A handbook of Bolling Hall dated August 1928 says the earliest portion of the Hall probably dates back to the early 1300's when Robert Bolling married  the heiress of Thornton and Allenton. No mention of a Midgley occurs in the handbook but in the hall itself, the Midgley crest is credited along with Hopton, Langley, Tempest, Bradford of Heath, and Thornton. There are 24 coats of arms depicted in the stained glass it says many are of families associated by marriage with the Tempests who owned the hall from 1497 until 1649⁸
 

Bierley Hall was built by the Richardson's in 1676 the most relevant connection between Bolling Hall and Bierley Hall is probably Bowling Iron Works. Bierley Church was built by the Richardson's⁸.

Returning to the Domesday Book, Bolton [Bodeltone] Manor held:
Chellow Grange [Celeslau],
Allerton [Alretone],
Thornton [Torentone],
Clayton [Claitone],
Wisbey [Wibetese].
 

The Ilbert mentioned here is Ilbert de Laci [Lacy], a member of one of the branches of the Earls of Lincoln. It is probable that there was a motte & bailey castle established at Bradford, later a manor house for de Laci was built on the site. From at least the time of Robert de Laci , "Blackburnshire" on the west of the Pennines, was held in lordship. Thus the Hundred of Blackburn had strong connections with the Honour of Pontefract through ownership by the de Lacis which later evolved into the Duchy of Lancaster.
 

In 1277 the first first woollen weaver in Bradeford had been  recorded and by 1311 the population has been estimated from the number of households to be about  650, dyeing of cloth being recorded in 1342.
Bradford suffered badly from the raids of "Red-shanked robbers" in 1311 and 1316 as with many other towns in the Northern parts of Yorkshire. Famine throughout Europe and no less England added to the tales of misery emanating from this period. By the end of the 1300's "kersies" were being produced locally.

There is also a reference by Carlisle which "entitled the Free Grammar School at Bradford  to send a candidate for the exhibitions of Lady Elizabeth Hastings".
This provides us with a clue as Elizabeth was the wife of John Hastings [d. 30th Dec. 1389] 5th Lord Hastings, 13th Earl of Pembroke. Prior to her marriage she was Elizabeth  Plantagenet [b. 1364, d, 1425] daughter of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and the Lady Blanche Plantagenet. Blanche was of the House of Lancaster. This may indicate that the 5th Lord Hastings had a residence here at Bradford through his wife, for his dealings with the wool trade through Hull to the Low Countries.

On Blanche's father's death in 1362 John became the Duke of Lancaster and the greatest landholder in England.  Blanche died from the "Great Pestilence" at the early age of 29 in 1369 after giving birth to three children the second eldest of whom became Henry IV  [Lord Bolingbroke] of England and another, Elizabeth Plantagenet [b.1364], the eldest,  who married John Hastings, 5th Lord Hastings, 13th Earl of Pembroke [his first marriage]. The marriage was annulled in 1383, Elizabeth died in 1425 at the age of 61. Secondly, Lord Hastings 5th Baron married Philippa Mortimer.
This was the second time one of the Hastings line had married into Edward III's pedigree for earlier John Hastings, 4rd Lord Hastings, 12th Earl of Pembroke had married Margaret Plantagenet the 10th child of Edward III.  This may indicate, why later, William Lord Hastings became such a friend and confidant to Edward IV.
John Hastings 5th Lord had two daughters but no male issue thus the barony of Hastings went into abeyance until 1840.

Thus, the Midgley family of Thornton Manor were supplying wool to Lord Hastings at Bradford Manor from the Pennine slopes. Part of this wealth generation would have been passed on to John of Gaunt who held the Duchy of Lancaster and ultimately, before his death, in 1377, to King Edward III. England at this time gained 45% of its wealth from wool, such that Edward could raise enough money for the wars with France and further the establishment of an off-shore wool staple at Calais. The income from Calais was for his own royal coffers, thus  Edward by-passed the need to make requests from Parliament which always came with a conditions. Edward  was thus able to wage wars on his family branches in France. Wool essentially fuelled the "Hundred Years War".

Incidentally, Geoffrey Chaucer wrote an early poem [1369] to Blanche Plantagenet, wife of John of Gaunt, entitled "The Deth of Blaunche the Duchesse" to commemorate her early death from the third "Great Pestilence" [Black Death] of Edward III's reign.
There is little doubt that the first appearance of the Black Death had so reduced the working population from 1347 that many landowners turned to sheep farming.

The link from Hastings to Midgley has four pieces of evidence:

1. The crest on the Midgley Coat of Arms is an heraldic tyger which indicates the family were followers of Lord Hastings. In 1471 William Hastings was a Lt.-General at the Calais Wool staple and it would appear from the tyger crest on the Midgley Arms that a Midgley was a pursuivant of Lord Hastngs. The link from Hastings  to Midgley is not filial as far as is known. Within the various genealogies of the Hastings family, one particular branch which led to William Captain of Calais was recorded as resident at "Allerton, Yorkshire". If this is a reference to Allerton near Bradford then we have direct evidence of their early sojourn here [Thomas Hastings born ~ 1165 at/of Fillongley Warwickshire and Allerton, his son Hugh d~1208 and his son Thomas d. ~1246].
2. The Midgleys’ of Thornton in Bradford Dale were sheep farmers, this was part of Bolton then Bradford Manor, part of the Honour of Pontefract, part of the Earldom then Duchy of Lancaster. The Duchy was held by Hasting's wife who was the daughter of John of Gaunt  fourth  son of Edward III. Thus there appears to be a long link between the Hastings' and  their West Yorkshire lands.
3. Sir William de Miggeley a lawyer, parliamentarian and likely wool investor was granted land near Wakefield by Edward III.
4. Hastings’ [with properties in South Wales and Duchy of Lancaster] & Edward III had vested interests in the wool staple at Calais following 1347.

By the time of Thomas Moule's maps in 1579, Bolton had lost its importance, Bowling Hall, and to the west Denholme Park were ascendant.
The city of Bradford has acted as a  magnet for people seeking employment since medieval times & particularly following the industrial developments from the 1700's .

It was the availability of wool on the Pennine slopes, coal, waterpower and soft water from the abundantly fed streams and rivers which helped to lead to the development of the wool processing industries of  the West Yorkshire woollen towns. Scouring, carding, weaving and cloth finishing  evolved with each entreprenurial spark. The skills which were required for these industrial evolutionary advances were initially begun with the settling of persecuted Flemish weavers in England during Edward III's reign. This was probably the result of the influence exerted by his wife, Philippa of Hainaut [Hainault].

1. Joseph Midgley and others.
Contact : Roy Stockdill

2. Sarah Jane Midgley b. Bradford 1865 married James Hargreaves Bland of Idle. They migrated to America

3. Mary Midgley married in Bradford on 11th August 1851 to James Eamonson, they had several children born in Bradford
Contact : Mike Fay

John Midgley b. 1900 in Bradford, his parents were John Midgley and Florence Parker, whose father was Joseph Midgley and mother possibly Sara. Joseph was the son of John born abt. 1847, John's father was Joseph. Both John and his father Joseph were stonemasons.
Contact : Elizabeth  Jolley

4. Frederick Midgley b. 8th June 1891, Bradford. May have had a brother John. Frederick married Gertrude Brook b. 24th December 1898 Bradford. Migrated to Canada

5. William Midgley born about 1835 Horton married 3rd August 1861 Mary Holmes [daughter of Jonathan Holmes] born abt. 1840 at Horton. The marriage was solemnised by William Holmes, the parish clerk and a Christopher Gibson. They had at least one child, Mary Ella Midgley born Camden 1880 New Jersey, U.S.A.
Contact: Nancy Stevens

6. Walter Midgley, died in WW1, lived at 16 Lonsdale St. Street, Bradford. He appears in the 1901 census with parents Hermann and Ann and sister Elsie.Nellie, Jim, John and Elsie. Grandad worked for post office. Lived in Manningham Lane in later years of life. Jim was Martin's father. Jim married Lil Smith of Queensbury.

Contact: Martin Midgley

7. 1988- Smith Midgley was mayor of Bradford Council in this year.

8.  Francis Midgley married Mary Swain at Thornton. Their son John Henry Midgley married Hannah Isabella Simpson. They had  at least 4 children maybe six.

Henry Midgley b. 26th Oct 1891 d. 10th April 1961. His brother Ernest b 1887 d. 1952 is buried in Lymme Massachusetts USA. They had a sister Selina b. 1895 d. Nov 12th 1969 she became a Bartle and is buried in the same grave as her mother Hannah Isabella in Undercliffe cemetery. There was also a brother
Francis who  was blind and lived in Bowling Back Lane. Ernest Midgley married Sarah Hannah Mosley from Dewsbury they lived in USA and had five children Albert, Charles. Robert, Douglas and a daughter Bertha
May. Bertha married and became a Stead. They had three children. John Henry Midgley went to the USA on his own. Hannah Isabella stayed in Bradford with her children.  John Henry and Hannah had two children who died young, Walter aged 22 months and Emily aged five years, they are both in the grave at Undercliffe. Hannah was a Butcher by trade and had a shop at 303 Wakefield Road from where she delivered meat to Bolling Hall until it was presented to Bradford Council in 1912.

The reason why Ernest went to USA was to find his father this he did only to find he had changed his name to Mason. Ned (Edward) a cousin to Derek,  found a piece of paper with some information on it. It
referred to a grave site purchased on Nov 21st 1852 by a Henry Midgley in Bierley Church. This has been  located  by Derek and it contains only Henry Midgley  who died May 1860 age 67. Also with these papers were a list of Midgleys as follows :
Mary Midgley b Nov 14 1818, Fanny b. Feb 26th 1820, John b. April 7th 1822,Timothy b. Feb 25th 1824, Samuel b. Dec. 7th 1827,James b. April 18th 1834, Ann b. Oct 3rd 1836, and William Henry b. Nov 22nd 1831. At present it is not known how or where they fit into Derek's family history hope  someone can be of assistance
Contact: Derek  Midgley ( Didge)
 

Old Bradford Church

9  Midgley of Great Horton from the 1881 census:
Dwelling: 92 Havelock St
 Census Place: Horton In Bradford, York, England
 Source: FHL Film 1342066     PRO Ref RG11    Piece 4456    Folio 118    Page 27
 Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Samuel MIDGELEY M 39  M Bradford, York, England
 Rel: Head
 Occ: Stuff Warehouseman (Dlr)
Sarah MIDGELEY M 39  F Gt Horton, York, England
 Rel: Wife
Annie MIDGELEY U 17  F Gt Horton, York, England
 Rel: Daur
 Occ: Milliner
Ellen MIDGELEY U 15  F Gt Horton, York, England
 Rel: Daur
 Occ: Worsted Spinner
Alfred MIDGELEY U 14  M Gt Horton, York, England
 Rel: Son
 Occ: Office Boy
Sarah Ann MIDGELEY U 10  F Gt Horton, York, England
 Rel: Daur
 Occ: Scholar
Maria MIDGELEY U 7  F Gt Horton, York, England
 Rel: Daur
 Occ: Scholar
Emma MIDGELEY U 4  F Gt Horton, York, England
 Rel: Daur
 Occ: Scholar
James Charles MIDGELEY U 8 m M Gt Horton, York, England
 Rel: Son

See Migrants to America page
Contact: James Midgley

Norman Lesley Midgley born in Bradford late 1800's - early 1900's. His father  William was born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. Norman had a daughter, Eleanor Midgley born 19th May 1929, she married Arthur Henry Lang.
Contact :  Ian Lang

Edward Midgley born 7th August 1818 at Bolling, Bradford was, according to family tradition, a seaman at the Battle of Trafalgar. His occupation was listed as Steam Engine Maker. An inscription on a snuff box reads "Presented to Edward Midgley for his services as secretary for 10 years to the Steam Engine Maker Society Bradford Branch 23 Sept. 1854"
He was married to Susannah Rhodes [ b. 1st May 1820 Idle or Bowling] on 8th October 1843. Edward died in 1872 aged 53. Edward and Susannah had at least four children:
1. John b. 25th July 1844, King Street Little Horton.
2. Sarah b. 27th Jan 1848 King Street, Horton. She married William Harling and they migrated to Canada in 1905. Sarah died at Oak Bay, B.C. , Canada 2nd Jan 1941. Sarah had a son William Harling.
3. George born 9th Dec 1850 Bowling [Bolling] Back Lane, Bradford.
4. William b. 9 May 1854 Bowling Back Lane, Bradford.
5. Possibly N. [Ned?] i.e. Edward b. 26th April 1860, Russell St., Lichfield, Derbyshire.
Contact: Gael Huntley

Sue McPhee is searching for the mother of Annie Midgley Taylor. Annie's father was Thomas Taylor, plumber, deceased at the time of Annie's marriage to James Warburton Jackson in 1879. James' father William Jackson is listed  on Annie's marriage details as a grocer. Sue suspects that Annie's mother's maiden name was Midgley. Annie is found in the 1881 census :

Dwelling:    161 Priestman St
    Census Place:    Manningham, York, England
    Source:    FHL Film 1342068     PRO Ref RG11    Piece 4462    Folio 32    Page 17
    Marr    Age    Sex    Birthplace
James W. JACKSON    M    21     M    Bradford, York, England
    Rel:    Head
    Occ:    Sorting Clerk Post Office (C.SM)
Annie M. JACKSON    M    21     F    Bradford, York, England
    Rel:    Wife
    Occ:    Formerly Silk Spooler
Herbert W. JACKSON         3 m    M    Bradford, York, England
    Rel:    Son
Contact: Sue McPhee

The Earliest I.G.I. references are
Clayton : about 1490 Mr. & Mrs. Midgley.
Bradford : James Midgley born 1576, spouse Anne Boothe
Thornton : Anne Midgley born 22nd June 1612, Father Samuel Midgley, Mother Saba Moore.
Manningham : Anne Midgley born 11th March 1610, Father Nicholas Midgley, Mother Margaret Walker.
Heaton : Jennet Midgley born 1st June 1600, father: Robert Midgley.

The 1851 census for Eccleshill mentions -
ELIZA/MIDGLEY/UNMARRIED/ AGED25/NURSE SERVANT

The 1851 census for Bradford mentions -
THOMAS MIDGLEY, SOUTHGATE, LOCKSMITH.
JOHN MIDGLEY 97 BRIDGE ST., PAINTER.
WILIAM MIDGLEY, 24, IVYGATE.

See : 1881 list for Midgley of Allerton, Bierley, Bradford, Bowling, Clayton, Eccleshill, Manningham, Thornton. [Text file]

Midgley Of Allerton and Horton
Jacob Midgley born about 1838 at Allerton is recorded in the 1881 census with his family as follows:
Dwelling: Melville Street
 Census Place: Horton In Bradford, York, England
 Source: FHL Film 1342065     PRO Ref RG11    Piece 4455    Folio 12    Page 17
 Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Jacob MIDGLEY M 43  M Allerton, York, England
 Rel: Head
 Occ: Publican
Ruth MIDGLEY M 42  F Highton, York, England
 Rel: Wife
Sarah Elizabeth MIDGLEY   17  F Bradford, York, England
 Rel: Daur
 Occ: Stuff Weaver
Arthur MIDGLEY   13  M Bradford, York, England
 Rel: Son
 Occ: Scholar
Emily MIDGLEY   9  F Bradford, York, England
 Rel: Daur
 Occ: Scholar
Clara MIDGLEY   7  F Bradford, York, England
 Rel: Daur
 Occ: Scholar
James MIDGLEY   4  M Bradford, York, England
 Rel: Son
Jaqui Bell has  information on Arthur, Emily, James, [Sarah] Elizabeth and William Frank and details about subsequent family members. James married Mary Ellen Greenwood on 11th April 1903. James travelled to Buckfastleigh, Devon with his  trade in woollen blankets, the family settled there.

        1 William Midgley
        m. Sarah Pickles m. 23rd May 1831 Bradford, WRY
        2 Margaret Midgley b. 2nd Dec. 1831 } all bap 30.06.1837
        2 William Midgley b. 4th August 1833 } Independent, Allerton, Bradford
        2 Emanuel Midgley b. 16th Sept. 1835 } (IGI)
        2 Jacob Midgley b. 2nd Nov. 1837 ? Row, Allerton, Bradford, WRY d. 1902 Q1.
        (Halifax), WRY
        m. Ruth Kellett m. 27th Jan. 1861 Birstall, WRY b. 1839 Q1. Highton or
        Liversedge, WRY
        [daughter of James Kellett and ?]
        3 Sarah Elizabeth (Lizzie) Midgley b. 1863 Q2. Bradford, WRY
        3 Arthur Midgley b. 1867 Bradford, WRY
        m. Jane Hailes m. 1886 Q3. Bradford, WRY b. 1867 Wickham, Suffolk d.
        1897 Q4. Skipton, WRY
        m. Eva Emerson m. 1898 Q4. Skipton, WRY b. 1873 Q1. Nr Hartlepool,
        Durham
        4 Eddie Midgley b. 08.02.1887 Bradford, WRY d. 1969 Q2 (Torbay), DEV
        m. Ethel Midgley b. 1905 Q4. Buckfast, DEV d. 13.05.1972
        [daughter of James Midgley and Mary Ellen Greenwood below]
        4 Frances Alice Midgley b. 1888 Bradford, WRY
        4 Florence Eva Midgley b. 06.1890 Skipton, WRY d. 1897 Q4. Skipton,
        WRY
        4 Alfred Midgley b. 1893 Skipton, WRY
        4 Frank Midgley b. 1899 Skipton, WRY [2nd marriage]
        3 Annie Midgley b. 1868 Bradford, WRY d. < 1881?
        3 Emily Midgley b. 1871 Q3. Bradford, WRY
        4 Daughter
        3 Clara Midgley b. 1874 Bradford, WRY
        3 James Midgley b. 1877 Q1. Bradford, WRY d. 09.12.1955 (Totnes), DEV
        m. Mary Ellen Greenwood m. 11.04.1903 Congregational Church, Elland,
        WRY b. 22.12.1877 Luddenden Foot, WRY d. 06.1968 DEV
        [daughter of Richard Greenwood and Elizabeth Wilson]
        Moved Yorkshire - Buckfastleigh, Devon 1903
        My line. Contact me for descendents.
        3 Frank Midgley b. 1882 Bradford, WRY

        I have census details for Jacob's family in 1871, 1881, 1891 (all Horton,
        except Arthur who moved to Skipton by 1891) & 1901 (Luddenden Foot).

        Contact: Jaqui Bell

Low Moor
Park House Low Moor, Bradford. Originally built in 1635, the residence of a cleric, stories of the cleric's ghost and blood-stained floorboards in an upstairs bedroom are linked to the building⁹
The present owner of Park House is Rob Christopher [at January 2003].
"Park House Road  is near Holy Trinity Church. The Chapel House Inn across the road suggests an earlier origin.
For 260 years until 1866, Holy Trinity Church was known as Wibsey Chapel built in 1606 and consecrated in 1636. There are plenty of gravestones from the 1600's and 1700's. Even the steps which lead down from the church towards the recreation ground are made of gravestones.
 

It was at this church between 1678 and 1680 that a total of 51 people were buried not in coffins but wrapped in woollen shrouds. That was a response to an Act of Parliament passed during the reign of Charles II to encourage the wool-textile industry, which had been in the doldrums for some time.
The people doing the burying had, on each occasion, to swear before a Justice of the Peace that they had complied with the Act"