Elijah John Acworth (1826 - 1899)

Born 23 Jun 1826 in Chatham, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Anne (Cronk) Acworth — married 9 Aug 1851 in Southwark, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 14 Nov 1899 at age 73 in West Ham, Essex, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ian Acworth [send private message]

Biography

Elijah Acworth was born in Dover, Kent, England.

Early Times

Elijah John was born 23 June 1826 at Chatham, Kent, England^[1]. His parents were James Acworth and Lavinia Packer^[2]. The England & Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Register gives details of the parents and grandparents and confirms that Lavinia's father John Packer, was a basket maker from Faversham, Kent and that James Acworth was a carpenter.

In the 1841 Census^[3] Elijah John (age 15) is shown living with parents James (age 39) and Lavinia (age 40) at 32 Anderson Street, Lambeth. Their children James Edward (age 17) and Louis Raymond (age 10) are there with them. James Acworth reports the occupation of Elijah as an 'Ivory Worker'. The online census return is for the Alworth family, although the image clearly shows Acworth!

Marriage

Banns for the marriage to Rosannah Comfort

There is a record of a marriage^[4][5] to Rosannah Comfort on 27 August 1848 at Lambeth, Surrey, England. Rosannah was born in 1830^[6] and baptised on 30 May 1830 at Lambeth, Surrey, England.

Despite the Ancestry and FindMyPast records indicating that this was a marriage, it is most likely that it indicates an intention to marry in 1848 by Elijah John and Rosannah Comfort so that Banns were called at Lambeth:St Mary (CoE) church at Lambeth, Surrey - but that the marriage never eventuated. There is a record of a later marriage between Rosannah Comfort and William Packer in 1853 where the couple had children and then the whole family migrated to New Zealand in 1875. The marriage certificate says that Rosannah was a spinster in 1853 - not a widow! There is aso an 1851 census^[7] return that shows Rosannah is still living with her parents and siblings at that time. The engagement in 1848 was called off!

To Mary Ann Cronk

Elijah John married^[8] Mary Ann Cronk on 9 August 1851 at Surrey Baptist Tabernacle, District of St. George The Martyr Southwark, Surrey, England.

Marriage certificate for Elija John Acworth

In the England 1861 Census^[9] Elijah John (age 33) was living at Lambeth, Brixton with his wife Mary Ann (Cronk) (age 36) and their children: Olive Jane (age 9); Alexander James (age 7); Florence Julia (age 5); Edwin Laurence (age 3) and Raynor John (age 9 months). Some of the Cronk Family were also there: Elizabeth Cronk (age 32 - a Visitor); William Cronk (age 25 - Lodger and also working as an Ivory and Bone Turner - born in Ardingly, Sussex) and George Cronk (age 21 - Lodger and working as a Barman - born in Ardingly) and Priscilla D Woolmer (age 41) - Visitor. The last is presumably a relative of Jane Cronk (Mary Ann's sister) - she could well be an elder sister of John Woolmer, Jane Cronk's husband.

In the England 1871 Census^[10] In 1871 the family is living at living at Russell Cottage, Holland Road, Lambeth, Surrey. Those present were: Elija John (age 43) and his wife Mary Ann (age 39) and children Olive Jane (age 18); Alexander James (age 17); Florence Julia (age 14); Edwin Laurence (age 12) and Raynor John (age 10); William Sydney (age 8); Violetta Mary (age 6); Alfred Elijah (age 4) and Foster George (age 1).

Census data for 1881^[11] shows Elija John Acworth as head of house at Whitehorse Road, Croydon, Surrey, England (age 54) with Mary Ann (age 51) and their younger children William Sidney (age 18); Violetta Mary Ann (age 16); Alfred Elijah (age 14); Foster George (age 11) and Priscilla Elizabeth Sarah Lavinia (age 9). Alvin Richard Raynor - grandson to Elija John Acworth is also staying that night (age 2). The Census shows the last name spelling as Asworth. The older children (Olive Jane, Alexander James, Florence Julia and Edwin Lawrence) have left home, while Raynor John and his wife Selina - the parents of Alvin Richard are staying with their brother/sisters Alexander James and Theodore with their youngest child Malvina Olive who is only 8 months old. Grandpa is looking after Alvin Richard Raynor!

Census data for 1891^[12] shows Elijah John Acworth (age 65) as head of house at Wanstead, Essex, England with his wife Mary Anne (age 62) and their daughter Violetta Mary Ann (age 26) is there with the eldest daughter Olive Jane (age 38 - now married into the Rashleigh Family) and Olive's children Violetta Rashleigh (age 11), Francis Rashleigh (age 6) and Edward John Rashleigh (age 3).

Professional Life

In 1856 Elijah John is living at 3 Cleaver Street, Kennington, ^[13] London working^[14] as an 'Ivory Turner'.

In 1860 he is living at Cleaver Street^[15] working as an Ivory Turner.

He must have fallen on hard times as he was sued for bancrupcy 1861 by Stephen Poole of 44 Chester Street, Kenningon (occupation - 'Timber Dealer'), presumably because he did not have the funds to pay outstanding invoices. He was declared bancrupt (13 June 1861) and was registerred for a few hours in the Debtors Prison for London and Middlesex.

Title: Appointment of Assignee, under Act 1 & 2 Vic cap 110, sec 45, for relief of insolvent debtors: Stephen Poole of 44 Chester Street, Kennington, and of Saville Place, Lambeth, timber dealer, for estates and effects of Elijah John Acworth late of Brixton, ivory turner and carver. The Reference Number is K90/35/4 and the dates (starting and ending) are for 13 June 1861. The stay was for less than a day - so presumably he was bailed out or found funds to pay Stephen Poole.

In 1880 Elija John Acworth is listed^[16] as living at 61 Wellesley Road, London. Occupation: Wood turner.

Death

Elijah John died 14 November 1899^[17]. He was buried^[18] at Newham on 21 Nov 1899.

Research Notes

Happy Families

It is remarkable that the family of 10 that Elijah John and Mary Ann parented stayed together as family. There are 3 other families that became involved: Williams, Corps and Rashleigh.

Olive Jane married (2 September 1879) George Stanhope Rashleigh (eldest son of Philip George Rashleigh), while Florence Julia married (September 1879) Arthur Stanhope Rashleih (second son of Philip George Rashleigh).

When Florence Julia died in 1898, Arthur married Rose Edith Corps in November 1903. Rose Edith had previously married William Sidney Acworth but he died in December 1897.

Elijah John's youngest daughter (Priscilla Elizabeth married (21 April 1889) Edward Arthur Corps, the brother of Rose Edith Corps.

Alexander James Acworth married (25 June 1878) Theodora Emma Williams - the eldest daughter of Captain William Henry Williams from St Helier, Jersey. On the same day Raynor John Acworth married Selina Henrietta Williams (youngest daughter of Captain William Henry Williams. Three of the Acworth brothers set up house with two of the Williams sisters.

History Timeline

These notes that span the life of Elijah John (1826 to 1899) have been reproduced from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history

1829 The The Catholic Relief Act is passed
1832 The Great Reform Act is passed - doubling the franchise
1833 The Slavery Abortion Act gains Royal Assent - banning slavey throughout the British Empire
1837 The reign of Queen Victoria begins
1840 The first postage stamps (The Penny Post) come into use
1842 The first peactime income tax is introduced
1846 The Corn Laws are repealed
1848 The Communist Manifesto is published by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
1850 The East Coast Main Line opens
1851 The Great Exhibition opens
1853 to 1856 The Crimean War is fought between Russia and a British alliance who feared Russian expansion in the Balkans, resulting in allied victory
1861 Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, dies at the age of 42
1863 The London Underground opens, the oldest underground railway network in the world
1880 The Elementary Education Act 1880 is passed, making primary schooling compulsory and extending it to girls.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "England & Wales Non-Conformist Births And Baptisms"
   Reference: TNA/RG/5/152
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 2 June 2023)
   Elijah Acworth baptism (born 23 Jun 1826), son of James & Lavinia, in Chatham, Kent, England.
2. ↑ Acworth Family Pedigree:
   Green, W.A. and G. Brindley Acworth. Pedigree of Acworth of Bedfordshire, Etc.: Together with some notes on the genealogy. London: Mitchell Hughes and Clarke, 1905. FamilySearch. See also this space page: Acworth Pedigree
3. ↑ 1841 Census: "1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
   Reference: HO107; Piece number: 1058; Page: 2; Schedule: 357
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 2 June 2023)
   Elijah Acworth (15) on Anderson Street, St Mary in Lambeth registration district in London & Surrey, England.
4. ↑ Marriage: "England Marriages 1538-1973"
   FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 26 February 2024)
   Elijah John Acworth marriage to Rosanna Comfort on 13 Aug 1848 in Lambeth, Surrey, England.
5. ↑ Marriage: "England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973"
   Original data: England, Marriages, 1538-1973. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013; FHL Film Number: 1041668
   Ancestry Record 9852 #20205682 (accessed 27 February 2024)
   Elijah John Acworth marriage to Rosanna Comfort on 13 Aug 1848 in Lambeth, Surrey, England.
6. ↑ Baptism: "London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1923"
   London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P85/MRY1/357
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1558 #1781265 (accessed 23 January 2023)
   Rosanna Comfort baptism on 30 May 1830, daughter of Robert Comfort & Eleanor Comfort, in St Mary, Lambeth, Lambeth, England.
7. ↑ 1851 Census: "1851 England Census"
   Class: HO107; Piece: 1513; Folio: 534; Page: 63; GSU roll: 87847; ED, institution, or vessel: 5h; Household schedule number: 267
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8860 #3233860 (accessed 27 February 2024)
   Roseanah Comport (21) daughter in household of Robert Comport (45) in Holborn St Andrew in Holborn registration district in Middlesex, England. Born in Walworth, Surrey, England.
8. ↑ Marriage Registration: "England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915"
   England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office; Volume: 4; Page: 591
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8913 #234792 (accessed 23 January 2023)
   Elijah John Acworth marriage registered Jul-Aug-Sep 1851 in St George Southwark.
9. ↑ 1861 Census: "1861 England Census"
   Class: Rg 9; Piece: 363; Folio: 2; Page: 1; GSU roll: 542623; ED, institution, or vessel: 1; Household schedule number: 8
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8767 #6369947 (accessed 23 January 2023)
   Elija J Ackworth (33) head of household in Lambeth registration district in Surrey, England. Born in Dover, Kent, England.
10. ↑ 1871 Census: "1871 England Census"
    The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 679; Folio: 78; Page: 20; GSU roll: 823331; ED, institution, or vessel: 28; Household schedule number: 99
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7619 #5591102 (accessed 23 January 2023)
    Elizah J Acworth (43) head of household in Lambeth registration district in London, England. Born in Dover.
11. ↑ 1881 Census: "1881 England Census"
    Class: RG11; Piece: 815; Folio: 84; Page: 44; GSU roll: 1341192; ED, institution, or vessel: 32
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7572 #21526937 (accessed 23 January 2023)
    Elijah J Asworth (54), married, Ivory Turner, head of household on Whitehorse Rd in Croydon registration district in Surrey, England. Born in Dover, Kent, England.
12. ↑ 1891 Census: "1891 England Census"
    The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 1349; Folio: 123; Page: 29; GSU roll: 6096459
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6598 #18697788 (accessed 23 January 2023)
    Elizah John Asworth (65) head of household in Wanstead in West Ham registration district in Essex, England. Born in Dover, Kent, England.
13. ↑ 'Google Map showing Kennington':
    "Google Maps" https://www.google.com/maps/place/3+Cleaver+St,+Prince's,+London+SE11+4DP,+UK/@51.4885197,-0.1127943,671m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x487604914efaf9d5:0x1236c03a89cb4f0d!8m2!3d51.4885164!4d-0.1106056
14. ↑ 1856 Directory: "UK, City and County Directories, 1766 - 1946"
    UK, City and County Directories, 1600s-1900s
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 3145 #20608264 (accessed 23 January 2023)
    Name: Elijah John Acworth; Publication Year: 1856; Address: 3 Cleaver St ICenngfcncr; Residence Place: London, England; Occupation: Ivory Turner.
15. ↑ 1860 Directory: "London, England, City Directories, 1736-1943"
    London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London City Directories
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61265 #8228695 (accessed 23 January 2023)
    Name: Elijah John Acworth; Residence Date: 1860; Street Address: 3 Cleaver St; Residence Place: London, England; Occupation: Ivory Turner.
16. ↑ 1880 Directory: "London, England, City Directories, 1736-1943"
    London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London City Directories
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61265 #12119985 (accessed 23 January 2023)
    Name: Elijah John Acworth; Residence Date: 1880; Street Address: 61 Wellesley rd.Croydon; Residence Place: London, England; Occupation: Wood Turner.
17. ↑ Death Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Death (accessed 2 June 2023)
    Acworth, Elijah John (Age at death: 74).
    GRO Reference: 1899 Oct-Nov-Dec in West Ham Volume 04A Page 173.
18. ↑ Burial: "Web: UK, Burial and Cremation Index, 1576-2014"
    Deceased Online; United Kingdom; Deceased Online Burial Indexes; URL: https://www.deceasedonline.com/servlet/GSDOSearch?DetsView=Summary&src=ext&fileid=2878549
    Ancestry Record 70845 #2316318 (accessed 23 January 2023)
    Elijah Acworth burial (died in about 1899) on 21 Nov 1899 in Newham, London, England.