This story begins with an ex Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm) gentleman named David Wheeler. Now living in Portsmouth, he got in touch in March 2023. He and his wife Lynne were researching the family, in the first instance they wanted to find his grandparent’s grave.
David Wheeler, pictured in 1986 aged 38/39 as a Chief Air Engineering Mechanic in the Royal Navy.
Pictured with Mum and Dad (Annie and William) circa 1974 at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, in Somerset. Air Day.
Mum and Dad can be found in the Gelfield yard, husband and wife, William John and Annie Wheeler. William was a Dyer and he was born in 1910 and Annie was a Weaver and she was born in 1912. They got married in 1936, they both passed shortly after each other in 1987 and 1988.
William John Wheeler as photographed in WW2, was stationed in India prior to going to Burma to fight the Japanese with the 14th Army.
Also pictured is William, as a young man.
As we are looking for descendents and there is only one other Wheeler (unconnected) we followed the Mother’s line, Kenworthy. This is a really popular name. We discover, Annie’s brothers, and they can be found in our New churchyard.
James Harold Mons aged 4 months and Eric Kenworthy aged 13 months. The family was living on Wade Row, then, they moved to Bridge Street in Uppermill. They are buried together in the New Yard and were the Grandchildren of John Bowden. Their parents being Elizabeth Hannah nee Basford and Hugh kenworthy. It is difficult at first to see the connection.
In the Bowden grave, we find John’s wife Hannah nee Beckett. John and Hannah lived on Church Road, Uppermill. John was a Steam-Sawyer. At one point the family lived on Woolroad, and it is at that time we have a record of their daughter Mary Emma aged 6, also buried in this plot. Then there is a record of Jack Basford aged 8 months, address on High Street Uppermill and James Basford aged about 6, address of Mossley. They are the son’s of Florence May Basford and they too are the Grandchildren of John Bowden.
Sister’s Elizabeth and Florence are the daughters of Margaret Emily Bowden, who was married to Robert Basford and she was the daughter of John Bowden.
There is another Bowden grave, with a marker of sorts behind this one, belonging to William Bowden and his family, and it would seem, that William is the younger brother of John (Sons of Joseph and Harriet Bowden (nee Holden)). William was born in 1849 and married his first wife, Thirza Shaw born in 1849, from Huddersfield on 21st May 1869 at Dobcross Holy Trinity Church. They had Six children before Thirza sadly passed away in 1890. William then married his second wife Harriet Dransfield born 1847, sometime in 1896. The 1901 census, shows they lived at Brown Hill Bridge in Dobcross, later moving to Marslands in Dobcross. William died in 1913 followed by Harriet 1916.
There is also a fourth person with the surname of “Dix” who was buried in November 1925.
With some very clever research from Lynn, we have found out that William and Thirza had 6 children, the second being a daughter called Ada. She married a chap called Absalom Dix in 1907 in Glasgow. Absalom appears to be a chap who moved around a lot, presumably going where he could find work (in clay mining and the building of railway tunnels). At the time of the 1901 Census Absalom was living in Disley, Hayfield, Cheshire, in 1907 he married Ada in Glasgow and in 1911 they were living in Newport, Monmouthshire. They then had a Daughter, Amanda Dix on 14th January 1913 in Glyn-Neath, Glamorgan, followed by her Brother, Arthur on 29th November 1914 in Hulme, Manchester. Absalom met his end in Manningham, Bradford in April 1917.
His Widow Ada and son Arthur on the 1921 Census were living back in the Saddleworth area at Burn Bank in Greenfield, but Amanda was not with them. instead she was living with Ada’s sister Alice and her husband Joseph Walter Radcliffe at Frenches, Greenfield. Our records indicate that she was the adopted daughter of Joseph Radcliffe. Using the census for 1921, we discover that Joseph was a SO Postman and Alice was Home Duties. Their niece who was lving with them was 8 at the time. We discover that Amanda was born in Glyn Neath, Wales and that her father was Dead. Sadly, Amanda passed away in 1925, aged just 12 years old, and is buried with her grandparents.
Ada lived on until 1949 when she passed away in Ashton. Arthur married Mary Harrop in 1937 and lived until 1982 when he died in Oldham.
Searching for Hugh and Elizabeth Kenworthy, we also find their location in the New yard, but this had no headstone. Grandsons David and Andrew, were keen, that they, as a family, apply for a Headstone.
Grandmother Elizabeth (Lizzy) Hannah Kenworthy pictured holding grandchild and Sister of David and Andrew, Elizabeth Hannah Wheeler in 1936 or 7.
With a little research, we identified that their Daughter Jean was buried here and most likely their Son Roy.
Thats 5 Kenworthy siblings tracked down. Aunts and Uncles of David and Andrew.
A newspaper clipping from 1954 identifies various family members in attendance at the funeral service and burial at Saddleworth Church.
The family also provided copies of a couple of newspaper clippings for Mr Kenworthy, published on his death in 1957.
The first article, reads; The old campaigner, was a keen disciplinarian and always revealed a devotion to duty.
During a period when he served in the Home Guard he was given orders by his section leader to stop and detain anyone who could not produce the necessary credentials
Late one night when he was on duty two brass hats of the Home Guard came upon the scene attired in mufti and we immediately challended by the faithful Hugh, who knew them well, but as they failed to satisfy him he marched them off at rifle point to where his section leader was in a small hut.
Now it so happened that the section leader too, was an ex-serviceman and a disciplinarian, and ordered the brass hats to be detained until an officer from the Drill Hall was sent to identify them.
Another clipping, explores his character as an old campaigner. Who took part in three wars. He is reported as a widower for some years, he had lived alone. Having recently celebrated his 75th birthday.
Mr Kenworthy, a man of quiet and kindly disposition was justly proud that he had done his bit for his country. He had volunteered at 16, a native of Delph, he was one of the first volunteers in Saddleworth when the South African war was declared and was engaged in active service.
Upon his departure for the front, residents in Delph mounted him on horseback and a torchlight procession accompanied him through the village to the railway station.
When the 1914-1918 war broke out, Hugh was a reservist, was immediately called up and was soon in France serving with the 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment. He was among the first to be wounded and was returned to England, but he was soon well, again and returned to the Forces and remained until the end.
In the 1939-1945 war Mr kenworthy joined the Home Guard and did duty until the end of hostilities. He was a member of Saddleworth branch of the British Legion.
As per his wishes, the Union Jack of the British Legion was draped on his coffin and several legionnaires were present.
Elizabeth Hannah’s father, was Robert Basford, his brother Charles William Basford is also buried in the New yard, unfortunately an adjacent gravestone has toppled on to it. Our records indicate that the family lived on Wool Road. Charles was a Carter, his Wife Hannah nee Swann also buried there was a domestic. There are three children recorded in this grave Elizabeth Ann aged 1, Sarah Eliza 2 years 8 Months, and George 6 months.
Also in the New yard is the grave of Fred Basford, he is the son of Charles and Hannah, he is buried with his wife Alice nee Lawton and son.
Fred was a Station Master and lived at Holly Grove in Dobcross.
Selwyn their son, was a Poultry Farmer and then he became a Railway Porter
Fred’s sister Mary Hannah is also located in the New Yard, she can be found with her family. She was married to Fred Hopkinson, and records indicate that he was buried at a cost of £6 and 15s in 1964. Their Son George Albert and his wife Ivy can also be found in this plot.
A very big Thank you to Lynne, David’s wife who has kindly shared her research. This is truly a generational story that demonstrates the connectedness of families. This is a great piece of research and hopefully we can keep adding to it.
Historic Saddleworth Church 