John Earnshaw [e]

Tree showing lineage from John Earnshaw to 2x great granddaughter Freda Mary Earnshaw

There are many & varied versions of the name Earnshaw throughout records. This may depend on the area from which the family originated. For example, in old English ‘Earn Sceaga’ came from ‘dweller by the eagle wood’ in Yorkshire, and in Cumberland ‘heronshaw’ referred to a heronry or young heron.

It is thought that our starter John was christened April 1st, 1770 in Medomsley, the son of John Heronshaw - see below. The parents of John are yet to be confirmed, however a possible marriage for John’s parents is listed in the Bishop’s Transcripts as John Earnshire & Elizabeth Hunter marrying on May 4th, 1769 at Shotley, Parish of Medomsley. There is a burial of Elizabeth Erenshire of Cold Rowley on May 29th, 1786 at All Saints, Muggleswick which is where John came to live. There is a record of a John Earnshaw, aged 78, who died May 8th, 1807 & was buried May 10th, 1807 at Muggleswick. He was described as a weaver of Lyredean which is where our John was living in 1807.

John (listed as Yearnshaw) married Jane Wales (listed as Willis) on June 9th, 1800 at Medomsley. Jane was christened June 11th, 1780 at Tanfield. She was the daughter of Thomas Wales & Jane Seymour of Tanfield, who were married at Lanchester on September 27th 1767.

Unfortunately by the time of her marriage Jane’s parents had died (both buried at Tanfield in 1785) and many of Jane’s siblings died in early childhood, e.g. her 2 older sisters both named Frances died aged 2 & 10 & her younger brothers Thomas died aged 5 & Seymour aged 3.

Jane & John had 3 sons, Thomas, George & John. The birth place of John (senior) is somewhat uncertain in view of the Bishops Transcripts showing the entries for Thomas’ & George’s christenings, which are as follows:

Thomas Earnshaw born April 6th, christened November 22nd 1801 son of John Earnshaw, labourer, native of parish of Lanchester County of Durham by his wife Jane Wales native of parish of Tanfield.

George Earnshaw born September 18th christened October 30th 1803 son of John Earnshaw, labourer, native of Borough of Medomsley.

Jane died on April 6th 1807 at the age of only 27 & she was buried on April 9th 1807 at All Saints, Muggleswick. The parish transcripts record her as the wife of John, labourer of Liardean. Liardean was a small farm holding in the village of Rowley, a few miles southeast of Muggleswick.

Liardean Farm, 2005

The known children of John Earnshaw and Jane Wales were:

e.1 Thomas Earnshaw born April 6th 1801, and christened November 22nd 1801 at Muggleswick, Co Durham; died December 23rd 1860 at Seaham Harbour
e.2 George Earnshaw born September 18th 1803, and christened October 30th 1803 at Muggleswick, Co. Durham; died at 9 Worcester St, Gateshead & buried August 19th, 1869 at Gateshead
e.3 John Earnshaw born October 13th 1805, and christened December 1st 1805 at Muggleswick, Co. Durham

John's second marriage to Elizabeth Appleby took place at Muggleswick on June 2nd, 1810. Elizabeth was the daughter of Robert & Elizabeth Appleby of Barnard Castle, christened June 11th, 1775.
The Durham Diocesan records for Muggleswick state:

The Banns of Marriage, between John Earnshaw & Elizabeth Appleby both of this parish, were duly published on the 3 several Sundays, viz. April 15th, 22 & 29 In the Chapel of Muggleswick by J. Jopling Curate
In the Chapel of Muggleswick June the 2nd One thousand eight hundred and ten, this Marriage was solemnized between us

John X (his mark) Earnshaw and Elizabeth X (her Mark) Appleby now Earnshaw.
In the presence of us John Walker Hannah Rippon

Muggleswick church

The christening of daughter Elizabeth took place at Muggleswick on May 19th, 1811 & the family were noted as living at Lyredean. At the time of the christening of daughter Mary in 1813, the family were living at 'Middles' - there is a Middles Farm just a few miles east of Lyredean, Rowley where they had been living.

John & Elizabeth came to live at Cold Hesleden where daughter Elizabeth sadly died aged just 10. John died on September 22nd, 1836 at Cold Hesleden, aged 65, & was buried at St Andrews, Dalton-le-Dale.

In 1841 widowed Elizabeth, stated as living on independent means, was still living at Cold Hesleden where she continued to live at the time of the 1851 census, when she was listed as Elizabeth Anshaw, aged 74.

Elizabeth died on April 11th, 1858, aged 81, at Cold Hesleden & was buried at St Andrews, Dalton-le-Dale.

The children of John Earnshaw & Elizabeth Appleby were:

e.4. Elizabeth Earnshaw born April 21st, 1811, christened May 19th, 1811 at Muggleswick; died at Cold Hesleden & buried March 31st, 1822 at St Andrews, Dalton-le-Dale

e.5. Mary Earnshaw christened March 21st, 1813 at All Saints, Lanchester