[1] David Dewhurst spent most of his life in Royton in the Greater Manchester area working as a wheelwright (one who makes and repairs wheels), probably in the cotton industry, and at various times had several employees working for him. The 1871 census shows his son Robert Dewhurst and wife Martha living next door with Robert employed as a wheelwright and blacksmith and Martha as a cotton weaver. David’s other children also worked in the cotton industry. The 1881 British census shows David and Jane Dewhurst residing at Oldham with their son William (17), apprentice cotton spinner and daughter Jane, also apprentice cotton spinner.

[2] Baptized at Pateley Bridge on 29 December, 1822, the daughter of Robert Craven and Hannah Hardy (m. at Thirsk, Yorkshire 06 April, 1808), a very old Nidderdale family, one of the old originals, since records began. One of the Cravens was farming at Heathen Carr in 1606.

[3] Born 1836 in Thornham, Lancashire, and son of James Fletcher. The 1881 census shows John Fletcher and wife Sarah residing on Lewin Street, Middlewich, Cheshire, next door to John Fletcher’s family who were all in the fustian* cutting business, John listed as “master fustian cutter”. At time of the 1891 census, John and Sarah Fletcher and their two sons, John and William are residing at Hartford, Cheshire with John Fletcher Sr. listed as “fustian factory maker”. The 1901 England Census for Northwich, Cheshire shows Sarah Fletcher, 51; widowed, (fustian cutter employer) and her two sons John (14) and William Fletcher (16), both working as fustian cutters. Living with the family was Jane Dewhurst, sister, 33, single, employed by Sarah as “fustian weaver.”

[4] Born 1853, daughter of Abraham Collinge cotton mixer. The 1881 British census shows George Dewhurst (29) beer seller and Martha (28) residing at 39 Cross Street, Oldham. There is no trace of them since and they could possibly also have immigrated to the U.S.

[5] The 1881 census shows a James Dewhurst, carpenter, born at Royton, Lancashire about 1858, residing at 15 Rope Street with his wife Olive, born about 1854 at Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire. 1901 census shows them residing at 21 Downing Street, Royton.

* “Fustian cutting was a textile outwork activity carried on in special workshops in Poynton and many other villages around Manchester. Fustian was a long lasting fabric similar to velveteen and corduroy with a large amount of weft used either plain or in loops which could be cut so as to form a pile. This cutting was organized by masters mainly in Manchester who sent out the rolls of cloth, probably by train to Poynton station. The labor here was much cheaper than in central Manchester, mostly young girls. The cutting had to be carried out in a well lit room on benches of many yards long on which the cloth could be stretched by means of rollers on either end. A thin spiked knife 18 inches long was inserted into the loops, called a race, and the threads cut with a sweeping movement. Considerable dexterity and accuracy was needed.”

Family of Robert Dewhurst and Martha Harrop

[1] In the 1871 British census, Robert and Martha Dewhurst were living at 5 Park Road, Royton, Oldham, next to Robert’s parents, David and Jane Dewhurst. Robert’s occupation was listed as wheelwright and blacksmith and Martha’s occupation as cotton weaver. Robert and Martha and their children immigrated to Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts in 1879 (per 1880 US census records). In 1900 the family was living at Summit Street, Halifax Town, Plymouth, Massachusetts, where Robert was working as a wood sawyer in a lumber mill. In the 1910 census Robert was still living at Summit Street, Halifax Town, Plymouth, working as a sawyer. Living with him were his two sons, Arthur (18) and Clifford (16), both employed as “board edgers”. Martha died in 1908.

[2] Born Feb., 1850 in Saddleworth, Yorkshire, England; daughter of Ambrose Harrop, schoolmaster, (later working as estate agent, tax collector and parish clerk), born abt. 1822 and Sarah, born abt. 1821. Martha Harrop had six siblings: Joseph, born abt. 1845; George F., born abt. 1847; James, born abt. 1849; Alice, born abt. 1856; Hannah, born abt. 1858 and Ambrose, born abt. 1860.

[3] At time of the 1910 census, Herbert and Helena Dewhurst with their 10-year old son Herman (born 15 June, 1899, died March, 1969) were living next door to Robert Dewhurst. Herbert was employed as a sawmill sawyer. In the 1920 census the family was residing at East Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Son Herman, then 20, was employed as a fireman.

[4] Born in England abt. 1881, daughter of Edmonson. Immigrated to the United States in 1894.

[5] The 1900 census shows George Thomas and Ida Francis Dewhurst residing at Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts with their two-month old son, Elmer T. Dewhurst. George’s occupation listed as “fitter – wooden boxes”. The 1920 census records show Ida F. Dewhurst and her sons Elmer Thomas Dewhurst, (born 15 April, 1900) and Frederick A. Dewhurst (born 12 November, 1913, died 26 June, 1989) living at same address.

[6] Samuel E. Wright, farmer and Sarah Dewhurst Wright had three children: Eleanor Wright, born 1904, Robert Wright, Jr., born 1909 and Sam Wright.

[7] The 1910 census shows Ambrose Dewhurst (machinist) and his wife Hattie E. residing at Fitchburg Ward 6, Worcester, Massachusetts. Living with them were Walter E. Fish 2nd, age 11, stepson, and May B. Dewhurst, age 24, Ambrose’s sister – employed as an apprentice milliner. The 1920 census shows all of them still living at the same address. Ambrose and Hattie had three daughters together: Alva, Ardath and Betty.

[8] Marion Lizzie Peabody, born 29 September, 1881 in Massachusetts, died 5 June, 1946 at Santa Cruz, California; daughter of Danforth and Peabody. Percival (Percy) Dewhurst was employed mostly as an aviation mechanic/foreman in Marion, Indiana and National City, San Diego, California, respectively.

[9] On his 1917 draft registration card Robert lists his occupation as piano maker working for the Theo. Schwamb Co. in Arlington. Married 1) Dorothy Baxter with whom he had one daughter, Alberta Dewhurst (died in 1973) who married Harry Hoffmann. Robert and Dorothy divorced and Robert married 2) Mildred Brentner (b. 2 Mar 1907 in Indiana; died May 1980); they had one son together, Robert Orren Dewhurst. The 1920 census shows them living on Fulton Avenue, San Diego, California with Mildred’s children Betty J. Brentner and Carol Brentner. Robert’s occupation is listed as “foreman in a building mill”.

[10] Born 2 March, 1907 in Indiana, died May 1980 in San Diego County, California.

[11] The 1930 census shows Arthur and Sarah E. Dewhurst residing at East Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts with their children Arthur Stanley Dewhurst, born 16 December, 1914, died 9 January, 1997 at Brockton, MA and Ernest W. Dewhurst, born 19 December, 1918, died 19 May, 1992 in MA. Arthur Dewhurst, Sr. was employed as switchboard operator at a power plant.

[12] The 1920 census shows Clifford and Elsie Dewhurst residing at Whitman Town, Plymouth, Massachusetts with their son Clifford Dewhurst, Jr., born 22 November, 1918. Clifford, Sr.’s occupation is shown as chauffeur. In the 1930 census, Clifford Sr., and Jr., are shown living at the home of Samuel E. and Sarah Wright in Westwood, Norfolk, Massachusetts, Clifford’s sister and brother-in-law. Clifford Dewhurst, Jr., was employed as a machinist in a garage. He married Doris E. Gilsonst, born 22 June, 1910, died 20 March, 1989. Clifford Dewhurst, Jr. died 29 January, 1999 in Brockton, Massachusetts. In the 1930 census, Elsie Dewhurst is living with her mother Emily Jones (60) and her brother Clifford Jones (26) at Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts.