Grewelthorpe

Beckwith family

Surname Beckwith.

This is an ancient Yorkshire locational surname, which derives from the village of Beckwith, in the Nidd Valley, near Harrogate. There is a house in Sussex called Beckworth Hall, but here again the original owners were of Yorkshire origin. Beckwith village is one of the earliest on record, appearing in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles as early as 972 a.d. in its correct spelling of ‘Bec wudu’ translating as the beech wood. In the Domesday Book the recording is as Beckvi.

The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Willelmus de Bekwyth, which was dated 1379.

© Copyright: Name Orgin Research www.surnamedb.com 1980 – 2010.

Message from Peter Ellerton. September 2014.

Email: p.ellerton@btopenworld.com

Message: Hi my family name is Ellerton and in a will of 1882 a Matthew Ellerton Esq leaves £24 to Sir Roger Beckwith (rent for a farm called Ewe Close House Downholme in Swaledale) Sir Roger must have also held lands in Swaledale?

If you have any further information about this. Please contact Peter or this site.

Details of Beckwith family from the Grewelthorpe, Kirkby Malzeard and surrounding area. Taken from census returns and Parish Registers.

Updated Oct 2023.

ALBERT EDWARD BECKWITH Born C1865 Ripon. Carpenter with Taylor the builder in 1921 in Harrogate. Married to Elizabeth Jane.

ANN BECKWITH. Born C. 1814. Lived Kirkby Malzeard. Buried 2.1.1821. Ref. Kirkby Malzeard Par. Reg.

ANN BECKWITH. Born C. 1826. Kirkby Malzeard. Dau of Christopher. Married Thomas Jackson. of Grewelthorpe. Marriage on 12.10.1850 at Kirkby Malzeard church. Witnesses at wedding William Beckwith and Jonah Jackson. Had 5 children in 1861. Wm. Betsy. Charles. John. & Fred B. [See Jackson page].

ANNIE E. BECKWITH. Born C1856. Dau of James & Martha Horner.
ANNIE ELIZABETH BECKWITH Born C1905. Died 2000. Dau of James Wm. & Margaret of Galphay. Married Albert Henry Nesom in 1925.

ARTHUR BECKWITH. Born 16.8.1615 Tanfield. Son of Roger & Susannah Brackenbery. married Mary Wyvil. about 1634 in Tanfield. Sir Arthur Beckwith. Killed in Action in 1642. Buried Aldburgh. {Ref. IGI}. He gained the rank of Captain in the Parliamentarian army.

ARTHUR BECKWITH. Born C1673. Died 1700. Son of Sir Roger & Eliz. Clapham. no issue. Attended Trinity College Cambridge in 1691.

CHARLES BECKWITH. Born C.1786 Masham. Road Labourer in 1851 living Galphay. Married to Margaret of Pateley Bridge. [b.C1799].

Report in Yorkshire Gazette Nov. 1842.

This could well refer to Charles Beckwith above.

CHARLES BECKWITH. Born C.1837 Kirkby Malzeard. Son of Charles & Margaret.
CHARLES BECKWITH Born 1881. Kirklington near Bedale. Age 19 he enlisted in the Royal Regt. of Artillery.
[1900] For the whole of his service he was repeatedly tried and imprisoned for drunkeness. In 1905 he was discharged as being incorrigible and worthless.

CHARLOTTE BECKWITH. Died 14 June 1843 Ripon. {Advanced age} Wife of William the hosier of Ripon. {Ref. Yorks Gazette June 1843}.

CHRISTOPHER BECKWITH. Born C. 1522 Nutwith Cote, Masham. Married Catherine Tunstall. [Ref.IGI].

CHRISTOPHER BECKWITH. Born C.1789 Grewelthorpe.

In 1871 he was a widower living in an Alms House in Kirkby Malzeard. He had a daughter Ann [b.1826]. Died 1874.

DOLLY BECKWITH Dau of William Beckwith. of Lambhill. Ripon. In January 1746 Married Christopher Oxley. [Ref Leeds Intelligencer 1746].

EDITH MARY BECKWITH Born C1902 Harrogate. Dau of Albert Edward & Elizabeth Jane. Dressmakers assist. in 1921.
EDWARD BECKWITH. Born C1662 Sawley. Married Helen Norton. of Sawley. [Ref.IGI].

EDWARD BECKWITH. A Linenweaver. Married on 18.4.1796 at Kirkby Malzeard to Elizabeth Hudson.
ELIZABETH BECKWITH Married to Benjamin Akers [Mason] of Swinton.
ELIZABETH BECKWITH. Bap.1790 Masham. Dau of William & Elizabeth of Masham.

ETHEL BECKWITH. Born 4 July 1913. A book keeper living Ripon 1939.
GEORGE BECKWITH Born C1895 Harrogate. Son of Albert Edward and Elizabeth Jane. Postman in 1911.
HARRY BECKWITH Born C1899 Harrogate. Son of Albert Edward & Elizabeth Jane. Clerk for a boot repairer.
HERBERT WILLIAM BECKWITH Born C1892.Son of Albert Edward and Elizabeth Jane. Married to Ada Watson. Boot and shoe repairer. in Wath. Living Killinghall in 1921.
HESTER BECKWITH. Buried 27.11.1718 Kirkby Malzeard. Dau of William of Grewelthorpe.

ISABEL BECKWITH. Bap. 24.1.1864 Kirkby Malzeard. Dau of Richard [Blacksmith] & Sarah of Galphay.
JAMES BECKWITH. Born 1819. Died 8 Oct. 1900. Married to Martha Horner. in 1851.

Grave of James & Martha Beckwith in Grewelthorpe churchyard. Also children Mary Margaret & James.

JAMES BECKWITH. Born C1825 Ripon. Died between 1901 & 1911. 1890 Currier & Leather Cutter in Park St. Masham. Ref. Bulmer’s Directory. Married Mary Horner. of Mickley. [see Horner page].

JAMES BECKWITH. Born 19 April 1858. [Possibly son of James & Martha Horner.] Married to Margaret [born 1870]. Farmer in Galphay.

JANE BECKWITH. Buried 28.4.1728 Kirkby Malzeard. Lived Grewelthorpe.

JOHN BECKWITH. 1607. Mentioned in Borthwick Institute cause papers. A case of sexual slander against his wife Frances made by Alice Abbott. They lived K.Malzeard.

JOHN BECKWITH. Born C 1707. Died 14 Dec. 1761 Masham. Brother of William. Son of William of Lamb Hill. Descended from Thomas Beckwith of Sutton Grange, Ripon.

JOHN BECKWITH. Lived Masham. Cohabited with Elizabeth Gumdill.[nee Coldbeck]. [b.1769] See Coldbeck page.

JOHN BECKWITH. Born C1818. Son of Thomas of Bracken Ridge, Middlesmoor. Married 1.4.1841 at Middlesmoor to Rachel Horner. of Middlesmoor. 2nd dau of Anthony of Agram. Middlesmoor. {Ref. Yorks Gazette April 1841}. In 1851 living at Cockley Gap, Stonebeck up next door to Rachel’s Father at Agram.

JOHN BECKWITH. Born c1842 Stonebeck up. Son of John & Rachel Horner.
JOSEPH BECKWITH Born 1823 Ripon. He was a hairdresser. In 1841 he enlisted with 94th Regt of Foot. service n0.1728. He served for 21 years. Served abroad for 12 years. In East Indies & Gibralter. He had 4 good conduct badges. Once tried by court martial. Imprisoned for 5 days and demoted. Then made it back to sergeant. No medals. He was discharged in 1862 at his own request.


MABEL BECKWITH Born 1919 Harrogate. Dau of Herbert Wm & Ada Watson. Living Killinghall 1921.
MARGARET BECKWITH [Nee ?]. Born C. 1799 Pateley Bridge. Widow of Charles [1786] living in 1881 in Azerley with son Charles & Grand-dau Mary.

MARGARET BECKWITH. Born C. 1840 Kirkby Malzeard. Dau of Charles & Margaret.

MARGARET BECKWITH. Bap. 4.5.1862 Kirkby Malzeard. Dau of Thomas & Hannah of The Chequers, Mickley.

MARMADUKE BECKWITH SIR. Born Jan 1687. Died C1771. Son of Sir Roger & Eliz. Jenings. Emigrated to USA in 1700. He was a merchant at Virginia USA. Had 3 sons Tarply, Marmaduke & Jonathan. Jonathan was the last Baronet of Aldburgh.

MARTHA BECKWITH [nee Horner]. Born 1815. Died 25 April 1880. Married to James. See picture of grave near James.

MARTHA JANE BECKWITH. Born 1854. Dau of James & Martha Horner. Dressmaker in 1871.

MARY BECKWITH [NEE?] Born C1759. Died 19.2.1837. Lived Market Place. Ripon. {Ref.Yorks. Gazette Feb 1837}

MARY ANN BECKWITH. Born C. 1831. Galphay. Buried 16.10.1840 Kirkby Malzeard.

MARY MARGARET BECKWITH. Born 1852. Died 29 Aug. 1877. Dau of James & Martha Horner. see grave picture near James.

MARY BECKWITH. Lived Burton near Masham. Married 2.8.1855 to William Bottomley. of Colne Lancs. {Ref. Yorks Gazette August 1855}

MARY BECKWITH. Born C.1860 Galphay. Dau of Thomas & Hannah of Masham. Possibly the grand-dau of Charles & Margaret. Living in Azerley 1881 with Margaret.

MAY BECKWITH. Born C. 1819. Buried 16.6.1837 Kirkby Malzeard.
MICHAEL BECKWITH Masham. Married Ruth Whitton of Masham on Feb 4th 1750.
NORMAN HENRY BECKWITH Born C1905 Harrogate. Died 1975. Son of Albert Edward and Elizabeth Jane. A compositor’s assist. for Ackrills. Harrogate in 1921.
RACHEL BECKWITH. Born C1847 Stonebeck up. Dau of John & Rachel Horner.
REUBEN JAMES BECKWITH Born 1907. Died 1974. Son of James & Margaret. Lived Pasture House Farm Galphay.
ROBERT BECKWITH. Married on 11.6.1566 at Pateley Bridge to JENNET INMAN.

ROBERT BECKWITH. Bap. 1797 Masham. Son of William & Elizabeth of Masham.

ROGER BECKWITH. SIR. Died 6.12.1700.[shot himself] Son of Sir Arthur & Mary Wyvil. married [1] Elizabeth Clapham. married [2] Elizabeth Jenings. of Ripon.

ROGER BECKWITH.SIR. Born 13.6.1682. Died May 1743.[shot himself] Son of Sir Roger & Eliz.Jenings. Married 10.10.1705 Jane Waddington. of Leeds. Held the office of Sheriff of Yorkshire 1706/7.

Elizabeth Beckwith nee Jenings.

SARAH BECKWITH. Married John Pickersgill in 1701 in Kirkby Malzeard. Had 2 children Charles [1701] & John [1704]. Information from Nicola Simpson. See letter at beginning of Genealogy section. Oct 2011. Also see will of Charles Greeveson at the bottom of this page.

SARAH ANN BECKWITH. Bap. 20.6.1864 Kirkby Malzeard dau of Thomas & Hannah of Chequers, Mickley.

SAMUEL BECKWITH 1786 Ellingstring. He was the victim of a house robbery Losing gold and silver and other property. Men from East Witton were accused. [Ref.Leeds intelligencer 1789].

THOMAS BECKWITH. Died 1672. Lived Sutton Grange near Ripon. His son Thomas bought Lamb Hill estate of 7 May 1656. He also had a son Samuel.

THOMAS BECKWITH. Born C. 1776. Lived Dallowgill. Buried 26.4.1836 Kirkby Malzeard.

THOMAS BECKWITH. Born C1787. Cattle drover. Lived Bracken Ridge, Middlesmoor. His second son was John.

THOMAS BECKWITH. Born C.1835 Kirkby Malzeard. Son of Charles & Margaret. Married Hannah of Masham. [b.C1834]

WILLIAM BECKWITH. Son of Thomas of Lamb Hill. Married Dorothy Pickersgill. of Mickley. had 3 children. William. John & Mary. Dorothy died 1745 age 70

WILLIAM BECKWITH. Born C 1700. Lived Lamb Hill. Died 5 June 1762. Married to Catherine Lister. 4 children Mary, Catherine, Dorothy & Elizabeth. had brother John. Son of William of Lamb Hill. Descended from Thomas Beckwith of Sutton Grange, Ripon.
WILLIAM BECKWITH 1720 Married Catherine Appleby [Ref Par.Reg]

WILLIAM BECKWITH. 1745 Clockmaker of Masham. [Ref. Book. The Old Clockmakers of Yorkshire.]

WILLIAM BECKWITH. Bap 9 Nov 1746. Kirkby Malzeard. Son of John Beckwith.

WILLIAM BECKWITH. Bap. 1792 Masham. Son of William & Elizabeth of Masham.

WILLIAM BECKWITH. Born C.1816. Buried Kirkby Malzeard 17.12.1817.

WILLIAM BECKWITH. Hosier of Ripon. Married to Charlotte who died in 1843. {Ref. Yorks Gazette 1843}.

The will of Charles Greeveson of Kirkby Malzeard who left book]. the bulk of his estate to the Beckwith family from Roomer. Dated Jan 1704/5.

Item I give and bequeath six pounds lawfull English money unto the Poor of Grewelthorp aforesaid the Interest thereof yearly to be paid for ever unto the Poor of Grewelthorp aforesaid upon Shrove Tuesday being the day of My Nativity and such payments to be made out of the Rents Issues and profits to arise out of my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments in Grewelthorp aforesaid

Item I give and bequeath unto William Beckwith Son of George Beckwith of Roomer ten pounds to be paid within a Twelvemonth next after my Decease

Item I give and bequeath unto Anthony Beckwith Son of the said George Beckwith ten pounds to be paid within a Twelvemonth next after my Decease

Item I give and bequeath unto Allice Beckwith Daughter of the said George Beckwith ten pounds to be paid within a Twelvemonth next after my Decease

Item I give and bequeath unto Suzanna Beckwith Daughter of the said George Beckwith seaven pounds to be paid within a Twelvemonth next after my Decease

Item I also give and bequeath unto Hannah Beckwith Daughter of the said George Beckwith other seaven pounds to be paid within a Twelvemonth next after my Decease

Item I give and bequeath unto William Cooke whom I stood Surety for on his Baptisme Ten Shillings

Item I give and bequeath unto Mary Allison whom I stood Surety for in Baptisme other Ten Shillings

And to Mary Thirkill to whom I also was Godfather five shillings

All the said Legacies to be paid by my Executrix hereafter named within a Twelvemonth next after my Decease

Item I give and bequeath unto John Ward of Swinton John Pickersgill of Wardermaske and Margaret Wife of Thomas Ripley of Fearby every one of them five shillings to be paid within a Twelvemonth next after my Decease

Item I give and bequeath unto Charles Pickersgill and John Pickersgill sons of Sarah Pickersgill [nee Beckwith] of Grewelthorp aforesaid either of them five pounds to be paid when they ‘.. attaine their severall Ages of One and Twenty yeares

Item I give and Devise all my Messuages Freehold Lands Tenements and Hereditaments situate lyeing and being within the Territories of Grewelthorp aforesaid unto the said Charles Pickersgill and John Pickersgill and their heirs for ever Equally to be divided betwixt them and to enter upon the same when they attaine their severall Ages of One and Twenty yeares and not before.

And I likewise give unto them the said Charles Pickersgill and John Pickersgill All my Leased Lands whatsoever and wheresoever equally betwixt them to have and hold the same when they come to their severall Ages of One and Twenty yeares and not before

Item my Will and mind is that Sarah Pickersgill their Mother shall have hold and enjoy all the Rents Issues and profits of All and singular as well of my Freehold Lands as Leases during the Minorities of the said Charles Pickersgill and John Pickersgill

And my Will and meaning and Intent is that the said Sarah Pickersgill shall have house Roome in my Dwelling house dureing her Life if she be not againe married

Item All other my personall Estate of what bind ‘.. the same be either Billy Bonds Mortgages Goods Quick and Dead household Goods I give and bequeath unto the said Sarah Pickersgill

And I doe make the said Sarah Pickersgill sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament not doubting but she will honestly pay and Discharge all the Legacies above by me bequeathed my Debts and Funeral Expenses And I doe hereby revoke and make void all my Former Wills and TestamentsIn Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale this Eleaventh day of January in the Third yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lady Anne by the grace of God Queen of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith p.. Anno ‘ Di’.. 1704/5