Christopher Dodsworth was born in 1781 and Mary Wood was born in 1785.
The registers of St. Andrew’s Parish Church [[1]], Aldborough show that Christopher Dodsworth married Mary Wood in 1807. The couple had 10 children all baptised at Aldborough of which the eldest son, Thomas, was baptised in 1809.
Figure 5 : Descendants of Christopher Dodsworth & Mary Wood
Esther died aged 84 and was buried at Aldborough [[2]]. Sarah appears on the 1851 Census for Minskip aged 34 years and single as her father’s daughter and housekeeper. However, no record of her baptism has been found.
The Commutation of Tithes of 31st December 1840 shows Christopher as the owner and occupier of a house, coachhouse, yard, orchard, two pieces of garden and an allotment. Rent of five shillings and sixpence was payable to the Vicar of Aldborough and also rent payable to the Appropriator of six shillings. A contemporary map shows that the house etc. abut the main road through Minskip. The allotment was outside the village to the west but also adjacent to the main road.
Mary Dodsworth died in 1837 aged 52 years and was interred in Aldborough churchyard.
The 1841 Census shows Christopher and four of his children living in Minskip. He gave his occupation as a shoemaker.
Christopher Dodsworth died in 1851 aged 70 years and was interred with Mary in Aldborough churchyard [[3]].
A different Christopher Dodsworth was baptised in 1764. No record has been found of the baptism of Mary Calpas.
Aldborough Church registers show that Christopher Dodsworth married Mary Calpas in 1791. The entry gives Christopher’s occupation as a farmer.
The couple had 11 children all born at Copt Hewick and baptised at Ripon Cathedral [[4]]. The 10th child was baptised Bella in 1814.
Figure 6 : Descendants of Christopher Dodsworth & Mary Calpas
No records of the deaths of this Christopher or Mary have been found. Their son Thomas appears on the 1861 Census for Copt Hewick aged 64, showing that some of the family were still resident there.
Thomas Slater married Jane Akers at Aldborough Parish Church in 1820. Although Thomas lived at Aldborough, it appears that Jane came from Melmerby near Ripon. Perhaps this is why they were married by licence, as she may not have been able to reside at Aldborough for the requisite time for banns to be called.
Their son William was baptised in 1821. It seems likely that the family moved away from Aldborough after William’s birth as his is the only baptism of Thomas and Jane’s children in the Aldborough church registers. John’s occupation is given as a labourer. By the time William married, he gave his place of residence as Aberford in the parish of Sherburn. Perhaps the baptisms of other children born of the marriage may be found there.
Figure 7 : Descendants of Thomas Slater & Jane Akers
No records of the baptisms or burials of Thomas and Jane were found, so their ages are unknown.
John Harrison married Sarah Smith at the Chapelry of Skelton [[5]] in 1814. John was a carpenter or woodman. The couple had 5 children all baptised at Skelton. It is possible that Elizabeth and Ellen were twins as they were baptised at the same ceremony.
Figure 8 : Descendants of John Harrison & Sarah Smith
John and Sarah appear on the 1841 Census for Skelton both aged 54 years (which would give their years of birth as 1787). On the 1851 Census they appear to be living at Studley Royal.
John Harrison died at Studley Royal in 1857 aged 68 years, giving his year of birth as 1789. Sarah Harrison died at Minskip in 1861 aged 76 years, giving her year of birth as 1785.
John and Sarah were both interred at Skelton [[6]].
Note also the burial at Skelton of Stephen Harrison in 1833 aged 84 years, giving his year of birth as 1749. As John and Sarah’s eldest child was named Stephen in 1814, Stephen born 1749 was possibly John’s father.
[1] The baptisms, marriages and funerals of generations Dodsworths have taken place at St. Andrew’s church. The church dates from the fourteenth century. It occupies the central point of the Roman town of Isurium Brigantum and a Roman altar with a figure of Mercury is preserved in the north aisle. Attached to the north wall of the nave is the very fine monumental brass of William de Aldeburgh. Dating from about 1360, it is probably the oldest brass in any Yorkshire parish church. The church has some mediaeval glass.
There is also a small chapel at Minskip which may be an annex of St. Andrew’s. It has not been possible to ascertain the date the chapel was built, but it looks as though it may be ninteenth century.
[2] From the copy of the monumental inscriptions in the churchyard is the entry : Plot 754 – In memory of Esther wife of Thomas Smith, timber merchant, Wakefield daughter of late Christopher Dodsworth, died 16th November 1895 aged 84. Esther was baptised in 1811 and this would agree with her age at death of 84 years. Note that Esther Smith appeared on the 1851 Census for Minskip as a visitor in her father’s house aged 40 years.
[3] From the copy of the monumental inscriptions in the churchyard, the grave of Christopher and Mary Dodsworth is given as Plot 444 but the inscription is not known.
[4] The Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Wilfrid dates from around 660 AD when Scottish monks formed a Christian Community at Ripon. Ten years later Abbot Wilfrid began to build a new church. This was one of the earliest Christian structures in England and of this original building only the crypt survives. The present building was largely built between the mid twelfth century and the reign of Henry V111. The church became a cathedral in 1836 and has some mediaeval glass, much Victorian work and many monuments.
[5] The Chapelry of Skelton at Skelton-on-Ure is in the parish of Ripon - 3 miles from Ripon and 2 miles from Boroughbridge. It is not to be confused with the church of Christ the Consoler built in 1871 which is also at Skelton in the grounds of nearby Newby Hall.
[6] It appears that no one was sure of the ages of John and Sarah – including themselves ! The dates of death on the death certificates are in line with the burial dates at Skelton, as are the places resident at death. John’s occupation on Sarah’s certificate of Agricultural Labourer is wrong – probably a guess by the person registering the death.
