Article updated July 23, 2025 to include details of two additional children, 1921 census and details of Ellen Longworth Ashworth’s death.
When Ellen Longworth was born in 1876 in Adlington, Lancashire, England, her father, John Longworth (1832-1880), was 44, and her mother, Alice (née Loxham) (1839-1891), was 37. Ellen had seven sisters and four brothers.
Ellen married James Cropper Ashworth on August 20, 1898, in at the Parish Church in Chorley, Lancashire, England. Witnesses to the marriage are Frederick Wilson and Jane Ellen Ashworth (James’ eldest sister).
Ellen’s address is listed at 32 Bolton Road in Chorley (in 1905, sister Joanna is living at number 36).
When James Cropper Ashworth was born in June 1877 in Rawtenstall, Lancashire, England, his father, James Ashworth, was 26 and his mother, Mary (maiden name unknown), was 25.
They had six children over a span of 20 years:
- Robert Ashworth (1899-1975) married Sarah ? (1900-1971)
- John Ashworth (1900-1902)
- James Ashworth (1902-1930) married Elizabeth Cunliffe (1902-?)
- Mary Alice Ashworth (1905-1990) married Stanley Longworth (1905-1979)
- Isabella Ashworth (1910-1915)
- Ellen Ashworth (1916-?)
Robert Ashworth is born March 7, 1899, the couple are still living at 32 Bolton Road. The child is baptized at Chorley’s St. James Church on April 16th.
John Ashworth is born on June 6, 1900. The family is living at 21 Lincoln Street in Garston, Lancashire. John is baptized at St. Michael’s (Garston) on November 11, 1900.
We find the family on the 1901 Census still living on Lincoln Street. James and Ellen are both 24. The family appears with son Robert (aged 2 at the time of the census) and John (aged 11 months). James‘ occupation is “mechanic fitter & turner.”
John died at the age of 14 months in October, 1901. He’s buried on October 5th at St. Michael’s.
Although the specific date of their birth is unknown, son James is born at some point in 1902 and daughter Mary Alice in 1905. Although baptismal records are available for these years at St. James, St. Michael’s, as well as the Blackrod parish where Isabella is baptized), no baptismal records have been located for these children despite a thorough review (possibly because the couple is mourning the loss of son John).
Isabella Ashworth is born on August 23, 1910 and is baptized in the Blackrod Parish on October 2nd that year. James’ occupation is described as a fitter.
On the 1911 census James (34), is a Millright in a Bleach Works. Ellen is 35. All of the children except Isabella (still an infant) are in school. The family is living at 102 Station Road in Blackrod, Lancashire.
James Cropper Ashworth died in July, 1925 in Bolton, Lancashire, England, at the age of 48.
Ellen (Longworth) Ashworth died in on August 31, 1952 in Horwich, Lancashire, England, at the age of 76.
Main Image: St George’s parish church, Chorley, Lancashire, seen from the northeast (Image source: Wikimedia)
