Genealogy
Beckwith of Thurcroft
See also Thurcroft Estates
William Beckwith of Thurcroft, esquire, was first mentioned in 1653 when he married Margaret Mirfin. The Beckwiths
were at Thurcroft until early in the 19th century. The marriage of a later William Beckwith to Elizabeth Woodifield in
1714 brought the Manor of Trimdon in Co. Durham to the family. The last of the family to be 'of Thurcroft' apparently got
into financial difficulties, raised what money he could on the Thurcroft estate and moved to Durham. When his son came of
age in 1817 the estate was mortgaged for £10,000. In 1841 that the last representative of the family surrendered the
estate in the Manor Court of Laughton-en-le-Morthen and John Drabwell was admitted.
The Thurcroft branch of Beckwith descends from Matthew Beckwith of Tanfield and Sleningford, near Ripon.
William Beckwith married Elizabeth, daughter of Bernard Ellis, Recorder of York and widow of Robert
Mirfield, who died in 1644. They had 3 daughters:
- Susan, wife of John Anlaby, of Anlaby in Yorkshire
- Judith, married to William Parker, M.D. of London
- Hester, living in 1630, wife of Odingsells of Epperstone Nottingham
When this this William died in 1678 he bequeathed Thurcroft to his nephew William, son of Matthew of Tanfield.
William, the nephew, settled at Thurcroft and married Mary, daughter of Sir Edward Chaloner, he left at his decease in 1713, a son and heir:
William Beckwith, Esq. of Thurcroft and Sleningford who married about 1715 Elizabeth daughter and heiress of John Woodifield of Fishburn and Trimdon. Issue:
- Woodifield, his heir
- William of London, a barrister
- John a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army
- Jane married Thomas Westby of Howarth Hall Rotherham
- Elizabeth married W. Horsfall
Woodifield Beckwith was born in 1719 at Laughton-en-le-Morthen. He married in 1771, Dorothy, daughter of Christopher Robinson of Durham. Woodifield died in 1779, leaving an only surviving child:
William (b.1772), resided at Trimdon House. He was known as William of Thurcroft and Trimdon and married in 1794
Caroline, daughter of John Neasham of Houghton-le-Spring. Children:
- William K. H. Lieutenant Colonel in the Army
- John
- Rev. Henry b.1832
- Caroline
- Mary
A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland By Bernard Burke
In the parish church of Burton there are two marble monuments:
Marble Monument:
Sacred to the memory of William Horsfall, of Storthes Hall, Esq., who died the 2nd
August, 1780,
in the 55 year of his age. He was descended in direct line from Captain Richard
Horsfall, who took an
active part with the Royalists in the Grand Rebellion, in the reign of King Charles
the first, against the
Rebel Army. He married Elizabeth, the daughter of William Beckwith, of Thurcroft,
in this county,
Esquire, by whom he had issue Ingram, his son, who died 17th November, 1770, in the 11 year of his
age, and five daughters, viz.: Dorothy, Elizabeth, Anne, Grace married to George Sutton, of Stockton,
Esquire, and Frances.
On another:
To the memory of Elizabeth Horsfall, relict of William Horsfall, of Storthes Hall, Esquire, who died
the 21st of April, 1793, in the 72 year of her age.
A John Beckwith (b.1653) of Wadworth married 28 Sep 1676 to Castiliana (b.abt.1655) daughter of Lionel
Copley.
The guardianship of Marmaduke Beckwith was granted to Susanna
Beckwith, Widow, John Anlaby, and John Odingsells
Genealogy
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