It is believed that Richard Whitworth was married first to Elizabeth Rhodes on 25 Feb 1811 in Thornhill, York. She died between 1811 and 1815 as Richard married Elizabeth Crabtree on 4 Dec 1814. This information per Roger Whitworth, Worcester, England.
Abraham was married to Margaret Thornton on 25 Dec 1838 in the parish church in the Parish of Mirfield, York Co., England. On the marriage record Abraham is listed as a Blacksmith and his father, Richard Whitworth, is listed as a Collier. Margaret was listed as being 19 years old and a spinster. Mirfield is about four miles from the town of Dewsbury. The location of the Whitworth family from the time Abraham was baptized until he was married is unknown. It was reported in a history of Knox county, Ohio that Abraham's father was killed in a mining accident when he was a small child. In this history his mother is listed as Martha. Neither statement has been proven and is probably not accurate.
Margaret Thornton was the daughter of John Thornton and Carthrine Brook. She was born in the parish of Mirfield , Yorkshire, England on 4 March 1820. John Thornton and Carthrine Brook were married on 8 Dec 1815 in Mirfield Parish. In 1816 the Thornton family was living in an area of Mirfield Parish called Leegreen, in 1822 they were living in an area called Little London. They were still in this area in 1829. John Thornton's occupation was listed as Waterman or Boatman.
Note: John Thornton date of birth could possibly be 5 April 1797 with a John Thornton as the father or 12 Feb 1795 with Joseph Thornton listed as a father.
In 1841 Abraham and Margaret are living in Bahgeford, located in the Parish of Mirfield, York Co., England. In 1842 he immigrated to the United States and moved to Pittsburgh, Pa. were he worked as a blacksmith for the government and the steamboat trade. On 9 July 1846 Abraham Whitworth purchased « part of lot 102 in Lawrenceville borough located in Pittsburgh, Pa for $200 from William C. Bovard and wife. This land was 25 feet on Pike street and ran back 110 feet to Foster's Alley. (Deed Book 74, Page 161 Allegheny co., Pa).
In 1857 Abraham moved to Knox Co., Ohio where on 5 Sept 1857 he purchased 111 acres of land from James E. Woodbridge for $2900. This land was located in Howard twp., Knox Co., Ohio, and was located in Sec 3, twp. 7, Range 11 lots 7,8, and 14. Abraham also purchased three parcels of land from Albert Ellis which are located in the same section and were in lots 8, 9, 13. No date was listed for these parcels, however, probably in the 1850's. Total acres for these purchases was 214 acres.
The family farm is now located on the South side of U.S. 36 near Schencks Creek.. In addition to farming, Abraham also had a blacksmith shop which was located on the farm.
Abraham Whitworth, his son John Thornton Whitworth, his son Abraham L. Whitworth and his son John Gordon Whitworth all lived or owned this land until 1928. The 111 acre tract was sold to J. G. Critchfield trustee of Lewis Critchfield by Margaret Whitworth on 29 Feb 1892 for $5800. Lewis Critchfield was the father of Mary J. Critchfield who married John Thornton Whitworth.
The three smaller tracts was sold to John T. Whitworth on 29 Feb 1892 by Margaret Whitworth for $4200 and sold to John T. Whitworth to his son Abraham L. Whitworth on 26 March 1920 for $1.00. Abraham L. Whitworth's son John Gordon Whitworth sold the land on 9 April 1928 for $1.00 to J. Edward Belt and Alice Belt. They were probably related to the Whitworth, however, the relationship is not known at this time.
Abraham Whitworth died on 2 Feb 1880 and his wife Margaret died 10 June 1896. They are buried in the Jelloway Cemetery which is located at the end of Township Road 242 on the East side of Apple Valley Lake. The cemetery is about a mile from the Whitworth farm. There son John Thornton and his wife Mary Jane and grandson Abraham L. Whitworth and his wife Catherine are all buried in the Methodist Cemetery on Howard and Monroe twp line from land donated by Joseph L. Hill.
The Whitworth line seems to end in Knox county except for Abraham Whitworth's great grandson John Gordon Whitworth who is last reported in Gary, Indiana in the 1930's. In a history of Knox Co., Ohio, it was reported that Abraham and Margaret Whitworth had 11 children, however only three lived to be adults. Children of Abraham Whitworth and Margaret Thornton:
Sarah Whitworth: Born 20 Sept 1840, Mirfield, York, England. She married William Welsh 25 Oct 1863 in Knox Co., Ohio, no other information found.
John Thornton Whitworth: Born 27 Nov 1841, baptized 26 Dec 1841, Mirfield, York, England, died 1925, married Mary Jane Critchfield on 24 Nov 1867. They had one son Abraham L who was born on 27 Feb 1869 and died in 1923 in Knox Co., Ohio. He married Catherine A. Singer who died in 1961. Abraham L. Whitworth hand one son John Gordon Whitworth who was born in 1904. John Thornton Whitworth also had a daughter Sarah Elizabeth who married a McArtor. She died in 1927 and is also buried in the Methodist Cemetery.
Elizabeth Whitworth :Born 18 Oct 1856, Pittsburgh, Pa . Married
John Winfield Hill.
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