The entries for people & families with the surname Cockcroft are gathered together in this SideTrack.
This Page does not include people with other forms of the surname.
The entries for people with the surname Cockcroft – and similar surnames – are shown in a separate Foldout
The individuals listed are not necessarily related to each other.
The names Cockcroft and Cockroft are often confused.If the Cockcroft you seek is not here, please check the list of Cockroft names
He died 13th May 1901
Managing Director of Smith Bulmer & Company Limited [1949].
In [Q1] 1908, he married Maboth Elizabeth Wolfenden in Halifax.
They lived at Maycroft, Holmfield
Ambrose died in 1954.
Maboth died in 1966
She married William Cockcroft from Great Burlees.
There is a memorial tablet to her in Heptonstall Church which
was moved from the Old Church in 1873
He married Martha Hulley [1869-1945].
Children:
He died in 1905.
In 1906, Martha married Simeon Sykes
He was
Mayor of Todmorden [1954-1955]
Born in Hebden Bridge [25th July 1897].
He was
an apprentice in his father's joinery business [1911] /
a member of Birchcliffe Baptist Chapel, Hebden Bridge /
choirmaster at the Chapel.
During World War I,
he enlisted in the Cavalry [7th July 1916], and
served as a Private
with the 6th (Service) Battalion
Alexandra Princess of Wales Own (Yorkshire Regiment).
From December 1916, he served with the Expeditionary Force in
France and Flanders.
He was killed in action by a sniper at Poelcapelle, near Ypres [9th October 1917].
He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium [52-54 & 162A],
and on the Memorial at Birchcliffe Baptist Church, Hebden Bridge
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 1st/6th Battalion
Northumberland Fusiliers.
He died 2nd April 1918 (aged 19).
He is remembered on the Pozières Memorial, France [16-18]
Their meetings were later held at what became Ambler Thorn United Methodist Chapel
In January 1858, he was declared bankrupt
Son of Walter Cockcroft.
Born in Halifax.
He was
a board school teacher [1901] /
Assistant schoolmaster (City Council) [1911] /
a graduate of Manchester University.
In [Q3] 1909, he married Ellen Walker [1887-19??] in Halifax.
The family lived at
14 Gipton View, Leeds [1911]
and
Mexborough.
Living with them [in 1911] was visitor Annie Walker [b 1891]
(cloth weaver).
During World War I,
he served as a Rifleman
with the 21st (Yeoman Rifles)
King's Royal Rifle Corps.
He was reported missing since [17th February 1917].
He was later found to be a prisoner of war at Borna bei Leipzig.
He died Ince, Lancashire [Q1 1958] (aged 73)
During World War II,
he served as a Rifleman
with the 9th Battalion
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).
He died 25th March 1945 (aged 18).
He was buried at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany [58 A 3].
He is remembered on a memorial in St Michael's Church, Mytholmroyd,
and in the book Royd Regeneration
He married Unknown.
Children:
He ran a school at Wainstalls
She married Ernest Edward Cockcroft
In 1741, she became the second wife of Rev William Grimshaw
Son of John Arthur Cockcroft.
Born in Todmorden [16th December 1898].
After their father's death [1927], the business – John Cockcroft & Sons – passed to him and his brothers
Keith
and
Lionel Fielden.
In 1931, he married Haidee Greenlees Sutcliffe [1901-1980] in
Todmorden.
They had no children.
The couple died in Rochdale
He was a millwright [1908].
In 1895, he married (1) Emily Grace Sutcliffe [18??-1901].
Children:
In 1908, he married (2) Charlotte Sutherland [1883-19??].
She was a 16-year-old fustian machinist from Liverpool boarding at
Mayroyd Cottages [1901].
Charlotte had an illegitimate daughter Clarice
Sutherland [b 1905]
Children:
He was
Mayor of Todmorden [1958-1959]
In 1630, he paid £15 composition.
When his father died in 1643, he left Mayroyd and other
property to Henry.
He married Unknown.
Children:
He married Unknown.
Children:
Their sons and daughter died within two months of each other, between
the two major Civil War assaults on Heptonstall by Royalist forces
He began making coloured cloth and selling it in his draper's shop at
Lob Mill, and his wife made dresses from the cloth and sold these
in the shop.
Together with his son, John, he built and equipped a
power-loom weaving shed Croft Mill as Henry Cockcroft &
Son.
He and his wife were buried at Eastwood Congregational Church
On 6th July 1861, the 2 men had been drinking in the King's Head, Sowerby, and agreed the sale of some salt which Jennings
had in his cart.
Cockcroft gave Jennings 2/6d, and later demanded the
money be returned when the sale broke down.
Jennings refused and a scuffle took place between the men.
Jennings was knocked down and kicked in the head, and in the
ribs.
Cockcroft was wearing clogs at the time.
Jennings's body was placed in his cart, and the horse left to
take him home.
The horse walked on homewards, but realising that there was no
driver, stopped to graze on the side of the road.
A passer-by recognised Jennings and drove the horse and cart
home.
Jennings died 13 days later.
A post mortem showed that 3 of his ribs had pierced his lungs.
At his trial, Cockcroft called witnesses to say that he was
normally a peaceful man, but excitable when he was drunk, and that
his intellect had been impaired by a head wound some years ago.
He was sentenced to 3 months' hard labour
He married Ann Greenwood.
Children:
Keith was the son of John Arthur Cockcroft.
Born in Todmorden [20th September 1904].
After their father's death [1927], the business – John Cockcroft & Sons – passed to him and his brothers
Eric William
and
Lionel Fielden
He was
Mayor of Todmorden [1964-1965].
In 1930, he married Kathleen Mary Marshall [1908-1990] in
Todmorden
Children:
On 13th September 1776, he married Sarah, widow of John Halliday
On 31st May 1799, he married Mary Windle of Northowram, at
Halifax Parish Church
Around 1960, he married Janet Hilary Bevis-White.
He married Christiana.
He was accused of stabbing Adam Williamson of Marsden
with a knife, at Hebden Bridge [or Halifax] at Christmas 1379.
For 12 years, John evaded the law, but at Candlemas 1391, he
was shot with an arrow by Thomas de Hylegh
On 2nd June 1799, he married Grace Spencer of Erringden, at
Halifax Parish Church
Children:
In 1870, he married Mary Ann Appleyard.
They had no children.
In 1906, Mary Ann placed a memorial to her mother and brother
John in St Michael's Church, Mytholmroyd.
In 1917, Mary Ann gave a bequest money to pay for new faces on
the clock at St Michael's Church, Mytholmroyd
He was a retired commercial traveller [1911].
He married Unknown.
He was a widower by 1911.
Children:
The family lived at 18 Craven Terrace, Halifax [1911]
Born in Hebden Bridge.
He was
a joiner [1901, 1911] /
a joiner's foreman [1914].
In 1892, he married Jane Calvert [1865-19??] in Todmorden.
Children:
The family lived at
Living with them in 1911 was John's widowed father William
Henry;
Daughter Hannah Grace was staying with Miss Hannah Maria
Lord [aged 57] at 5 Fountain Street
Eldest son of Lionel Fielden Cockcroft.
He was Conservative MP for Norwich [1974-1979].
In 1971?, he married Tessa Shepley from Croydon
In 1964?, he married Victoria Mary Hartley from Castleford
He lived at Birks House, Walsden.
In [Q2] 1896, he married Annie Maude Fielden [1867-1956] in
Todmorden.
Children:
In 1899, the family moved from Croft Mill, Todmorden to Birks Mill, Walsden.
John Arthur were buried at Christ Church, Todmorden
After his death, the business passed to his
sons Lionel, Keith and Eric.
Probate records show that he left an estate valued at £13,410
Born in Todmorden.
He lived in Stockport, Cheshire.
During World War I,
he enlisted in Manchester, and
served as a Lance Corporal
with the 22nd Battalion
Manchester Regiment.
He was killed in action [2nd June 1916] (aged 25).
He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France [13A & 14C],
on Todmorden War Memorial,
on the Memorial at Patmos Congregational Chapel, Todmorden,
on Patmos War Memorial,
on the Memorial at Saint Paul's Church, Cross Stone,
and on the Memorial at Shade Council School
Children:
The family lived at Stansfield Hall, Todmorden
Son of John Arthur Cockcroft.
British physicist born at 156 Halifax Road / Stanley Terrace, Millwood, Todmorden.
A blue plaque marks his birthplace.
He was educated at Todmorden Secondary School.
He was the first man to split the atom
In [Q1] 1878, he married Martha Needham [1858-1916] in Todmorden.
Children:
The family lived at 5 Peawood (? PexWood) Road, Todmorden [1911]
Son of William Henry Cockcroft.
He proposed radical plans for the redevelopment of Hebden Bridge town
centre.
In 19??, he married Mary Fisher.
His work includes
Hebden Bridge Picture House and
Highfield Crescent, Hebden Bridge.
He won a bet that he could write the Lord's Prayer on a piece
of paper the size of an old 12-sided 3d bit
He married Eliza Sutcliffe.
Children:
Known as Leo.
Son of John Arthur Cockcroft.
Born in Todmorden [23rd November 1906]
After their father's death [1927], the business – John Cockcroft & Sons – passed to him and his brothers
Eric William
and
Keith
He was
company secretary of the family business [until 1974] /
a member of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce /
a representative of the Cotton Board /
a member of Todmorden Borough Council /
Mayor of Todmorden [1947-1949].
On 1st June 1933, he married Jennie Hoyle [1908-2003] in
Todmorden.
Children:
The family lived at Oak Hill, Todmorden.
Leo died in Rochdale [17th February 1988] (aged 81).
An obituary mentioned his leaving a widow, 3 sons and 1 daughter.
He was buried at Mankinholes Wesleyan Methodist Chapel
He was a tailor [1901].
In 1911, he married Grace Ellen.
Probate records show that he left effects valued at £4,431.
Probate was granted to
Doris Kershaw (spinster)
She married Samuel King
She married Thomas Sayer.
She died 12th May 1779 [aged 36].
The epitaph on their memorial
in Halifax Parish Church is recorded in
the book Monumental & Other Inscriptions
He married Janet Mowat
Born at Little Burlees [4th June 1829].
He became a dentist and chemist at Mytholmroyd.
On 1st May 1856, he married Mary Ann Titterington.
Children:
The family lived at Spring Villas, Mytholmroyd [1878, 1881].
Richard died at Leyden Cottage, Rossall Beach, Fleetwood [25th
May 1915].
He was buried at St Michael's Church, Mytholmroyd
[28th May 1915] with other members of the family
On 6th August 1839, as they returned from Doncaster wool market, he
and Robert Crossley were attacked by a gang at Lower Brear
He lived at Souter House, Wadsworth
In 1865, he was accused of the murder of his sister, Mrs Hannah Helliwell, with whom he resided at Sowerby Bridge.
When apprehended, he said
Cockcroft was said to be a moody and sullen man, and his
nephew said that he was subject to mental depression, with bouts
often lasting 2 or 3 weeks.
It was reported that he had previously been committed for
manslaughter, although no details were given.
At his trial, the jury returned a verdict of Guilty with a
recommendation for mercy.
The Judge disregarded the recommendation and passed the death
sentence.
The Home Secretary commuted the sentence to penal servitude for life.
This is discussed in the book
Halifax Murders
He was landlord of the Royal Oak, Todmorden [1871-1905].
On 2nd November 1870, he married (1) Sarah Ann Stott
[1846-1893] at Halifax Parish Church.
Children:
On 20th July 1897, he married (2) Betsy [1850-1???] at St
Thomas's Church, Heptonstall.
She had a son by her first marriage: Walter Hirst [b 1876]
The family lived at 5 Cockden Hill, Todmorden [1906].
Thomas died 31st October 1906.
Probate records show that he left effects valued at £1,037 19/9d.
Probate was granted to his son John
Born in Warley.
He was
a grocer of Mount Tabor, Halifax [1882] /
a store keeper [1891] /
a grocery and drapery salesman [1901] /
a storekeeper Co-operative Society [1911].
In 1882, he married Sarah Ellen Smith [1862-1???] at Halifax Parish Church.
Children:
The family lived at
Living with them [in] 1911 was mother-in-law Elizabeth Smith
[b 1838]
Born in Todmorden.
On 15th May 1917, he married Elizabeth Wills [1892-1956] at Christ Church, Todmorden.
They had no children.
During World War I,
he served as a Lance Corporal
with the 1st/6th Battalion
Lancashire Fusiliers.
He went missing [21st March 1918], and was presumed dead by the Army
[2nd January 1919].
He is remembered on Todmorden War Memorial,
(possibly) on the Memorial at Walsden Wesleyan Chapel,
and (possibly) on the Memorial at Shade Wesleyan Methodist Church.
Elizabeth never remarried
In 1584, Adam Sutcliffe sold Mayroyd House, Hebden Bridge
to Cockcroft and Brian Bentley.
He married Unknown.
Children:
He left Mayroyd and other property to his
son Henry, and Raw Royd and other property to his
son William
He married Ann Cockcroft
He became owner of the White Lion Hotel & Posting House, Hebden Bridge [1773].
In 1776, he diverted water from the springs at Birchcliffe
for his own use.
This upset many people in Hebden Bridge including William Wadsworth
He became a Halifax attorney.
In 1731, he established a practice at The Castle, Halifax and
in 1740, he moved to Mayroyd with Thomas Sayer.
In 1750, he obtained rights to bore for coal on Wadsworth Moor.
He married his cousin Mary Murgatroyd.
Children:
There is a memorial tablet to members of the family in Heptonstall Church which was moved from the Old Church in 1873
Born at Burlees, Wadsworth [late 1784 or early 1785]
Baptised at Heptonstall [16th January 1785].
He was a yeoman of Little Burlees, Wadsworth.
He married Grace Bancroft [1791-1865].
Children:
The family lived at Little Burlees, Wadsworth.
He died at Little Burlees [28th February 1855].
On 10th April 1855,
probate was granted to his sons William and Richard
Cockcroft,
and his nephew John Crossley (junior), son of William's
sister Mary Cockcroft, and John Crossley (senior) of
Hebden Bridge
Born in Mytholmroyd.
He married Phebe Ogden
Children:
He lived at Maycroft, Holmfield
He was a retired saw mill manager [1911].
He married Unknown.
Children:
In 1911, he was a widower living with his son John and family.
He died in Todmorden [Q3] 1914
His business was established in 1870 at West End, Hebden Bridge.
He was a trustee of, and a lay preacher at, Foster Lane Chapel, Hebden Bridge and Salem Wesleyan Methodist Chapel.
He married Unknown.
Children:
The family lived at Hangingroyd Road, Hebden Bridge
Born in Halifax.
He was a partner in Roscoe & Cockcroft [1905].
In [Q1] 1913, he married Margaret E. Sheard in Halifax
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the Royal Army Medical Corps.
He died on board the hospital ship Delta on his way back from
India
[26th September 1917].
He was buried at sea.
He is remembered on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire,
on Todmorden War Memorial,
on the Memorial at Christ Church, Todmorden,
(possibly) on the Memorial at Walsden Wesleyan Chapel,
on the Memorial at Shade Council School,
and (possibly) on the Memorial at Shade Wesleyan Methodist Church
Maboth was the daughter of Joshua Wolfenden
Martha was born in Ridgeway, Sheffield
Ellen was born in Bradford
Charlotte was the daughter of seaman Charles William
Sutherland.
Janet Hilary came from Huntingdonshire
Mary Ann was the daughter of Henry Appleyard
Jane was the daughter of Wilson Calvert
Daughter Vera Grace died at Belmont Nursing Home, Sherbourne
Road, Blackpool [28th January 1935].
Probate records show that she left effects valued at £1,904 17/7d.
Probate was granted to
her husband Joseph William Senior (ticket writer) and father
John William Cockcroft
Grace Ellen was the daughter of Thomas Walton, and
widow of Mr Greenwood
Mary Ann was the daughter of Thomas Titterington
she wanted to mend my jacket and I knocked here down with the
tongs ... I told her to let it alone ... I kicked her and struck her
with my fist a time or two ... I kicked her with my clog on the head
or face
Sarah Ann was born in Todmorden
Betsy [née Pilling] was the widow of John Hirst.
Sarah Ellen, of Hanson Lane, Halifax, was the daughter
of William Smith, overlooker
He appears as Cockcroft on his birth, marriage, Army &
Commonwealth War Grave Commission records, and as Cockroft
elsewhere
Elizabeth was born in Todmorden
Mary was the daughter of Henry Murgatroyd
See
Henry Cockcroft,
John Arthur Cockcroft,
Croft Mill, Todmorden and
Little Burlees, Wadsworth
Entries for people with this and similar surnames are shown in a separate Foldout
John de Cocckecroft is recorded in 1297.
There are over 70 entries on
the Calderdale Companion
for people with the surname Cockcroft,
as discussed in this SideTrack.
This count does not include other forms of the surname.
Unattached BMDs for Cockcroft:
©
Malcolm Bull 2017 /
[email protected]
Revised 18:03 on 19th November 2017 / mmc251 / 65