Eliza Ainsworth (née Bentley)

Reproduced with permission from Lancashire Archives, Lancashire County Council
WCW/Supra/C950/7 / Signature on Eliza Ainsworth’s Will

The name Mrs Ainsworth will be familiar to those who have seen the television series “Gentleman Jack”, as the wife of Rev Thomas Ainsworth. This blog will fill in some of the blanks surrounding Eliza and her friendship with Ann Walker.

Family

Eliza was the fifth and youngest child of Michael and Sarah Bentley. She was baptised on 4 August 1786 in Manchester.¹ 

Sarah’s father was a Justice of the Peace in the County of Lancaster.

24 July 1787 Manchester Mercury ©The British Library Board

Listed in The Admission Register of the Manchester School Vol 1 1730 to 1775, citing William Bentley, a relative, gives some insight into the family history of the Bentleys.

Eliza’s father Michael died in 1813² at the age of 62, leaving his wife and three surviving daughters, Sarah, Mary Martha and Eliza, a considerable amount of wealth, divided equally among them.³ Her mother Sarah died in 1826 at the age of 85 years.⁴

Marriage

Eliza married the Rev Thomas Ainsworth, 9 years her junior, on 8 November 1821.¹

Thomas entered Trinity College, Cambridge on 19 October 1814 at the age of 19.² He was appointed Curate of St John, Chester in 1819 and in 1824 Perpetual Curate of Hartford Chapel in the ancient parish of Great Budworth where he served until his death.³

Ancestry.com. Manchester, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1930 (Cathedral) [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Archive Roll 695

13 November 1821 Chester Courant©The British Library Board

Eliza & Ann Walker

Eliza was 17 years older than Ann Walker. How did they know one another?

Eliza and Ann’s fathers were friends. In Michael Bentley’s will he named John Walker as a trustee and friend:

“I give and bequeath unto my Friends John Walker of Crownest in the county of York Esquire and William Winstanley of Manchester aforesaid doctor of Physic the Sum of Fifty Pounds each as a mark of my esteem for them”¹

The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 1556

John Walker died in 1823, prior to the death of his friend Michael Bentley.

The earliest mention of Mrs Ainsworth found to date is in a letter from William Priestley to George Sutherland dated 2 February 1830. Ann’s brother John Walker had died in Naples on 19 January 1830, however the word had not yet reached Halifax. William wrote:

“Ann Walker set out yesterday morning to Mrs Ainsworth’s, where, I understand, she intends to stay about a fortnight.”²

West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale CN: 107/1

News of John’s death had reached the family by February 18. On that day William writes again to George:

“My dear Sir
… Being aware, that, the intelligence of poor Walker’s death, had been communicated to you from London, my object in writing to you, in great haste, was, to request that, you would come here, under an impression that, there might be no one at Crownest on your arrival, thinking that poor Ann would remain in Cheshire for a few days, ‘till she recovered from the first shock, which this unlooked-for event, must occasion.- ”³

West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale CN:107/2

Another mention of a visit to the Ainsworths by Ann is in Anne Lister’s journal of 15 June 1831:

“In passing, called at Lidgate, hearing that Miss Walker had returned (from Cheshire reverend Mr Ainsworth of D– [Davenham] near Northwich) home last night – not yet got to her house – was at Crownest – ”⁴

West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/14/0071

Entries in Anne Lister’s journal state that Ann was expecting the Ainsworths to visit in February 1833.⁵ There was also a discussion between Ann Walker and Anne Lister about the Ainsworths coming to Cliffe Hill and them assisting the Rev Ainsworth in getting a position at Lightcliffe Chapel.⁶

Eliza’s Death

On 26 October 1832, Ann Walker received news that her friend Eliza had been killed in a tragic carriage accident when travelling with her husband. Anne Lister recorded the event in her journal:

“…then walked slowly, along the village to Cliff hill, 1st went to see the carriage, and then made our call – the letter with black-edged paper and black seal from Miss Bentley [Ainsworth’s sister-in-law], Manchester, being given to Miss W- junior to read – it fell from her hand on seeing that it was to announce the death of her friend Mrs. Ainsworth in consequence of being thrown out of an open carriage – to be interred on Monday – but no other particulars mentioned…¹

West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/15/0135

As reported in the newspapers, Eliza was killed instantly.

30 Oct 1832 London Courier and Evening Gazette©The British Library Board

Eliza was buried at Collegiate Church where many in her family would be laid to rest.

Ancestry.com. Manchester, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1866 (Cathedral) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Archive Roll 752

Eliza’s Will

Eliza would settle her income on her husband for life. He was her sole executor. After his death, all her property would be returned to her sisters.

“Upon trust that they the said Sarah Bentley my said mother and the said William Winstanley or the survivor of them her or his heirs executors or administrators do and shall receive and take the rents issues and profits interest dividends and annual income of the said two third parts or shares or other parts or shares respectively and do and shall pay the same from time to time as the same shall arise and accrue into the proper hands of my husband the said Thomas Ainsworth for and during the term of his natural life and from and immediately after the decease of the said Thomas Ainsworth…”¹

Eliza Ainsworth Last Will & Testament Lancashire Archive WCW/Supra/C950/7

Ann Walker’s Distress

Much would come to light in the period immediately following Eliza’s death. Ann confided in Anne Lister that she had considered asking Eliza about the propriety of accepting Anne’s offer to live at Shibden.  On 28 October 1832 Anne Lister wrote:

“talked of the Ainsworths    she meant to have asked Mrs A-    on the propriety of accepting me whether it would be doing right to her property in leaving Cliff hill etc it seems probable Mrs A- would have decided her on this point of right and wrong…” ¹

West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/15/

There are two pieces of evidence that show that Ann kept her life relatively private. One is Ann’s own journal entry, written on 1 July 1834 while the couple was travelling abroad:

“wrote to my Aunt whom Mrs. Lister said in her letter was very much hurt that she did not know sooner I was coming abroad tho’ it had been talked of by all the world for some months – said to my Aunt that I was sorry to hear this, it was out of my powers to tell her sooner as I did not know myself & wrote to her, & my sister, as soon as it was fixed, that to them I had never been intentionally uncommunicative, & that it was very unlike me, to tell my plans to all the world but herself (my Aunt).”²

West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale WYC:1525/7/1/5/1/0013 

The other is a letter from William Priestley to Capt Sutherland, also written on 1 July 1834, mentioning that it was unknown where Ann would live upon her return from her trip:

“Dear Sir,

My Aunt has just informed me that, it appears from a letter received from Elizabeth, you had it in contemplation to visit Yorkshire this summer, but that Ann Walker’s absence on the Continent prevents you from putting your plans into execution; – my object in writing to you is to say that, we shall be particularly glad to receive you here, and, to afford to you every accommodation in our power for as long a period as may be convenient and agreeable to yourself; –indeed, on Ann’s return, we are at a loss to divine where she intends to take up her abode, as there is a rumour afloat that, Lidget either is, or, is about to be let to Mr Lamplugh Hird, who is on the eve of marriage to a Miss Hale of Acomb near York:–”³

West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale CN:107/2

From these two references it can be concluded that Ann did not share personal information about her life freely, but trusted Eliza enough to consider asking her friend’s opinion regarding moving into Shibden.

Ann’s mental health spiralled downward after Eliza’s death as distressing details involving the events surrounding Rev Ainsworth were revealed to Anne Lister, who wrote on 8 November 1832:

“- then did up the parcel for her to Miss Bentley containing the books &c. for Mr Ainsley   it seemed a comfort to her to get it off   she then feeling nervous and tired lay on the sofa   we got on the subject of Mr A[insworth]   she said she was not worthy of me   ought not to have decided till I had had proof she might be trusted   she had been much to blam[e]  declared things had neve[r] gone to extremities   but said he had asked her to yield all   assuring her it would not hurt her   that no harm would be done and then he should be sure of her   luckily she refused   he had vowed pathetic contrition and she had forgiven   but then it first happened last April twelve month and she had been staying at his house since and the thing had been reiterated   in spite of all her resolutions and his contrition worked on her as before   all she regretted was that she had not done as she had now some months ago   while Mrs A[insworth] lived   she wished to have made some reparation to her   but she felt she was in his power   he had charged her never to breathe the thing that it would be ruin to him   but adding that indeed she could not   as it would commit her equally…”⁴  

West Yorkshire Archive, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/15/0142 

By this account, it is likely that only three people (Ann, Anne and the Rev) knew about these incidents between Ann Walker and Rev Ainsworth and Anne Lister’s journal is the only source regarding them. Clearly Ann felt shame, guilt, remorse and wished she had made reparation to her friend while she was alive. Rev Ainsworth coerced Ann into believing she could never reveal what occurred and convinced her that her reputation, as well as his own, would be ruined.

Anne Lister’s journal states there was much discussion of marriage between Ann and the Rev and how she struggled with her culpability and wavered out of a sense of duty.⁵

“… sat talking to Mrs W[illiam] P[riestley] till 1 – chit chat – her praises of Mr Ainsworth   very evident how sure she makes of the match between him and Miss W   and without either of us being too plain spoken we laughed and gave him for it till the tenth of this month next year   saying pray remember the tenth of November   and if it prospers Mrs P[riestley] to write and tell me   she said Mrs Ainsworth was very plain and much marked with smallpox and filled up the pittings with rouge    fifteen or 20 years older than her husband   who married her for money…” ⁶

West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale,  SH:7/ML/E/15/0144

Rev Ainsworth continued to pursue Ann proposing marriage in 1833, pressuring her even while she was in Scotland with the Sutherlands, to no avail.⁷

In the end, Ann moved into Shibden Hall.

Rev Thomas Ainsworth

In 1837 Thomas married his cousin Anne Ainsworth. He was still the Perpetual Curate of Hartford Chapel.

Ancestry.com. Manchester, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1930 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. #GB127.M403/6/3/14

On 1 May 1847, two weeks prior to his death, Thomas wrote a codicil to his will. In the event of the death of his sister-in-law Sarah Bentley, all of Eliza’s property that he had a life interest in would go to the children of her late sister and husband Mary Martha and Edward Milne.¹

Sarah Bentley, Eliza’s sister, died on 1 May 1847, the day this codicil was signed and two weeks prior to Thomas’ death. She was 74 years old.

5 May 1847 Manchester Courier©The British Library Board

Thomas died on 15 May 1847 at Hartford Hall from Phthisis Pulmonalis, a pulmonary form of tuberculosis which had lasted “3 years”. He was 51 years old.

Thomas Ainsworth’s death certificate
General Register Office ©Crown Copyright License: Open Government License

22 May 1847 Manchester Courier©The British Library Board

On 30 May 1847 his second wife Anne died at Hartford Hall from dysentery. She was 36 years old.

Anne Ainsworth’s death certificate
General Register Office ©Crown Copyright License: Open Government License

Thomas was buried at the Chapelry of Hartford on 21 May and Anne on 4 June 1847. James Royds officiated at both burials .²

Eliza’s Siblings

Eliza’s eldest sister Sarah was baptised on 23 April, 1773¹; she never married. She was the “Miss Bentley” of Anne Lister’s journal. Sarah died in 1847.

Brother Mical (also spelled Michael) was baptised on 3 April 1776,² died in infancy and was buried on 9 October 1776.³

Brother Garside was baptised on 28 January 1778.⁴ In 1794 Garside trained as a clerk at the law practice of Nathaniel Milne & William Sergeant and became a barrister.⁵ He died at the age of 30 and was buried on 7 March 1808.⁶

Sister Mary Martha was baptised on 6 July 1781.⁷ She married Edward Milne on 26 October 1809.⁸ Edward was the son of Nathaniel Milne.⁹

28 October 1809 Lancaster Gazette©The British Library Board

The Milnes had three children: Edward, Eliza and Mary. Edward was born on 12 September 1813 and baptised on 20 November 1813.¹⁰ Eliza was born on 29 April 1817¹¹ and Mary on 7 December 1818.¹² Eliza and Mary were both baptised on the same day, 6 January 1824, by Rev Thomas Ainsworth.¹³

Mary Martha’s husband Edward died in 1826 after a short illness. Tragically his brother would die the same day – after viewing Edward’s body.

3 June 1826 Morning Herald (London)©The British Library Board

Both brothers were buried on the same day at the Parish Church of Prestwich on 5 June 1826.

Ancestry.com. Manchester, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. L160/1/5/2, Archive Roll 603

The same month as Eliza Ainsworth’s brother-in-law Edward and his brother William died, her own mother Sarah died and was buried on 30 June 1826.¹⁴

Edward and his brother William were owners of the Britannia Distillery, which was disposed of after their deaths.

7 October 1826 Manchester Courier©The British Library Board

Edward’s wife, Mary Martha, Eliza’s sister, moved to Onchan on the Isle of Man. She died there and was buried on 19 March 1829 at St George’s Church in Douglas.¹⁵ It appears that of the immediate Bentley family Mary Martha is the only member with an existing grave.

Mary Martha Milne’s grave is the one to the left in the first photo
Photos used by kind permission of Parish of St George and All Saints, Douglas, Isle of Man

Monumental Inscriptions compiled by the Isle of Man Family History Society, St George’s Church Douglas

The Bentley Family Final Resting Place

The image below shows that Mical (Michael), Garside (not Mrs as transcribed), father Michael, mother Sarah, sisters Sarah and Eliza were buried at one or other of the several churchyards of the Manchester Collegiate Church. With only a very few exceptions, none of the memorials erected at these churchyards has survived to this day.

Bentley images combined from the Burials at Manchester Collegiate Church 1573-1868

Eliza & Ann

Though there are no letters yet found between these two women, Eliza’s father’s (Michael Bentley) named John Walker of Crownest as a friend in his will, thus explaining the connection between the two families. Eliza hosted Ann at her home on numerous occasions. It appears that Ann trusted her friend whose sudden and tragic death ignited a firestorm of emotions within her. The great regret and remorse Ann expressed over the incidents with Rev Ainsworth, and her wish that she had made amends to her friend, can be deeply felt in Anne Lister’s journal. There are no more recorded journal references of the Ainsworths after Ann Walker moved into Shibden Hall with Anne Lister. One can only hope there was healing for Ann.

References

Family

1. Eliza baptism – Ancestry.com. Manchester, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1541-1812 [database on-line].
2. Michael Bentley’s death – Lancashire Archives; Preston, England; Lancashire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference: DRM 2/131
3. Michael Bentley’s will – The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 1556
4. Sarah Bentley’s death – Lancashire Archives; Preston, England; Lancashire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference: DRM 2/149

Marriage

1. Ainsworth wedding – Ancestry.com. Manchester, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1930 (Cathedral) [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Archive Roll 695
2. Ancestry.com. Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA:Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.
3. Church of England Clergy Database CCEd | Clergy of the Church of England Database (theclergydatabase.org.uk)

Eliza and Ann Walker

1. The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class:PROB 11; Piece:1556 (Transcription by Martin Walker)
2. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale CN: 107/1 (Transcription by Caroline Maillard, Martin Walker & Deb Woolson)
3. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale CN:107/2 (Transcription by Caroline Maillard, Martin Walker & Deb Woolson)
4. West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/14/0071 (Transcription by Kerstin Holzgraebe)
5. West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/15/0123 (Transcription by Jane Kendall)
6. West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/15/0131 (Transcription by Martin Walker)

Eliza’s Death

1. West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/15/0135 (Transcription by Francesca Raia)

Eliza’s Last Will & Testament

1. Eliza Ainsworth Last Will & Testament, Lancashire Archive WCW/Supra/C950/7 (Transcription by Martin Walker and Deb Woolson)

Ann’s Distress

1. West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/15/0136 (Transcription by Francesca Raia)
2. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale WYC:1525/7/1/5/1/0013  (Transcription by: Alexa Tansley, Diane Halford, Leila Straub, Ivana Nika, and Dorjana Širola on behalf of In Search of Ann Walker)
3. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale CN:107/2 (Transcription by Caroline Maillard, Martin Walker & Deb Woolson)
4. West Yorkshire Archive, Calderdale, SH:7/ML/E/15/0142 (Transcription by Martin Walker)
5. West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale, SH:7/ML/E/15/0141 (Transcription by Francesca Raia)
6. West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale, SH:7/ML/E/15/0144 Transcription (Transcription by Martin Walker)
7. West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale, SH:7/ML/E/16/0156 (Transcription by Kerstin Holzgraebe)

Rev Thomas Ainsworth

1. The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 2064
2. Cheshire Archives and Local Studies, P 2/5685/2 Chapelry of Hartford Burial Registry

Eliza’s Siblings

1. Sarah’s baptism – Ancestry.com. Manchester, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1541-1812 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Bishop’s Transcripts #Drm/2/214a
2. Mical’s baptism – Ancestry.com. Manchester, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1541-1812 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. #M362/1/1/3 Archive Roll 803
3. Mical’s burial – Ancestry.com. Manchester, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1573-1812 (Cathedral) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Archive Roll 749
4. Garside’s baptism – Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. #M362/1/1/3 Archive Roll 803
5. Garside’s clerkship – The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Court of King’s Bench: Plea Side: Affidavits of Due Execution of Articles of Clerkship, Series I; Class: KB 105; Piece: 8
6. Garside’s burial – Ancestry.com. Lancashire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Bishops Transcripts #Drm/2/130b
7. Mary Martha’s baptism – Ancestry.com. Manchester, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1541-1812 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. #M362/1/1/3 Archive Roll 803
8. Mary Martha marriage – Ancestry.com. Manchester, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1930 (Cathedral) [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Archive Roll 691
9. Edward Milne – Ancestry.com. Manchester, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1541-1812 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Archive Roll 855
10. Edward Milne (son of Mary Martha) – Ancestry.com. Lancashire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1911 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Bishop’s Transcripts #Drm/2/186
11. Eliza Milne (daughter of Mary Martha) – Ancestry.com. Lancashire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1911 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Bishop’s Transcript #Drm/2/186
12. Mary Milne (daughter of Mary Martha) – Ancestry.com. Lancashire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1911 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Bishop’s Transcripts #Drm/2/186
13. Eliza & Mary Milne baptism – Ancestry.com. Lancashire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1911 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Bishop’s Transcript #Drm/2/186
14. Sarah Bentley’s burial – Lancashire Archives; Preston, England; Lancashire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference: #DRM 2/149
15. Mary Martha Milnes grave – Ancestry.com. Web: Isle of Man, Burial Index, 1598-2003 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

Special Thanks

Manchester Cathedral, Mike Breaks, Honorary Archivist
Manchester Archives Local Studies, Jenny Marsden, Archives Officer
Cheshire Archives and Local Studies, Adam Shaw, Archivist, Customer Services
St. John’s Hartford, Jackie Barton, Church Administrator
Isle of Man Family History Society, St George’s Church, Douglas
Manx National Heritage Library and Archives, Rory McCann & Chris Callow
St Georges Church, Douglas, Isle of Man, Ernie de Legh-Runciam, Church Warden
The Clergy of the Church of England Database 1540-1835 (CCEd), Mary E Clayton
Diane Halford, ISAW- Archival Research
Caroline Maillard, Trish Rafa, Martin Walker – Editing

In Search of Ann Walker’s research into Ann’s life is ongoing, therefore new discoveries may change the way we chronicle her life in the future.

How to cite this article:

Deb Woolson (2023) “Eliza Ainsworth (née Bentley)”: In Search Of Ann Walker [Accessed *add date*]