JOHN MIDGLEY 1835 - ?

John Midgley was born in Acklam c.1835, the fourth child of Thomas and Ann Midgley. Before he was 16 he left home to work as a farm servant.

He married Ann Rawling on 6th August 1859 at Kirby Grindalythe Parish Church. She was 19 years of age, the daughter of  John Rawling, an agricultural labourer, and his wife, Mary. John and Ann settled in Ann’s home village of Duggleby.

As their first child was born at Acklam (about 5 months after the wedding), it seems likely that Ann went to stay with her in-laws for the delivery. In all probability John Midgley would have completed his farm service contract in November 1859.  Their ten remaining children were all born in Duggleby and baptised at the parish church at Kirby Grindalythe: Edith Hannah (baptised 1861), Frank (baptised 1863), Emma (baptised 1865), Robert (born 1869), Elizabeth (born 1871), John William (born c.1874), Wilson (born c.1875), Agnes (born c.1878), and Rawling (born c. 1880).

The 1861 census shows Ann Midgley and her son, Thomas, living next door to her parents in Duggleby. Rather suprisingly John was absent from home. In the census returns for Wintringham he was recorded as an ‘unmarried farm servant’ and ‘under-shepherd’, residing at Linton Farm. 

Ten years later he was living with his family in Duggleby and working as an agricultural labourer. In 1881 John and Ann had 7 children and 2 grandchildren living at home, and ten years later still had 3 children and 2 grandchildren living in the four roomed family cottage in Old Low, Duggleby.  John’s mother-in-law (now widowed) continued to live next door.