Ramsden family of Ovenden and Norfolk

The following source list was originally available only on paper in one of the West Yorkshire Archive Service offices. It may have been compiled many years ago and could be out of date. It was designed to act as a signpost to records of interest on a particular historical subject, but may relate only to one West Yorkshire district, or be an incomplete list of sources available. Please feel free to add or update with any additional information.

RAMSDEN FAMILY OF OVENDEN AND NORFOLK, FAMILY AND ESTATE PAPERS RMP (WYAS:Calderale)

The Ramsden family collection contains fascinating family, estate and business records which shed light on both family and community life.

The Ramsden family played an active part in Ovenden from the 17th century onwards, mainly as Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor. The collection contains papers relating to many members of the family, including correspondence concerning the tutoring of George Taylor Ramsden and Thomas Ramsden 1897-1902, the Canadian and American tour of George Taylor Ramsden in 1905, and correspondence from various members of the family on their service in the 2nd World War either in the military or as nurses, etc. George Taylor Ramsden was on the Halifax Town Council from 1907-1919, being the town's first bachelor Mayor in 1911 at the very young age of 32. From 1918-1923 he was the Conservative MP for Elland Division.

The most revealing records in the collection, however, relate to the Reverend Edward Ramsden (1791-1853), the youngest son of John Ramsden (1722-1799), born when his father was 70 years old. John Ramsden died when Edward was only eight years old and he was entrusted to his half-brother, Joseph. In 1813 Edward went to St John's College, Cambridge and his letters home, together with bills, examination papers and other Cambridge items are in this collection. Finishing his studies, he was ordained as a deacon in 1817. In November of that year, however, his half-brother Joseph died and Edward inherited the Jumples estates, the Clough estate going to an older branch of the family. He served in various clerical posts in Ashbourne and Bradborne in Derbyshire, Grantham and Great Ponton in Lincolnshire, and Lower Darwen, near Blackburn, Lancashire, and the collection includes his clerical papers, sermons, poems and letters. There are also many letters about Edward's search for a bride between 1825-1829.

On 29 Sep 1829 he married Margaret Wray and they had three children - Edward John (1830), Mary Elizabeth (1832) and Margaret Frances (1834). The collection contains hundreds of letters relating to Edward's family and the heart-breaking losses he suffered, Edward John dying in Apr 1831, Margaret Frances in Dec 1834, his wife on 10 Jul 1835, aged 34, and finally his last surviving child, Mary Elizabeth in 1836.

Valuable information is given about childhood diseases, vaccination and attitudes to death. After Edward John’s death for instance he wrote to Mr Sutherland to ask him to break the news to his mother of Edward John's sudden death - "our dear little boy departed this life about one o'clock this morning, after a short but severe attack of illness, seated in the bronchial membrane, he had every attention that medical skill could afford, but all in vain; his disorder had something of the appearance of the croup, which is now very prevalent amongst children". He ask him to assure his mother that "we bear our afflictive bereavement with that fortitude which Christian hope inspires, and have a happy confidence that our once lovely baby is now a still brighter angel"

Edward Ramsden took an active involvement in the running of the Jumples Estate even when he was living away from Ovenden, visiting often and giving instructions, and overseeing the improvements to the gardens and house. His letters also give fascinating details about radical activities in the area and local economic problems. Elizabeth Wadsworth of Holdsworth House played a vital role in his life and indeed her diaries form part of the collection. From 1829 she planned to build a church in Bradshaw, the nearest Anglican Church at that time being at Illingworth. She died in 1837 before the Church could be finished, appointing Edward Ramsden as her executor, and leaving money to pay for the Church building. Edward was offered the Church in 1838 and the Church was consecrated on 1 Oct 1839. With no vicarage, Edward continued to live at Jumples, nearby with his mother until her death in 1842. He died on 6 June 1853, aged 62.