| Title | Reverend James Ackworth |
| Date | 1800s |
| Location | Rawdon |
| Photo ID | E025 |
| Comment | Reverend James Ackworth was the father of Rachel, wife of John Venimore Godwin. Rev. Ackworth was the Principal of Rawdon Baptist Training College. |
Most documents relating to the Reverend have his last name recorded as Acworth – as has his gravestone. It outlines that he was born in Chatham, Kent, on 1st August 1798 and died in Scarborough on 13th October 1883 at the age of 85.
He had been Pastor at South Parade Baptist Church, Leeds, between 1823 and 1836 and from the latter date to 1863 was “President at Horton and Rawdon of the Northern Baptist Education Society.” In addition, he was an M.A. and LL.D. – from Glasgow University.
The gravestone included the death of his first wife Sarah, 1803 – 1847, his second wife Mary, 1804 – 1885 and daughter Mary Anne, 1832 – 1918. A great deal of information from one headstone. His children were born to Sarah and Mary Anne, who remained single, stayed in the family home until the 1880’s. She lived in Scarborough and was able to keep two servants, one of whom was a housekeeper who supported an invalid, presumably Mary Anne.
James appeared on his last census return of 1881 and it showed that he was the retired President of Rawdon College.
Additional research by Helen M.
11 October 2022
Consolidated by Jack Brayshaw. 30 May 2022.
Last updated: 13 October 2022 – Text updated.
