Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Hi!

I know there have been a few posts about Harper Westell’s second wife (formerly Ainsworth); but does anybody have any information about his first wife, Dorothy (nee Laytham) and her family? She was my great-grandmother.

I recently had my daughter’s DNA traced and, when they asked about the female line, I realised that I knew very little about her or any of her family. If you know anything I’d love to hear from you!
Elizabeth

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

The 1901 census states the family were living at #6 Nelson Square Accrington--As-
Harper Westell 37 born C.L.M., Dorothy 37 born Settle, WilliamTaylor Westell 15 born Church, Sarah Elizabeth 13 born Church, Joseph 12 born Church, Peter 9 born Accy, Margaret 5 born Accy, Maud 3 born Accy. Let me know if you would like their marriages and children. I have not been able to find Dorothy in Settle yet but will look when I have a little time. Bryan.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

O.K. I stayed up a bit longer, here,s more info.
1871 census living at Stonefold were Dorothy and her family as-
Adam Lytham 55 born Slaidburn, Elizabeth wife 52 born Naughton Yorks, Jane 25 dau, born Blackburton Yorks. Elizabeth dau 16 born Clapham. Miles son 10 born Clapham. Dorothy dau. 7 born Clapham. In 1881 Miles and Dorothy were living at 163 Church Hall Farm as boarders. I think that was somewhere on Dill Hall Accrington. Let me know if you need any more, Bryan.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

I am a grandson of Harper Westells second wife Sarah Alice Ainsworth. You say that there have been previous threads about her? how do I find them please?

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Adam Laytham of Green Corn Farm Stonefold was buried at St James in Haslingden on October 4th 1873 aged 57 years. His widow went on to marry Huen Riley in 1878. If you want any more info let me know

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Only just found this post Dorothy Westell is my Greatgrandmother she married Harper Westell on 1st Jan 1883 eldest child George was born in April 1883 was
brought up by his Grandmother Sarah (Harpers mum) my Grandad was William
Dorothy died in 1920 aged 57 and is buried in Dill Hall Cemetry

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Hi Jimslad - am assuming that your grandfather was William Taylor Westell who married Ada Regan. Do you know any of the history of Dorothy (Laytham) and Harper Westell? I do have some information going back a numberb of years if you would like it which I have gleaned from various sources and would be happy to share with you. Btw, my husband's great-grandfather was Dorothy and Harper's son George, who as you so rightly said was brought up by his grandmother, Sarah. Dorothy and Harper had 7 children as far as I know. Looks like you and him indoors are related, albeit distantly. Cheers!

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Sorry, Jimslad, made a mistake - William's wife was Ada Ryan NOT Regan.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Peter Westell Private 43563, R.A.M.C. lived at Peels Arms Cottage Dill Hall Lane. He was captured by the jerries. Repatriated, attended the Welcome Home Ceremony in Feb 1918.
Retlaw

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Hi Retlaw. Can you confirm please that this Peter was the son of Harper and Dorothy (Laytham) Westell, and was born 1891. If so, then I think he was most probably the father of Harper, born 1921/22, a Sergeant in the R.A.F. who sadly lost his life aged 22 on 15/2/1944. Would seem that Harper became a name passed down through the family, having originated through the first Harper's mother's maiden name. Peter Westell was married to Alice Whittaker if my information is correct. Am starting to put together a bigger picture of the Westell family and would really appreciate it if you could confirm all this.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Yes all the family were living at Peel Arms Cottage Dill Hall Lane, Church in 1911 Census.
Retlaw.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Re family history, again. This time I am trying to find out who the parents of John Westell born in Blackburn around 1796 were. John married Ann Thompson (born in Ireland) at St. James, Church Kirk on 4/11/1813. The surname Thompson then became a first name in subsequent generations. Any help would be greatly appreciated, as was previous help given to me by your members.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

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PM me with your address and I will put you in touch with a chap in Stockport who has done a loot of research on this name. I have for a sale a book written by William WestAll - the name has had different spellings. He was from a wealthy family living up Stanhill and owning a factory in Blackburn.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Hi Bob - many thanks for this - have done as requested. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

I cannot believe that, so far, nobody has mentioned the veteran Accrington councillor Mrs Dorothy Westell.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

I am surprised also as Dorothy has played (and is still doing from what I hear) such an important part in lives of the people in the Accrington area. For the information of those interested in this name, and as far as I know, Dorothy's husband, Clifford, was the son of Maud (born 1897 - died 1933, when Clifford was 10), who in turn was the daughter of Harper and Dorothy (nee Laytham) Westell. Maud was the youngest child of this family. My husband's father, George, was the eldest - with 5 others in between. Happy to supply any other information.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Sorry, my mistake - it was my husband's grandfather (not father) who was the son of Harper and Dorothy Westell. My excuse for mistake being that it is very early here in the day in Australia as I write this! I believe that Clifford Westell also played a big part in the life of Accrington and its people.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Dotti John and Ann where Harpers grandparents John was born in Blackburn

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Dottisen only Westells in Aus i know are 3 cousins who are Joseph Harpers sons but i seem to remember my dad telling me about a cousin named Sam i think in the fiftys

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Anzac
I think I have this Huen Riley in my family tree , I dont think he is a direct ancestor I ll check and see what i have

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Jimslad - Thank you for that. The information re John and Ann, and that John was born in Blackburn, is very welcome as it confirms a couple of things I was unsure about. I am assuming that Ann's maiden name was Thompson - hence Thompson becoming a first name in a couple of the generations. Have you any information as to who John's parents were? I haven't been able to find any that fit in properly. Also his year of birth.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Jimslad - me again. Trying to work out relationship between you and my husband. Think you are 2nd cousins, never sure just how to work this out. 7 Westells (and myself) came out to Australia in 1957 - including father George, mother Janie, 5 sons and me. Sadly George and Janie are no longer with us, but they have certainly left their mark - we have all done our bit and added to the population here.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Dotti Harper and Dorothy are my great grandparents so that would make George and my dad James cousins the only cousins i know in Aus are Terry Brian and Tony who i think live around Perth but it's a big place so i may be wrong

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Dotti the info i have on John is that he born in Feb 1798 parents William and Mary that info
came from Blackburn library the spelling of the surname is Westwell which common mistake
and still happens today.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Ta for that. Think I might have to go back to the drawing board though as if this John is the one who married Ann Thompson in 1813 at Church Kirk (which is my theory) then he would only have been 15 - and her also!!! Could be I suppose as census details of the family I have been following do give his birth year as 1797, though ages seem to be a bit fudged from one census to another - so what's in a year or so. If I am on the wrong John re this family, which is more than possible, then my theories are all up-a-wattle. Am sure other readers of the Accy Web have had enough of my queries re the Westell lot (with all its varying spelling), must get boring if not connected, so have sent you a p/m re other stuff.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

dotti on family search.org they have a john westell or westwell born 1795 in blackburn and christend at the same baptist chapel parents names given as benjamin and mary

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Continuing apologies for writing more on the Westell family saga, please bear with me all you non-Westells. I said I would cease and desist but I do need to publicly thank Jimslad once more for his latest info., which I do. Much appreciated. Must say though, Jimslad, I am now very confused as to which is the right John. As we all know, some clues as to the correct family line to take come through the same names being passed down through the generations - but as the John I have has BOTH a William and a Benjamin amongst his offsprings these 'clues' ain't helping much - either could have been his poppa. Sorry to be using Acc'y Web for my personal stuff/research but even though the dad was born in Blackburn the family DID live in Oswaldtwistle and Clayton so they do sort of 'belong'. Hope this makes it acceptable. Cheers and best wishes from South Australia.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Further info on the Westell family of Dill Hall Lane Harpers daughter Maud committed suicide in the bath in 1933.I know this because I was living there at the time.Harper was my Step Grandad.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Jim, that is so sad, what a pity she wasn't able to overcome whatever it was that was so awful she felt this was the only step she could take. What a pity she didn't live to see what her son and his wife achieved. She would have been very proud of them both, and justifiably so.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Dotti, there is a photo somewhere on this site, that I put on around 2007.It shows some children in Peel Arm Cottage garden.One of them is Clifford Westell and another is me.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Hi Jim - haven't got that one but do have a copy of Harper and Sarah's wedding photo (1926 - All Saints, Clayton-le-Moors). Have had this for a while in my family history records and if my aging memory serves me correct I am fairly sure it was one you had downloaded onto Acc'y Web. Not sure if I was allowed to copy it (am confessing now) - bit too late to worry about that, and am sure I wouldn't have done so if instructed not to. Not me!!!! Oops! sorry if I wasn't supposed to. (Not sure of the ruling re this sort of thing). However, it was of great importance to me along with the information attached to it as I was unaware that Harper had remarried until I read your notes at that time. Thank you for this. Hope you are keeping well.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Hi Dottie I am Harper’s great great great granddaughter, I’m searching the family history and would love to hear any more information you have if possible please.
William westell son of Harper and Sarah is my great great grandad,
Joseph harper westell son of William and Ada is my great grandad,
Vincent westell son of Joseph and Mary is my grandad.

Thank you

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

Hi Misswessy, am sorry for the delay in acknowledging your request but have only just seen this posting. My apologies. A few weeks ago I sent a heap of information by snail mail (on hard copies) to Amy Westell who of course is from the same family line as yourself but have not heard from her as to whether she has received this. If you would like to check with her, and if she did receive it, I think you will find some information that will be of interest to you. You can send me a private message if you wish and I will answer promptly. Will be more than happy to help.

Re: Dorothy Westell (Westell)
 

By the way, William was the son of Harper and his first wife Dorothy (nee Laytham), not Sarah. Harper's mother was called Sarah (nee Harper - hence the name of her son, and this name then became a name which has been passed on through the generations). Harper's second wife was called Sarah. The second marriage was much later in life and produced no children. Harper had 7 children with his first marriage to Dorothy and his second wife had had 9 with her first husband.

I have emailed you via Accyweb.