The entries for people & families with the surname Cockcroft are gathered together in this SideTrack.
This Page does not include people with other forms of the surname.
Since there are many people with this surname, it is possible that there are duplicate entries for an individual. If you discover any duplicates, please email me and I shall correct them.
The names Cockcroft and Cockroft are often confused.If the Cockcroft you seek is not here, please check the list of Cockroft names
Fustian merchant at Hebden Bridge.
He lived at
Kersal House, Hebden Bridge [1900].
He died 13th May 1901
Born in Warley [26th November 1875].
He was
a worsted hand [1891] /
Managing Director of Smith Bulmer & Company Limited [1949].
In [Q1] 1908, he married Maboth Elizabeth Wolfenden in Halifax.
Children:
The family lived at Maycroft, Holmfield.
Ambrose died in 1954.
Maboth died in 1966
She married William Cockcroft from Great Burlees.
There is a memorial tablet to her in Heptonstall Church which
was moved from the Old Church in 1873
He married Martha Hulley [1869-1945].
Children:
He died in 1905.
In 1906, Martha married Simeon Sykes
He was
Mayor of Todmorden [1954-1955]
Born in Hebden Bridge [25th July 1897].
He was
an apprentice in his father's joinery business [1911] /
a member of Birchcliffe Baptist Chapel, Hebden Bridge /
choirmaster at the Chapel.
During World War I,
he enlisted in the Cavalry [7th July 1916], and
served as a Private
with the 6th (Service) Battalion
Alexandra Princess of Wales Own (Yorkshire Regiment).
From December 1916, he served with the Expeditionary Force in
France and Flanders.
He was killed in action by a sniper at Poelcapelle, near Ypres [9th October 1917].
His photograph appears with a report of his death in the Halifax Courier [27th October 1917].
He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium [Grave Ref 52-54 & 162A],
and on the Memorial at Birchcliffe Baptist Church, Hebden Bridge
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 1st/6th Battalion
Northumberland Fusiliers.
He died 2nd April 1918 (aged 19).
He is remembered on the Pozières Memorial, France [Grave Ref 16-18]
Their meetings were later held at what became Ambler Thorn United Methodist Chapel
In January 1858, he was declared bankrupt
Son of Walter Cockcroft.
Born in Halifax.
He was
a board school teacher [1901] /
an assistant schoolmaster (City Council) [1911] /
a graduate of Manchester University.
In [Q3] 1909, he married Ellen Walker [1887-19??] in Halifax.
The family lived at
14 Gipton View, Leeds [1911]
and
Mexborough.
Living with them [in 1911] was visitor Annie Walker [b 1891]
(cloth weaver).
During World War I,
he served as a Rifleman
with the 21st (Yeoman Rifles)
King's Royal Rifle Corps.
He was reported missing since [17th February 1917].
His photograph appears with a report of his story in the Halifax Courier [17th March 1917].
He was later found to be a prisoner of war at Borna bei Leipzig.
He died at Ince, Lancashire [Q1 1958] (aged 73)
Son of Abraham Cockcroft, farmer.
Born in Heptonstall.
He was
a general practitioner [1841, 1842, 1851] /
Union Medical Officer [1860-1870] /
a physician and surgeon at Todmorden [1850-1855] /
retired [1881].
On 4th May 1842, he married Mary Bairstow [1807-1879] at Halifax Parish Church.
They lived at
Mary was buried at Hebden Bridge Parish Church
[3rd January 1879].
David died in Todmorden [9th March 1884].
He was buried at Hebden Bridge Parish Church
[13th March 1884].
The Todmorden Advertiser & Hebden Bridge Newsletter [Friday 14
March 1884] published an obituary
On Sunday morning last, David Midgley Cockcroft, MD, died at
his residence, Calder House [opposite the Todmorden cricket ground].
Formerly he had a large medical practice in the district, but for
many years was himself an invalid, and having gained a competence,
lived a retired life.
He was the last survivor of what we may call the old doctors of
the district, and outlived by some years those who had been his
fellow practitioners.
He was a descendant of the Cockcrofts of Machpelah, Hebden Bridge,
who have been associated with that district intimately for many
generations, and a sister and two brothers [one Dr Wm. Cockcroft of
Middleham, and another resident at Hebden Bridge] still survive.
Deceased was a staunch Conservative and Churchman, and was at one
period churchwarden.
He rarely, however, allowed himself to be elected to any very
prominent public position.
For many years, he was trustee of Greenwood's estate, prior to its
management passing into the hands of Messrs Higham & Wilson.
The funeral took place yesterday morning at S. James's Church,
Mytholm, the Rev. G. Sowden officiating
Probate was granted to his nephews:
Abraham Cockcroft of Machpelah, Hebden Bridge (fustian
manufacturer),
and Abraham Cockcroft of the Lanes, Hebden Bridge
(warehouseman)
During World War II,
he served as a Rifleman
with the 9th Battalion
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).
He died 25th March 1945 (aged 18).
He was buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany [Grave Ref 58 A 3].
He is remembered on a memorial in St Michael's Church, Mytholmroyd,
and in the book Royd Regeneration
He married Unknown.
Children:
He ran a school at Wainstalls
She married Ernest Edward Cockcroft
In 1741, she became the second wife of Rev William Grimshaw
Son of John Arthur Cockcroft.
Born in Todmorden [16th December 1898].
After their father's death [1927], the business – John Cockcroft & Sons – passed to him and his brothers
Keith
and
Lionel Fielden.
In 1931, he married Haidee Greenlees Sutcliffe [1901-1980] in
Todmorden.
They had no children.
The couple died in Rochdale
He was a millwright [1908].
In 1895, he married (1) Emily Grace Sutcliffe [18??-1901].
Children:
In 1908, he married (2) Charlotte Sutherland [1883-19??].
She was a 16-year-old fustian machinist from Liverpool boarding at
Mayroyd Cottages [1901].
Charlotte had an illegitimate daughter Clarice
Sutherland [b 1905]
Children:
He was
Mayor of Todmorden [1958-1959]
He was
a quarry owner [1891] /
a delver [1881].
In [Q2] 1873, he married Mary Ann Morley [1850-1???] in Bradford.
Children:
The family lived at
In 1630, he paid £15 composition.
When his father died in 1643, he left Mayroyd and other
property to Henry.
He married Unknown.
Children:
He married Unknown.
Children:
Their sons and daughter died within two months of each other, between
the two major Civil War assaults on Heptonstall by Royalist forces
He began making coloured cloth and selling it in his draper's shop at
Lob Mill, and his wife made dresses from the cloth and sold these
in the shop.
Together with his son, John, he built and equipped a
power-loom weaving shed Croft Mill as Henry Cockcroft &
Son.
He & his wife were buried at Eastwood Congregational Church
On 6th July 1861, the 2 men had been drinking in the King's Head, Sowerby, and agreed the sale of some salt which Jennings
had in his cart.
Cockcroft gave Jennings 2/6d, and later demanded the
money be returned when the sale broke down.
Jennings refused and a scuffle took place between the men.
Jennings was knocked down and kicked in the head, and in the
ribs.
Cockcroft was wearing clogs at the time.
Jennings's body was placed in his cart, and the horse left to
take him home.
The horse walked on homewards, but realising that there was no
driver, stopped to graze on the side of the road.
A passer-by recognised Jennings and drove the horse and cart
home.
Jennings died 13 days later.
A post mortem showed that 3 of his ribs had pierced his lungs.
At his trial, Cockcroft called witnesses to say that he was
normally a peaceful man, but excitable when he was drunk, and that
his intellect had been impaired by a head wound some years ago.
He was sentenced to 3 months' hard labour
He married Ann Greenwood.
Children:
Keith was the son of John Arthur Cockcroft.
Born in Todmorden [20th September 1904].
After their father's death [1927], the business – John Cockcroft & Sons – passed to him and his brothers
Eric William
and
Lionel Fielden
He was
Mayor of Todmorden [1964-1965].
In 1930, he married Kathleen Mary Marshall [1908-1990] in
Todmorden
Children:
On 13th September 1776, he married Sarah, widow of John Halliday
On 31st May 1799, he married Mary Windle of Northowram, at
Halifax Parish Church
Around 1960, he married Janet Hilary Bevis-White.
He married Elizabeth [1810-1854].
Children:
John died 4th April 1849 (aged 33).
Elizabeth died 28th July 1854 (aged 44).
Members of the family were buried at Square Independent Chapel, Halifax
He married Christiana.
He was accused of stabbing Adam Williamson of Marsden
with a knife, at Hebden Bridge [or Halifax] at Christmas 1379.
For 12 years, John evaded the law, but at Candlemas 1391, he
was shot with an arrow by Thomas de Hylegh
On 2nd June 1799, he married Grace Spencer of Erringden, at
Halifax Parish Church
Children:
He was
a shoemaker [1841] /
a master shoemaker employing 2 men [1851].
Around 1829, he married Mary [1801-18??].
Children:
The family lived at
In 1870, he married Mary Ann Appleyard.
They had no children.
In 1906, Mary Ann placed a memorial to her mother and brother
John in St Michael's Church, Mytholmroyd.
In 1917, Mary Ann gave a bequest money to pay for new faces on
the clock at St Michael's Church, Mytholmroyd
He was a retired commercial traveller [1911].
He married Unknown.
He was a widower by 1911.
Children:
The family lived at 18 Craven Terrace, Halifax [1911]
Born in Hebden Bridge.
He was
a joiner [1901, 1911] /
a joiner's foreman [1914].
In 1892, he married Jane Calvert in Todmorden.
Children:
The family lived at
Living with them [in 1911] was John's widowed
father William Henry;
Daughter Hannah Grace was staying with Miss Hannah Maria
Lord [aged 57] at 5 Fountain Street
In 1964?, he married Victoria Mary Hartley from Castleford
He lived at Birks House, Walsden.
In [Q2] 1896, he married Annie Maude Fielden [1867-1956] in Todmorden.
Children:
In 1899, the family moved from Croft Mill, Todmorden to Birks Mill, Walsden.
John Arthur was buried at Christ Church, Todmorden
After his death, the business passed to his
sons Lionel, Keith and Eric.
Probate records show that he left an estate valued at £13,410
Born in Todmorden.
He lived in Stockport, Cheshire.
During World War I,
he enlisted in Manchester, and
served as a Lance Corporal
with the 22nd Battalion
Manchester Regiment.
He was killed in action [2nd June 1916] (aged 25).
He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France [Grave Ref 13A & 14C],
on Todmorden War Memorial,
on the Memorial at Patmos Congregational Chapel, Todmorden,
on Patmos War Memorial,
on the Memorial at Saint Paul's Church, Cross Stone,
and on the Memorial at Shade Council School
Children:
The family lived at Stansfield Hall, Todmorden
Son of John Arthur Cockcroft.
British physicist born at 156 Halifax Road / Stanley Terrace, Millwood, Todmorden.
A blue plaque marks his birthplace.
He was educated at Todmorden Secondary School.
He was the first man to split the atom
See
Voyages by Sir John Douglas Cockcroft
Eldest son of Lionel Fielden Cockcroft.
Born in Todmorden.
He travelled to South America.
Born 6th July 1934 Todmorden;
Address: Oak Hill, Todmorden;
Unmarried;
Profissao (profession): Economista (economist)
He was Conservative MP for Norwich [1974-1979].
In 1971?, he married Tessa Shepley from Croydon
In [Q1] 1878, he married Martha Needham [1858-1916] in Todmorden.
Children:
The family lived at 5 Peawood (? PexWood) Road, Todmorden [1911]
Son of William Henry Cockcroft.
He proposed radical plans for the redevelopment of Hebden Bridge town
centre.
In 19??, he married Mary Fisher.
His work includes
Hebden Bridge Picture House and
Highfield Crescent, Hebden Bridge.
He won a bet that he could write the Lord's Prayer on a piece
of paper the size of an old 12-sided 3d bit
He married Eliza Sutcliffe.
Children:
Known as Leo.
Son of John Arthur Cockcroft.
Born in Todmorden [23rd November 1906]
After their father's death [1927], the business – John Cockcroft & Sons – passed to him and his brothers
Eric William
and
Keith
He was
a cotton & linen manufacturer of Birks House, Wadsworth [1933] /
company secretary of the family business [until 1974] /
a member of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce /
a representative of the Cotton Board /
a member of Todmorden Borough Council /
Mayor of Todmorden [1947-1949].
On 1st June 1933, he married Jennie Hoyle [1908-2003] in Todmorden.
Children:
The family lived at Oak Hill, Todmorden.
On 29th November 1949, Lionel of Stansfield Cottage,
Todmorden, arrived in New York aboard the BRITTANIC from
Liverpool.
He had 3 pieces of luggage (plus a camera), and was going to Hotel
Vanderbilt, 34th & Park Avenue, New York.
Lionel died in Rochdale [17th February 1988] (aged 81).
An obituary mentioned his leaving a widow, 3 sons and 1 daughter.
He was buried at Mankinholes Wesleyan Methodist Chapel
He was a tailor [1901].
In 1911, he married Grace Ellen.
Probate records show that he left effects valued at £4,431.
Probate was granted to
Doris Kershaw (spinster)
She married Samuel King
She married Thomas Sayer.
She died 12th May 1779 [aged 36].
The epitaph on their memorial
in Halifax Parish Church is recorded in
the book Monumental & Other Inscriptions
In 1930, he was struck off after being convicted of fraudulent
conversion and misappropriation as a trustee.
He was sentenced to 4 years' penal servitude
He married Janet Mowat
Born at Little Burlees [4th June 1829].
He became a dentist and chemist at Mytholmroyd.
On 1st May 1856, he married Mary Ann Titterington.
Children:
The family lived at Spring Villas, Mytholmroyd [1878, 1881].
Richard died at Leyden Cottage, Rossall Beach, Fleetwood [25th
May 1915].
He was buried at St Michael's Church, Mytholmroyd
[28th May 1915] with other members of the family
Born in Todmorden.
He was
a weaver of Erringden [1870] /
beer seller & landlord of the Royal Oak, Todmorden [1871-1905].
On 2nd November 1870, he married (1) Sarah Ann Stott [1846-1893] at Halifax Parish Church.
Children:
On 20th July 1897, he married (2) Betsy [1850-1???] at Heptonstall Church.
She had a son by her first marriage: Walter Hirst [b 1876] who
was a warehouseman [1901]
He was
Spring Side, Stansfield [1871] [1881, 1891] /
505 Springfield, Langfield [1901] /
5 Cockden Hill, Todmorden [1906].
Thomas died 31st October 1906 (aged 61).
He was buried at St Paul's Church, Cross Stone
[3rd November 1906].
Probate records show that he left effects valued at £1,037 19/9d.
Probate was granted to his son John
On 6th August 1839, as they returned from Doncaster wool market, he
and Robert Crossley were attacked by a gang at Lower Brear
He lived at Souter House, Wadsworth
In 1865, he was accused of the murder of his sister, Mrs Hannah Helliwell, with whom he resided at Sowerby Bridge.
When apprehended, he said
Cockcroft was said to be a moody and sullen man, and his
nephew said that he was subject to mental depression, with bouts
often lasting 2 or 3 weeks.
It was reported that he had previously been committed for
manslaughter, although no details were given.
At his trial, the jury returned a verdict of Guilty with a
recommendation for mercy.
The Judge disregarded the recommendation and passed the death
sentence.
The Home Secretary commuted the sentence to penal servitude for life.
This is discussed in the book
Halifax Murders
Born in Warley.
He was
a grocer of Mount Tabor, Halifax [1882] /
a store keeper [1891] /
a grocery and drapery salesman [1901] /
a storekeeper Co-operative Society [1911].
In 1882, he married Sarah Ellen Smith [1862-1???] at Halifax Parish Church.
Children:
The family lived at
Living with them [in] 1911 was mother-in-law Elizabeth Smith
[b 1838]
Born in Todmorden.
On 15th May 1917, he married Elizabeth Wills [1892-1956] at Christ Church, Todmorden.
They had no children.
During World War I,
he served as a Lance Corporal
with the 1st/6th Battalion
Lancashire Fusiliers.
He went missing [21st March 1918], and was presumed dead by the Army
[2nd January 1919].
He is remembered on Todmorden War Memorial,
(possibly) on the Memorial at Walsden Wesleyan Chapel,
and (possibly) on the Memorial at Shade Wesleyan Methodist Church.
Elizabeth never remarried
He was Managing Director of Smith Bulmer & Company Limited.
In [Q2] 1939, he married Alice Tricket [1908-1996] in Haslingden.
Children:
William named the boilers at Smith Bulmer's after his
daughters
He married Ann Cockcroft
In 1584, Adam Sutcliffe sold Mayroyd House, Hebden Bridge
to Cockcroft and Brian Bentley.
He married Unknown.
Children:
He left Mayroyd and other property to his
son Henry, and Raw Royd and other property to his
son William
He became owner of the White Lion Hotel & Posting House, Hebden Bridge [1773].
In 1776, he diverted water from the springs at Birchcliffe
for his own use.
This upset many people in Hebden Bridge including William Wadsworth
He became a Halifax attorney.
In 1731, he established a practice at The Castle, Halifax and
in 1740, he moved to Mayroyd with Thomas Sayer.
In 1750, he obtained rights to bore for coal on Wadsworth Moor.
He married his cousin Mary Murgatroyd.
Children:
There is a memorial tablet to members of the family in Heptonstall Church which was moved from the Old Church in 1873
Born at Burlees, Wadsworth [late 1784 or early 1785]
Baptised at Heptonstall [16th January 1785].
He was a yeoman of Little Burlees, Wadsworth.
He married Grace Bancroft [1791-1865].
Children:
The family lived at Little Burlees, Wadsworth.
He died at Little Burlees [28th February 1855].
On 10th April 1855,
probate was granted to his sons William and Richard
Cockcroft,
and his nephew John Crossley (junior), son of William's
sister Mary Cockcroft, and John Crossley (senior) of
Hebden Bridge
Born in Mytholmroyd.
He married Phebe Ogden
Children:
He lived at Maycroft, Holmfield
He was a retired saw mill manager [1911].
He married Unknown.
Children:
In 1911, he was a widower living with his son John and family.
He died in Todmorden [Q3] 1914
His business was established in 1870 at West End, Hebden Bridge.
He was a trustee of, and a lay preacher at, Foster Lane Chapel, Hebden Bridge and Salem Wesleyan Methodist Chapel.
He married Unknown.
Children:
The family lived at Hangingroyd Road, Hebden Bridge
Born in Halifax.
He was a partner in Roscoe & Cockcroft [1905].
In [Q1] 1913, he married Margaret E. Sheard in Halifax
Cockcroft, Mr Ref 117-1243 Cockcroft, Abraham Ref 117-264 Cockcroft, Abraham Ref 117-2019 Cockcroft, Ambrose Ref 117-1683
Maboth was the daughter of Joshua Wolfenden
Cockcroft, Ann Ref 117-473 Cockcroft, Archibald Sidney Ref 117-16
Martha was born in Ridgeway, Sheffield
Cockcroft, Arthur Ref 117-860 Cockcroft, Arthur Ref 117-5 
Cockcroft, Arthur James Ref 117-15
Cockcroft, Caleb Ref 117-792 Cockcroft, Caleb Ref 117-11 Cockcroft, Chatburn Ref 117-1854 Cockcroft, Christiana Ref 117-30 Cockcroft, Clement Randolph Ref 117-18
Ellen was born in Bradford
Cockcroft, David Ref 117-1350 Cockcroft, Dr David Midgley Ref 117-621
Mary, of Hebden Bridge, was born in Heptonstall, the daughter
of Matthew Bairstow, corn miller
DEATH AND FUNERAL OF DR D. M. COCKCROFT.
Cockcroft, Denys Ref 117-8
Cockcroft, E. W. Ref 117-946 Cockcroft, Ebenezer Ref 117-295 Cockcroft, Mrs Edith Ref 117-963 Cockcroft, Elizabeth Ref 117-488 Cockcroft, Eric William Ref 117-6
Cockcroft, Ernest Edward Ref 117-962 Cockcroft, Frank Ref 117-2674
Charlotte was the daughter of seaman Charles William
Sutherland.
Cockcroft, Harold Ref 117-861 Cockcroft, Henry Ref 117-23
Mary Ann was born in Bradford
Cockcroft, Henry Ref 117-367 Cockcroft, Henry Ref 117-13
Cockcroft, Henry Ref 117-218 Cockcroft, Henry Ref 117-14 Cockcroft, Henry Ref 117-9
Cockcroft, Henry Keith Ref 117-862
Cockcroft, Isaac Ref 117-2390
Cockcroft, James Ref 117-2269 Cockcroft, James Ref 117-7990
Cockcroft, James Ref 117-2017 Cockcroft, James Malcolm Ref 117-945
Janet Hilary came from Huntingdonshire
Cockcroft, John Ref 117-22
Cockcroft, John Ref 117-27 Cockcroft, John Ref 117-1579
Cockcroft, John Ref 117-734 Cockcroft, John Ref 117-2676
Cockcroft, John Ref 117-2
Mary was born in Heptonstall
Cockcroft, John Ref 117-2344
Mary Ann was the daughter of Henry Appleyard
Cockcroft, John Ref 117-138
Cockcroft, John Ref 117-3
Jane was the daughter of Wilson Calvert
Cockcroft, John Anthony Eric Ref 117-947 Cockcroft, John Arthur Ref 117-162
Cockcroft, John Arthur Ref 117-659
Cockcroft, John D. Ref 117-941
Cockcroft, Sir John Douglas Ref 117-145 
Cockcroft, John Hoyle Ref 117-949
Arrived Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1961;
Cockcroft, John Richard Ref 117-20 Cockcroft, John Thomas Ref 117-730 Cockcroft, John William Ref 117-2673
Daughter Vera Grace died at Belmont Nursing Home, Sherbourne
Road, Blackpool [28th January 1935].
Probate records show that she left effects valued at £1,904 17/7d.
Probate was granted to
her husband Joseph William Senior (ticket writer) and father
John William Cockcroft
Cockcroft, Lionel Fielden Ref 117-859
Jennie, of Oaks Hill, Todmorden, was the daughter of John Philip Hoyle
Cockcroft, Lionel Peter Ref 117-863 Cockcroft, Lister Ref 117-2672
Grace Ellen was the daughter of Thomas Walton, and
widow of Mr Greenwood
Cockcroft, Mary Ref 117-495 Cockcroft, Mary Ref 117-784 Cockcroft, Percy Ref 117-992 Cockcroft, Peter Ref 117-629 Cockcroft, Richard Ref 117-2664
Mary Ann was the daughter of Thomas Titterington
Cockcroft, Thomas Ref 117-12
Sarah Ann, of Stansfield, was born in Todmorden, the daughter
of Henry Stott, carter
Betsy [née Pilling] was the widow of John Hirst.
Cockcroft, Thomas Ref 117-C854
Cockcroft, Thomas Ref 117-635
Cockcroft, Thomas Ref 117-997
she wanted to mend my jacket and I knocked here down with the
tongs ... I told her to let it alone ... I kicked her and struck her
with my fist a time or two ... I kicked her with my clog on the head
or face
Cockcroft, Walter Ref 117-17
Sarah Ellen, of Hanson Lane, Halifax, was the daughter
of William Smith, overlooker
Cockcroft, Walter Ref 117-19
He appears as Cockcroft on his birth, marriage, Army &
Commonwealth War Grave Commission records, and as Cockroft
elsewhere
Elizabeth was born in Todmorden
Cockcroft, William Ref 117-24
Cockcroft, William Ref 117-297 Cockcroft, William Ref 117-1803 Cockcroft, Sir William Ref 117-21
Cockcroft, William Ref 117-2580
Cockcroft, William Ref 117-1959 Cockcroft, William Ref 117-136
Mary was the daughter of Henry Murgatroyd
Cockcroft, William Ref 117-2665
Cockcroft, William Ref 117-10
Cockcroft, William Ref 117-1684 Cockcroft, William Henry Ref 117-4
Cockcroft, William Henry Ref 117-761
Cockcroft, William Innes Ref 117-123