The name Kenworthy is believed to derive from the Anglo Saxon personal
name Cena (Caena) or Cyna or Cyne meaning Royal and wordig meaning
enclosure, farm, estate.
The largest number of people bearing this surname is round the
Saddleworth area on the borders of the West Riding of Yorkshire. The
family here was prominent in the Woollen
Industry from the Eighteenth Century until a few years ago.
It has not been possible to prove so far whether our branch connects to
this family. There is a John Kenworthy baptised in Saddleworth in 1727
who could be the same person as the
John Kenworthy of Bedford who died in Bedford in 1809 aged 82 and
therefore born in 1727. So far nothing has been found to prove this
connection although nothing has been found to disprove it. So until
further proof can be found the story begins with John Kenworthy of
Bedford.
Bedford,
St. Peter's with St Cuthbert
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According to his age when he died he was born
about 1727 but of his baptism, parentage and place of birth no record
has been
found. Nothing is known of his early life but as he signed his name in
a good hand and would need to be able to read and measure for his trade
as carpenter he must have received some education,
so this implies that his parents could afford to pay for his schooling.
He would also need to serve an apprentiship and according to a book
written in 1747 called The London Tradesman
by R. Campbell the sum needed to be paid for an apprentiship to a
carpenter would be between £16 and £20, his family would
need to be reasonably off. An apprentiship normally lasted 7 years and
after that he would serve some time as a Journeyman when he would earn
from 12 to 15 shillings a week. The hours of working would be 6am to
6pm. To set up as a master he would then need from £50 to £500. As he
was listed in Trade Directories
and did employ men he must have become a Master. There is a great deal
of skill and judgment needed by a carpenter, particularly
if he is involved in house building. The master is paid so much for his
materials and he and his men so much a day for their labour, so the
profits are quite good.
In 1765 John Kenworthy was living in the parish of St Peters, Bedford
when he met Susannah Walsom, the daughter of the local
baker. They were both aged 36 and were married on 4th July, 1763 at St
Peters. The marriage was by banns the bridegroom signed
his name but the bride had to make her mark. Susannah was a member of
the Moravian Church, Bedford, a religious sect similar
to the Methodists. She was excluded by them for "marrying Kenworthy
clandestinely" but she appears to have been accepted back at a later
date.
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