Hollingsworth

(submitted by Don Hollingsworth)

Samuel and Mary (Coulson) Hollingsworth raised eight boys and one girl in Lincolnshire, England. Three of their children immigrated to Canada: Charles (1856–), Robert (1859–) and Mary Ann (1862–). Charles and Robert came to Canada with the Benstead family. Charles Hollingsworth and Lydia Benstead had been married previously in England. Robert married Hephzibah Benstead in Strathroy. Later Mary Ann and her husband Richard Rogers moved to Canada as well.

Charles and Lydia (Benstead) Hollingsworth did not have any family. Richard and Mary Ann (Hollingsworth) Rogers had two children: a daughter Annie and a son Lynne.

Anthony Hollingsworth
Although the immigration to Warwick Twp. was generally from Great Britain or parts of Upper and Lower Canada in the early years, the County of Lambton Gazetteer and General Business Directory for 1864-5 lists five coloured persons, including one from the West Indies and one from the East Indies, in Warwick Twp. No other information is known about these residents. But one non-European Watford resident about whom there is some information is Anthony Bray Hollingsworth, an escaped slave who left West Virginia, then was captured by slave hunters in Indiana County, Pennsylvania on June 26, 1845. Armed residents surrounded the hotel where he was held and demanded his release, defying federal law. The next day, when the court case took place, the judge freed him. Using the Underground Railroad Hollingsworth found his way to Dresden, then London, Ont. and eventually to Watford, where he lived, according to the 1870 census. In the 1871 list of trades in Warwick Township, Hollingsworth is listed as a black African barber. Records show that Anthony Hollingsworth died “of old age” on November 10, 1878, at the age of 60. His death certificate states he was a Methodist and that he had been ill for six weeks, under the care of Dr. N. J. Lindsay. He is buried in St. James Cemetery, just south of Watford. His remains were moved when the present St. James Church was built. More recently a tombstone was erected in his memory by the St. James Cemetery Board, with the encouragement of Don Hollingsworth. There are no records of a family in the Warwick region, but he has descendants in the United States. SOURCES: D. Hollingsworth and G. Bernetic

After their marriage, Robert and Hephzibah Hollingsworth farmed on the 10th Line of Brooke Twp. Some time later they moved to the 4th Line east in Warwick Twp. (now Confederation Line). They had nine children: Harry, Gordon, Robert Roy, Clarence Edwin, Willard Russel, Mary Dora, Ethel M., Jemima, and William. In 1915 Robert had a farm sale and then moved into Watford. For many years he was the caretaker of the Watford Cemetery.

Harry, the oldest son of Robert and Hephzibah, married Cora Craig and they had three sons: Cecil, Keith and Carman. Cecil made a career out of the Canadian Army, going overseas in 1939, serving in France, Italy and Holland and retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Keith served in the Air Force during World War II. Carman was a long time employee of Ontario Hydro.

Harry’s brother Gordon married Ethel Bryce. They had three sons: John, Wesley and Russell. Gordon was a well-known cattle drover and auctioneer, conducting weekly auctions at the Watford Sales Yard for many years.

Harry’s brother Robert Roy married Veleria Routley. They had two sons: Robert (Bob) and Donald. While overseas Bob married Zona Jones of Cardiff, Wales. They had six children: Darcy, Laura, Jill, Adel, Todd and Barney. Bob was an engineer on the Canadian National Railway. Later Bob married Margaret Wallen. Donald married Jean Cook and they had two children: Richard (Rick) and Jane. Don started out as an auto mechanic. Don and Jean had a clothing store for 18 years and a tool business after that for another 10 years. Jean and Don lived in Watford, then Warwick Village and Strathroy, where they live in 2008.

Watford Rotary Club Easter Seal banquet, 1966. Back: Ron Wallis, Stewart McKenzie, Don Hollingsworth. Front: Whipper Billy Watson (guest speaker and World Wrestling Champion) and Tony Hogervorst (Rotary Timmy 1965-66). Courtesy D Hollingsworth.

Clarence E., the fourth son of Robert and Hephzibah, was a bachelor. His parents lived with him for many years. In later life he married Martha Bond. They had no children. Clarence spent most of his working life at the Watford Lumber and Coal yard (now Moffatt & Powell).

Willard Russel was the fifth son of Robert and Hephzibah. Russel married Pearl Caley and they had two children, Madeline and Lavergne. Madeline married Jack Wallace and lives in London. They have two children, Janice and Mark. Lavergne married Eloise Auld. They have one son, Michael, who lives in Toronto.

Mary Dora Hollingsworth was handicapped with poor eyesight all her life. She lived and worked on the farm of her uncle Reaben Benstead. When Reaben and Ada died, Dora sold the farm and moved to Watford where she later passed on.

Ethel M. married Earl Dobbin. They had no children. Ethel remained a housewife. Earl was involved in many different types of businesses over his working years: he cut, stored and delivered ice; he had a coal yard; he sold electric appliances; he delivered express for the CNR; and in later years, he was BP distributor for oil products.

Jemima married Basil Richardson. Basil was a local barber. They had four children: William (Bill), George, Ethel and Patricia. Bill married Annabell Brown. They had three children: Roger, Brian and Karen. Bill ran the general store at Ravenswood for many years. George married Laura Johnson and they had three children: Matt, Newt and Lynne. George served overseas in World War II. When he returned, he worked in agricultural sales. Ethel married Russel Watson. They had three children: Mary Anne, Judy and Martin. Russel owned and operated Watson Lumber. Mary Anne married Jim Penny; she was a mother and housewife. Judy married Jack Tatum; Judy was a school teacher. Martin married Marion Verdon. Marion works for a Watford dentist. Jim and Martin worked for Russel for a number of years. Patricia married Bob Graham Jr. and they had one daughter Lori. Bob and Pat operated the R.W. Graham Ford dealership in Watford until it was sold to Larry Grogan. Lori married Peter Annett and moved to Brooke Twp.

The youngest child of Robert and Hephzibah was William (Bill). Bill married Mae Higgins; they had two daughters: Muriel and Dorothy. Muriel Higgins married Ray Payne and moved to Lambeth. Dorothy Higgins was a school teacher who married later in life. She and her husband William Nobleman have run a travel agency since retiring from teaching.

This is a brief history of the Hollingsworth family since Robert and Hephzibah came to Canada in 1884.

Chapter 24 of 25 - Hollingsworth

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