1 John Barkworth

John Barkworth 1758-1815 & Elizabeth Barkworth

John and Elizabeth came to live at Tranby House in 1806. John had the house specially built for them. They had at least seven children: John, Thomas, Mary (who died young) Nancy, Mary, William and George.

John Barkworth was a cabinet maker from Barton on Humber in LIncolnshire. He married Elizabeth in 1781 at Lincoln. Around 1793 John and Elizabeth came to live in Hull where he set up in business as a timber merchant on North Dockside. John was especially fond of the timber mahogany and so came to be known as “Mahogany Jack”.

In 1811 John and George Hawkes took out a lease on land at Hessle Foreshore and set up a ship building company. He also began his own shipping company, trading mainly with the East Indies.

When he died in 1815 John was described as “an eminent merchant and ship owner” and “liberal benefactor of the poor”. He was a strong supporter of William Wilberforce in the battle against slavery.

Elizabeth continued to live at Tranby House for another twenty three years after John’s death until she died in 1838.