See also Thurcroft Estates
William Beckwith of Thurcroft, esquire, was first mentioned in 1653 when he married Margaret Mirfin. The Beckwiths were at Thurcroft until early in the 19th century. The marriage of a later William Beckwith to Elizabeth Woodifield in 1714 brought the Manor of Trimdon in Co. Durham to the family. The last of the family to be 'of Thurcroft' apparently got into financial difficulties, raised what money he could on the Thurcroft estate and moved to Durham. When his son came of age in 1817 the estate was mortgaged for £10,000. In 1841 that the last representative of the family surrendered the estate in the Manor Court of Laughton-en-le-Morthen and John Drabwell was admitted.
The Thurcroft branch of Beckwith descends from Matthew Beckwith of Tanfield and Sleningford, near Ripon.
Source:Visitation of Yorkshire, Sir.William Dugdale, A.D. 1665 and 1666
William Beckwith married Elizabeth, daughter of Bernard Ellis, Recorder of York and widow of Robert Mirfield, who died in 1644. They had 3 daughters:
When this William died in 1678 he bequeathed Thurcroft to his nephew William, son of Matthew of Tanfield.
William, the nephew, settled at Thurcroft and married Mary, daughter of Sir Edward Chaloner, he left at his decease in 1713, a son and heir:
William Beckwith, Esq. of Thurcroft and Sleningford who married about 1715 Elizabeth daughter and heiress of John Woodifield of Fishburn and Trimdon. Issue:
Woodifield Beckwith was born in 1719 at Laughton-en-le-Morthen. He married in 1771, Dorothy, daughter of Christopher Robinson of Durham. Woodifield died in 1779, leaving an only surviving child:
William (b.1772), resided at Trimdon House. He was known as William of Thurcroft and Trimdon and married in 1794 Caroline, daughter of John Neasham of Houghton-le-Spring. Children:
Copy will of William Beckwith of Thurcroft, esquire. Date:1760. He bequeaths, in addition to the sums due to them under his marriage settlement, £75 to his son, William, and £1000 to his son John, now in the West Indies with his regiment, both sums to be raised out of his personal estate. A large bible and book of common prayer and the desk they are kept in to be preserved as an heirloom for the use of the family. £50 to his wife, and gifts of plate, linen etc. £10 to buy coals for the poor of Laughton the winter after his decease. Bequests to servants. The residue to his eldest son Woodifield Beckwith, who is to be sole executor. 29th December, 1759. Proved 26th April, 1760. Reference: Mar D/202
Copy of will of Woodifield Beckwith of Thurcroft, esquire. Date:1817. Bequeaths to trustees the manor of Trimdon with the advowson and his messuages and lands in the same parish, all messuages and lands in Thurcroft, Brookhouse, Carr, Laughton-en-le-Morthen, and Kirklevington, all lands in Fishburn and Cornforth in the parish of Sedgefield (in the county of Durham) except ing lands and tithes comprised in his marriage settlement, on trusts which are stated to provide for his wife and children. Bequeaths tithes of the parishes of Ripon and West Tanfield to trustees on stated trusts. His wife Dorothy to be executrix. 10th August, 1776, proved 5th June, 1780. Attested copy of release. Richard Wright of Sedgefield, esquire, to George Robinson late of Easington, but now of Sunniside near Sunderland, gentleman, and James, his brother, gentleman (all places in the county of Durham). Desiring to withdraw as a trustee under the above will, he releases to the remaining trustees all the property in trust mentioned in the will 20th April, 1780. Copy made 7th October, 1817. Reference: Mar D/210-211
In the parish church of Burton there are two marble monuments:
Marble Monument: Sacred to the memory of William Horsfall, of Storthes Hall, Esq., who died the 2nd August, 1780, in the 55 year of his age. He was descended in direct line from Captain Richard Horsfall, who took an active part with the Royalists in the Grand Rebellion, in the reign of King Charles the first, against the Rebel Army. He married Elizabeth, the daughter of William Beckwith, of Thurcroft, in this county, Esquire, by whom he had issue Ingram, his son, who died 17th November, 1770, in the 11 year of his age, and five daughters, viz.: Dorothy, Elizabeth, Anne, Grace married to George Sutton, of Stockton, Esquire, and Frances.
On another: To the memory of Elizabeth Horsfall, relict of William Horsfall, of Storthes Hall, Esquire, who died the 21st of April, 1793, in the 72 year of her age.
A John Beckwith (b.1653) of Wadworth married 28 Sep 1676 to Castiliana (b.abt.1655) daughter of Lionel Copley.
The guardianship of Marmaduke Beckwith was granted to Susanna Beckwith, Widow, John Anlaby, and John Odingsells
Notes: John Bromhead of Laughton, schoolmaster was left messuages and lands devised to William Beckwith by the will of his uncle, William Beckwith late of Thurcroft, esquire, deceased, in accordance with a trust set up by the will. 1688