Kenneth William Benson
1945 - 2008
We settled in the UK with Dad practising as a GP in Staffordshire.
William Woolhouse
1643 - 1723
He is the grandfather of Henry Disney (below) and I can only speculate that this might have influenced Henry's choice of career. He is also the father in law of my 2nd cousin 12x removed. He was born in North Muskham, Nottinghamshire to William Woolhouse and Elizabeth Cade.
In 1660 he entered St John's College, Cambridge and graduated with a Masters from here in 1672. By the time he had completed his medical studies he had already married Mary Hacker (in 1670 in Flintham, Nottinghamshire). The couple had 4 children: 2 girls and 2 boys.
Henry Disney
1701 - 1760
Henry is my 3rd cousin 11x removed. He was born in Lincolnshire to John Disney and Mary Woolhouse. In 1721 in entered Queens College Cambridge and the following year he moved to Magdalen College. He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine in 1727 and went to Leyden for practical experience.
In 1730 he married Martha Roebuck in Warmfield, Yorkshire. The couple had 1 son, Henry Woolhouse Disney.
I have not yet been able to find out much about his career.
James Minot
1659 - 1696
James is not a direct ancestor, but his surname is a deriviate of Mignot, which is Huguenot (French Protestant). He was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts to George Minot and Martha Stocke. James' parents had married in Essex, England and migrated to the USA in 1630 so George could join the Dorchester Company (a company of merchant fishermen).
Read more about the company here http://www.smplanet.com/teaching/colonialamerica/colonies/dorchester
James married Rebekah Jones in 1687; she had also been born in the USA. Sources indicate that James was a medical doctor, but they have been difficult to confirm.
Frank Ernest Musgrave
1856 - 1944
Frank is the 1st cousin 3x removed of the wife of my 5th great-uncle. He was born in Leeds, Yorkshire to Albert Musgrave and Mary Ellen Booth.
Frank studied at Cambridge and Leeds Universities and qualified as a surgeon. In 1893 Frank married Louisa Stead and the couple had 1 daughter. The Musgraves made Leeds their home and Frank ran his practice here until his death.
The Falconers
Alexander Falconer
1874 - 1953
Alexander is the brother in law of my 2nd great uncle. He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland to George Falconer and Mary McKillop. Alexander was 1 of 8 children; his father was a shipmaster who died in Ireland.
Alexander turns up in UK and Irish Medical Directory for 1900, working out of Tyrconnel House in Earby, Yorkshire. I have not managed to find him in either the 1901 England Census or 1901 Scotland Census, so must assume he had permanently moved to Yorkshire.The Directory shows that Alexander had qualified as a surgeon in Aberdeen, and was working for the Midland Railway and Other Friendly Societies and two other insurance companies, for workers.
Between 1900 and 1904 Alexander may have married Elizabeth Dougan Gibson, though again I have not located any records. In 1905 the couple have a daughter and 5 years later a son. Alexander remained practising in the area and was followed into the profession by his son.
George Donald Falconer
1910 - 1992
Son of Alexander (above) and nephew of wife of my 2nd great uncle. George was born in Yorkshire. In 1927 Alexander went on a trip as he is recorded in the UK Incoming and Outgoing Passenger Lists. He left the country in July 1927 for Port Said, Egypt and returned in September the same year.
On 20 October 1928 Alexander is registered to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh. By 1933 he is living with his parents in Yorkshire and the UK and Irish Medical Directory for 1900 for 1935 we can see he is working out of the same place as his, after graduating in 1933 as a surgeon. I am not sure how long Alexander continued to practice with his father in Yorkshire, but in December 1939 records show him marrying Lesley Mary Wilson in Wallasey, Cheshire. I have not found Alexander in the 1939 England and Wales Register. Nor have I found a record of any children for the couple.
George remains practising in Wallasey and the UK and Irish Medical Directories show that he had taken further studies, which he had completed in 1936 and that he had served as House Surgeon at the Victoria Centre Hospital in Burnley and as an Assistant Medical Officer at the Municipal Hospital, also in Burnley.
William John Carlyon Anstie
1910 - 1942
William is the 3rd great nephew of the wife of my 6th great uncle. He was born in Devon and died in Ceylon. I will write more about William in https://myfamilyhistoryfacts.blogspot.com/2019/08/in-remembrance-of-those-who-died-in_28.html
Edward Lake Gowlland
1876 - 1942
Edward is the husband of the wife of brother-in-law of 2nd great-nephew of wife of 6th great-uncle. The details of his life would fit into so many categories, he was not only a surgeon, but also served in the military, was a Freemason and went through a divorce. He is therefore getting his own post.
Jonathan Toogood
1784 - 1871
Jonathan is not a direct ancestor, but has a career worthy of note. He was born in Sherborne, Dorset to John Toogood and Ann. Jonathan was apprenticed at the age of 14 to an apothecary-surgeon, Mr Hill Dawe in Bridgwater. After completing his 5 year apprenticeship he then continued surgical training at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, under surgeon Mr John Abernathy.
In 1806 he returned to Bridgwater and started work. He also married Ann Giles, and the couple went on to have 12 children, 3 of the boys followed their father into the medical profession.
Jonathan is remembered particularly for founding the Bridgwater Infirmary in 1813, an account of which is available in https://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/biography/dr-jonathan-toogood-the-story-of-the,lesley-sutcliffe-9781527208261
Although retiring in 1845, Jonathan retained active in the area.
Isaac Baruch Toogood
1811 - 1887
Son of Jonathan (b. 1784) and Ann. He was born Bridgwater, Somerset and, while following his father into the medical profession, he became a General Practitioner in Devonshire. In 1838 he married Ann Elizabeth Henwood, whose father was listed as a Gent. The couple had 2 sons.
John Giles Toogood
1809 - 1875
He was the brother of Isaac and also born in Bridgwater, Somerset. Unlike his brother, John did follow his father in becoming a surgeon, specialising in ophthalmology at the Eye Dispensary. He appears to have taken over from his father, when he retired.
In 1840 John married Elizabeth Hiron, the daughter of another surgeon.
Interestingly John also appears to have been admitted twice into Manor House, an asylum for lunacy patients in Warwickshire, in December 1855 and April 1856. It is not clear whether this was in a professional capacity or as a patient.
Thomas Hiron
1786 - 1848
I have not, as yet, been able to find out much about him. He was born and died in Warwickshire. In 1810 he married Anne Archer and the couple had 3 children: 2 girls and 1 boy.
I do know that his son, also a Thomas, likewise became a surgeon and seemed to operate from the same location (the High St) as his father.
Thomas Wheatley Hiron
1819 - 1865
Thomas was also born in Warwickshire. He married Alice Fitzherbert Smith in 1846 and the couple went on to have a large family of 7 children: 4 girls and 3 boys.
Records show that Thomas died at sea, but I have not been able to find out more about this.
The Alexanders of Halifax
This family have produced the greatest number of doctors and men of science so far in my research. Much of the information has come from the excellent website https://sites.rootsweb.com/~calderdalecompanion/mma227.html#278
Elias Alexander (father of William b.1708)
1680 - 1732
Elias is the paternal grandfather of the husband of my 4th cousin 10x removed. There is not much information available at him, but I must assume that he was born and died in Halifax, Yorkshire.
William Alexander
1707 - 1786
William is the son of Elias and the father-in-law of my 4th cousin 10x removed. He was born and died in Halifax, Yorkshire. I have not been able to find details on his mother. From the website I know that William had trained to be a surgeon, though there are few records on Ancestry to back this up.
In 1730 William married Elizabeth Allenson and the couple had 4 children: 1 daughter and 3 sons.
The website says the family owned several properties and lived at a 3rd. William also wrote Plain and easy directions for the use of Harrogate Waters: adapted to the meanest capacity; and principally intended for the use of all who attend there (Edinburgh 1773)
Harrogate was among a number of places in the UK that had natural springs of sulphurous waters, which were deemed to have health giving properties; others were Bath and Buxton. A history of the Royal Pump Room in Harrogate can be found at https://www.harrogate.gov.uk/info/20151/royal_pump_room_museum/696/history_of_the_royal_pump_room_museum
From my brief search on the Internet I assume that William's book was like a handbook for those planning on visiting Harrogate and the regime they should follow depending on their condition. I recommend this article for more information Holman, Gavin. (2018). Taking the Waters - The lighter side of the Harrogate Cure, through the humorous postcards of the 1900s, which can be found at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323106271_Taking_the_Waters_-_The_lighter_side_of_the_Harrogate_Cure_through_the_humorous_postcards_of_the_1900s
John Alexander
1731 - 1801
John is the brother-in-law of my 4th cousin 10x removed and the eldest son of William (above. He was born in Halifax, Yorkshire to William and Elizabeth.
The website says he practised as a Doctor in Halifax which I must assume meant he was a general doctor, rather than a surgeon. In 1762 he married Frances Hamer and the couple had 1 son and 1 daughter.
Robert Alexander
1739 - 1822
Robert is the husband of 4th cousin 10x removed and William's middle son. He was also born and died in Halifax, Yorkshire.
The website shows that Robert had a more distinguished career than his elder brother. He practised as both a surgeon and apothecary. He appeared to have chosen to live in the family home, Hope Hall, but also in several other large properties, possibly due to his qualifications and status.
In 1768 Robert married Harriet Disney (my 4th cousin 10x removed) and the couple went on to have 6 sons and 2 daughters.
Robert supported a spa at Horley; he gave money towards the construction of the Halifax New Market (1790) and was a trustee of the Halifax Market Company. The latter was an organisation designed to build a market area forcing all stall holders to work from here, and not set up stalls or sell produce from baskets elsewhere.
William Alexander
1742 - 1766
William was the youngest brother who, was due to follow his siblings and father into the medical profession, but sadly died in training and unmarried in 1766.
William Alexander
1763 - 1808
William is the son of John (b. 1731). He was born and died in Halifax, Yorkshire and, while training as a doctor, he developed an interest in botany. I am sure there is more information to be found on this and I hope to track some down in the future.
In 1803 William married Harriet Pickford, who comes from another interesting family line with roots in Lancashire; I might cover that later! The couple had no children.
Gervase Alexander
1774 - 1857
Gervase is my 5 cousin 9x removed and the 3rd son of Robert (b. 1739). Naturally a lot more information is available about his life, as the UK and Ireland Medical Directories had started being compiled from 1845. In 1800 Gervase had married Ellen Hudson, and the couple went on to have 2 sons and 3 daughters.
In 1802 Gervase is listed as a Captain in the Halifax Volunteer Corps of Infantry which had been established in 1794 to protect against potential military forces and revolutionary ideas coming out of France, after the Revolution. Gervase was not a member for long as the Corps was disbanded in 1802 only to reform in 1804. I do not know if Gervase joined again.
The UK and Ireland Medical Directories tell us that Gervase had studied and qualified as a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Aberdeen in 1817. He was also a member of the Halifax Literary and Philosophical Society and went on to publish A Translation of the Odes of Horace into English Verse. The Society had been established in 1830 for the advancement of literature, science and philosophical research. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=kuYVAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA348&ots=c7lHHKBOC4&dq=halifax%20literary%20and%20philosophical%20society%20history&pg=PA349#v=onepage&q=halifax%20literary%20and%20philosophical%20society%20history&f=false
I must add in passing that Anne Lister of Shibden Hall, the recent subject of BBC drama, was also admitted as a member of the Society. I will leave it to you to research her, if you wish, but details about the Gentleman Jack can be found at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00059m9
Disney Alexander
1769 - 1844
Disney was the eldest son of Robert (b. 1739) and had an equally interesting life.
He married twice. The first time was in 1796 to Agnes Haigh, with whom he had 3 children: 2 boys and 1 girl. The second time was in 1811 to Mary Edwards. The 1841 England Census lists him as a physician, but unfortunately he died too soon to make the UK and Ireland Medical Directories.
The website at the start of the Alexander section says that he was a Methodist and interested in phrenology (reading the bumps on an individual's head). He succeeded a fellow phrenologist, Sir William Ellis, as Superintendent and Physician of the Wakefield Dispensary and the Pauper Lunatic Asylum. An Internet search will bring up many results and some recent books published on the institution. This page is a good place to start http://www.wakefieldasylum.co.uk/
Disney published extensively and I refer to the original website for a list of his works.
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