The Langtoft (Lantaffe) Ancestors

The name Langtoft appears to be unique - in this case it is not from the place Langtoft, Lincolnshire. It was originally Lantaff(e) and the corruption to Langtoft happened when my five-times great grandfather, James, moved from Sawtry, Huntingdonshire to Newborough, Northamptonshire. James was illiterate so it was probably the differences in local pronunciation that caused it to change. I have noticed changes in name from Lantaff(e) to Lantoft in the IGI for families in Huntingdonshire/Cambridgeshire from child to child in baptisms. I am unsure on the origin of the name Lantaff(e) but I assume it is derived from Langstaff. This surname is a derivation of Longstaff which was probably a nickname for a bailif or other officer of the law. My ancestors originated from Croxton, Cambridgeshire.

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In 1869 Ashwell inherited a share of his parent's estate when his mother died. At this time Ashwell was working as a Shopkeeper in Northborough. His elder half-brother John took over the shop in the early 1870s when Ashwell, Eliza and family moved to Peterborough. Ashwell and his family moved to 54 Westwood Street, Peterborough. By 1881 Ashwell owned a Dairy, working as a Dairyman, and by this time Eliza had stopped working as a Dressmaker. Ashwell, Eliza, Josiah and Eliza were then living at Dairy Cottage, Eastfield, Peterborough. Their youngest son, Josiah was also working at the Dairy. By 1891 they had moved again to 27 Vergette's Street, Peterborough. In 1891, a boy called Frank Haddock lived with Ashwell, Eliza and their daughter Eliza and worked as a servant in the dairy. Ashwell remained in Eastfield working as a Dairyman for the next 5 years until his retirement in the late 1890s. After retiring, Ashwell and Eliza moved house to 44 Monument Street, Peterborough, next door to their daughter Isabella (then married to Frederick Arbon) at number 42.

On 7th October 1897, Ashwell and Eliza's third son, Alfred, who then lived and worked in Yaxley, Huntingdonshire, as a Baker died of stomach cancer, aged just 38 years. Two years later on 21st March 1899 they suffered the loss of their oldest son, Parkinson, aged 43 years. On 2nd May 1901, Ashwell died unexpectedly at home, and a post-mortem examination revealed that three factors caused his death; Gallstones, which he had since 1899, Cirrhosis of the liver, and Ascites (a swelling of fluid in the abdominal cavity) which he had for seven months prior to his death. Eliza inherited all of Ashwells's estate in his Will, valued at £1297 18s (worth approximately £73,590 today). She continued to live at 44 Monument Street until she died there of Chronic Bronchitis and Pneumonia, on 8th July 1902, aged 69 years. Eliza was buried at the Broadway Cemetery, Peterborough, on 11th July.

At the time of her death, Eliza's effects were valued at £1252 8s (worth approximately £71,011 today). They were divided equally among her children, William, Isabella, Eliza, Josiah, and the children of her two dead children (having their parent's share). Parkinson's children being William Ashwell, Lewis Parkinson and Jessie.

James was born in 1795 at Croxton, Cambridgeshire to parents John and Mary Lantaff (nee Peters). (Note: The name changed from Lantaff to Langtoft later, see introduction) He grew up in Croxton with his family, including brothers John, William, Samuel, David, and sister Mary. During the early 19th century the family moved to Offord D'arcy, Huntingdonshire. On 12th October 1819, James married Elizabeth Merry at Godmanchester, Huntingdonshire. In 1820 Elizabeth gave birth to their first child, Mary Ann. William was born in 1823 follwed by Elizabeth (1824). 1824 was to be a year of trgedy for James as his daughter Elizabeth died a week after she was born, his wife Elizabeth died in August, aged 27, and then his daughter Mary Ann died in October, aged just 4 years. After Elizabeth's death, James moved to Sawtry, Huntingdonshire and on 16th September 1825 he married Susanna Nightingale there. In 1826 Susanna gave birth to their first daughter together, Mary Ann, followed by Sarah (1827) and Susanna (1830). Soon after Susanna's birth they moved to Newborough, Northamptonshire. Sadly Susanna died in January 1831, aged just 10 months. Only 5 months later they suffered the loss of Sarah, aged 4 years. In 1831 Susanna gave birth to a son John, but he too died in infancy the following year. James worked as a labourer and in 1833 they had a daughter Eliza, followed by Rebecca (1840), and Isabella (1843). During the early 1850s James became friends with John Vine Chapman, a Farmer, who had recently moved to Newborough. In 1854 his daughter Eliza married John's son Ashwell. In May 1855 James' suffered the loss of his eldest son, William, who was accidentally burnt to death. James and Susanna continued to live in Newborough, and by 1871 he had retired from working as a Labourer. He died there in July 1874, and was buried in St Bartholomews Church Yard, Newborough on 11th July.

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