Biography:

Dr. Joseph Edward Charlesworth was born in April, of 1868 near Wilshaw, Yorkshire, England.  Dr. Charlesworth was the 2nd of 5 children born to James Charlesworth and the former Ann Bucktrout.  His father worked in the textile industry as a weaver in England and in Canada.  Dr. Charlesworth’s father had been married to Hannah Jaggers prior to Ann Bucktrout and they were known to have had 2 children, Benjamin Jaggers Charlesworth and Fred Charlesworth.  It is unknown what happened to Hannah (Jagger) Charlesworth.  Mr. Charlesworth married Ann Bucktrout in England and Dr. Joseph Edward Charlesworth was born in England along with 2 of his siblings John William Charlesworth and Mary Charlesworth.   The Charlesworth family immigrated to Hespeler (Cambridge) in 1870.  His brother’s James Charlesworth (who died of “Dropsy” on the 12th of July, 1885 at the age of 13) and Henry Charlesworth were born in Hespeler.  His brother Benjamin Jaggers Charlesworth died on the 16th of September, 1895 in Hespeler.

Dr. Charlesworth taught school for a number of years prior to attending university.

Dr. Charlesworth graduated M.B. from The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine in 1898.  After graduating, he set up his medical practice in Mount Carmel, Middlesex County.

Dr. Charlesworth married Ellen ‘Nellie’ Sarah Claxton at St. John’s Church in Stratford, Ontario on the 28th of October, 1903.  At the time of his marriage Dr. Charlesworth was living in Morpeth.  Mrs. Charlesworth was born on the 26th of January, 1873 in Stratford, the youngest of 4 children born to John Claxton and the former Edna Ellen Roberts.  Her father was a butcher and her siblings were; Joseph R. Claxton (who died at the age of 22 of tuberculosis), Alice Mary Claxton and Louisa Edna Claxton.

Dr. and Mrs. Charlesworth had a son, Edward ‘Harold’ Charlesworth born to them on August 1st, 1904, while they were living in Morpeth.

By the fall of 1906, the Charlesworth family was living in Blyth, Ontario.  Their daughter Josephine Edna Charlesworth was born on the 3rd of December, 1908 in Blyth.

The Charlesworth family lived in Belwood before moving to Harriston in 1916.  Dr. Charlesworth purchased the home and the medical practice of Dr. Samuel Henry at 131 Elora Street in Harriston.  That home is now a protected Heritage Home.

Dr. Charlesworth retired from the practice of medicine in 1944.

Mrs. Charlesworth died at her home on Elora Street in Harriston on the 31st of January, 1944.  Dr. Charlesworth died in Harriston in 1953.  Dr. and Mrs. Charlesworth were buried at the Harriston Cemetery.  Their daughter Josephine, never married and she died in 1996.  She was buried near her parents.