He was the eldest son of Thomas Elworthy, woollen manufacturer, of Wellington, Somerset, and his wife Jane, daughter of William Chorley of Quarm, near Dunster.
His two books on the evil eye and kindred superstitions contain much curious information gathered during travels in Spain, Italy, and other countries, in the course of which he made perhaps the finest collection of charms, amulets, and such-like trinkets in existence; this collection was in the possession of his widow until her death, and was then bequeathed to the Somersetshire Archæological Society's museum at Taunton.
He was a prominent churchman, and the erection of All Saints' Church, Wellington, was largely due to his liberality and exertions.
He was a magistrate, a churchwarden, an active member of the Wellington school board, and a prominent freemason.
[1] After an illness which began in the summer of 1906 he died at his residence, Foxdown, Wellington, on 13 December 1907, and was buried in the churchyard of the parish church there.