Joseph Woodfall Ebsworth (2 September 1824–7 June 1908) was an English clergyman, known as an editor of ballads, poet and artist.

Born on 2 September 1824 at 3 Gray's Walk, Lambeth, he was a younger son (in a family of 13 children) of Joseph Ebsworth and Mary Emma Ebsworth, writer for the stage; Thomas Woodfall, son of Henry Sampson Woodfall, was his godfather.

[1] At 14 Ebsworth entered the board of trustees' school of art, where he studied successively under Charles Heath Wilson, Sir William Allan, and David Scott.

[1] In July 1853 Ebsworth started on a solitary walking tour through central Europe and Italy.

He returned to Edinburgh in 1854, and busied himself until 1860 with painting, engraving, and writing prose and verse for the press.

[1] Then his plans changed; and Ebsworth matriculated at St John's College, Cambridge.

[1] In 1849 Ebsworth exhibited for the first time at the Scottish Academy, sending four large water-colour views of Edinburgh.

[1] Ebsworth published at Edinburgh two collections of prose and verse, Karl's Legacy (2 vols.

[1] Other works were:[1] With Julia H. L. De Vaynes, Ebsworth edited The Kentish Garland (2 vols.

[1] On 29 May 1865 Ebsworth married Margaret, eldest daughter of William Blore, rector of Goodmanham, East Yorkshire.