A member of The Federation of Family History Societies
St James' Church, Haslingden
St John's Church, Bacup
St Mary's, Church Rawtenstall

LANCASHIRE FAMILY HISTORY AND HERALDRY SOCIETY

Rossendale Branch Newsletter April 2003


Programme

Tonight -

Wednesday - 2nd April

Rossendale Branch - AGM

followed by:

The Diary of Richard Kay (1716 - 1751) of Baldingstone near Bury, a Lancashire doctor, a very short talk by Rita Hirst to mark the recent republication of this book by the Chetham Society.

Wednesday - 7th May

Henry Hargreaves Diary. A talk by Mrs. K. Fishwick.

Wednesday 4th June

Family History on the Internet. Places available only by prior arrangement with Kathleen Ashburner.

Wednesday 2nd July

Out Visit to the North West Sound Archives based at Clitheroe Castle.


Did you miss....

The story of the Rossendale Male Voice Choir? - a talk by Joe Stanhope and Stanley Hoyle

Joe Stanhope, told us the history of this prize winning choir. It originated in the 1924 from the Goodshaw Glee Singers, since then there have only been three conductors, Fred Tomlinson who retired in 1976 after 50 years, followed by his son Ernest and for the past 21 years Beatrice Wade. The choir won their first competition at Wallasey in 1926, since then they have gone from strength to strength. A ladies choir was formed in 1981.

Stanley Hoyle had brought along his audio system and we were treated to a series of recordings from the 1960s onwards.

A book of their achievements has recently been published "Rossendale Male Voice Choir, 1924 - 1999" by the President Joe Stanhope.


Coming Events:

Creation to Cremation

The North West Group of Family History Societies’

Annual Conference will be hosted this year by the Manchester & Lancashire FHS on Saturday 26th April 2003 9.00 am to 4.00pm at Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square, Manchester.

Programme:

9.00 am Registration

9.30 am Welcome - Lord Mayor of Manchester

9.45 am The History of Cremation Records by John Marsden

10.45 am Break and Refreshments

11.15 am Challenges & Changes, Civil celebrations by Hayden Keenan. Supt. Registrar.

12.15 pm Lunch 2.00pm Genetics in Genealogy by Prof. Peter Beighton.

Admission is by advanced booking only, closing date 14 April 2003. The non-returnable payment is £15. Please send form to M & LFHS, Clayton House, 59 Piccadilly, Manchester. M1 2AQ

Thirty Years on! 1973 - 2003

30 years ago our family history society was founded under the grand name of the Rossendale Society for Genealogy and Heraldry. To celebrate this event the LFHHS is returning to its roots. This year the Annual Conference & AGM will be held on Saturday - 10th May 2003 at St. Mary’s Chambers, Rawtenstall.

Speakers:

Melvyn Hirst - Searching for the early origins of a calico printer:

James Greenway of Over Darwen. Peter Marshall - Heraldry in recycled Country Houses.

Thomas Woodcock - Norroy & Ulster King of Arms.

The Booking form was in your February Journal.


St. Mary’s Chambers - 10th May

All Branch members are urged to come to the Annual Conference. Members of the society will be coming to Rossendale from all over the country. We would like you to welcome them to Rossendale.

There will be an opportunity for you to put faces to some of the names you have read about in the magazine, meet members from other branches and experts who may be able to assist you There will also be a huge selection of books and microfiche for sale in the hall.


Rossendale Ancestry:

GREENWOOD

Bill Greenwood has been researching his namesake William Greenwood. He has been trying without any success to find the marriage of William to Elizabeth or Betty prior to 1832. William seems to have lived in the Grane area of Haslingden all his life. From 1841 - 1871 he was living at Foe Edge Farm. His children in 1841 were Oliver (8), Elizabeth (7), George (4), William (2). Later, he had John c1846, Ralph c1849, Nancy c1850, Lawrence c1857, Joseph c1859, By 1881 he was a widower living at Hartley House Grane with Lawrence (24) and Ephraim (17) his grandson. He was buried at St James’ Church, Haslingden 23rd October 1888 aged 75 years. His wife Betty, was buried 5th October 1877 aged 63 years.

We have found a baptism for William Greenwood at Haslingden. He appears to be the son of George and Elizabeth Greenwood of Alley Cross Grane, he was born 26 May 1813/ bapt. 4 July. His siblings were George 1810; James 1815; Betty 1819; Nancy 1821; John 1825; Lawrence 1833.

However, there was another George and Elizabeth having children baptised concurrently, with baptisms commencing in 1810. The Vital Records Index gives George Greenwood mar. Betty Holden Nov. 1805 and George Greenwood to Elizabeth Heys 1809.

If you are researching Greenwood and can assist Bill is email is bill.greenwood@extra.co.nz

FRED HOWARTH

Roland Hull has an item - it is of no great monetary value - but which may be of sentimental value to someone who has a FRED HOWARTH as one of their ancestors. It was presented to him in 1931 at / by the Ebenezer Newgate Mission in Bacup.

Anyone interested should email Roland - hullr@roland93.fsnet.co.uk


Hyndburn Meeting - BUS DETAILS

June Huntingdon has written with the following information:

The Hyndburn Group now meets at No 2 The Straits, Oswaldtwistle. If you wish to travel there by bus from Accrington, you can board from outside the newsagents on Peel Street or from outside the Town Hall. The buses currently run every 15 minutes.

For confirmation on bus times you can ring the Tourist Information Centre 01254 872595.


Balsam of Many Virtues

Extracted from the Manchester Mercury 31st May 1774

To Mr Elton of Elton Bank, Tottington

Sir, I have for above four Years laboured under the most severe Pains in my Head, attended with a dreadful Deafness, which made me weary of Life, when after pouring a Tea Spoonful of your Balsam of many Virtues into each ear, and stopping them close with Lint, once in 24 Hours, was, I thank God, restored to my perfect Hearing. I desire you will publish this most extraordinary Cure, for the benefit of the Mankind, an am, with great Esteem,

Sir, your most obedient servant, JOHN NUTTALL

A daughter of Samuel Whittaker’s of New Church, in the Forest of Rossendale, lying upwards of 12 Months in a Consumption, not being able to stand, by taking one Bottle of the Balsam of many Virtues, is restored to her proper Health.

It is the most infallible Medicine yet published and the powerful Virtues with which it is endued to remedy the Complaints to which it has been successfully applied, are many, both internal and external, particularly in Consumption, Coughs, Colds, Agues, the most racking Pains of the Cholic, spitting of Blood, flow Fevers, Worms, either in the Stomach or Intestines, the Stone and Gravel, dissolving stones in the Bladder, and bringing away Sand lodged in the Reins and Kidnies, Fluxes of all Kinds and Stitches; it cures Burns, Bruises, or Scalds, Cuts or green Wounds, Sprains, Rheumatism, or Sciatic Pains.

This Balsam is appointed by the Author to be sold by Mr Nathan Pendlebury, in Radcliffe Bridge; Mr Hyde in Prestwich; Mr Ralph Haworth in Turton; Mr James Haworth in Edenfield; Mrs Ann Jones in Haslingden; Mr Joseph Trippier in New Church and Mr John Whitaker in Todmorden.


INCREASE IN CERTIFICATE FEES

From April 1st the cost of obtaining a full certificate of birth, marriage or death will increase from £6.50 to £7.00 when obtained from the local register office, or in person at the Family Records Centre, London.

Certificates issued by the General Register Office via phone, email, fax or postal application:-

Full certificate £11.50

Full certificate with full GRO index info. £8.50