LANCASHIRE FAMILY HISTORY AND HERALDRY SOCIETY

Rossendale Branch Newsletter April 2007

Coming Events

Saturday 28th April

Lost your way? Need Guidance?

then visit our -

FAMILY HISTORY ADVICE DAY

at Haslingden Library, Deardengate 10.00am – 4.00pm,

where members of the following organisations will be on hand to guide you on the right path to continue your journey into the past:

Haslingden Roots - Lancashire Libraries

Branches of LFHHS - including Irish Ancestry

Lancashire Records Office

Saturday 12th May

The NW Group of Family History Societies - Annual Conference 2007

hosted by the Family History Society of Cheshire - at the Memorial Hall, Chester Way, Northwich - 9.30am – 4-00pm

Guest Speakers on a theme of Working Lives

Cheshire Cheese & Farming – Charles Foster

Mill on the Trent & Mersey Canal – Michael Walton

The Life and Times of Railway Workers 1830 -1948 – Dr. Diane Drummond

FHS Displays and Bookstall. Free Parking.

Entrance fee £9 with buffet lunch £18.

Early booking essential, further information www.fhsc.org.uk

Friday 18th May

Opening the Catalogues.

Join us on a Voyage of Discovery. Want to feel confident in using catalogues and other finding aids. Interested in finding out more about how and why we catalogue? This catalogue awareness event in two sessions will be held at Lancashire Record Office, Bow Lane, Preston PR1 2RE

10.00 – 12.30 and again 14.00 – 16.00. For full programme or to book a place contact Sandra Porter on (01772) 533027 or email record.office@ed.lancscc.gov.uk

Saturday 19th May

Lancashire Family History and Heraldry Society

One Day Conference and AGM

The Foster Theatre, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire 10.00 – 1700.

Speakers for the day, Fergus O’Connor, Martin Baggoley and Society Members.

Full details were in your February Magazine.

Conference with lunch £17.60, without lunch £7.60

Applications before 28th April to A.D. Walkden, 2 Butterlands, Preston, PR1 5TJ. Tel: 01772 792224

Rossendale Miscellany

News, Notes and Queries

George Haworth/ Howarth of Gambleside

I recently received an email from Marilyn Winton who has rejoined the society after an absence of several years. Marilyn says.

"My particular ‘gateway’ ancestor to Rossendale families is one George Haworth (1676-1725) who emigrated to Wm Penn's colony of Pennsylvania in 1699.

We have a large ‘Haworth Association of America’ now, with a website on which I have posted photographs I took on my visit to your area in 2000. You were kind enough to meet me in Haslingden, and take me up to the church (St James) where George Haworth was baptised in 1676. I have a photo of you in the churchyard.

I have just returned to my researches, and the book I am planning to write on the Haworths of Rossendale. I know this is a tall order, and I do not expect to be able to emulate Dr Ormerod's fine volume on the Ormerods, but I have learned much from it. I am trying to learn more about the language used in the court rolls, and the system of disposing of their copyhold lands used by the 17th century residents. If you know of anyone else working on Rossendale families in this period, I would appreciate any contacts I can make. email mlwmisch@yahoo.com

The Haworth Association of America

The Haworth Association was founded in America in 1899, to mark the 200th anniversary of George Haworth’s departure from Rossendale to the USA.

The web site can be visited at www.haworthassociation.org On the site you will find a map of Rawtenstall which highlights all the places connected with George Haworth Including a map of the Dunnockshaw area and a selection of photographs taken by Marilyn during her 2000 visit to Rossendale. Marilyn has captured the bleak area around Clowbridge Reservoir and the ruins of what was once Haworth/ Howarth cottage.

There is also a photograph of a plaque headed "Hamlet of Gambleside" This contains an artists’ impression of the hamlet, showing the mansion house, the farm house, Howarth’s cottage and a chapel built in 1828.

Rossendale Ancestry

Looking for George Howorth born 1829- at Goodshaw Chapel, Higher Booths.

In 1881 George and his wife Betty were living at Tuwit Hall Farm, Paythorne near Gisburn (said to have farmed there from 1877 – 1885). They had no children though Betty had previously had an illegitimate son Jonathan Wood, baptised at Tosside, Gisburn in 1845, (brought up by her parents but no further record).

George was a Baptist lay preacher who, when first living at Paythorne, attended Hellifield Baptist Church, near Long Preston, until it became too far to walk. He then became a leading light at Paythorne Methodist Chapel. His inspired leadership lead to a revitalization of the failing membership. The Sunday School in particular was soon bursting to the seams with local children inspired by his enlightened approach to religion.

George Hargreaves, a boy of nine in 1877, who later became Mayor of Clitheroe, wrote "A man to whom I owe more than I can tell was George Howorth7

George Hargreaves also stated that George Howorth returned to Heywood, where he died. However nothing has been found at Heywood – No census ref. burial, will or admon.

In 1871, prior to living at Gisburn, George had been farming Dam Head Farm at Blakeley, near Booth Hall Hospital. In 1861, aged 31, he was shown as farming 50 Acres at Freeholds Farm, near Shawforth. He was born Rossendale. His wife Betty was 36, born Long Preston, Yorks.

His marriage certificate shows that George Howorth, Stone Mason aged 24 (son of John Howorth, Farmer) living at Height Barn, Spotland [Nr. Bacup] when he married Betty Wood, 27 (dau of Joseph Wood) Servant, Stubby Lee Farm, in St. Stephen’s Church, Rochdale (Countess of Huntingdon New Connection) 14 March 1853.

The 1851 Census for these two addresses gives:

HO 107 2247 368 Height Barn Gate, Bacup

James Ormerod H U/M 32 Toll Collector born Rossendale and George Howarth 22, Stone Mason, born Higher Booth.

And Nearby} Stubelee Farm

James Howarth H U/M 60 Farmer of 60 acres born Spotland; Luke Hollows Servant U/M 18 Ag. Labr. born Todmorden. Betty Wood, Resident U/M 26, House Servant, born Yorks West Halton.

‘Ebenezer Baptists’ [Bacup] Millgate School Minute Book gives – George Howorth on Committee – 1858. Chapel built 1857 – John Howorth preached the gospel. There is a photo of Abraham Howorth on p214. Mr John Howorth, Deacon in 1898, had given 50 years service. Could this be the same George Howorth or any relation?

Any help, advice, corrections appreciated. Reg Postletwaite, 72 Rydal Road, Haslingden. 01706 213608

Reg adds that he found two possibilities for George Howorth born c 1829. One possibility was George, son of John Howorth, born 21 Nov. 1829. In 1821 this John is described as a cotton manufacturer; in1821/23 he was a shopkeeper and retired grocer. In 1827 ‘of Roughill, weaver’. He was executer to his brother Mr. George Haworth, yeoman of Edgend, in 1853. This John was born 1793 and married Susannah (?) born abt 1793. They had children Eliz. 1820, Rich. 1821, Ellen 1823. Henry 1827, George 1829, but in 1851 this George was still at home in Crawshawbooth, aged 21, so could not be the one.

Another possibility was 1841, Broad Holden Fold (Nr. Heap Clough, Haslingden) George Howorth 45, Labourer, Betty 34, James 15, Richard 14, George 12, John 9, Henry 7, Ralph 4 & Thomas 1 but he can’t be the George Howorth I’m looking for either, right date but wrong father – father should be John Howorth, farmer. No other George Howorth found born ‘Rossendale’ c 1829 in Ancestry.co.uk

editor’s note:

This piece of research illustrates the difficulties of finding the correct person, when they have one of the most common names in the area and also when that name can be spelt 3 different ways.

Reg doesn’t have email but if anyone from overseas would like to contact him, I will pass on a message.

Change of email address.

Ted Jones who is research Emmett (newsletter- May 2005) can now be contacted at ted.jones@sky.com