LANCASHIRE FAMILY HISTORY AND HERALDRY SOCIETY

Rossendale Branch Newsletter August 2005

Society Subscriptions

If you are not a member of the Society, you are reminded that anyone joining between 1st June and 31st December, may take out a half-year membership, which includes the cost of postage for two "Lancashire" journals - just send half the relevant subscription rate to Mrs. Pip Cowling, 33 Windhill Old Road, Bradford BD10 0SE, or you can pay our branch treasurer Maureen Hodgkinson.

Full details on the LFHHS website.

Irish in Haslingden

Exhibition Anyone who has prepared a contribution to our exhibition should bring it along to Haslingden Reference Library on Thursday or Friday 1st and 2nd September. The exhibition opens on Saturday 3rd September until the end of the month.

If you need advice on researching in Ireland members of the Irish Ancestry Group will be at the library on Saturday September 24th.

Did you miss.....

our Out Visit to Fulwood Barracks and Museum, Preston?

Nineteen of us went to Barracks for this year’s Out-Visit. We were met by the Curator Jane Davis, who told us the history of the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment and how it developed from 6 Regiments of Foot, the first of which, was formed over 300 years ago. In its long and distinguished history there have been many changes and amalgamations

In 1873 the territorial basis of the Army recruiting was reorganised and this was further confirmed on the 1st July 1881 when the old Regiments of Foot were linked and redesignated as follows:

30th-1st Bn The East Lancashire Regiment
59th-2nd Bn The East Lancashire Regiment
40th-1st Bn The South Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Volunteers)
82nd-2nd Bn The South Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Volunteers)
47th-1st Bn The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
81st-2nd Bn The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

In the immediate aftermath of World War II regular Lancashire battalions served in India, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Eritrea, Malta, Italy, Trieste, Austria and Germany, and the 40th and 47th saw active service in Palestine, but peace brought reductions and by 1949 our three County Regiments had been reduced to one Regular battalion each.

The Queen's Lancashire Regiment was formed on the 25 March 1970 and only six weeks later the 1st Battalion was on active service in Northern Ireland. Further Operational tours in the Province followed in1971-72, 1972-73, 1975-76 (resident), 1977, 1980-81, 1987, 1990-92 and 1997-99 (resident), in the course of which eight soldiers killed were in action.

The Regimental Archives contain records of the history of the Regiment in peace and war. They do not contain personal records or details of family, nevertheless many individuals who served in the Regiment can be traced. However the details are not indexed and a search may take time. The archive contains material relating to:

The East Lancashire Regiment. The South Lancashire Regiment (PWV). The Loyal (North Lancashire) Regiment. The Lancashire Regiment (South and East Lancashire) The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment. and Associated Volunteer, Territorial and Militia Units.

After answering questions the Curator allowed us to browse round the collection of insignia medals and battle honours.

Rossendale Ancestry

Mary Hill writing from Ipswich says "I am a new member of the LFHHS (8212) and researching my Bacup ancestors. I would be interested to make contact with any members who have links with the following families:

EASTWOOD/ HELLIWELL

a) James Eastwood (born c1817) married Mary Ann Helliwell (born c1815 at Heptonstall) in 1834 at Newchurch.

In 1861 census they are in Rochdale Road, Bacup with the following children: Betty A, Elizabeth, James, Joseph, Hannah and Thomas, all born between 1845 and 1857. There could well have been older children. James was a woollen printer and the children worked in textiles.

CROWTHER/ SUTCLIFFE

b) Another ancestor James Crowther, sizer, married Betty Fielden (both from the Todmorden area) in 1852. Her parents were John Fielden and Matilda Sutcliffe. Betty and John Crowther moved to the Bacup area and had Susannah (1852), Sarah, Elizabeth and Emily Ann. Susannah married Joseph Eastwood of the above family. Two of her sisters married a Rushton and a Townsend.

Netherwood Brass Foundry

c) My Grandfather Arthur Netherwood and his brothers had a brass foundry, near Bacup Station and lived on New Line. Does anyone have pictures or memories of the Netherwood Brass Foundry".

Email: mchill_52@hotmail.co.uk or write Mrs M.C. Hill, 34 Borrowdale Ave. Ipswich IP4 TJ

WHITTAKER/ GRANGER

Eileen Barrett email: Eileen1Barrett@aol.com would like some help with her Whittaker Family.

She would like to trace the descendants of Fred Whittaker born c1880 and his brother Alfred born c1873. Their father was Alfred Whittaker born 1840.

Fred had children: William born 188/3 in Bacup; Fred 1884/5 in Haddenham, Kent; Katie 1887 in Bacup; Sarah J. 1891 in Barrowford; John W. 1895/6 in Brierfield; Gladys 1897 in Brierfield; Mary 1899/1900 in Brierfield. Fred’s wife was Mary Ann Granger from Haddenham in Cambridge. He was a plumber and Glazier. In 1901, they were back in Bacup, at Old Meadows.

She knows Alfred had two daughters - Eve (1895). Gessia? (1897). His wife was Emma Jane formerly Friend. In 1901 they lived at Dog Pits, Bacup. His siblings were Fred, John William (her grandfather) , Mary E., Ernest, George, Jesse, Maggie and James. She has information on all these.

Coming Events

Saturday 1st October 10am - 4pm

NW Family History Fair with Internet Connection at Manchester Velodrome,

the National Cycling Centre. (opposite Manchester City Stadium and behind ASDA Supermarket) "Sports City" Stewart Street, Manchester.

Free Lectures:-

Basic Sources of Family History.

Family History OnLine.

Admission £2.

Children free if accompanied by an adult.

Anyone able to assist on the Lancashire stall should contact Stephen Ward the Society’s Exhibition Officer. Tel. 01204 650348

7th October 2005 LFHHS Annual Dinner

The annual dinner 2005 is to be held by the Bury Group at the Masonic Hall, Bury. It will be a standard meal with options costing £17. Parking is free. The speaker is Peter Watson. Full details were in the May "Lancashire" magazine.

Saturday 6th August 2005

Celebration of Family History at Astley Hall, Chorley 12 noon - 4.30 pm

from Jenny Cree, publicity officer, Chorley Branch.

This will be a special event for family historians. It is the first time any event of this type has been held in Chorley. The Chorley branch together with the Chorley Borough Council and Astley Hall Curator. Louise McCall and her staff, has organised this celebration and a number of groups which support family history will contribute. The LFHHS, Chorley Reference Library, the Latter-day Saints, Chorley Parish Church of St. Laurence Historical Society, Wigan History Shop, Lancashire Record Office, and the Irish Ancestry Group will all be represented. Each group will provide stalls and displays, with staff on hand to offer help to anyone interested in family history.

Admission to Astley Hall, is free. No need to travel round the country. Astley Hall is the County’s one step Family History venue on August 6th.