LANCASHIRE FAMILY HISTORY AND HERALDRY SOCIETY

Rossendale Branch Newsletter May 2013

Research and Advice Sessions at Haslingden Library every Monday 5.30 – 8.30 pm
Note: the doors to Haslingden Library close at 7.30 pm.

and at Rawtenstall Library every Tuesday 1.30 – 3.30 pm

We may be able to do simple look-ups for distant members. When contacting us with an enquiry, please include your membership number

The LFHHS Resource Centre.

The Society’s Resource and Research Centre at 2 Straits, Oswaldtwistle, BB5 3LU is open every Thursday from 1.00pm – 5.00pm and 1st Saturday of each month 1.00pm..

Coming Events

Saturday 18th May 2013

LFHHS One Day Conference and AGM

At St. Cuthbert's Church Centre, Preston PR2 3AR 9.45am – 5.00pm with buffet lunch £12.50 per person. Conference only without lunch £6.50. AGM only no charge.
Applications to be received by 22nd April.
There will be three good speakers.
Full details and application form are in your February edition of "Lancashire".

1st June 2013
Sheffield Family History Fair,
1867 Lounge, Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
10.00am – 16.00pm

29th June 2013
York Family History Fair,
Knavesmire Exhibition Centre,
York Racecourse, York
10.00am – 16.30pm

3rd August 2013
Chorley Celebration of Local History.
Astley Hall, Chorley, Lancs.

Our 40th Anniversary Celebrations

14th September 2013.

The LFHHS is holding a Family History Fair at King George's Hall, Northgate, Blackburn BB2 1AA. The day starts at 10.00 am until 4.00 pm. It is expected that each branch will have its own stall. There will also be bookstalls and representatives from other relevant bodies, the GRO, local Register Offices, etc.

15th September 2013

The Rossendale Branch will be hosting the Society's Annual Dinner which will be held at the Masonic Hall, Ashday Lea, Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall. 12.30 for 1.00pm. Further details will be in your May edition of “Lancashire”. or you can click through from our Rossendale Branch website where you will find an application form, menu and information on how to reach the venue.

Rossendale News, Notes and Queries

Programme Organiser Wanted
At our recent AGM, the position of Programme Organiser, once again fell vacant. We urgently require a volunteer for this position. At our 2012 AGM, Kathleen Ashburner agreed, as a temporary measure, to undertake this vital post for 12 months. She has arranged the programme up to the end of this year and is willing to advise anyone volunteering to take over this important job.

Following the AGM, I gave what is rapidly becoming my annual short talk. This year my topic was “How I came to join the Rossendale Society for Genealogy and Heraldry”. This talk was my tribute to Eileen Fletcher, of Preston, a wonderful woman, who changed the course of my life, when she helped me with my first brickwall and gave me a subscription to the society as a gift. It was the 10th September 1975, nearly 38 years ago.

The Duckworth Family from Rawtenstall
by Debra Jane Duckworth

I am in the process of writing a book about the life of Joseph Duckworth (Convict), who was born approximately 1824 in Rossendale. Extensive research to date has failed to locate his baptism record. I am extremely keen to find out about Joseph’s family in Rossendale, including his grandparents, if possible.

What I know to date:
On 1st July 1841 Joseph was convicted of larceny at the Preston Court and spent one month in prison (he was listed as being 14 but he was actually 16). Seventeen months later, on 1st December 1842 (aged 17) he was again convicted of larceny and sentenced to transportation to Van Diemen’s Land for a 15 year incarceration. He left Sheerness on the Convict Ship the “Gilmore” on 12th April 1843 after spending approx 3 months on the prison hulk the Justitia. He arrived in Van Diemen’s Land on 20th August. Joseph’s father was James Duckworth (born approx. 1786, died 12th October 1854 at Wood Top).

James was buried on 14th October at Longholme Methodist Church Cemetery (Grave site No. 527). Joseph’s mother was Hannah Driver born in Skipton, Yorkshire in 1791 (baptism not found to date). James and Hannah married on 17th November 1823 at St Nicholas Newchurch. They were listed as being from Rawtenstall and Bacup, respectively.

Joseph was one of six children and the only son.
His five sisters were:
1. Elizabeth
born approximately 1826 born in Rossendale, married Robert Greaves. They didn’t have any children.
2. Alice
born approximately 1827 born in Rossendale, never married and was buried in the Longholme Methodist Church Cemetery on 25th March 1891.
3. Leah
born approximately 1828 born in Musbury, never married but had one son Joseph William on 1st July 1852 in Townsend Fold, baptised 2nd October 1853 at St Michael Lumb. Leah died on 28th August 1854 and is buried at Longholme Methodist Church Cemetery in the family grave.
4. Nancy
born approximately 1832 born in Rossendale, married Robert Shaw and had four children – Mary Ann (approx 1860), Betsy (approx 1862), Leah (approx 1864) and Greaves (approx 1867). Robert died in 1867 aged 28 leaving Nancy to raise their children.
5. Mary
born approximately 1837 born in Rossendale. Unfortunately she died at the age of 16 and was buried on 15th March 1854 again, at Longholme Cemetery.

I found the family in applicable Census records, as detailed below:

1841 – lived at Blaye Hall [Blaize Hall], Lower Booths. James was a night watchman. Joseph did not appear on the census with the rest of the family, as he was in custody [at Preston House of Correction] awaiting trial.
1851 – lived at 49 Townsend Fold, Tottington Higher End. . James was a cotton weaver. All his daughters were living at home and employed in a cotton mill.
1861 – lived at 120 Oakenhead Terrace, Lower Booths. James, Leah and Mary had all died. Leah’s son Joseph William was living with his grandmother Hannah and Aunty Alice. Next door at 121 Oakenhead Terrace was Elizabeth and Robert Greaves. At 122 Oakenhead Terrace lived Nancy and Robert Shaw and daughter Mary Ann.
1871 – the remaining family members still lived at Oakenhead Terrace. Hannah died on 4th October 1871.

I would be grateful to anyone who could help me with the following information:

I wish to locate and obtain photos of where the family lived. i.e. Blaye Hall; 49 Townsend Fold, and 120, 121, 122 Oakenhead Terrace, Lower Booths. I would also love some photos of Longholme Methodist churchyard and of their headstones (if in existence). I am also keen to know the whereabouts of Wood Top.

If anyone has an interest in this line of Duckworth’s I would love to hear from you.

My email address is: ducky21@hooblerstone.com.au.

Thank you and kind regards. Deb Duckworth

Rossendale Photographers

Dr Derek Nuttall (9829) writes:

I am seeking information about commercial/professional photographers in the Rossendale Valley during the period 1870 to c.1930. He says, “ my purpose is to try to date the photographs in two family photo albums that have come down to me. Some of the people were identified many years ago, but there is now no-one living who can be sure of the identity of the others. A rough idea of the dating of these photos, many of which have the photographer's name printed on their mounts, might help establish identities”.

The names of the photographers are:

Oakley & Sidebottom, Rawtenstall & Bacup
E P Morris, Rawtenstall & Bacup
R Hammond, Newchurch Road, Bacup / Market Street, Bacup
J Speight, Market Place, Bacup
Casson, Bank Street, Rawtenstall
H Phillipson, King Street, Rawtenstall
Barcroft & Crabtree, Burnley & Bacup
I White, Stanley Street, Bacup
Charles Oakley, Bacup
Alfred Rogers, Mount Pleasant House, Bacup

email: nuttall.r.d.n@btinternet.com