LANCASHIRE FAMILY HISTORY AND HERALDRY SOCIETY

Rossendale Branch Newsletter November 2012

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

From Jacquie Crosby at Lancashire Archives:

Getting to know Lancashire Archives

Have you ever wondered how to use the searchroom at Lancashire Archives or what sort of records we hold? How to find your great-great-grandfather's will? What goes on behind the scenes? If so, these sessions may interest you.
An archivist will describe some of the sources we hold, and how Lancashire Archives works. They will explain some of the procedures and give guidance on how to use the finding aids to help you to make the best use of your time when you visit.
Sessions will be held at 2.30 p.m. on Friday 9th November, and 14th December.
Each session is FREE and will last 1½ - 2 hours. Places are limited, so advance booking is essential - telephone 01772 533039 or email record.office@lancashire.gov.uk

Huddersfield & District

Family and Local History Fair 2012

Our Family History Fair will be held at Batley Town Hal, Market Place, Batley WF17 5DA on Saturday 10 November 2012, between 10am and 4pm.

There will be a large number of stands and exhibitors including a number of family and local history societies, bookstalls, maps, photographs, genealogy supplies and software. Help and advice on all aspects of family history will be available. A number of lectures will also take place
Entrance only £2.00 (children under 16 free).

Additions to LancashireBMD

During October 2012, a total of 3095 marriages marriages for the Hyndburn and Rossendale Registration area were added. Listed below are those for Rossendale only:

Rossendale, Providence Chapel, Lumb (1954-2001);
Newchurch, Mount Zion, Edgeside (1954-1987);
Bacup, Wesleyan Chapel, Stacksteads (1931-1983);
Rawtenstall, New Baptist Chapel, Goodshaw (1955-1980);
Haslingden, New Jerusalem Church, John Street (1900-1996);
Haslingden, New Methodist Church, Manchester Road (1948-1998);
Helmshore, Methodist Church, Irwell Vale (1952-1992);
Bacup, St John (1997-2007) 2,219 United Reformed Church (1964-1984);
Cloughfold, Sion Chapel (1947-1967);
Rossendale, Wesleyan Chapel, Newchurch (1948-1989);
Bacup, Baptist Chapel, Irwell Terrace (1975-1997);
Waterbarn, Orchard Hill Chapel (1951-2001);
Newchurch, St Peter's Church (1971-1976);
Rawtenstall, Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (1987-2010);
Rossendale, Eden Chapel, Water (1962-2001);
Haslingden, Ebenezer Baptist (1913-2002);
Rossendale, Bethel Chapel, Waterfoot (1957-1993);
Haslingden, New Methodist Church, Manchester Road (1998-2006);
Goodshawfold, Rehoboth Church (1972-1973);
Stonefold, St John (1947-2000)

Rossendale News, Notes and Queries

At our last meeting we did not have as many contributors to our 10 minute talks as usual. Mary Davison told us about a visit to Darjeeling many years ago and a trip to the Antarctic. Michael Hiluta saved the day by giving us instances of local people who had emigrated to Australia and elsewhere during the 1940s and 1950s and what had subsequently happened to them.

In December we have our Christmas Social, which will follow the usual format. A potato pie and pea supper with mince pies etc. and a quiz and game organised by Leo Turner. This year, Leo is asking members to bring a photograph (photocopied or scanned) of themselves aged circa three to six years old, to the November meeting. Tickets will be available priced £3.50.

Tragic Accident at Hareholme Mill

Hareholme Mill was situated on the Irwell between Rawtenstall and Bacup. It was one of the principal worsted mills in existence at the beginning of the 19th century. Woollen spinning mills where at that time comparatively rare. It was built in 1798 by Messrs. Edmundson of Mytholmroyd, on land that had been leased for sixty years and was let to the Dockrays and Co. Quakers of Lancaster, who imported spinners from Lancaster to work it.
The accident occurred just before Christmas in 1801 and was reported over a three week period in the Lancaster Gazetteer.

25th December 1801

A most dreadful accident on Thursday evening 17th instant at Messrs. Dockrays worsted spinning mill at the Holme, near Newchurch in Rossendale. A number of work people went to divert themselves on the ice of the mill dam and in consequence of them collecting together, the ice gave away and before any assistance could be procured eight of those unfortunate people were drowned, among them was a man of 70 years of age, who attempted to save some of them and perished.

2nd January 1802

The shocking accident, mentioned in our last, to have happened at the Holme, near Newchurch in Rossendale, of eight people being drowned by the breaking of the ice, was attended by a circumstance extremely distressing; one of the men pushed into the water had the good luck to pull one out, who was saved; he then got two more in his arms, when, endeavouring to cast them out also another clung so fast to his legs, that he could not possibly extricate himself, but, in the midst of his up most exertions and loud shrieking for help, he and the two in his arms sunk to the bottom and perished. The neighbourhood was soon alarmed but too late to offer assistance. The dreadful lamentations of parents for their children, which would have pierced the most unfeeling heart, exceeded all description. We hope this will be a caution to youth, whose folly or temerity might lead them to these diversions, which have brought so many to an untimely death.

9th January 1802

The proprietors of the factory at Hareholme in Rossendale, where eight people were drowned by the ice breaking as stated in our last, defrayed the funeral charges of all of them, and have made considerable presents to the parents.

The burial register for St. Nicholas, Newchurch in Rossendale lists eight burials on the 20th December 1801.
Betty Lord wife of William Lord of Newchurch
Charles Tattersall of Lench
Richard Rabby [Raby?] of Hareholme
Deborah Pilling, child of James and Jane Pilling of Heightside.
John Pilling , child of James and Jane Pilling of Heightside.
Judith Maden of Newchurch
Betty Nuttall child of Edmund and Judith Nuttall of Newchurch.
Mary Ashworth child of John and Mary Ashworth of Newchurch.

Missing From St. James’ Churchyard

Several histories of Haslingden quote the following gravestone inscription, saying that it is situated in St. James’ churchyard, except that it isn’t there and wasn’t there when we transcribed the monumental inscriptions in the late 1970s.

Underneath this stone are deposited the remains of Christopher Duckworth, who in his capacity as a servant to Mr. Richard Lonsdale and his son Mr. Daniel Lonsdale, of Haslingden followed a gang of pack-horses upwards of half a century, and died on the 18th day of June 1800; aged 66 years.
Fifty years he inoffensive moved,
Loving his horses, by his horses loved,
In faithful servitude the roads along,
And seldom said, and seldom did he wrong,
His faithful services have due regard,
His masters honour and high heavens reward,
Where long proved worth and honesty combine,
His spirit to illuminate with ray divine,
A grateful master whom he loved and feared,
With tearful eye this stone memorial reared.
Reader repose in Christ the Lord thy trust,
Like honest Christopher be true and just.

Nothing more is known of Christopher. His date of death is correct, as reported in the burial
register. His age may have been mistranscribed. There is no baptismal record for him at Haslingden c1734. There is a possibility in 1723.

There are three Lonsdale graves on the south side of the church. These show that Richard Lonsdale, a corn chandler of Haslingden died on the 11th June 1776 in his 68th year and his son Daniel died 3rd June 1810 in his 57th year.

and finally:

At Lancashire Assizes 16th January 1808 Elijah Moorhouse & Richard Watson were found guilty of a burglary at the house of Mr. D. Lonsdale at Haslingden. They were sentenced to death. We can be certain that there was no memorial stone given in their memory. Christopher Knowles who was charged at the same time seems to have been acquitted