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  October 2001


Progamme 2001

7th November. Visiting Uncle Fred, Mary Davison and Jean Harrison will tell us about Fred Harrison.

5th December. Christmas Social. Programme

Programme 2002

2nd January. The Lancashire Parish Register Society. John Dalton.

7th February. Research Workshop.


Coming Events ....

17th - 20th October The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints presents, A Celebration of the Family. Family History Exhibition.

Learn how to research your family tree and access your ancestors through the Internet. Starter packs & beginners workshops. FREE ADMISSION.

Manchester Stake Centre, Altrincham Road, Wythenshawe. 1-9 p.m. Wed, Thurs, Fri. 10 - 3pm Sat.

Tel. 0161 998 5623 www.lds.org.uk

27th October The NW Group of Family History Societies FHS Fair, at the Guild Hall, Preston. Details from F. Gullick, 4 Lawrence Avenue, Simonstone, Burnley. HELPERS are required on the day.


Did you miss...

Mrs. Lewis’s talk on The Amish.

It was truly fascinating. The speaker gave us a wealth of information and detail about this American Sect.

There are around 200,000 members in 24 States, mainly in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana. They have less than 2 dozen surnames. In some areas they share 12 surnames. They have no music, no cars, no buttons for the women, no visible pockets, no belts, no zips. They are strictly pacifist. Mrs. Lewis brought along a selection of the clothes they wore and examples of the tapestries they make and sell.

They are the top tourist attraction in the US, having more visitors than the Grand Canyon.


American Disaster:

Last year Michael Hiluta and I were cheerfully researching the ancestors of Linzee Whittaker at Newchurch Parish Church. We recently received an email from Linzee telling us that his daughter Karen was in her office on the 105th floor of Tower #2, when the plane struck tower #1. She had reached the elevators on the 78th floor when the second plane hit. An eye witness who survived said she was killed instantly.

We all wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to Linzee and all his family.


Rossendale Ancestry:

Workshop and Exhibition

Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to the Exhibition. I hope you will all come along on Saturday 6th October to assist with the Workshop.


St. Nicholas, Newchurch - Parish Magazine 1896.

Terry Ladley recently acquired copies of the magazine for Newchurch Parish Church covering the whole of 1896. The magazine gives many details of Parish life at that time, including births deaths and marriages. Terry has been transcribing this information, which I will publish in the newsletter as space allows.


Gravestone of the Month

In Affectionate Remembrance of

Herbert Walter Wilson PARKINSON, the beloved and devoted husband of Edith Rose PARKINSON, Rose Bank, Rawtenstall.

Born April 11th 1856, Died September 29th 1904

For twenty years Managing Editor of the Rossendale Free Press and series of Newspapers.

In Affectionate Remembrance

of Mary Elizabeth (sister of H.W.W. PARKINSON) the beloved wife of James WHALLEY (the Town Clerk)

Born April 11th 1864, Died June 10th 1946.

Rawtenstall Cemetery. Submitted by M. Hiluta


GOODSHAW CHAPEL

An 18th Century Furore.

1777. On Saturday October 4, the several following Persons were convicted before Colonel Townley, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County, of having reeled false or short yarn, and paid the penalties by the statutes inflicted upon such offenders, together with the costs of prosecution, namely:

Alice ORMEROD of Goodshaw Chapel; Joshua WILKINSON of Huncoat, George BALDWIN of Clayton le Moors, James WESTAL of Huncoat,

I JOHN CUDBERT of Goodshaw Chapel, being entrusted with the key of the meeting house door by Robert BRITCLIFFE the Sexton, who occasionally leaves the key with me, in order that the Minister and People on any private business, might have the key at hand; and I inadvertently, being requested by the offenders, opened the door, and there I found my error, being afraid to face the Minister and people. Immediately, it was reported to the Society, who called upon and reprimanded me very shortly for it; and the Trustees directly set off to find the Inspector, and after many miles search found him at Huncoat, a village near Accrington and there pressed him to come back to Goodshaw Chapel and examine the premises and gave him an account of the transaction, together with the names of the offenders concerned in the concealment.

..... I am much grieved to think I should be instrumental in bringing reflection on the Meeting House and the People to contempt, who I declare were innocent in the matter.

Witness. Law. ORMEROD, Goodshaw Chapel, Oct. 23

Extracted from the Manchester Mercury. Oct. 1777


A CHEW FAMILY BIBLE

A Bible belonging to the Chew Family of Rising Bridge has been given to Stonefold Church. It contains the following information:

Parents Names - William Chew born May 2nd 1826 Mary Ann Chew born February 23rd 1828

Children’s names - dates of birth

Thomas, Apr. 29th 1847; William, Nov. 3rd 1840; John, Dec. 20th 1851; Richard, Jan. 10th 1854; Robert, May 13th 1856; James, Dec. 25th 1857; Mary Ann, May 16th 1860; Susan Jane, July 19th 1862 Elizabeth Alice, Jan. 26th 1868.

Marriages -

Richard Chew married Jan 31st 1875 John Chew married March 24th 1877 James Chew married August 19th 1880 Susan Jane married October 27th 1886 Elizabeth Alice married George Parkinson Nov. 26th 1891.

Birth dates of the Parkinson Children -

Eric, Sept. 12th 1892; Frank, March 18th 1896; William July 8th 1900.

Dates of Death for the Chew Family - Thomas, Jan. 2nd 1850; William, Mar 3rd 1851; Robert, Mar. 4th 1857; Mary Ann, May 4th 1862; William Chew Snr., April 11th 1878; Mary Ann Chew Snr. May 5th 1895

Frank Parkinson son of George and Elizabeth Alice Parkinson died in France May 3rd 1917.

_________Arras Memorial _________

Frank Parkinson Pte. 32753

2nd Battn. Lancashire Fusiliers

Died 3 May 1917 aged 21,

son of George and Elizabeth Parkinson, 33 Sunnybank Street. Haslingden.