______
INCREASED RUNNING COSTS (or where your money goes)
When members pay their annual subscription the money goes directly to the Society which pays for the meeting room hire at Colne library. Virtually all other expenses, including Speakers fees, have to be paid for by the Branch. Over the last couple of years, due in part to rising fuel costs, many speakers have been forced to increase their fees.
We always try to get excellent speakers on a variety of subjects and if we are to maintain this standard it is going to cost more. Paper, printer cartridges and postage etc are just a few of the other items which have also increased in price and are paid for by the Branch.
Our policy has always been not to charge members or visitors at the meetings and to rely on donations. However, we now find that the donations at the door are not fully covering our expenses. Although it will still remain a voluntary contribution, we are now suggesting that a reasonable donation at meetings would be a £1 donation from members, and a £2 donation from visitors. Your cooperation in this would be greatly appreciated and help us to continue to offer a good and interesting programme of lectures, our quarterly Gazette, help with computers at workshops, and advice on your research.
Visit to Greater ManchesterPoliceMuseum
by Shirley Whittle
On the 15th May, a wet and cold Wednesday morning, a group of members travelled to Manchester to go on a guided tour round The Police Museum in Newton Street.
We were greeted by our guide Martin Millar, a retired police officer of 30 years service.
The Station was built in the 1870's and was a working Police Station until it's closure in 1950. Now the exercise yard is where police vehicles and traffic signs are displayed dating from the 1950's.
There was an area of police uniforms from the Peeler's to present day from different regions.
The next room housed the weapons used by arrested criminals and from the Strangways prison riots 1st-25th April 1990. Also there was a printing press and plates (broken), for forging old £5 notes, the big white ones.
Every item had a story and I think Martin enjoyed telling them as much as we enjoyed listening.
In the original charge room with its well worn desk more weaponry was displayed, but this was for officers to defend themselves and uphold the law, again from the Peeler's to present day. How it has changed !
The Victorian cells, apart from the plumbing, have not changed, the two beds in each cell still have wooden pillows.
We finished our tour in an 1895 Magistrates' Court which was brought over from Denton Police Station and restored by volunteers, and is now used as we did to enact a trial by magistrates. Some of the group tried three fellow members and found them guilty.
After the tour you can look round on your own. There is lots more to see but we did not have time. A great place, well worth a visit. It is easy to find, just look for the building with the blue lamp in Newton Street.
Thanks to Sylvia Marshall for organising this visit.
For more information see
Greater ManchesterPoliceMuseum
57A Newton Street, ManchesterM1 1ET
Tel: 0161 856 3287
Open Day
At
Barnoldswick Library
Saturday
2nd November
10.00am to 1.00pm
We were very busy in Colne last year and we could do with more people volunteering to help on the day.
-----ooO0Ooo-----
Branch Contacts:
Family History Queries
Jean Ingham email:
Secretary
Arnold Slater email:
Gazette Editor
Arnold Slater email:
Branch Website
-----ooO0Ooo-----
DAY EXCURSION TO CHESTER
This summer’s unusual heatwave relaxed its grip somewhat on Wednesday, 24th July, which made for a more comfortable day wandering around Chester, a fascinating City.
The 44 members and their friends, including a contingent from St. Philip’s Church in Padiham, really appreciated the luxury of the air-conditioned and extremely comfortable coach, not to mention free sweets, and the opportunity to get a cold drink from the on- board fridge for the return trip!
During the day, some energetic walkers explored the riverside, others the numerous museums and archeological treasures of the city, surrounded as it is by its Roman walls – doubtless many also explored the shops and eateries that proliferate! At lunchtime, several groups met up in the Cathedral Refectory to enjoy delicious, freshly prepared salads etc., not to mention a drink and a well-earned chance to sit down!
The excellent driver managed to get us everywhere just a couple of minutes under the expected times, until we were held up on the final stages by traffic congestion caused by a large fire in Padiham. However, the delay provided the opportunity for Jean Ingham to say thank you to everyone for being so punctual and to draw the five raffle prizes – a Voucher towards a coach trip, (donated by Moving People, which was won by Roger Catterall,) and four Marks & Spencer Vouchers, (appropriately won by four ladies – Sheila Birkett, Vera Corcoran, Mary Macadam and Janet Riley.)
All in all, a very enjoyable day out, although some did not manage to do all they had planned!
Mary Jackson
-----ooO0Ooo-----
2013 PROGRAMME
21 Aug‘DNA in Genealogy’ Rodney Brackstone
18 Sep‘Life in the Workhouse’ Peter Watson
16 Oct‘Origins of Blackpool’ Frank Watson
30 OctPractical Evening
20 Nov‘Thomas Francis Bawden, Royal Marines. 1845-1880’ Brian Jeffrey
4 DecChristmas Festivities (By ticket only)
‘How I became a Butlin’s redcoat’ Dee Ellis
Printed copies of the programme are available.
-----ooO0Ooo-----
Change of address
Would you please ensure that the Secretary is informed of any change of address – including email address
-----ooO0Ooo-----
QUERY CORNER
Replies unless otherwise stated to:
Jean Ingham at
The PEEL Family of Yorkshire and Lancashire.
A gentleman in Ireland would like to contact any member of the PEEL family. The PEELs were wheelwrights, carpenters and blacksmiths who moved from the Bradley and Kildwick area in Yorkshire to Colne and Nelson in c 1800. They had a business in Chapel St., Nelson, near the corner of Chapel St. and Holme St. during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
If you are descended from this family please let us know.
HARTLEY
If you have Frederick Ewart HARTLEY on your family tree, Frances in New Zealand would love to hear from you. Frederick Ewart was born 1881 in Nelson, the son of Henry HARTLEY and Mary SIMPSON. Henry and Mary were married in 1878 at St. Paul’s, Little Marsden.
What happened to WILLIAM and ELIZA BAMFORD?
Eliza RICHARDSON was born in Rochdale 1870 and married William BAMFORD at St. Edmund’s, Falinge in 1896. Their son, Thomas Settle BAMFORD, was born in Rochdale in 1897
Sometime between 1897 and 1901 they moved to become officers at Tredegar Workhouse in South Wales (1901 census).
In 1911 Eliza appears to be working at Burnley Workhouse. She is described as a widow and her occupation is (Supernecessary Foster Mother).
Thomas aged 14 was with his aunt and uncle in Rochdale.
The enquirer, Michelle, would like to hear from anyone with information on Eliza and William.
REPLIES to QUERIES
STUTTARD
Last year we received a query from Julie Dugdale regarding the family of Thomas STUTTARD and Elizabeth ANDERTON. One of their sons, Ernest STUTTARD who married in Barnoldswick c 1935.
Ernest’s maternal niece recently replied and we were able to put her in touch with Julie.
FOULDS, DUERDEN, BAXTER.
Another success story. Over two years ago a researcher in Australia asked for help with his FOULDS, DUERDEN and BAXTER ancestors. Last month a lady, also in Australia, asked to be put in touch with this person and they are now exchanging family history information.
(Sapper) DEAN TOWNSON
Way back in October 2009 we published a query asking for information regarding any descendantsof Dean TOWNSON of Colne born 1887 and awarded the military Medal & Bar in WW1. Dean married Bertha PARSONS and had a son, Harry D TOWNSON born in 1920.
Will the person who made this enquiry please contact Jean INGHAM who now has some information to pass on.?
War Memorial at St Matthew's Church, Burnley
Christine Windle
Christine would like to hear from any member who thinks that they may be related to one of the names on the attached list.
The list is from the War Memorial at St Matthew's Church, Burnley "In thankful remembrance of the men of this parish and congregation who gave their lives for their country in the Great War".
A dedication service, for the soon to be renovated memorial, is planned for the 9th November, 2013 and Christine and her brother (who has organised the event) would be pleased to have present-day relatives at the service.
We are particularly keen to contact any family of the 3 HARTLEY brothers mentioned, Ephraim, Hiram and Howarth as it was their mother who placed a wreath of red roses on the base of the new memorial cross on the day it was dedicated, Whitsunday, 1922. The money for the memorial was raised by public subscription.
Robert ATHERTON Harvey BOOTH Edward CATLOW
James CATLOW Herbert CLARKE William CLARKE
Harry DAVIS Arthur E. DURHAM W. Glynn DURHAM
Edwin FORREST Matthew GARTH Albert GREENWOOD
Ernest GREENWOODWalter GREENWOODErnest GREENWOOD
Edward HANSLIPJames HARGREAVES John H. HARGREAVES
Ephraim HARTLEY Hiram HARTLEYHowarth HARTLEY
Charles S. HASLAMJames F. HITCHON Cornelius HODGSON
Rudolph HODGSON Benjamin INGHAMArthur JAGGER
Herbert JONESIrving KAY Robert KAY
Arthur KERSHAW James D. LYONEdward MARSHALL
John R. MORRIS Leonard MOSLEY Carl S. MYERS
Thomas H. ORMEROD Maurice RENWICK John T. RILEY
Raymond G. ROSSA. Victor SMITH VC Alfred SPENCER
Thomas SPENCERMajor TATTERSALLEdward WASHINGTON
James A. WILKINSON John WILSON Willie WINDLE
GAZETTE – Editor – Arnold Slater
Articles are always welcome, I will try and fit them in as soon as possible.
The Gazette is published four times a year, January, April, July and October and is available to read on our website in HTML or .PDF format. Please let me know if you require notifying by email when the Gazette is available online.
Articles for the October Gazette by the endof September please.
Please send articles to Editor at lfhhs-pendleandburnley.org.uk or by post to the Editor,
c/o 6 Sussex Street, Barnoldswick, Lancashire BB18 5DS
-----ooO0Ooo-----
OUT VISITS
After our two successful visits this year we are now needing ideas of where to go next year.
Suggestions please to any committee member.
-----ooO0Ooo-----
Family History Fair
at King George’s Hall, Blackburn
September 14th
10am to 4pm
Admission £3
At the moment there will be 58 stands relevant to Family History.
Six talks are planned for the day –
Mark Bayley “Breaking Down Your Brick Walls”
Michael Singleton “A Coroner’s Experiences”
Ian Hartas “BMD’s on the Internet”
Geraldine Charles “Indian Ancestors – From Boarshurst to Bangalore”
Dr Brenda Hustler “Exploring Irish Ancestry”
Bill Taylor “Starting Family History – A Guide to Basic Sources”
More details are available on the
Society Website:
We need helpers on our stand.
If you can help please let Jean know.
For our display boards we need some photos of our Branch Activities.
If you have anything suitable could you please forward it to Arnold at:
secretary@lfhhs–pendleandburnley.org.uk
Searching for James Moorhouse
By Rod Moorhouse
Some time ago, after writing the life story of my great, great uncle Currer Moorhouse I decided to do a quick scan of the lives of his sons and daughters. Currer and his family seemed to be firmly rooted in the cotton manufacturing industry. They lived in Airton in Malhamdale in the 1860’s but later moved to Earby where most of them worked in local mills. I was curious to know what happened to them all but did not intend to make an in-depth study.
As I expected, some of the daughters got married, others stayed at home. The sons all continued to work in cotton, either as carders or weavers, except for the youngest, named James. Census records told a different story, describing James’s career progressively changing from that of ‘Weaver’ in 1871 to ‘Cotton Manufacturer and Employer’ by 1911. At this point I became intrigued to know how this came about.
Apart from the bare details found on the census records I had no other information about James. Then I remembered a brief mention about him in my Grandfather’s family history notes which runs as follows:-
“Regarding my uncle Currer’s children I can best remember my cousin James of Earby & Barlick he was in the cotton trade as a Master at both these places.....”
And then I found another:-
“My cousin James was well known in Skipton & Earby, he was a local Preacher, also a Liberal politician, he was a good Preacher and clever in his way. He was sometimes called the “Bishop”, he usually dressed in black. I believe he was a good business man & well known in the Manchester Cotton Exchange. He died some years after his second marriage. There were no children to his second marriage....”
So, here was a snapshot of a life history which sounded both full and fascinating to say the least! As well as a more thorough search of public records I also needed to look for information in the Craven district. One of the difficulties was that I live more than 200 miles away from that area and only visit on rare occasions.
I remembered that the name ‘Barlick’ is the local dialect name for Barnoldswick. I have a very good friend living there who just happens to be an experienced local and family historian. I spoke to her about James and she told me there had been a manufacturer named Moorhouse who had owned a mill and lived in the town in the late 1800s. With her usual enthusiasm she went off to her local library and then put me in touch with the history librarian. She in turn contacted a colleague at Skipton library where the Craven Herald newspaper archives are kept. A member of the Pendle and Burnley LFHHS was also contacted and she very kindly approached Colne library and reminded me that there are now Probate Calendar records online at Ancestry.com.
In no time at all I was surrounded by a wealth of information from local history sources, trade and telephone directories, probate statements, a copy of James’s will, photographs of his monumental gravestone and its inscription, birth, marriage and death records, details about houses he had rented or owned and perhaps best of all a copy of his obituary. So the next challenge was to sort it out and begin to write James’s life story.
Many family historians will have found themselves in a similar situation. When it occurs there is a need to construct a framework or skeleton using e.g. the basic facts to be found in public records, then to write these all down in chronological order. The facts may then be expanded to form a series of statements which are then useful for the development of a more complete story.
In addition to stories and photographs passed down, family history information is mainly grounded in written records. A recently read F.H.S. journal article reminded me that research into such records is hampered by a minefield of misspellings, mistakes, miscalculations, illegible text, transcription errors, contradictions, exaggerations, half truths, omissions, deceptions and so forth - the list is endless! We are also told that sound, socially based research of this kind depends on the validation of facts from at least three independent sources. This is often a tall order when writing family history and I take the view that if two sources can be found then that may have to suffice. I then write up the story. It may be then filed away in the hope that more information will be found or published with the expectation that new facts may surface or an untapped vein might be discovered.
Amongst the information gathered about James’s life there was a contradiction concerning the identity of his second wife. In my Grandfather’s account of the family he had written:-
“....subsequently James Married again a Miss Frankland who was a descendant of the Franklands of Rathmell....”
In my survey of the basic facts about James I had found firm evidence of the death of his first wife Mary, nee Hargreaves and what appeared to be his second marriage to Sarah Ann Hanson. Happily this was confirmed by information found in his will and his obituary. To date I have no idea who Miss Frankland was or where my grandfather’s story sprang from.
Piecing together the story of a late 19th century relative proved to be a very satisfying task. He appeared to have contributed so much to the development of the cotton manufacturing industry in the Earby, Barnoldswick, and Colne districts. He died in 1925 leaving a legacy of property, cars, books and pictures worth several million pounds in today’s values. I take no particular pride in his wealth but do admire his hard work, dedication and rise from humble weaver to Cotton King. In the words of the fellow LFHHS member who so kindly helped with this project,
“It just shows how someone from very humble beginnings could manage to prosper in the 19th century.”
Copies of the story of James entitled ‘James Moorhouse, Cotton Manufacturer’ are now available in Barnoldswick, Colne and Skipton Libraries but any interested members are welcome to a copy via email. Please contact
-----ooO0Ooo-----
A NEW VENTURE ??
A member of the Suffolk Family History Group, who has ancestors that lived in the Nelson & Colne area, recently enquired whether any of our Branch members would be prepared to give her a conducted tour of various addresses/sites during her proposed holiday visit to Lancashire. It would appear that their Group provide this service in the Suffolk area.
Committee member, Janet Knowles, volunteered, arranged to meet the lady on 5th July and took her to see the various sites on her “wish list” – a gesture much appreciated by the lady concerned, and a successful new venture for Janet!