Bolton Documents
We have the transcriptions of a number of documents relating to the Bolton area. These are only available to MLFHS members.
Birth, Marriage and Church Lists
- Bolton Workhouse Births (Included in miscellaneous database) Names, dates of birth, parentage and home addresses of children born in Bolton Workhouse 1839-1926 (2,680 records)
- Bolton, St. John, Latimer St. Baptisms (Included in miscellaneous database) Baptisms at St. John, Latimer St., Little Bolton 1849-1854 (112 records)
- Bolton, St. Paul, Baptisms (1863-1920) (Included in miscellaneous database) Transcription of three volumes of baptismal register entries 1863-1920). Later entries generally include date of birth. (3,200 records)
- Bolton, Cable Street Wesleyan Methodist Chapel Baptisms 1882-1969 (subject to 100 year closure) (578 records)
- Bolton, Chorley Old Road, Methodist Chapel, Baptisms Transcript of baptisms 1892-1928 (subject to closure for 100 years). (398 records)
- Bolton, Deane Baptisms 1813-1866. (14,353 records)
- Bolton, Deane Marriages 1752-1753. (93 records)
- Bolton, Delph Hill Wesleyan Methodist Church Baptisms 1881-1915 (380 records)
- Bolton, Halliwell (Later Halliwell Road) Methodist Chapel Baptisms 1844-1875. Halliwell chapel moved to a new building on Halliwell Road in 1869. (397 records)
- Bolton - Harvey Street, Primitive Methodist Chapel Baptisms 1898-1924 (307 records)
- Bolton, Haulage Street Wesleyan School, Baptisms 1877-1905
- Bolton, Kings Hall Wesleyan Methodist Mission 1932-1958
- Bolton, Lostock, Chew Moor Methodist Church Baptisms 1915-1992 (subject to 100 year closure) (154 records
- Bolton, Melbourne Road, Methodist New Connexion Chapel Baptisms 1879-1966 (subject to 100 year closure) (385 records)
- Bolton, Moor Lane Chapel Baptisms and Baptist Chapel Membership Baptisms 1803-1837 and Baptist Chapel Membership List 1821-1853. This register recorded, at different times, baptisms for Presbyterian, Baptist and Unitarian congregations.
- Bolton, Park Street, Wesleyan Methodist Church Baptisms 1863-1925 (996 records)
- Bolton, Queen Street Mission Baptisms 1919-1965 recent records closed 100 years) (235 records)
- Bolton, St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bowker Row 1837-1979 Records less than 100 years old will be redacted from the search results.(1,449 records)
- Bolton, St George’s Road Congregational Chapel Baptisms 1863-1877
- Bolton, St George’s Road/Duke Street, Methodist New Connexion Chapel Baptisms 1874-1921 (388 records)
- Bolton, United Methodists, St Georges Rd/Duke Street Baptisms 1921-1925 (22 records)
- Bolton, Victoria Hall Baptisms 1897-1965 (1,194 records)
- Bolton, Wesleyan Methodist Bolton Circuit Baptisms 1782-1815 (1,528 records)
- Edgworth Independent Chapel, Horrocks Road Baptisms 1807-1837
- Farnworth, Cawdor Street/Robert Street, Wesleyan Methodist Church Baptisms 1904-1972 (subject to 100 year closure) (258 records)
- Farnworth, Francis Street Congregational church Attendance Registers 1898-1929
- Farnworth, Halshaw Moor Wesleyan Methodist Chapel Baptisms 1838-1861 (subject to 100 year closure) (399 records)
- Farnworth, Moses Gate, Wesleyan Methodist Chapel 1895-1930 (subject to 100 year closure) (388 records)
- Farnworth, New Bury, Wesleyan Methodist Chapel Baptisms 1860-1909 and 1910-1942 (subject to 100 year closure)
- Bolton, Pikes Lane Methodist Chapel Baptisms 1862-1926. This congregation moved buildings within a very small area. Moss St was renamed Fern St.
- Ringley, Top o’th’ Brow Swedenborgian Meeting House Baptisms 1812-1831
- Turton Workhouse, Births and Transgressions
- Walmsley Chapel, Dimple, Baptisms 1789-1839 (402 records)
- Wesleyan Refugees Chapel, Hanover Street & Gilnow Street Baptisms 1838-1881
- Westhoughton Bethel Independent Chapel Baptisms 1826-1837
Census
- Breightmet census 1801 (Included in miscellaneous database) Names from the census returns for Breightmet in 1801 with some biographical details (138 records)
- Edgworth Census 1801 (Included in miscellaneous database) Names from the Edgworth census of 1801 (157 records)
- Great Bolton 1831 Census (Included in miscellaneous database) Transcription of the names and addresses of householders named in the returns (4,859 records)
- Great Bolton Census 1811 (Included in miscellaneous database) Alphabetical list of those named in the 1811 census. No personal details recorded but may be useful in proving that named persons were present at this time (3,186 records)
- Great Bolton Census 1821 (Included in miscellaneous database) Alphabetical list of those named in the 1821 census. No personal details recorded but may be useful in proving that named persons were present at this time. (3,801 records)
Rate Books, Poll Books and Other Lists
- Protestation Returns: Bolton & Deane (Included in miscellaneous database) Transcribed returns of those signing the protestation of 1642 for Bolton and Deane parishes including surrounding great Lever (a detached part of Middleton parish) (2,699 records)Bolton Poor Rate Assessment Index 1811 (Not included in miscellaneous database) An index to the poor rate assessment by names and streets - includes Bolton map.
- Bolton-le-Moors Poor Rate Assessment Index 1686. (Not included in miscellaneous database)
A name index to the poor rate assessment. - Breightmet Window Tax 1784 (Not included in miscellaneous database) A list of householders subject to the tax with additional notes on some of the residents by J.D. Greenhalgh.
- Great Bolton Poor Rate Assessment Index 1805 (Not included in miscellaneous database) An index to the poor rate assessment by names and streets.
- Halliwell Poor Rate Assessment 1798-1812 (Not included in miscellaneous database) A transcript of the poor rate assessment with name index.
- Little Bolton Poor Rate Assessment Index 1831 (Not included in miscellaneous database) An index to the poor rate assessment by names and streets.
Workhouse and Poor Law Records
- Bolton Poor Rate Assessment Book for 1686
- Bolton: Fishpool Workhouse Creed Books 1861-1930 - In the absence of the admission registers, the creed books provide a list of those admitted with their place of origin and possibly some other information. Ages are, sadly, not given, though children are frequently identified. Families would usually be recorded at the same time, so inferences may (with caution!) be drawn from the order in which names appear.
- Bolton: Fishpool Workhouse Servants Index - Names and details of children placed as servants by the Overseers of the Poor 1888-1916. Indexed by both masters and servants. (570 records)
- Bolton: Fletcher Street Workhouse - Transcript of Admission and Discharge Registers 1837-1861 transcribed by Bolton FHS. (33,154 records) Also List of those present in the workhouse 1820-1833 transcribed by Julie Lamara (1.183 records)
- Little Bolton Outdoor Relief Pay Book
- Paupers in Bolton Workhouse 1820-1832
- Turton Overseers Account Book 1789-91 - An index to names appearing in the account book of the Turton Overseers of the Poor. Transcribed by Stephen Tonge of Bolton & District FHS. (288 records)
- Turton Workhouse Admissions and Discharges -Admissions to and discharges from Turton Workhouse 1837-1861
Trades and Professions
- Bolton Cooperative Society 1859-1909 (Included in miscellaneous database) Index to names in History of the Great and Little Bolton Co-Operative Society Limited, Showing Fifty Years Progress 1859-1909: a Souvenir in Commemoration of the Society's Jubilee F. W. Peaples, 1909. (1,211 records)
- Bolton Cotton Workers 1802 (Included in miscellaneous database) The list was compiled by Jonathan Cooper, Constable of Little Bolton on 1st September 1802. This searchable version was created by John Lippiatt.
- Bolton Directory 1818 (Not included in miscellaneous database) This early directory contains the names of Bolton's principal residents and tradesmen. Includes street listing (Click Here for street index only). Includes listings for Chowbent and Leigh.
- Bolton Directory 1829 (Not included in miscellaneous database) This early directory contains the names of Bolton's principal residents and tradesmen. Includes street listing.
- Dobson & Barlow Strike 1831 (Not included in miscellaneous database) A round-robin letter demanding changes to working hours. Signed by 134 employees.
- History of Cooperation in Horwich 1862-1912 (Not included in miscellaneous database) Jubilee souvenir of Horwich Industrial Cooperative Society. History of the society with illustrations and photos of the principal officers (Large file 15Mb0
- Little Lever Cow Club 1805 (Not included in miscellaneous database) Rules and membership, with biographical notes, of this early mutual insurance club
Military
- Bolton Light Horse Muster Roll 1805 (Included in miscellaneous database) Full transcript of the roll with extensive notes on several of those named. (88 records)
- Bolton Soldiers Index 1806-1838 (Included in miscellaneous database) Soldiers in TNA WO97 Pension Records with birthplaces in or near Bolton. Extracted from the Jim Beckett Index. (394 records)
- Breightmet Volunteers 1803 (Not included in miscellaneous database) List of subscribers with additional notes on some of the subscribers by J.D. Greenhalgh.
- Various Muster Rolls (Not included in miscellaneous database)
A variety of muster rolls dating between 1802 and 1886. - The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies
Wyndham Lewis's "most active colleague": William Harcourt's 1917 Diary
Institutions (Schools, Hospitals etc.)
- Bolton Grammar School Boys 1658-1882 (Included in miscellaneous database) Names of boys attending Bolton Grammar School. Includes addresses (for most) and year of admission to the school. (1,848 records)
- Bolton Grammar School History (Not included in miscellaneous database) Includes List of Trustees 1658-1879 & List of Headmasters & Ushers 1658-1882
- Bolton New Library 1824 (Not included in miscellaneous database)
List of subscribers with additional notes on some of the subscribers by J.D. Greenhalgh.
Miscellaneous
- Blackrod Diary (Included in miscellaneous database) Extracts covering principally 1876-1907 though a few earlier and later entries. Mentions many local events and people. Includes images of the diary and an index to dates of entries. (470 records)
- Westhoughton Office Holders (Included in miscellaneous database) Lists of churchwardens, constables and overseers.
- Bolton Newspaper Extracts (Not included in miscellaneous database) The late Geoff Haslam transcribed items relating to Bolton and its people from early newspapers covering the period 1724 to 1790. A wide variety of topics is covered. The transcripts are presented a PDF document of nearly 200 pages. There is an index but you can also use the Acrobat "Find" facility to locate words which do not appear in the index. (Large file 5Mb)
- Bolton Street Renaming (Not included in miscellaneous database) Details of changes to Bolton street names
- Dukes Alley Chapel (Not included in miscellaneous database) Dukes Alley Chapel was established as an Independent chapel in 1754 and continued, with some changes of denomination, until it finally closed in 1960, to be demolished in 1968. This document includes a history of the chapel, a list of seat-holders and details of memorials both inside the chapel and in the graveyard.
- Extracts from the Diary of James Close (1900-1971) (Not included in miscellaneous database) Extracts covering 1928-1959. Mentions many Horwich events and people
- Horwich Independent Methodist Church and School 1862-1912 (Not included in miscellaneous database) History of the church and school with illustrations and photos of ministers etc.
- Records of Turton Manor Court 1737-1850 (Not included in miscellaneous database) Scanned copy of the records published as a book in 1909. Includes indexes of names and places. This is a large document split, for convenience, into several parts.
- Worsley and Hulton Court Rolls 1581-1888 (Not included in miscellaneous database) Abstracts from the court rolls of the manor Worsley and Hulton by C. E. Mollineux.
- A short history of St Peter's Church, Bolton
- Manchester Genealogist, Vol24, No 1, January 1988, pages 29-33
- Lion Clog Works Cataloque - Michael L Jackson
Speaker's Notes and Meeting Videos Archive
2014 - 2018
- Catholic Records - Jim Lancaster - April 2015
- H. Munro, A Soldier's Biography - John Marsden - May 2015
- Bolton School 500/100 - Dr. Jenni Hyde - July 2015
- Newspaper websites - Richard Heaton - May 2016
- Parish register on the Internet - Brenda Hustler - Sept 2016
- The Bolton Massacre bibliography - David Casserley - June 2017
- Conscientious Objectors - Talk Notes - Slides, Barry Mills - August 2017
- Wills and Probate revisited - David Lambert - September 2017
- Bolton War Memorials (Lost and Found) - Julie Lamara - October 2017
- Prisoners of War, useful websites - Tony Foster - November 2017
- "Buddles and Bear baiting" talk sources - Dr Alan Crosby - January 2018
- Scottish Family History Research - Mark Campbell - February 2018
2019 - 2023
- Pre-Registration Scottish Research - Mark Campbell - March 2019
- Non-Conformist Research Notes - Jackie Depelle - April 2019
- Probate records - wills bring out the worst in people - Anna Watson - May 2019
- GENUKI - The free virtual reference library - Phil Stringer - Sep 2019
- Mass Observation - Worktown - David Burnham - January 2020
- DNA & Genealogy - Rod Brackstone - March 2020
- Adoption - Have you ever found your 'real' family? - Dr Penny Walters - Nov 2020
- Bolton Crime & Criminals - Dr Alan Crosby - Feb 2021
- Birth & Death - Discover the hidden secrets of Registration - Notes - Antony Marr - Aug 2021
- Marriage - Rules and Records + useful tips - Antony Marr - Jan 2022
- House History Talk - Jackie Depelle - June 2022
2024
- Tom & Fanny have gone to Russia, they liked it so much they stayed – Wayne Ashton – January 2024
- Bolton Catholics – Kate Hurst – May 2024
- How the American Civil War Affected the Lancashire Cotton Famine – Stephen Irwin - June 2024
- Bastardy! Illegitimacy in Lancashire from the 16th to the 19th centuries - Dr Alan Crosby - July 2024
- The Future of Family History - Mike Coyle - August 2024
- CWGC Architecture and Conservation - November 2024
2025
- The Town that Vanished – Ian Robinson – January 2025
- Manchester Portraits - Brian Groom - February 2025
- Bolton’s Hero of Telemark - Dr. Bruce Tocher - March 2025
- AI - Steve Gill - April 2025
- Lower Brazley Hall - Derek Cartwright - May 2025
- The Weavers Uprising - Kate Hurst - June 2025
- Bolton’s first parish register 1573-1661 - Dr. Alan Crosby - July 2025
- Britain’s First Power Couple - Stephen Irwin - August 2025
- The Beswick Family Story - Sarah Day - September 2025
- John Wesley’s Local Legacy - David Kaye - October 2025
2026
- Bolton Archives Presentation – Tom Larner – January 2026
- The Amazing Sarah Reddish - Prof. Paul Salveson - February 2026
- These Isles - Brian Groom - March 2026
- Understanding Caribbean Genealogy Research - April 2026
- The Effect of AI on Photos in Family History - Steve Gill - May 2026
- Return to the Weavers Uprising - Dr. David Scott & Kate Hurst - June 2026
- A Guided Tour of Bolton in 1850 - Dr. Alan Crosby - July 2026