Bookmark our Projects page at 
mlfhs.uk/research/reaching-out/mlfhs-projects

Another batch of record cards for Manchester City Transport staff has just been added to the Great Database.

This consists of the 743 records covering surnames HIBBARD to HYNES.

Thanks as always to Barry Henshall and his team for this latest batch.

Two more substantial additions have just been added to the Great Database. These are two batches of names and details extracted from the records of Manchester Court Leet as follows:

8,631 records of Manchester Court Leet business 1647-1662, transcribed by Linda Bailey

3,239 records of Manchester Court Leet business 1586-1602, transcribed by Linda Bailey, Chris Hall and Chris Norcross

Thanks to Linda and her co-workers on this project, which has now transcribed in excess of 50,000 records from the Courts Leet.

New data has been added at www.lancashirebmd.org.uk as follows:

Added 895 Births for Bury RD comprising:
Bury (1994-1996)
Added 1,320 Marriages for Bury RD comprising:
Bury Register Office or Registrar Attended (1983-1987)

Thanks are due to Tony Foster and his team.

The latest addition to the Great Database is 8,804 records of admissions to the Blair Convalescent Hospital at Bromley Cross, Bolton from its opening in 1889 up to its conversion into a Military Convalescent Hospital at the beginning of the Great War.

While the index is limited to the names, ages and dates of admission, the original registers at Bolton History Centre also include addresses, details of illnesses and dates of discharge, plus the unusual details of weights on admission and discharge.

Thanks to Graham Holt for this index.

Today sees the milestone of the addition of a further 4,215 persons admitted to the Bolton Workhouse between 1908 and 1930 (though predominantly between 1920 and 1930).

These records are taken from the final volumes of the creed registers to be indexed under this project bringing the final total number of admissions between 1869 and 1930 to 144,979 persons (though, as is the nature of workhouses, many of those in the index will have been admitted several times).

A big thank you to Graham Holt and his team of volunteers on the completion of this very substantial project which started back in 2018.

For those who don't know the background, there are no surviving admission records for the Workhouse but there is an extensive series of creed books. Details of the new arrivals' religious affiliation were recorded, amongst other reasons, so that should they die while in the workhouse, the appropriate rite could be observed for their burial.

Despite the limited intention of the registers, they can contain a lot of additional information about the individual including date of admission, age, whether married or single and occupation. The details recorded vary somewhat with each of the 25 volumes in the series. Needless to say, the same names can recur several times as the individual left the workhouse at times when employment opportunities were good, but was forced to return when work, which could be seasonal, dried up. 

New data has been added at www.lancashirebmd.org.uk as follows:

Added 1,839 Deaths for Bury RD comprising:
Bury (1988-1990)

Thanks are due to Tony Foster and his team.

Another substantial addition to the Great Database and of particular interest to those interested in earlier Manchester records.

This is 6,465 records of Manchester Court Leet business 1662-1675. Thanks to Linda Bailey, Chris Hall and Chris Norcross for these.

This series now covers the courts for the years 1586-1846 and contains 38,276 name records including manorial offices held (Beadles, scavengers, ale tasters etc.), offences brought before the court (trading offences, public nuisances etc.) and various other matters such as transfers of property.

One final batch of data from the records of the Manchester and Salford Boys' and Girls' Refuges.

This is the very small collection of just 22 admissions to the Heathfield Home for Girls from 1882 to 1886. The home was established in 1878 and operated until 1886, when it was moved into one of the Refuge's other buildings. It is confusing that the register transcribed here describes itself as "History Book No. 1" but contains no admissions from 1878 to 1882, which it is assumed were recorded elsewhere.

Just because they are few in number, doesn't mean the records cannot be valuable, they can contain a lot of biographical detail; for an example search the Great Database for Janey JASPER and take a look at her record. Sadly, for the last three admissions (marked * below), there is no information beyond the name.

Thanks to Jim Chadwick and Marie Collier for this index.

Since there are so few records, here are the names:

BARRATT    Martha Ann
BENT    Mary Jane
BRADLEY    Mary Ann
BRADSHAW    Clara*
BROMILEY    Emmin
EDWARDS    Amy Ada
FLEMING    Annie
GORRELL    Priscilla
HARRISON    Jane
HODKINSON    Lilly
HUGHES    Mary
JASPER    Janey
MARSH    Elizabeth *
MATHISON    Elizabeth
RILEY    Mary Ann
TANNER    Elizabeth
TATE    Alice*
TRAVIS    Ellen
WALKER    Sarah Jane
WARBURTON    Jessie
WILSON    Caroline
WORTH    Elizabeth Ellen

* No details

We are currently looking at further records from this collection, now held in Archives on behalf of the Together Trust, which is the present day "descendant" of the Boys' and Girls' Refuges. Special thanks are owed to Caroline Flint, theeir archivist, who continues to provide invaluable and enthusiastic support for the society's work on these records.

John

Another batch of data relating to the Manchester and Salford Boys' and Girls' Refuges has been added to the Great Database. This consists of admission records for the 198 children admitted to the Tetlow Grove home for orphans 1897-1920. Details in each record are much the same as for the earlier orphan home records.

Thanks to Jim Chadwick and Karen Hugill for this contribution.

Not the biggest of additions this time. These are 36 records 1875-1881 from Little Boys Home admission Register. The Little Boys Home appears to have been the original name of the Orphans Homes (subject of the lst addition) and these children mostly appear in those registers. The original function of this register is, to be honest, quite unclear but the details it includes often differ from the main register entry.

Thanks to Jim Chadwick and Marie Collier for this index.

Another important record collection has been added to the Great Database. This consists of 2,257 records of admissions to Orphans' Homes. These homes were opened by the Manchester & Salford Boys' and Girls' Refuges from 1875 onwards. These records relate to admissions 1875-1920.

The records can provide names and addresses of parents (though these may often be "dead" or "unknown") and often other relations. There is usually an age and mostly information on what became of them - in many cases emigration, usually to Canada. About 15% are accompanied by a photograph.

Thanks for this are due to  Jim Chadwick, Marie Collier, Karen Hugill and Janet Moores.

Another batch of Manchester Corporation Staff Record cards has been added to the Great Database.

This consists of 1,931 records covering surnames EACOTT to HEYWOOD (but excluding the volume covering FINDLOW to GAFFNEY, which will follow later). These are generally staff who joined before 1946.

Thanks to Barry Henshall and his team, Amelia Emmerson, Jim Fieldhouse, Phil Wharram and Stan Chaplin, for this latest addition.

New data has been added at www.lancashirebmd.org.uk as follows:

Added 1,652 Marriages for Bury RD comprising:
Bury Register Office or Registrar Attended (1981-1985)

Thanks are due to Tony Foster and his team.

We have received a substantial account of the military service of Ronald Flint.

Ronald Flint came from Higher Openshaw, the son of John Richard and Lilian Claire Flint. He was  killed in action on 2nd November 1944 at Broek, near Venlo in the Netherlands.

This detailed research was compiled by Kees Boele, who has adopted Ronald's war grave.

I have added this account to the Public Documents at:
https://mlfhs.uk/research/find-out-more/public-resources/public-documents

A second Roman Catholic baptism register has been added to the downloads available from the online shop.

This one contains baptisms for St. St Augustine, Burnley 1896-1924. This contains 1,753 names which appear in 394 baptisms. The download includes index, transcription and scanned images of the original registers.

Thanks once more to Marie Collier and her team for this latest addition.

More details can be found at https://www.mlfhs-shop.co.uk/products/dl1626

Another Roman Catholic baptism register has been added to the downloads available from the online shop.

This one contains baptisms for St. Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows. Denton 1867-1873 & 1889-1924 (there appears to be no baptism register for 1873-1889). This contains 3,219 names which appear in 747 baptisms. The download includes index, transcription and scanned images of the original registers.

Thanks to Marie Collier and her team for this latest addition.

More details can be found at https://www.mlfhs-shop.co.uk/products/dl1625

Another slightly unusual data set for the Bolton area. This contains details of 3,979 admissions between 1896 and 1924 to Farnworth, Little Hulton and Little Lever Councils Infectious Disease Hospital.

Details include name, address, age and date of admission. No clinical details, unfortunately. Includes many examples of several family members admitted at the same time.

Thanks to Graham Holt and members of our Bolton Branch for these.

New data has been added at www.lancashirebmd.org.uk as follows:

Replaced 499 deaths for Witton (1859-1862) to correct a number of errors

Added 1,931 Marriages for Bury RD comprising:
Bury Register Office or Registrar Attended (1979-1982)

Thanks are due to Tony Foster and his team.

Something for those with research interests in Bolton this time.

1,449 baptisms for St Andrew Presbyterian Church, Bowker Row, Bolton 1939-1979 have been added to Great Database.

100 year redaction has been applied to records so that effective coverage is limited to 2025. Records will open progressively each year.

Thanks to Graham Holt and the Bolton Branch for these.

Another interesting source has been added to the Great Database. This consists of 1,252 names of employees of Mather and Platt (Engineering) who served in UK (and some in French) forces during WW1. The source is a book published by the company, probably circa 1920.

Details will, as a minimum, include their rank and the regiment in which they served (unfortunately, most only give the initials of forenames). Records of soldiers who died will generally include the date and cause of death. There are also annotations where a serviceman received an award for gallantry, a number of which were awarded by overseas governments.

Thanks are due to Jim Chadwick, who scanned the book and Karen Hugill, who transcribed the names and details.

The scanned book can be found in the Public Documents at;

https://mlfhs.uk/research/find-out-more/public-resources/public-documents

Image: L. S. Lowry, “Going to Work” (1943), Imperial War Museum – Public Domain

Another addition to the Godfrey Maps Index at: https://mlfhs.uk/databases/godfrey-map-index

282 street and building references from Bolton Sheet 8 Bolton: Deansgate & Brinks Brow 1847 36" to one mile.

This very detailed map covers a major area of central Bolton, including Deansgate, the New Market Place, Exchange, the River Croal, St George's Church, Temperance Hall, Unitarian Chapel, Vernon House, Bridge House, and extending to Brinks Brow. Industry includes Globe Mill, gas works, Union Foundry, Great Bridge Mill, Spa Lane Mill, flax mills, etc.

On the reverse is included the 10 foot to the mile sheet 87.13.9 covering the Town Hall area in 1890 together with a 2,000 word introduction to the history of the area.

This is not available from the MLFHS online shop - see Alan Godfrey's site: https://www.alangodfreymaps.co.uk/bolton08.htm

Thanks to Graham Holt for this index.

Added a further 4,114 records of names appearing in the records of Manchester Court Leet for the years 1787-1805. These records include people appointed to manorial offices such as ale tasters (nice job) and scavengers (not so nice) as well as people fined for vatious offences. During this period there seems to have beeen a crackdown on unsafe entrances to cellars, for example:

LINGS    WIlliam    (Court on 11 May 1791) The Jurors aforesaid having likewise Viewed and examined a certain Cellar hole appertaining to a House in the Occupation of William Lings which projects into the common foot path in a certain Street within the Jurisdiction of this Court called Withy Grove which is a very dangerous Nuisance to his Majesty's Subjects passing and repassing in and through the said Street, do Order him the said William Lings to remove the said Nuisance within One Month from the time of Notice given him thereof, or in default or neglect thereof they do Amerce him in the Sum of One Pound and one shilling; And it is further Ordered that the Bailiff of this Court shall give him Notice thereof

Thanks to Chris Hall, Chris Norcross and Linda Bailey for these.

This brings the total of names from the Court Leet records to 31,711 for dates between 1553 and 1846.

New data has been added at www.lancashirebmd.org.uk as follows:

Added 2,132 Deaths for Bury RD comprising:
Bury (1986-1989)

Thanks are due to

Tony Foster and his team.

The project to transcribe the Bolton Workhouse Creed Books as nearing its end, with just one register to complete. This latest addition covers admissions 1922-1926, a total of 3,778 records. Thanks to Graham Holt and his team at Bolton for these.

For those who don't know the background, there are no surviving admission records for the Workhouse but there is an extensive series of creed books. Details of the new arrivals' religious affiliation were recorded, amongst other reasons, so that should they die while in the workhouse, the appropriate rite could be observed for their burial.

Despite the limited intention of the registers, they can contain a lot of additional information about the individual including date of admission, age, whether married or single and occupation. The details recorded vary somewhat with each of the 25 volumes in the series. Needless to say, the same names can recur several times as the individual left the workhouse at times when employment opportunities were good, but was forced to return when work, which could be seasonal, dried up. (Image AI).

New data has been added at www.lancashirebmd.org.uk as follows:

Added 973 Births for Bury RD comprising:
Bury (1993-1994)

Thanks are due to Tony Foster and his team.

The latest product of our partnership with Together Trust has now been added to the Great Database. This is the content of two overlapping registers of records relating to children sent to Canada under schemes managed by the Manchester and Salford Boys' and Girls' Refuges 1883-1914.

There are 1,113 records relating to children emigrated 1890-1914 and 1,646 for the period 1883-1913. The two registers partially overlap, so some children appear in both. The details differ slightly between the two registers.

Some of these children were paid for by Chorlton Poor Law Union and there may be further details in an earlier index published in the Document Collection (see online documents - general - Workhouse and Poor Law).

Thanks to Jim Chadwick and Janet Moores for this addition.

Another addition to the Godfrey Map Index at https://mlfhs.uk/databases/godfrey-map-index

This consists of 80 references to streets and buildings for the map of Poynton (West) 1896 (Cheshire sheet XIX.16). This is a small index covering a largely rural area, but important in that it completes indexing of the available Cheshire maps covering areas of Greater Manchester.

Thanks are due to Chris Willis for creating this index.

The map can be purchased from our online shop at https://mlfhs-online-shop.myshopify.com/products/3468

There are still some Lancashire maps remaining to be indexed. If you own any of the maps still shown unshaded on the Lancashire map at https://mlfhs.uk/?view=article&id=346:godfrey-map-listing&catid=9and are prepared to give a little time to creating an index, please contact me and I will tell you how it should be done.

Street and building indexes for another six  maps have been added to the Godfrey Maps Index at https://mlfhs.uk/databases/godfrey-map-index

The complete details of the number of entries for each map included and links to details in the MLFHS Online Shop are:

297 for Hadfield & Tintwistle 1907 (Cheshire sheet III.16)
https://www.mlfhs-shop.co.uk/products/3407

186 for Roe Cross 1907 (Cheshire sheet III.15)
https://www.mlfhs-shop.co.uk/products/3416

106 for Disley 1907 (Cheshire sheet XX.14)
https://www.mlfhs-shop.co.uk/products/3423

129 for Disley North & High Lane 1907 (Cheshire sheet XX.10)
https://www.mlfhs-shop.co.uk/products/3453

132 for Higher Disley & Furness Vale 1907 (Cheshire sheet XX.15)
https://www.mlfhs-shop.co.uk/products/3455

132 for Poynton East 1907 (Cheshire sheet XX.13)
https://www.mlfhs-shop.co.uk/products/3435

Thanks to Chris Willis for this latest addition.

Added a total of 34,182 records to the Catholic Register Index, accessible from the mlfhs.uk home page. These records contain all of the names which appear in the baptism registers for the churches listed below, viz: child, father, mother, godparents. Results link to brief information about the source and an onward link to the MLFHS online shop product page from which the full transcript, index and images of the registers can be downloaded.

Horwich, St. Mary 1888-1925

Oldham, Greenacres, St. Anne 1878-1914

Salford, Weaste, All Saints and St John Vianney 1896-1920

Stretford, St. Ann 1860-1924

New data has been added at www.lancashirebmd.org.uk as follows:

Added 239 Marriages for Manchester RD comprising:
Prestwich Registrar Attended (1917-1917)

(These records were accidentally omitted when this register series was indexed).

Another large update of interest to those researching in 17th century Manchester. This is a further batch of 6,319 records of names appearing in the records of Manchester Court Leet, this time for the period 1675-1687. As with previous records from this source, thanks are due to Linda Bailey, Chris Hall and Chris Norcross.

New data has been added at www.lancashirebmd.org.uk as follows:

Added 1,602 Births for Bury RD comprising:
Bury (1993-1996)

Thanks are due to Tony Foster and his team.

Another addition of 2,342 names to the Great Database. This is a batch of staff record cards for Manchester City Transport Staff who commenced service 1946-1956 and covering  surnames TIGHE to ZIEGELHEIM.

This almost completes records for this period. Two books presented problems during scanning and are to be re-scanned, so there will be one more batch of around 400-500 records once this has been done and the images indexed. These records will be for surnames TU... to WAR...

Note that some of the staff in this series were born after 1926 and their records will be redacted from search results until 100 years has passed beyond their birth date.

Thanks are due to Barry Henshall and his team (Stan Chaplin, Phil Wharram and Jim Fieldhouse) for this latest batch.

This one is of interest to those with an interest in early Rochdale records.

THE HISTORY OF THE PARISH OF ROCHDALE IN THE COUNTY OF LANCASHIRE, Henry Fishwick, 1889

Henry Fishwick's substantial work is an important source of information about Rochdale. It includes a number of nominal lists. This data set contains transcriptions of:
•    A list of the Vicars of Rochdale with biographical notes on each.
•    A listing of residents of Rochdale who signed the Oath of Allegiance in 1641
•    A listing of names of persons appearing in the Manorial Court Rolls 1335-6 & 1566-1624
A scanned copy of the book is available online from Chetham's Library at:
https://library.chethams.com/collections/digital-resources/fishwicks-history-of-rochdale/
Page references in the search results refer to the pagination of the original book and not to the numbering of the online pdf copy.

Thanks are due to Linda Bailey for transcribing these 2,903 records.

Was your ancestor a naughty boy or girl?

The latest addition to the Great Database is a collection of 6,526 records of male and female prisoners admitted to Belle Vue Prison between 8 June 1871 and 8 April 1872. These are mostly minor criminals sentenced to less than 6 months for offences such as drunkenness, prostitution, vagrancy and petty theft, though a few served longer sentences.

Findmypast scanned and indexed all of the deposited admission registers some years ago but the register for this period was missing. It turned up on the open market and MLFHS bought it and donated it to Archives. We have now digitiesd the register and indexed the contents.

Thanks are due to Jim Chadwick, who managed the project and to Marie Collier, Karen Hugill and Janet Moores who transcribed the data.

This is the second series of records scanned by Barry Henshall and indexed by Amelia Emmerson. It contains 1,549 records for staff surnames BROADHURST to DYSON including duplicate entries for married women in their maiden and married names.

The Gordon Boys' Home was a privately organised home for boys in difficult circumstances. This might mean they were orphaned or lived in an abusive home. In many cases it was boys who were committed there under the probation of First Offenders Act of 1887.

The images of the records of the 850 boys admitted during its short existence can provide a wealth of information, birthdates, addresses, family background and jobs taken on leaving. Thanks are due to Jim Chadwick for managing the project and to Marie Collier and Karen Hugill for creating the index.

New data has been added at www.lancashirebmd.org.uk as follows:

Added 1,485 Marriages for Bury RD comprising:
Bury Register Office or Registrar Attended (1976-1979)

Thanks are due to Tony Foster and his team.

New data has been added at www.lancashirebmd.org.uk as follows:

Added 2,506 Births for Bury RD comprising:
Bury (1993-1995)

Added 1,835 Deaths for Bury RD comprising:
Bury (1985-1988)

Added 1,547 Marriages for Bury RD comprising:
Bury Register Office or Registrar Attended (1974-1979)

Thanks are due to Tony Foster and his team

Another catholic baptism register has now been added to the MLFHS online shop. This time it is:

Greenacres, St. Anne's RC Church Baptisms 1878-1914
For more information and to download see https://mlfhs-online-shop.myshopify.com/products/dl1623?_pos=1&_sid=7f607fef6&_ss=r

This consists of an index to the 15,294 names appearing in the 3,341 baptism entries, a transcript of the register and copies of the scanned images of the original entries.

As always, thanks to Marie Collier and her team for transcribing and indexing this register.

Our Catholic Register indexing team have completed four more baptism registers for the Salford RC diocese. The first two have now been added to the MLFHS online shop as downloadable transcripts and indexes complete with scanned copies of the original registers. They are:

Stretford, St. Ann's RC Church Baptisms 1860-1924
Further details and download at https://mlfhs-online-shop.myshopify.com/products/dl1621?_pos=1&_sid=ed601c4a7&_ss=r

Weaste, All Souls and St. John Vianney Baptisms 1896-1920
Further details and download at https://mlfhs-online-shop.myshopify.com/products/dl1622?_pos=1&_sid=ed601c4a7&_ss=r

Thanks are due to Marie Collier and her team for these latest publications.

The other two, which are being prepared for publication, are for St. Mary, Horwich and St. Ann, Greenacres.

Another large tranche of records has been added to the Great Database, consisting of 5,735 records of names appearing in the Manchester Court Leet records 1731-1756. These records can contain anywhere between a simple mention of appointment as a juror or manorial officer and a lengthy record of the hearing of an offence against the manor's regulations such as selling short weight or defective products or committing public nuisances (even the Lord of the Manor Oswald Mosley was not immune: (Court on 6 Oct 1732 - Officers for the Hanging Ditch present Sir Oswald Mosley And we Amerce for suffering his rubbish to lye in the Street).

These records were transcribed by Linda Bailey, Chris Hall and Chris Norcross, who have now transcribed over 22,000 records from this source.

We have been kindly given permission by Martin Hill, a descendant of Sir Richard Arkwright, to make a copy of his biography of this great inventor and entrepreneur available to our members.

This is in the Biographies section of the Member Documents collection. Biograpies are accessed via Member Area / Document Collection / Biographies.

The index of staff records for Manchester City Transport employees takes another substantial step forward with a further batch of employee records.

This latest batch contains 1,059 records covering surnames SIMPSON to THISTLETHWAITE. Thanks as always to Barry Henshall and his team for these additions.

It is worth noting that in the case of married women, they are indexed under both married and maiden surnames.

Another interesting record set has been added to the Great Database. This consists of 227 records of teachers appointed to the Royal Schools for the Deaf and Dumb, Manchester. Data includes dates of appointment and leaving and (for most) dates of birth. There are details of qualifications and, for some, details of previous/subsequent appointments, marriages and maiden names of married women teachers.

There is a 100 year closure on these records which affects around 25 records. These will open automatically as the 100 years threshold following date of birth is met.

Thanks to Jim Chadwick for scanning and managing the project and to Susan Hilton-Brooks for transcribing the details.

I have just added a further 2,744 records of persons mentioned in the Manchester Court Leet records 1820-1832

Thanks to Linda Bailey and Chris Norcross for these latest additions.

Added one final batch of 134 records of admissions to the children's refuges in 1896 to the Great Database. There is a total of 5,853 names in the index (slightly fewer children as a small number were known by more than one name.

Thanks to Jacqueline Perkins for completing this final batch which completes the index 1870-1919 and to Vicky McGuiness and Andy Lister for their substantial contributions to what I hope will prove a valuable index.

We are about to discuss further work with Together Trust to scan and index more of their records of children who passed through the children's refuges, so watch this space for more information.

Linda Bailey has completed the indexing of the court leet records for Manchester for 1808-1820, which adds a further 3,007 records to the Great Database. As wih earlier batches, these include both the appointments of manorial officers, constables, food inspectors etc. and summaries of prosecutions for offences such as selling short weight. Like the previous ones, there  is a link in the descriptive document to the original 19th century published version.

Thanks to Linda, Chris Hall and Chris Norcross for this growing resource, which now totals over 11,000 references.

Another sizeable addition to the Great Database. This consists of 2,222 children admitted to the Manchester & Salford Boys' and Girls' Refuges 1870-1887 and 1896. This brings the total number of admissions to 5,719 with just a few to index before this project provides a complete index to the admissions 1870-1919.

Thanks are due to Andy Lister and Jacqueline Perkins.

A slightly unusual addition this time.

This is a small listing of 26 births to local presbyterian families 1702-1707 recorded in the Anglican parish register for Newchurch.

These relate to members of the local presbyterian congregation including their early days in which they were meeting in a local barn.

There appears to be no particular reason why these should have been recorded in the parish register other than, perhaps, the minister's wish to "keep tabs" on his parishioners. If so, it was a fortunate practice, as possibly no other record of these births may exist.

Transcribed by Cheyvonne Bower.

There is more information about the presbyterians on Cheyvonne's informative page https://www.crofthistory.org/risleychapel.html

The latest addition is a batch of 6,527 records for Manchester Court Leet 1756-1786.

As with the previous batches, these records consist of appointments to manorial offices and penalties for infringements of trading rules and other "nuisances".

Thanks to Linda Bailey and Chris Hall for these transcriptions.

Another batch of refuge admission records has been added to the Great Database.

This consists of 309 admissions for 1896 & 1914-1919.

Thanks to Vicky McGuiness and her team Andy Lister and Jacqueline Perkins for these.

New data has been added at www.lancashirebmd.org.uk as follows:

Added 1,832 Deaths for Bury RD comprising:
Bury (1985-1987)

Thanks are due to Tony Foster and his team.

Although we have not yet completed the indexing of the 1946-56 records, work has already started on the earlier series covering employees engaged up to 1946.

Scanning of the records is already in progress and the first records are already indexed and in the Great Database. These consist of 1,522 records  for surnames ABBOTT to BRITTON. Thanks are due to Barry Henshall and his team:Jim Fieldhouse, Phil Wharram, Stan Chaplin and Amelia Emmerson.

This latest addition consists of 1,122 admissions to the Refuges for the period 1906-1913.

As before, thanks to Vicky McGuiness and her team for these.

Another batch of early Manchester records.

These are 3,912 records from Manchester Constables' Accounts 1605-6 and 1648-66. They have been transcribed by Linda Bailey from the version published in 1892 by J P Earwaker.

Spelling of names is eccentric in the extreme. A copy of the appendices to Earwaker's original from which this data is drawn is included in the Document Collection (General/Rate Books, Poll Books and Other Lists) and a full version can be found in Internet Archive https://archive.org/

Another batch of records for those of you with 17th century interests.

This time it is 690 records of names of those Mancunians who signed the Oath of Allegiance to Charles II in 1679.

Thanks to Linda Bailey for transcribing these.

Another substantial extension to the coverage of the Godfrey Map Index extends the coverage of maps for the borough of Stockport with 261 references to streets, buildings and other features appearing on the maps for:

3456  19.01 Gatley 1897
3433  19.02 Cheadle & Cheadle Heath 1897
3451  19.08 Hazel Grove 1897
3457  20.01 Marple (Rose Hill) & Chadkirk 1896
3425  20.02 Marple 1896

These have been indexed by David Birkmire and bring the total number of index references to 37,394 covering 261 of the Alan Godfrey Maps.

The latest addition to the Great Database is a further 1,016 admissions to the Boys' and Girls' Refuges for the years 1901-1905.

Thanks to Vicky McGuiness and her volunteers for this latest addition.

The latest data added to the Great Database consists of 1,240 announcements relating to local servicemen published in the Bolton Journal & Guardian between Jul 1918 and Dec 1918. These have been transcribed by Linda Bailey, Chris Norcross and Chris Hall. This final batch concludes this project which totals an impressive 8,562 (sometimes very detailed) references.

Thanks to Linda, Chris and Chris for this substantial data set, which will be of huge value to those with Bolton family interests during the Great War.

A further 73 admissions to the refuges in 1896 added to the Great Database.

Thanks to Vicky McGuiness and her team for these additions.

Another 442 admission records for the refuges for 1898-1900 have been added to the Great Database.

Thanks to Vicky  McGuiness and her team for these.

Another very early source, taken from the court leet records 1586-1602. There are 649 records of appointments, transfers of copyhold tenancies and judgement of offences against the manot and its tenants. Transcribed by Linda Bailey.

Some examples:

6 Oct 1586: The jury doth present that Elizabeth Gee younger, the daughter of Richard Gee late of Manchester clothier, hath of the gift and grannt of the late Richard Gee her father, one burgage in the Mylnegate in Manchester, now divided into two small tenements or dwellinghouses with th'appurtenances, holden of the lord of this manor of Manchester, by fealty, and the yearly rent of 6d. She swore allegiance to this manor and was admitted as a tenant, and paid the elder six denarii for the relief in full. (Page 2)

21 Apr 1587: Richard Typpinge hath bought of James Tracy one burgage lying near the Smithie Door. Richard Typpinge hath bought in like manner of Thomas Brounsword part of a burgage in the Hanging Diche, late the land of G. Holland of Salford. (Page 6)

4 Oct 1587: Whereas divers neighbours do find themselves aggrieved that House-swine. the wife of Edward Burroes doth keep swine within her house, having no back side [i. e. back ground or yard], to the great annoyance not only of the neighbours but also of the passengers by her house, and to the great danger of infection to the whole town, which God defend : — ordered not to keep any within any part of her house after Christmas next, 10s. (Pag

The original records are at

https://archive.org/details/continuationofco00mancrich/page/2/mode/2up

Thanks to Linda for these records.

The latest addition is a list of 603 churchwardens of the Collegiate Church 1663-1863 transcribed by Linda Bailey, Chris Hall and Chris Norcross.

Thanks to Linda, Chris H and Chris N for this latest data.

Something a little different this time.

This is a set of 1,033 records for Farnworth Francis Street Congregational Chapel Attendance. It is useful in that it provides addresses for members, often at several different times.

Thanks to Graham Holt and his Bolton FHS volunteers for these.

Another small, but very useful, addition of 385 baptisms for Bolton, Melbourne Road Methodist New Connexion Chapel 1879-1966 transcribed by Bolton FHS. These are subject to 100 year closure.

Thanks to Graham Holt and his volunteers for this latest register.

Third batch of these in less than a week. This time it is 792 Manchester City Transport Staff covering surnames RUCKLI to SIMPSON.

Thanks as ever to Barry Henshall and his team: Jim Fieldhouse, Phil Wharram, Stan Chaplin and Amelia Emmerson.

A second batch of admission records for Manchester & Salford Boys' and Girls' Refuges has been added to the Great Database. These are the 264 admissions for the year 1897.

Thanks to Vicky McGuiness and her transcribers Andy Lister and Jacqueline Perkins for this latest addition.

The latest addition to the great Database is 2,124 records of Graduates from Manchester Victoria University to 1908. Indexed by Linda Bailey.

These typically include date and place of birth, present (1908) address and an outline of career since graduation.

Thanks to Linda for this interesting data.

Hot on the heels of yesterday's new records, no sooner had I posted the announcement than more data dropped into my in tray.

This contained a further 621 records covering surnames MACDONALD to MCKIE and ROACH to ROYSTON.

Thanks as before to Barry Henshall and his team: Jim Fieldhouse, Phil Wharram, Stan Chaplin and Amelia Emmerson for this latest addition.

Manchester City Transport Staff Records. Added to the Great Database is the latest batch of 533 records of Manchester Corporation staff covering surnames PICKARD to RYDER (with some married women's maiden names outside this range).

Thanks to Barry Henshall and his team for this latest batch.

We have started a new project, in partnership with the Together Trust, the charity which today descends from the one which established the original Manchester & Salford Boys' and Girls' Refuges in 1870. This will involve several sets of records. This first project will index the admission registers from 1870 to 1919 and the first batch, which I have just added to the Great Database covers the 253 admissions in 1895.

These are very "rich" records, which not only name the child and provide age and address details as well as the names of parents, but provide excellent biographical details including an outline of the circumstances which brought the child to the refuge. These can include neglectful or abusive parents, involvement in petty crime or simply financially desperate home circumstances. For many, there is detail of what became of them after leaving the refuge, which in some cases involves emigration to Canada and "character" observations. There are images of the records, so full details are available.

As examples of what can be found search for:

Maggie KEATING
William Kenneston FARE
James William BALDOCK
Horace CUNLIFFE
Eliza WILLIAMSON

(Select institutions and put 1895 in the Year box to narrow results)

Thanks to Vicky McGuiness, who is managing this project, and to Andy Lister and Jacqueline Parker who are indexing this material.

Something for those with early 19th century Scottish interests this time.

The latest addition to the Great Database, with a listing in the Anglo-Scottish/Military section of the member area Document Collection, is an index of 7,035 soldiers discharged to pension 1793-1828.

This data has been extracted from Jim Beckett's index, originally published by MLFHS on microfiche. It lists soldiers discharged to pension with age, birthplace and regiment from which discharged. Includes both a text-searchable alphabetical listing and a scanned copy of Jim's original index from which this was produced using optical character recognition (OCR).

Thanks to Mark Campbell for his work in discovering this material and making the information available for the database.

New data has been added at www.lancashirebmd.org.uk as follows:

1,836 Deaths for Bury RD comprising:
Bury (1985-1986)

Thanks are due toTony Foster and his team.

Manchester City Transport Staff Records. 683 records added covering surnames PEARSON - PRICE.

Thanks are due to Barry Henshall, Jim Fieldhouse, Phil Wharram and Stan Chaplin for this addition to the existing index.

Another addition to the Great Database.

This consists of 598 Staff Obligations for employees at Prestwich Asylum for years 1894-1898.

Thanks are due to Jim Chadwick and his team of transcribers: Marie Collier, Karen Hugill, Janet Moores and Chris Norcross.

This is a milestone in this project. Indexing of staff obligations is complete for all the 5,521 surviving records covering employees who started 1872-1910. This is with the exception of one volume covering 1878-1882 which is missing from the 12 book series in Archives.

A later series covers employees leaving employment during the 1930s (there is a gap after 1910 with no surviving records). We were planning to index these records also. However, a question has arisen relating to application of 100 year closure of these records. Although those whose names appear will all comfortably meet the 100 year rule as individuals, the closure has been applied to all of the deposited asylum records, regardless of content. We are pursuing relaxation of this strict application of the closure rule and, assuming that we secure this, will continue with these records later in the year.

Meanwhile, thanks to Jim and his team for completing this very useful series of records.

Hot on the heels of the last batch of announcements of casualties in the Great War published in the Bolton Journal and Guardian, we have another batch. A further 848 announcements covering Oct 1914 - Aug 1915 have been added to the Great Database.

Thanks as before to Linda Bailey, Chris Norcross and Chris Hall for these records.

Another addition to the Great Database.

A further 963 Staff Obligations for employees of Prestwich Asylum covering years 1872-5 and 1902-5.

Thanks are due to Jim Chadwick and his team: Marie Collier, Karen Hugill, Janet Moores and Chris Norcross.

Another addition to the Godfrey Maps Index.

560 street and building references for the maps for  Bramhall (North), Cheadle Hulme(North), Cheadle Hulme (South) and Heaton Mersey all for 1907.

Thanks to Chris Willis for this latest addition, which expands the coverage of maps for Stockport borough.

Another addition of particular interest to those with family interests in Bolton.

This consists of a further 1,381 announcements published in the Bolton Journal and Guardian covering Jan-Jun 1918 relating to soldiers who died in the Great War. These announcements can include a wealth of both service and personal detail.

Thanks to by Linda Bailey, Chris Norcross and Chris Hall for this addition.

Another small but interesting data set just added to the Great Database.

This consists of the details of the 620 soldiers named in the Muster of Lord Ogilvie's Regiment in 1745/6 and gives names, ranks, occupations, the place they came from and, for many, what became of them.

Thanks to Mark Campbell for these.

Another register has been completed in our ongoing project to transcribe Roman Catholic registers for the Salford diocese. This latest is the baptisms at Little Hulton, St. Edmund and contains details of 753 baptisms for 1892-1924 and an index to the 3,160 names of children, parents and godparents mentioned in the entries.

Thanks as always to Marie Collier and her team for this latest transcript.

The transcript and index, together with images of the original registers can be downloaded at:

https://www.mlfhs-shop.co.uk/products/dl1634

The latest download in our growing series of Roman Catholic registers is for baptisms at St. Mary, Langho (also known as St. Mary, Billington) 1874-1909 (with one baptism for 1910).

There are 403 baptisms recorded in the registers and the transcript provides full details as contained in the register. It is accompanied by an index to the 1,927 names of children, parents and godparents which appear in the register entries. Also included are images of the original baptism registers.

Thanks to Marie Collier and her team for this latest publication.

If you wish to purchase, it is available from the MLFHS online shop at:

https://www.mlfhs-shop.co.uk/products/dl1633?_pos=1&_sid=9a116cd32&_ss=r

Another 1,983 records have been added to the Great Database. These are Prestwich Asylum Staff Obligations for the period 1891-1910 (with gaps).

Thanks are due to Jim Chadwick and his team: Marie Collier, Karen Hugill, Janet Moores and Chris Norcross

A further 583 street and building names have been added to the Godfrey maps index. These relate to the maps for:

Heaton Norris 1916
Timperley 1897
Woodley 1897
Altrincham 1908

Thanks are due to David Birkmire for these latest entries.

Another batch of nonconformist baptisms from Bolton FHS has been added to the Great Database. These are the 398 baptisms 1892-1928 (with 100 year closure) for the Bolton, Chorley Old Road Methodist Chapel.

Thanks to Graham Holt and his volunteers for these.

A small but interesting new data set has been added to the Great Database. This contains transcripts of 98 baptisms performed at Ringley Top o'th' Brow Meeting House for the New Jerusalem Church, Outwood, Prestwich for 1812-1831, transcribed by members of Bolton FHS.

Thanks to Graham Holt and his team for these.

Manchester City Transport Staff Records. 643 records added covering surnames O'BRIEN - PEARSON.

Thanks are due to Barry Henshall, Jim Fieldhouse, Phil Wharram and Stan Chaplin for this addition to the existing index.

A new Index listing Policemen recruited from Scotland 1869 - 1900. This index includes reference to the original documents at Lancashire Archives.

Indexed by Andy Lister for Anglo-Scottish FHS (842 records)

372 ndexes to the streets and named buildings for three more maps have been added to the Alan Godfrey Map index at https://mlfhs.uk/databases/godfrey-map-index These are for the 1907 maps of:

Bredbury (West) and Brinnington 
Stockport (Offerton and Foggbrook) 
Bramhall Grange

Thanks to Chris Willis for these latest additions.

Another small, but interesting, dataset has been added.

This information was extracted by a Society member, William Cross, in 1998 from information contained in returns presented to the House of Commons in 1845 for 227 employees of the Post Office in Glasgow and Edinburgh at that time.

This list was originally published in Manchester Genealogist Vol 34 Issue 3.

These records are taken from a re-purposed cash book and contain the names and details of 46 persons employed at the London County Westminster & Paris Bank's branch at 84 Broad Street, Pendleton. The 46 references relate to employees appointed from 1889 onwards up to final entries in 1919.

These were kindly transcribed by Andy Lister.

The latest addition to the Great Database is 2,381 records from the Communion Rolls of the Scottish Presbyterian Church, St. Peter’s Square, Manchester
1832 -1888

Thanks to Mark Campbell for this latest addition.

Dealing with a recent enquiry, I realised that members may not be aware of a helpful document.

It was common practice, when registering a birth or death which took place in a workhouse, to enter the street address of the workhouse in the register and not the name of the institution. This document provides the street addresses of several Lancashire and Cheshire workhouses.

Workhouse Addresses can be found at https://mlfhs.uk/research/reference/reference-library (scroll to the bottom of the page).

New data has been added at www.lancashirebmd.org.uk as follows:

Amended 3,430 Births for Manchester RD to include mother's maiden name, comprising:
East Manchester (1923-1924)
West Manchester (1923-1924)

Thanks are due to Mark Campbell for this latest update.

Added  349 references to streets and buildings on the Alan Godfrey maps for Altrincham (South) 1908 and Stockport (South) 1907. Thanks to David Birkmire for these latest additions.

Chris Willis has very kindly carried out an exercise to identify and rectify typos and other anomalies in the online index and I have now replaced the online index with Chris's much improved version.

One of the features of Chris's work was to rationalise the presentation of St., Rd. etc abbreviations to consistently show them as Street, Road etc. in full. This means that (for example) a search for "High Street" will find entries previously shown as "High St" and "High St.", where they would previously not have been found.

Thanks to Chris for this valuable improvement work.

The index is searchable at https://mlfhs.uk/databases/godfrey-map-index

Another addition to the Great Database. This latest batch is of 584 Prestwich Asylum staff obligations for appointments 1888-1891.

Thanks are due to Jim Chadwick and his team: Marie Collier, Karen Hugill, Janet Moores and Chris Norcross

added a new link to the web page for the Ashton-under-Lyne, Waterloo and Taunton war memorial, Oldham Road, Waterloo.

https://mlfhs.uk/databases/war-memorials/details/403

Meg Gain of the Tameside Local History Forum has compiled biographies of the WW1 & 2 soldiers named on the memorial and you will find links to both lists on the forum's site at:

http://www.tamesidehistoryforum.org.uk/latest.htm

Some further additions to the Godfrey Maps Index at https://mlfhs.uk/databases/godfrey-map-index

This adds 969 references to streets and buildings which are shown on the maps for:

Mossley (South) 1906
Hurst & North Ashton 1906 
Heaton Norris 1897 
Stockport Central 1897 
Stockport East 1897

Thanks are due to  David Birkmire and Chris Willis for this latest expansion of the index.  
The index now contains 35,167 references to the streets and buildings which appear on 149 maps.

Today's addition to the Great Database is 154 baptisms for Bolton, Lostock, Chew Moor Methodist Church 1915-1992 (entries closed for 100 years).

Thanks to Graham Holt and his volunteers at Bolton for this latest addition.

Latest addition to the Great Database is 380 baptisms for Bolton Delph Hill Wesleyan Methodist Church 1881-1915.

These have been transcribed by Graham Holt and his team at Bolton.

A further addition to the records for Manchester City Transport Staff in the Great Database. This consists of a further 929 records covering surnames MONKS-MYLOTT, NELSON-OCKERBY and MCADAM-MCDONALD

Thanks to Barry Henshall and his team (Jim Fieldhouse, Phil Wharram, Stan Chaplin) for these.

The latest addition to the Great Database is 388 Staff Obligations for 1875-1878 (book 2) added to the Great Database.

Thanks to Jim Chadwick and his team, (Marie Collier, Karen Hugill, Janet Moore sand Chris Norcross) for these.

Uploaded the first 988 records covering 1883-1888 of staff obligations for employees of Prestwich Asylum, a project which will ultimately cover 1873 to 1912 and 1931 to 1944 (there appear to be no records for the years between). Images are included.

The staff obligations are the undertakings signed by new employees of the Prestwich Asylum that they will undertake their duties in accordance with the rules of the establishment. They are the equivalent of a modern contract of employment and, for example, specify the terms on which the employee may resign – one month's notice or the forfeit of one month's pay. It should be noted that these records bear the employee's signatures.

Work will continue on these well into this year.

Thanks to Jim Chadwick, Marie Collier, Karen Hugill, Janet Moores and Chris Norcross for scanning and transcription.

Added to the Great Database: Transcripts of 384 baptisms at Farnworth, New Bury WM Chapel 1860-1909. These add to the batch announced a week or two ago bringing coverage up to 1860-1924 (with further entries as they pass the 100 year closure limit).

Thanks to Graham Holt and Bolton Branch volunteers for these.

Added another 1,535 announcements from the Bolton Journal and Guardian covering Jul-Dec 1917 and relating to local servicemen, to the Great Database. Thanks to Linda Bailey, Chris Norcross and Chris Hall for this substantial addition.

This brings the total number of announcements to 5,093. The work continues...

Added a further 97 records which relate to Bolton policemen who left the service 1911-1921.

Thanks again to Graham Holt and John Gartside for these entries.

Added a new document to the Member Documents collection in the member area under General - Death and Burial.

This is a reconstruction of the Manchester Crematorium registers from 1892 to 1940 which were lost in the Manchester Blitz. The register has been reconstructed from alternative sources such as newspaper announcements, memorials and undertakers' records.

It is still a work in progress, but now contains information on about 75% of the 16,039 people known to have been cremated.

If you are logged in, the link to the document collection page is: 
https://mlfhs.uk/member-area/documents/general-records/death-and-burial

I hope you find something in there to help in your research.

One more map added to the Godfrey Map Index. This addition is 46 entries for the Plodder Lane map.

Thanks to Graham Holt for these.

Added a further 217 records to the Great Database for baptisms at Farnworth, New Bury, Wesleyan Methodist Chapel 1910-1942. These are closed for 100 years so can only be searched to 1924 currently. Thanks to Graham Holt and his team at Bolton for this latest addition. .

New data has been added at lancashirebmd as follows: Added 1,621 Births for Bury RD comprising: Bury (1992-1993) Thanks are due to Tony Foster and his team.

Another addition to the Great Database. This consists of 388 Baptisms 1895 - 1930 (subject to 100 year closure) for Farnworth, Moses Gate, Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. These have been transcribed by members of our Bolton branch.

Another small addition to the Great Database: 37 death announcements from the Manchester Evening News for 1922 transcribed by Andy Lister together with 4 miscellaneous announcements transcribed by John Marsden.

Also added today, a batch of newspaper death announcements added to the Great Database relating to persons cremated at Manchester Crematorium: added 78 notices from the Rochdale Observer 1900-1940, transcribed by John Marsden.

First batch, today, of newspaper death announcements added to the Great Database relating to persons cremated at Manchester Crematorium: added 92 notices from the Manchester Evening News for 1926, transcribed by Andy Lister.

Added 152 death notices transcribed from the Manchester Evening News for 1924 and 1925 in which the funeral was at Manchester Crematorium. These have been kindly transcribed by Andy Lister.

Finally added a small set of Memorial Inscriptions for Salford, Irwell Street, Wesleyan Chapel to the MI database. These were from ledger stones uncovered during building works and transcribed by Salford University's Archaeologists. There are just 8 stones but 74 names (two are large inscription graves with about 25-30 interments).

Roman Catholic registers are generally written in Latin. This causes few problems since the vocabulary is fairly limited, but the Latinisation of modern names may cause some confusion.

Added 144 references for the map of Moses Gate, 1908. Thanks to Graham Holt for these entries.

Added 285 references for the map covering Tyldesley and Atherton (SE), 1905. Thanks to Mike Halliday for these latest additions.

These have been transcribed by our Bolton Branch. Thanks are due to Graham Holt.

Thanks to Linda Bailey, Laura Lewis, Chris Norcross and Chris Hall for this latest substantial batch which brings the total number of newspaper index entries to 65,320.

Thanks are due to James Fieldhouse and Lynne Wilkinson for these latest additions which begin to close the gap between Manchester/Salford and Bolton/Bury.

These were originally transcribed in 1982-5 by pupils of Crab Lane Primary School, Blackley. The manuscript/typescript copy was donated to MLFHS by Margaret Sloane and was transcribed for online publication by Susan Fielding.

This timeline covers social events, such as the whitholding of evidence in a criminal trial from female jurors because it would be 'too revolting for women to hear' and first experiments in the use of insulin to the registration of dentists in the UK and Albert Einstein receiving the Nobel prize for his services to Theoretical Physics.

Essential information on the workings of the Coroners' Courts, followed by links to Coroners' Courts at Bolton, Blackpool, Greater Manchester (covers Manchester City), Greater Manchester South (covers Stockport, Trafford and Tameside), Lancashire and Rochdale.

Beginning in 1538 when Thomas Cromwell mandated all parishes to record every baptism, marriage and death, through 1644 when it was a requirement that date of birth should be recorded with baptism (though often ignored), to the introduction of the modern system in 1837 and the 1979 ruling that parish registers must be deposited with the diocesan record office unless exemption had been allowed.

A collection of reference documents useful to beginners and more advanced researchers alike.

And its very early days in Trafford Park - in makeshift conditions, but this was experimental and they made it work.

Hilary Hartigan

Added 1,860 burials for Ardwick, St. Thomas 1786-1801.

Thanks to Susan Mayall for this addition.

Added another 1,591 burials to the Great Database. These are for Audenshaw, St. Stephen's 1884-1898.

Thanks to Mark Harrey for this addition.

Added  2,377 BMD notices from the Manchester Mercury for 1823 and 1824  to the Great Database. Transcribed by Linda Bailey, Chris Hall and Chris Norcross.

Another book of admission documents for the school for 1881-1889 has been completed by Jim Chadwick and his team. These are admissions between 1881 and 1889. Thanks to Jim and his team for these.

Added a further 198 street/building references to the Godfrey Map Index. These relate to the sheet for Royton in 1932 and come thanks to the work of Paul Thomas. More on the way!