From: Ted Thomas, ed_thomas@wxc.net.nz Subject: Joseph H. PRICE, Ex. Coldstream Guards Date: 3rd. August, 2005 Hello Folks, Is there someone who can please, tell me whether there's any way of being able to trace the death, or a possible marriage of a Joseph H. PRICE, born, in Middlelton, Lancashire, in 1860. Joseph, was at home on census night 3rd. April, 1881 in Newchurch, Rawtenstall, Lancashire. On census night, 5th. April, 1891 he was in the Coldstream Guards, in London Barracks aged 21. In the 1901 census March, 31st. he is still single aged 40, a Mason's Labourer, living in Lodging House, 9, Front Mill Gate, Rawtenstall, Lancashire. Any help would be most graciously received.. Ted.

Dear Sylvia, Thanks for the long account of Ashworth which you provided. My original query was in connection with the Chadwick family which (according to 1841 and 1851 censuses) were farming at Ashworth Hall. A memorial inscription to John Chadwick who died 1810 says that he was of Ashworth Hall, too. I have been working on the Chadwicks (later of Heap, Heywood, and Rochdale) in conjunction with step-cousins in Canada and USA, and will forward your little history to them also. Edward (of Wagga Wagga)

Thanks Doreen, I suspected that there may be some Ashworth burials (etc?) at Middleton. The earliest memorial at Ashworth is for 1796 (Mary Chadwick of Ashworth Hall), so I'll be in touch if I need to check Middleton. cheers, Edward

Sylvia, do you have HOLT connections, in particular, HOLT`s from the Bury area.? My wife`s people were HOLT`s from Bury, hence my interest. Norman A. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sylvia Walch" <sylvias@sylvia80.freeserve.co.uk> To: <ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 7:42 AM Subject: Re: [ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L] Ashworth church and registers > St. James's Church > ASHWORTH - Near Heywood > ASHWORTH Church is dedicated to St. James, but when that dedication took place is not known. Its distance from Ashworth Hall, the ancestral home of a branch of the Holt family, would preclude the idea of its having originally been a private domestic chapel. According to the Ecclesiastical Year Book it was in existence in 1514 and was probably built during the reign of Henry VIII by the Holts for the use of their tenants. Amongst the Holt family records of 1522 occurs more than once the name of '' Sir Thomas Holt, Capellanus," and it may be assumed that he offici­ated at Ashworth. The Inventory of Church Goods taken by the order of Edward VI. in 1552 gives details of "one vestment, chalice and paten as belonging to a chapel called Assheworthe in the parish of Middleton." It remained in the parish of Middleton until 1867. In 1559 Robert Holt of Ashworth left " 6s. 8d. to the sustentation of Ashworth Chapel to be paid when the church reeves require it. " > > > > For the next fifty years little is known of the history of the chapel, but from 1614, when John Ashworth became Vicar, there is an almost complete list of curates. In 1626 Hugh Brooks is described in a contemporary deed as Vicar of Ashworth, and claimed land in Healey as belonging to the living. During the Civil War and when Oliver Cromwell was Protector, the Nonconformists held great power. Ashworth then became a Presbyterian Conventicle, at least from 1647 to 1652. Henry Pendlebury, 1648-1650, was a noted theologian. In 1650 the Commonwealth Survey shows that there was then no maintenance and for the time being no ministers. The Commissioners recommended that the chapel should be made into a parish church and gave a list of certain houses in Ashworth, Birtle, Bamford and Rochdale, which they thought ought to be included in the Parish. > > In 1671 Richard Whitehead of Pilsworth created a rent charge of £6 a year on a house called Wallbank, near Whitworth, half of which was to be paid to the curate of Ashworth Chapel. The last Holt of Ashworth Hall died without issue, and the estate was sold in 1700 to Samuel Hallows of Grays Inn. Not long alter he pur­chased the estate he made a claim to the chapel as a domestic chapel. This claim was apparently relinquished, as in 1737 the claimant gave a sum of £200 to meet a similar sum for Queen Ann's Bounty. Notwithstanding this gift, the donor does not appear to have been a popular patron if we accept the evidence of a contemporary who writes, " 1740 January 21st. This day died Mr. Sam Hallows of Ashworth, to the great joy of all his neigh­bours." Bishop Gaskell reports that the Holt family had always allowed £4 a year to the chapel, which was increased to £20 or £30 by a grant from " the Vicarage " (Middleton Rectory?) £400 had thus been given for an endowment fund and ! > by other contributions this was increased to £600, which was laid out in an estate. In 1751 the chapel produced £50 per annum ; about £30 from the land and £20 from the pews. When Samuel Hallows died he left the estate, with which went the patronage of the living-, to his nephew John Hatfield of Hatfield, who in 1751 sold it to Thomas Ferrand of Rochdale. He in turn sold it in 1767 to Samuel Egerton of Tatton, in whose family it remained until 1942 > > The Church, with the exception of the chancel, was rebuilt and enlarged in 1789. In 1837 the chancel, the only relic of the old building, was done away with and the east end of the church made to assume its present shape. By this alteration and others in the gallery, about 110 additional sittings were added, and the whole of the gallery, with the exception of that portion reserved for the singers, was understood to be appropriated '' henceforth and for­ever " for the use of the Sunday Scholars. The whole building was thoroughly repaired and wooden Gothic Mullions introduced into the windows. The alterations cost £300, towards which subscrip­tions and the reopening service collection amounted to £145, the balance being paid by the Patron. During the alterations, which took three months, the church was closed and services were held in a large room, used as a school, in the Hall Fold. Ashworth school had been instituted in 1828; eight poor children being instructed in considera! > tion of £8 per annum subscribed by Mr. Wilbraham Egerton, who in 1838 built a new school, which was in use as a day-school until the beginning of the twentieth century, and is now used for church purposes, having been recently purchased by the Parochial Church Council. In 1882 the church was re-floored and new pews were installed. > > The nineteenth century was a time of great industrial expan­sion and the rural countryside around Ashworth with its fast run­ning streams, ideal for turning waterwheels, was soon invaded by a multitude of small mills, serving a variety of trades, including Fulling, Dyeing, Bleaching, Spinning and Weaving. There was a corn mill and some coal mines and quarries in the parish. These industries attracted many new inhabitants to the surrounding districts, and made the extension of the chapel very necessary. It must be borne in mind that at this time the nearest churches to Ash­worth were Rochdale (2), Heywood (1), Bury (2), and Edenfield, > > so Ashworth was the focal point of a very large area with a popula­tion expanding at a tremendous rate. The Church Registers, which were in existence in 1868, show this increase in population quite clearly. Unfortunately the remaining registers only date back to 1813 in the case of Burials and Baptisms, and 1824 for Marriages. The first recorded Baptism was " Poggie Scofield was born April 21, 1741." in that year there were nine baptisms and the number remained in the 'teens until late in the eighteenth cen­tury. Thereafter it rose fairly constantly until in 1837 there were 132, which is the highest recorded. The first recorded burial was in 1776 and was the only one in that year. By 1837 the number had risen to 42. In 1858 the Lord Bishop of Manchester held a con­firmation at Ashworth at which one hundred candidates were presented. Ashworth was constituted a parish in 1867 and there were then 200 Sunday Scholars. During much of this time of expansion the Vicar was David Rat! > hbone 1832-1871. > > Until the Local Government Act of 1894, when the Parish of Ashworth was included in Birtle-cum-Bamford, in the Rural District of Bury, the ratepayers of the Township of Ashworth met annually in the Vestry to appoint Overseers of the Poor and a Surveyor of the Highways, and to nominate a Guardian of the Poor and four Constables. All these were local men, the surveyor for many years being a farmer. At the same time a rate was levied for repairs to the Church and other necessary purposes connected therewith. The Sexton was usually the Landlord of the adjacent Egerton Arms and collections were taken in his hostelry as well as in church. > > With the advent of steam the mills gradually closed in the country districts, and industry concentrated in the towns, where many new churches were built in the latter half of the nineteenth century. St. James thus served a constantly decreasing area until now the parish is a purely rural one!, large in acreage, but with a small population. In 1949 it was found necessary to unite the benefice with St. Paul's, Norden, but the parish still maintains its own entity and services. Perched on its hill it is a place of loving pilgrimage for many whose forebears worshipped here in years gone by, and for those country lovers who like to worship in an ancient church situated in a wonderful position. > > > > Interior > > The East window was, erected by Mrs. Hartley in memory of her father the Rev. David Rathbone, who was incumbent for 38 years until his death in 1871, her mother and brother; other windows were given by their relatives in memory of Richard and Sarah Ashworth, Oscar Baron, N. F. Davison, W. Looker and J. C. Waldie. > > The Oak Altar was presented in 1909 by Canon Rathbone Hartley, the Eagle Lectern in 1906 by D. Leech, Esq., the Reading Desk in 1927 by the Parishioners in memory of W. L. Pickup, for many years churchwarden, and the pulpit in 1937 by Miss Edith Baron. > > On organ was purchased in 1840 and placed in the gallery. It replaced the instrumental music, which up to that time had been provided by Violin, Clarinet, etc. About 1900 a new organ was built in it's present position. > > The Font is made of stone from Mount Tabor, near Halifax, and was a gift of Wilbraham Egerton, Esq., in 1852. > > The bell was given by Samuel Egerton, Esq., in 1774 and did duly until 1895, when it was replaced by a peal of eight tubular bells. These have since had to be taken down as the bell chamber was unsafe. When this has been rectified they can be re-hung. > > The poetical description on the west wall of the lamentable end in Birtle of a harmless old man and his faithful wife, neglects to state that the murderer was hanged at Lancaster in 1826. > > The church plate consists of a silver Chalice and Paten, on which are engraved the Egerton Arms and the date 1808, and a Silver Chalice and Paten given by Mrs. Adams whose husband Rev. C. Adams was Vicar, 1932-194:5. > > The Churchyard > > > The Churchyard is entered by a Memorial Gateway, erected in memory of those who fell in the 1914 -18 war. > > It has been enlarged on several occasions; four of them being between 1832 and 1871, when the land was given by the Egerton family, who also paid for the erection of the walls. The latest addition was in 1949 the land then being' given by Messrs. Walker and Homfrays Ltd. There are many interesting and some original epitaphs on the old flat stones. In 1867 the Vicar forbade any inscription being placed on a tombstone without his permission except the name, age, date and abode, as " several unfitting, inappropriate and unscriptural verses appear." > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Edward Reid-Smith" <Edward.Reid-Smith@bigpond.com> > To: <ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 5:31 AM > Subject: [ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L] Ashworth church and registers > > > > I wonder if anyone knows whether the registers of Ashworth have been printed > > or are otherwise widely available? When was the chapel opened (and when did > > the registers start)? I understand that it was originally a chapel-of-ease > > to Bury or Middleton. Thanks, Edward > > > > > > ==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > > >==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > > To search the archives of this list go to: > > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?surname=ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L-request@rootsweb.com > > > > > > > ==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > Create your own home page with Web Dwarf, a FREE HTML Editor http://www.vmims.com/dwarf.htm > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com

Hi Norman, Sorry I can not help with your Holt family though it is a familiar name in this area. The Ashworth Chapel notes are from my local history files (Heywood). I try to collect any information prior to 1840 that I come across. There are so very few surviving documents available for our district, possibly because nothing of particular interest happened here but as a genealogist every little helps. The oldest note I have on HOLT is a reference to an apprenticeship indenture.19 November 1675 James Holt age 12 of Bury son of James apprenticed to Thomas Gibbs rector of Bury. There was also a notable HOLT family recorded at Gristlehurst Hall Birtle, Bury Archives will have more details. Good Luck Sylvia. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norman Archibald" <normanarch@yahoo.com.au> To: <ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 10:42 AM Subject: Re: [ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L] Ashworth church and registers > Sylvia, do you have HOLT connections, in particular, HOLT`s from the Bury > area.? > My wife`s people were HOLT`s from Bury, hence my interest. > Norman A. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Sylvia Walch" <sylvias@sylvia80.freeserve.co.uk> > To: <ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 7:42 AM > Subject: Re: [ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L] Ashworth church and registers > > > > St. James's Church > > ASHWORTH - Near Heywood > > ASHWORTH Church is dedicated to St. James, but when that dedication took > place is not known. Its distance from Ashworth Hall, the ancestral home of > a branch of the Holt family, would preclude the idea of its having > originally been a private domestic chapel. According to the Ecclesiastical > Year Book it was in existence in 1514 and was probably built during the > reign of Henry VIII by the Holts for the use of their tenants. Amongst the > Holt family records of 1522 occurs more than once the name of '' Sir Thomas > Holt, Capellanus," and it may be assumed that he offici­ated at Ashworth. > The Inventory of Church Goods taken by the order of Edward VI. in 1552 gives > details of "one vestment, chalice and paten as belonging to a chapel called > Assheworthe in the parish of Middleton." It remained in the parish of > Middleton until 1867. In 1559 Robert Holt of Ashworth left " 6s. 8d. to the > sustentation of Ashworth Chapel to be paid when the church reeves require > it. " > > > > > > > > For the next fifty years little is known of the history of the chapel, but > from 1614, when John Ashworth became Vicar, there is an almost complete list > of curates. In 1626 Hugh Brooks is described in a contemporary deed as Vicar > of Ashworth, and claimed land in Healey as belonging to the living. During > the Civil War and when Oliver Cromwell was Protector, the Nonconformists > held great power. Ashworth then became a Presbyterian Conventicle, at least > from 1647 to 1652. Henry Pendlebury, 1648-1650, was a noted theologian. In > 1650 the Commonwealth Survey shows that there was then no maintenance and > for the time being no ministers. The Commissioners recommended that the > chapel should be made into a parish church and gave a list of certain houses > in Ashworth, Birtle, Bamford and Rochdale, which they thought ought to be > included in the Parish. > > > > In 1671 Richard Whitehead of Pilsworth created a rent charge of £6 a year > on a house called Wallbank, near Whitworth, half of which was to be paid to > the curate of Ashworth Chapel. The last Holt of Ashworth Hall died without > issue, and the estate was sold in 1700 to Samuel Hallows of Grays Inn. Not > long alter he pur­chased the estate he made a claim to the chapel as a > domestic chapel. This claim was apparently relinquished, as in 1737 the > claimant gave a sum of £200 to meet a similar sum for Queen Ann's Bounty. > Notwithstanding this gift, the donor does not appear to have been a popular > patron if we accept the evidence of a contemporary who writes, " 1740 > January 21st. This day died Mr. Sam Hallows of Ashworth, to the great joy of > all his neigh­bours." Bishop Gaskell reports that the Holt family had always > allowed £4 a year to the chapel, which was increased to £20 or £30 by a > grant from " the Vicarage " (Middleton Rectory?) £400 had thus been given > for an endowment fund and ! > > by other contributions this was increased to £600, which was laid out in > an estate. In 1751 the chapel produced £50 per annum ; about £30 from the > land and £20 from the pews. When Samuel Hallows died he left the estate, > with which went the patronage of the living-, to his nephew John Hatfield of > Hatfield, who in 1751 sold it to Thomas Ferrand of Rochdale. He in turn sold > it in 1767 to Samuel Egerton of Tatton, in whose family it remained until > 1942 > > > > The Church, with the exception of the chancel, was rebuilt and enlarged in > 1789. In 1837 the chancel, the only relic of the old building, was done away > with and the east end of the church made to assume its present shape. By > this alteration and others in the gallery, about 110 additional sittings > were added, and the whole of the gallery, with the exception of that portion > reserved for the singers, was understood to be appropriated '' henceforth > and for­ever " for the use of the Sunday Scholars. The whole building was > thoroughly repaired and wooden Gothic Mullions introduced into the windows. > The alterations cost £300, towards which subscrip­tions and the reopening > service collection amounted to £145, the balance being paid by the Patron. > During the alterations, which took three months, the church was closed and > services were held in a large room, used as a school, in the Hall Fold. > Ashworth school had been instituted in 1828; eight poor children being > instructed in considera! > > tion of £8 per annum subscribed by Mr. Wilbraham Egerton, who in 1838 > built a new school, which was in use as a day-school until the beginning of > the twentieth century, and is now used for church purposes, having been > recently purchased by the Parochial Church Council. In 1882 the church was > re-floored and new pews were installed. > > > > The nineteenth century was a time of great industrial expan­sion and the > rural countryside around Ashworth with its fast run­ning streams, ideal for > turning waterwheels, was soon invaded by a multitude of small mills, serving > a variety of trades, including Fulling, Dyeing, Bleaching, Spinning and > Weaving. There was a corn mill and some coal mines and quarries in the > parish. These industries attracted many new inhabitants to the surrounding > districts, and made the extension of the chapel very necessary. It must be > borne in mind that at this time the nearest churches to Ash­worth were > Rochdale (2), Heywood (1), Bury (2), and Edenfield, > > > > so Ashworth was the focal point of a very large area with a popula­tion > expanding at a tremendous rate. The Church Registers, which were in > existence in 1868, show this increase in population quite clearly. > Unfortunately the remaining registers only date back to 1813 in the case of > Burials and Baptisms, and 1824 for Marriages. The first recorded Baptism was > " Poggie Scofield was born April 21, 1741." in that year there were nine > baptisms and the number remained in the 'teens until late in the eighteenth > cen­tury. Thereafter it rose fairly constantly until in 1837 there were 132, > which is the highest recorded. The first recorded burial was in 1776 and was > the only one in that year. By 1837 the number had risen to 42. In 1858 the > Lord Bishop of Manchester held a con­firmation at Ashworth at which one > hundred candidates were presented. Ashworth was constituted a parish in 1867 > and there were then 200 Sunday Scholars. During much of this time of > expansion the Vicar was David Rat! > > hbone 1832-1871. > > > > Until the Local Government Act of 1894, when the Parish of Ashworth was > included in Birtle-cum-Bamford, in the Rural District of Bury, the > ratepayers of the Township of Ashworth met annually in the Vestry to appoint > Overseers of the Poor and a Surveyor of the Highways, and to nominate a > Guardian of the Poor and four Constables. All these were local men, the > surveyor for many years being a farmer. At the same time a rate was levied > for repairs to the Church and other necessary purposes connected therewith. > The Sexton was usually the Landlord of the adjacent Egerton Arms and > collections were taken in his hostelry as well as in church. > > > > With the advent of steam the mills gradually closed in the country > districts, and industry concentrated in the towns, where many new churches > were built in the latter half of the nineteenth century. St. James thus > served a constantly decreasing area until now the parish is a purely rural > one!, large in acreage, but with a small population. In 1949 it was found > necessary to unite the benefice with St. Paul's, Norden, but the parish > still maintains its own entity and services. Perched on its hill it is a > place of loving pilgrimage for many whose forebears worshipped here in years > gone by, and for those country lovers who like to worship in an ancient > church situated in a wonderful position. > > > > > > > > Interior > > > > The East window was, erected by Mrs. Hartley in memory of her father the > Rev. David Rathbone, who was incumbent for 38 years until his death in 1871, > her mother and brother; other windows were given by their relatives in > memory of Richard and Sarah Ashworth, Oscar Baron, N. F. Davison, W. Looker > and J. C. Waldie. > > > > The Oak Altar was presented in 1909 by Canon Rathbone Hartley, the Eagle > Lectern in 1906 by D. Leech, Esq., the Reading Desk in 1927 by the > Parishioners in memory of W. L. Pickup, for many years churchwarden, and the > pulpit in 1937 by Miss Edith Baron. > > > > On organ was purchased in 1840 and placed in the gallery. It replaced the > instrumental music, which up to that time had been provided by Violin, > Clarinet, etc. About 1900 a new organ was built in it's present position. > > > > The Font is made of stone from Mount Tabor, near Halifax, and was a gift > of Wilbraham Egerton, Esq., in 1852. > > > > The bell was given by Samuel Egerton, Esq., in 1774 and did duly until > 1895, when it was replaced by a peal of eight tubular bells. These have > since had to be taken down as the bell chamber was unsafe. When this has > been rectified they can be re-hung. > > > > The poetical description on the west wall of the lamentable end in Birtle > of a harmless old man and his faithful wife, neglects to state that the > murderer was hanged at Lancaster in 1826. > > > > The church plate consists of a silver Chalice and Paten, on which are > engraved the Egerton Arms and the date 1808, and a Silver Chalice and Paten > given by Mrs. Adams whose husband Rev. C. Adams was Vicar, 1932-194:5. > > > > The Churchyard > > > > > > The Churchyard is entered by a Memorial Gateway, erected in memory of > those who fell in the 1914 -18 war. > > > > It has been enlarged on several occasions; four of them being between 1832 > and 1871, when the land was given by the Egerton family, who also paid for > the erection of the walls. The latest addition was in 1949 the land then > being' given by Messrs. Walker and Homfrays Ltd. There are many interesting > and some original epitaphs on the old flat stones. In 1867 the Vicar forbade > any inscription being placed on a tombstone without his permission except > the name, age, date and abode, as " several unfitting, inappropriate and > unscriptural verses appear." > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Edward Reid-Smith" <Edward.Reid-Smith@bigpond.com> > > To: <ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 5:31 AM > > Subject: [ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L] Ashworth church and registers > > > > > > > I wonder if anyone knows whether the registers of Ashworth have been > printed > > > or are otherwise widely available? When was the chapel opened (and when > did > > > the registers start)? I understand that it was originally a > chapel-of-ease > > > to Bury or Middleton. Thanks, Edward > > > > > > > > > ==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > > > >==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > > > To search the archives of this list go to: > > > > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?surname=ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON -L-request@rootsweb.com > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > > Create your own home page with Web Dwarf, a FREE HTML Editor > http://www.vmims.com/dwarf.htm > > > > > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com > > > ==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~emmaw/ for free Web Editor software. > Web space. ANY amount. ANY subject. > RootsWeb's Freepages put you in touch with millions. > >

Hi Alan, I am not aware of any surviving records before 1813. May be the Lancashire Record Office at Preston would be the place to try. An LDS search gives the following..... Bishop's transcripts, 1813-1869 Church of England. Chapelry of Ashworth (Lancashire) (Main Author) Microreproduction of original manuscripts housed at the Lancashire Record Office, Preston. Bishop's transcripts of the chapelry of Ashworth in the parish of Middleton in Lancashire, England. Lancashire Record Office: DRM/2/231a-233 Publication Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1988 Notes - Location [Film] Baptisms, marriages and burials 1813-1846 - FHL BRITISH Film [ 1545704 Items 3-4 ] Baptisms, marriages and burials 1846 Baptisms and burials 1847-1869 - FHL BRITISH Film [ 1545705 Items 1-2 ] Good luck Sylvia. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bertram Alan Boocock" <baboocock@pd.jaring.my> To: <ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 8:28 AM Subject: Re: [ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L] Ashworth church and registers > Sylvia > Do you know if Bishops Transcripts exist for the dates prior to the parish > registers namely 1813 in the case of Burials and Baptisms and 1824 for > Marriages and, if so, their location > Alan > KL Malaysia > > Quoting Sylvia Walch <sylvias@sylvia80.freeserve.co.uk>: > > > St. James's Church > > ASHWORTH - Near Heywood > > ASHWORTH Church is dedicated to St. James, but when that dedication > > took place is not known. Its distance from Ashworth Hall, the > > ancestral home of a branch of the Holt family, would preclude the idea > > of its having originally been a private domestic chapel. According to > > the Ecclesiastical Year Book it was in existence in 1514 and was > > probably built during the reign of Henry VIII by the Holts for the use > > of their tenants. Amongst the Holt family records of 1522 occurs more > > than once the name of '' Sir Thomas Holt, Capellanus," and it may be > > assumed that he offici­ated at Ashworth. The Inventory of Church Goods > > taken by the order of Edward VI. in 1552 gives details of "one > > vestment, chalice and paten as belonging to a chapel called Assheworthe > > in the parish of Middleton." It remained in the parish of Middleton > > until 1867. In 1559 Robert Holt of Ashworth left " 6s. 8d. to the > > sustentation of Ashworth Chapel to be paid when the church reeves > > require it. " > > > > > > > > For the next fifty years little is known of the history of the chapel, > > but from 1614, when John Ashworth became Vicar, there is an almost > > complete list of curates. In 1626 Hugh Brooks is described in a > > contemporary deed as Vicar of Ashworth, and claimed land in Healey as > > belonging to the living. During the Civil War and when Oliver Cromwell > > was Protector, the Nonconformists held great power. Ashworth then > > became a Presbyterian Conventicle, at least from 1647 to 1652. Henry > > Pendlebury, 1648-1650, was a noted theologian. In 1650 the Commonwealth > > Survey shows that there was then no maintenance and for the time being > > no ministers. The Commissioners recommended that the chapel should be > > made into a parish church and gave a list of certain houses in > > Ashworth, Birtle, Bamford and Rochdale, which they thought ought to be > > included in the Parish. > > > > In 1671 Richard Whitehead of Pilsworth created a rent charge of £6 a > > year on a house called Wallbank, near Whitworth, half of which was to > > be paid to the curate of Ashworth Chapel. The last Holt of Ashworth > > Hall died without issue, and the estate was sold in 1700 to Samuel > > Hallows of Grays Inn. Not long alter he pur­chased the estate he made a > > claim to the chapel as a domestic chapel. This claim was apparently > > relinquished, as in 1737 the claimant gave a sum of £200 to meet a > > similar sum for Queen Ann's Bounty. Notwithstanding this gift, the > > donor does not appear to have been a popular patron if we accept the > > evidence of a contemporary who writes, " 1740 January 21st. This day > > died Mr. Sam Hallows of Ashworth, to the great joy of all his > > neigh­bours." Bishop Gaskell reports that the Holt family had always > > allowed £4 a year to the chapel, which was increased to £20 or £30 by a > > grant from " the Vicarage " (Middleton Rectory?) £400 had thus been > > given for an endowment fund and ! > > by other contributions this was increased to £600, which was laid out > > in an estate. In 1751 the chapel produced £50 per annum ; about £30 > > from the land and £20 from the pews. When Samuel Hallows died he left > > the estate, with which went the patronage of the living-, to his nephew > > John Hatfield of Hatfield, who in 1751 sold it to Thomas Ferrand of > > Rochdale. He in turn sold it in 1767 to Samuel Egerton of Tatton, in > > whose family it remained until 1942 > > > > The Church, with the exception of the chancel, was rebuilt and enlarged > > in 1789. In 1837 the chancel, the only relic of the old building, was > > done away with and the east end of the church made to assume its > > present shape. By this alteration and others in the gallery, about 110 > > additional sittings were added, and the whole of the gallery, with the > > exception of that portion reserved for the singers, was understood to > > be appropriated '' henceforth and for­ever " for the use of the Sunday > > Scholars. The whole building was thoroughly repaired and wooden Gothic > > Mullions introduced into the windows. The alterations cost £300, > > towards which subscrip­tions and the reopening service collection > > amounted to £145, the balance being paid by the Patron. During the > > alterations, which took three months, the church was closed and > > services were held in a large room, used as a school, in the Hall Fold. > > Ashworth school had been instituted in 1828; eight poor children being > > instructed in considera! > > tion of £8 per annum subscribed by Mr. Wilbraham Egerton, who in 1838 > > built a new school, which was in use as a day-school until the > > beginning of the twentieth century, and is now used for church > > purposes, having been recently purchased by the Parochial Church > > Council. In 1882 the church was re-floored and new pews were installed. > > > > The nineteenth century was a time of great industrial expan­sion and > > the rural countryside around Ashworth with its fast run­ning streams, > > ideal for turning waterwheels, was soon invaded by a multitude of small > > mills, serving a variety of trades, including Fulling, Dyeing, > > Bleaching, Spinning and Weaving. There was a corn mill and some coal > > mines and quarries in the parish. These industries attracted many new > > inhabitants to the surrounding districts, and made the extension of the > > chapel very necessary. It must be borne in mind that at this time the > > nearest churches to Ash­worth were Rochdale (2), Heywood (1), Bury (2), > > and Edenfield, > > > > so Ashworth was the focal point of a very large area with a popula­tion > > expanding at a tremendous rate. The Church Registers, which were in > > existence in 1868, show this increase in population quite clearly. > > Unfortunately the remaining registers only date back to 1813 in the > > case of Burials and Baptisms, and 1824 for Marriages. The first > > recorded Baptism was " Poggie Scofield was born April 21, 1741." in > > that year there were nine baptisms and the number remained in the > > 'teens until late in the eighteenth cen­tury. Thereafter it rose fairly > > constantly until in 1837 there were 132, which is the highest recorded. > > The first recorded burial was in 1776 and was the only one in that > > year. By 1837 the number had risen to 42. In 1858 the Lord Bishop of > > Manchester held a con­firmation at Ashworth at which one hundred > > candidates were presented. Ashworth was constituted a parish in 1867 > > and there were then 200 Sunday Scholars. During much of this time of > > expansion the Vicar was David Rat! > > hbone 1832-1871. > > > > Until the Local Government Act of 1894, when the Parish of Ashworth was > > included in Birtle-cum-Bamford, in the Rural District of Bury, the > > ratepayers of the Township of Ashworth met annually in the Vestry to > > appoint Overseers of the Poor and a Surveyor of the Highways, and to > > nominate a Guardian of the Poor and four Constables. All these were > > local men, the surveyor for many years being a farmer. At the same time > > a rate was levied for repairs to the Church and other necessary > > purposes connected therewith. The Sexton was usually the Landlord of > > the adjacent Egerton Arms and collections were taken in his hostelry as > > well as in church. > > > > With the advent of steam the mills gradually closed in the country > > districts, and industry concentrated in the towns, where many new > > churches were built in the latter half of the nineteenth century. St. > > James thus served a constantly decreasing area until now the parish is > > a purely rural one!, large in acreage, but with a small population. In > > 1949 it was found necessary to unite the benefice with St. Paul's, > > Norden, but the parish still maintains its own entity and services. > > Perched on its hill it is a place of loving pilgrimage for many whose > > forebears worshipped here in years gone by, and for those country > > lovers who like to worship in an ancient church situated in a wonderful > > position. > > > > > > > > Interior > > > > The East window was, erected by Mrs. Hartley in memory of her father > > the Rev. David Rathbone, who was incumbent for 38 years until his death > > in 1871, her mother and brother; other windows were given by their > > relatives in memory of Richard and Sarah Ashworth, Oscar Baron, N. F. > > Davison, W. Looker and J. C. Waldie. > > > > The Oak Altar was presented in 1909 by Canon Rathbone Hartley, the > > Eagle Lectern in 1906 by D. Leech, Esq., the Reading Desk in 1927 by > > the Parishioners in memory of W. L. Pickup, for many years > > churchwarden, and the pulpit in 1937 by Miss Edith Baron. > > > > On organ was purchased in 1840 and placed in the gallery. It replaced > > the instrumental music, which up to that time had been provided by > > Violin, Clarinet, etc. About 1900 a new organ was built in it's present > > position. > > > > The Font is made of stone from Mount Tabor, near Halifax, and was a > > gift of Wilbraham Egerton, Esq., in 1852. > > > > The bell was given by Samuel Egerton, Esq., in 1774 and did duly until > > 1895, when it was replaced by a peal of eight tubular bells. These have > > since had to be taken down as the bell chamber was unsafe. When this > > has been rectified they can be re-hung. > > > > The poetical description on the west wall of the lamentable end in > > Birtle of a harmless old man and his faithful wife, neglects to state > > that the murderer was hanged at Lancaster in 1826. > > > > The church plate consists of a silver Chalice and Paten, on which are > > engraved the Egerton Arms and the date 1808, and a Silver Chalice and > > Paten given by Mrs. Adams whose husband Rev. C. Adams was Vicar, > > 1932-194:5. > > > > The Churchyard > > > > > > The Churchyard is entered by a Memorial Gateway, erected in memory of > > those who fell in the 1914 -18 war. > > > > It has been enlarged on several occasions; four of them being between > > 1832 and 1871, when the land was given by the Egerton family, who also > > paid for the erection of the walls. The latest addition was in 1949 the > > land then being' given by Messrs. Walker and Homfrays Ltd. There are > > many interesting and some original epitaphs on the old flat stones. In > > 1867 the Vicar forbade any inscription being placed on a tombstone > > without his permission except the name, age, date and abode, as " > > several unfitting, inappropriate and unscriptural verses appear." > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Edward Reid-Smith" <Edward.Reid-Smith@bigpond.com> > > To: <ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 5:31 AM > > Subject: [ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L] Ashworth church and registers > > > > > > > I wonder if anyone knows whether the registers of Ashworth have been > > printed > > > or are otherwise widely available? When was the chapel opened (and > > when did > > > the registers start)? I understand that it was originally a > > chapel-of-ease > > > to Bury or Middleton. Thanks, Edward > > > > > > > > > ==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > > > >==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > > > To search the archives of this list go to: > > > > > > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?surname=ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON -L-request@rootsweb.com > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > > Create your own home page with Web Dwarf, a FREE HTML Editor > > http://www.vmims.com/dwarf.htm > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > This e-mail has been sent via JARING webmail at http://www.jaring.my > > > ==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > Make your own home page with IMS > Web Dwarf. Free HTML Editor http://www.webdwarf.com > >

Sylvia Do you know if Bishops Transcripts exist for the dates prior to the parish registers namely 1813 in the case of Burials and Baptisms and 1824 for Marriages and, if so, their location Alan KL Malaysia Quoting Sylvia Walch <sylvias@sylvia80.freeserve.co.uk>: > St. James's Church > ASHWORTH - Near Heywood > ASHWORTH Church is dedicated to St. James, but when that dedication > took place is not known. Its distance from Ashworth Hall, the > ancestral home of a branch of the Holt family, would preclude the idea > of its having originally been a private domestic chapel. According to > the Ecclesiastical Year Book it was in existence in 1514 and was > probably built during the reign of Henry VIII by the Holts for the use > of their tenants. Amongst the Holt family records of 1522 occurs more > than once the name of '' Sir Thomas Holt, Capellanus," and it may be > assumed that he offici­ated at Ashworth. The Inventory of Church Goods > taken by the order of Edward VI. in 1552 gives details of "one > vestment, chalice and paten as belonging to a chapel called Assheworthe > in the parish of Middleton." It remained in the parish of Middleton > until 1867. In 1559 Robert Holt of Ashworth left " 6s. 8d. to the > sustentation of Ashworth Chapel to be paid when the church reeves > require it. " > > > > For the next fifty years little is known of the history of the chapel, > but from 1614, when John Ashworth became Vicar, there is an almost > complete list of curates. In 1626 Hugh Brooks is described in a > contemporary deed as Vicar of Ashworth, and claimed land in Healey as > belonging to the living. During the Civil War and when Oliver Cromwell > was Protector, the Nonconformists held great power. Ashworth then > became a Presbyterian Conventicle, at least from 1647 to 1652. Henry > Pendlebury, 1648-1650, was a noted theologian. In 1650 the Commonwealth > Survey shows that there was then no maintenance and for the time being > no ministers. The Commissioners recommended that the chapel should be > made into a parish church and gave a list of certain houses in > Ashworth, Birtle, Bamford and Rochdale, which they thought ought to be > included in the Parish. > > In 1671 Richard Whitehead of Pilsworth created a rent charge of £6 a > year on a house called Wallbank, near Whitworth, half of which was to > be paid to the curate of Ashworth Chapel. The last Holt of Ashworth > Hall died without issue, and the estate was sold in 1700 to Samuel > Hallows of Grays Inn. Not long alter he pur­chased the estate he made a > claim to the chapel as a domestic chapel. This claim was apparently > relinquished, as in 1737 the claimant gave a sum of £200 to meet a > similar sum for Queen Ann's Bounty. Notwithstanding this gift, the > donor does not appear to have been a popular patron if we accept the > evidence of a contemporary who writes, " 1740 January 21st. This day > died Mr. Sam Hallows of Ashworth, to the great joy of all his > neigh­bours." Bishop Gaskell reports that the Holt family had always > allowed £4 a year to the chapel, which was increased to £20 or £30 by a > grant from " the Vicarage " (Middleton Rectory?) £400 had thus been > given for an endowment fund and ! > by other contributions this was increased to £600, which was laid out > in an estate. In 1751 the chapel produced £50 per annum ; about £30 > from the land and £20 from the pews. When Samuel Hallows died he left > the estate, with which went the patronage of the living-, to his nephew > John Hatfield of Hatfield, who in 1751 sold it to Thomas Ferrand of > Rochdale. He in turn sold it in 1767 to Samuel Egerton of Tatton, in > whose family it remained until 1942 > > The Church, with the exception of the chancel, was rebuilt and enlarged > in 1789. In 1837 the chancel, the only relic of the old building, was > done away with and the east end of the church made to assume its > present shape. By this alteration and others in the gallery, about 110 > additional sittings were added, and the whole of the gallery, with the > exception of that portion reserved for the singers, was understood to > be appropriated '' henceforth and for­ever " for the use of the Sunday > Scholars. The whole building was thoroughly repaired and wooden Gothic > Mullions introduced into the windows. The alterations cost £300, > towards which subscrip­tions and the reopening service collection > amounted to £145, the balance being paid by the Patron. During the > alterations, which took three months, the church was closed and > services were held in a large room, used as a school, in the Hall Fold. > Ashworth school had been instituted in 1828; eight poor children being > instructed in considera! > tion of £8 per annum subscribed by Mr. Wilbraham Egerton, who in 1838 > built a new school, which was in use as a day-school until the > beginning of the twentieth century, and is now used for church > purposes, having been recently purchased by the Parochial Church > Council. In 1882 the church was re-floored and new pews were installed. > > The nineteenth century was a time of great industrial expan­sion and > the rural countryside around Ashworth with its fast run­ning streams, > ideal for turning waterwheels, was soon invaded by a multitude of small > mills, serving a variety of trades, including Fulling, Dyeing, > Bleaching, Spinning and Weaving. There was a corn mill and some coal > mines and quarries in the parish. These industries attracted many new > inhabitants to the surrounding districts, and made the extension of the > chapel very necessary. It must be borne in mind that at this time the > nearest churches to Ash­worth were Rochdale (2), Heywood (1), Bury (2), > and Edenfield, > > so Ashworth was the focal point of a very large area with a popula­tion > expanding at a tremendous rate. The Church Registers, which were in > existence in 1868, show this increase in population quite clearly. > Unfortunately the remaining registers only date back to 1813 in the > case of Burials and Baptisms, and 1824 for Marriages. The first > recorded Baptism was " Poggie Scofield was born April 21, 1741." in > that year there were nine baptisms and the number remained in the > 'teens until late in the eighteenth cen­tury. Thereafter it rose fairly > constantly until in 1837 there were 132, which is the highest recorded. > The first recorded burial was in 1776 and was the only one in that > year. By 1837 the number had risen to 42. In 1858 the Lord Bishop of > Manchester held a con­firmation at Ashworth at which one hundred > candidates were presented. Ashworth was constituted a parish in 1867 > and there were then 200 Sunday Scholars. During much of this time of > expansion the Vicar was David Rat! > hbone 1832-1871. > > Until the Local Government Act of 1894, when the Parish of Ashworth was > included in Birtle-cum-Bamford, in the Rural District of Bury, the > ratepayers of the Township of Ashworth met annually in the Vestry to > appoint Overseers of the Poor and a Surveyor of the Highways, and to > nominate a Guardian of the Poor and four Constables. All these were > local men, the surveyor for many years being a farmer. At the same time > a rate was levied for repairs to the Church and other necessary > purposes connected therewith. The Sexton was usually the Landlord of > the adjacent Egerton Arms and collections were taken in his hostelry as > well as in church. > > With the advent of steam the mills gradually closed in the country > districts, and industry concentrated in the towns, where many new > churches were built in the latter half of the nineteenth century. St. > James thus served a constantly decreasing area until now the parish is > a purely rural one!, large in acreage, but with a small population. In > 1949 it was found necessary to unite the benefice with St. Paul's, > Norden, but the parish still maintains its own entity and services. > Perched on its hill it is a place of loving pilgrimage for many whose > forebears worshipped here in years gone by, and for those country > lovers who like to worship in an ancient church situated in a wonderful > position. > > > > Interior > > The East window was, erected by Mrs. Hartley in memory of her father > the Rev. David Rathbone, who was incumbent for 38 years until his death > in 1871, her mother and brother; other windows were given by their > relatives in memory of Richard and Sarah Ashworth, Oscar Baron, N. F. > Davison, W. Looker and J. C. Waldie. > > The Oak Altar was presented in 1909 by Canon Rathbone Hartley, the > Eagle Lectern in 1906 by D. Leech, Esq., the Reading Desk in 1927 by > the Parishioners in memory of W. L. Pickup, for many years > churchwarden, and the pulpit in 1937 by Miss Edith Baron. > > On organ was purchased in 1840 and placed in the gallery. It replaced > the instrumental music, which up to that time had been provided by > Violin, Clarinet, etc. About 1900 a new organ was built in it's present > position. > > The Font is made of stone from Mount Tabor, near Halifax, and was a > gift of Wilbraham Egerton, Esq., in 1852. > > The bell was given by Samuel Egerton, Esq., in 1774 and did duly until > 1895, when it was replaced by a peal of eight tubular bells. These have > since had to be taken down as the bell chamber was unsafe. When this > has been rectified they can be re-hung. > > The poetical description on the west wall of the lamentable end in > Birtle of a harmless old man and his faithful wife, neglects to state > that the murderer was hanged at Lancaster in 1826. > > The church plate consists of a silver Chalice and Paten, on which are > engraved the Egerton Arms and the date 1808, and a Silver Chalice and > Paten given by Mrs. Adams whose husband Rev. C. Adams was Vicar, > 1932-194:5. > > The Churchyard > > > The Churchyard is entered by a Memorial Gateway, erected in memory of > those who fell in the 1914 -18 war. > > It has been enlarged on several occasions; four of them being between > 1832 and 1871, when the land was given by the Egerton family, who also > paid for the erection of the walls. The latest addition was in 1949 the > land then being' given by Messrs. Walker and Homfrays Ltd. There are > many interesting and some original epitaphs on the old flat stones. In > 1867 the Vicar forbade any inscription being placed on a tombstone > without his permission except the name, age, date and abode, as " > several unfitting, inappropriate and unscriptural verses appear." > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Edward Reid-Smith" <Edward.Reid-Smith@bigpond.com> > To: <ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 5:31 AM > Subject: [ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L] Ashworth church and registers > > > > I wonder if anyone knows whether the registers of Ashworth have been > printed > > or are otherwise widely available? When was the chapel opened (and > when did > > the registers start)? I understand that it was originally a > chapel-of-ease > > to Bury or Middleton. Thanks, Edward > > > > > > ==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > > >==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > > To search the archives of this list go to: > > > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?surname=ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L-request@rootsweb.com > > > > > > > ==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > Create your own home page with Web Dwarf, a FREE HTML Editor > http://www.vmims.com/dwarf.htm > > ---------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail has been sent via JARING webmail at http://www.jaring.my

To all List Could anyone with access to Middleton baptism records, please carry out a search for 1 John SCHOFIELD snr who died on 2 July 1867 aged 75. This would put his birth between 3 July 1791 and 2 July 1792 2 John SCHOFIELD jnr who from his MI at St James Ashworth was buried on 4 April 1884 aged 61. This would put his birth between abt 1 April 1822 and 31 March 1823 assuming he died on 31 March 1884. His father's name was John Thanks in anticipation Alan KL Malaysia ---------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail has been sent via JARING webmail at http://www.jaring.my

Just in case its of any use - there are quite a lot of burials at Middleton St Leonards for people from Ashworth in the 1600s and 1700s. (Have them indexed). Doreen. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.9.7/60 - Release Date: 28/07/2005

St. James's Church ASHWORTH - Near Heywood ASHWORTH Church is dedicated to St. James, but when that dedication took place is not known. Its distance from Ashworth Hall, the ancestral home of a branch of the Holt family, would preclude the idea of its having originally been a private domestic chapel. According to the Ecclesiastical Year Book it was in existence in 1514 and was probably built during the reign of Henry VIII by the Holts for the use of their tenants. Amongst the Holt family records of 1522 occurs more than once the name of '' Sir Thomas Holt, Capellanus," and it may be assumed that he offici­ated at Ashworth. The Inventory of Church Goods taken by the order of Edward VI. in 1552 gives details of "one vestment, chalice and paten as belonging to a chapel called Assheworthe in the parish of Middleton." It remained in the parish of Middleton until 1867. In 1559 Robert Holt of Ashworth left " 6s. 8d. to the sustentation of Ashworth Chapel to be paid when the church reeves require it. " For the next fifty years little is known of the history of the chapel, but from 1614, when John Ashworth became Vicar, there is an almost complete list of curates. In 1626 Hugh Brooks is described in a contemporary deed as Vicar of Ashworth, and claimed land in Healey as belonging to the living. During the Civil War and when Oliver Cromwell was Protector, the Nonconformists held great power. Ashworth then became a Presbyterian Conventicle, at least from 1647 to 1652. Henry Pendlebury, 1648-1650, was a noted theologian. In 1650 the Commonwealth Survey shows that there was then no maintenance and for the time being no ministers. The Commissioners recommended that the chapel should be made into a parish church and gave a list of certain houses in Ashworth, Birtle, Bamford and Rochdale, which they thought ought to be included in the Parish. In 1671 Richard Whitehead of Pilsworth created a rent charge of £6 a year on a house called Wallbank, near Whitworth, half of which was to be paid to the curate of Ashworth Chapel. The last Holt of Ashworth Hall died without issue, and the estate was sold in 1700 to Samuel Hallows of Grays Inn. Not long alter he pur­chased the estate he made a claim to the chapel as a domestic chapel. This claim was apparently relinquished, as in 1737 the claimant gave a sum of £200 to meet a similar sum for Queen Ann's Bounty. Notwithstanding this gift, the donor does not appear to have been a popular patron if we accept the evidence of a contemporary who writes, " 1740 January 21st. This day died Mr. Sam Hallows of Ashworth, to the great joy of all his neigh­bours." Bishop Gaskell reports that the Holt family had always allowed £4 a year to the chapel, which was increased to £20 or £30 by a grant from " the Vicarage " (Middleton Rectory?) £400 had thus been given for an endowment fund and ! by other contributions this was increased to £600, which was laid out in an estate. In 1751 the chapel produced £50 per annum ; about £30 from the land and £20 from the pews. When Samuel Hallows died he left the estate, with which went the patronage of the living-, to his nephew John Hatfield of Hatfield, who in 1751 sold it to Thomas Ferrand of Rochdale. He in turn sold it in 1767 to Samuel Egerton of Tatton, in whose family it remained until 1942 The Church, with the exception of the chancel, was rebuilt and enlarged in 1789. In 1837 the chancel, the only relic of the old building, was done away with and the east end of the church made to assume its present shape. By this alteration and others in the gallery, about 110 additional sittings were added, and the whole of the gallery, with the exception of that portion reserved for the singers, was understood to be appropriated '' henceforth and for­ever " for the use of the Sunday Scholars. The whole building was thoroughly repaired and wooden Gothic Mullions introduced into the windows. The alterations cost £300, towards which subscrip­tions and the reopening service collection amounted to £145, the balance being paid by the Patron. During the alterations, which took three months, the church was closed and services were held in a large room, used as a school, in the Hall Fold. Ashworth school had been instituted in 1828; eight poor children being instructed in considera! tion of £8 per annum subscribed by Mr. Wilbraham Egerton, who in 1838 built a new school, which was in use as a day-school until the beginning of the twentieth century, and is now used for church purposes, having been recently purchased by the Parochial Church Council. In 1882 the church was re-floored and new pews were installed. The nineteenth century was a time of great industrial expan­sion and the rural countryside around Ashworth with its fast run­ning streams, ideal for turning waterwheels, was soon invaded by a multitude of small mills, serving a variety of trades, including Fulling, Dyeing, Bleaching, Spinning and Weaving. There was a corn mill and some coal mines and quarries in the parish. These industries attracted many new inhabitants to the surrounding districts, and made the extension of the chapel very necessary. It must be borne in mind that at this time the nearest churches to Ash­worth were Rochdale (2), Heywood (1), Bury (2), and Edenfield, so Ashworth was the focal point of a very large area with a popula­tion expanding at a tremendous rate. The Church Registers, which were in existence in 1868, show this increase in population quite clearly. Unfortunately the remaining registers only date back to 1813 in the case of Burials and Baptisms, and 1824 for Marriages. The first recorded Baptism was " Poggie Scofield was born April 21, 1741." in that year there were nine baptisms and the number remained in the 'teens until late in the eighteenth cen­tury. Thereafter it rose fairly constantly until in 1837 there were 132, which is the highest recorded. The first recorded burial was in 1776 and was the only one in that year. By 1837 the number had risen to 42. In 1858 the Lord Bishop of Manchester held a con­firmation at Ashworth at which one hundred candidates were presented. Ashworth was constituted a parish in 1867 and there were then 200 Sunday Scholars. During much of this time of expansion the Vicar was David Rat! hbone 1832-1871. Until the Local Government Act of 1894, when the Parish of Ashworth was included in Birtle-cum-Bamford, in the Rural District of Bury, the ratepayers of the Township of Ashworth met annually in the Vestry to appoint Overseers of the Poor and a Surveyor of the Highways, and to nominate a Guardian of the Poor and four Constables. All these were local men, the surveyor for many years being a farmer. At the same time a rate was levied for repairs to the Church and other necessary purposes connected therewith. The Sexton was usually the Landlord of the adjacent Egerton Arms and collections were taken in his hostelry as well as in church. With the advent of steam the mills gradually closed in the country districts, and industry concentrated in the towns, where many new churches were built in the latter half of the nineteenth century. St. James thus served a constantly decreasing area until now the parish is a purely rural one!, large in acreage, but with a small population. In 1949 it was found necessary to unite the benefice with St. Paul's, Norden, but the parish still maintains its own entity and services. Perched on its hill it is a place of loving pilgrimage for many whose forebears worshipped here in years gone by, and for those country lovers who like to worship in an ancient church situated in a wonderful position. Interior The East window was, erected by Mrs. Hartley in memory of her father the Rev. David Rathbone, who was incumbent for 38 years until his death in 1871, her mother and brother; other windows were given by their relatives in memory of Richard and Sarah Ashworth, Oscar Baron, N. F. Davison, W. Looker and J. C. Waldie. The Oak Altar was presented in 1909 by Canon Rathbone Hartley, the Eagle Lectern in 1906 by D. Leech, Esq., the Reading Desk in 1927 by the Parishioners in memory of W. L. Pickup, for many years churchwarden, and the pulpit in 1937 by Miss Edith Baron. On organ was purchased in 1840 and placed in the gallery. It replaced the instrumental music, which up to that time had been provided by Violin, Clarinet, etc. About 1900 a new organ was built in it's present position. The Font is made of stone from Mount Tabor, near Halifax, and was a gift of Wilbraham Egerton, Esq., in 1852. The bell was given by Samuel Egerton, Esq., in 1774 and did duly until 1895, when it was replaced by a peal of eight tubular bells. These have since had to be taken down as the bell chamber was unsafe. When this has been rectified they can be re-hung. The poetical description on the west wall of the lamentable end in Birtle of a harmless old man and his faithful wife, neglects to state that the murderer was hanged at Lancaster in 1826. The church plate consists of a silver Chalice and Paten, on which are engraved the Egerton Arms and the date 1808, and a Silver Chalice and Paten given by Mrs. Adams whose husband Rev. C. Adams was Vicar, 1932-194:5. The Churchyard The Churchyard is entered by a Memorial Gateway, erected in memory of those who fell in the 1914 -18 war. It has been enlarged on several occasions; four of them being between 1832 and 1871, when the land was given by the Egerton family, who also paid for the erection of the walls. The latest addition was in 1949 the land then being' given by Messrs. Walker and Homfrays Ltd. There are many interesting and some original epitaphs on the old flat stones. In 1867 the Vicar forbade any inscription being placed on a tombstone without his permission except the name, age, date and abode, as " several unfitting, inappropriate and unscriptural verses appear." ----- Original Message ----- From: "Edward Reid-Smith" <Edward.Reid-Smith@bigpond.com> To: <ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 5:31 AM Subject: [ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L] Ashworth church and registers > I wonder if anyone knows whether the registers of Ashworth have been printed > or are otherwise widely available? When was the chapel opened (and when did > the registers start)? I understand that it was originally a chapel-of-ease > to Bury or Middleton. Thanks, Edward > > > ==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > >==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > To search the archives of this list go to: > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?surname=ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L-request@rootsweb.com > >

Hi Laura, Your 1841 list of Emerson's plus John and family at Barlow Fold plus some of the 11 children of Robert Emerson and Hannah Hilton married St Mary's Prestwich 22 August 1791.......... John and Ann in Simister Lane and across Bowlee common Francis at Mare Brook James and Ellen in Birch Village Joseph and Susan in Birch Village Betty near Langley Lane Robert and Mary at Doctors Fold Ann wife of Noah Partington at Whittle If you come across the baptism of Robert Emerson possibly about 1770 I would be delighted to hear as I have been sorting this lot for many a moon. Rgs Sylvia. ggg grand daughter of Robert and Hannah Emerson ----- Original Message ----- From: "laura lizard" <laura.vizard@ntlworld.com> To: <ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 1:27 PM Subject: [ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L] EMERSON 1841 Pilkington details > Hi All, > > I believe we have a few other Emerson researchers on the list so I thought I should post all of those living in Pilkington 1841 (all are born in county and for some reason they do not seem to be rounded down): > > Hollins > Robert EMMERSON 40 weaver > William 15 weaver > Betty 40 > Alice 10 > Richard 9 > Ellen 8 > Sarah 6 > Stephen 1 > > > Lower Egypt > Francis EMMERSON 50 farmer > Mary 49 > John 20 weaver > Robert 10 ? (I checked and think this is correct) > Ann 20 weaver > Mary 15 weaver > Betty 14 weaver > Eliza 12 > Francis RAMSBOTTOM 3 > > Roe Barn > John EMMERSON 40 Farmer > Esther 40 > Joseph 15 > Ann 13 > Mark 12 > John 7 > Alice 5 > Daniel HADDOCK 15 weaver > > Grundy Fold > Joseph EMMERSON 35 weaver > Betty 35 > Sarah 14 > Mary 10 > Elizabeth 8 > James 7 > Ellen 5 > Amos 3 > Alice 1 > > Den (near or on Moad Hill) > Nathan EMMERSON 38 weaver > Alfred 12 > Peggy 9 > Sarah 6 > > Pump House (very close to Nathan above) > Mark EMMERSON 35 Farmer > Betty 31 > Ann 8 > Richard 6 > Sarah 3 > Leah HILTON 18 weaver > > Also 2 Emerson MIs from Unsworth St George (kept short) > > Nathan EMERSON d. 27th feb 1877 aged 74. Wife Mary of Unsworth d. 6 nov 1830 age 31. Betty daur d jun 17 1839 age 6. > > Mark EMERSON of Unsworth d. feb 26 1881 age 52. Mary, wife, d. 10 apr 1886 aged 57. > Elizabeth daur d.13 sep 1883 age 3 days > William son d. dec 27 1861 17 months > Ann daur d. mar 24 1867 age 3 years 4 months. > and in loving mem. of Elizabeth HOWARTH d. feb 1st 1912 age 79 > and Wright belov son of Mark and Mary d. May 20 1912 age 56. > > Hope that helps somebody, > > Regards, > Laura V. > > (PS please if anybody can help lookup Roe Barn 1851, I would be very grateful - it seems not to be on my disk, thanks). > > > ==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== > Make your own home page with IMS > Web Dwarf. Free HTML Editor http://www.webdwarf.com > >

Thanks Sharon. I've copied the MI's for the surname which I wanted, and will try to match them with my records. Edward

I wonder if anyone knows whether the registers of Ashworth have been printed or are otherwise widely available? When was the chapel opened (and when did the registers start)? I understand that it was originally a chapel-of-ease to Bury or Middleton. Thanks, Edward

Hi Edward, Try the IGI batch C032951 And also the OPC pages http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Ashworth/ contrary to the description this is not the Methodist Chapel but the CofE Church monumental inscriptions. Hope this helps, Sharon in Perth, Western Australia http://users.bigpond.net.au/bunter/bury_parish.htm Bury Parish Pages - just beginning > -----Original Message----- > From: Edward Reid-Smith [mailto:Edward.Reid-Smith@bigpond.com] > > I wonder if anyone knows whether the registers of Ashworth have been > printed > or are otherwise widely available? When was the chapel opened (and when > did > the registers start)? I understand that it was originally a chapel-of- > ease > to Bury or Middleton. Thanks, Edward

Hi All, I believe we have a few other Emerson researchers on the list so I thought I should post all of those living in Pilkington 1841 (all are born in county and for some reason they do not seem to be rounded down): Hollins Robert EMMERSON 40 weaver William 15 weaver Betty 40 Alice 10 Richard 9 Ellen 8 Sarah 6 Stephen 1 Lower Egypt Francis EMMERSON 50 farmer Mary 49 John 20 weaver Robert 10 ? (I checked and think this is correct) Ann 20 weaver Mary 15 weaver Betty 14 weaver Eliza 12 Francis RAMSBOTTOM 3 Roe Barn John EMMERSON 40 Farmer Esther 40 Joseph 15 Ann 13 Mark 12 John 7 Alice 5 Daniel HADDOCK 15 weaver Grundy Fold Joseph EMMERSON 35 weaver Betty 35 Sarah 14 Mary 10 Elizabeth 8 James 7 Ellen 5 Amos 3 Alice 1 Den (near or on Moad Hill) Nathan EMMERSON 38 weaver Alfred 12 Peggy 9 Sarah 6 Pump House (very close to Nathan above) Mark EMMERSON 35 Farmer Betty 31 Ann 8 Richard 6 Sarah 3 Leah HILTON 18 weaver Also 2 Emerson MIs from Unsworth St George (kept short) Nathan EMERSON d. 27th feb 1877 aged 74. Wife Mary of Unsworth d. 6 nov 1830 age 31. Betty daur d jun 17 1839 age 6. Mark EMERSON of Unsworth d. feb 26 1881 age 52. Mary, wife, d. 10 apr 1886 aged 57. Elizabeth daur d.13 sep 1883 age 3 days William son d. dec 27 1861 17 months Ann daur d. mar 24 1867 age 3 years 4 months. and in loving mem. of Elizabeth HOWARTH d. feb 1st 1912 age 79 and Wright belov son of Mark and Mary d. May 20 1912 age 56. Hope that helps somebody, Regards, Laura V. (PS please if anybody can help lookup Roe Barn 1851, I would be very grateful - it seems not to be on my disk, thanks).

Hi Sylvia Many thanks for that. I hadn't seen it. Regards Dorothy

Hi Sylvia, Thanks very much for the info !!! This ties in beautifully, I had wondered if Johns wife was Esther as I had seen a couple if entries in the IGI for Alice' siblings. After I posted yesterday, I had a look on old-maps and found that their dwelling in 1861 (Roe Barn) is very close to Unsworth indeed. In fact, I used to run past the buildings there whilst doing cross country running at senior school. Many thanks, I'm sure I'm on the right track now thanks to you. Regards, Laura V. ----- Original Message ----- From: "sylvia walch" <sylvia@sylvia80.freeserve.co.uk> To: <laura.vizard@ntlworld.com> Sent: Saturday, July 30, 2005 8:36 PM Subject: Fw: [ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L] EMERSON Unsworth and Pilkington > Not sure if you got this yesterday as I have just changed > internet connections. So I will repeat my message ......... > > Hi Laura > > There is an Alice Emerson bapt at St Georges Unsworth > c Mar 1836 to John and Esther that could be a possibility, > siblings, Joseph, Ann, Mark and possibly John. > > Rgs Sylvia > >

Hi Dorothy, Just done a "Middleton" search on the National Archives Wills page and noticed this reference.......... Description/ Will of John Wild, Coal Master of Middleton , Lancashire Date/ Catalogue ref Details/ 19 May 1848 PROB 11/2075 PDF Image of Will / 165 KB 2 pages Total Price (£) 3.50 Thought I would point it out in case you had missed it. Good hunting Sylvia. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dorothy Hargreaves" <dorethym.hargreaves@ntlworld.com> To: <ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2005 5:53 PM Subject: [ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON-L] Middleton Collieries > Hi Everyone > He was a partner in the Wild, Haigh coal masters of Middleton and Hopwood > Colliery. > > His daughter Jane married James wild, son of Samuel Wild who would appear to > be the partner of James. > > I have more information about these families and if anyone knows any more > about the collieries and where they were situated, or is connected in any > way, I would love to hear.

Hello Doreen, Thank you. No, I haven't got access to any of the churches you mentioned. Would very much appreciate the look-up from you when you go to Manchester. Have a nice weekend! Helen Kay Gelinas Germany

Thank you so much for the map and for the wonderful book links. you have been so very helpful! Have a good weekend! Helen Kay Gelinas Germany