Hi I hope I have joined the right list !! I am looking for my great great great grandparents WILLIAM HILLYER CALBREATH and MARY ANN FOSTER BIRKETT. They were married at the Parish of Deane in Lancaster in 1846. Their residence at time of marriage was Horwich. My great great grandfather, William Birkett Calbreath was born in 1851 and states on the 1881 census that he was born in Blackburn. However, his brother who was born the next year stated that he was born in Preston and Williams birth was actually registered in Preston in the September quarter of 1851. Can anyone tell me if the 1851 census for Preston is indexed and if it is, would there be a copy in Manchester Library or would I have to travel to Preston? Many thanks in anticipation Regards Andrea.

Hi, Andrea, You wrote, >Can anyone tell me if the 1851 census for Preston is indexed and if it is, would there be a copy in Manchester Library or would I have to travel to Preston?< There is a surname index to the Preston area in the 1851 Census, published as a booklet by the Manchester & Lancashire Family History Society (M&LFHS). You should e-mail [email protected] for details of availability, cost and postage. The M&LFHS covers mainly Manchester, Salford, Bolton and Oldham. Present day 'new' Lancashire, plus Bury and Rochdale, are served by the Lancashire Family History and Heraldry Society (LFH&HS). This latter society has published Surname Indexes on microfiche for the 1851 - 1891 Censuses and you will find details of these on the website www.lancashire-fhhs.org.uk Note fhhs A surname index is one which lists each surname found on that Piece of the Census and the folio numbers on which each occurs. It is a list of pointers, Surname and Folio numbers; it is not a transcription of all the information for every person. Hope this helps. if any thing is not clear, send me a note Jim Lancaster (Bury, LAN)