I have just received the Birth Certificate for Elizabeth TRIPPIER who was born on 22 Dec 1840, the daughter of James TRIPPIER and Alice TRIPPIER formerly CROPPER. "Where born" and "residence of informant" both looks like "Rockliffe". I can't find a place of this name on a map, or in a gazeteer. The Registration District is Rochdale, and the Sub-district is Whitworth & Brandwood. I was expecting the birthplace to be Bacup, which is what was given in all censuses. When she married Joseph Edward MITCHELL in Jan 1861 at Rawtenstall, her address was given as Pipping (or Tipping) Bank, Bacup. Is Rochdale the correct Registration District to be looking for someone born in Bacup? Any help with this name Rockliffe (and Pipping/Tipping Bank), its location, and how far it is from Bacup, would be much appreciated. Regards, Chris(topher) Mitchell Adelaide South Australia

Hello Chris, I can't help you with Rockcliffe - it doesn't show as a place name on the Old Maps site, but the registration district for Bacup is Hyndburn and Rossendale: Address The Mechanics Institute Willow Street Accrington Lancashire BB5 1LP Tel +44 (0)1254 871360 Rockcliffe sounds like it could be the name of a house??? I hope this helps a little, Linda

Chris, I have looked at my 1881 census CD-Roms, and there is a Rockliffe in a place called Spotland, in Lancashire, PRO Ref.RG11 / 4121. For example, on folio 102, page 48, I found a Richard COOK who was a watchman, 47 years old, who was born in Walsden, Yorkshire, but living at Rockliffe, Spotland, Lancs. In case anyone else is interested in the name COOK, this Richard Cook was living with his wife Ellen, 43 years, daughter Betty, 24 years, both born in Bacup, and daughters Hannah, 23, Mary A., 20, and Martha E. Cook, 11, (no birthplaces given). There was quite a long list of houses at 'Lower Rockliffe', and then some more houses at just 'Rockliffe'. For those interested in the name FIELDEN, I noticed a John Feilden (typed with this spelling on my CD-Rom) at 26 Lower Rockliffe, Spotland, Lancs, who was born in Todmorden, Yorks. He was 31 in 1881, and a cotton weaver. His wife was Betsy Feilden, also a cotton weaver, 31 years, and born in Todmorden, Yorks. They had one son with them, James Feilden, 1 year old, born in Bacup, Lancs. (Ref. RG11 / 4121, folio 89, page 21.) At 2 Lower Rockliffe, Spotland, Lancs, there was another FIELDEN family:- Sarah Fielden, housekeeper, widow, 51, born in Todmorden, Yorks. Joseph Fielden, son, cotton weaver, unmarried, 29, born Todmorden, Yorks. Alice Fielden, daughter, cotton weaver, unmarried, 25, born Todmorden, Yorks. Sarah Ann Fielden, daughter, unmarried, cotton weaver, 20, born Todmorden, Yorks. Fred Fielden, son, drum turner (wood), unmarried, 17, born Todmorden, Yorks. Annie Fielden, daughter, scholar, unmarried, 12, born Bacup, Lancs. (PRO Ref RG11 / 4121, folio 83, page 9.) I then looked for the word Pipping, which did not occur, but there was a Pippin Bank, which, for part of the road/area, was shortened to 'Pippin Bk'. At '207 Pippin Bk', Newchurch, Lancashire, I found a CROPPER family:- Samuel CROPPER, coal agent (merchant), 32 years, born Bacup, Lancs. Jane CROPPER, wife, 31 years, born Bampton Grange, Westmorland. John W. CROPPER, son, scholar, 5 years, born Bacup, Lancs. Mary CROPPER, daughter, 3 years, born Bacup, Lancs. Jane CROPPER, daughter, 1 year, born Bacup, Lancs. (PRO Ref. RG11 / 4127, folio 26, page 8.) By the way, Chris, out of interest, (as you said you already have the census details) I looked for your Joseph and Elizabeth MITCHELL on my Lancachire 1881 CD-Rom, but was not sure which was your family. I found two possible ones. The first was Joseph Mitchell who was a baker at 4 Brown Street, Newchurch, Lancs, 41 years old, born in Bacup, but he was married to Ann, not Elizabeth. Had Elizabeth died by 1881, and Joseph married someone called Ann? The children at this address, William J. Mitchell, 21 years, Hiram, 18, Betty, 16, Eber, 14, Prudence, 12, and Mary, 3, are all quite close in age, apart from Mary, so she could be the daughter of Ann, and the others could be the children of the previous wife. I wondered whether this was your family, because this Joseph Mitchell lived in Newchurch, and Pippin Bank was in Newchurch too. There was also a Joseph and Elizabeth Mitchell at 16 Timber Place, Ogden Street, Wardleworth, Lancs, both 43 years and born in Rochdale. He was a 'labourer in iron works', and they had children William, Samuel and Hannah Mitchell, 19, 17 and 10 years, all born in Rochdale. Are either of these Joseph Mitchells yours, or had they moved from Lancashire by 1881? Anne