Burial Registers
 

Can be a great way of finding Ancestors that haven't shown up on census records. I recently found two children that I knew nothing about through checking the Burial Records for Bacup Cemetery and finding these two children named as being buried in the same grave as their parents.  Checking through the Burial Records enables you to see in what Section of the cemetery your ancestor is buried and who else is buried in the same grave and what date they were buried and in what  place they died. Bacup Cemetery comes under the management of Rossendale Borough Council  to see the Burial Records for Bacup Cemetery you need to speak to the Burials Registrar to make a appointment. You can contact her through the Tourist Information Office on Kay Street Rawtenstall 01706 244678. The Tourist Information Office is where you will view the actual records and this can be a little off putting  however  the Burial Registrar is more than helpful and  pleasant as are the staff of the Tourist Information Office.

 

 

Another website I found useful  is http://www.cemsearch.co.uk

 

Cemsearch has a  full database of monumental inscriptions from cemeteries and graveyards in Lancashire, including Burnley, Preston, Nelson, Blackburn, Bacup and Whitworth. You can search  your surname for free and there are reports on some Graveyards. Information is only provided for graves opened before 1950.

 

 

 


 

 


 

 

 

When I first started out researching my family history I had no idea what to do where to go  or anything. I joined Ancestry.co.uk and from day one I have been impressed by the services offered there and would recommend it to anyone researching their family. I am not a expert in Family History research and the purpose of this page is to pass on the things I have found useful while researching my Bacupian ancestors.

 

Early Boundaries

Bacup borough originally consisted of several small townships which fell into two groups. The higher townships in one group were situated on the left side of the Sharney Brook, which discharged its water into the River Irwell, in the centre of the town near the Mechanics Institute, the lower ones being situate on the left side of the River Irwell below the point at which the Sharney Brook joins it.

The higher townships in the other group were situate on the right side of the Sharney Brook and on both sides of the River Irwell, the lower ones being situate on the right side of the River Irwell below the junction of the Sharney Brook with that river.  Those townships which are comprised in the first group, and now consist of the south- eastern and southern parts and a large portion of the centre part of the Borough and the southern part of the district now known as Stacksteads, were originally part of the Hundred of Salford and of the Brandwood division of the township of Spotland  forming part of the ancient parish of Rochdale.  Those townships which are comprised in the second group and now consist of the north part of the Bacup portion of the borough and the northern portion of Stacksteads were originally part of the hundred of Blackburn and of the parish of  Newchurch-In-Rossendale.

 

St Johns and Newchurch St Nicholas

 

In 1837 the original township of Bacup and some of the smaller places in the immediate vicinity became ecclesiastical purposes " the consolidated District Chapelry of St Johns Bacup". In consequence the church of St John became the Parish Church of Bacup.

 

Poor Law

For poor law purposes the area of the borough was formerly divided between two poor law unions the townships in the parish of Spotland being in the Rochdale union and the townships in the parish of Newchurch being in the Haslingden union. This being the case until 1894, when the portion of the borough within the Rochdale union was added to the Haslingden Union. The borough of Bacup remained part of the Haslingden poor law union until 1930 when the functions of the boards of guardians were transferred to county councils.

 

 

 

 Bacup and Stacksteads on Ancestry.co.uk are now covered right from 1841 to 1901.

Don't be put off if when you  search the 1841 census your ancestors place of birth is given as Whalley, this is correct Bacup was in the Blackburn hundreds and therefore was classed as Whalley. 

 

For searches of the 1851 -1871 census returns in the Keywords box try putting Newchurch or Spotland rather than Bacup, and for the 1881 to 1901 census put Bacup. I have found doing this gives  better and more comprehensive results.

 

Also if your ancestor doesn't show up first time try doing a Soundex search rather than a Exact search.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manchester Central Library

Holds  many Church Records for Baptism's, Marriages and Burials carried out in the  various Churches and Chapels of Bacup and Stacksteads.

 

Bacup St John Evangelist
Baptisms-1788-1838- MFPR 124
Baptisms-1838-1950- MFPR 1190
Burials-1788-1853- MFPR 124
Marriages-1838-1906- MFPR 1191

 

Bacup- Wesley Place Wesleyan
Baptisms-1786-1837- MFPR 286
Burials-1794-1837- MFPR 286

 

Bacup- Christ Church
Marriages-1855-1875- MFPR 1210

 

Bacup- Ebenezer Baptist
Births-1759-1837- MFPR 285
Burials-1776-1806- MFPR 285
Burials-1812-1837- MFPR 286

 

Bacup- Irwell Terrace Baptist
Births-1790-1837- MFPR 286

 

Tunstead- Holy Trinity
Baptisms-1840-1905- MFPR 1637
Marriages-1858-1918- MFPR 1638
Marriages-1918-1949- MFPR 1639

 

Rochdale- St Chad
Baptisms-1582-1700- Archives L48
Baptisms-1701-1816- MFPR 99
Baptisms-1713-1727- MFPR 1813
Baptisms-1816-1835- MFPR 100
Baptisms-1835-1841- MFPR 101
Baptisms-1841-1856- MFPR 615
Baptisms-1856-1877- MFPR 616
Baptisms-1877-1894- MFPR 617
Baptisms Tr.-1582-1700- 929.3272 R1
Baptisms Tr.-1894-1899- Rossendale Fiche R15
Burials-1582-1700- Archives L48
Burials- 1701-1835- MFPR 105
Burials-1713-1727- MFPR 1813
Burials-1835-1843- MFPR 106
Burials-1843-1848- MFPR 624
Burials-1848-1896- MFPR 625
Burials Tr.-1582-1700- 929.3272 R1
Graves-1814-1840- MFPR 625
Marriage Idx.-1813-1837- Rossendale Fiche R4
Marriages-1582-1713- Archives L48
Marriages-1700-1799- Archives L48
Marriages-1713-1727- MFPR 1813
Marriages-1728-1799- Archives L48
Marriages-1799-1815- MFPR 102
Marriages-1815-1830- MFPR 103
Marriages-1830-1837- MFPR 104
Marriages-1837-1838- MFPR 617
Marriages-1838-1843- MFPR 618
Marriages-1843-1847- MFPR 619
Marriages-1847-1851- MFPR 620
Marriages-1851-1855- MFPR 621
Marriages-1855-1862- MFPR 622
Marriages-1862-1883- MFPR 623
Marriages-1883-1898- MFPR 624
Marriages Tr.-1582-1801- 929.3272 R1
Marriages Tr.-1894-1906- Rossendale Fiche R16

 

Bacup Library

Newchurch, St. Nicholas. On microfilm. Baptisms, May 1853-Sept 1890;

Marriages, Apr 1754-Jun 1763 & Jun 1864-Sept 1914; Burials, May 1871-May 1932.

 

Bacup, Ebenezer Baptists. On microfilm. Baptisms, 1759-1874; Burials 1759-1866.

 

Bacup, Mount Pleasant Wesleyan. On microfilm. Baptisms, 1786-1950; Burials 1794-1964.

 

Goodshaw, Rossendale, St. Mary & All Saints. Printed. Marriages, 1907-1991; Burials, 1893-1946.

 

 

Births Deaths and Marriages

Have been recorded in Civil Registers since 1837 and there are many Free websites on the internet that are in the process of transcribing these records for  Free Public Access. Whilst obtaining Birth Death and Marriage certificates is a very good way of tracing your family history it can become expensive with certificates costing 7.00 each. I found three sites very helpful in tracing my Family's Births Deaths and Marriages.

 

 

http://www.lancashirebmd.org.uk/index.html

A lot of my family members had been in Married in St Johns Church Bacup and I found this site particularly good for finding these marriages. Although the indexes are not yet complete for all years and districts, the database will eventually cover Lancashire births, marriages and deaths for the years 1837 to 1950.

 

http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl

This site was good for finding family members who lived in other parts of the country before moving to Bacup although because records are still being transcribed it is more difficult to find entries for after 1901.

 

http://www.1837online.com/Trace2web/

I found this site very good  if I had a rough idea of when a family member was Born, Died or Married. It is a pay per view site and costs £5 for 50 Credits which lets you view 50 Images i.e. Birth, Death Marriage entries, however your credits can soon go if you have no idea when a family member was Born etc and then you have to do a lot of searching. Ideally to get the most out of this site try to get a rough idea of dates etc. I also found this one of the best sites at which to order certificates through.

 

There are of course many more sites out on the Internet and every body will have their favourites these are just three that I found useful.

 

 

 

 

Bacup Library

Holds a large collection of research documents covering the areas of Bacup and Rossendale. With some material covering other areas such as Rochdale, Todmorden, Blackburn, Pendle.

 

St James Square Bacup Lancs OL13 9NH

Tel: 01706 873324

Fax: 01706 873324

 

Opening Times

Monday 10:00 - 12:30, 13:30 - 19:00 Tuesday 10:00 - 12:30, 13:30 - 17:00 Wednesday 10:00 - 17:00 Thursday Closed Friday 10:00 - 12:30, 13:30 - 17:00 Saturday 10:00 - 16:00

 

Local directories

Include BAINES' Directory of 1824-25.

North Western Counties trades directory 1969-70

Macdonald's directory of Rochdale Milnrow, Littleborough, Bacup, Rossendale, Haslingden and Todmorden for 1879.

Local telephone directories from 1959 although coverage for the years  years 1879 - 1901, 1904 - 1935, and 1940 - 1954 is weak.

 

Local Newspapers.

A large collection of  The Bacup Times Newspaper 8th April 1865 - 27th November 1965 (originals deposited with Bacup Natural History Society). Indexed 1866 - 1876, 1879 - 1886, 1906, 1965. Also obituary index 1866 - 1879, 1923 - 1966 and some other years. Microfilmed. Obituary Index not microfilmed.  can be read using the Micro Film readers two of which and a photocopier are available.

Bacup Echo Nos. 1-155, 1972 - 1977. Not indexed. Print and Microfilmed.

Bacup and district advertiser December 1967 - June 1972. Not indexed. Microfilmed.

Bacup and Rossendale News May 1863 - 1890 (originals owned by Bacup Natural History Society). Not indexed. Microfilmed.

Bacup Chronicle and Stacksteads and district News 30th Jan. 1909. Not indexed. Microfilmed.

Rossendale Free Press Not indexed. Microfilmed November 1965 to date;

Rossendale Front December 1967 - December 1974. Not indexed. Microfilm only.

Rossendale Watchman 1876. Including the Bury Body and Rossendale Critic, 1876). All published. Not indexed. Microfilmed.

 

Electoral Registers

Electoral Registers can be found for the years 1937 - 38  1938-39 (amended wards BJ, BK, BL only )

1939 - 40  1953 -54 (amended for 1954 -55 ) 1966-67 (amended for 1967-68 ) 1971 - 72 ( amended for 1972-73)

1972 - 73 (amended for 1973 - 74)    1973 - 741973 - 74 (amended for 1974 - 75)

1975 - 76 and all main and amended registers to date.

1977 - (lacks 1986 -1989)

 

Census Returns

Returns for the years 1841 to 1891  are available on Micro Film with helpful staff on hand to help if you have never used a Micro Fiche reader before.

 

Parish Registers

Include 

Newchurch, St. Nicholas. On microfilm. Baptisms, May 1853-Sept 1890; Marriages, Apr 1754-Jun 1763 & Jun 1864-Sept 1914; Burials, May 1871-May 1932.

Bacup, Ebenezer Baptists. On microfilm. Baptisms, 1759-1874; Burials 1759-1866.

Bacup, Mount Pleasant Wesleyan. On microfilm. Baptisms, 1786-1950; Burials 1794-1964.

Goodshaw, Rossendale, St. Mary & All Saints. Printed. Marriages, 1907-1991; Burials, 1893-1946.

Lancashire Parish Register Society printed volumes:

Vol. 1 Bury 1590 - 1616.

Vol. 10 Bury 1617 - 1646.

Vol. 58 Rochdale 1642 - 1700.

Vol. 45 Newchurch-in-Rossendale 1653 - 1723.

Vol. 117 Todmorden 1666 - 1780.

Vol. 131 Eccles, St. Mary the Virgin, part 2 1632 - 1663/6.

Rochdale St. Chad's Church. Registers... 1582 - 1641. Edited by H. FISHWICK, 2 Vols. Clegg, 1888 - 1889.

A few other scattered volumes in the L.P.R.S. series are also held, and the registers for Todmorden, 1624 - 1633, are included in the Rochdale registers mentioned above.

For a modern study based on local parish registers see:

ORMEROD, M.B. Social and medical history, derived from an 18th century Parish Register (Newchurch-in-Rossendale). (Typescript, 1968).

 

Various Council Minutes and Minutes of other official Groups.

Bacup Corporation. Yearbooks, 1885, 1890 - 91, 1900 - 2, Council handbook 1923, yearbooks 1940 - 41, 1942 - 43, 1945 - 48, 1949 - 1965, 1966 - 1974.

Bacup  Mechanics' Institute Minute books, April 1839 - Dec.1900, together with sundry related manuscript and printed matter.

 Bacup  Relief  Fund , General  Committee  Record of payments made, 1862 - 1863.

Bacup Trades Council Jubilee Booklet 1904-1953

 

Photographs and Pictures

The collection includes pictures in the Borough of Bacup Photographic Record, begun in 1924 and comprising 45 pages of illustrations. In addition, there is a general collection of local illustrations, mostly in black and white but a few in colour, including some postcards and some aerial photographs. A few colour slides are held, including a set showing the 1958 Bacup Carnival. The library also possesses 46 printing blocks of illustrations reproduced in the Bacup Times 1916 - 1917.

 

Books On Local History

* BOROUGH OF BACUP. Jubilee souvenir handbook, 1882 - 1932.

* BOLTON, Herbert. The Geology of Rossendale. Tyne & Shepherd, 1890.

* BOWDEN, Kenneth F. Book of Bacup. Baron Birch, 1994.

* CRAVEN, Harry and DIGBY, Ronald Y. (compilers). A Bacup miscellany. Borough of Bacup Amenities Committee, 1972.

* DIGBY, Ronald. A Rossendale anthology. Forest Press, 2nd edition, 1969.

* DIGBY, Ronald Y. and BOWDEN, Kenneth F.(compilers). A Second Bacup miscellany. Lancashire County Council, 1975.

ENSUM, Jan. Bacup Mill trail. Rossendale Groundwork, 1984 (?)

GOLDTHORPE, Ian. Rossendale rambles. Rossendale Groundwork, 1985.

* JESSOP, William. Methodism in Rossendale and the neighbourhood. Stubbs, Brook and Chrystal, 1880.

MATHER, J. Marshall Rambles round Rossendale. J.J. Riley, 1888.

MATHER, J. Marshall Rambles round Rossendale. (2nd series). J.J. Riley, 1894.

* NEWBIGGING, Thomas History of the Forest of Rossendale, Simpkin Marshall, 1868. 2nd ed. J.J. Riley, 1893.

* OVEREND, Frederick History of the Ebenezer Baptist Church. Kingsgate Press, 1912.

TAYLOR, John. Stories in stone: datestones in Rossendale. 1988.

TAYLOR, W.G. Bacupian Mills. 3 vols. Author, 1989-1992.

* TUPLING, G.H. The Economic history of Rossendale. Manchester U.P., 1927.

* indicates lending copy available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Surnames

 

This list is for people who are researching Surnames in the Bacup and Stacksteads area. If you would like to add your name to the Surname list please send Contact me at bacuptimes@yahoo.co.uk with the Surname you are researching and your email address.

 

To enquire about any Surname listed please click the submitters

e-mail address.

New Additions 21 April 2007.

 

 

 

Gee , Eaton

EMAIL

White

EMAIL

 

Jonas,

EMAIL

 

 

AKED, HACKING & PILLING - Bacup

HAWORTH & HACKING Stacksteads.

EMAIL

 

 

 

 

 

Evans

EMAIL

 

 

 

 

 

Lomax

EMAIL

 

Knight, Skeels, Harrison
Cooper, Ashworth
Cropper

EMAIL

 

 

Richard Lord and Alice Stansfield married 1791 Newchurch. Richard Lord Son Born 1806.

EMAIL

 Robert Thomas Brown [1875 - 1912]  Maria Ann [nee Heys.  John Henry Eckersley [1870's - 1940's]  Annie Ellen [nee Fielding 1876 - 1928]

EMAIL

 

 

New Additions Saturday 16 Dec 2006.

 

Bainbridges and Earnshaw

 

Kate Ashworth 1865

David George Booth

 EMAIL

Cornelius Tattersall
Betty Hartley
 EMAIL

Thomas Gregory Of Bunkers Hill Stacksteads.

EMAIL

Raby and Layton living in the Bacup Rawenstall and Stackstead areas between 1880 - 1920.

EMAIL

John William Webster -
Born 15 Jan 1884.
EMAIL
Marshall -Robert Marshall

 

 

New Additions  Saturday 23 Sept

Ashworth and Tattersall

EMAIL

 

New Additions  Saturday 22 April

Samuel Hardaker (Grandfather) born 1883c, died 18th November 1919 buried Whitworth cemetery.

Married to Bertha Gledhill 1906c EMAIL

 William Blezard / Bleazard (born approx 1882) son of Robert - EMAIL

 

 

Jackson, also Mcquire. EMAIL

 

Anything about John Heys book keeper [stone
merchant] married to Mary [Ford]. Children John 1876
,Nellie 1879,Mary 1882 William 11 Nov 1866 Spotland.
EMAIL

Henry William Ashworth who married Hannah Hoyle. EMAIL

 

 

New Additions Saturday 17th September 2005.

Whitaker  EMAIL

 

New Additions Saturday 23rd July 2005.