Newsletter no.26 - April 2007

Chairman	Jean Ingham	Vice Chairman	Position vacant
Secretary	Brenda Hustler	Treasurer	David Hustler
Librarian	Margaret Heap	Minutes Secretary	Margaret Heap
Programme Secretary	Position vacant	Projects Coordinator	Bob Ellis
Publications Officer	Position vacant	Executive Liaison Officer	David Hustler
LancashireBMD coordinator	Christine Windle	Gazette Editor	Position vacant
Committee Members	Christine Haworth John Lustig Lynn Robinson	Mary Jackson Geoff Riley Moira Whittaker	Janet Knowles Elaine Roberts

BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Once again we had a really good attendance for the branch A.G.M. It was very pleasing to see so many members attend and to know that you have some interest in what happens within the branch. Our chairman, Jean Ingham, gave a report of the branch activities throughout the past year and the secretary and treasurer gave their reports to the meeting.

Briefly, the branch continues to prosper. It is sound financially and although there were 41 non-renewals of membership, 14 new members have joined the branch since January 2007. Overall, we have had a busy year with both speaker's evenings and practical workshops being very well attended. The "Open Day" was held at Nelson Library in October and an exhibition on family history was mounted at the library prior to the event.

Christine Haworth has resigned as publications officer but has volunteered to remain on the committee. In addition to the retiring officials on the committee who were duly elected to serve for another two years, we had two more volunteers for the committee and we welcome John Lustig and Geoff Riley to the committee.

SOCIETY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

At our branch A.G.M. we issued a copy of "The way forward" to our members. This is an outline of the way that the executive committee of our society are proposing that the society should develop. You were asked to send your opinions on the proposals to the society chairman Stephen Ward. This item will be fully discussed at the Society A.G.M. to be held on Saturday 19th May 2007. In the past five years, very few members of our branch have attended the society A.G.M., but this year it is important that the views of branch members on the future development of the society, should be conveyed to rest of the members of the society. You are, therefore, urged to attend and have your say.

The A.G.M. follows the annual conference held at The Foster Theatre, University of Central Lancashire. Details and a booking forms for the conference were in the centre-fold of the last issue of "Lancashire." Why not have a day out and attend both the conference and the A.G.M.

The conference is from 10 am to 3-30 pm following registration and coffee/tea - 9.15 am to 10 am. There will be three speakers; Fergus O'Connor - "Islands of Ireland" an interesting trip to see and learn something new about the Emerald Isle; Martin Baggoley, 'Hangings in Manchester' introducing his book "Strangeways" a century of hangings in Manchester; and Society Members - Current Local Projects: Heraldry and Family History, 'Alive and well.' A look at the interrelationship and problem solving.

Conference & A.G.M. with lunch - £17.60 per person; without lunch - £7.60 per person.

PROGRAMME FOR 2007

The Programme of Events for the coming meetings is shown below and can also be viewed on this website

• 16.May	Out-visit to Earby Mine Museum & The Anchor Inn
• 30.May	Practical Evening
• 20.June	Swiss Tour, Then and Now - Peter Marshall
• 18.July	Practical Evening
• 15.August	Through Glass Brightly - Margaret Curry
• 29.August	Open Night & Practical Evening
• 19.September	Archivist from Lancashire Record Office

LIBRARY

• Wheatley Lane Inghamite: Baptisms - 1750 to 1866 and Burials 1750-1838. As this book is a ring-bound soft-backed book it is kept in Box File E

Copies of the list of the branch library holdings can be purchased at small charge.

LANCASHIREBMD PROJECT

All the Birth indexes up to 1900 are now on the LancashireBMD website. Inputting of the Death indexes is nearly complete. Photocopying of the Non-Conformist Marriage indexes 1900 to 1950 will be started soon.

The group of volunteers going to Preston is now down to six people, so new volunteers will be welcome to join us.

If your ancestors lived in the Barnoldswick district you will be pleased to know that the indexes to all births registered in the Barnoldswick area from 1837 - 1900 are now on the Lancashire BMD website www.lancashirebmd.org.uk

The death indexes for the same period will be added in the very near future. Application forms for certificates can be printed from the website and certificates obtained from Lancashire Registration District Certificate Services, Quayside Court, Chain Caul Way, Preston PR2 2ZP

PROJECTS

Work on recording Memorial Inscriptions at Nelson Walton Lane Cemetery will begin again in a few weeks time. Volunteers will then be needed to check the transcriptions at the Cemetery. If you would like to take part in this project, please contact either me or David & Brenda Hustler.

Work continues on transcriptions of the registers for St Mary's, Newchurch-in-Pendle and the Burial Registers, Grave Books and Receipt Books for St John the Divine, Great Marsden.

Thanks go to all those working on these projects. If you would like to help out with any of these projects, please contact me.

DIARY DATES - (WHAT'S ON)

• LECTURE - Margaret Purcell
'Using Irish Local History to Supplement Your Research' Plus ADVICE & RESEARCH
Saturday June 9th 2007, 1 pm to 4.30 pm

• ADVICE & RESEARCH AFTERNOON
Workshop - Advice & Research Session.
Saturday 11th August 2007, 1 pm to 4.30pm

• MINI CONFERENCE - Full Day .. Details to follow
Saturday 13th October 10.30 am to 4.30 pm

All Irish Ancestry events at The Resource Centre, 2 The Straits, Oswaldtwistle
Enquiries to , 128 Red Bank Rd, Bispham, Blackpool, Lancashire FY2 9DZ

DONCASTER AND DISTRICT FHS SPRING FAIR
Doncaster School for the Deaf, Race Course Roundabout, Leger Way, Doncaster, DN2 6AY
Saturday 28th April 2007, 10 am to 4 pm

THE NATIONAL HISTORY SHOW
    Olympia, London
    Saturday, Sunday & Monday 5th, 6th & 7th May 2007
    Admission £20. Child (6-15 yrs) £6. Under 5 - free

WHARFEDALE FAMILY HISTORY GROUP
    Family History Day - Addingham Memorial Hall
    Saturday 12th May 2007 9.30 am to 4 pm
    Speakers and research opportunities
    Family History from Education Records - Colin R Chapman
    Ancestors Migrations - Norman Welch
    Cost £9 including buffet lunch, £6 without lunch. Booking is essential
    E-mail - hon.secretary@wfhg.org.uk

LFHHS ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND AGM
    Foster Theatre, University of Central Lancashire, Preston
    Saturday 19th May 2007 10 am to 5 pm
    Conference & A.G.M. with lunch - £17.60 per person.
    Conference & A.G.M. without lunch - £7.60 per person

CUMBRIA HISTORY FAIR
    Rheged Discovery Centre, Penrith
    Saturday 19th May 2007, 10 am to 4 pm
    Admission £3 Children under 16 Free

THE CENTRAL ENGLAND FAMILY HISTORY FAIR
    Buxton Pavilion Gdns, St John's Road, Buxton, SK17 6XN
    Saturday 26th May 2007 10 am to 5 pm
    Admission £2 (accompanied children under 16 free)

YORKSHIRE FAMILY HISTORY FAIR
    York Race Course
    Saturday 30th June 2007 10 am to 4.30 pm
    Admission £3.00

SOUTH WEST AREA GROUP OF FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETIES FAMILY HISTORY FAIR
Saturday, 14 July 2007, 10 am-4 pm
The Winter Garden, Royal Parade, Weston-super-Mare

NORTH WALES FAMILY HISTORY FAIR
Llandudno - Conference Centre
Saturday 1st September 2007, 10 am - 4.30 pm

THE NATIONAL FAMILY HISTORY FAIR
   Gateshead International Stadium
    Saturday 8th September 2007, 10 am to 4.30 pm
    Admission £3.00, accompanied Children under 15 free

MALTON FAMILY HISTORY FAIR
The Milton Rooms, Malton, North Yorkshire
Saturday 15th September 2007, 10 am to 4 pm. Admission Free

NOTES ON A MUSICAL FAMILY

John WADDINGTON 1810-1883
John was born in Padiham, the son of George Waddington, farmer of Knight Hill. He started work at the age of twelve years at Simonstone Colliery. For the next sixty years he was employed by the Executors of Colonel Hargreaves in various positions in their mines around Padiham and Burnley. Before 1861 he was at working at Rowley Colliery and remained there until 1872 when, following the death of his cousin William Waddington, he was appointed manager of the collieries belonging to the Executors and went to live at Brownhill on Bank Parade, Burnley. He was also appointed as an examiner of candidates for colliery manager in the North Lancashire District. He resigned in 1881 because of failing health.

In the book 'Musical Worthies of Burnley & District 1849-1919' by George Nuttall, John was described as "a recognised judge of music." Many of his descendants appear to have inherited his musical talent.

John WADDINGTON 1852-1877
John lived on St.Andrew's Terrace, Colne Road, Burnley with his wife and two young children. Although he was only 25 when he died, for several years he had been a manager at Bank Hall Colliery where his father Henry was also employed. In 1875 he had obtained a certificate of competency from the Government Board of Examiners of Collieries. Until the start of his fatal illness he had been organist at St.Luke's Church, Brierfield.

His obituary says, "As a musician he stood high in the estimation of all with whom he was brought in contact. His calm, dignified but retired and unassuming mien, endeared him to all who had the honour of his friendship and acquaintance."

James WADDINGTON 1856-1881
James, was unmarried and lived with his parents at Swindlehurst House, Briercliffe Road, Burnley. He was assistant manager at Bank Hall Colliery and died suddenly at the age of 25 years after spending the evening practising with the Bank Hall Colliery Band of which he was a member.

He was also a "long standing, diligent and hearty member … of St.Andrew's Church Choir."

Margaret BIRKETT nee WADDINGTON 1837-1928
Margaret was "foremost as a soloist in the first Choral Society days." This was the Choral Society in Burnley, which ran from 1856-1875. In 1856 she had married John BIRKETT who was also a musician.

John BIRKETT 1835-1913
John was born in Wigan and as a young man had been organist at a church near Ormskirk. When he first moved to Burnley his occupation was as a plumber, but in 1863 he set up a musical business in Market Street, Burnley and later in St.James' Street, selling and repairing musical instruments and organs. He was the first organ builder in Burnley and for about 27 years was the organist at St.Mary's Catholic Church in Burnley. In 1871 he was living on Birkett Street in the Burnley Lane area and whilst occupied as a farmer, was also a "Teacher of Music." Probably due to the opening of Bank Hall Colliery near his home, by 1881 he had moved to a farm at Widow Green, near Heasandford and was also a "Pianoforte dealer."

The music business must have become more profitable as later he gave up farming and moved to a house in Westgate, Burnley, near to his shop. Just before his sudden death he had arranged to overhaul the organ at St.John's Church, Gannow.

Matthew BIRKETT 1866-1921
Matthew showed his musical ability when very young, giving his first public performance as a piano soloist at the age of twelve and he was also connected with the Burnley Lane Choral Union. For twelve years he was deputy organist to his father at St.Mary's Catholic Church, Burnley when he was in the habit of 'extemporising the voluntaries.' In 1875 he formed an orchestra of about thirty performers who gave charitable concerts in Lancashire and Yorkshire and, at one time, he was also the Flautist and Bandmaster of the East Lancashire Volunteers. He was employed as agent and surveyor of the mines belonging to the Executors of Colonel Hargreaves and in about 1880 formed the Bank Hall Colliery Band, teaching most of the sixty members how to play their various instruments. These had been provided by the Revd. William Thursby, whose wife had co-inherited the collieries from her father, Colonel Hargreaves. After a year, he resigned as bandmaster and as a result of this, the band went into decline and eventually ceased. In 1890 he was asked to take over again and Matthew was bandmaster from 1890-1910, which was the band's most successful period. Several times he played the flute with the Halle Orchestra in Manchester and other places. On one occasion, he was the honorary musical director of the Royal Lancashire Show and acted as conductor of the massed brass bands at the close of the show.

His obituary says "As a performer he has always shown great versatility and at one time or other he has played on practically every known instrument."

Elizabeth (Lizzie) BIRKETT 1866-1960
Lizzie was unmarried and worked as an assistant in her father's shop and later had her own shop in the old Market Hall in Burnley, selling sheet music and instruments. She also gave violin lessons in the back of the shop from where the screeching sounds made by the novice violinists could be heard in the Market Hall.

Ann BIRKETT 1869-(1901+)
In 1891 and 1901 census, Lizzie's younger sister, Ann, was a "Teacher of Music - Violin & Piano, on own account at home."

Jeremiah BROWN 1861-1937
He was a founder member of the Bank Hall Military Band and a skilled cornet player.

John James BROWN 1884-(1938+)
Known as James BROWN, by 1937 had become the chief clarinet player in the BBC Empire Orchestra.

Mary Elizabeth Ann BROWN 1882-(1925+)
On the 1901 census she was still unmarried & living at home and shown as a "Teacher of Music, At Home." She later married Ernest GRINDROD and in 1925, her daughter, Lucy GRINDROD inherited a piano from her grandfather James BROWN.

Grace FAWCETT nee WADDINGTON 1846-1928
Until her marriage in 1866, she was the organist at Worsthorne Parish Church. For a number of years she was the leading soprano at St.Mary's Catholic Church in Burnley and was also a soloist in the first Choral Society in Burnley. About 1873, her husband became manger of Hapton Valley and Burnt Hills Collieries and so the family moved to Spa Clough House in Hapton Valley to be near his work. Tragedy struck in 1889, when Richard FAWCETT was killed in a mining accident leaving her with seven children. Grace moved to a house in Rosegrove Lane and music became her life. This, of course, was at a time when there was only "live entertainment" and all the churches and chapels would put on concerts to raise money for the upkeep of their buildings and for various charities. To these events, Grace would give her services. She also held Musical Evenings at her home when the guests would bring along their own musical instruments and give a performance. She also taught others how to sing and ran a local choir. Her last solo performance was at Wesley Chapel in Burnley at the age of 76.

Her obituary said that "She had always been musically gifted, ... gaining a large reputation as a soprano and a mezzo … Throughout her life she possessed that charm of voice which distinguished her early career, and she gave her wholehearted support to the work of local churches … Her death has deprived Burnley of one of its most talented vocalists. She leaves three sons and three daughters, who are all keen musicians." Her sons were Waddington FAWCETT of Stockbridge Road, Padiham; James FAWCETT of Gannow Lane, Burnley and William Roper FAWCETT of Liverpool Road, Burnley. Her three daughters were also solo vocalists.

Mary ATKINSON nee FAWCETT 1875-1962
Mary had a most beautiful contralto voice and sang in local choirs and as a soloist in charity concerts throughout the district. Her two daughters, Gladys & Mary were also musical.

Gladys CLEGG nee ATKINSON 1907-2003
She learned to play the piano and, at the age of 14, became a Licentiate of the London College of Music and was the accompanist to her mother on her singing engagements. Over the years she was a member of several choirs and operatic societies and until her marriage was the deputy organist at Colne Road Methodist Church, Burnley.

Mary HOLLAS nee ATKINSON 1910-1993
Mollie, as she was known, learned to play the violin and until her marriage was a member of several choirs. Sadly she lost her lovely signing voice following to the tragic death of her young son.

Hannah ATKINSON nee FAWCETT 1879-1966? (Stage name - Maisie STERLING)
Hannah won several prizes for her fine voice, including the Madame Clara Butt's Gold Memento at the Blackpool Festival in 1904. She became a professional singer, first of all in the Burnley area, receiving good reviews for her performances in the local press - "Madame Hannah Fawcett sang with telling effect 'The Lost Chord' and with a contralto voice of beautiful quality and good compass, with excellent command of technique and refined sympathetic expression. She may confidently look forward to her future, and her services are again being eagerly look forward to."

"Madame Fawcett….with her splendid contralto voice must be regarded as one of Burnley's leading singers." "Madame Fawcett of Burnley, gave a finished rendition of 'Esmeralda' and it was the Tit Bit of the evening. Her contralto voice was tuneful and flexible, and she was undoubtedly the success of the evening."

"Madame Hannah Fawcett gave a very sympathetic rendering of the song 'For the Children's Sake.' Her rich, pure contralto voice, aided by imaginative power of no mean order, brought out the dramatic element in the narrative, with thrilling effect, and many were deeply moved. In response to a well merited encore she gave a finished rendering of a perfect gem of melody which only served to enhance the favourable impression she had already made …"

When singing away from home, Hannah, using the stage name Maisie Sterling, appeared in such places as Exeter Hippodrome in 1915; the Palace, Blackpool in 1917; The Empire, Dewsbury in 1916; Darlington Hippodrome in 1918 and the Theatre Royal, Bury in 1922.

Margaret DUXBURY nee FAWCETT 1882-1968 (Stage name - Madge DESMOND)
Margaret also became a professional singer and for a time was on tour with the John Riding Opera Company as 'Azucena' in Il Trovatore, for which still exist the press cutting for her performances - "Miss Margaret Fawcett as 'Azucena' a gypsy ... soon established herself a big favourite of the audience." "Miss Fawcett is well equipped for the part of Azucena, vocally and dramatically she was splendid." "The excellent vocalism of Miss Fawcett was only equalled by her wonderful dramatic power."

Margaret also worked under the stage name of Madge Desmond in such places as the Opera House, Dunfermline in 1915; The Palace Theatre, Bradford & The Opera House, Blackpool in 1916 and Manchester Trade Hall in 1918.

George Nuttall, the compiler of 'Musical Worthies .. ' writing in 1919 said there was "a remarkable evidence that good music tended to lengthen life proved by the longevity of so many of the local choristers .. .. Mrs Birkett, aged 82, was fit for a ten miles walk .. .." Two members of the above family had died young, but others lived a long life which seems to support this theory - at least five of them lived into their 80s and three lived into their 90s. No doubt there are many other members of this family, not included here, who were also very musical, but as yet no written evidence of it has been found.

FHHS NEWS

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has recently issued the following News Releases. Firstly, ONS intends to close its public search facility, currently located at the Family Records Centre (FRC) in Islington, and instead, to make indexes available at The National Archives (TNA) in Kew. The relocation is expected to be complete by April 2008. The services currently provided by ONS in Islington will then cease.

The News Release can be read at www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/frc0107.pdf but, as its wording is open to misinterpretation, the FFHS has contacted the Project Manager of the Digitisation of Vital Events (DoVE) team, at Southport, for clarification. The heading of the Release states "Births, Marriages and Deaths records to go on the Internet" and, in its main body, it states "This will enable researchers to access records yet to be digitised in paper or microfiche format."

What we have been told will be available at Kew, are the indexes to Births, Marriages and Deaths, not the records themselves (i.e. full registration details will still only be obtainable by purchasing copy certificates).

Furthermore, the DoVE Project will not have been completed at the time the relocation takes place. For those records that have been digitised and re-indexed, the newly produced indexes will be accessible on computer screens at Kew. Where digitisation will not have been completed, it is the existing indexes that will be made accessible; we understand that ONS have not yet established with TNA whether these will be the binders, currently in use at the FRC, or whether, because of space constraints, they will need to be provided in microfiche format.

The FFHS is scheduled to hold its periodic liaison meeting with the DoVE team next week, and we will continue to keep you posted with the latest information on the DoVE Project as soon as it is available.

LATEST NEWS ON CIVIL REGISTRATION
FFHS representatives met recently with the GRO (General Register Office) management team for the DoVE (Digitisation of Vital Events) project to review progress on the project. The system is now being developed to enable the indexes to the digitised records to be searched via the Internet, and these should be made available progressively from April 2008.

Work is well advanced on digitising the historic birth records (those from 1837-1934) and over 40 million of the 70 million records have already been processed. These have been loaded on to the EAGLE (Electronic Access to GRO Legacy Events) database. The EAGLE project will introduce a more efficient system of recording and tracking customer orders within the GRO at Southport, and its implementation is imminent.

Yet another bird's name has been chosen as the acronym for the third project - MAGPIE (Multi Access to GRO Published Index of Events). This will provide online indexes to the newly digitised records, and will be accessible via the Internet, hopefully by April 2008. The FFHS has accepted the GRO's invitation to take part in user testing this new Internet facility, although its search capabilities may be more restrictive than the wide-ranging possibilities we have asked for.

By April 2008, the historic birth indexes will have been loaded onto EAGLE and the historic death records (those from 1837-1957) should also have been loaded. This means that those indexes will be accessible via the MAGPIE system on screen terminals at TNA at Kew (as well as via the internet) when the ONS facilities at the Family Records Centre close. Subsequently, the loading of the historic death records will be followed by the modern birth and death records, then the historic marriage records (those from 1837-1945) and the modern marriage records.

For those records that have not been added to the MAGPIE project by April 2008, access will be available at Kew, as an interim measure, to the images of the existing indexes on microfiche and on computer. The original vellum and paper indexes will be moved to TNA at Kew, but will not be on open access.

As a separate process, the Registrations Online project that deals with current registrations (2007 onwards) will provide indexes of these on terminals at the FRC by July of this year, with an interim search capability that will be more basic than that eventually offered by MAGPIE.

BBC RADIO 4 NEW GENEALOGY SHOW
BBC Radio 4 is producing a new genealogy show. They are looking for potential stories to feature (along the lines of interesting tales that have been unearthed by those researching their genealogy) and also to produce packages which offer practical advice for someone who is interested in becoming more involved in the practice of genealogy. So, if you or any members of your group are able to help in one or both of these areas, please contact: Bruce Munro Researcher - Radio Features, telephone 0141 338 2282, email bruce.munro@bbc.co.uk

ELIZABETH SIMPSON
The death was announced in February of Elizabeth Simpson, one of the original founders of the Federation of Family History Societies some 33 years ago. Elizabeth had remained a prominent, active and supportive figure ever since and was a Vice President of the FFHS. She was also the British co-ordinator for the Genealogical Research Directory. Her name will live on through the Elizabeth Simpson Award, which she introduced in 1979, as an annual award for the best family history society journal.

HELP SURGERY AT COLNE LIBRARY

The trial sessions of the Wednesday morning help desk held once a month at Colne Library have been very busy. It has been decided that we will continue for another 3 months, but more volunteers to help out are needed. The help desk is held on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 10 am to 12 noon and is open to the general public.

Volunteers to man the help desk should give their names to Jean Ingham so that she can formalise a team of helpers. The next session will be on Wednesday, April 25th 2007.

LFHHS NEWS

Hi, and welcome to this the latest of the Chairman's Summaries. I have been kept quite busy with all the things needed to bring the "Way Forward" proposals to hopefully, a successful conclusion. This will be brought to the AGM of the 19th May at the Foster Theatre at Central Lancashire University in Preston. I hope to meet as many a possible of you at that important event in our Societies Year.

I have also continued travelling around the county and visiting the branches of the Society. I always find it encouraging to see how well the branches are doing and to meet and talk to the Society Members.

    At the last Executive Meeting on the 12th February 2007, the following items were agreed and/or reported upon:-
    The first meeting of the new Resources Committee dealing with the Straits had taken place and the following items were noted:-
    a) The room downstairs has been repainted
    b) That a number of bookshelves have been erected to receive the books as they have now been moved to the Straits from Blackburn Library
    c) Work has started in building the desks for the computers.

It was decided to trial the Journal "Lancashire" as an online download. A small number of Executive members are to be sent the current copy of Lancashire Online for us to report back to the Executive, to see if it is a viable alternative for members to receive the Journal this way, if they so choose

We have received three offers from members who wish to be considered as the new Membership secretary. We hope to propose one of these people at the next Executive meeting on 16th April, to go forward for approval at the AGM in May

It was agreed that from the next renewal period at the end of this year, that it would be possible for members to renew their membership Online through the 'GenFair' system. We are also trialling the 'PayPal' system, for online CD sales

    The major item of discussion was the "Way Forward" proposals to set up a Management Team for the day to day running of the Society under the Executive. The Management Team will consist of seven members, the Society Chairman and six Team leaders. The teams will be as follows
    1 Business, Finance & Treasury
    2 Member Services
    3 Publicity & Public Relations
    4 Training & Education
    5 Premises, Resources & Equipment
    6 Projects & Publications

The proposals have been taken by all the Executive Representatives back to the branches for consultation. The final draft will be approved at the Executive meeting on the 16th and go forward to the AGM for final approval. If any Society Member would like a copy of the proposals then please email your request to me, marking it as follows "Re: Way Forward Proposals" to

Thanking you all for your continued interest in both Family history and the Society

OBITUARIES

Sadly, we have to report the deaths of Bert Hindle and Mary Fletcher in the past few months.

Bert was a well-known local historian in addition to his interests in family history. In the past, he had served on the branch committee and was Chairman of the branch for a short period. He donated many of his transcriptions of records to the branch and would gleefully tell of the days when he could go to the old Record Office at Stanley Street in Preston and rummage in the boxes of documents in the basement, sorting through as many boxes as he wished to. He considered it a retrograde step, when he was limited to three documents at a time at the new Lancashire Record Office.

Mary was a long-standing member of the society, although she was not affiliated to any particular branch. She had a tremendous amount of knowledge of the history of Higham and provided "look-ups" when requested. She too was a well-known local historian and wrote many articles for our society journal "Lancashire"

PALACE HOUSE, BURNLEY

A photocopy of a picture of Palace House was received recently. On the photograph, there are three children sitting on a garden seat and from their mode of dress it is estimated that the photograph was taken in the late 1800s. The following information was written on the back of the original photograph ..

"Ralph HOLDEN, the last male heir of HOLDEN of HOLDEN, died without issue, April 8th 1796, leaving two sisters, Frances married to Hugh TAYLOR esq. died without issue, and Elizabeth married Henry GREENWOOD whose son John GREENWOOD lived at Palace House in .. .. "

LANCASHIRE RECORD OFFICE

LANCAT - The Lancashire Record Office online catalogue is now available at ..

"OPENING the CATALOGUES"
Do you want to feel confident in using catalogues and other finding aids?. Are you interested in finding out more about how and why we catalogue. This catalogue awareness event, in two sessions, will held at Lancashire Record Office on Friday May 18th 2007, 10 am to 12.30 and again at 1400 to 1600

HAVE YOU RENEWED YOURS ?

IF NOT .. WHY NOT DO IT NOW ?

QUERY CORNER

STOP PRESS

Haslingden Roots and Rossendale Branch of LFHHS are holding a family history day at Haslingden Library.

Representatives from Lancashire Record Office, Rossendale Libraries, branches of LFHHS including the Irish Ancestry Group will be attending to give help and advice

NORTH WEST GROUP OF FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETIES. ANNUAL ONE-DAY CONFERENCE
HOSTED BY THE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY OF CHESHIRE

Saturday 12th May 2007 9.30am to 4pm at Memorial Hall, Chester Way, Northwich

Speakers ..
Charles F Foster	Cheshire Cheese & Farming
Peter Park	Migration to the Mills
Mike Walton	Mill on the Trent & Mersey Canal
Dr Di Drummond	The Life & Times of Railway Workers 1830-1948

£18 - including buffet lunch. £9 - without lunch .. Cheques payable to FHSC
Booking no later than 30 April 2007 to Mrs L Smetham, Little Trees, Gawsworth Road, Gawsworth, Macclesfield SK11 9RA

The General Register Office will be holding its annual Open Days, on Saturday 2nd June and Saturday 9th June 2007 from 10am until 4.30pm, giving you a chance to find out more about how Birth, Marriage and Death certificates are produced.

• view exhibitions from various General Register Office departments and from invited external Family History organisations
• see a demonstration of the certificate production process
• attend one of the talks relating to various subjects connected with the office and other organisations

If you are interested in attending one of the Open Days, please contact the Public Relations Unit
tel. 0151 471 4530 or 0151 471 4508, (8am to 4pm Monday to Friday)

The National Archives is delighted to announce that Scotland Online will partner the UK government's official archive in the forthcoming project to put the 1911 census for England and Wales online. Scotland Online was established in 1995, and is one of the UK's leading Internet business solutions providers. In 2002, in partnership with the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS), Scotland Online established www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk, now one of the world's leading genealogy websites. The 1911 census (document references RG14 and RG78) is huge - it currently occupies 2 kilometres of shelving at The National Archives. Comprising over eight million householder schedules and a further 38,000 enumerators' summary books, it details information relating to approximately 35 million people then living in England and Wales.

Once digitised, the census will take up an equally large ½ a petabyte of computer memory or, physically, 800 data tapes. The digital scanning alone in preparation for digitisation will create 18 million images - 14 times the number of images created in advance of the 1901 census being launched online in 2002.

From 2009 there will be a phased release of the information in the 1911 census starting with the major conurbations. This will include images and transcription data, but with sensitive data redacted in line with the Information Commissioner's recent ruling. From 3rd January 2012 the public will have full access to the entire 1911 census, including the information not accessible in 2009. Researchers anywhere in the world will be able to search across the fields of the census by name, address or The National Archives reference, and download high-resolution digital images.

For more information on this and the status of the 1911 census for Scotland and Ireland see the April edition of 'FFHS Ezine' - due next week.

E-MAIL ADDRESSES

If you have, send me an e-mail with a subject line of "e-mail address confirmation" and just put you name in the body of the message. Send it to

When the last issue of 'The Gazette' was posted out by e-mail, several messages "bounced" and were returned as undeliverable. If you have changed your e-mail address, please inform me.

If you have your research interests posted on the branch website please check that you have the correct address listed (try sending an e-mail to the address on the list). The research names of a few members have had to be removed from the members' interests pages on the website, because their e-mail address are 'bouncing'. If your interests are not on the website and you think they should be, is it because you have changed your e-mail address without telling me ?

ITEMS for PUBLICATION

Items for publication should be sent to the Acting Editor - , 49 Stone Edge Road, Barrowford, Nelson Lancashire BB9 6BB

	The Gazette
	Pendle and Burnley Branch
	Issue No.26 - April 2007	Acting Editor: Brenda I Hustler

1 Branch Officials 2007-2008	10 FHHS News
2 Branch AGM	11 Help Surgery
3 Society AGM	12 LFHHS News
4 Programme	13 Obituaries
5 Library	14 Palace House, Burnley
6 LancashireBMD Project	15 LRO
7 Projects	16 Query Corner
8 Diary Dates (What's on)	17 Stop Press
9 Notes on a Musical Family	18 Email Addresses

CONTENTS

BRANCH OFFICIALS for 2007 - 2008