Oldham and District Branch of the Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society Newsletter January 2015 Margaret Moses Margaret Moses, who died in November aged 80, was Oldham born and bred and had a lot of knowledge about the town and its history. She volunteered for over 25 years helping to index local history material starting with records held in Oldham Parish Church. When the 1891 census of England and Wales was released on film in 1991 she and her late husband, Roy, got permission to go to Oldham Local Studies and Archives on Tuesday afternoons, when the building is closed to the public, to create a surname index covering Oldham and district. This was at a time when few other areas had similar indexes. Roy was the mastermind, each week typing up the efforts of the small group of transcribers he and Margaret had gathered. When that was finished it was decided to work on the other censuses too. Oldham Local Studies and Archives still has the printed indexes produced by local people with local knowledge. The group might have folded when the census job was complete, it took over two years but Margaret was enjoying herself so the Archivist at the time was asked if other work could be found and it was. Over the years the group has increased in size and members turn their hands to all sorts of things, mostly indexing, which helps the staff and the public find material more quickly. Until a few months ago when she was taken ill, Margaret seldom missed a Tuesday session. She was a friend to us all and had a ready smile. We will miss her. Dorothy Bintley John Marsden John has had a very busy year taking on the Chairmans job and still managing to do all the other jobs; well, he has managed to get around to the Oldham Burials. I have passed these to John in a steady stream this year, I think asking him for a copy of the full list prompted him to get these on line; They will of course be passed on to Find My Past & Deceased on Line to earn money for the society, our previous submissions continue to provide a very helpful income. Many Thanks to John for his hard work in compiling the records and a very big thank you to everyone who helped with the transcribing. . The branch has become involved with the steering committee of Oldham 1914-2014, helping other organisations with the genealogy side of their research. I think thats everything at the moment, so it only remains for me to wish everyone a healthy, happy and prosperous new year. Rod Melton Oldham Branch Chairman Spring and Summer Programme of Branch Meetings Our 2015 programme begins in February (no meeting in January). All meetings will be held in the Education Suite, Gallery Oldham (nearest tram stop – Oldham Central – is a short walk away. Enter the dates in your shiny, new, 2015 diary now and you won’t miss any of the meetings. Saturday 14th February at 2pm Forgotten Fields – the old burial grounds of Manchester John Marsden There were numerous burial grounds in the centre of Manchester in the mid- 19th century but today there are only a few clues to their existence. John will explain the development of burial grounds in Manchester and their eventual banishment to the suburbs. John Marsden, who is our main branch Chairman, has been involved in family history research for over 30 years and has a particular interest in Manchester’s old burial grounds. His book on this subject “Forgotten Fields” was published in 2014. Saturday 14th March at 2pm The History of the Coliseum Theatre, Oldham David Rustidge The talk is not designed to be a heavy going blow by blow account of the Coliseum’s history, but surveys its initial origins, personalities, and the changes over the 125 years. From its circus origins as the Colosseum, its life as a repertory theatre club and survival through the war years as the Coliseum performing weekly rep to thousands of loyal audiences. And of course its need to adapt to changing tastes of its audience and of the influences of the wider entertainment scene. References will be used from original programme sources depicting the characters who played here and the struggles to keep the only live professional venue up and running after fellow entertainment venues faded into history. Saturday 11th April at 2pm Stranger Than Fiction (True Tales of the Supernatural) Peter Watson This talk is based on Peter’s private collection of stories, all of which have been recounted as true experiences. If you thought the people of the past had long gone, think again! It appears that some of them are still here! The stories range from the Neolithic period to the modern day and, apparently, beyond! As those of you who have heard his other talks know, Peter is an interesting and entertaining speaker. Saturday 9th May at 2pm Using familysearch.org Kathryn Carter Kathryn Carter was the Director at the Family History Centre at the Church of the Latter Day Saints, Preston for 8 years and she is coming to show us how to get the most out of the Churchs ‘FamilySearch’ website. She will use the internet to highlight the latest changes. Saturday 13th June at 2pm Oldham’s Health or lack of it in the 1890S.........and Moscow!! John Fidler There were many opportunities to be challenged by death in Victorian England...Smallpox, Typhoid, Diphtheria, Consumption, Measles, Scarlet Fever to name but a few! What was Oldhams Health Department doing to reduce the risk in the town and at Moscow? This talk will tell you. Local News “Hit By A Football: Soldiers Fatal Injury At Sheringham” There has been much in the news recently about the part played by football during the First World War. I thought I would relate a sad story with a football connection which I came across whilst researching the names on the war memorial in Holy Trinity, Shaw. William Henry Butterworth was 30 when he died in the military hospital in Norfolk. His British Service Record on ancestry.co.uk includes a newspaper report which relates that he died on 20th November 1917 as a result of being hit by a football in the stomach whilst playing in a match between two military teams in Sheringham. William was a cotton spinner of Rochdale Road, Shaw. He was married with 2 young children. He was serving with the 331st Field Ambulance when he took part in the football match. The newspaper report details how, after being struck by the football, he continued until the end of the match. He was taken ill the next day and was admitted to hospital where an operation became necessary. It was found that he was suffering from an intestinal obstruction caused by an internal hernia which could have been caused by the blow of the football. Unfortunately he died from shock following the operation. A verdict of accidental death was recorded at the Coroners inquest. In the report on his death it is stated that he was, carrying out military duties when playing military football. He was buried in Crompton Cemetery on 24th November 1917. Sue Forshaw. Talks and Visits by Other Groups Chadderton Historical Group Thursday 8th January Archives Evening- Chaddertons Religious Development. The Archives of the society have been growing steadily since its inception in 1975 and today numbers thousands of items. This evening members have the opportunity to see - and handle - a variety of these Chadderton Cricket Club, start at 7.30pm. Saddleworth Historical Society Wednesday 14th January William Haig: An Early 19th Century Woollen Manufacturer of Saddleworth Illustrated talk by Alan Petford Saddleworth Museum Gallery, Uppermill. £2.00 to non-members, refreshments available. Tameside Historical Society Wednesday 14th January The Girls Who Walked Away Talk by Anne McGarry Meetings are held in the Old Chapel schoolrooms, Old Road, Dukinfield, 7.00 pm. £1.50 for members and £2.00 for non-members, tea and coffee on arrival. Oldham Historical Research Group Wednesday 21st January 1844 Lower House Mill Disaster Talk by Rita Vaughan Oldham Local Studies and Archives. 7pm Society News Friday 9 January 2015: 1pm Getting the Best out of Findmypast The Manchester Quarterly Meeting 10.30 am Salford Pubs Speaker:Roy Bullock 12.45 Lunch 1.30 pm Looking After The Past & Your Future Photography Speaker:Steve Gill. Steve is a local photographer, historian and restorer. If you have any old photos, which you are unable to date, Steve can advise you. Registration is essential. You will be able to register on or after Monday, 5 January 2015. Please click the Eventbrite link to register. (if the link doesn’t work from this document go to the M&LFHS website at mlfhs.org to register) Please note that both of these talks will be at Manchester Central Library. Trade Union Records Over 3 million trade union records have been released. They include carpenters, railway workers, printers, boilermakers and shipbuilders. Irish Petty Sessions 1828-1912 Over 710,000 new records have been added to this collection. Spanning 1828- 1912, the documents provide information on court hearings across Ireland concerning lesser criminal and civil legal proceedings. Ancestry and Findmypast are free to search at Oldham Local Studies and at libraries across the borough. We hope you have enjoyed reading our newsletter. Thank you to those of you who have been in contact with us. We value your comments. If there is anything you would like to contribute, or suggestions of what to include in future newsletters, please email us at [email protected] Sue Forshaw, Newsletter Editor Assisted by Irene Whitby & Mary Pendlebury
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 20:11:14 +0000
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