Lancashire, England Genealogy

England

(Under Construction)

Lancashire (abbreviated Lancs), is a maritime county located in the North West of England. It is sometimes called the County of Lancaster.

As England's most unique and second most populated county, Lancashire 'comprises a only 73 ancient parishes, each with large boundaries, but with nearly 500 smaller chapels called, chapelries, chapels of ease, and/or district chapels or ecclesiastical churches. 'Just about all of Lancashire's ancient 73 parish boundaries were divided up by an average of about 8 smaller chapels of ease, many of which also were ancient in their origins (see "Comprehensive List of Chapels" listed under each ancient parish).

The Parishes:
·*Aldingham · *Altcar·*Ashton in Makerfield St Thomas (became a parish in 1845)·*Ashton under Lyne St Michael·*Aughton·*Bispham·*Blackburn St Mary·*Bolton le Moors St Peter·*Bolton le Sands·*Brindle·*Bury St Mary·*Cartmel·*Childwall·*Chorley St Laurence·*Claughton St Chad·*Cockerham·*Colton·*Croft with Southworth·*Croston·*Dalton in Furness·*Deane·*Eccles·*Eccleston St Mary·*Flixton·*Garstang·*Golborne·*Halsall·*Halton·*Hawkshead·*Hesketh with Becconsall·*Heysham·*Hoole·*Huyton·*Kirkby Ireleth·*Kirkham·*Lancaster St Mary·*Leigh·*Leyland·*Liverpool St Peter and St Nicholas·*Manchester Our Lady, St George and St Denys·*Melling·*Middleton·*Mitton St Michael·*Newchurch·*North Meols·*Ormskirk·*Pennington·*Penwortham·*Poulton le Fylde·*Prescot·*Preston St John·*Prestwich St Mary·*Radcliffe St Mary·*Ribchester·*Rochdale St Chad·*Rufford·*Sefton·*St Michael on Wyre·*Standish·*Tarleton·*Tatham·*Thornton in Lonsdale·*Tunstal·*Ulverston St Mary·*Urswick·*Walton on the Hill St Mary·*Warrington St Elphin·*Warton (near Lancaster)·*Whalley·*Whittington·*Wigan All Saints·*Winwick

The Chapelries:
·*Abram·*Accrington St James·*Adlington·*Admarsh·*Aigburth·*Ainsworth·*Altham·*Ancoats All Souls·*Ancoats St Andrew·*Angerton·*Ardwick St Thomas·*Arkholme·*Ashton under Lyne Christ Church·*Ashton under Lyne St Peter·*Ashton upon Ribble St Andrew·*Ashworth·*Astley·*Astley Bridge·*Atherton·*Audenshaw·*Bacup·*Balderstone·*Bamber Bridge St Saviour·*Bardsley·*Barrowford·*Barton·*Barton upon Irwell·*Bedford Leigh·*Beswick·*Bevington·*Bickerstaffe·*Billinge·*Birch - see Birch in Hopwood·*Birch in Hopwood·*Birch in Rusholme·*Bircle·*Birtle·*Blackburn Holy Trinity·*Blackburn St John·Blackburn St Michael and All Angels·*Blackburn St Paul·*Blackburn St Peter·*Blackley St Peter·*Blackpool St John·*Blackrod·*Blawith·*Bolton le Moors All Saints·*Bolton le Moors Christ Church·*Bolton le Moors Emmanuel·*Bolton le Moors Holy Trinity·*Bolton le Moors St George·*Bolton le Sands·*Little Bolton St John·*Bootle St Mary·*Bradshaw·*Brathay·*Bretherton·*Briercliffe·*Brookhouse St James·*Broughton·*Broughton in Furness·*Brownhill St Gabriel·*Burnley St Paul·*Burnley St Peter·*Burnley St James·*Burscough Bridge·Burton in Kendal - see Westmorland County·*Burton Wood·*Bury St John·Bury St Paul • *Cartmel Fell • *Caton with Littledale • *Chadderton St John • *Chadderton St Matthew • *Chatburn • *Cheetham Hill St Mark • *Cheetham Hill St Luke • *Chipping • *Chorley St George • *Chorley St Peter • *Chorlton cum Hardy • *Chorlton upon Medlock All Saints • *Chorlton upon Medlock St Luke • *Chorlton upon Medlock St Saviour • *Church Coniston • *Church Kirk • *Claughton • *Clayton le Moors • *Clitheroe • *Clitheroe Castle • *Clitheroe St James • *Cockersand Abbey • *Coldhurst • *Colne • *Colne Christ Church • *Coniston • *Copp • *Coppull • *Crossens • *Croxteth Park • **Daisyfield St Michaels Daisy Lane - 1839 • *Daisyfield St Michael All Angels - 1839* • *Dendron • *Denton • *Denton Christ Church • *Didsbury  • *Dolphinholme • *Downall Green or Garswood End - 1838 • *Downham • *Droylsden • *East Broughton • *East Crompton • *Eccleston Christ Church (near Prescot) • *Eccleston St Thomas • *Edenfield • *Egton cum Newland • *Ellel • *Ellenbrook • *Elton • *Euxton • *Everton Christ Church • *Everton St Augustine • *Everton St George • *Everton St Peter  • *Failsworth • *Farington • *Farnworth • *Farnworth and Kearsley • *Fence-in-Pendle • *Feniscowles • *Field Broughton St Peter • *Finsthwaite  • *Formby • *Garstang St Thomas • *Garston • *Garswood End (see Downall Green) • *Glasson • *Glodwick  • *Golborne • *Goodshaw • *Goosnargh • *Gorton St James • *Great Crosby • *Great Eccleston • *Great Harwood • *Great Lever • *Great Marsden • *Great Sankey • *Gressingham  • *Grimsargh • *Habergham All Saints • *Habergham Eaves • *Haigh and Aspull • *Hale • *Halewood • *Halliwell St Paul • *Halliwell St Peter • *Harpurhey • *Harwood • *Haslingden • *Haverthwaite • *Healey • *Heapey  • *Heaton Norris • *Henheads • *Hey • *Heyhouses • *Heywood • *Heywood St James • *Hindley • *Hoghton • *Holcombe • *Hollinfare • *Hollinwood • *Holme Island  • *Holme St John • *Hornby • *Horwich • *Hulme Christ Church • *Hulme St George • *Hulme St Mark • *Hundersfield • *Hurst  • *Hurst Green • Inskip • *Kirkby • *Kirkdale St Mary • *Knotty Ash St John the Evangelist • *Knowsley • *Lancaster Castle • *Lancaster St Anne • *Lancaster St John • *Lancaster St Thomas • *Lane Bridge • *Langho • *Latchford_St_James • *Lathom St James • *Leck • *Lees - see Hey  • *Leesfield • *Lever Bridge • *Lindale • *Litherland Christ Church • *Little Bolton All Saints • *Little Bolton St John • *Little Crosby • *Little Hulton • *Little Lever • *Little Marsden • *Littleborough • *Littledale • *Liverpool All Saints • *Liverpool All Souls Vauxhall • *Liverpool Blessed Virgin Mary • *Liverpool Christ Church • *Liverpool Holy Innocents • *Liverpool Holy Trinity • *Liverpool St Andrew • *Liverpool St Anne • *Liverpool St Barnabas • *Liverpool St Bartholomew • *Liverpool St Bride • *Liverpool St Catherine • *Liverpool St David • *Liverpool St George • *Liverpool St John • *Liverpool St John the Evangelist • *Liverpool St Luke • *Liverpool St Mark • *Liverpool St Martin in the Fields • *Liverpool St Martin Cemetery • *Liverpool St Mary's Cemetery • *Liverpool St Mary • *Liverpool St Matthew • *Liverpool St Matthias • *Liverpool St Michael • *Liverpool St Nicholas - united with Liverpool St Peter in 1838 • *Liverpool St Paul • *Liverpool St Peter • *Liverpool St Philip • *Liverpool St Saviour • *Liverpool St Silas • *Liverpool St Simon • *Liverpool St Stephen • *Liverpool St Thomas • *Longridge • *Longton • *Lower Darwen St James  • *Lowick • *Lumb • *Lund • *Lydgate • *Lydiate • *Lytham St John • *Maghull • *Manchester All Souls • *Manchester St Ann • *Manchester St Barnabas • *Manchester St Clement • *Manchester St George • *Manchester St James • *Manchester St John*Manchester St Mary*Manchester St Matthew, Campfield • *Manchester St Matthias • *Manchester St Michael • *Manchester St Paul • *Manchester St Peter • *Manchester St Peter, Oldham Road • Manchester St Philip • *Manchester St Philip, Bradford Road  • *Marton • *Mawdesley with Bispham • *Melling (near Liverpool) • *Mellor • *Mellor-Brook - see also Mellor and Balderstone • *Milnrow • *Mossley • *Much Woolton • *Musbury • Newchurch in Pendle • *Newchurch in Rossendale • *Newton All Saints • *Newton in Makerfield Emmanuel • *Oldham St James • *Oldham St Mary • *Oldham St Peter • *Openshaw • *Oswaldtwistle • *Out Rawcliffe • *Over Darwen St James • Over Darwen St John the Evangelist • *Over Darwen St Peter • *Over Darwen Holy Trinity • *Over Kellet • *Overton • *Paddington • *Padgate • *Padiham • *Parr • *Peel • *Pemberton • *Pendlebury • *Pendleton All Saints near Clitheroe • *Pendleton St Thomas (near Salford) • *Pendleton Hall • *Pilling • *Poulton • *Poulton le Sands • *Preston All Saints • *Preston Christ Church • *Preston Holy Trinity • *Preston St George • *Preston St James • *Preston St Mary • *Preston St Paul • *Preston St Peter • *Preston St Wilfrid • *Quernmore • *Radcliffe St Thomas • *Rainford • *Rainhill • *Rampside • *Ramsbottom • *Rawtenstall • *Reedley Hallows, Filly Close and New Laund Booth • Ribby cum Wrea • *Ringley • *Rivington • *Royton • *Rusland • Salesbury • *Salford Sacred Trinity • *Salford Christ Church • *Salford St Bartholomew • *Salford St Matthias • *Salford St Philip • *Salford St Simon • *Salford St Stephen • *Samlesbury • *Sandowne-Park • *Satterthwaite • Scarisbrick • *Seaforth • *Seathwaite • Shaw • *Shireshead • *Shuttleworth • *Silverdale • *Singleton • *Skelmersdale • *Skerton • *Smallbridge • *South Shore Holy Trinity • *Southport Christ Church • *Southport Holy Trinity • *Spotland·*St Helens • *Stalmine·*Stalybridge New St George • *Stalybridge Old St George • *Stand • *Staveley*Stidd • *Stockton Heath • *Stretford St Matthew • *Sutton • *Swinton St Peter • *Tatham Fells • *Thornton • *Thornton in Lonsdale • *Tockholes • *Todmorden • *Tonge • *Tonge cum Alkrington • *Torver • *Tottington • *Tottington Higher End • *Toxteth Park • *Toxteth Park St Clement • *Toxteth Park St James • *Toxteth Park St John the Baptist • *Toxteth Park St Michael • *Toxteth Park St Thomas • *Trawden • *Turton • *Tydesley cum Shakerley • *Ulverston Holy Trinity • *Unsworth*Upholland • *Walmersley • *Walmsley • *Walney • *Walsden • *Walton le Dale • *Walton on the Hill St Mary, Edge Hill  • Walton Breck • *Wardle St James - see also Hundersfield • *Wardleworth St James • *Wardleworth St Mary • *Warrington Christ Church • *Warrington Holy Trinity • *Warrington St Paul • *Warton (near Kirkham) • *Waterhead • *Wavertree Holy Trinity • *Weeton • *Werneth • *West Broughton • *West Derby St Mary • *West Houghton • *Westleigh St Paul • *Whitechapel • *Whitewell • *Whittle le Woods • *Whitworth • *Wigan St Catherine • *Wigan St George • *Withnell • *Witton • *Woodland • *Woodplumpton • *Worsley • *Worsthorne • *Wray • *Wyresdale • *Yate and Pickup Bank • *Yealand

Because these chapels of ease makeup the vast portion of Lancashire's geographical tapestry, thorough Lancashire research especially requires careful and diligent study to determine all those chapels of ease, chapelries, district churches, and parochial chapels that comprise each ancient parish.

Lancashire contains also "parts of 4 other parishes, and 9 extra-parochial places... Prior to 1870, and for historical purposes, it may be helpful to know that the county was divided into the city of Manchester, and the boroughs of Ashton-under-Lyne, Blackburn, Bolton, Burnley, Clitheroe, Lancaster, Liverpool, Oldham, Preston, Rochdale, Salford, and Wigan, and included parts of the Cheshire boroughs of Stalybridge, Stockport, and Warrington...

Lancashire's assizes (higher courts) were held at Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester. The quarter sessions (smaller courts) were held at Lancaster, Preston, Liverpool, and Manchester.

From Wilson's England gazetteer (1870), "LANCASHIRE, a maritime and northern county [was] bounded on the north, by Cumberland and Westmoreland, on the east by Yorkshire, on the south by Cheshire, and on the west by the Irish sea. A portion of it in the northwest, forming Furness, is detached from the main body by Morecambe bay and a tongue of Westmoreland...

"The places of worship, in the electoral county, in 1851, were 529 of the Church of England, 5 of the Church of Scotland, 12 of the Presbyterian church in England, 5 of the United Presbyterian church, 1 of Reformed Irish Presbyterians, 170 of Independents, 100 of Baptists, 27 of Quakers, 11 of Lady Huntingdon's Connexion, 8 of Welsh Calvinistic Methodists, 2 of Moravians, 35 of Unitarians, 300 of Wesleyan Methodists, 27 of New Connexion Methodists, 1 of Bible Christians, 1 of Independent Methodists, 81 of the Wesleyan Association, 4 of Wesleyan Reformers, 1 of Sandemanians, 21 of the New Church, 5 of Brethren, 36 of isolated congregations, 114 of Roman Catholics, 1 of the Greek Church, 1of the Catholic and Apostolic church, 15 of Latter Day Saints, and 7 of Jews...

"Population in 1801 was 673,486; in 1821 was 1,052,948; in 1841 was 1,667,054; and in 1861 was 2,429,440."

Jurisdictions
Lancashire is one of the most complex of all England's counties. The following interactive map enables researchers to make sense of this county's jurisdictional makeup: 1851 Jurisdictions Map. If you want to know those parishes (or chapelries) immediately surrounding and contiguous to your target parish in which an ancestor possibly lived, was born or married, or to know in which diocesan court in order to search for a probate (will) record, or a marriage licence, allegation or bond, etc., 'use this map to find each parish and all of its chapelries. '

''IF the above Maps do not list or mention your place, then see the "Parishes" section under "Lancashire" and click the name of the parish (see double **) in which your ancestor resided in or with which he/she was most closely associated. Then click the "Comprehensive List of Chapels and Churches" which more thoroughly list all chapels attached to each parish.''

In Lancashire research, knowing and then searching all chapel registers within an ancient parish--is a "must" before searching in the next contiguous ancient parish! Why? Because most parishes have multiple chapelries attached to it and the chapelries often sent couples off to the mother (ancient) parish for marrying and for their dead to be buried, as 80 percent of all chapelries were not granted permission to marry, and some of them possessed no burial yard (some did not maintain church burial grounds). Do  not search'  the next parish church's registers unless or until you've searched all chapels of ease registers, of those lying within the target parish's boundary! 

Two great resources (free) to help you determine whether a Lancashire place was an ancient parish or a chapelry (a chapel of ease) and the name of the parish in which it resided, are 1) Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of England (published 1848) and 2) Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales.

Also all the key jurisdiction levels in which each ancient (civil) parish and most chapelries (but not yet all) are attached and viewable in the above Jurisdiction Map tool.

Civil Registration District Jurisdictions
When civil registration of births, marriages and deaths began in 1837, Lancashire was divided into nearly 40 registration districts, each containing numerous parishes and their attached chapelries. To view and see a list of Lancashire districts and the parishes they contain, will help you quickly identify the correct registration district name when searching for ancestors in the civil registrations of births, marriages and deaths (in the post-1837 era).

Ancient Parishes Jurisdictions
See a list of Lancashire 's 73 parishes (see double asterisks) with links to articles.

Probate Court Jurisdictions
Read more about Lancashire Probate Records.

Before 1858, every town and parish in Lancashire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and one or more secondary courts. To see a list of Lancashire parishes and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them, go to Lancashire Probate Records.

You will find for any given place name, all of the jurisdiction levels and more, in the above map.

Useful Resources
Raymond, Stuart A. Lancashire: a genealogical bibliography, vol. 1, Lancashire genealogical sources. Birmingham [England]: Federation of Family History Societies, c 1996-1997.

Raymond, Stuart A. Lancashire: a genealogical bibliography, vol. 2. Registers, inscriptions and wills. Birmingham [England]: Federation of Family History Societies, c 1996-1997.

Raymond, Stuart A. Lancashire: a genealogical bibliography, vol. 3. ''Lancashire family histories and pedigrees. ''Birmingham [England]: Federation of Family History Societies, c 1996-1997.

Useful Websites

 * Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerks Links to extracted data from many of the parishes in Lancashire.
 * GENUKI UK &amp; Ireland Genealogy
 * Lancashire Births, Marriages and Deaths
 * Liverpool burials online
 * Liverpool church register transcripts at Lanc OPC
 * Manchester burials online
 * Manchester church register transcripts online at Lanc-OPC
 * Manchester Roman Catholic Registers transcripts
 * Roman Catholic marriages, baptisms and burials
 * England, Lancashire, Oldham Cemetery Registers (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * FHLFavorites.info an extensive list of web sites and/or web pages for Lancashire and many of its parishes (search for links not only on the local level but at the county [Lancashire] and national [England] levels as well).