When you have exhausted the resources of civil registration, census, parish registers and wills it is worthwhile looking deeper into available parish sources to flesh out the bones of your ancestors lives. The parish chest, the historical resting place for parochial documents, normally kept in either the church itself or the vestry room, contains the administrative papers of the parish. These include vestry minute books, overseer’s records, churchwarden’s accounts and a variety of other records relating to the running of the parish and its inhabitants.
Read MoreMethodists & Methodism Upper Wharfedale
By Stanley Merridew
Methodists & Methodism Upper Wharfedale
By Stanley Merridew
Upper Wharfedale was originally part of the Haworth/ Keighley Circuit. The earliest recording of Methodism in the area was at Skyrethorns in 1763. This was followed by early societies forming in Burnsall, Grassington, Hebden & Skyreholme. John Wesley preached in Grassington in 1780 and again in 1782. No doubt this would have increased his followers in the dale.
Read MoreBurnsall & Thorpe Overseers Records
Held at Northallerton Record Office
Rate books, sometimes referred to as Poor Rate books, detailing those who were paying the rate which was used at least in part to support the poor of the parish. Here is an example:
Thorpe Rate Book 1869
Read MoreBentham’s Conscientious Objectors
by David Johnson and Trevor Blackwell
The subject of Conscientious Objectors, even a century later, can still rouse strong emotions. My problem is that I can always see both sides of an argument and this sometimes makes it difficult for me to make decisions. The Conscientious Objectors of WW1 had no such qualms and stood against the state and overwhelming prejudices to defend their principles. Most of Britain’s population at that time stood firmly behind the war effort and Conscientious Objectors had a very difficult time often resulting in abuse and even ostracism.
Read MoreGuiseley St Oswald’s Church Sunday School Teachers
Horsforth Cragg Hill Baptist Church
By Stanley Merridew
When I visited the church to record the War Memorial, the Pastor Geoff King, mentioned that they had archive records of the history of the church. Naturally I took the opportunity to borrow it and came up with many items of interest to us. Much of this material can be added to our existing publication “Horsforth Non-Conformist Records.” Here is one example:-
ZION BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL HORSFORTH
CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS 1814-1914
11TH & 12TH September 1915
Read MoreMethodists & Methodism Washburn Valley – Norwood/Havarrah Park to West End
By: Stanley Merridew
North Yorkshire Record Office holds Pateley Bridge Circuit records which cover the chapels from Brown Bank to West End. These include baptism records from 1825 to 1961. All the chapels are together in each volume but the place of residence is shown.
Read MoreMarriage Licences
By: Stanley Merridew
Whilst at the Yorkshire Family History Fair a few years ago I was given a handwritten list of parties to marriage licences which were originally found within Otley parish registers. These entries were not included in the Yorkshire Parish Register Society publication of Otley early registers.
Read MoreAddingham Band of Hope Abstainers Roll 1927-1935
The Band of Hope was started
in Leeds.
Its purpose was to discourage, particularly the young, from
alcohol.
Methodism & Methodists Adel & Harewood
By: Stanley Merridew
Arthington
This linear village was part of the parish of Adel until 1865 when the village church was opened. It is a good example of how the Church of England’s slow response to a rising population allowed nonconformists to thrive in communities remote from the parish church. Arthington is three to four miles from Adel church, uphill virtually all the way. Not an easy journey for a family with toddlers and elderly relatives in tow.
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