Thursday, January 05, 2012

The North of England Study

University of Leicester

The North of England Study

Background to the study

This Leverhulme Trust/Wellcome Trust-funded study is being carried out by Dr Turi King in collaboration with Professor Mark Jobling at the University of Leicester as part of the Impact of Diasporas on the Making of Britain project.

Surnames are passed down from fathers to sons, and in Britain, this has been going on since heritable surnames were first established some 700 years ago. We have studied the link between DNA and surnames, focusing on the Y chromosome, part of our DNA that is, like the surname, passed down the paternal line.

In this project we want to learn about British history by studying the Y chromosomes of men with old local surnames, to provide us with a link to the DNA of people in the past. We are particularly interested in the history of the Vikings. We know that these people left a lasting legacy on our language, landscape and place-names. But did they leave any genetic trace in today's population?

To answer this question, we wish to obtain DNA samples from men with old local surnames from the north of England. Men carrying such names are very likely to have inherited them from ancestors who lived in the area only a few generations after the Vikings settled in the region.

We have nearly completed recruitment for this study, but still require participants bearing one of the eligible surnames listed below. DNA donation is simply via a saliva sample, and volunteers will receive a description of their own Y-chromosome type when the work is completed in 2013.

If you are a man carrying one of these surnames, your father's father was born in the north of England (Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Durham or Northumberland) and you would like to take part in the study, please read on below.

How to take part in the study

Men interested in taking part are asked to register to attend one of the recruitment events listed below. Here participants (and anyone interested in the study) will be able to come along, listen to a talk, ask questions about the project and give a DNA sample on the day.


January 21st, 2012, York, New Earswick Folk Hall, Meeting Room at 10am-12 noon
January 21st, 2012, Harrogate, St Paul's Church Hall, Belford Road, off Victoria Avenue, at 3-5pm
January 22nd, 2012, Lancaster, St. John's Church, North Road, LA1 1PA at 9-11am
January 22nd, 2012, Keswick, Crosthwaite Parish Room, Main Street, at 3-5pm

To register to take part please fill in your details in the form here. In this study we require only one man per surname (including surname spelling variants). As representatives for each surname come forward, we will continue to list the remaining surnames for which we do not yet have participants on the drop-down list on the registration page. If you do not have one of the eligible surnames but would still like to attend one of the events, please click here.

What does taking part involve?

Aside from the talk, participating will take around 10 minutes of your time and enable you to find out more about your ancestry and the history of the Britain. We ask that you fill out a questionnaire about your ancestry, sign a consent form, and donate a saliva sample that provides us with the DNA that we need.

Participants will be provided with a summary of the results, designed for a layperson, at the end of the study in 2013. In addition we will provide a copy of each participant's Y chromosome genetic fingerprint and an explanation sheet designed for the layperson.

During this project we are looking at normal variation only, and no targeted tests of any medical consequence are done. However, while analyzing Y-chromosomal variation it can be found, in very rare cases, that a man has lost part of his Y chromosome which is related to fertility. Therefore, if potential participants are concerned about the risks of detecting infertility, we would suggest that they do not take part.

To register to take part please fill in your details in the form here. In this study we require only one man per surname (including surname spelling variants). As representatives for each surname come forward, we will list the remaining surnames for which we do not yet have participants.

The surnames we are interested in

The only criteria for participating are that you are a man whose father's father was born in the north of England (Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Durham or Northumberland) and that your surname is one of those listed below.

Exact spellings only, please. If you think that your surname is an unlisted variant of one of these names, please emailsurnames@le.ac.uk

A

ABSONACEYACKERSACKROYDACOMBADCROFTADDYMANADSHEADAINDOWAINSCOUGH
AINSCOWAIRTONAIZLEWOODAKEROYDAKISTERAKROYDALBISTONALDCROFTALDERSLEYALDREN
ALKERALLATTALLREDALSTEADALTHAMALTOFTALTYANDERSANTCLIFFEARDERN
ARKLEARKLESSARKLEYARKSEYARMERARNFIELDARRANDARSTALLARTINGSTALLASCROFT
ASHALLASHBURNERASHCROFTASHURSTASHWORTHASKAMASPDENASPENASPINASPINWALL
ASQUITHASTINASTLESATACKATHAAUDSLEYAUGHTONAUTYAVEYARDAXON
B
BAILDONBAIRSTOWBALDWINSONBALMEBALMFORTHBALSHAWBAMFORTHBARCROFTBARDSLEYBARNISH
BARRACLOUGHBARRANBARROTTBASHALLBASHFORTHBASSNETTBASTOWBATTYEBAULBAUME
BAXENDALEBAYBUTBAYBUTTBAYLIFFBEANLANDBEARDSELLBEARDSHAWBEARDSWORTHBEBINGTONBEDSON
BEEVERBEEVERSBEEVORSBELSHAWBERTWISTLEBESTFORDBETHWAITEBICKERDIKEBICKERDYKEBICKERSTAFFE
BILBROUGHBILSBOROUGHBILSBORROWBILTCLIFFEBIMPSONBIMSONBIRCHBYBIRDSALLBIRKBYBIRTLEY
BIRTWELLBIRTWHISTLEBIRTWISTLEBITHELBLACKLEDGEBLACOEBLACOWBLAGBOROUGHBLAGBROUGHBLEACKLEY
BLEAKLEYBLEARSBLEASBYBLEASDALEBLEAZARDBLENKIRONBLEZARDBLOMELEYBLOMLEYBOLAM
BOLDYBOLGERBOOCOCKBOOTHROYDBOOTLEBOSSONBOSTWICKBOUSTEADBOYDELLBRABBAN
BRABBSBRABINBRACEGIRDLEBRACEWELLBRADEBRAIMEBRAMFITTBRAMHAMBRAMMAHBRAMMALL
BRANDWOODBRAYSHAWBRAZENDALEBREAKELLBREARBREAREBREAREYBREARSBRECKELLBRECKIN
BRECKONBRETHERICKBRETHERTONBREWISBRIDDICKBRIERBRIERCLIFFEBRIMELOWBRINDLEBRITCH
BRITCLIFFEBROADBELTBROADYBROMBYBROMILEYBROMILOWBROWNBILLBROWNBRIDGEBROWNFOOTBRUCKSHAW
BRUNDRETTBUCKTROUTBULCOCKBULLOUGHBURDISBURHOUSEBURKEYBURKHILLBURKINSHAWBURLINSON
BURNIPBURNLEYBURNYEATBURYBUSFIELDBUTTERILLBYASSBYRAM
C
CALDERBANKCALLANDCAMPEYCARRACKCARRANCARTMELLCARUSCATHERALLCATTERALCATTERALL
CATTRALLCAUNCECAVANNAGHCAVANNAHCAWTHRACAWTHRAYCEARNSCHADDERTONCHAFERCHANDLEY
CHARLSONCHARLSTONCHARNLEYCHATBURNCHEERSCHEESBROUGHCHIPPINDALECHISNALLCHORLTONCHRIMES
CLAFTONCLAPPISONCLASPERCLAUGHTONCLAYFORTHCLEWORTHCLISHCLUBLEYCLUDERAYCLYNES
COARCOCKBAINCOCKCROFTCOCKERHAMCOCKERLINECOCKROFTCOCKSHOOTCOCKSHUTTCOGGILLCOGLEY
COLLINGECOLLISTERCONDRONCONNAHCONSTERDINECOOPCOOPSCOPPACKCOPPELLCOPPLE
CORKHILLCORLESSCORNESCORRINCOUCILLCOULDWELLCOULTHURSTCOUNCILCOUPSCOWAP
COWPECOWTONCRAINECRANKSHAWCRANSHAWCRAWFORTHCREDLANDCREERCRELLINGCRIMES
CRINSONCROASDALECROMACKCROMBLEHOLMECRONKSHAWCRONSHAWCROOKALLCROSLANDCROSSDALECROSTON
CROWCROFTCROWNSHAWCROWSHAWCRUDDACECUERDENCULLINGWORTHCULLUMBINECULPANCULSHAWCUMPSTY
CUNCLIFFECUNDLIFFECUNLIFFE
D
DAGGERSDAGNALLDARBYSHIREDARNBROUGHDARWELLDARWENDARWENTDAWBERDEARNALEYDEARNLEY
DEFTYDEMAINEDENBIGHDENNELLDEWHIRSTDEWHURSTDIBBDIDSBURYDIGGLEDIGNAM
DINGSDALEDISLEYDODDINGDODGEONDODWORTHDONKERSLEYDONLANDOODSONDOOTSONDORNING
DOWNENDDRACUPDRAKESDRANSFIELDDRONSFIELDDUCKENFIELDDUCKITTDUCKWORTHDUERDENDUFTON
DUMBELLDUMBILLDUNBAVINDUNCALFDUNGWORTHDUNKERLEYDUNKERLYDURRANSDUXBURYDWERRYHOUSE
E
EARLAMEASTHAMEATOCKEATOUGHECKERSALLECKERSLEYEDDISONEDDLESTONEDELSTONEDLEY
EGDELLELDERSELSTUBEMMOTTEMSLEYENTWISLEENTWISTLEERLAMESCREETESCRITT
ESPINETCHELLSEVERATTEXLEY
F
FAIRESTFAIRHURSTFAIRLAMBFALDINGFALLASFARNWORTHFARRIMONDFAULDERFAWTHROPFAZACKERLEY
FAZACKERLYFAZAKERLEYFAZAKERLYFEARNHEADFEARNSIDESFEATHERFEATONBYFIELDENFILDESFINDLOW
FITTONFLATHERFLATHERSFLAXINGTONFLESHERFLIGGFLITCROFTFOERSFORBERFORMBY
FOULSTONEFOWDENFOZARDFOZZARDFROBISHERFRODSHAMFRUDDFUSSEYFYLES
G
GABBOTTGAINFORDGARDHAMGARSDENGARSTANGGARTSIDEGASTALLGATHGATLEYGAUKRODGER
GAUKROGERGAULTERGELLINGGIGGALGILBODYGILDERDALEGILLIBRANDGLEDSONGLEGHORNGOBIN
GODBERTGOFORTHGOLIGHTLEYGOMERSALGOMERSALLGOODAIREGOODERGOODIERGOODINSONGOSNAY
GOULBOURNGOUNDRYGRADWELLGRANDAGEGRASBYGRASSBYGRATRIXGRAYSHONGREALEYGREENALGH
GREENALLGREENHALGHGREENHAULGHGREENROYDGRESTYGRIEVSONGRIMEGRINDRODGRINRODGROUNDWELL
GRUNWELLGUITE
H
HABERGHAMHACKINGHADCROFTHADFIELDHAGGASHAIGHHAIGHTONHAILSHAILWOODHAINSWORTH
HALEWOODHALKYARDHALLIMONDHALLWELLHALLWOODHALLWORTHHALMSHAWHALSALLHAMBLETHAMNETT
HAMPSHAWHARBRONHARDAKERHARDIKERHARDMANHARGATEHARRANDHARROCKSHARROPHARTER
HASELDENHASKAYNEHAVERCROFTHAWARTHHAWCROFTHAWKHEADHAWKYARDHAWORTHHAYDOCKHAYHURST
HAYSTONHECKINGBOTTOMHEENEYHEGINBOTHAMHELLAWELLHELLEWELLHELLIWELLHELLOWELLHELMNHELSBY
HEMINGWAYHENTHORNHEPPENSTALLHEPPLEHEPPLESTONHEPPLEWHITEHEPTINSTALLHESFORDHESLINGHESMONDHALGH
HESSELDENHESSIONHESSLEWOODHEYSHEYWORTHHIGGINBOTHAMHIGHCOCKHIGHLEYHIGNETTHILLAM
HILLASHINCHLIFFHINCHLIFFEHINCLIFFEHINDHAUGHHINDLEHIRSTHITCHMOUGHHITCHONHOBKINSON
HOBMANHODGINHODKINHOGHTONHOLDROYDHOLKERHOLLASHOLLINGHOLLINGHURSTHOLLINRAKE
HOLLINWORTHHOLLOWSHOLROYDEHORRIDGEHORROBINHORROCKSHOSKERHOTHERSALLHOULGRAVEHOULKER
HOWARTHHOWGATEHOWORTHHOWROYDHOYLANDHUBBERSTYHUDSPETHHUDSPITHHULLAHHULMES
HULTONHUSCROFTHUSTLER
I
IBISONICETONILLINGWORTHIRLAMIRONFIELDISHERWOODISLE
J
JAGGARJAGGERJOINSONJOULEJOWETTJUMP
K
KEHOEKEIGHLEYKENWORTHYKENYONKERMODEKEWLEYKIERNANKILCOURSEKILLERBYKILLIP
KILSHAWKIRKBRIGHTKIRKMANKIRTLEYKNEALE
L
LAITHWAITELAMBTONLANCELEYLANGSHAWLANGTREELATHOMLAWRENSONLAYTHAMLEADBITTERLEANING
LEAROYDLEATHERBARROWLEDGARDLEDSHAMLEWTASLIGHTBOURNELIGHTBOWNLIGHTOWLERLIGHTOWLERSLINAKER
LIPTROTLIPTROTTLITHERLANDLITHGOELITTLEMORELIVERSEDGELIVERSIDGELIVESEYLIVSEYLOMAX
LONGBOTTOMLONGCAKELONGFELLOWLONGMATELONGSONLONGTONLONGWORTHLOUKESLOVELADYLOWERSON
LOXHAMLOYNDLOYNDSLUMBLUMSDONLYDIATELYTHAMLYTHGOE
M
MACHENMACKERALLMACKERETHMADENMADINMAGNALLMAKINSONMALEHAMMALLABARMALLALIEU
MALLINDERMANDALEMANGNALLMANOCKMARCHINGTONMARCROFTMARFLITTMARGINSONMARKLANDMARLAND
MARLORMARPLESMARRITTMARSAYMARSLANDMASHEDERMASHETERMATLEYMATTHEWMANMAWDESLEY
MAWDSLEYMAYALLMAYLORMAYOHMCKEVITTMEADOWCROFTMEANOCKMEDFORTHMELLINGMELLODEW
MELLODYMETHLEYMETTRICKMICKLETHWAITEMIDDLEHURSTMILLIONMIRFIELDMORDUEMORTMOSBY
MOSSLEYMOSSOPMOTTERSHEADMOWFORTHMOYERSMUFFMUFFITTMULCASTERMULLINEAUXMULLINEUX
MUMBERSONMURGATROYDMUSCROFTMUSGREAVEMUSKERMYERSCOUGH
N
NABBNAISBETTNATTRASSNEALYNEEDLERNETHERWOODNEWHILLNEWSHOLMENIELDNOBLET
NORCLIFFENORMANTONNORTCLIFFENORTHINNORTHROPNOWILLNUNWICKNUSSEYNUTTALLNUTTON
O
OCCLESHAWODLINOGARAOGLEYOLDALEOLDROYDOLLERENSHAWOLLERTONOLLIEROMEROD
OPENSHAWORMESHERORMONDROYDORMRODORRELLORRITTOTHICKOTTERBURNOUTWINOVERSBY
OWSTON
P
PALFRAMANPASQUILLPEIRSONPENDLEBURYPENISTONEPENKETHPENKETHMANPENSWICKPHIZACKLEAPICKAVANCE
PICKSLEYPICKSTONPICKSTONEPICKVANCEPIGHILLSPILKINGTONPIMBLETTPIMLOTTPINCOCKPINNINGTON
PIXTONPLEAVINPLINSTONPOLDINGPOLLITPOLLITTPOMFRETPOSTLESPOSTLEWAITEPOVALL
PRESCOTPRESTWICHPULLANPYRAH
Q
QUARMBYQUICKFALLQUILLIAMQUINE
R
RAINFORDRALPHSONRAMFORDRAMSBOTTOMRAMWELLRANGERANGELEYRANICARRANSHAWRASTRICK
RATHMELLRAWCLIFFRAWCLIFFERAWLINRAWNSLEYRAWSTHORNRAWSTHORNERAWSTRONREADETTREADMAN
REAVEYREDDIHOUGHREDGWICKRENNARDRENNOLDSONRENSHALLREWCASTLERIBCHESTERRICHLEYRIDAL
RIDEHALGHRIDINGSRIDYARDRISHTONRISHWORTHROADHOUSEROBERTSHAWROBINSHAWROBSHAWROBY
RODLEYROOCROFTROSBOTTOMROSCOWROSKELLROSSALLROSTRONROTHERAROTHERAMROTHERAY
ROUGHSEDGEROUNDELLROWARTHROYDSRUDDLESDENRUFFLEYRUSBYRYDINGRYDINGSRYLANCE
S
SACKFIELDSAGARSAGERSALTHOUSESALTSSANDIFORDSAXONSAYLESSAYNERSAYNOR
SCARGILLSCATCHARDSCORAHSCOTSONSCOWCROFTSCROWTHERSEDDONSEELSEPHTONSEVILLE
SHACKLADYSHACKLETONSHANDLEYSHARROCKSSHATWELLSHAWCROSSSHEARDSHEARSMITHSHELMERDINESHEPLEY
SHERWENSHIMWELLSHIPPERBOTTOMSHIRTCLIFFESHORROCKSHORROCKSSHOVELTONSHUFFLEBOTHAMSIDEBOTHAMSIDEBOTTOM
SIDLOWSILSONSIMISTERSIMMONITESINNOTTSISWICKSIXSMITHSKELHORNSKELLANDSKIPSEY
SKIRROWSLADDINSMALLSHAWSMETHURSTSOOTHILLSORSBYSOULSBYSOURBUTTSSOWERBUTTSSOWRY
SPANNSPEDDYSPIBYSPOORSTAINCLIFFESTAINRODSTANDEVENSTANDRINGSTANWORTHSTARKIE
STATHERSTATHERSSTATTERSTELFOXSTELLSTIRRUPSTIRZAKERSTOPFORDSTUDHOLMESTUTTARD
STYRINGSUDALLSUDWORTHSUGDENSUMMERSCALESUMMERSCALESSURFLEETSUTHERSSUTHURSTSWADDLE
SWARBRICKSWINDELLSSWITHENBANKSYDDALL
T
TABERNTABERNERTARBOTTOMTATLOCKTATTERSFIELDTEMPERLEYTEMPERTONTENNISONTETLEYTETLOW
THACKRAHTHACKRAYTHACKWRAYTHEWLISTHIRLAWAYTHIRLWELLTHOMASSONTHOMPSTONETHORNBERTHREAPLETON
THREFALLTHRESHTHRIPPLETONTHROPTHROUPTICKLETIDSWELLTIERNANTIMPERLEYTINMOUTH
TINNIONTINSDALETIPLINGTITHERTITHERINGTONTOMMISTONGETOOTELLTOOTHILLTOOTILL
TOOTLETORDOFFTORKINGTONTOWNHILLTRAVERSETRELFALLTREWICKTULIPTUNNACLIFFETUNSTILL
TWEDDELLTWEEDALETYASTYLDESLEYTYLDSLEYTYREMAN
U
URMSONURMSTONUTTLEY
V
VEEVERSVERRILLVIRRVOSE
W
WABYWADDICARWADDICORWAGGOTWAGGOTTWAKENSHAWWALBANKWALGATEWALKDENWALLWORK
WALLWORTHWALMSLYWANNOPWARDROPPERWAREINGWARHURSTWASTLEWATMUFFWAUDBYWAYWELL
WEARDENWEARMOUTHWEARSWEAVILLWEIGHWELLBURNWELLENSWELSBYWESTERDALEWESTHEAD
WESTWELLWESTWORTHWHATMOUGHWHEATERWHEWELLWHITELEGGWHITEOAKWHITESIDEWHITTELLWHITTLESTONE
WHITWAMWHITWHAMWHOWELLWIDDALLWIDDOPWIDDUPWIGFIELDWIGFULLWIGGANSWILLACY
WILMANWIMPENNYWINNARDWINSTANLYWINTERBOTTAMWINTERBOTTOMWINTERSGILLWINWARDWITHNELLWITTER
WOANWOFFENDENWOFFINDENWOLFENDALEWOLSTANHOLMEWOLSTENCROFTWOLSTENHOLMEWOLSTENHULMEWOMERSLEYWOOLFALL
WOOLFENDENWOOLLINWOOSEYWORFOLKWORSENCROFTWORSMANWORSWICKWOSTENHOLMEWRENNALLWRIGLEY
WYCHYEADONYEARDLEYYELLOWLEYYEWDALL

Individuals who have one of the eligible surnames who wish to take part but are not able to attend one of the events are asked to emailsurnames@le.ac.uk

Further information

Individuals with queries are asked to email Turi King at surnames@le.ac.uk, or telephone 07957 725246.

Links to previous surnames studies:

http://www.le.ac.uk/genetics/maj4/surnames.html

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Ainscough Legend- Scots or Lancs?

Hi Barbara
Can you help me with a family legend please?
I am the GGS of -
Sarah Ainscough b. abt. 1853 Orrell Lancashire m. abt. 1874 Pemberton Lancashire
John William Lancaster Fairhurst b. 09 Feb 1853 Lamberhead Green

Her Parents were - James Ainscough b. abt. 1825, Lancashire m.? Jane Fishwick b. abt. 1824, Lancashire
His Father was listed as James, and apparently his father was James too.
The legend states that - One of these James Ainscough's was a Scot, and apparently took part in the Jacobite rising of 1745, on the Jacobite side.
This has caused a bit of confusion as to the origin of the name - Scottish or Lancastrian? Can you help please?

Kind regards
Clive Molyneux

Friday, July 22, 2011


Hello Barbara, hope all is well.
Just a note to ask if you would like to join us on this years St. Olave's walk, this time on St. Olave's Day, Friday 29th July - should be great fun!
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/-sczsteve/Olsok2011.htm
This year we will be joined by BBC Historian Michael Wood who is filming for a new series Story of a Nation, to appear before next years Olympic Games,
Thanks and best wishes
Steve
_________________________________________________________________________
Steve Harding, University of Nottingham Centre for the Study of the Viking Age, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; Tel: +44(0) 115 951 6148 (fax 6142); Mob +44(0) 78110 90635; http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/csva/people/steve.harding; http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/-sczsteve
_____________________________________________________________

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Vincent Ainscough - Wrightington

Vincent John Ainscough (1901-1963) & Elizabeth Ann Ainscough (1901-1977)

Adrian Rigby writes the following:

Vincent John Ainscough (1901-1963) & Elizabeth Ann Ainscough (1901-1977)

Hi ,
I'm contacting you after finding your blog on Ainscough family history. My Grandad was Vincent Ainscough who is buried with my Grandma Elizabeth Ainscough in the Catholic church at Wrightington, the grave you could not identify. Very briefly it was Vincent who's brother Billy founded Ainscoughs' business empire from his scrap yard at Mosseylea. My granddad worked down the pit during the day and drove Billy's lorry (Billy could not drive) back from where ever he had been buying bomb damaged goods from.
Liverpool dock was a favourite from what I have been told.
I will be seeing my mum over Christmas and will tell her about this contact. Her name is Pauline Ainscough who was married to a Derek Rigby (my father).

Best Regards
Adrian Rigby: A B cartridges ltd

More information can be found here:
http://ainscough-familyhistory.blogspot.com/2007/08/ainscough-burials-wrightington.html

Alice Ainscough b.1833






















On 3 Jun 2010, at 14:49, Valda Morgan (bignan6@hotmail.com) wrote:

Hi Barbara,

Just to let you know, Alice Ainscough born 1833 was my GGGGrandmother, She Married Swithin Greenough, who accidently died by falling of a Scaffold (he was a Stonemason) Alice Later came out to Australia about 1882/3, her two brothers Thomas and Richard came out to Australia around 1870 on the SS GREAT BRITAIN. Thomas was with Alice when she passed away in 1890 at Port Melbourne , Victoria, Australia. I have Alice's Death Certificate.

Also images show detail for Jane Ainscough nee Harrison and her husband John Ainscough (Wheelwright). Jane Ainscough nee Harrison and John Ainscough are Alice Greenough nee Ainscough's parents

Cheers Val Morgan. (Australia).

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Stopforth family

On 23 Jan 2011, at 14:17, Wendy (wendy807@btinternet.com) wrote:

Hello Barbara,

I found your family history site on the web whilst searching for info about my 3rd Gt Grandmother Ann Stopforth b.1810 Newburgh

Although I have amassed a pile of info about the Stopforth family I cannot say for sure who Ann's parents were.
My best guess is Edward Stopforh and Catherine Hankin although I have no proof of this but her first born was Edward.

Have you come across her in your research? So far I haven't found any clues beyond the cenus records/parish clerk project etc.,
I wondered if she was born a Roman Catholic which may be why I haven't found a baptism record.

My next move is to look in Ormskirk Library and the Records office at Preston as nothing is turning up in the usual online searches.

Look forward to hearing from you

Wendy


Hi Wendy

You may have seen this post already? There are some trees here - you might also like to contact Andy Scarisbrick directly to see if he has any more info. or John Stopforth, Canada - email addresses on this page.
http://ainscough-familyhistory.blogspot.com/2008/11/stopforth-speakman-ainscough-links.html

regards
Barbara

Hi Barbara,

I saw your web site and the message from Wendy. I have just sent her the message below. If my calculations are correct, Anne Stopforth/Ainscough was my 4x great grandmother.

On 4 Apr 2011, at 16:11, JOHN STOPFORTH wrote:
JOHN STOPFORTH
Hi Wendy,
I saw your message on Barbara Ainscough's web site.

Catholicism was a strong belief in the Stopforth family and many of them were recusants. Edward Stopforth and Catherine Hankin were my 3xgreat grandparents who married on july 20th 1800 in Ormskirk at St.Peter & St. Paul's, the parish church. Their first child Thomas was baptised at St. Anne's RC Church on May 10th 1802, one of his sponsors being Anne Ainscough, but I believe that he died that same year. Thereafter are problems since I have found no further baptisms until 1820 in St. John's Burscough, also roman catholic. The problem lies in the fact that the records of St. John's are incomplete - the story goes that they were rescued as bits of paper by an anglican vicar around 1900.
To recap, their first child was Thomas, b.1802 who died the same year. As I understand it, my Thomas was born 1807 although I have yet to find the actual record but all the other facts fit. Both Thomas and William who was born in 1808 (and in 1832 married Susannah Mayor) were named as the "sons of my nephew Edward" and beneficiaries in Hugh Ainscough's Will.

The records of St John's show Edward in 1820, Jane and James, both in 1822 then Hannah in 1824. Somewhere inbetween there is Catherine and Anne, although Anne and Hannah could be the same person. There must have been other births or deaths during the missing years.

There is always the possibility that I have not got it right and that the post 1818 children belong to another Edward and Catherine but I find that hard to believe since St. John's records give Catherine's maiden name quite clearly as Hankin, or Ankin.

My Thomas married Ann Robinson in 1826 and remained as a grocer and beerseller at Spencer's Bridge for the next 40 years until they both died, possibly initially financed by Hugh's legacy. Spencer's bridge is only about a quarter of a mile from Tawdside farm where Edward and Catherine lived. As the oldest son it might have been expected that Thomas would take over the farm when Edward died but it would appear not to have been so. Edward continued to run the farm until at least the age of 77 in 1851.
If this has been of any help, please get in touch.

John Stopforth.


On 5 Apr 2011, at 11:07, JOHN STOPFORTH wrote:

Hi Barbara,

Thanks for your speedy reply.

I am fairly happy with my family tree going back to the second half of the seventeenth century but before that is very problematic - and may always be so. The date stone on the gable end of Tawdside Farm bears the initials E,A,S 1684, that I take to be Edward and Alice Stopforth (nee Dickett). Now a long shot. As far as I can make out, "our ancestors area" became settled in the late tudor times with the draining of the mosses - the straight drainage lines can be clearly seen on the OS map of today with farms and villages dotted around the outsides. A trawl through A2A gives lots of documents dating from the first half of the seventeenth century that concern property transfers that refer to "the inheritance of the late William Stopforth" This seems to have been the William who was secretary to Lord Derby on the IOM and who seems to have been somewhat aquisitive with regard to properties. (reference the Miles Standish dispute).

It looks like his properties were given out to various members of the Stopforth family after his death but how they were related to him, I have no idea. He must have made a will but I have been unable to find it. Do you have any ideas? I believe his widow married into the Heskeths.

Regards, JS