The Parish Church of Prestwich - St Mary

St Mary, Prestwich
The depository for old records and registers of the Anglican Diocese of Manchester is the Archives Unit in the Central Library, Manchester - hence the originals should be found at the Manchester Central Library.

The guide, "Registers in the Local Studies Unit of Manchester Central Library". Larry Snowdon, 5th Edition 1997, ISBN 0947701 68 0, indicates that the Lancashire Parish Record Society (LPRS) have published the early volumes of the registers of St. Mary, Prestwich.

The Bishop's Transcript of the burials for most of the period 1599 - 1883 are there on film, as are the films of the original registers 1711 - 1843. The original register for 1843 - 1922 is lodged in the Archives and in 1997 had not been filmed. Later burials will probably be in the Burial Register at the church as the graveyard is still in use.

The Library also has a film of the Burial Index for 1695 - 1939. The Monumental Inscriptions have not been recorded, except for the ones noted in the Owens manuscripts.

The large geographical size of the parish of St Mary leads to much confusion as the following email conversation between two friends illustrates, and will possibly provide some enlightenment for people from distant parts.

Before 1800 (approx) Prestwich was a large parish that was subsequently divided and the eastern part became the Parish of Oldham.

Based on my own research the "of Oldham" location doesn't neccesarily mean the town of Oldham but could be anywhere in the eastern part of Prestwich parish including places like Failsworth, Hollinwood, Chadderton etc.

So you may find like I did that "of Oldham" isn't much help as a location. I went through a lot of Oldham records without finding any trace of a couple who were "of Oldham".

geoff.edge@cwcom.net (Geoff Edge)

The Parish Register of Marriages between 1754 and 1800 shows the following distinctions in the groom`s abode.

Oldham 3275
Chadderton 357
Hollinwood 297
Crompton 210
Royton 137
Failsworth none Failsworth was not a part of this parish even though at one time it was in the Prestwich Registration district
Alkrington 62
Tonge 5

So as to show this in the round here are the figures for the Prestwich area:

"of this Parish" 1590 I doubt this ever meant the parish as a whole)
Prestwich 12
Whitefield 457
Outwood 132
Ringley 43
Heaton 40 both Great and Little
Pilkington 17

In two instances, not surprisingly, three others also stand out:

Manchester 71
Middleton 71
Bury 39

The total number of marriages in the period was 7388, so the above is not complete but I can`t find any other place with a significant number.

Colin.Wood@gmx.co.uk (Colin Wood)

This was based on looking for my ancestors who were married in Prestwich in 1784, the marriage cert says "both of Oldham in this parish".

I have searched every available list (rates, land tax, militia lists,PRs for baptisms) and come to the conclusion thet never were in Oldham.

Perhaps frustration leads me to an unjustified conclusion - I respect your well supported argument but still suspect the location was used more widely than just the town of Oldham. I don't have population figures but the "of Oldham" description appears very frequently, given that marriages could also take place at St.Marys,Oldham?

Geoff

 

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