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Has anyone seen the original records? I spoke to the lady who has them and she sent me to Burnley library where I saw them on microfilm. However, there are no marriages at all and no baptisms after the middle of the 19th century. The copies were quite awful to read but I did get some information.

Also, does anyone know if there's a plan of the graveyard? I have a couple of plot numbers but don't know how to find them.
There was a baby died in March 1904 but she is mentioned on the grave of her parents who were buried in 1958 and 1960. Will she actually be buried with them as their grave must surely have been dug in the 1950's? I have a plot number for her which I got from the microfilm and I would love to see where it is if it's not the same as her parents'.

This family history stuff certainly leaves a lot of unanswered questions!

Rex is the man to answer this query with more certainty but I believe Haggate Baptist Chapel was never licensed for marriages.

As for a plan, I have no idea. I'd also be interested if there is one.

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Mel

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I went to a marriage there 1985 (pretty sure of the year).

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

On a family history website I have seen the marriage of Robert Thornton and Margaret Ann Edmondson on 19 Aug 1899 at Haggate.

If it wasn't at Haggate Chapel, does anyone know which of the other churches it could be? Actually, now I've just remembered I've sent for their marriage certificate whcih should arrive in the next couple of days so maybe the answer will be on there.

I suppose I will have to do some leg work around the grave yard looking for Hilda Thornton buried march 1904.

I just found this - it might be of interest to other people...


Town / Index no : Briercliffe - BCF.Bap.01
Map references : OS SD 872354
Name : Haggate Baptist Chapel
Denomination : Baptist (Scottish)
Address : Nelson Road, Briercliffe, Burnley (Haggate)
Incumbent :
Secretary : Mrs.R Halstead, Little Ethersall, Halifax Road, Nelson, BB9 0EQ
telephone 01282 614676
Telephone : 01282 437881

Parish Registers at County Record Office, listed in "Finding Folk"
none
Local Sources for Copies of Parish Registers
Births 1762-1837 (1841), B 1786-1794, B 1811-1857, at Burnley, Colne & Nelson Libraries
B 1857-1976, at Burnley Library
The original registers are kept at the chapel (Burials October 1794 - August 1811 are lost)
(Only a few records of births kept after the start of civil registration in 1837)
(No marriage register kept until the late 1800s)
Graveyard
Large and still in use
Memorial Inscriptions
Transcribed in 1973 - 1517 headstones dated 1771-1973
Local Copies of Memorial Inscriptions
Burnley, Colne & Nelson Libraries
Combined with Hill Lane Baptists, graves 1-134 are at Hill Lane
Brief History
1760 Baptist met in Briercliffe
1767 First chapel built off Halifax Road. Now demolished - some foundations visible
1851 Religious Census = Scotch Baptist built before 1800
1866 New chapel built on Nelson Road
2001 Chapel building has become unsafe & will have to be demolished
see Burnley Library Newspaper Index - several reports

Jeanette

I transcribed the registers with others (for the Lancs FHS) about 20 years ago, Burnley Library should have a copy ! Also the FHSociety. I have my own copies, and will happily look up things for you, just let me know what you seek.

Burial register only transcribed to mid 19c but it continues into the 20th, probably right through.

The birth entries are of course that, not baptisms.

Marriages as you will now realise did take place in later times.

Rex

Told you Rex was your man!
Thanks Rex.

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Mel

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Rex, do you have transcriptions of Haggate burials later than the mid 19c? If so, will you please check for Jeannette, (Jennet) Stanworth? She died July 20, 1892.

The burial ground at Haggate is quite large. I visited it several years ago looking for others of my family buried there. This was before the chapel closed, and the minister had kindly looked up the grave number ahead of my visit and took me straight to it, in an older section. I would have had great difficulty finding it otherwise.

Joan

Since the church has been demolished, I think the Chapelyard is deteriorating. There seem to be far more broken stones and lying stones than there were when I first visited some years back.

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Mel

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Joan

We only transcribed the burials to 1857 (perhaps the end of a book), on the grounds I think that the microfilm was reasonably good from about that point on. Could though be a worthwhile project, but not a small one !

I think the church secretary or other official may have a grave number plan, the microfiche of the MIs has the actual numbers. It's forty years since I first located all my own family graves there, including the positions of those without headstones etc ! It's sad that the graveyard is deteriorating, hardly a surprise. John Bentley may have some information about any plans for upkeep.

Rex

Thank you, Rex. I'll follow up with the secretary of Haggate, or Burnley Library. The staff there are wonderfully helpful.

Joan