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RESEARCHING YOU RIBCHESTER FAMILY HISTORYby Mrs Ann Jepson. We hope this brief guide will help you in your search for your Ribchester ancestors. Gather as much information as you can from other members of the family. Talk to family and family friends and take copies of any family documents and certificates and photographs that they have. Remember to work back through the generations step by step. Keep a record of everything you research even when the result is negative. Background:It's always a good idea to do some background reading about the area. At the end of this leaflet is a list of sources to help you. Fieldwork:We hope that during the course of your research you will be able to visit the village of Ribchester and the church of St. Wilfrid and St. Saviour Stydd. These churches are open during the day and you will always be welcome to come to one of the services. Visiting the village and walking in the area around will give you a better understanding of how your ancestors lived. Maps:Ordnance survey maps of the area (6 inch and 25 inch to the mile) are held at the Lancashire Record Office (LRO). The first edition 6 Inch to the Mile is dated 1844 and the first edition 25 Inch to the Mile is dates 1892. They will show you how the area has changed and enable you to identify places mentioned in census returns and parish registers. Current OS maps are available for reference in the church bookshop under the tower or to purchase from the Ordnance Survey. Trade directories :These were published at intervals from 1820s to the first half of the 20th century. The early directories have a brief history of the village and list the main inhabitants. The lists become more complete in later years. Sometimes Ribchester is listed in Preston directories and at other times in Blackburn directories. The Lancashire Record Office (LRO) holds copies as do many large local reference libraries. Newspapers:Ribchester news was reported in both the Preston and Blackburn newspapers; enquire at LRO and Blackburn Central Library. Current local newspapers for the area are the Longridge News and the Clitheroe Advertiser. Birth, death, and marriage certificates:These go back to 1837. An index to them is available online at www.1837online.com. Certificates can be ordered online. Census returns:These show who was resident in each household on census night. Those for 1841 to 1901 are available. The returns for 1851 - 1901 are now online at the web site of the National Archives and the 1901 Census; a charge is made for certain services. You can search by personal name and in 1901 also for an address. A searchable transcript of the 1881 census is also available free on www.familysearch.org. Census returns for Lancashire, including Ribchester, are also held on microfilm at the Lancashire Record Office. If you are searching on microfilm be aware that the parish of Ribchester was divided into several enumeration districts. Parish registers of baptism, marriage and burial - St Wilfrid Ribchester with St Saviour Stydd (Church of England)The Lancashire Record Office holds most of these church registers and they can be consulted there:
A transcript of Monumental Inscriptions taken from the tombstones in the graveyard 1696 -1981 is also available. A printed transcript of the earliest Ribchester parish register, 1598-1694 is published by the Lancashire Parish Record Society Vol 26. More recent registers are held at the church and you should contact the Rector for access. Until 1868 the parish of Ribchester included the townships of Dilworth and Alston and was served by the chapel of ease at St Lawrence in Longridge. These areas are now part of the parish of St Lawrence with St Paul, Longridge. International Genealogical IndexThis index covers Ribchester St Wilfrid Parish Registers- baptisms 1598 - 1875 and marriages 1599-1694, 1696-1885. It is available on www.familysearch.org Boyds marriage index:An index of brides and grooms 1598-1837 Marriage Licence Bonds:These formed part of the paperwork for obtaining a marriage licence. Those for the Archdeaconry of Richmond (the area covering Ribchester) are indexed from 1648-1755. The documents and the indexes are at LRO. Other churches in the parish:St Peter and St Paul's (Roman Catholic) The following registers are held at the Lancashire Record Office:
The International Genealogical Index covers baptisms 1783 - 1837 and marriages 1806 - 1811 Knowle Green Congregational Chapel Wills and Letters of Administration:It is always worth checking for a family will because although not everyone made one, where one exists they are a mine of very useful information. Since 1858:To find wills after 1858 first consult an index called the National Probate Calendar. A copy is held at the Lancashire Record Office and in many other record offices. It is very easy to use. It is arranged by date of probate, which was usually a few months after death. Registered copies of some Lancashire wills proved after 1858 are also held at the Record Office. Before 1858:Most surviving wills for Ribchester folk were proved in the Archdeaconry of Richmond and are indexed by the Record Society. These indexes and most of the wills referred to in them are held at the Lancashire Record Office. Occasionally Ribchester wills are proved in the Archdeaconry of Chester. Someone having property in more than one archdeaconry might have their will proved in Prerogative Court of York. Background Reading:It's always a good idea to do some background reading about the area. Some of these books are not easy to obtain but they can all be consulted at the Lancashire Record Office.
Lancashire Record OfficeLancashire Record Office, Bow Lane, Preston PR1 2RE 01772 263039 Enjoy your research! |
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