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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: sid bird on Monday 18 January 21 18:29 GMT (UK)

Title: Police constable in Oldham/Hollinwood
Post by: sid bird on Monday 18 January 21 18:29 GMT (UK)
Hello,
My great grandfather lived in Hollinwood and was a police constable for at least 30 years.(1881-1901 census information). His name was Peter Whitehead, born 1855, died 1901. I cannot find him on Lancashire Police force records...is there any other way of finding out about him?
Thank you.
Title: Re: Police constable in Oldham/Hollinwood
Post by: Gibel on Monday 18 January 21 20:40 GMT (UK)
Have you tried Oldham Borough’s own archives?
Title: Re: Police constable in Oldham/Hollinwood
Post by: PaulineJ on Monday 18 January 21 21:25 GMT (UK)
Oldham had its own force.

https://british-police-history.uk/f/oldham-borough
Title: Re: Police constable in Oldham/Hollinwood
Post by: zetlander on Monday 18 January 21 22:35 GMT (UK)
Hollinwood 'joins' Failsworth with Oldham - although he lived in Hollinwood he may have worked for Manchester Police - or other neighbouring towns -
Title: Re: Police constable in Oldham/Hollinwood
Post by: CaroleW on Monday 18 January 21 23:21 GMT (UK)
Can't help with his service records but when he married Elizabeth Wolfenden in 1874 he was a labourer so joined the constabulary somewhere between 1874-1881

18.1.1874 St Matthew Chadderton

Peter & Elizabeth were both 21
His father was Ralph Whitehead - innkeeper & hers was James Wolfenden engineer

Transcript available on https://www.lan-opc.org.uk/
Title: Re: Police constable in Oldham/Hollinwood
Post by: heywood on Monday 18 January 21 23:26 GMT (UK)
Censuses show him living in Hollins/Hollinwood when younger but as a Police Constable he was living in other areas of the town so he was probably in Oldham Borough Police.

You could try Greater Manchester Police Museum https://gmpmuseum.co.uk/ to see if there are records there or in other archives.
Title: Re: Police constable in Oldham/Hollinwood
Post by: sid bird on Tuesday 19 January 21 09:03 GMT (UK)
Thank you very much everyone. I have emailed the police museum to ask how to access Oldham Borough Police records. :)
Title: Re: Police constable in Oldham/Hollinwood
Post by: bbart on Tuesday 19 January 21 20:27 GMT (UK)
I don't know if this is your man, but if so, perhaps it might help narrow down the area he patrolled:

Cotton Factory Times 30 August 1895

There is an article of news from Oldham on page 5 about a customer at the Featherstall and Junction Inn on Featherstall-road North, who had a vein burst in his leg and was profusely bleeding.  The landlady called in Constable Peter Whitehead, who was also a member of the Ambulance Society.  The constable adminstered first aid pending the arrival of a Doctor.  The doctor later said the man would have died if not for the efforts of the Constable.
Title: Re: Police constable in Oldham/Hollinwood
Post by: heywood on Tuesday 19 January 21 21:48 GMT (UK)
That’s a lovely tribute to find bbart.

I can’t find him in 1891 but in the 1901 census he is living just a few streets away from that pub so very local.
Title: Re: Police constable in Oldham/Hollinwood
Post by: ev on Wednesday 20 January 21 06:33 GMT (UK)
1891 ?
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q5PN-D6Z


ev
Title: Re: Police constable in Oldham/Hollinwood
Post by: heywood on Wednesday 20 January 21 08:32 GMT (UK)
Thanks ev. :)

Still no sign on Ancestry but it does show Worcester Street where he was living in 1881.
Title: Re: Police constable in Oldham/Hollinwood
Post by: sid bird on Wednesday 20 January 21 09:04 GMT (UK)
Dear bbart,
That's wonderful...thank you very much. It makes him seem more real now.
Thanks again,
Sidbird