Lancashire catholic records

[auron]

I've an ancestor who married in wigan 1798. He was a Roman Catholic. Any suggestion where I might find any parish records for Cathlics prior to 1780. I've no idea where he was born but I guess it was in Lancashire.

[Luzzu]

Hi,

 

Welcome to Rootschat.

I would have a look on www.lan-opc.org.uk as there are a lot of transcribed parish records on there, not just RC but all denominations.  If you know he married in Wigan, I would start looking in that parish.

Also why not post what details you know about your ancestor on the Lancashire board.

Luzzu

[auron]

Thanks Luzzu, I'm new to RootsChat and did not realise there was a  place to post Lancashire issues. I'll try to find it. I'll also try the site you suggested. I've been to St. John's church in Wigan and got some good information. The priest there told me that older records were kept somewhere else, Preston I think he said.
Thanks for the help

[Luzzu]

Hi,

One of the Mods has moved you to the Lancashire board and you will get loads of help on here.  Everyone is really friendly.

Maybe the Priest was referring to Lancashire Records Office as they are in Preston:-

http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/education/record_office/planning/

Luzzu

[dotty]

Hi, if you send me all the details I will look at the records office on Tuesday.

Dotty

[auron]

Hi Dotty, thank you for your kind offer. The guy I'm looking for was called James Blakeledge/Blackledge. All I know is that he married Betty Rothwell at Upholland and in St.John's RC church in Wigan in1794. I know that there were other relatives about in Wigan, Christopher, Mary, William Blakeledge and possible Alice Blackledge b.1740.
I have no idea where James was born and I've not known where to look.  James son, Thomas, had two children born in Brindle,  (Nicholas in 1828 and William 1831) while other children born before and after these dates were born in Wigan.

[Luzzu]

Hi again,

Did you know that the Blackledge/Blacklidge name is very unusual in English and originates in the Leyland/Standish/Ormskirk areas of Lancashire so you are spot on area wise with Preston and Wigan.

http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Blackledge

I think you have a good chance of finding loads of info.

Best of luck

Luzzu

[auron]

Hi Luzzu, about 40 years ago someone wrote to my father saying they had traced the family back to 1350ish in a small village near Preston or Chorley. Unfortunately my father thought it was a confidence trick and did nothing.
 I'm stuck at 1870 but still searching. All the Blackledge's in my family are from Wigan. Thanks for the web address.

[jds1949]

This may not be directly relevant, but might help you further down the road; in the 1767 Return of Papists the entry for the village of Brindle contains the following:
239 Margt Blacklidge age 55 Resident for 27 years
240 Alice Blacklidge age 28 Resident for 28 years
241 Ann Blacklidge age 27 Resident for 21 years
242 Thos Blacklidge age 17 Resident for 17 years
243 Jno Blacklidge age 15 Resident for 15 years
244 Chrs Blacklidge age 11 Resident for 11 years
245 Wm Blacklidge age 9 Resident for 9 years

No other information and no James, but possibly relations based on the names you gave in your email. There don't appear to be any Blacklidge entries in either Leyland or Chorley.

Hope it helps,

jds1949