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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: Luloo on Tuesday 14 July 15 00:04 BST (UK)
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Hi - I am researching my fathers family and have hit a brick wall, perhaps someone can help :)
My father was Roger Holden and was born in 1926. His fathers name was Edward Holden and died around 1939 (???). His mother was Ann Hefferen (?) and he had 2 brothers that I know of: Edward born 1919 and Philip born 1922. I think his sisters name was Mary E and she was married to Derrick Bennett. My father lived at 4 Noble Street Darwen as a young man and later at 10 Cobden Street Darwen with his wife Margery and daughter aged 2. They emigrated to New Zealand in 1954. I have very little information to go on so any ideas/facts would be wonderful. Thanks :)
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Welcome to RootsChat! ;D
FreeBMD is one site you need to look at.
From there:
Births, March qtr 1926
Blackburn Registration District vol 8e, page 559
Holden, Roger Mother's maiden name: Hefferson
And a marriage:
June qtr 1913
Blackburn district vol 8e, page 830
Holden, Edward
Hepperan, Ann W
Meanwhile, LancashireBMD.org.uk reports:
Marriage 1913, at Darwen, St John
Holden, Edward to Hefferan, Ann Winifred
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Using FreeBMD with a search on Holden births in Lancashire, with a Mother's maiden name of Hef* (wild-card character), shows potential births:
December qtr 1913 (Heffearn)
June qtr 1916 (Heffren)
December qtr 1919 (Hefferen)
December qtr 1922 (Hefferen)
March qtr 1926 (Hefferson)
I won't mention any names just in case they are still living?!
RootsChat has a policy of not naming living people.
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Fantastic - thanks very much for the speedy replies. I had managed to get some info about dads brothers etc from BDM but nothing about his father Edward Holden or his mother Hefferen - there seems to be variations on the spelling of her name but the birth dates for her children are spot on. I seem to recall dad mentioning she came from Ireland. Both mum and dad have now passed away so trying to remember all of their history is a bit hit and miss. Thanks so much for the information :D
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Do you have any further information re Edward and Ann?
Years of birth, or death?
Purchasing their marriage certificate would give you their parent's names.
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Very little info - Edward, I have a tentative date of 1939 for death (BMD 8E 493) as this seems to tie in with the fact that when he died my dad was 14. He worked as a cotton mill fireman and I assume it was at India Mill as this is where my dad went to work aged 14. This gave me a possible birth year of 1883 on the above cert. Ann, I've hit a block on. Was thinking the marriage cert would be the best way to move forward. Your info re their children was great as I've been able to tidy up quite a bit of that today :D
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There is a potential death for Ann - if we assume she didn't remarry?
June qtr 1959
Farnworth district vol 10c, page 179
Holden, Ann W age 73
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This is a good possible. I know she didn't remarry.
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Regarding variations in Ann's maiden name spelling and her possible Irish background, it might be worth while considering yet another variation - Heffernan, as this is more common in Ireland.
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...and yet another variation... My goodness this grandmother of mine is certainly illusive. I have a lovely photo of her and wish I knew more about her...more digging !!!!!
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Hi,
I have Holdens in Darwen too.
They're a nightmare, as there are just so many of them. It would be much easier to trace them in Darwen if there were called Smith!
Not to say it can't be done, but you do need to be careful that you've got the right family/families, as I know from experience. ::)
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Goodness - you are so right. I never thought that it would like looking for a needle (Holden) in a haystack. I've found some army papers which have helped with the search. I've also had info from the Genealogists Forum - they have been amazing :) am waiting on a marriage cert now to confirm that we're looking in the right place. Thanks for your thoughts :)
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It's worth looking out a copy of Jeremy Hunt's Old Darwen Families from the library. It's all one (19th century) man's recollection of old Darwen families, and reads like a stream of consciousness at times. But it is remarkably accurate. He just occasionally forgets or gets wrong women's names.
If one of the Holden lines he mentions can be linked to your Holdens, it'll open it all up for you. (Sadly mine don't link to any of Jeremy Hunt's Holden families.)
If you've an Ancestry subscription, they have a scanned copy available (http://interactive.ancestry.com/34779/00000001?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d34779%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing#?imageId=00000234)
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:)that's brilliant - thanks very much. I'm on Ancestry so will have a look. Will be interesting to find out which Holden side we belong to.
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Hi, I came across your request for info re. Roger Holden.
Roger was the youngest child of Edward (Ted) and Ann (Annie) Holden nee Heffernan.
The eldest was Edward followed by Winifred, Phillip, Ethel and Roger.
He was employed by India Mills I believe as a spinner. He was not called into the army during WW2 as the textile industry was essential to the war effort and employees were required to stay with their employers for the duration of the war. Rumour has it that Roger was among a group of young men who attempted to climb the very ornate India Mill Chimney in an attempt (failed) to get dismissed and join the Army.
Roger had a fine Baritone voice and was a leading member of the Darwen Amateur Dramatic Society and appeared in their annual stage productions several times until leaving for Nz.
He was married in Fleetwood after meeting Marjoury in hosital whilst he was receiving treatment for Appendicitus.
Your Grandma had moved to Radford St in the 40s across the road from Noble St. In the 60s she moved Greenways Home for the erderly.
When she died she was buried in Darwen Eastern Cemetery along with Edward and daughter Winifred who had sadly died age 52.
Check St Josephs church for marriage records maybe.
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Hello,
I'm writing on be-half of my Dad, we believe you are cousins.
My Dad is the youngest son of Winifred Smith (nee Holden).
Melinda