Heckmondwike Nonconformists - Completed

[BumbleB]

Hi:  I'm trying to find the baptism record for my grandmother. (having found them for all her siblings)

She was the youngest daughter of James Archbell and Mary Jane Brook Archbell.  Earlier children Mary Ellen, Harry, Herbert and William have been baptised at St Mary, Mirfield - but not Annie 

Annie was born 6 March 1881 and the family lived at Brighton Street, Heckmondwike

I'm assuming that James changed from Anglican to Nonconformist at about this time as elder brother William, born 1879 in Cemetery Road was the last to be baptised at St Mary, Mirfield, in September 1879.  Certainly later, when James lived in Halifax, he attended the Methodist church at King Cross.  As far as I can see from the list issued by WYAS the following were operational in 1881:

Batley Road Circuit 1870-1901, George Street 1855-1978, Greenside (later Parkside) 1861-1958, Westgate 1866-1978 plus another in Westgate (Congregational) 1787-1957.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

BumbleB

Modified: I have no knowledge that James ever changed religions 

[Samueller]

In the period you are researching there were many chapels and churches and people often had their children baptised in the one that was most convenient, perhaps because it was near, or they liked the minister, or the service time suited.  The nearest Anglican church to Brighton Street, Heckmondwike, would have been St Saviour's.  Have you searched their records as well as St James's Parish Church?  Then there were several more nonconformist chapels than you list.  It is reckoned that the total number of seats would have accommodated the entire population four times over!  Unfortunately some chapels only existed for a few years - built as 'fire escapes' by wealthy mill owners trying to get into God's good books before they died - and when these chapels closed, the records of baptisms were not always archived.  It is many years since I lived in Heckmondwike, but I remember a Moravian Chapel in Dewsbury Road and the vast Congregational Chapel in High Street (known as Upper Chapel and now URC) and another Congregational/URC chapel in Norristhorpe Lane.

Sam

[BumbleB]

Many thanks for the information Sam.  I have to admit that I only listed those chapels which were conducting baptisms in 1879, and looking at my list from WYAS that also excludes St Saviour (starts 1890), although it does include St James.  Obviously another trip to Yorkshire is to be contemplated.

And why is it always the child you really want to find that is the one that is missing?    All the siblings fall over themselves to be found, but not THE one you want 

BumbleB

[Samueller]

I did wonder when St Saviour's and the various chapels were built, so it may well be that some were not there when your ancestors lived in Heckmondwike.

Re your last questions.  It is the same law as that which ensures that when you want to show an engineer that your car or heating boiler isn't working, it works perfectly.  On the other hand some of our ancestors do go out of their way to ensure we find them, sometimes in a most unexpected place, or when we are looking for someone in another line altogether.

[BumbleB]

Yep!  It's called "Sod's Law" 

And yes, I do have another sibling's baptism to find, but by then they had moved to Halifax.  I thought the Heckmondwike baptism might be the easier of the two - and she was my grandmother. It just seemed funny that the child born in 1879 in Cemetery Road, Heckmondwike (as had allthe other older siblings) was baptised at St Mary Mirfield, but Annie born in 1881 in Brighton Street, Heckmondwike was not.   And of course, Heckmondwike seems to be somewhat absent from transcriptions at this moment, so I'll just have to wait until I can get to WYAS some time.  Ah well, that's life I suppose.

BumbleB

[dobfarm]

Hi Bumble B

You say some the other siblings Mary Ellen, Harry, Herbert and William were baptised Pre 1881  in Mirfield then you say parents James & Mary moved to Halifax post 1881. Changing Religion from Anglican to Nonconformist movement was very common in the late 18th and very early 19th with the like of John & Charles Westley and Methodist being George Whitefield 1844ish but by 1881 most people had settle in their beliefs! Therefore its possible but not probable. If this was the case with the topography of Heckmondwike and near places of Liversedge, Batley, Batley carr, Mirfield, High Town, Little town, Robert town, Norristhorpe, Gomersal, Cleckheaton, Rawfolds, Hartshead and Stainscliffe & Healey all within then distance that James took to Mirfield church means there are many possible main chapels plus loads of little houses made into places of worship. On top of this Heckmondwike was part of Birstall mother church as Anglican just over the hill from Heckmondwike.

What is the broad aspect too conside first! is your known facts, possible future of James post 1879 /81 also reasons needed your consideration first is when did James move to Halifax and did he live somewhere enroute between 1881 and Arthur's birth 1887 still as an Anglican worshiper

Workhouse BMD's and possible private baptisms not entered into the church later are some  possible reasons as you will know trying to find a baptism Prue July 1837 is a main challenge need!! post 1837 bapts hold very little info only their religion more than the birth certificate would hold. With the above obstacles you have a major challenge.

However! being that  Annie is your direct Granny I would advise trying to contact your other relo's first to see if they knew of their religion! if they were nonconformist or not as going to church them days was a big thing! None conformist even more as Anglican faith wavered in later years.

The task even if you live near repositories! the challenge is a mighty one!!! even for the most dedicated.

Kew in Richmond London may have the answer.

Dobfarm

[BumbleB]

Hi Dave:  As you can see I made a complete fool of myself (again)   But I think I have now located the second brain cell.

Right: FACTS:  James and Mary Jane were married at Mirfield St Mary, their children Mary Ellen, Harry, Herbert and William were all baptised at Mirfield St Mary.  When William was baptised the family were living at Cemetery Road (The Cricketers).  When Annie was born the family had moved to Brighton Street, Mirfield - James having been declared bankrupt whilst at The Cricketers - 1881 census says "Unemployed late Innkeeper - no occupation"  Annie at this time is 1 month old.  By the time Arthur is born (and I don't have his birth certificate) in 1887 the Registration District is Halifax.  James' death entry in the Halifax Courier in 1922 just says that he will be interred at Stoney Royd and no indication of a funeral service being held anywhere.

On a visit to WYAS  I looked at Mirfield St Mary parish registers and there was no mention of a baptism for Annie.  Hence my now wondering whether James might have changed religions - just a hunch really.   Or was there no baptism because James couldn't afford one?

Sue

[dobfarm]

Hi Sue,

Poorlaw records springs to mind being possible James and family were in the workhouse a short time between 1879 Cricketers -1881 Brighton Street?

Another thought! is if he ended up at Halifax -Brighouse/Rastrick is in between Mirfield and Halifax being some of your relo ancestors lived there?

I'll look at PR's and nonconformist registers being the date of Annie birth is known when I'm in our Library or others over visits the spring/ summer.

Having said all this again apart from just knowing the baptism! as for info it will tell you nothing that not in the Birth cert except the place of the baptism and knowing James movements 1879/81  to 1887/91 seems more the carrot.?? 

Dave

[Samueller]

Sue,
You wonder whether your great-grandfather James didn't have daughter Annie baptised "because he couldn't afford [it]"  There is, of course, no charge for the baptism itself, and in those days it was not customary to have a large party afterwards as is common nowadays.  The only guests invited would be the godparents.

I realise this doesn't help your search, but thought it worth a mention.
Sam.