Has anyone ever heard of this pre-1791 book ?

[SiGr]

Hi, all,

I recently came across a reference in a 1791 book to "Caterall's Book of the Antiquity and Gentry of Cheshire" (see attached photo).

I have tried to find a copy or even a mention of its existence elsewhere but without success.

I contacted the ever-helpful folks at Cheshire Archives but they too drew a blank.

I also tried the British Library's website. I could find nothing there but I am unfamiliar with its search tools. So maybe I failed to find something there where a more experienced user might succeed.

Can anybody help ?

Thanks in advance for any answers/suggestions etc.

Simon

[mckha489]

Internet archive has “the Hisotry of the county palatine and city  of Chester etc..”

And in that is this para

“ Ralph  Caterall  also  occurs  in  Dr.  Gower's  prospectus  (p.  41)  as  the  author  of  "  a  folio  volume
with  the  following  title,  '  Caterall's  book  of  the  Antiquity  and  Gentry  of  Cheshire,' "  which  he  does
not  identify,  but  probably  means  a  transcript  of  a  part  of  the  MS.  preserved  in  Harl.  MSS.  1988.
The  subjoined  extract  from  Harl.  MSS.  2119,  shews  where  the  original  MS.  existed,  and  identifies  this
antiquary  with  Randle,  third  son  of  John  Catheral  of  Horton,  representative  of  a  younger  branch  of
the  Catherals  of  Catheral  near  Garstang  in  Lancashire*. ”

So Harl. MSS. 1988 & 2119 should be in the British Library?   But whether it’s what you really want …😀

[hepburn]

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=x2suAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA41&lpg=PA41&dq=%22Caterall%27s+Book+of+the+Antiquity+and+Gentry+of+Cheshire%22&source=bl&ots=KGbr4CQ61Z&sig=ACfU3U2ucAppQP3_U25miUhMU2qDjdgazA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiSs4LDp6X_AhUCg1wKHVOMCxMQ6AF6BAgGEAM

The shrink link isn't working for me..

[SiGr]

Hi, Both,

A huge thank you for your swift and extremely helpful posts.

I have just checked the Harleian MSS Catalogue and there it is in 1988 (see attached picture). The Catalogue goes on to detail the contents over several columns/pages.

I have just compared my 1791 book with the one on Google Books. The latter is a precursor to my finished copy. I have already spotted several major differences between the two. So, this new (and earlier) copy is a gem. A great find.

Thank you both.

Best wishes.

Simon

[SiGr]

I forgot to add, as suggested, MSS 2119 also goes into detail on this.

I shall set to work going through the detail of both MSS.

ATB

Simon

[wilcoxon]

Are there any Wilcoxon names there. My family were in Cheshire at that time and quite a notable family.
Thanks.

[SiGr]

No, no mention of Wilcoxon in the descriptions of the contents of either Manuscript.

That said, they might be in one or more of those documents listed but that would mean a visit to the British Library.

ATB

Simon

[wilcoxon]

Thanks for checking.