Genealogy Chat

Hi, brill site ! I need help ! I have an ancestor ... James Shawcross died c 1829 aged c 40 ??. I believe that James and 2 of his sons 1818, 1820 were born in Pendleton, Salford (Have address) so I'm thinking that James father possibly owned the property. I am trying desperately to find out what year James was actually born, so thought that if I find the property details it may help me ??? how do I get these details nearly 200 years later .. and if I get them are they likely to tell me dates of births or anything else that may help me. Has anyone else any other idea's how I could find this guys date of birth... its driving me insane !! Thanks.. Elaine.

hi elaine have you looked on the LDS site? there are a lot of shawcross on there in lancs the addy is www(.)familysearch(.)org remember to remove the brackets susie

Hi Susie, Thanks, yes I have tried the IGI but not knowing which James he is causes a problem. I can not locate a marriage for James Shawcross & Sarah Hartley (his wife) or I would be well away. I presume they married c1808 cos they had children 1809 - 1829 inclusive. I have traced the entire family apart from this marriage and either of their dates of birth. I have the family pedigree in the Shawcross Pedigree's book, but although I know he is part of the Flixton Pedigree I don't know which one out of about 30 James's he actually is. It's because of the book that I know he died c1829 aged c 40ish ! Don't know where else to check for details of the marriage ?? anyone any idea's ?? Thanks for your reply ...Regards Elaine.

You might be able to get some info from the Land Registry website - w w w . h m l r . g o v . u k Think it works on pay per view for each address you want. Of course it is only possible if the property still exists. Do you know if it's still there? If you're not sure can any 'locals' on this site help?

Hi Helen, yes I know the address, it's Hope Cottage, Pendleton, Salford, and a contact from another site says that a year or so ago he was in Pendleton and he thinks that the building is now something to do with the/for the Blind, but he wasn't 100% sure. I have put a message out on a different board to see if anyone in the Salford area could help, but no replies .. unlike this site ..everyone is so quick to help, its a little overwhelming to tell the truth, have been reading all the other messages..never dreamed so many people would be so quick. Cheers everyone ! So you think I may be able to trace previous owners of this particular property ? even back into late 1700's ... Elaine.

Try the Society of Genealogists in london.There are boxes for various surnames which contain many pieces of information. It has been possible to trace my ancestors back to 1600 by using the information there plus county records and church baptism records. See messages for Barnaby Lewis trying to find Nicholas Lewis for my research problem. Regards Barnaby Lewis

Thanks Barnaby, will go and have a look now. I was just trying to work out how to search the Salford Parish Records online, but nothing is jumping out at me. As a starting point, I thought if I try harder to find the marriage I may find his birth date if he wasn't of Full Age ! I have put messages out on Hartley Message boards and Shawcross message boards to see if anyone else has stumbled over this marriage, but nothing has come back yet. Will go check your problem out..Thanks for advice. Elaine.

Elaine, Have you tried the Vital Records Index UK? I have this at home and if no records show up on the IGI then they may well be on this. I am at work at the mo but will have a look tomo when i get home or some other kind soul on here may have a look at it for you.

Thankyou Kevin, I would really appreciate you looking for me ... or anyone else for that matter. Have you gathered all the information needed to do a search for me or do you need more .. ? Thanking you in anticipation ? Elaine.

Hi Elaine, Not many people actually owned their own homes in those days, they leased them from wealthy landowners or from the manor. If you contact Salford archives they should be able to tell you what manor(s) Pendleton was included in, and/or who the landowners were and if any useful records survive. If records do still exist then you might find when James first held this property, where he came from, what type of lease he held etc. Best wishes, Carole

Hi have you seen on 1881 James age 47 Farmer with mother Sarah age 73 Dwelling Old Union ? or isnt it the right age Joan

Elaine I take it your talking about the Flixton in Lancs and not the one in Yorks. Either way, Rootsweb has a Flixton message board. Perhaps you may get some help there. Jeanette

Elaine there are 2 Shawcross,s on www(.)salfordroots(.)com/page8(.)html Put your name into Picosearch at the top... Joan

Hi Elaine, welcome to GenesConnected, told you it was a good site didn't I. Nice to see everyone giving you lots of ideas after all the help you've given me over the last couple of months. Hope things are going well, Rich.

Thanks to everyone who has tried to help me, I have tried to e.mail each one of you back individually but I think 2 of the e.mails didn't go. Please don't think I'm ignorant, I am overwhelmed by all the responses and will check out all the different peices of advice given. Thanks a million to you all. I will let you know where I am when I get there ! but just incase, all other suggestions are very warmly accepted ! Your a great lot on this site. Regards, Elaine.

Hi Folks, just to update..I have sent e.mail to Society of Genealists in London seeking advice ..could be a month before I hear back. I have checked Salford web site .. excellent but not got info I require. Have scoured IGI, but still no marriage of James Shawcross & Sarah Hartley, and still don't know which of the James Shawcross's born around 1780 - 1790 is my James. Have contacted Land Registry, they can't help me unless they have a postcode for the address I am searching for (where James and 2 of his sons were supposibly born) and even then they want £60 to find out IF the address is actually registered with them. They did say, that they may not have the records going back to pre 1800. Shaw Hall in Flixton (Lancs) where James is supposed to have lived when he married Sarah, no longer exists, and Strangeways Hall was not occupied by the Hartleys after 1800 when Sarah married, so I can't get further info from either of these two address's. Have been on the British Family History at Pedigree's and People ... nothing connected to me on Marriage registers or Burial Registers. HELP ! Has anyone any other suggestions...falling short of me getting on a train and going to Manchester and spending the day trawling round all the different places trying to find a needle in a haystack. ?? regards Elaine.

Hi Elaine, Am not sure if this will be of use, but the Greater Manchester Record Office holds title deeds for properties in Flixton as part of the Shawcross Family of Flixton collection. You could contact them to find out what other family papers they hold. http://www.gmcro(.)co(.)uk/catalogues/userguide/family.htm Best wishes, Carole

Elaine, Have you checked for marriage licence records for James and Sarah? Or a will for either that might mention family members other than children. Carole

Elaine, I was searching on ancestry this afternoon and looked for any James Shawcross. Found the following reference - hope it might be useful to you. Cheshire: - Wills and Administrations, 1826-1830 Lancashire Wills - Shawcross, James, Salford, auctioneer. A May 1829 I believe that some Lancashire wills are (or were) held at the Cheshire Record office, but you'd need to check with them in case it's been transferred to another office. Best wishes, Carole

Cass, your a darling ... my James was an Auctioneer !!!! this has got to be him .... not sure what to do next ...I'm shaking with excitment. How much do I owe you, ancestry ...you pay don't you ?? if its the site I go on. I've got to collect myself together .. this is silly !!!! I'm like a kid at Christmas !!!! Yippee !!!!!!!!! Regards Elaine.