St. Oswalds Parish

awall54 · 06-07-2004, 17:12

My great-grandmother, Mary Ellen Ryan Meehan was born 03 May 1863 to Patrick and Mary (Wrine) Ryan in St. Oswald's Parish , Accrington England. They immigrated to the US about 1866, with her 3 (or 4) brothers, and settled in Conesus, NY, USA
We are looking for records PRIOR to 1863 of Mary and Patrick in Ireland. Apparently the church records burned so we have no way of knowing where they were from.
Does anyone have any suggestions how I may find out more information?
Thanks for any help!

Weary Tourist · 07-07-2004, 06:41

If your date is right then you should be able to find the birth certificate for Mary Ellen Ryan Meehan from here (cost about £7)
http://www.1837online.com/Trace2web/

This should yield an address in Accrington, and from this (if they didn't move around too much) you may get a little more detail from 1861 Census. The 1861 Census may just say born Ireland, which would not help too much, but would yield a little more about the occupation of parents, and may identify siblings and/or other family members.

There is always a risk that they were not living at the address shown on Mary's birth certificate in 1861.

I am not sure I have come across St Oswald's Parish, not sure if someone else could help here.

For Irish research you may wish to check out Cyndi's list here
http://www.cyndislist.com/ireland.htm

Good luck

WillowTheWhisp · 07-07-2004, 08:25

Didn't Sacred Heart have something to do with Saint Oswald? Maybe there is no connection but could it be? What denomination were they awall, do you know?

steve · 14-07-2004, 17:30

sacred heart was the parish church for st oswalds catholic school

Acrylic-bob · 04-08-2004, 05:44

St Oswalds Church Was situated on Hyndburn Road between Elmfield House (later Gatty Park) and Hags Mill at the bottom of the footpath known locally as 'Owd bob's'
It was built in 1852 and ceased to be a church when the Sacred Heart Church was built on Blackburn Road in 1869. The building survived until the outbreak of the second world war being latterly used for storing tyres. It was destroyed by fire on the morning of 16th October 1943. The building comprised a central nave and two transepts. The transepts survived the fire and were converted into houses. They can still be seen on Hyndburn Road.

Atarah · 05-08-2004, 21:25

Here are two old photos showing St Oswalds. On the first photo you can see one of the remaining transcepts to the right of the church building. The second photo shows both transcepts, now used as houses.

WillowTheWhisp · 06-08-2004, 19:30

Hey thanks Bob and Atarah. I had no idea those two houses used to be church transepts. I've often admired them architecturally.

Atarah · 14-08-2004, 23:17

Just found a much clearer photo of the St Oswalds church. The road has obviously been altered a lot as Hyndburn Road is now directly in front of the transepts that you can cleary see on the photo.

WillowTheWhisp · 14-08-2004, 23:28

Don't they have fairly long front gardens?

Acrylic-bob · 15-08-2004, 12:34

Here is an aerial photograph of the area. Sorry it is so indistinct but it is the best I can find. As you will see the lines in the gardens in front of the houses appear to be remarkably true to the outline of the church itself. It would be interesting to see if any of the foundations still exist.

WillowTheWhisp · 15-08-2004, 12:41

I wonder if the residents of the houses know their history?

Acrylic-bob · 15-08-2004, 13:01

I don't know, why don't you ask. The one on the right of the picture is called Rose Cottage.

WillowTheWhisp · 15-08-2004, 13:49

Yes and I believe the other one is called Ivy Cottage. I'm too busy right now to go down there and visit them.

Acrylic-bob · 15-08-2004, 21:34

According to the lovely Atarah, who knows about such things, the residents are actually aware of the history of their properties. I'd like a look round though.