St Patrick RC parish registers at Widnes library
Posted: 03 Feb 2012 20:42
Some time ago I produced a list of the parish registers available on microfilm at Widnes library
http://www.forum.liverpool-genealogy.or ... aacbc80470
but I now need to provide a correction regarding the microfilm of the St Patrick RC register. I was looking at this film recently, having previously looked at the St Marie registers, and realised that the burials it claims to show were in fact the same as some the burials that I had just seen on one of the St Marie microfilms. (Another giveaway was the coverage, 1880-1889, as those familiar with St Patrick’s will know that this church did not open until 1888.)
On mentioning this to one of the librarians I was told that the film had been provided by Cheshire Records Office where the original parish register was held. So I contacted the records office to enquire whether they had a similarly erroneous microfilm, and whether I could view the original register. I have just received the following reply,
“Thank you for your enquiry and letting us know about the Widnes Roman Catholic films. The Widnes St Marie burials do seem to have been duplicated on two films, one labelled as St Patrick. This was a mistake by the Genealogical Society of Utah who did this filming, perhaps because the second St Marie burial register did not have its frontispiece completed by the priest. The Widnes Roman Catholic registers have been transferred to Lancashire Record Office. From our original list pre-transfer it appears we only ever held one register for Widnes St Patrick - baptisms, 1888-1906 that appears on the film you have looked at. It may be an idea to check with Lancashire whether they have received any burial records since.”
I have checked the catalogue for Lancashire Record Office and only the baptisms for St Patrick are listed, so presumably the burial register is still with the diocese (as the church was closed in 1997 and demolished in 1998).
http://www.forum.liverpool-genealogy.or ... aacbc80470
but I now need to provide a correction regarding the microfilm of the St Patrick RC register. I was looking at this film recently, having previously looked at the St Marie registers, and realised that the burials it claims to show were in fact the same as some the burials that I had just seen on one of the St Marie microfilms. (Another giveaway was the coverage, 1880-1889, as those familiar with St Patrick’s will know that this church did not open until 1888.)
On mentioning this to one of the librarians I was told that the film had been provided by Cheshire Records Office where the original parish register was held. So I contacted the records office to enquire whether they had a similarly erroneous microfilm, and whether I could view the original register. I have just received the following reply,
“Thank you for your enquiry and letting us know about the Widnes Roman Catholic films. The Widnes St Marie burials do seem to have been duplicated on two films, one labelled as St Patrick. This was a mistake by the Genealogical Society of Utah who did this filming, perhaps because the second St Marie burial register did not have its frontispiece completed by the priest. The Widnes Roman Catholic registers have been transferred to Lancashire Record Office. From our original list pre-transfer it appears we only ever held one register for Widnes St Patrick - baptisms, 1888-1906 that appears on the film you have looked at. It may be an idea to check with Lancashire whether they have received any burial records since.”
I have checked the catalogue for Lancashire Record Office and only the baptisms for St Patrick are listed, so presumably the burial register is still with the diocese (as the church was closed in 1997 and demolished in 1998).