PARISH NOTES


 
WARNING: The correct use of any parish data from this project requires initial reading of the GENERAL NOTES as well as of the specific PARISH NOTES.
 

BACKFORD St Oswald, 1562 - 1871

REGISTERS

The earliest register volume runs from 1562 to 1667, with odd entries to 1685; it has a modern pencil foliation, with earlier page numbers. The second volume runs from 1649 to 1686, with entries for 1720; and the third from 1686 to 1743. They are mixed baptisms (BAs), marriages (MAs) and burials (BUs), though from 1686 the entries are made in three separate blocks, one for each event, each year. The volume from 1743 to 1808 continues this pattern, but ceases to contain marriages after 1754. Separate, printed marriage registers run from 1754 to 1812, then 1813-1838, and 1838-1964. There is a christenings register from 1813 to 1859, and from 1858 to 1981. There is a burial register from 1813 to 1875. The burial and baptism registers are printed from 1813.
There is a register of burials in woollen, 1678-1686, with various notes on church assets, and pew lists for 1636, and 1730-1826, which is not transcribed here.

[In the text which follows, abbreviated names have not been extended, but obvious abbreviations in quotations from the register have been extended silently.]

REGISTER GAPS/MISORDERING:

Much misordering and confusion in the first two volumes. There is a gap in the registration of BAs and BUs between 1809 and 1812. The BT records for 1809-12 have been put in a separate files and are available in CPRdb with the BACA parish code.
Christenings for 1858-1859 are disordered.

BT LACKING:

1562-1580, 1582-85, 1587-98, 1601-3, 1606, 1611-12, 1616, C 1642-1662, 1665 - 1667 B 1665-68, 1672-74, 1682-84, 1686 M 1649, 1665-68, 1672-3, 1678, 1682-84, 1686

There is a second BT for 1633/4, (which is probably not for Backford, and which gives different entries not corresponding with the PR and first BT (which does correspond with PR). This second set of BT entries has not been included.

There are two BTs for 1663 and 1664. The second BT is sketchy but has some entries not appearing in PR or fuller BT. These missing entries are identified by notes to each entry.
Foot of page signed Robert Kirkes Clerk

BT only 1809-1812 for Ba and Bu. These entries are identified with the parish code BACA.

DATING:

OS dates to 1751 (with exceptions before 1686) NS dates from 1752

ANOMALOUS ENTRIES:

Ba 1565/04/04 (Griffith) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard but entry has only father’s name so no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1565/04/23 (Hexsam) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard but entry has only father’s name so no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1566/00/13 (Voysea) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard but entry has only father’s name so no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1570/01/02 (Taylor) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard but entry has only father’s name so no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1572/02/04 (Tilsley) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard but entry has only father’s name so no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1579/02/21 (Phillip) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard but entry has only father’s name so no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1581/01/04 (Luntt) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard but entry has only father’s name so no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1581/02/09 (Grymesdich) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard but entry has only father’s name so no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1581/12/26 (King) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard but entry has only father’s name so no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1583/04/07 (Leonart) ) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard but entry has only father’s name so no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1593/01/24 (Leas) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard but entry has only mother’s name so no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1593/12/30 (Hynd) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard but entry has only father’s name so no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1594/06/30 (Bennett) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard Entry gives different surnames for father and mother but no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1594/09/25 (Porter) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard Entry gives different surnames for father and mother but no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1594/10/30 (Smith) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard Entry gives different surnames for father and mother but no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1595/02/09 (Ashton) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard but entry has only father’s name so no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1595/03/04 (Melse) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard but entry has only father’s name so no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1596/08/11 (Wilson) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard Entry gives different surnames for father and mother but no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1597/02/01 (Laten) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard but entry has only father’s name so no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1600/05/02 (Smith) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard Entry gives different surnames for father and mother but no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1600/06/01 (Sefton) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard but entry has only father’s name so no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1600/09/23 (Martin) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard Entry gives different surnames for father and mother but no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1600/10/03 (Phillibet) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard Entry gives different surnames for father and mother but no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Ba 1604/07/21 (Johnson) “B” entered in left hand column of Register. May be Base or Bastard Entry gives different surnames for father and mother but no assumption of bastardy made. B therefore in AI.
Bu 1641/09/21 (Lunt/Dod) Entry open to two versions alternative reading as two separate entries:
1. Thos Dod son of Tho Dod of Chester and
2. Abigail Lunt Bastard of Capenhurst.
Bu 1664/02/26 (Lever) 2nd BT only.
Bu 1664/02/26 (Robinson) 2nd BT only.
Bu 1664/02/26 (Barker) 2nd BT only.
Bu 1664.02/26 (Greene) 2nd BT only
Bu 1664/02/26 (Chiswill) 2nd BT only
Bu 1664/03/02 (Greene) BT only
Bu 1664/03/10 (Spencer) BT only
Bu 1671/05/28 (Booth) BT only
Bu 1675/05/24 (Callister) BT only
Bu 1681/06/03 (Greene) BT only
Bu 1681/09/16 (Smith) BT only
Bu 1681/09/22 (Haughton) BT only
Bu 1681/10/17 (Morgell) BT only
Bu 1681/11/27 (Smith) BT only
Bu 1681/12/23 (Baugh) BT only
Bu 1682/02/01 (Rigby) BT only
Bu 1682/03/05 (Welsbie) BT only
Bu 1682/05/01 (Taylor) BT only

Ba 1664/02/10 (Annion) BT only
Ba 1671/02/15 (Hostage) BT only

Ba 1674/08/27 (Starkey) Baptism entered in list of burials.
Ba 1681/05/24 (Welshman) BT only
Ba 1681/06/26 (Cowdock) BT only
Ba 1681/08/11 (Parbridge) BT only
Ba 1681/08/29 (Barker) BT only
Ba 1681/09/11 (Hughes) BT only
Ba 1681/09/15 (Smith) BT only
Ba 1681/11/03 (Rider) BT only
Ba 1681/11/14 (Adams) BT only
Ba 1681/11/24 (Hughes) BT only
Ba 1681/12/29 (Stonton) BT only
Ba 1682/01/26 (Denson) BT only
Ba 1682/02/07 (Joynson) BT only
Ba 1682/02/09 (Greene) BT only
Ba 1682/03/07 (Tellott) BT only
Ba 1682/04/27 (Morgell) BT only

Ba 1685/05/05 (Gonnes/Jownes) Isolated entry at end of Register after Bu 660/02/14

Ba 1717/09/08 (Harvey) Only instance of occupation given before 1722/10/07. Pauper??

Bu 1719/03/26 (John Welsbey) Full entry continues “ who in his last will and testament left 20 pounds to the Minister & poor of Backford for ever one half of the use of the said 20 pounds to be paid to the minister of the said parish for the time being yearly & every year for preaching a sermon annually upon every Good Friday; & the other part or half of the use of the said 20ll to be distributed to the poor of the parish of Backford yearly & every year upon every Good Friday for ever”.

Bu 1719/08/12 (Mary Welsbey) Full entry continues “ who left five pounds to the poor of the parish of Backford, the use & interest thereof to be distributed to the poor of the said parish upon every Good Friday for ever”.

Bu 1720/03/17 (Rogers) BT only
Ba 1793/06/30 (Shone) BT only
Ba 1798/03/15 (Roberts) BT only

CLERGY (signing the page of the register, or officiating) to 1830

Will. Denson/Deanson March 1599 [note of induction dated 1592 inside front cover of register] -April 1629; also Richard King and George Smarley
William Baguley as Vicar to August 1643
John Houghton Vicar 1649 to death recorded 685/11/11
Robert Cotterell, vicar, 1685-1686
John Turner Vicar 1690-1720
Robert Denson Vicar 1722 -50
Thomas Broadhurst 1752-80
Jos Bateman Curate 1790-94
Thomas Armistead Vicar 1804-1828
C. B. Stevenson Vicar 1828-1831
G. Stevenson, vicar 1831-1838
Francis Bryans 1838-1871 (there may be two of this name)

CHURCHWARDENS:

(Signing the register. There is a list of parish officers at the back of the first register volume, ff.46-48, [not transcribed here], and the parish archive includes a churchwardens’ book beginning in 1655.)

1686 John Hatton, Thomas Rider;
1722 Tho Kettle, John Downs;
1723 Jam Francis, Tho. Dzzz;
1724 John Griffith, Joseph Dutton;
1725 Thos Welshman, John Mason;
1726 Thos Welshman, Jam.: Frances;
1727 James Francis, Thomas Spencer;
1728 Thos. Peers, Thos. Aston;
1730 John Lee, Peter Conway;
1732 Tho: Amery, Wm. Chatterton;
1733 Richd Wright, Wm Rogers;
1735 Thos Speed, Wm Massey;
1738 Richard Amery, Thos Farclough;
1739 Thomas Williams, Thos Kendrick;
1741 Joseph Sefton, John Williams;
1742 John Williams, John Hickson;
1744 John Lee, William Johnson;
1745 Robert Hewitt, Robert Hewitt;
1746 John Griffith, Wm Hardon;
1748 Thomas Speed, Piers Fooks?;
1749 John Jones, John Draycott;
1750 Thomas Williams, Thos Littler;
1752 Thos Farclough, Jno Sarratt;
1753 James Bunnell, John Williams;
1754 John Lee, Samuel Sellers;
1755 Wm Downs, Samuel Prichard;
1756 Isaac Harding, H. Bellis;
1757 Thomas Speed, Samuel Chears;
1758 Thomas Amery, Robert Hewitt;
1759 Wm Chears, Jm: Jones;
1760 Wm Harden Jm Jones;
1761/2 Jm Jones, Jno Jones;
1763 Thos Bunnell, John Woolley;
1764 Wm Golborn, Joseph Broster;
1765 Paul Conway, William Wathen;
1766 Thos Fairclough, Geo Moore;
1767 John Milner, Jno Williams;
1768 Thos Lester, Wm Bunnell;
1769 Thos Pate, Wm Chears;
1770 Thos Amery, James Bellis;
1771 Jacob Hayes, Samuel Sellers;
1772/3 Thos Bunnell, Jno Wiliams;
1774 wm Hall, Samuel Reece;
1775/6 Wm Golborn, Joseph Dean;
1776 John Millner, Wm Whittle;
1777 Joseph Broster, John Jones;
1778 James Davison, Jno Sarratt;
1779 Wm Chears, Ralph Oakes;
1780 Thos Pate, John Jones;
1781 William Amery, John Charnley;
1782 Wm Golborn, Thos Charnley;
1783 John Millner, John Bloar;
1784 Thos Bunnell;
1785 Peter Stanford, Saml Harding;
1790 John Robinson,
1808 Saml Harding, Thos. Rigby.

ODDITIES

The register for 1562-1667 begins with a note [not transcribed here] of the Constitutions for keeping register books, 1597.
1592/05/26 Entry on inside of front cover of register reads “[Forename torn away] ... Denson inductus erat in vicaria de Backford 26 Maij 1592 aetatus suae 24”.
Thirteen deaths recorded as “peste moriebat” , 3 between 26 December and 29 December 1604 and the rest between 1 September and 16 November 1605.
After last marriage entry 1657/08/30 appears the following:
“Memoranda that the 24th daye of June Anno Regni Registri Caroli Secundi Dei gratia etc vicessimo secundo Annoque Dei 1670. Elizabeth Thorpe of the Citty of Chester widdow daughter of Robert Fisher of Backforde deceased the daye and yeare first above written att her owne proper cost and charges did provide and bestowe uppon the parrish of Backford one faire buriall Cloath consisting of three yeards of blacke Cloth and upwards which said Cloath is to be free for the use of ye whole parish of Backford if demanded.
Item. Att the receiveing of the said Cloath it was agreed upon by the parrishioners and Churchwardens of the parish of Backford that William Denson the Clerke should be payd by the Churchwardens of Backford successively the sum of 2s 6 if and to witt 8d (zzz) quarter to make cleane the said Cloath and secure the same when and as often as it shall happen to be used. Wittnesse John Haughton vicar de Backford
Humphrey Tyrer, Robert Taylor} Churchwardens”.

There is a list [not transcribed here] of parish officers, church leys, and events in the parish between 1591 and 1627 at the end of the volume for 1562-1685.

Volume 1 of the registers concludes with a note of a collection for the inhabitants of Wettenhall, 1660

Entries from 1660/00/01 to 1667/08/13 written in a greatly inferior hand to previous ones and with unusual spellings. These entries are repeated in the following PR where the spellings conform with those over previous 100 years.

Volume 2 has a note of a collection for James Melvell of Ireland, 1661

Between the entries for 1684 and for 1685 is written in a single hand “A true and perfect copy of the Register of the Parish Church of Backford for the year of our Lord God 1720”. All these entries are also placed in order in the 1686-1743 volume of the registers, where additional burials are also to be found for 1720 (see notes below under 1720).

The following note appears on the last page of the register volume for 1649-1686:
“Singleton BIRKHENED of Backford esq married Margrett second daughter of William BROCK late of Upton in the Countie of Chester esq at the Parish church of Grappenhall in the Countie aforesaid. May the 20th 1673
1674 Henry BIRKHENED first sonne of the said Singleton and Margrett was borne at Bradley in the Countie of Chester the 8th day of June Anno Dom 1674 and Dyed the 30th of the same moneth of June and lyes buryed in Grapenhall church under the slate that belongs to Mr. Brocke esq (Lord?) of Bradley. Wm BROCKE Jun Esq, Henry BIRKHENED gent and Mrs. Jane LEGH of Swinyard Godfather and Godmother.
1675 John BIRKHENED second sonne of the said Singleton and Margrett was borne at Backford the 28th day of October Anno Dom 1675 & was Christened the 4th day of November next following. Sr John Booth Knt. John HURLESTON Esq and Mrs Katherine BROCKE Godfather and Godmother.
1678 Elizabeth BIRKHENED oldest daughter of the said Singleton and Margrett was borne at Backford the 29th day of December betwixt one and too of the Clocke of the morninge of the same day and was Christened the 13th day of January following Wm GLASEOUR of Lea Esq & Mrs Abigail LEGH of (Brankhill?) Mrs Ffrances BANKS of Winstanley in Lankishire beinge Godfather & Godmother.
1683 Singleton BIRKHENED third son of the said Singleton and Margrett was borne in ye City of Chester and Baptized in ye parish of St. Warbaws in the same Cety the 19th day of Aprill.
1684 Margret BIRKHENED the second daughter of ye said Singleton and Margret, borne in ye Cety of Chester ye 29th day of May”.

At front of Register commencing April 1686:
“Registrum verum et Canonicum pro Ecclesia parochiali de Backford in Comitatu Cestriensi Anno Regni Domini nostri Jacobi Secundi Dei gratia Magnae Britaniae Franciae et Hiberniae Regis fidei defensoris Secundo Annoque Domini Servatoris nostri Jesu Christi Incarnationis 1686 a Roberto Cotterell Clerico incaeptum. John Halton Thomas Rider Churchwardens”.

Following “Weddings Anno Domini 1707”
“Memorandum. That I John Turner vicar of the parish & parish church of Backford did agree with William Gamull of Crabhall Esqr for the tith hay & herbage of his two fields called the Brands in the township of Mollington torret [?], for the sum of seven shillings to be paid yearly & every year upon every first day of November during my residence at Backford dated this 4th day of June 1708. The new incumbent may alter this agreement and thereby prevent a prescription. Jo: Turner”.

“One weddings this year 1715”.

Following ‘Baptisms 1720:
“ Memorandum. The Register for the year 1720 with respect to births and weddings is supposed to be defective. Mr. Turner being thought to have taken them into his pockett Book (as was his Custom) which could not be found after his death”.
There follows an undated note in a more modern hand: “For certain registers belonging to the year 1720 see near the end of Register Book No. 2 after date 1683 RDJ”. [Note CBP’s reading of the second and third initials is uncertain. See note above under 1684.]

“NB Thus far given into Court”.

At foot of page of Baptisms 1775:
John son of James & Anne Topham Mollington - Born in March 1775 - Baptised in this parish was not appeared to be registered.

808/12/31 At the end of the book:
“This Register Book of the Parish of Backford Cheshire beginning March 25th 1743 ending December 31st 1808.
Thomas Armistead B. D. Vicar
Saml Harding’ Thos Rigby Churchwardens”.

Christenings register for 1813 to 1859 list totals of events each year inside front cover, as does the marriage register for 1813 to 1838.

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTION (NOT IN PR):

The centre of the ancient parish is some four miles north from the heart of Chester. The church served the five townships of Backford, Caughall, Chorlton by Backford, Great Mollington and Lea by Backford. No new ecclesiastical parishes were made from Backford in our period. However, the residents of the adjacent township of Moston (in Chester St Mary on the Hill parish) are reported to have used the church extensively. The contiguous parishes were, in a circle south and eastwards from the north west, Shotwick, extra-mural parts of Chester St Oswald and Chester St Mary on the Hill, Plemstall, Chester St Oswald (again), Stoke, and Eastham.

The population of the parish can be estimated by the number of households in ecclesiastical censuses of 1563 (49 households or families), c.1720 (67), and in 1778 (61), while the sum of the households in the townships of the parish in the hearth tax of 1664 was 91. A population increase from 404 people in 1801 to 550 in 1871 hides considerable fluctuations in the levels recorded in the intervening censuses.

Monumental inscriptions

John Hess, Parish church of St Oswald, Backford, Cheshire: survey of MIs 1997 (Backford, [1997]).

J. P. Rylands and F. C. Beazley, "The monumental and other inscriptions in the churches of Stoak, Backford, and Thornton-le-Moors, in the county of Chester. Copied in the year 1904, with annotations", Trans of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, vol. 57 (1905), pp. 120-207.

Sources

Susan George compiled these notes from the information gathered by transcribers and recorded with each transcription pad. Colin Phillips added material on the description of the registers, and provided the editorial contribution.
Population estimates 1563: British Library, Harleian MS 594, ff. 97-102, count of households; 1664: Public Record Office, Exchequer, E. 179/86/145 (on microfilm), hearth tax returns; c. 1720F. Gastrell, Notitia Cestriensis, ed. F.R. Raines, vol. I (Chetham Society, old series, VIII, 1845); and 1778: Cheshire RO, Diocese of Chester, EDV/7/1 ( on microfilm). For 1801 and 1871 see VCH Cheshire, vol. II, p. 204.))

C.B. Phillips, 20 Jul 2007
 
BMD, May 2011
BMD, Jan 2012