Downham Genealogical Records

Downham Birth & Baptism Records

England & Wales Birth Index (1837-2006)

An index to births registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of birth certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Yorkshire Birth Index (1837-2010)

A growing index of births registered in the county. Records include a reference to the sub-registration district, making it easier to order the correct certificate.

Yorkshire: Bishop's Transcripts of Baptisms (1578-1914)

An index to 1,250,301 baptisms, linked to images of the original registers. These records will provide parents' names, residences, occupations and occasionally other details.

Lancashire Baptism Index with Images (1813-1911)

A name index connected to original images of Lancashire baptism registers for over 175 parishes.

Lancashire Baptisms (1538-1812)

Digital images of baptism registers that can be searched by name. They record baptisms, which typically occur shortly after birth, and list the baptised's name, date of birth and/or baptism and parents' names. They may also list where the parents lived, their occupations and occasionally other details.

Downham Marriage & Divorce Records

England & Wales Marriage Index (1837-2008)

An index to marriages registered throughout England & Wales. This is the only national marriage index that allows you to search by both spouse's names. Provides a reference to order copies of marriage certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Yorkshire Marriage Index (1837-2011)

A growing index of marriages registered in the county. Records include a reference to the sub-registration district, making it easier to order the correct certificate.

Yorkshire: Bishop's Transcripts of Marriages (1534-1899)

An index to 585,995 marriages, linked to images of the original registers. These records will provide parents' names, residences, occupations, ages and other details.

Lancashire Marriage Index with Images (1754-1936)

A name index connected to original images of Lancashire marriage registers for over 175 parishes.

Lancashire Marriages (1538-1812)

Digital images of marriage registers that can be searched by name. They contain written records of marriages and typically record the name of the bride and groom and date of marriage. They may also record occupations, residences, fathers' names, witnesses and other information about the marriage.

Downham Death & Burial Records

England & Wales Death Index (1837-2006)

An index to deaths registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of death certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Yorkshire Death Index (1837-2010)

A growing index of deaths registered in the county. Records include a reference to the sub-registration district, making it easier to order the correct certificate.

Yorkshire: Bishop's Transcripts of Burials (1578-1972)

An index to 968,658 burials, linked to images of the original registers. These records will provide age, residence and occasionally other details.

Yorkshire Burial Transcripts (1441-1909)

Transcripts of Anglican burial registers from over 100 churches in Yorkshire.

Lancashire Burial Index with Images (1813-1986)

A name index connected to original images of Lancashire burial registers for over 100 parishes.

Downham Census & Population Lists

1939 Register (1939)

An index to and digital images of records that detail 40 million civilians in England and Wales. Records list name, date of birth, address, marital status, occupation and details of trade or profession.

England, Wales, IoM & Channel Islands 1911 Census (1911)

The 1911 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.

Yorkshire Lay Subsidy (1301)

A tax on the county's wealthier residents, ordered by wapentake or liberty and settlement.

Lancashire Lay Subsidy (1332)

A tax list of wealthier Lancashire residents.

Lancashire Lay Subsidies (1216-1307)

Two lay subsidies from the reigns of Henry III and Edward I.

Newspapers Covering Downham

Burnley News (1912-1932)

Original images of a regional newspaper, searchable via a full text index. Includes news from the Burnley area, business notices, obituaries, family announcements and more.

Burnley Express (1877-1904)

A database allowing full text searches of a newspaper covering local news, family announcements, obituaries, court proceedings, business notices and more in the Burnley area.

Burnley Gazette (1863-1875)

A database allowing full text searches of a newspaper covering local news, family announcements, obituaries, court proceedings, business notices and more in the Burnley area.

Burnley Advertiser (1853-1880)

A database allowing full text searches of a newspaper covering local news, family announcements, obituaries, court proceedings, business notices and more in the Burnley area.

Blackburn Standard (1835-1900)

Local news; notices of births, marriages and deaths; business notices; details on the proceedings of public institutions; adverts and a rich tapestry of other local information from the Blackburn district. Every line of text from the newspaper can be searched and images of the original pages viewed.

Downham Wills & Probate Records

England & Wales National Probate Calendar (1858-1966)

Searchable index and original images of over 12.5 million probates and administrations granted by civil registries. Entries usually include the testator's name, date of death, date of probate and registry. Names of relations may be given.

York Peculiar Probate Records (1383-1883)

Digital images, indexed by testor's name, of 28,716 wills, administrations, inventories and other probate documents. The records can shed light on an individual’s relations, possessions, land holdings, legal agreements and more. They cover various jurisdictions throughout the north of England.

North Country Wills (1383-1558)

Transcripts of several hundred wills, contains an index to people named within.

York Prerogative & Exchequer Court Probate Index (1688-1858)

An index to 263,822 wills, administrations and other probate documents proved by an ecclesiastical court in York. The index included the testor's name, residence, year of probate, type of document and reference to order copies of the referenced document(s.).

Lancashire Wills Proved At Richmond (1457-1812)

An index to 38,107 wills, searchable by name and including the testor's residence and occupation. The wills are from the records of Amounderness, Furness, Kendal and Lonsdale deaneries, within the Archdeaconry of Richmond.

Downham Immigration & Travel Records

Lancashire Vagrant Passes (1801-1835)

Records of around 40,000 people and their families who were forcibly moved from one parish to another. Contains many Irish individuals.

Passenger Lists Leaving UK (1890-1960)

A name index connected to original images of passenger lists recording people travelling from Britain to destinations outside Europe. Records may detail a passenger's age or date of birth, residence, occupation, destination and more.

UK Incoming Passenger Lists (1878-1960)

A full index of passenger lists for vessels arriving in the UK linked to original images. Does not include lists from vessels sailing from European ports. Early entries can be brief, but later entries may include dates of births, occupations, home addresses and more. Useful for documenting immigration.

Victoria Assisted & Unassisted Passenger Lists (1839-1923)

An index to and images of documents recording over 1.65 million passengers who arrived in Victoria, Australia, including passengers whose voyage was paid for by others.

Alien Arrivals in England (1810-1869)

Details on over 600,000 non-British citizens arriving in England. Often includes age and professions. Useful for discerning the origin of immigrants.

Downham Military Records

North East War Memorials (1882-1951)

An inventory of memorials commemorating those who served and died in military conflicts.

North-East Diary (1939-1945)

A chronicle of happenings in the counties of Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire relating to the war in Europe. Contains much detail on ship building.

Officers of The Green Howards (1688-1931)

Biographies of hundreds of men who served as officers in The Green Howards, an infant regiment in the King's Division. Details given include parentage, date of birth, military career and later professional career.

Records of the 1st West York Regiment of Militia (1086-1876)

A general history of the militia preceded by an overview of Yorkshire's military history since the conquest.

North East Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour (1939-1945)

An index to over 65,000 civilians who died directly or indirectly as a result of Axis attacks in Britain. Covers Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire.

Yorkshire Feet of Fines (1486-1503)

Abstracts of records that detail land conveyances.

Eyre Rolls for Yorkshire (1218-1219)

Transcriptions of pleas brought before a court. They largely concern land disputes.

South Yorkshire Asylum Admission Records (1872-1910)

Transcripts of 17,368 admission records, including name, gender, age, occupation, date of admission, cause of insanity, outcome of incarceration, date of leaving the institution and more.

Manchester Prison Registers (1847-1881)

A name index linked to original images of over 250,000 Manchester prison records. Records contain details on the convict's birth, appearance, crime and more.

Lancashire Quarter Session Records & Petitions (1648-1908)

An index to and images of books dealing with legal matters and administration in the county. They cover legal decisions, costs of prosecution, filiation and maintenance orders, settlement orders, removal orders, transportation orders, sentences passed on criminals, setting highway rates, appointing officials and presentments for repairs to roads and bridges, poor relief, settlement, licences for various trades and more.

Downham Taxation Records

Poll Book for Yorkshire (1868)

A list of those who voted in the election, stating their residence and for who they voted.

Poll Book for Yorkshire (1807)

A list of those who voted in the election, stating their residence and for who they voted.

Poll Book for Yorkshire (1741)

A list of those who voted in the election, stating their residence and for who they voted.

Lincolnshire Domesday & Lindsey Survey (1066-1118)

A transcription of the Lincolnshire section of the Domesday Book, which records land ownership, use and value in the late 11th century; and similar survey completed in 1118.

Yorkshire Lay Subsidy (1301)

A tax on the county's wealthier residents, ordered by wapentake or liberty and settlement.

Downham Land & Property Records

Poll Book for Yorkshire (1868)

A list of those who voted in the election, stating their residence and for who they voted.

Poll Book for Yorkshire (1807)

A list of those who voted in the election, stating their residence and for who they voted.

Poll Book for Yorkshire (1741)

A list of those who voted in the election, stating their residence and for who they voted.

Yorkshire Feet of Fines (1486-1503)

Abstracts of records that detail land conveyances.

Yorkshire Domesday Records (1086)

An English translation of Yorkshire domesday records. This transcripts details the county's landowners in 1086.

Downham Directories & Gazetteers

Kelly's Directory of Yorkshire (1927)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.

Yorkshire Textile Directory (1927-1928)

A comprehensive guide to the Yorkshire textile manufacturers. Arranged by towns, each entry gives the name of the mill and its owner(s), approximate number of spindles and looms, pay day, telegraphic address and telephone number.

Ward's Directory of Durham & Yorkshire (1908-1909)

A detailed directory of towns in the North East.

National Telephone Co's Northern Directory (1904)

A directory listing phone with telephones in Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland.

Slater's Directory of the Northern Counties (1855)

Descriptions of settlements in Durham, Northumberland, and Yorkshire with lists of their leading private and commercial men.

Downham Cemeteries

Yorkshire Graves Index (1408-2003)

An index to close to 150,000 names listed on gravestones in Yorkshire.

Lancashire Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Lancashire's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.

Deceased Online (1629-Present)

Images of millions of pages from cemetery and crematoria registers, photographs of memorials, cemetery plans and more. Records can be search by a name index.

Billion Graves (1200-Present)

Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.

Mausolea and Monuments (1500-Present)

Profiles of several hundred mausolea found in the British Isles.

Downham Obituaries

iAnnounce Obituaries (2006-Present)

The UKs largest repository of obituaries, containing millions of searchable notices.

United Kingdom and Ireland Obituary Collection (1882-Present)

A growing collection currently containing over 425,000 abstracts of obituaries with reference to the location of the full obituary.

Quakers Annual Monitor (1847-1848)

A collection of 364 obituaries of Quakers from the British Isles. The volume was published in 1849 and includes obituaries of those who died in late 1847 through 1848.

Musgrave's Obituaries (1421-1800)

This transcribed and searchable work by Sir William Musgrave contains 10,000s of brief obituaries. The work is a reference point for other works containing information on an individual.

British Medical Journal (1849-Present)

A text index and digital images of all editions of a journal containing medical articles and obituaries of medical practitioners.

Downham Histories & Books

Yorkshire Domesday Records (1086)

An English translation of Yorkshire domesday records. This transcripts details the county's landowners in 1086.

Victoria County History: Yorkshire (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

North-East Diary (1939-1945)

A chronicle of happenings in the counties of Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire relating to the war in Europe. Contains much detail on ship building.

North Yorkshire Church Photographs (1890-Present)

Photographs and images of churches in North Yorkshire.

The Annals of Yorkshire (2000 BC-1860)

A chronological rendering of the county's history.

Downham School & Education Records

National School Admission & Log Books (1870-1914)

A name index connected to digital images of registers recording millions of children educated in schools operated by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education. Records contain a variety of information including genealogical details, education history, illnesses, exam result, fathers occupation and more.

Teacher's Registration Council Registers (1870-1948)

A name index linked to original images of registers recording the education and careers of teachers in England & Wales.

Oxford University Alumni (1500-1886)

A name index linked to original images of short biographies for over 120,000 Oxford University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge University Alumni (1261-1900)

A transcript of a vast scholarly work briefly chronicling the heritage, education and careers of over 150,000 Cambridge University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge Alumni Database (1198-1910)

A searchable database containing over 90,000 note-form biographies for students of Cambridge University.

Downham Occupation & Business Records

Collieries of The North (1869-1991)

Profiles of collieries in the north of England, with employment statistics, profiles of those who died in the mines and photographs.

Northern Mining Disasters (1705-1975)

Reports of mining distastes, includes lists of the deceased and photographs of monuments.

Smuggling on the East Coast (1600-1892)

An introduction to smuggling on the east coast of England, with details of the act in various regions.

Who's Who in Northern Mining (1852-1910)

Abstract biographies of people connected with mining in the North of England.

Yorkshire Rugby Union Commemoration Book (1914-1919)

A searchable book detailing the Yorkshire Rugby Football Union around the time of the Great War. Contains the names of many players and other persons associated with the sport.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Downham

Victoria County History: Yorkshire (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

Victoria County History: Lancashire (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Downham Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

Victoria County History: Yorkshire (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

The Visitation of Yorkshire: 1584-5 (1000-1585)

Pedigrees compiled from a late 16th century heraldic visitation of Yorkshire. This work records the lineage, descendants and marriages of families who had a right to bear a coat of arms.

The Visitation of Yorkshire: 1612 (1000-1612)

Pedigrees compiled from a early 17th century heraldic visitation of Yorkshire. This work records the lineage, descendants and marriages of families who had a right to bear a coat of arms.

Victoria County History: Lancashire (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

Cheshire and Lancashire Funeral Certificates (1600-1678)

Transcripts of records that detail the lives and lands of Cheshire and Lancashire landholders.

Downham Church Records

Yorkshire Parish Registers & Bishop's Transcripts (1538-2001)

Digital images of baptism, marriage and burial registers from Church of England places of worship in Yorkshire.

West Yorkshire Confirmations (1859-1915)

Records recording teens and young adults commitment to the Christian faith.

Lancashire Parish Register Index with Images (1538-1812)

A name index connected to original images of Lancashire parish registers for over 60 parishes.

Lancashire Parish Registers (1538-1910)

An index of close to 1 million baptism, marriage and burial registers extracted from records of the Church of England.

Lancashire Parish Register Transcripts (1537-1934)

Transcriptions of registers that record baptisms, which typically occur shortly after birth; marriages and burials. They can help establish links between individuals back to the 16th century.

Biographical Directories Covering Downham

Yorkshire Who's Who (1912)

A listing of the prominent residents of the county of Yorkshire, giving details on family, education, careers, hobbies, associations and more. Also includes details on the county's government officials, military officers, members of parliament, religious leaders and demographics.

Officers of The Green Howards (1688-1931)

Biographies of hundreds of men who served as officers in The Green Howards, an infant regiment in the King's Division. Details given include parentage, date of birth, military career and later professional career.

Who's Who in Northern Mining (1852-1910)

Abstract biographies of people connected with mining in the North of England.

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Downham Maps

Maps of Yorkshire (1407-1922)

Digital images of maps covering the county.

Collery Maps of The North (1807-1951)

A number of maps of northern England with the locations of collieries plotted.

Maps of Lancashire (1579-1922)

Digital images of maps covering the county.

UK Popular Edition Maps (1919-1926)

Detailed maps covering much of the UK. They depict forests, mountains, larger farms, roads, railroads, towns, and more.

Ordnance Survey 1:10 Maps (1840-1890)

Maps showing settlements, features and some buildings in mainland Britain.

Downham Reference Works

England Research Guide (1538-Present)

A beginner’s guide to researching ancestry in England.

Parish Register Abstract (1538-1812)

Compiled in 1831, this book details the coverage and condition of parish registers in England & Wales.

Building History Research Guide (1066-Present)

A comprehensive guide to researching the history of buildings in the British Isles.

Surname Origins (1790-1911)

A service that provides advanced and custom surname maps for the British Isles and the US.

British Family Mottoes (1189-Present)

A dictionary of around 9,000 mottoes for British families who had right to bear arms.

Historical Description

DOWNHAM is a township and village, on the road from Clitheroe to Colne, and in 1856 was formed into a parish from the civil parish of Whalley, being about 1 ¼ miles north-east from the Chatburn station on the Blackburn and Hellifield section of the Lancashire and Yorkshire line, and 3 east-north-east from Clitheroe, in the Clitheroe division of the county and petty sessional division of Blackburn, higher division of Blackburn hundred, Clitheroe union and county court district, rural deanery of Whalley, archdeaconry of Blackburn and diocese of Manchester. The village is supplied with water from the Pendle hills, the water works being the property of Ralph Assheton esq. The church of St. Leonards, erected about 1800, on the site of an ancient church, is an edifice of stone, consisting only of nave with south porch and an embattled western tower with pinnacles, dating from 1284, and containing 4 bells, 3 of which were brought from Whalley Abbey, but one was re-cast in 1881 and the fourth, or tenor bell, was given by Ralph Assheton esq. in the same year: the east window is stained: the font was given by John Paslew, 17th and last Abbot of Whalley, and bears the arms of the isle of Man on one of the sides: there are mural tablets to the Right Hon. Ladye Dorothy Assheton (1635), Sir Ralph Assheton of Whalley (1680) and others of that family; the church has 350 sitings, all free. The register dates from the year 1653. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £190, with half an acre of glebe and residence, in the gift of Hulme’s trustees, and held since 1899 by the Rev. Harold Broadbent Moore M.A. of Brasenose College, Oxford. There is a Wesleyan chapel here. Charities of £7 yearly, are distributed in money and clothes, Richard Waddington in 1727 left, £40 in trust to the lord of the manor for the time being, the interest of which is appropriated for the benefit of the poor. Downham Hall is the seat of Ralph Assheton esq. D.L., J.P. the lord of the manor and principal landowner. Nicholas Assheton, of this family, who was bora about 1590 and died 16th April, 1625, wrote a “journal” in 1617—18, which was published, first by Dr. Whitaker and afterwards by the Chetham Society in 1848. Crystals, known as “Downham diamonds,” are found in the neighbourhood. The soil is light; the subsoil, freestone and limestone. There is much pasture land here. The acreage is 2,302; rateable value, £2,345; the population in 1901 was 246. The population of the ecclesiastical parish, which includes the townships of Downham and Twiston, in 1901 was 289.

Public Elementary School (mixed), built in 1839 & endowed with £1,400 Consols, producing. £40 yearly, by Sir Richard Assheton kt. in 1680 & others: this amount is applied to the payment of the master; the school will hold 90 children; average attendance, 50.

Kelly's Directory of Lancashire (1905)

Most Common Surnames in Downham

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in Blackburn Hundred
1Bulcock231:165.52%1,333
2Hartley221:170.29%42
3Parker161:240.23%52
3Smithies161:243.60%1,262
5Yates141:270.15%27
5Parkinson141:270.18%39
7Mangham131:2933.33%6,303
8Robinson121:310.07%7
9Greenwood101:380.14%45
10Smith91:420.02%1
11Boothman81:471.14%884
12Whipp71:541.44%1,188
13Burns61:630.12%95
13Walmsley61:630.13%105
13Cockshutt61:633.51%2,491
13Carton61:6311.76%5,319
13Oddis61:63100.00%23,988
18Jackson51:750.03%4
18Mitchell51:750.11%110
18Barker51:750.10%94
18Spencer51:750.09%74
18Kenyon51:750.11%103
18Illingworth51:751.52%1,596
18Reilly51:750.93%1,093
18Slinger51:751.06%1,220
18Gooderham51:7555.56%17,052
27Watson41:940.07%68
27North41:940.93%1,288
27Ellison41:940.16%245
27Wiseman41:941.17%1,549
27Lonsdale41:940.41%655
27Death41:949.09%5,827
27McCoy41:940.82%1,188
27Falstead41:94100.00%32,689
35Jones31:1250.01%3
35Edwards31:1250.04%49
35Shaw31:1250.03%18
35Hayes31:1250.07%119
35Stocks31:1251.11%1,835
35Holgate31:1250.30%647
35Collinge31:1250.17%358
35Higson31:1250.19%412
35Hodgkiss31:1251.26%2,007
35Oddie31:1250.68%1,276
35Kayley31:1255.77%5,249
46Davies21:1880.01%12
46Johnson21:1880.01%9
46Turner21:1880.02%19
46Wilkinson21:1880.02%24
46Burton21:1880.09%271
46Slater21:1880.04%97
46Banks21:1880.06%181
46Ingham21:1880.06%175
46Horsfall21:1880.35%1,022
46Beesley21:1880.27%849
46Seed21:1880.15%465
46Dugdale21:1880.17%550
46Wait21:1882.90%4,366
46Worswick21:1880.55%1,476
46Veevers21:1880.75%1,854
61Walker11:3760.01%16
61Clark11:3760.02%92
61Thompson11:3760.01%13
61Hill11:3760.01%41
61Ward11:3760.01%47
61King11:3760.03%159
61Young11:3760.03%161
61Allen11:3760.02%83
61Hunt11:3760.03%141
61Dixon11:3760.02%93
61Holden11:3760.01%28
61Briggs11:3760.04%227
61Howarth11:3760.01%20
61Preston11:3760.04%222
61Bullock11:3760.12%739
61Lancaster11:3760.05%338
61Cope11:3760.20%1,174
61Pickles11:3760.07%452
61Tate11:3760.22%1,250
61Driver11:3760.09%597
61Downing11:3760.30%1,603
61Batty11:3760.14%889
61Tattersall11:3760.03%191
61Garnett11:3760.09%612
61Dewhurst11:3760.03%209
61Pool11:3760.43%2,038
61Farrington11:3760.10%642
61Somerville11:3761.11%3,714
61Lofthouse11:3760.17%1,027
61Ridge11:3760.45%2,095
61Burford11:3762.22%5,751
61Dinsdale11:3760.68%2,749
61Place11:3760.28%1,488
61Wolfenden11:3760.10%638
61Townson11:3760.15%903
61Sagar11:3760.11%716
61Willard11:3768.33%13,828
61Inskip11:3762.70%6,498
61Tarver11:3765.56%10,506
61Tiddle11:37633.33%38,470
61Turse11:376100.00%51,995
61Prep11:376100.00%51,995