The Owen Manuscript

The Owen MSS consist of eighty volumes, all except one being either in folio or quarto, most of them being ordinary commercial account books and ledgers. In these volumes Mr Owen has drawn or written, in a particularly neat hand, material for local history which may be roughly grouped under five headings:

1. Monumental inscriptions
2. Parish registers
3. Genealogical memoranda
4. Architecture and archaeology
5. Miscellaneous historical notes

The bulk of the Owen MSS refers to South‑East Lancashire and East Cheshire. Some of the Monumental Inscriptions recorded by John Owen circa 1880 for the name of HOLT are detailed below.

St Mary's Church, The Parsonage, Manchester

St Mary's Church was built in 1756 and enjoyed the patronage of Manchester's more affluent society — merchants and businessmen, including people from other cities such as London, Bath, Bristol, Liverpool, and Brussels. Extracted from Volume 29, pages 173–336.

Reference 452: James HOLT, reed maker, 30 Oct 1762, age 50

Reference 334: John Lawrence, 8 Dec 1800, age 44. Mary his wife, 5 Apr 1795, age 40. Elizabeth their daughter, 27 Jul 1797, age 14. Also Irwin their son, 10 May 1798, age 12. Also Catherine, daughter of David/Mary Ann HOLT, 14 June 1816, age 2 years.

St Michael's Church, Flixton

Extracted from Volume 34, pages 275–368. The ancient parish church of Flixton was consecrated in 1571 and enjoyed a relatively quiet history with the usual sequence of extensions and rebuilding.

(89) Oliver Holt, late of Old Trafford, 17 Jan 1870, in his 56th year. Margaret his wife, 22 Dec 1878, in her 64th year. Also Edwin their son, 14 Jan 1840, age 2 years 7 months.

(235) James Hayes of Shaw Hall, yeoman, 18 May 1765, age 53. Elizabeth his wife, 9 Jun 1778, age 66. John his son, 22 Jun 1764, age 26. Also Mary his daughter and wife of John Holt of Farnworth Bridge, 24 Feb 1770, age 33. Also James Hayes of Carrington, 19 Oct 1810, age 60. Alice his wife, 22 Oct 1841, age 82. James their son, 23 Sep 1848, age 60. Elizabeth their daughter, 30 Jun 1852, age 60.

(553) William Hampson of Stretford, 19 Dec 1801, age 90. Elizabeth his wife, 29 Apr 1776, age 57. Also Joseph, 19 Apr 1755, age 2. Betty, 9 Dec 1763, age 4. William their son, 15 Dec 1781, age 33. John his son, 25 Dec 1817, age 67. Also John Holt of Stretford, 8 Oct 1828, age 70.

Unitarian Chapel, Blackley

This chapel was a low building of brick with a heavy grey‑slated roof, the south side mantled with ivy which concealed a sundial placed against the wall. Extracted from Volume 33.

(53) (Blackley Chapel) Jonathan Barrow of Blackley, 4 Nov 1838, age 68. Lydia his wife, 2 Apr 1817, age 36. Mary their daughter, 30 Aug 1822, age 11. Anne their daughter, 1 Jul 1833, age 18. Martha their daughter and wife of Robert Holt, 13 Aug 1862, age 54. George, son of Robert and Martha Holt, 14 Sep 1846, age 10 months.

Irwell Street Chapel and Bolton Street Chapel, Salford

Records were copied around 1880 but not all details were completed. Bolton Street Swedenborgian Chapel, called New Jerusalem Temple. Extracted from Volume 29, pages 405–449.

(175) (Bolton St Chapel) Sarah Holt, 27 Apr 1816, age 60
(385) Thomas Holt (no further details — blank grave)

St Mark's Church, Cheetham

During the late 18th and 19th century the wealthier classes moved from the city to the more attractive suburbs of Cheetham, Ardwick and Pendleton. The church of St Mark was consecrated in 1794.

(1054) John Pilling 19 Jan 1826 age 63. Mary his wife 3 Jun 1809 age 48. Thomas their son 13 Oct 1830 age 40. Also Mary Holt 15 Feb 1851 age 60.

Sacred Trinity Church, Salford

(80) Betty, wife of Robert Holt, 9 Dec 1796 age 67 yrs.
(184) John Holt 17 Apr 1829 age 74. William, son of John/Sarah Holt, 17 Feb 1802 age 3 yrs. Mary Ann their daughter 15 May 1806 age 15 months. John Henry Holt their son 5 Aug 1813 age 22 yrs.
(224) Richard Thorpe 25 Feb 1769 age 31. Elizabeth his wife 4 Jan 1801 age 72. Martha their daughter and wife of Thomas Goadsby 13 Apr 1784 age 20. Ellin Holt 31 Jan 1780 age 75. Mary Harrison 22 Oct 1811 age 21.
(274) William Holt. John Holt 15 Dec 1815 age 73. Elizabeth his wife 26 Dec 1817 age 48 yrs.

St James Church, George Street, Manchester

Founded in 1788, it finally closed its doors in 1928. Extracted from Volume 32. Holt reference 220.

(St James 220) Joseph Holt 25 Nov 1796 age 52. Betty Hargreaves 17 May 1809 age 74.

St James Church and Brookfield Church, Gorton

Both these churches can lay claim to being known as Gorton Chapel. The year 1703 saw the erection of a dissenting chapel, later known as the Old Chapel — rebuilt in 1871 when it was named Brookfield Church. Extracted from Volume 32.

Gorton:
(103) William Holt of Gorton 20 Jan 1850 age 61. Martha his wife 12 Dec 1866 age 71. Sarah their daughter 3 Nov 1839 age 19. William their son 17 Mar 1840 age 3. Martha their daughter 27 Jan 1859 age 41. Also James Holt 18 Feb 1875 age 51.

(105) William Lomax 2 Feb 1827 age 61. John, son of William/Ann Holt of Openshaw, age 8 yrs. Also Richard their son 3 Jan 1813 age 27.

Brookfield:
(487) Mary, daughter of James/Easther (sic) Hoult of Levenshulme, 18 Jan 1774.

The Old Burial Ground, Stretford

Extract from Volume 39. This ground must have originally been very small, for on the western boundary wall two stone tablets were built in, recording two additions to its size.

(25) James, son of Thomas/Hannah Holt, 2 Jan 1804 age 11 yrs 3 months.

King Street Chapel, Salford

(622) James Holt 19 Dec 1817 age 55 yrs. Richard Probert 31 Oct 1821 age 34 yrs. Ann, wife of the above James Holt, 17 Aug 1831 age 63 yrs. Eli, son of James/Ann Holt, 22 May 1851 age 36 yrs.

St Luke's Chapel, Chorlton on Medlock

Extracted from Volume 32. This chapel was a plain brick building with a gable to the street, the entrance being in the centre with a window on each side.

(227) Sarah, wife of James Holt, 14 Sep 183? age 63 yrs. Edward, son of James/Sarah, 25 Aug 1814 age 8 yrs 3 months. Elizabeth, daughter of William/Mary Holt, 20 Apr 1834 age 17 months.

(340) John Holt 1 Dec 1811 age 63 yrs. Sarah, wife, 29 May 1816 age 63 yrs. Also Elizabeth Bradshaw 9 Sep 1814 age 58 yrs. Also Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Holt, 3 Nov 1820 age 56 yrs. John, son of Thomas/Elizabeth Holt, 25 Sep 1815 age 19 months.

Roby's Chapel, Grosvenor Street, Piccadilly (Wesleyan), Gadsby's Chapel, Rochdale Road, and St George's Church, St George's Fields

An amalgamated index to three burial grounds in the centre of Manchester appears in Volume 32.

(114) Gadsby's Chapel, Rochdale Road — William Holt, died 24 Apr 1821 aged 51 yrs. Elizabeth, his wife, died 3 Jul 1819 aged 59 yrs.

St Michael's Church, Angel Meadow

Extracted from Volume 32, pages 256–288.

(272) John Holt 24 Mar 1792 aged 16 yrs
(304) William Holt 8 May 1790 aged 27 yrs

Christ Church, Hulme

(105) Ann, daughter of Martha Clark, 11 Nov 1812 aged 4 yrs 6 months. Also John, son of George/Mary Ann Holt, 22 Oct 1842 aged 4 yrs. James, son, 12 Nov 1842 aged 2 yrs 9 months. Also Jane, their daughter, 12 Dec 1843 aged 7 weeks.

(304) Sarah, daughter of Samuel/Sarah Holt, 26 Sep 1817 aged 1 yr 8 months.

(458) James Holt, ? March 1845 aged 53 yrs. Also Joseph, son, 26 Nov 1845 aged 19 yrs 3 months. Also Elizabeth, wife of John Holt, 25 Mar 1855 aged 39 yrs.

St Thomas's, Ardwick

(105) John Cottrel of Ardwick, schoolmaster, died 6 Jun 1759 aged 38. Mary Holt died 27 Oct 1853 aged 77.

Prestwich Monumental Inscriptions

Extracted from Volume 39, pages 648–707.

(21) Isaac Holt of Salford, 26 Dec 1841 age 55 yrs.

(151) William Holt of Kirkham, 30 Apr 1816 age 79. Betty his wife, 22 Apr 1807 age 61. Thomas their son, 7 Oct 1841 age 51. Alice his wife, 25 Nov 1856 age 56. Also John, son of Thomas/Alice Holt, 12 Mar 1845 (no age given). Also Thomas their son, 29 Sep 1850 age 18 yrs.

(168) Joseph Taylor 22 Oct 1876 age 84. Martha his wife, 10 Nov 1856 age 49. Also Mary Holt, wife of William Holt, 6 May 1874 age 55 yrs.

(274) Henry Rawstern 2 Apr 1793 age 69. Also Sally, wife of Thomas Holt, 31 Dec 1853 age 54. Also Charles Rawstern of Prestwich, 25 Aug 1874 age 78 yrs.

(330) George Holt 1 Nov 1810 age 60. Elizabeth his wife, 16 Jan 1829 age 74. Mary their daughter, 24 Feb 1787 in her 3rd year. John their son, 2 Jan 1794 age 6 yrs.

(375) Phebe Holt 4 Apr 1829 age 77. Also Mary, wife of John Holt, 30 Nov 1832 age 47. Also John Holt, 21 Jan 1836 age 47 yrs.

Manchester Cathedral Monumental Inscriptions

Extracted from Volumes 22 and 23.

(552) This is an old grave for Thomas Smethurst, skinner, who died 1710. Ten of his children are in the grave between 1685 and 1702. Also William Holt, 29 Jun 1775 (no age given).

(699) Mary, daughter of George Holt, 23 Aug 1756.

(433) John Holt of Newton, 30 Sep 1739 age 80. Ellen his wife, 29 Jan 1730 age 63. Mary their great‑granddaughter, 23 Feb 1792 age 4.

(317) (This grave is very damaged — from the legible parts it appears to read:) Mary, wife of John Holt (dates missing). Ellin Holt 1643. William Holt 1644. Ales Holt 16??. Jane Holt. Nicholas (surname missing).

(275) Thomas Holt 17 Nov 1772 in his 52nd year.

St John’s, Deansgate

Consecrated 7 July 1769, demolished 1931. United with St Ann, St Mary Parsonage, St Matthew Campfield, St James George Street, St Simon and St Jude Granby Row, St Peter, St Peter’s Square. Extracted from Volume 39, pages 380–523.

(89) James Holt 17 Nov 1809 age 54. Eliz. his wife 30 Dec 1809 age 46. George their son 3 Jan 1798 age 4. Hannah their daughter 1 Dec 1815 age 1 yr 7 mths. John their son 19 Jul 1822 age 43. Samuel their son 19 Feb 1837 age 45. Thomas their son 20 Dec 1850 age 54. Jane their daughter 13 Jun 1861 age 74.

(606) Eliz. wife of Thos Holt 1 Feb 1848 age 56.

(699) James Holt 22 Oct 1806 age 38. Ann his wife 3 Nov 1834 age 65. Alice their daughter 20 May 1802 age 7 yrs 2 mths. Harriet their daughter 12 Sep 1803 age 1 yr 4 mths. Eliz. their daughter 8 Sep 1822 age 25. James their son 18 Mar 1831 age 24. John their son 7 Mar 1837 age 45. Maria their daughter 11 Sep 1839 age 35. Richard their son 15 Mar 1844 age 43.

(786) William Bowman Holt, son of James/Hannah, ?Dec 1798 age 1 yr 5 mths. Mary, daughter, 11 Jun 1805 age 7 mths.

(1378) David Holt 12 Dec 1799 age 34. Eliz. his wife 8 Sep 1792 age 25. Hannah their daughter 27 Jun 1792 age 9 mths. Amelia, daughter of David/Mary Holt, 1 Dec 1796 age 11 mths. George Hyde their son 7 Aug 1797 age 2 days. John Gough 10 Mar 1837 age 72.

(1429) George Holt 20 Sep 1792 age 59. Sarah his wife ?Jan 1804 age 72. Mary Ann their daughter 18 Oct 1793 age 13 mths. Eliz. their daughter 25 Feb 1795 age 9 mths.

(1433) ?(looks like John) Holt 2 Mar 1808 age 54. Ann his wife ?Mar 1808 age 52. James their son 20 Oct 1843 age 65. Mary his wife ?Aug 1857 age 82. James, son of James/Mary Holt, 5 Jul 1822 age 16. William Holt, surgeon, 10 Jan 1861 age 59.

(770) Robert Holt ?Apr 1814 age 34. Eliz. his wife 25 Jan 1811 age 32. Thos. their son 25 Apr 1820 age 13 mths. Richard their son 2 Oct 1826 age 15. Robert their son 25 Apr 1836 age 28.

(1930) Hargreaves Hanson Farrar 18 Oct 1843 age 77. Ann his wife 19 Apr 1854 age 87. William their son 16 Apr 1790 age 13 mths. Ann, daughter of John/Sarah Holt, 21 Dec 1825 age 2 days. Eliz. Farrar 17 Sep ---- age 60.

(1933) William Nabb, late attorney, 31 Jan 1788 age 43. Eliz. his wife 27 May 1812 age 76. Eliz. their daughter 18 Apr 1771 age 7 weeks. John their son 11 Aug 1778 age 4 mths. Ann their daughter 25 Feb 1795 age 22. Mary their daughter 10 Dec 1827 age 48. Elizabeth Holt, their aunt, 9 Nov 1801 age 84.

St Leonard, Middleton

The first church at Middleton dates back to the 12th century. Extracted from Volumes 28 and 76.

(255) James Holt of Little Green, yeoman, 26 Nov 1783 age 79. Also Alice his wife 3 Oct 1789 age 86.

(372) John Holt of Hebers 8 Oct 1777 age 51. Mary his wife 8 Nov 1788 in her 69th year. Sarah their daughter 22 Jan 1794 in her 39th year.

(108) Robert Holt 5 Mar 1800 age 52. Ann his wife 20 Jun 1794 age 43. James his son 18 Dec 1789 age 13. John his son 14 Jul 1801 age 21.

(237) Frances, daughter of James Holt of Thornham, 9 Apr 1814 in her ? year.

Christ Church, Heaton Norris

Extracted from Volume 27.

(257) Edward, son of John/Esther Holt, 6 Apr 1866 age 2 yrs 6 mths. Also Edward, their second son, 27 Oct 1867 age 10 mths.

St Wilfred's Church, Northenden

Extracted from Volume 34.

(175) James Holt of Gatley 14 Apr 1808 age 46. Sarah his wife 20 Aug 1838 age 70. James their son 28 Mar 1806 in his 16th year.

Miscellaneous historical notes

Extracted from Volume 12.

Edward Holt's Family Bible (1760–1840) here