Annals

Parish Records

Parish Records | Burials | Manchester Trade Directories

These are details of the Marriage license records and bonds provided in the Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society Publications, for the names relating to various members of the Holt families.

A great source for more details is the Online Parish Clerks project for the County of Lancashire. That site aims to extract and preserve the records from the various parishes.

Rochdale Parish

17th Century (1624–1691)

  • 31 December 1624: Richard Holt and Anne Jackson of Chester, Spinster. License issued to Revds. Astbrooke and Lloyd, Clerks.
  • 30 January 1625–26: William Foster and Alice Holt, Parish of Whitegate, Cheshire. License issued to Mr. Benedict Painter, Clerk.
  • 19 February 1625–26: Henry Holt and Alice Haworth, Parish of Clitherall [wV], Spinster. Bondsman: William Holt. For marriage at Bury, Lancashire, or Holcombe, Lancashire.
  • 26 July 1626: Robert Holt, Gentleman, and Elizabeth Ashton, Parish of Middleton, Lancashire, Spinster. Bondsman: Henry Southworth. For marriage at Manchester or Middleton.
  • 30 January 1626–27: Thomas Wood and Anne Holt, Parish of Bury, Lancashire. Bondsman: Francis Wood. At Bury, Rochdale, or Bolton, Lancashire.
  • 25 May 1627: Thomas Dutton, Gentleman, and Alice Holt, Widow. Bondsman: William Dutton. For marriage at Sefton, Halsall, Huyton, or Walton, Lancashire.
  • 23 December 1631: John Holt, Parish of Rochdale, Lancashire, and Anne Hamer, Spinster, Parish of Middleton, Lancashire. Bondsman: Joseph Livesey. For marriage at Rochdale, Middleton, or Bury, Lancashire.
  • 9 May 1665: [Groom name missing] and Hannah Holt, of the same place [Ashton-under-Lyne]. Bondsman: Henry Cocke. For marriage at Ashton-under-Lyne or Middleton, Lancashire (License issued at Macclesfield).
  • 3 February 1665–66: Peter Holt, of Toddington, Lancashire, and Mary Nuttall, of same.
  • 22 January 1669–70: Thomas Hoult, of Thornton, and Margaret Widnes, of Stoake, Spinster. For marriage at St. Peter's or St. Oswald's, Chester.
  • 23 November 1671: Jonathan Holt, of Timperley, and Ellen Worsley, of same, Widow. Bondsman: William Holt. At Cheadle, Stockport, or Northwich.
  • 20 March 1671–72: William Holt, of Thornton in le Mores, and Catherine Brereton, of Lower Kinnerton, Spinster. Bondsman: Thomas Hoult. For marriage in the Choir of Chester Cathedral or at St. Oswald's.
  • 14 August 1673: Edward Gregg, of Chester, Gentleman, and Abigail Holt, of same, Spinster. At St. Oswald's, Chester.
  • 23 October 1676: Richard Atherton, of Atherton, Lancashire, Esquire, and Isabel Holt, of Castleton, Singlewoman. Bondsman: Richard Eckersly. At Rochdale, Leigh, or Bury.
  • 22 November 1676: John Holt, of Spotland, and Margaret Lealand, of same, Spinster. Bondsman: Robert Chadwicke. At Rochdale, Littleborough, Whitworth, or Todmorden.
  • 20 February 1676–77: William Holt, senior, of Thornton in le Mores, and Sarah Clarke, of same, Widow. Bondsman: William Holt, junior. For marriage at Thornton, Stoake, or St. Oswald's, Chester.
  • 1 September 1678: Edward Holt, of Agden, Tanner, and Mary Hewett, of Mobberley, Spinster. Bondsman: John Antrobus. At Knutsford, Rosthorne, or Mobberley.
  • 1 January 1679–80: Arthur Holt, of Rochdale, Grocer, and Ann Buckley, of same, Spinster. At Rochdale, Oldham, or Rossendale.
  • 24 May 1683: Nicholas Prescott, of Hindley, and Abigail Holte, of Sharpe, Parish of Bolton, Spinster. At Wigan, Bolton, or Blackburn.
  • 25 June 1683: Thomas Howell, of Christleton, and Hannah Holt, Spinster.
  • 16 October 1684: Randal Crane<, of Cotton, and Elizabeth Holt, of Timperley, Spinster. Bondsman: Thomas Howell. At Christleton.
  • 9 February 1686–87: Edward Holt, of Sale, Parish of Ashton-upon-Mersey, Clerk, and Elizabeth Starkey, of Urmston, Spinster. Bondsman: Thomas Dickenson, Parish Clerk of Northenden.
  • 28 March 1688: Roger Holt and Alice Hawkinson.
  • 23 July 1688: John Stanley, of Dealgarth, Cumberland, Esquire, and Dorothy Holt, of Wigan, Lancashire, Spinster.

18th Century (1703–1746)

  • 26 March 1703: John Holt, of Mottram in Longdendale, Cheshire, Yeoman, and Hanna Wood, Parish of Glossop, Derbyshire, Spinster. Bondsmen: John Holt and William Sidebotham, Tallow-chandler. At Stockport or Manchester.
  • 9 February 1704–05: Henry Holt, of Liverpool, Joiner, and Ellen Slater, of Ormskirk, Widow. Bondsman: Richard Wright, Carrier. For marriage at Ormskirk, Sefton, or the Chapel of Maghull.
  • 28 February 1704–05: Edward Man, of Aston near Budworth, Husbandman, and Jane Holte, of Mobberley, Spinster. Bondsmen: Henry Holte, Chapman, and Joseph Jackson, Chapman. At Gt. Budworth, Mobberley, or Knutsford.
  • 14 July 1707: John Holt, of Prestbury, Cheshire, Husbandman, and Catharine Eyre, of Pointon, Widow. Bondsmen: Isaac Broadhurst, Mason, and John Holt, Adlington, Agricola. At Prestbury.
  • 13 September 1707: William Holt, of Stockport, Inn-keeper, and Elianor Thornilly, of Stockport, Spinster. Bondsmen: William Holt and George Holt, Butcher. At Stockport.
  • 22 May 1708: Thomas Amery, of Hapsford, Yeoman, and Elizabeth Holt, of Barrow, Cheshire. Bondsmen: Samuel Smith, Cooper, and John Doe. At Barrow or Thornton.
  • 17 November 1710: Thomas Holt, of Halton, Carpenter, and Elizabeth Whitley, of Halton, Spinster. Bondsman: Thomas Holt and John Doe. At Runcorn.
  • 16 February 1711–12: John Kelsall, of Knutsford, Malster, and Elizabeth Holt, of Ashton-under-Lyne, Spinster. Bondsman: Thomas Harrison, Gentleman. At Ashton or Mottram.
  • 29 March 1712: John Holt, of Bollington, Bowdon, Yeoman, and Elizabeth Hulbote [? Hurlbott] of Tatton, Spinster. Bondsmen: Hugh Holt and John Marsden, Innkeeper. At Manchester.
  • 5 February 1713–14: John Holt, of Coptrode, Rochdale, Yeoman, and Sarah Colling, of Rochdale, Spinster. Bondsmen: Bernard Butterworth, steepler, and John Knolls, Yeoman. At Rochdale.
  • 5 October 1715: Edward Thornton, of Carlton, Yeoman, and Margaret Holt, of Holcombe, Bury, Spinster. Bondsman: John Aynsworth, Agricola. At Bury.
  • 25 February 1716–17: John Holte, of Longfield, Rochdale, Yeoman, and Mary Holte, of Greave in Rochdale, Spinster. Bondsman: James Clough, Yeoman, and Thomas Knolls, Yeoman. At Rochdale.
  • [Circa July–August] 1743: Richard Holt, Yeoman, and Margaret Ryley, both of Marton, York (now of Ribchester). Bondsman: Matthew Ryley, Skipton, Yeoman. At Ribchester.
  • 23 August 1746: Thomas Hoult, of Ulverston, Shopkeeper, and Ellen Cleaton, of Gleaston.

Manchester Cathedral – Holt Baptisms & Marriages Analytics

Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George, Manchester

Manchester Cathedral provides one of the clearest windows into how Holt families moved, worked, and grew during the long arc of Manchester’s industrial transformation. Across three centuries, the baptisms and marriages recorded here show population expansion, surname standardisation, occupational change, and the reshaping of family structures under industrial pressures.

Baptisms – General Analytics (1573–1847)

Frame 1 — Three‑Century Population Expansion (1573–1847)

A 274‑year bar chart tracks Holt baptisms across three major eras, revealing how the family’s presence grew from early parish roots into the dense urban population of industrial Manchester. The long upward trend mirrors the city’s shift from market town to manufacturing centre.

Frame 2 — Surname Spelling Evolution (Hoult → Holt)

A horizontal distribution chart shows the surname’s transition from oral Lancashire variants to standardised spelling. Early entries preserve phonetic forms such as Hoult and Holte, but by the 1700s–1800s, 93.5% of all baptisms adopt the modern Holt spelling.

Frame 3 — Popular Given Names & Gender Balance

Dual‑colour rankings highlight naming patterns across the centuries, with male and female names clearly separated. The dataset shows stable gender balance and recurring family naming traditions that persisted through the industrial period.

Frame 4 — Maternal Surnames & Middle‑Name Customs (1780s–1840s)

A timeline callout illustrates how Holt families used maternal surnames as middle names — a practice that preserved kinship ties during rapid urbanisation. Names such as Fleetwood, Ashurst, Makin, and Aspinall appear as markers of maternal lineage.

Holt Baptisms Manchester Cathedral

Source: Lancashire Online Parish Clerks – Manchester Cathedral Baptisms

Manchester Cathedral Social Insights for Holt Families

Frame 1 — Delayed Christenings & Batch Baptisms

The dataset shows a median christening delay of 1.1 years, with several families baptising multiple children together. The most striking example is James & Elizabeth Holt, who baptised four siblings in January 1832, reflecting industrial work rhythms and household pressures.

Frame 2 — Father Trades & Industrial Diversity

Over 80 distinct occupations appear in the baptism registers, ranging from traditional trades (weavers, dyers) to emerging industrial roles (machine makers, boiler makers, clerks). This occupational spread charts the Holt family’s movement into Manchester’s expanding industrial economy.

Frame 3 — Large Industrial Nuclear Households

Sibling‑group analysis reveals substantial household sizes typical of early‑industrial Manchester. Leading families include:

  • James & Elizabeth Holt — 14 children
  • John & Mary Holt — 11 children
  • John & Sarah Holt — 10 children

These large households formed the demographic backbone of the city’s early industrial workforce.

Frame 4 — Single Mothers & Maternal Surnames

Single‑mother baptisms account for 11.1% of Holt entries, with maternal surnames frequently used as middle names to preserve lineage. This pattern provides insight into social support structures and naming customs among working families.

Holt Baptisms Social Insights Manchester Cathedral

Source: Lancashire Online Parish Clerks – Manchester Cathedral Baptisms

Manchester Cathedral – Holt Marriage Analytics (1574–1836)

Across 262 years, the Cathedral registers record 306 Holt marriages, with an almost perfect gender balance: 135 Holt brides (44.1%) and 134 Holt grooms (43.8%). Only four Holt‑to‑Holt marriages appear, showing rare endogamy. The data captures the demographic shock of the Industrial Revolution, the stabilisation of surname spelling, and the formation of kinship networks across Manchester’s artisan and labouring families.

Frame 1 — 262‑Year Volume & the 1790s Industrial Boom

A bar chart shows marriage volumes by era, with the 1790s peak of 98 weddings marking the decade when young migrants flooded into Manchester’s mills and dye works. This surge directly precedes the 1830s baptism peak (105 christenings) and the rise of Holt businesses recorded in the 1829 Pigot Directory.

Frame 2 — Surname Spelling Variations & Orthography

Surname analysis shows 286 Holt entries (93.5%), alongside 18 Hoult and 2 Holte variants. Early Elizabethan registers preserve phonetic spellings, but by the 18th century the spelling stabilises as literacy and parish record‑keeping improve.

Frame 3 — Top Intermarriages & Endogamy

A ranked chart highlights allied families frequently marrying into the Holts: Taylor, Hilton, Hall, Hulme, Warburton, Jackson, Smethurst, Ogden, Kay. Four Holt‑to‑Holt marriages appear, including Joseph Holt & Mary Holt (1792) and William Holt & Hannah Holt (1802).

Frame 4 — Gender Balance & Workforce Context

Marriage entries record trades such as weaver, dyer, spinner, shoemaker, and labourer, showing the industrial occupations of Holt grooms and their spouses. Several widowed artisans remarry, reflecting how families rebuilt household stability amid demanding industrial working conditions.

Holt Marriage Insights Manchester Cathedral

Source: Lancashire Online Parish Clerks – Manchester Cathedral Baptisms

Deep Social & Cultural Insights from the Marriages

Frame 1 — Industrial Work Rhythms: Sunday & “Saint Monday” Weddings

Weekday analysis across 262 years shows that Mondays (83 weddings) and Sundays (81 weddings) account for more than half of all Holt marriages. These patterns reflect industrial work rhythms: Sunday as the only guaranteed rest day in cotton mills, and Monday observed by weavers and dyers as “Saint Monday”. Fridays record only 8 weddings, the lowest count in the dataset.

Frame 2 — Marriage Seasonality: Harvest Peaks vs. Lenten Restraint

Monthly distributions reveal strong seasonal patterns. October (34 marriages) and August (33 marriages) peak during Rushbearing fairs and agricultural harvests. In contrast, March drops to 12 marriages, showing clear adherence to Lenten fasting restrictions before Easter.

Frame 3 — Geographical Migration & Cross‑Parish Connections

Residence data highlights 38 marriages involving Salford residents crossing the River Irwell to marry at the Cathedral. Additional cross‑parish ties link Holt marriages to Rochdale and Eccles, illustrating regional mobility, kinship spread, and the Cathedral’s role as a central marriage hub for Greater Manchester.

Frame 4 — Puritan Virtues, Rare Forenames & Marital Status

Marital‑status charts show 85.9% first‑time marriages and 6.9% widowed remarriages, reflecting how families rebuilt household support networks. Rare virtue and biblical names appear throughout the registers — including Silence Holt, Sampson Holt, Clementina, Levina Harriotte, and Lois — alongside four Holt‑to‑Holt endogamous unions.

Holt Marriage Social Insights Manchester Cathedral

Source: Lancashire Online Parish Clerks – Manchester Cathedral Baptisms

Rochdale Parish Registers – St Chad’s

Ancestral Heartland Analytics

The parish registers of St Chad’s, Rochdale form the deepest and most continuous documentary record of the Holt family. Compared with the Manchester Cathedral datasets, the Rochdale registers reveal a much larger population base, a distinct upland woollen‑and‑mining economy, dense Pennine kinship networks, and settlement patterns rooted in centuries‑old weaving hamlets.

Frame 1 — Scale & Timeline Growth: Ancestral Heartland vs. Urban Destination

Rochdale St Chad contains 9,112 Holt records (3,798 baptisms, 2,253 marriages, 3,061 burials) — nearly ten times the volume found at Manchester Cathedral. The timeline shows uninterrupted Holt presence from the 16th century onward:

  • 16th century: 234 records
  • 17th century: 1,494 records
  • 18th century: 3,235 records
  • 19th century: 4,149 records

Manchester, by contrast, only becomes significant after the late‑18th‑century industrial influx.

Frame 2 — Economic Profile: Woollen & Extractive Trades vs. Steam Cotton & Engineering

Rochdale’s upland economy:

  • Handloom & Flannel Weavers — 1,100+ entries
  • Colliers / Coal Miners — 77 baptisms
  • Hatters — 67 baptisms
  • Fullers, Clothiers, Farmers, Husbandmen

Manchester’s industrial profile:

  • Dyers (the #1 Manchester trade)
  • Cotton Spinners
  • Calico Printers
  • Machine Makers, Boiler Makers, Spindle Makers
  • Clerks, Bookkeepers, Bank Staff

Frame 3 — Kinship Networks & Pennine Endogamy

Rochdale shows 35 Holt‑to‑Holt marriages, compared with only 4 in Manchester — evidence of dense clan intermarriage across the Pennine valleys.

Top allied families:

  • Butterworth (100 marriages)
  • Clegg (61)
  • Taylor (60)
  • Lord (53)
  • Stott (51)
  • Kershaw (46)
  • Brearley (39)
  • Greenwood (37)
  • Chadwick (35)

Frame 4 — Settlement Geography & Parish Footprint

Rochdale Holt addresses cluster across traditional weaving hamlets and upland townships: Castleton, Spotland, Butterworth, Wardleworth, Blackwater, Yorkshire Street, Milkstone, Lowerplace, Newbold, Toad Lane, Smallbridge,Wardle.

Manchester’s footprint reflects urban mill districts and industrial suburbs: Ancoats, Salford, Hulme, Shudehill, Deansgate, Chorlton‑on‑Medlock.

Holt Manchester versus Rochdale insights

Core Historical Takeaway: Rochdale is the ancestral cradle of the Holt family, rooted in woollen, flannel, and upland trades across centuries. Manchester represents the 19th‑century industrial migration hub where younger generations moved to work in cotton spinning, dye works, and machine foundries.

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