Cheshire & Lancashire Funeral Certificates 1600-1678

Unlock Your Ancestral Past: The Definitive Collection of Cheshire & Lancashire Funeral Certificates, 1600-1678

Step back in time to an era of civil war, changing faiths, and ancient family lines. This unique collection of digitised and transcribed Funeral Certificates offers an unparalleled glimpse into the lives, deaths, and social standing of your ancestors from Cheshire and Lancashire. Unlike standard parish records, these certificates often detail the heraldry, the impressive funeral processions, and the lists of mourners—providing context and connections that can break down your toughest brick walls.

What are Funeral Certificates?
Created primarily for the gentry, wealthy merchants, and prominent clergy, these documents were formal records of a person's funeral. They are a treasure trove for genealogists, often containing:

The exact date of death and burial.
The name, parish, and often the occupation or title of the deceased.
Detailed descriptions of the funeral procession, including pallbearers and attendees.
Coats of arms and heraldic information, crucial for tracing family alliances.
Insights into the wealth and social status of the family.
This collection covers a tumultuous and fascinating period in English history, encompassing the reign of James I, the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration of the monarchy.

Detailed Parish Coverage & Notable Connections
Our comprehensive collection includes records from a vast number of parishes. Below is a highlighted list of key parishes included in this collection, along with some of the notable figures who lived and died in these communities during the 1600-1678 period.

📍 CHESHIRE PARISHES
1. Chester (St. Oswald's, St. John the Baptist, St. Peter's & St. Mary's)

Parish Description: The historic county town of Chester, a vital administrative and ecclesiastical centre. Its records reflect a mix of urban merchants, clergy, and the county's ruling elite.
Notable Residents & Connections (c. 1600-1678):

John Bruen (1560-1625): A celebrated Puritan landowner from Bruen Stapleford whose funeral would have been a significant event. His devout life and philanthropy were well-documented, and his family's influence spread across the county.
Robert Whitby, Mayor of Chester (d. 1665): A prominent civic figure whose death during the Great Plague year would have been a notable event for the city.

2. Nantwich (St. Mary's Church)

Parish Description: A prosperous market town famed for its salt production and wool trade. The parish records are rich with details on the wealthy merchant families who shaped the town's fortunes.
Notable Residents & Connections (c. 1600-1678):
The Wilbraham Family: A major landowning family with seats at Townsend House and, later, Delamere. Sir Thomas Wilbraham (d. 1661) was a key local figure, and his funeral certificate would be a prime example of gentry pomp.

3. Frodsham (St. Laurence's Church)

Parish Description: A market town and port on the River Mersey, with a long history of fishing and trade. The parish serves a mix of townsfolk and rural families from the surrounding Weaver Vale.
Notable Residents & Connections (c. 1600-1678):
Daniel King (d. c. 1664): An heraldic painter and antiquarian who published a renowned survey of the county. While his burial place is debated, his work chronicled the very families whose funeral certificates we hold.

4. Great Budworth (St. Mary & All Saints)

Parish Description: A large rural parish, the "Mother Church" of the ancient Hundred of Bucklow. Its records are dominated by the landed gentry and agricultural communities of mid-Cheshire.
Notable Residents & Connections (c. 1600-1678):
The Mainwaring Family of Peover Hall: One of Cheshire's most prominent families. Sir Thomas Mainwaring, 1st Baronet (d. 1675), was a Royalist officer during the Civil War and a significant figure whose funeral would have been a major local event.

5. Malpas (St. Oswald's Church)

Parish Description: A village on the Welsh border, historically a strategic stronghold. The churchyard contains many fine monuments to the local gentry who controlled this volatile marcher territory.
Notable Residents & Connections (c. 1600-1678):
The Leche Family: Lords of the manor for centuries. The monuments to this family inside St. Oswald's are a testament to their long-standing presence and power in the area.
📍 LANCASHIRE PARISHES

1. Lancaster (St. Mary's Church)

Parish Description: The county town of Lancashire, dominated by its medieval castle. The parish records reflect the county's judicial, military, and administrative heart.
Notable Residents & Connections (c. 1600-1678):
The Stanleys, Earls of Derby: The pre-eminent family of Lancashire. While their main seat was at Lathom, their connection to Lancaster as county magnates was immense. James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby (1607-1651), was a staunch Royalist executed after the Civil War. His funeral, though a sombre affair for the Royalist cause, would have been meticulously recorded.

2. Manchester (Collegiate Church, now Manchester Cathedral)

Parish Description: An emerging market town, beginning its journey towards becoming an industrial powerhouse. Its records capture a mix of established landed families and new wealth from the burgeoning cloth trade.
Notable Residents & Connections (c. 1600-1678):
The Mosley Family: Lords of the manor of Manchester. Sir Edward Mosley, 1st Baronet (d. 1639), established the family's prominence. His son, Sir Edward, was a Royalist who had his estates sequestered.
The Byron Family: Sir John Byron (d. 1652) was a Royalist commander nicknamed "the Bloody Byron." His family seat was at Royton, near Oldham, but his influence was felt throughout the region.

3. Liverpool (St. Nicholas's Church, Our Lady & St. Nicholas)

Parish Description: In 1600, Liverpool was a growing but still modest port town. By 1678, it was on the cusp of becoming a major Atlantic trading hub. The records capture this pivotal period of transformation.
Notable Residents & Connections (c. 1600-1678):
The Moore Family: A powerful family who built Bank Hall in the early 17th century. Edward Moore (d. 1677) was a significant landowner and whose position as Mayor of Liverpool cemented his family's status.

4. Preston (St. John's Church)

Parish Description: A strategic market town and borough, site of a major battle during the Civil War. Its records are filled with stories of merchants, soldiers, and influential local families.
Notable Residents & Connections (c. 1600-1678):
The Hoghton Family of Hoghton Tower: While their parish was primarily Preston, they were one of the county's leading families. Sir Gilbert Hoghton, 2nd Baronet (d. 1647), was a prominent Royalist who hosted King James I at Hoghton Tower.

5. Wigan (All Saints' Church)

Parish Description: A significant market town known for its coal mining and nail making industries. The parish records reveal a hardworking community alongside the landed families who owned the mineral rights.
Notable Residents & Connections (c. 1600-1678):

The Gerard Family: A major Catholic family with extensive landholdings in the area. Despite the religious penalties of the time, families like the Gerards maintained their influence, and their records are a vital link for Recusant ancestry.
Why This Collection is Indispensable for Your Research:

Break Through Brick Walls: Find details of relatives and allies listed as mourners that you won't find anywhere else.
Confirm Social Standing: Heraldic descriptions and the scale of a funeral provide direct evidence of your ancestor's place in society.
Understand Historical Context: See how the English Civil War affected your family and their loyalties.
Unique Primary Source: Access rare documents that are often difficult to locate and interpret.