The Parish Registers Of Brindle 1721-1816 Burials 1722-1840 Marriages 1722-1834 & Samlesbury Baptisms 1753-1837 Marriages 1754-1837

Echoes of Faith and Folklore: The Catholic Parish Registers of Brindle & Samlesbury

Unlock the secrets of your Lancashire ancestors in a land where whispered prayers mingled with tales of witchcraft and defiance.

Step back in time to a corner of Lancashire steeped in history, mystery, and a resilient Catholic faith. This meticulously compiled volume brings together the sacred records of two communities whose lives were shaped by the shadow of the Penal Laws and the echoes of ancient legends. Within these pages, the faded ink of parish priests tells the story of generations—of lives begun, united, and committed to God.

The Catholic Parish Registers Of Brindle 1721-1816 (Burials 1722-1840, Marriages 1722-1834) & Samlesbury Baptisms 1753-1837 (Marriages 1754-1837) is more than a list of names; it is a gateway to the world of your forebears.

A Treasure Trove for the Family Historian
For the dedicated genealogist, this collection is an indispensable key to unlocking your 18th and early 19th-century Lancashire roots. Trace your family line through:

Brindle: A heart of recusant strength, with detailed records of Baptisms (1721-1816), Marriages (1722-1834), and Burials (1722-1840), offering a continuous thread of family history for over a century.
Samlesbury: With its own unique Catholic heritage, providing records of Baptisms (1753-1837) and Marriages (1754-1837), allowing you to piece together the family trees of this historic parish.

Imagine finding the baptism of your great-great-great-grandfather, recorded in secret at a time when to be Catholic was an act of courage. Discover the marriage of ancestors whose faith bound them together against societal pressure. These are the vital statistics that form the backbone of your family's story.

A Land Steeped in Legend

To understand the names in these registers, you must understand the world they inhabited. This was a landscape of stark contrasts: profound faith and deep-seated superstition. The very ground your ancestors walked is alive with stories that have been passed down for centuries.

The Samlesbury Witches and the Whisper of Fear

Long before the earliest of these records, the name of Samlesbury was etched into history by the infamous witch trials of 1612. While the trial of the "Samlesbury Witches"—Jane Southworth, Ellen Bierley, and Isabel Robey—predates these registers, its memory lingered in the community for over a century. The tales of child murder and consorting with the devil would have been told and retold, a chilling backdrop to the daily lives of the families recorded here. Your ancestors may have been the descendants of those who sat in judgment, or of those who whispered of the women's innocence. They lived in a world where the line between the natural and supernatural was perilously thin, and where the fear of witchcraft was a very real part of life. Nearby Samlesbury Hall, a landmark familiar to all in the parish, was said to be haunted by the "White Lady," another spectral reminder of the region's eerie folklore.

The Legend of Faith at Brindle Hall

While Samlesbury was haunted by tales of witchcraft, Brindle was forging a legend of quiet defiance. At the centre of this stood Brindle Hall, a sanctuary for the Catholic faithful. For generations, it was home to the Towneley family and other recusants who risked fines and imprisonment to keep their faith alive. The Hall housed a secret chapel where Mass was celebrated in secret by hunted priests. The people whose baptisms, marriages, and burials are recorded in the Brindle registers were part of this incredible story of resilience. They were the congregation who crept through the darkness to receive the sacraments, the families who passed down their faith as their most precious inheritance. This is the legend of steadfast belief against all odds.

Why This Volume is Essential

Primary Source Data: Access direct transcriptions of original parish records, vital for any serious research.
Break Through Brick Walls: Find the missing links in your family tree with records unavailable in most mainstream genealogical websites.
Understand Your Ancestors' World: Gain profound insight into the social, religious, and folkloric context that shaped their lives and decisions.
A Unique Historical Record: Own a piece of Lancashire's hidden Catholic history, preserving the memory of a community that refused to be broken.
Don't just research your family history—relive it. Walk the path of your ancestors, from the sacred fonts of Brindle and Samlesbury to the legendary halls and haunted fields that formed their world.

Order your copy of "Echoes of Faith and Folklore" today and let the journey into your past begin.