Halesowen
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- Parish Registers at Worcestershire Archives
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- Register Copies
- Nonconformist
- Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents
- War Memorials
- Census Records
- Search Services (Fee paying) - BMSGH and Independent
- Manorial Records
- Parish Records on microform
- Schools Records
- Other Sources
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Status
Ancient Parish [25]
The township of 'Halesowen' was in a detached portion of Shropshire (Brimstree Hundred), as were townships of Cakemore, Hasbury, Hawne, Hill, Illey, Lapal, Ridgacre & Warley Salop (all transferred along with the township of Halesowen to Worcestershire (Halfshire Hundred) in 1844 for civil purposes, and each a separate Civil Parish in 1866 in Worcestershire.
Also the township of Hunnington which was transferred to Worcestershire at the same time as the others in 1844. It was a separate Civil Parish in 1866 in Worcestershire. Ecclesiastically it was in the chapel at St Kenelm.
Also the township of Oldbury which was transferred to Worcestershire at the same time as the others in 1844. It was a separate Civil Parish in 1866 in Worcestershire and a separate Ecclesiastical Parish in 1715. It was ecclesiastically refounded 1841.
Also the township of Romsley which was transferred to Worcestershire at the same time as others in 1844. It was a separate Civil Parish in 1866 in Worcestershire. It was ecclesiastically in the chapel at St Kenelm until 'Romsley' became a separate Ecclesiastical Parish in 1841.
Halesowen included in Worcestershire (Halfshire Hundred) a chapel at Cradley which was a separate Civil Parish in 1866 and a separate Ecclesiastical Parish in 1812 being ecclesiastically refounded in 1841.
Halesowen included a chapel at Frankley which had a separate civil identity early and became a separate Ecclesiastical Parish in 1860.
Halesowen included a hamlet at Lutley, a hamlet at Warley Wigorn, each a separate Civil Parish in 1866, so that Halesowen was entirely Worcestershire from 1844.
In 1974 the Municipal Borough of Halesowen became a part of the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley within the county of West Midlands.[25] [44]
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction
Archdeaconry & Diocese of Worcester until 1921, Archdeaconry of Dudley & Diocese of Worcester (1921 - *) [25]
Adjoining Parishes
Rowley Regis (Staffordshire); Oldbury; Smethwick; Harborne (Staffordshire); Northfield; Frankley; Hunnington; Romsley; Clent; Hagley; Pedmore; Lye; Cradley[1]
Parish Registers at Worcestershire Archives
| Coverage | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Microform | Christenings | 1559-1971 | [5] |
| Marriages | 1559-1970 | [5] | |
| Burials | 1559-1971 | [5] | |
| Banns | 1762-83 | [5] | |
| Transcripts | General | 1559-1643; 1737-61 | [27] |
The original registers are at
International Genealogical Index (IGI)
| Coverage | ||
|---|---|---|
| Parish Registers | Births / Christenings | 1559-1643; 1736-1875 |
| Marriages | 1559-1642; 1736-1881 | |
| Independent | Births / Christenings | 1805-1821; 1831-1837 |
Register Copies
At BMSGH Shop :
Part1: Christenings, Marriages & Burials 1717-36
Part2: Christenings, Marriages & Burials 1736/37-1754 CB 1754-61 CB 1754-61
Part3: Christenings 1762-1812
Part4: Christenings & Burials 1813-37
Part5: Marriages 1754-1837
At BMSGH Shop :
Transcripts for the following:
Baptisms and Burials 1717-1837
Marriages 1717-1837
Witnesses to Marriages 1754-1837
This CD contains a surname index and links to relevant pages.
At BMSGH Reference Library [7]
Halesowen Parish Registers 1652-1661 and 1700-1716 and 1837-1846
St John the Baptist Baptisms 1736/7-1754 Marriages and Burials 1736/7-1754 Baptisms and Burials 1754-1761
St John the Baptist:
Part 1 Births, Marriages, Burials 1736/7-1754 and BB 1754-1761
Part 2 Births, Marriages, Burials 1717-1736
Part 3 Baptisms and Burials 1762-1774
Part 3 Baptisms and Burials 1775-1785
Part 3 Baptisms and Burials 1786-1799
Part 3 Baptisms and Burials 1800-1812 + index
Part 4 Baptisms 1813-1829
Part 4 Baptisms 1830-1837
Part 4 Burials 1813-1837 + index
Part 5 Marriages 1754-1791
Part 5 Marriages 1792-1823
Part 5 Marriages 1824-1837 + index
St John the Baptists Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1717-1773
At Dudley Archives and Local History Service:
| Coverage | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Microform | Christenings | 1559-1971 | [82] |
| Marriages | 1559-1970 | [82] | |
| Burials | 1559-1971 | [82] | |
| Transcripts | Christenings | 1717-61 | [82] |
| Marriages | 1717-54 | [82] | |
| Burials | 1717-61 | [82] | |
| Originals | Christenings | 1559-1948 | [82] |
| Marriages | 1559-1966 | [82] | |
| Burials | 1559-1949 | [82] | |
| Banns | 1754-83 with index |
[5] |
At Society of Genealogists [68]:
HALESOWEN : Christenings & Burials 1559-1643, Marriages 1559-1642: Parish Register Society, vol. 66 IN: Parish Register Society, vol. 66 Published London : Parish Register Society, 1910 Author Hobday, E (transcriptions)
HALESOWEN (St. John the Baptist) : Christenings 1559-1601, 1609-43, 1652-1971, Marriages 1559-1601, 1609-43, 1653-1970, banns 1754-83, Burials 1559-1601, 1609-43, 1653-1971; Monumental Inscriptions in the church (extracts), churchwardens' accounts (1487-89?), 1498-1582, 1612-41 [Microfilm.] Published Salt Lake City : Genealogical Society of Utah, 1998 Source S: A Thompson.
HALESOWEN (St. John the Baptist) : Christenings & Burials 1762-1837, Marriages 1754-1837 [Microfiche.] Published Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry 2005
HALESOWEN (St John the Baptist) : Christenings, Marriages & Burials 1717-36 Published , 1987 Author Halesowen Local History Group Source D: BMSGH
HALESOWEN (St John the Baptist) : Christenings, Marriages & Burials 1717-1837, Marriages witnesses 1754-1837 [CD-ROM] Published Birmingham : Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry, 2006 Author Peers, E S (transcriptions) Author Halesowen Local History Group (transcriptions) Edition CD version of 5 separate printed parts
HALESOWEN (St. John the Baptist) : Christenings, Marriages & Burials 1736/7-54, Christenings & Burials 1754-61 Published Birmingham, 1983 Author Thompson, Anne et al. (transcriptions) Source D: BMSGH
HALESOWEN (St. John the Baptist) : Christenings, Marriages & Burials 1736/7-54, Christenings & Burials 1754-61: Worcestershire registers, vol. 2 [Typescript.] IN: Worcestershire registers, vol. 2 Published : Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry, 1983 Author Thompson, Ann (transcriptions)
At [FreeREG]
Free Internet searches of baptism, marriage and burial records, transcribed from parish and non-conformist registers of the U.K., are available at: http://www.freereg.org.uk/cgi/Search.pl
FreeREG is a new project. The database currently contains a few million records only, so you should not expect to find all your ancestors in the database.
The coverage for this parish currently stands at: Christenings: 1559-1643, 1717-24, 1837-99 Marriages: 1559-1643, 1717-28, 1833-99 Burials: 1559-1643, 1717-28, 1831-99
Further records may have been added since this posting
Nonconformist
At BMSGH Reference Library [7]
Halesowen Independent Chapel Register of Baptisms 1805-1837
At Dudley Archives & Local History Service [63] :
Congregational
Independent Meeting House; Microform Christenings 1805-37
Methodist
Birmingham Street: Christenings 1847-1983
Marriages 1930-82 (Names transcribed see Mr.Loach's non-conformist transcripts)
Hasbury Primitive Methodist Chapel, from 1933 called The Methodist Church Hasbury, from 1972 called Hasbury Methodist Church, Albert Road, Halesowen:
Christenings 1848-90
Marriages 1930-75 (Names transcribed see Mr.Loach's non-conformist transcripts)
Shenstone: Christenings 1917-58
Marriages 1933-54 (Names transcribed see Mr.Loach's non-conformist transcripts)
Short Cross Primitive Methodist Chapel, Hawne, from 1935 known as Methodist Church, Attwood Street, Short Cross:
Marriages 1921-84 (Names transcribed see Mr.Loach's non-conformist transcripts)
Zion Methodist Church:
Christenings 1872-1977
Marriages 1934-70 (Names transcribed see Mr.Loach's non-conformist transcripts)
At Society of Genealogists:
HALESOWEN (Independent chapel) : Christenings 1805-37 [Typescript.] Published , 1989 Author Cox, Janice V (transcriptions) Source D: Shropshire FHS
Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents
St. John the Baptist: (Church (extracts)) Society of Genealogists [59]
War Memorials
For the names of those included on Halesowen War Memorial see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/halesowen-war-memorial/
For the names of those included on a War Memorial at C of E School, High Street, Halesowen see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/halesowen-c-of-e-school/
For a War Memorial to Algernon Foulkes Attwood at St John the Baptist Church see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/halesowen-st-john-the-baptist-church-attwood-memorial/
For the grave at Halesowen Cemetery of Gunner Albert Wesson, who died in 1940, see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/halesowen-cemetery/
Census Records
All the censuses between 1841 and 1901 are now available on a number of fee-paying (Subscription or PayAsYouGo) sites including Ancestry.co.uk, FindMyPast.co.uk, thegenealogist.co.uk and genesreunited.co.uk. The 1911 census is available in full or in part on some of these sites. We are unable to advise on the choice of site since researchers' personal preferences will be influenced by the content and search facilities offered by each site. Some sites offer a free trial.
Access to the library edition of Ancestry.co.uk is widely available at most record offices, including Worcestershire Archives, and some libraries. You are advised to book time on their computers before making a visit.
A free-to-view site is being developed at freecen.org.uk for the 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1891 censuses. Coverage of Worcestershire parishes is rather sparse at this time.
Census returns can usually be viewed at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' Family History Centres.
Some repositories offer census details on microform, disc or printed copy. These include:
1851 Census: Full transcript & surname index BMSGH Shop
1841 Shropshire Archives
1841 Dudley Archives & Local History Service
1851-1901 at Worcestershire Archives [14]
1851 census Worcestershire, vol. 1 Halesowen : transcript & surname index - Published Birmingham : Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry, 1996 - Author: Friend, A F Society of Genealogists
1871 census Greater Birmingham (part) plus Budbrooke, Dunchurch & Leamington surname & folio index plus images of the folios for pieces RG 10/2968-2974, 3076-3086, 3088-3089, 3119, 3134-3160 & 3187-3193 [CD-ROM] - Published Birmingham Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry 2004 - Society of Genealogists
Search Services (Fee paying) - BMSGH and Independent
Burial 1660-1854 Worcestershire Burial Index
Marriage see Worcestershire Marriage Index
Manorial Records
Worcestershire Archives [50]
Cradley: Abstracts of admissions and surrenders 1716-1903 [19th-20th cents.]; Account book re legal transactions 1842-90; Court roll 1716-1903 Halesowen: Abstracts of admissions and surrenders 1717-1915; Account book re legal transactions 1842-90; Court roll 1690-1701[2], 1715-80, 1783-1915; Manor suit rolls and court leet papers 1765-1821
Society of Genealogists:
Additional Court rolls of the Manor of Hales
Court rolls of the Manor of Hales, 1270-1307, part 1 & 2 : Worcestershire Historical Society [vol. 30] IN: Worcestershire Historical Society [vol. 30] Published Oxford : Worcestershire Historical Society, 1912 Author Amphlett, John ed. Author Hamilton, Sidney Graves ed.
Court rolls of the Manor of Hales, 1270-1307, part 1 & 2 : Worcestershire Historical Society [vol. 30] [Microfiche] IN: Worcestershire Historical Society [vol. 30] Published London : Society of Genealogists, 1991 Author Amphlett, John ed. Edition Microfiche of 1912 ed.Source S: A M Thompson
Court rolls of the Manor of Hales, part 3 containing additional courts for the years 1276-1301 & Romsley courts 1280-1303 : Worcestershire Historical Society [vol. 41] IN: Worcestershire Historical Society [vol. 41] Published London : Worcestershire Historical Society, 1933 Author Wilson, Ronald Alyn ed.
Parish Records on microform
At Worcestershire Archives [13]
Churchwardens accounts 1498-1582
Churchwardens accounts book 1612-41
Schools Records
The following school records are original documents. Note reference number and contact staff at Worcestershire Archives:
Stourbridge Road C P School
Infants' Dept. Log Books - 1878 - 1923 - Ref: BA 1242 / 5
Tenter Street C P
Boys' Dept Log book - 1909 - 39 - Ref: BA 3929 / 3
Girls' Dept Log book - 1909 - 34 - Ref: BA 3929 / 2
Infants' Dept Log book - 1909 - 46 - Ref: BA 3929 / 1
The records of schools and other educational establishments in this parish are detailed in a handlist available at Worcestershire Archives. The list refers to original documents so you will need to note the reference number and contact staff.
Other Sources
At Society of Genealogists :
Court rolls of the Manor of Hales, 1270-1307, part 1 & 2 : Worcestershire Historical Society [vol. 30] - Published Oxford : Worcestershire Historical Society, 1912 - Authors: Amphlett, John ed. & Hamilton, Sidney Graves ed.
Court rolls of the Manor of Hales, part 3 containing additional courts for the years 1276-1301 & Romsley courts 1280-1303 : Worcestershire Historical Society [vol. 41] - Published London : Worcestershire Historical Society, 1933 - Author: Wilson, Ronald Alyn ed.
Additional Court rolls of the Manor of Hales
Hearth tax returns for Dudley & Stourbridge 1664 - 1666 - 1674 - Published Kingswinford : P E Chandler, 1992 - Author Chandler, Peter (trans.)
Oldbury & round about in the Worcestershire corner of the Black country - Published Birmingham ; Wolverhampton : Cornish Brothers ; Whitehead Brothers Ltd, 1915 - Author: Hackwood, Frederick William
Directories
An extract from the Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1831:
HALES-OWEN, a parish comprising the market town of Hales-Owen, in the Hales-Owen division of the hundred of BRIMSTREE, a detached portion of the county of SALOP, and the chapelry of Cradley, and the hamlets of Luttley and Warley-Wigorn, in the lower division of the hundred of HALIFSHIRE, county of WORCESTER, and containing 10,946 inhabitants, of which number, 8817 are in that part of the parish which is in the county of Salop, and 1759 in the town of Hales- Owen, 35 miles (S.E.) from Shrewsbury, and 120 (N.W.) from London.
This place is said to have been formerly a borough, though it does not appear to have ever returned members to parliament. King John, in the sixteenth year of his reign, gave the manor and the advowson of the church, which is stated to have been built prior to the Norman Conquest, to Peter de Rupibus, Bishop of Winchester, who founded here a priory of Premonstratensian canons, which, from parts of the walls yet remaining, though concealed by brambles and weeds, appears to have been an extensive edifice, and from the gable end of the chapter-house, in which are some fine lancet windows, to have been in the early style of English architecture. At the dissolution, its revenue was estimated at £337. 15. 6.; some vestiges of the abbot's kitchen are still visible in a farm-house near the town..
Hales-Owen is more celebrated for having been the birthplace and residence of the poet Shenstone, than for any events of historical interest.
The town is situated in a fertile vale watered by the river Stour which has its source in the neighbouring hills, and surrounded with scenery of a varied and pleasing character. It consists principally of one street, in which are some respectable houses, and of some smaller streets containing humbler dwellings irregularly built. In the vicinity are several detached mansions, of which the Leasowes the patrimonial estate and residence of Shenstone, has been deservedly eulogized for the classic taste and elegant chasteness of style with which, during his lifetime the natural beauty of the grounds had been artificially heightened and improved.
The principal branches of manufacture in the town are, nails, and some few articles of iron. The manufacture of steel is extensively carried on at Corngreaves, and some coal mines have been recently opened in the parish. The small river Stour runs through the town, and the Netherton canal passes within half a mile of it. The market is on Monday, but is indifferently attended : the fairs are on the Mondays in Easter and Whitsun weeks.
The town is within the jurisdiction of the county magistrates; and a high and low bailiff, constable, and headborough, are annually appointed at the court leet of the lord of the manor. A court of requests is held every third week, under an act passed in the 47th of George III, for the recovery of debts under £5, the jurisdiction of which extends over the parishes of Hales-Owen, Rowley-Regis, Tipton, West Bromwich, Harborne, and the manor of Bradley, in the parish of Wolverhampton, in the counties of Worcester, Salop, and Stafford..
The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Worcester, rated in the king's books at £15. 8. ll½ , and in the patronage of Lord Lyttelton. The church, dedicated to St. Mary and St. John the Evangelist, is a spacious structure in the Norman style of architecture, with later insertions, having a tower surmounted by a lofty spire: the interior contains a handsome monument to the memory of Major Halliday, and an urn to that of the poet Shenstone, who was buried in the church-yard in 1763. There are places of worship for Independents and Wesleyan Methodists.
The free grammar school was founded under a commission for charitable uses, in 1652, and endowed with lands and tenements bequeathed by various benefactors to the parish, now producing more than £100 per ann., of which, £30 is paid to the usher, and the remainder to the master, who has also the school-house, with a good garden and six acres of land; there are about forty boys, who are now instructed in English grammar, writing, and arithmetic. Shenstone received the rudiments of his education in this school. At Honington, in this parish, a free school was founded, in 1684, by William Smith, and endowed with lands producing about £15 per annum, for the education of twenty poor children.
Dr. Adam Littleton, author of a Latin Dictionary and other works, who died in 1694; and William Caslon, the celebrated type-founder, who died in 1766; were born in this parish.
Last Updated: 18/10/2016
