NO . X.
THE CATHOLIC REGISTERS OF LIVERPOOL, NOW ST. MARY'S , HIGHFIELD STREET. BOOK I. 1741-1773 CONTRIBUTED BY MRS . SEYMOUR SPENCER . EDITED BY JOSEPH S. HANSOM, WITH HISTORICAL NOTES BY JOSEPH GILLOW .
The first book of Registers, dealt with below, are on folio foolscap paper by 7 inches in their present state . They are now well bound in dark fawn- coloured leather . The marriages and baptisms are at opposite reversed ends of the book, stamped respectively outside in gold REGISTERS OF MARRIAGES, 1741-1754. ST. MARY'S, LIVERPOOL, and " " REGISTER OF BAPTISMS, 1741-1773. ST. MARY'S, LIVERPOOL. In binding or re - binding many of the pages have been strengthened or restored by tracing- linen , the last page of marriages being entirely covered by it, rendering the writing at times illegible , as the material has become more or less opaque. has not been deemed advisable to risk removing the linen , as where used the paper is dilapidated , and might be destroyed. The best interpretation is therefore given. In the Short History of the Parish and Mission ( 1904) " supplied by the Rev. George Bede Cox, O.S.B. , the present incumbent , it is suggested the registers were " probably rescued from the flames (pp. 5 and 6) that was when the chapel burnt down in 1746, or perhaps in 1759, as the last entries in 1759 also show decided marks of fire ; but my impression is that they have only received injury by damp, dust and smoke, age and Some writing on the last page handling , coupled with some want of care. of marriages has been heavily scored out in ink, which has not only obliterated the writing, but destroyed the paper. The discoloration does not cease in 1759 ; but continues throughout the book more or less. Mrs. Seymour Spencer transcribed part of the registers herself , and generously paid for the remainder being done, by permission of Fr. Cox, who supplied full facilities, including the loan of the original to enable me to collate the proofs. There are sixteen unnumbered pages of marriages , and one hundred and fifty-eight of baptisms numbered, all more or less used for registers . The first eight pages of marriages are mostly signed or marked by witnesses . The marriage in 1752 by Mr. Tatlock is, Mr. Gillow thinks, by Fr. HenryTatlock alias Forster , S. J., of Fazakerley . Exceptions are thetwo first entries , the first four and the seventh on p. 8 ( p . 000 post) and thefourth or last on p. 8 (p. ooo post ). This last is dated Aprill the 19th 1746, eleven days before the mob burnt the chapel, which accounts for no marriages being registered for nearly eighteen months. After their resumption no signatures or marks are given, and references to certificates 33 12
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Since the above has been in print I have had an opportunity of submitting the original book of registers to Mr. G. F. Barwick , Superintendent of the Reading Room at the British Museum, who authorizes me to say that he quite agrees with this view .
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