James Haydock

James Haydock (1764?–1809) was a Catholic recusant priest who served during the waning years of the Penal Period in England and died a martyr to charity while attending the sick of his congregation during an epidemic.

James was born in Cottam, Preston, Lancashire, in an area called The Fylde, where Catholics had retained a relatively strong presence since initiation of the Penal Laws in the 16th century.

Shortly before then, James' brothers George Leo and Thomas were forced in the middle of their studies to flee back to England.

Trafford was one of several members of the local landed gentry who remained loyal to the Catholic faith and maintained chapels in their houses.

While James Haydock was at Trafford House, his brother George Leo was ordained priest in 1798 and went on to serve missions at Ugthorpe, Whitby and Penrith.

Experiencing apparent harassment by a local militia group called the Trafford Volunteers, he requested a transfer and was assigned to an independent chapel in the nearby town of Lea, Lancashire.