Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Scholes, James Christopher
SCHOLES, JAMES CHRISTOPHER (1852–1890), antiquary, son of James Scholes, printer and bookbinder, was born at Bolton, Lancashire, on 27 March 1852, and educated at Holy Trinity school in that town. He was brought up as a printer, and became a reporter on a local paper. Subsequently he went into business as a draper, and sat as a member of the Bolton board of guardians and school board. His business was managed by his wife, Ann Frost, whom he married in 1877, while he devoted his attention to antiquarian and genealogical pursuits. He died on 18 June 1890, and was buried at Tong cemetery.
His principal separate publications were: ‘Bolton Bibliography and Jottings of Book Lore, with Notes on Local Authors and Printers,’ 1886; and ‘History of Bolton,’ completed by W. Pimblett, and issued in 1892. His other writings include: 1. ‘Notes on Turton Tower and its successive Owners,’ 1880; with ‘Supplementary Notes,’ 1881. 2. ‘Documentary Notes relating to Turton,’ 1882. 3. ‘Genealogy of the Knowles Family,’ 1886. He made transcripts of the Bolton parish registers from 1587 to 1860, which were printed to 1712 in the ‘Bolton Weekly Journal,’ 1887–90.
[Bolton Evening News, 19 June 1890; Trans. Lancashire and Cheshire Antiq. Soc. viii. 211; British Museum Cat; private information.]