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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Durham Lookup Requests => Durham => England => Durham Completed Look up Requests => Topic started by: Exploration on Tuesday 26 February 08 05:06 GMT (UK)

Title: Merrington Parish Registers - GRAHAM - Complete
Post by: Exploration on Tuesday 26 February 08 05:06 GMT (UK)

 Hello, I have a Marriage Index for a Robert Graham and Eleanor Grant married 20 Sept 1819 in the Merrington Parish.  I believe Robert and Eleanor are my GGG-Grandparents.  I would be interested in finding any additional information from the Marriage Record for Robert and Eleanor from the Merrington Parish records.  According to the Marriage Index,  Robert came from Stockton, but no location of origin was for Eleanor was given.   

There's a chance that I may have found Robert's christening record, here in Merrington and not in Stockton as the marriage record says.   The reason I think this is a possible link is that the date of birth is close to the census and the name of this Robert's siblings match the names of children in the following generations, even into the 20 century.

The details of the christening record I have are as follows:

Robert Graham born 12 Jan 1799 in Terry Hill, Kirk Merrington, parents were Thomas Graham and Elizabeth Herring or Heron.
This Robert's siblings were 
Thomas b 12 July 1776
John b 18 Oct 1781
Ann b 10 Apr 1784 d 14 Jul 1787
Mary b 5 Nov 1786
Ann b  7 Jul 1789
Ralph b 29 Jul 1792

I don't know whether this is the same Robert who married my GGG-Grandmother Eleanor Grant.  So I am hoping the marriage record would provide details of Robert's and Eleanor's parents.

I thank you for reading my request and I hope you can provide me any details on this marriage record or any of the Graham's in the Merrington Parish in the late 1700 to early 1800's. 

Thank you again.

Title: Re: Merrington Parish Registers - GRAHAM
Post by: JenB on Tuesday 26 February 08 11:42 GMT (UK)

Good morning, Exploration, welcome to rootschat.

Have you discovered the Durham Diocesan Bishops Transcripts, which are a goldmine of information online? The Merrington transcripts cover the years 1762 to 1884 (although the coverage will by no means be complete).

The transcripts are in date order, but not otherwise indexed, so take some time to trawl through, but, based on my own discoveries over the past few weeks, this is well worth doing!

You will need to register first, this takes a day or so, then away you go! Go to http://tinyurl.com/yo6m5d and click on 'Register to use Record Search'

Best wishes

Jennifer

Title: Re: Merrington Parish Registers - GRAHAM
Post by: Helen K on Tuesday 26 February 08 16:17 GMT (UK)

Hi

When you have gained access to the Bishop's Transcripts the entry is on page 266 of 672 of the Merrington records.

Robert was a bachelor of the Parish of Stockton.
Eleanor was of this Parish.

Married by Banns with consent of those whose consent is required (Parents had been written and crossed out).

Both appear to have signed.

Witnesses Brignall ELLIOT, John HALL, John WARD.


The first child baptised to this couple seems to be Rachel Hall GRAHAM 1 Oct 1820.  Parents Robert, a Joiner, and Eleanor of Ferryhill.  (Page 262 of Merrington BT's).


Regards

Helen K

Title: Re: Merrington Parish Registers - GRAHAM
Post by: Exploration on Tuesday 26 February 08 21:14 GMT (UK)

Jennifer and Helen.  Thank you so much for responding back so quickly.   I can't wait to get home from work to research the Bishop's Transcripts.   I'll update this post with the results from the Bishop's Transcripts and mark it complete.

You cannot imagine how much I appreciate this.   I have been stuck trying to confirm this generation of Graham's for over a year. 

Thank you both very much! 

Michael. 

Title: Re: Merrington Parish Registers - GRAHAM - Complete!
Post by: Exploration on Wednesday 27 February 08 05:46 GMT (UK)

The Diocese of Durham Bishops' Transcripts were fantastic.  Thank you.

I've confirmed that I have the correct marriage record because I've found all the children born to Robert and Eleanor. 

Next step is to recheck and see if I can find Eleanor's birth record in the Bishops' Transcripts.  ( I didn't find any Grant's from 1795 onwards)

Title: Re: Merrington Parish Registers - GRAHAM - Complete
Post by: JenB on Wednesday 27 February 08 08:55 GMT (UK)

Pleased we were able to be of help  ;D  ;D

Jennifer

Title: Re: Merrington Parish Registers - GRAHAM - Complete
Post by: Helen K on Wednesday 27 February 08 16:19 GMT (UK)

Hi Michael

Glad we've been able to help you on your way.

Not convinced that Robert GRAHAM baptism at Merrington is yours I took a quick look at Stockton BT's.  Haven't found Robert yet, but this is on page 119 Stockton 1762-1798.

Eleanor GRANT born Jan 28 1798 Baptised Nov 11.  2nd daughter of David GRANT Bricklayer Native of this Parish by his wife Rachel HALL Native of Sedgfield.

As you will see these particular records are beautifully written and a pleasure to look through.


Regards

Helen K 

Title: Re: Merrington Parish Registers - GRAHAM - Complete
Post by: Helen K on Wednesday 27 February 08 22:33 GMT (UK)

Hi Michael

I meant to post this yesterday.

1799 BT Transcript Merrington (Page 94 of 672)
Robert GRAHAM Born 6 Jan  Baptised 12 Jan 4th son of John GRAHAM Shoemaker Native of Ferryhill by his wife Eliz. HERON Native of Brancepeth Parish.

I checked Stockton back to 1795 and found no Robert GRAHAM baptism.

This couples first son's Baptism simply reads
12 July 1776 Thomas son of John GRAHAM Ferryhill.

I was about to  look for the marriage of John GRAHAM and Elizabeth HERON when the site went down for maintenance!


Regards

Helen K

Title: Re: Merrington Parish Registers - GRAHAM - Complete
Post by: Exploration on Saturday 01 March 08 07:25 GMT (UK)

Wow Helen, you have totally surpassed my expectations for help.  I had a chance to read backwards from pg 119 of Stockton and I am amazed that you were able to find Eleanor's birth record.  It is indeed beautifully written. I guess seeing that her mother's name was Rachel HALL clinched it. 

You and Jennifer were right, the BT's are an amazing source of records.  I managed to find the remaining baptism records for Eleanor's and Robert's children from the Merrington BT.  After Rachel Hall GRAHAM, came:

John GRAHAM baptized 28 June 1821 pg 42 (online page 275). The record has the father's name as John, possibly in error.Buried Ferryhill 13 June 1824 Infant pg 36 (online page 306).

Elizabeth GRAHAM 25 Dec 1823 pg 57 (online page 292).

John GRAHAM (again) 12 Feb 1826 pg 70 (online page 314). 

I have a record of this John's marriage:  "Registration District Aukland 1848 Marriage Solemnized at The Register Office in the District of Auckland Union in the County of Durham No. 59

When Married	Name and Surname	Age	Condition	Rank or Profession	Residence	Father's Name and Surname	Position of Father
Nov 25 1848	John GRAHAM	Twenty three years	Bachelor	Joiner	Coundon	Robert GRAHAM	Joiner
	Maria JOLLEY	Nineteen years	Spinster		Coundon	Thomas JOLLEY	Farmer

"Married in the Register Office before Thomas DEAN Registrar William TROTTER Superintendent Registrar.  This marriage was solemnized between us John GRAHAM Maria JOLLEY in the presence of us The mark of X Thomas JOLLEY The mark of MARY Graham."

Eleanor GRAHAM 9 Dec 1827 pg 80 (online page 325).

Mary Graham 22 Sept 1829 pg 91 (onlline page 341).
Buried 8 June 1831 Age 2 Ferry Hill pg 57 (online pg 354).

Mary Ann Graham 1 Jan 1832 pg 105 (online page 356).

Robert Graham 6 April 1834 pg 119 (Online page 379).

David Graham 10 Jan 1836 pg 135 (online page 396).

Ralph GRAHAM 15 April 1838  pg 153 (online page 411)
I also have the birth certificate for Ralph

"Registration District: Sedgefield. 1838 Birth in the Sub-district of Sedgefield in the County of Durham.  No. 99.

When and where born	Name	Sex	Name and Surname of father	Name, surname and maiden surname of mother	Occupation of Father	Description of Informant	When Registered
March 3 1838 Ferryhill	Ralph	Boy	Robert GRAHAM	Eleanor GRAHAM Formerly GRANT	Carpenter	Robert GRAHAM Father Carpenter Ferryhill	March 5th 1838

Signature of registrar William EELLS Registrar."

I also believe I found the burial record for Elizabeth GRAHAM (nee HERON) on page 288

Elizabeth GRAHAM Ferryhill June 30, 1822 68 years

The marriage record of John GRAHAM and Elizabeth HERON proves to be illusive.  The marriage records from March 1775 to June 1777 seem to be missing online.   :'(

Possibly Elizabeth HERON's sister was married to William FORAD?  on May 16 1774  on page 30.   

Children of John GRAHAM and Elizabeth HERON that I found were born after Thomas were:

John baptized Oct 18, 1781  pg 53.

Ann baptized on Apri 10, 1784" pg 55.
burid July 14, 1787 pg . 65.

Mary baptized on Nov 5, 1786 on pg 62.

Ann (again) baptized June 7, 1789 on pg 66.

Ralph baptized July 29, 1792 on pg 69.

which takes us to Robert which you found.

Is there was any way we could prove one way or another that this Robert isn't the same Robert who married Eleanor?

Thanks again,

Michael. 

Title: Re: Merrington Parish Registers - GRAHAM
Post by: Essex export on Saturday 14 June 08 00:43 BST (UK)

Hi Exploration

Re this comment by Helen K

Quote from: Helen K on Tuesday 26 February 08 16:17 GMT (UK)

Witnesses Brignall ELLIOT, John HALL, John WARD.

I can tell you that Brignall Elliott was my 5xgreat grand father and married Roberts sister Mary Graham in 1807 in Kirk Merrington.
Doesn't help much but thought you might be interested.
Regards
Andy

Title: Re: Merrington Parish Registers - GRAHAM - Complete
Post by: Exploration on Saturday 14 June 08 01:19 BST (UK)

Hi Andy!

Thank you for posting your connection to the Graham family.  Your great x 5 grandfather was the clincher for me in my search.  Seeing his name as the witness to Robert and Eleanor's wedding and then married to Mary, Robert's sister provided me the "missing link" I needed.

I assume you saw my posting providing Mary's date of birth.  The parish registers that Helen K and JenB showed me turned out to be very valuable resources.  Good luck in your research.

Regards,

Michael.