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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Northumberland => England => Northumberland Lookup Requests => Topic started by: bdconnel on Wednesday 25 November 09 08:04 GMT (UK)
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I am looking for the birth of William POTTS born circa 1844 somewhere in Northumberland. On his marriage to Elen WARDLE in March 1866 in Gateshead, Durham, his age is given as 22 years old. In the "father" slot William is described as the "illegitimate son of John CARR". I want to find out who his mother is, presumably a POTTS girl who then brought up the baby William in her own/parents household, but I have no idea if this is even true - just speculation on my part. Census searches return many possible entries for William Potts that deciding which may be the right one is a nightmare. William Potts was one of 164 men and boys killed in the gas explosion at the Seaham Colliery, Durham in September 1880. Any information regarding his parents and where and by whom he was brougth up would be most gratefully received.
Cheers :)
Bryan
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Hi
Have you found William with his wife in 1871? If so can you quote the reference? What children did they have? That should make it easier to find them - in theory!
Regards
Andrea
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Hello Brian
Does the marriage state that Elen was a widow?
Have a look at this 1871 Easington Durham RG10/4978 folio 10 page 3
The age of eldest Potts child fits marriage date.
Jackie
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Possibles...
Baptism William Potts 10 June 1846 Ayecliffe Durham
1861 census Darlington Durham RG9/3684 folio 73 page 4
William Potts 15 gen sev. Ayecliffe Durham
Ann Potts unm. 35 dom serv Henley Yorksh.
Jackie.
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POB in 1871/1861 is Newcastle, Northumberland.
1861 Census he is living with a very large Selkirk family in Gateshead, Durham.
RG9/3806/35/36
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Hi Bryan,
As Sillgen asked what were the names of his children ? And which are you descended from ?.
There are 2 William Potts hanging around born Newcastle with Wives Ellen/Eleanor.
One of them is on the 1861 Census I quoted earlier ( coal miner) and the other in 1861 with his grand- parents Ralph and Mary ( occp carter). RG9/3820/56/32
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Hi All,
I've just had a quick look at all your posts - thanks so much for responding. I will answer/respond to your help tomorrow or the day after. I'm only on line at work and I only work part-time, so I'm not monitoring Rootschat everyday - just when I can.
Be back soon.
Cheers
Bryan
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Hi All,
I’m so sorry that I have taken so long to get back to you. I have been ill and away from computers, internet and that sort of thing for the past two to three weeks.
I will address each posting in turn:
Sillgen: 25/11/2009
Yes, I have seen this 1871 census listing – RG10/4798/10/13. There’s no problem identifying everyone here. William is shown as being born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, aged 28 years, coal miner. It is definitely the right family that I am researching as two of the children: Jane and Sarah Potts, just 2 years old in this listing are the twins (born 6th December 1868 at New Seaham, Durham). I have a family photograph of Jane and Sarah Potts taken circa 1887 (they look about 18-20 years old), and another photograph of a much older Jane Purvis (nee Potts) with her mother, Eleanor Wardle.
Jacqueline: 25/11/2009 – postings 1 and 2
Posting 1: No, Elen is not a widow, she’s a spinster – thus indicating that children she had before her marriage to William Potts in 1866 were perhaps illegitimate – certainly, in the 1871 census you quote, they are referred to as the step-children of William Potts, and later listings show them as the children of Ellen Potts (Wardle).
Posting 2: I don’t think that this is “my” William Potts, although I could be wrong. Ayecliff in Durham is right down near the border with Yorkshire, and “my” William indicates that he was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northumberland.
Trish: 25/11/2009 – postings 1 and 2
Posting 1: I think that this William Potts listed in the 1861 census (RG9/3806/35/36) is the most likely contender – he is the right age, born in the right place and the right occupation (coal miner).
Posting 2: Again, I think that your listing above is the most likely contender rather than your second listing – however, who knows until further research is done. My interest in William Potts is not through my own direct relationship – William Potts is my wife’s 2 x great-grandfather, with Jane Purvis (nee Potts) being her great-grandmother. Jane Potts married William Birkbeck Purvis at New Seaham, Durham in August 1889. Jane and William Purvis had two children, William and Susannah, both born in New Seaham in the early-mid 1890s. Both these children married, and in 1919-1920 – the two children and their spouses plus their parents (Jane Purvis (nee Potts) and William B Purvis) migrated to Canada, settling in Hamilton, Ontario. All three families lived there for the rest of their lives, with the two younger ones having children born in Canada.
I think that about covers it – what I am really needing to find is the birth of a William Potts, ca. 1843 in Newcastle-on-Tyne, with a father named John Carr. This will enable me to identify the mother.
Thanks for all your help, time and trouble. Enjoy your Christmas and New Years feastings and all the very best to you for 2010.
Cheers
Bryan
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hi Bryan. i had a look on the Durham mining museum pages - i thought there might be more info, then realised i think you supplied the info!! however others might be interested so:
www.dmm2.org.uk
here we go:
William Potts, aged 41, of 15 Model Street, died 8 Sep 1880 at Seaham Colliery
then:
1881 Census 10 Hall Street, Seaham, Co. Durham
RG11/4971/155 p 28
Ellen Potts 46 Head Widow b Bennton
Robert Wardle age 24 Son Coal Miner b Wreckington
Thomas Potts 15 Son Coal Miner b Wreckington
Jane Potts 12 Daughter Scholar b Easington
Sarah Potts 12 Daughter Scholar b Easington
John Potts 9 Son Scholar b Easington
William Potts 9 Son Scholar b Easington
Details of the compensation Settlement are given at the bottom of the same page.
Diddy
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Hi Diddy,
Thanks for this - yes, I was aware of it and have visited the Durham Mining Museum pages - it's a really good resource. It's good you published for others that might be interested and I can certainly endorse the usefulness of the site. All the best for Christmas and New Year.
Cheers
Bryan
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Just in case you haven't got this bit of information..............
Elizabeth Wardle married John Blenkinsop in 1891..............
1891 Seaham
Ellen Potts 58, born Brampton, North East
Robert Wardle 35, born Wreckenton
John Potts 19, born Seaham
William Potts 19, born Seaham
Isabella (Harron??) 37, daughter, widowed, born Wrekenton
Ellen (Harron??) 4 born North Shields
John Blenkinsop 22, born Barnard Castle
Elizabeth Blenkinsop 27, born Wrekenton
Robert W Blenkinsop 1 month, born Seaham
In the 1901 census the Blenkinsop's are living in Barnard Castle
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I might be totally off the mark here but in 1861 in Gateshead...........
Thomas Wardle 58, born Heddon
Ellen Wardle 64, born Elsdon
Thomas Wardle 24, born Durham
Elizabeth Wardle 21, born Durham
*Ann Wardle 10, born Gateshead
*Isabella Wardle 6, born Gateshead
*Robert Wardle 4, born Gateshead
***grandchildren
As you can see it maybe just a coincidence that in 1891, staying with Ellen are a daughter Isabella and a son Robert, both of the right age to be the above children and both born in the right area................maybe coincidence ?