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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Durham => Topic started by: Geordie Mag on Monday 03 January 11 22:02 GMT (UK)
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I am trying to track down the baptism records (if any) of Thomas Lee (born 1820/1) and his brother Matthew (born 1824). At the time of the 1851 census both were working at Alwent Mill near Gainford and both gave their place of birth as Roddymoor. When Thomas married Elizabeth Todd at Gainford in 1842, he stated that his father was John Lee a butcher. I imagine that Roddymoor was at that time in Brancepeth parish, but have not found records dating after 1812 for there. If anyone has access to later Brancepeth records - or can put me right on the appropriate parish - I would be very grateful for any help.
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Roddymoor,
If no one comes on tonight to help you I will have a good look around tomorrow,
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Thanks - that would be great.
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Every time I search I keep getting Matthew Lee son of John Gray and Alice Lee,but in Whalton Northumberland ,1822 ,
1841 census wasnt much help as Thomas and Matthew are together in the house of
Robert Coleman who is a miller,Ingleton,Staindrop,Durham
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Yes - and by 1861 Thomas was the miller there himself and stayed there until things went badly wrong in the 1890s. I am curious to know what sort of background Thomas and Matthew came from - did they have links with milling or was it a new venture for the family? I just can't get back beyond 1841. Thomas clearly became very prosperous for a while, but all the prosperity was lost by the turn of the century. I suppose i wonder whether he was a completely self- made man coming from a poor background, or did he get a bunk up from his family?
Anyway, thanks very much for looking - much appreciated.
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No Lee baptisms at all in Brancepeth St. Brandon 1813-1839. There is a Thomas Lee marriage 1819 to Isabella Hutchinson, no burials.
Janis
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Disappointing - the search continues! Anyhow, thank you very much for looking. Even ruling places out is a big help.
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Thomas Lee,1821, Shiney Row,
Thomas Lee 1822,Bowlees Common,
two more to look at I haven't taken this any further as my geographical knowledge of Durham isn't brilliant,
the 1881 census states Thomas was born Crook 1821,and he is a miller, is this near Billy Row please,
Help needed please,Gillian
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The whole area is called Crook and Billy Row, also in the parish of Brancepeth. Crook St. Catherine started in 1843.
Janis
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Thomas Lee of Shiney Row is too far north east, I think. Bowlees common is more interesting. The Bowlees I know is at the top of Teesdale, but there may be one in Weardale and possibly other places, because leases are usually something to do with pastures. Where did you see that?
There are a lot of Thomas Lees around in County Durham, and as for John Lees....! I have found the details (Northern Echo in "19th century Newspapers")of the sale in 1895 of most of Thomas's household goods as well as all the mill equipment in order to pay his creditors. Not a nice thing to have to do in your 70s.
As Janis says, Roddymoor Billy Row etc all went into the new Crook parish later. The old parishes were so big, perhaps people took their children for baptism wherever and whenever (perhaps when they had got several children collected up!) it suited them without bothering about the correct parish.
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I use every site available, to find clues,the baptism for Thomas was Durham records on line,its pay to view so of course I cant get further details for you,Bowlees common was all it said with the date, we will find him eventualy,
I looked for a possible apprenticeship to Robert Coleman the miller he lived with in the census,was there a family connection,did they inherit it ,strange little twists and it has totaly intrigued me,
Gillian
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Go on Genuki Middleton in Teasdale baptisms ,so may Lee children,
The one I quoted earlier is the son of Nancy a single woman 1822,
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Middleton is Lee Central, isn't it? Actually, I have seen that one, but hadn't taken in that she lived at Bowlees. It doesn't fit with the claim on Thomas's marriage certificate that he was the son of John Lee, though not necessarily to be discounted. Someone on the other side of my family claimed a man as father who was actually his grandfather. So I am keeping it in mind. Doesn't fit so well with the Roddymoor claim as Middleton is high up Teesdale (and Bowlees well to its west), and Roddymoor is middle Weardale. But people were moving round Durham a lot in search of work.
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In the Bishop's Transcripts for Wolsingham I have found the burial, Dec. 30th 1832, of Isabella Lee aged 15 daughter of John and Isabella Lee of Roddymoor. I can't read John's occupation - might be "farmer". This sounds hopeful, especially as I can't find Isabella's baptism either. However, John and Isabella did have other children baptized at Wolsingham earlier, when they were actually living in the parish and John was working as a miner/farmer. I suppose they may have left Wolsingham in search of work, had intervening children baptized wherever that was, then when they ended up in Roddymoor renewed links with Wolsingham (perhaps it was easier to get to than Brancepeth). Anyway, I shall kepp searching.)
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GeordyMag-
Have not looked at my records for a while- do you have the full Lee family group- this is I believe the father of William Lee, living at his gfathers house, Thomas Todd at the 1871 census? In which case would like to tie up with you please?
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Hmm.....He must be a son of Thomas Lee, mustn't he? I'm afraid I recorded William's presence with Thomas Todd and didn't think to try to tie him in with the rest of the family. As you will gather, I have no record of the poor lad. I have the two oldest sons of Thomas and Elizabeth as Thomas and John, the names of the 2 grandfathers in proper traditional style, so I didn't really expect to find an earlier son.They were born in 1845 and 1847. Poor William spoils the pattern. Do you have the record of his birth?
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Hi Geordie Mag,
William first appears in the 1851 census living with his grandfather, Thomas Todd. In the 1871 census, William Lee aged 27 is still living with Thomas Todd (my g g g g grandfather who is a farmer of 118 acres) as his servant at Killerby, Ingleton. have never been able to pinpoint Williams' own father so any help would be greatly appreciated. In 1881, Thomas had by then died, with William it appears inheriting the farm as he now has 115 acres to his name.
Regards,
Ian
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Hi Ian,
I do have some bits of information about William and also about some earlier Lees. I found all this out earlier in the year, but it has, to put it mildly, been one of those years, so I haven't been doing much more than glance at Rootschat, without having time to put the information together into a coherent reply. I'll dig it out and send it on. However, I do have to hand Thomas Todd's will of 1872, which I managed to get through the Leeds probate office. I assume Thomas was a tenant farmer as there is no reference to the land. The executors, Thomas Lee and Joseph Todd, Thomas's son, are told to sell all the stock and household goods to pay the various legacies. His children each get £50 and "my grandson William Lee son of the said Thomas Lee the sum of thirty pounds." So that's pretty clear.
Will be back in touch,
Mag
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More than 2 years ago, several of you were very helpful in trying to find a record of the baptisms of Thomas and Matthew Lee, but without success. I think I have now found them - under a slightly different name. I was using the NDFHS database in Newcastle and found among the Brancepeth records the baptisms in July 1825 of Thomas, Matthew and Isabella Leech, children of John and Isabella Leech. I know these were the names of the 3 youngest children. I knew of Isabella's existence from the record of her death - in 1832, I think. She was 15 then,if the burial record is correct, so would have been about 8 at her baptism, quite old for baptism. I suppose it would be quite easy to hear Leech for Lee, especially if their father had rather a strong accent.
I have several ancestors whose baptism records I can't find - I am now trying to imagine how these surnames might be misheard by the parish clerk!
Anyway, thank you to everyone who helped.