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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Durham => Topic started by: Whipby on Monday 18 June 12 16:47 BST (UK)
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In the 1871 census, a non-direct ancestor of mine is a visitor in the household of a reasonably well-to-do family named Garthwaite. I've never been able to figure out how she might be connected or related to this family. She was illegitimate and does not have an occupation listed while visiting them - doesn't look like she's a servant or any sort of employee. No clue as to why she's there and not with her family - she was 20 years old.
However, looking back at some old notes and records, I have today realised that a witness at her great great grandfather's marriage (over 100 years earlier) was also called Garthwaite.
Co-incidence probably, with such a big gap between the two events, but I'd like to look into it.
One tenuous link is that the Mr Garthwaite that she's visiting lists his birthplace as Sunderland, and from what I can make out, the marriage of her gg grandfather took place in Bishopwearmouth which I believe is in Sunderland.
Does anyone have any ideas what I could do next to verify the relationship - if any?
I'm not asking for anyone to do lookups for me, which is why I haven't posted all the names etc., but rather some tips on what to do? It's just something that's always intrigued me and although it's quite trivial, I'd like to get to the bottom of it if possible!
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The parish of Sunderland was formed out of the parish of Bishopwearmouth in 1719.
Stan
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Thanks Stan.
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The general approach for this type of thing I think it to build up the family trees for both the family and individual concerned and look for common names linking them eg maiden names etc
A bit more specific info on the individual would be helpful and I've no doubt a lot of people on here would see it as a challenge and would be only too pleased to do some looking up !
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I agree with lewis1c :)
Trace the Garthwaite names that you have and, hopefully, the families will intersect at some point.
We'll help if you need us :)
Linda
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For a bit of lateral thinking, was the individual visiting the Garthwaite family or perhaps someone else who was boarding with them ?
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Have you tried contacting people who are researching the Garthwaite family? A Google search turns up a few possible links.
In fact on the Surname Interests Table here on Rootschat it seems there are three people interested in the name, you could try sending them a PM :)
Heather
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Thank you everyone for your helpful advice. I know lots about the girl herself, virtually nothing about the Garthwaites though, so will try to at least track them through the censuses and see if anything crops up.
Also in the household are two boarders and a servant - none of whose surnames or birthplaces link in any obvious way to my girl - and I have wondered in the past if she is visiting one of these, rather than the family itself, but is it very likely that the family would put her up if this was the case? They could do I suppose, so I'll have to consider all possibilities.
If I get nowhere I'll certainly ask for some more help, thank you all!
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Check the 1881 census original for this Garthwaite family. The people living next door (or next faily entry) - do these have the same surname as your individual of interest ??? Coincidence maybe ? Or maybe not ?
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Hi Lewis - I've looked at the 1881 and you are right, the neighbour's surname (Henderson) is the same surname as my girl, Elizabeth Henderson. However I think this is coincidence as I don't think there are any Redcar connections with my Hendersons, which is where this chap says he was born. Of course I can't be 100% certain, and something might crop up which changes my mind.
I also checked the Garthwaites in previous censuses, and found that in 1861, George Garthwaite and his family are living just a few doors away from Elizabeth who is listed under her step father's name of Campbell, in Lower Feversham Street, Middlesbrough.
More digging required, but perhaps they were just family friends after all, and not related. I just can't get that Garthwaite marriage witness out of my head and wonder if the two families are linked more formally in some way.
I'll keep on digging!
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I only have 4 Garthwaites in my line.
Joseph Garthwaite married Mary Dawson 13 June 1802, Stanhope, County Durham.
3 Children, Phoebe, Thomas and Elizabeth. All baptized/born in Wolsingham, County Durham. Phoebe born 16 May 1803 and baptized 17 July 1803 is my 3rd Great
Grandmother.
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This is a bit off track, but I think back in those days people were more inclined to take people into their homes even if they did not know them very well - this may have been the case here.
I recently read the Diaries of Sarah Hurst and something that really surprised me is how much 'visiting' they did. Her own family had acquanitances who stayed the night, and she used to regularly be invited to stay at the homes of friends of friends of acquaintances, or stayed overnight in a virtual stranger's house if, for example, the weather was too bad to travel home.
I know you have considered the possibility that your ancestor was visiting someone else in the household, so I just wanted to throw in that observation even though Sarah's wrote her diaries at an earlier date.
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Thanks Ruskie - following my more recent finds I'm thinking the two families were friends since they had been neighbours in previous censuses, so being a visitor in their house doesn't seem so strange any more. I'm more inclined now to think that the Garthwaite witness in the marriage of 100 years earlier is just a co-incidence. However, it's always on the back burner and if anything else crops up I'll maybe take another stab at proving a family link! Thanks for your input, very much appreciated.