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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: Nova67 on Monday 19 December 16 04:32 GMT (UK)

Title: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Nova67 on Monday 19 December 16 04:32 GMT (UK)
Hello friends and researchers in the North East and 8) greetings!

Does anyone have a clue where this place is? On the image it looks like Smythfields?

Birthplace given for a Margaret Jane Drysdale (nee Wood) b. abt 1864. 1901 Census for Togstone.

Thank you.
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Rosinish on Monday 19 December 16 05:24 GMT (UK)
Can you tell us what 'do'/'ditto' is in connection with please?

Couldn't find a Smithfield/Smythfield in Northumberland but found reference to one in London?

Annie
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Ruskie on Monday 19 December 16 05:49 GMT (UK)
I think that "do" is probably Northumberland Annie.  :)

Nova, where do other censuses say she was born?

Added: I can't see anything remotely like it on Genuki.  :-\
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Ruskie on Monday 19 December 16 06:09 GMT (UK)
Do you have them in 1891 Nova?

I'm not having any luck finding them - I was hoping that James, Margaret and Ellen would be easy to find ..... :-\
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Rosinish on Monday 19 December 16 06:28 GMT (UK)
Ruskie,

I'm surprised you haven't found it on a map...you're good with mapping locations  :P

Annie
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Ruskie on Monday 19 December 16 08:43 GMT (UK)
Ruskie,

I'm surprised you haven't found it on a map...you're good with mapping locations  :P

Annie

Aw, thanks Annie. Odd you should mention that - this afternoon I was foraging around on maps looking for the last address of one of my own distant relatives.  ;)

I would love to solve this but haven't found any clues as to what this place is meant to be. Maybe a local is needed as it may be a regional dialect issue, and the enumerator wrote what he thought he heard.

Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: JenB on Monday 19 December 16 08:55 GMT (UK)
A search of the free index to the 1911 census shows her birthplace as 'Newbiggin Woodhorn Parish'.
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: AlisdairGB on Monday 19 December 16 08:59 GMT (UK)
Do you have them in 1891 Nova?



I think they were married in 1893 , so I'm not sure if the 1891 census is going to help. ( 1911 says married 21 years, but pob is Newbiggin ( Woodhorn Parish)

Edit: Sorry, beaten to it ...
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Gadget on Monday 19 December 16 09:04 GMT (UK)
Is her maiden name Wood? James's (5 on 1901)  mmn is Wood on Birth Reg.


Added - or (possibly) Renner
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: emeltom on Monday 19 December 16 09:11 GMT (UK)
It might an idea to put your question to the Woodhorn Museum and Archives. In the mean time do you have her on any other Censuses?

Emeltom
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: JenB on Monday 19 December 16 09:12 GMT (UK)
I don't see anything of any help on the Northumberland Farm Index  :-\
http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/WAMDocuments/75CAA247-2EB6-417F-B0C3-2838AE2897AF_1_0.pdf?nccredirect=1
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Gadget on Monday 19 December 16 09:17 GMT (UK)
Found a Margaret j Renner in Newbiggin in 1871 - Jackson Cottages.  I don't see a Smithfield in Newbiggin though. It's fairly compact with of terraced houses.

The Margaret J Wood is in Cramlington.
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Gadget on Monday 19 December 16 09:39 GMT (UK)
Did James Drysdale change his name?   I've found a suitable marriage:


Robert Drysdale married a Margaret Jane Renner 2 quarter 1890, Morpeth
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Nova67 on Monday 19 December 16 10:18 GMT (UK)
Thank you dear people.

Sorry, but my Internet was constantly dropping out, and then I had to go out. I had no chance to reply to the first two messages.

Yes, ditto is Northumberland  ;D.

I am trying to work out how I am related to someone in America, based on DNA Matches for my mother and myself on Ancestry and Gedmatch. I am guessing it is probably Northumberland that connects us.

Margaret Jane Wood married James Drysdale in 1893 at Morpeth, Northumberland. Her father is listed as William Wood, deceased. It gives his occupation as Farm Servant. Bride's abode was Chevington. Her age is 31.

Immigrated to the USA in 1903. Age was 40.

I have found potentially found her on earlier census, but knowing where this place is would help! I'll just look it up again.

I was hoping to then get her mother's maiden name via the new GRO search facility. Have had a look.  No names ringing a bell! Birth seems to be around 1862/3.

Maybe it is near Choppington? Maybe registered Morpeth???









Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: JenB on Monday 19 December 16 10:34 GMT (UK)
A search of the free index to the 1911 census shows her birthplace as 'Newbiggin Woodhorn Parish'.

My apologies, this is quite incorrect  ::) This a different Margaret Jane, who is married to a Robert, and they can be found together on the 1901 census. I must remember not to answer enquiries before I've had my morning caffeine infusion.

Back to the correct Margaret  ::) I've consulted my copies of 'Goodwife Hot' (Northumberland's Past in its Place Names), and Stan Beckensall's Place and Field Names of Northumberland, and can't find anything that resembles the name given in the 1901 census.
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Nova67 on Monday 19 December 16 10:44 GMT (UK)
No worries.

I am wondering now about one born Mousen (Belford) in 1861. She is one month. William Wood is an Ag Lab.  Mother is Jane.

1871 says born Bamboro (sic) Bamburgh/Bamborough?

Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Nova67 on Monday 19 December 16 10:48 GMT (UK)
A search of the free index to the 1911 census shows her birthplace as 'Newbiggin Woodhorn Parish'.

Back to the correct Margaret  ::) I've consulted my copies of 'Goodwife Hot' (Northumberland's Past in its Place Names), and Stan Beckensall's Place and Field Names of Northumberland, and can't find anything that resembles the name given in the 1901 census.

Thank you!
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Sprouted on Monday 19 December 16 11:35 GMT (UK)
HI, In my opinion it looks like a case of the enumerator hearing what was said incorrectly and it should say Spittal. I think that Spittal could fairly easily be heard as Smithfield in a strong enough accent, I also found this 1911 census;
   
James Wood Drysdale
England and Wales Census, 1911
Name   James Wood Drysdale
Event Type   Census
Event Date   1911
County   Northumberland
Parish   Ashington
Sub-District   Ashington
Registration District   Morpeth
Gender   Male
Age   59
Birthplace   Spittal, Northumberland
Record Type   Ho Household
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: stanmapstone on Monday 19 December 16 11:39 GMT (UK)
HI, In my opinion it looks like a case of the enumerator hearing what was said incorrectly

The enumerator did not fill in the schedule (except for two sections) it was filled in by or on behalf of the head of the family. It is a common myth that a census enumerator knocked on doors and asked who was present, and then wrote down the details, often miss-hearing, or miss-spelling. When the enumerator collected the schedules all he had to do was to to examine the schedule in order to satisfy himself that it had been correctly and completely filled up.

Stan
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Nova67 on Monday 19 December 16 11:44 GMT (UK)
The family went to the USA. Not on 1911 Census.
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 19 December 16 11:55 GMT (UK)
There's someone in the 1891 census (Alice Dryden) whose birthplace is given as Smyfield, Northumberland
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Sprouted on Monday 19 December 16 11:56 GMT (UK)
It is possible that somebody else filled the forms out for them and misheard. They may not have been able to read of write. As there is no Smithfield in Northumberland, there are several Drysdales residing in Spittal, which was Berwick-upon-Tweed registration district, in various censuses, I'd say Spittal would be a good line of enquiry to follow. The 1911 census posted before May be a son or relative of the family, I haven't looked to see how he fits in but I would say that as is name is James Wood Drysdale it is likely that he is related to your Margaret and James, and his birth place is also Spittal.
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 19 December 16 12:05 GMT (UK)
Just wondering if it is "Northshields"  badly transcribed by the enumerator.
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: JenB on Monday 19 December 16 12:21 GMT (UK)
Possibility  :-\

Top l-hand corner of this map is Smith Field.
https://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/006825FS.htm

Now called Smeafield . A little north of Belford.
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: stanmapstone on Monday 19 December 16 13:23 GMT (UK)
There's someone in the 1891 census (Alice Dryden) whose birthplace is given as Smyfield, Northumberland

In 1881 her birth place is given as Amble.

Stan
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Gadget on Monday 19 December 16 14:02 GMT (UK)
No worries.

I am wondering now about one born Mousen (Belford) in 1861. She is one month. William Wood is an Ag Lab.  Mother is Jane.

1871 says born Bamboro (sic) Bamburgh/Bamborough?

RG09/3882/54/15

Also think that this is a strong possible.  On Jennifer's map, there is also a place marked as Shofield* just south of Mousen.

* corrected from Shefield - too small print on phone!
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: JenB on Monday 19 December 16 14:20 GMT (UK)
RG09/3882/54/15

Also think that this is a strong possible.  On Jennifer's map, there is a place marked as Shefield just south of Mousen.

I think that's Shiel Field here  :-\
http://maps.nls.uk/view/102346263#zoom=5&lat=7142&lon=5217&layers=BT
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Ruskie on Monday 19 December 16 14:26 GMT (UK)
I like JenB's Smithfield/Smeafield. (Presumably Smyfield is the same place).

It seems to have been known as Smeafield by the time of the 1901 census, but maybe it was still known locally as Smythfield? :-\

There seem to be other places which sound similar, but Smithfield seems to be the closest match.
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Gadget on Monday 19 December 16 14:32 GMT (UK)
If the 1861 family in Mousen is correct (and H of H is a William, ag lab, which fits with marriage cert), then it could be either of the S---fields  :-\
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: JenB on Monday 19 December 16 14:57 GMT (UK)
I am wondering now about one born Mousen (Belford) in 1861. She is one month. William Wood is an Ag Lab.  Mother is Jane.

I think that would have to be the birth registered first quarter 1861, Belford 10b, 294. Mother's maiden surname Johnson  :-\
Title: Re: Please can you decipher and advise of place name in Northumberland?
Post by: Nova67 on Monday 19 December 16 22:46 GMT (UK)
Yes, I saw Johnson on GRO - isn't it great having that now. Still not one of my ancestral names, but I am so grateful that JenB has worked it out! Somehow two people in my family DNA match to two in another, probably in Northumberland.

Thanks to everyone who has had input, Merry Christmas :)