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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: Phodgetts on Friday 31 March 17 19:57 BST (UK)
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Hello everybody.
I have learned that my 2 x great grandfather Thomas Kennedy (1864 - 1941) died a widower at his sister's house 31 May 1941. Whitton House, Queen's Road, Wooler. I have tried to research the address and I even found a telephone number and name (both now defunct) to ask the person listed about the location of the house, but I have been stumped by outdated information.
Can anyone local to the area please tell me the exact house Whitton House is on Queen's Road. I'd love to know exactly which house it is / was and get a photo of it if possible, for the family tree.
Thank you
Philip
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Hi Philip, it was still in existence in 1946:-
Probate Isabella Duncan of Whitton House, Queens Road, Wooler died 11th January 1946 Probate Newcastle upon Tyne 10th May to Walter Kennedy Works Foreman and Margaret Jane Kennedy Spinster Effects £1565 3s 11d ( About £44,000 today)
Keyboard86
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Thank you keyboard86. I have that information. Isabella was my grandfather's sister. He had been living at Fern Cottage, Rothbury not long before. I assume he went to his sister's when he got ill with stomach cancer. She must have looked after him at Whitton House until he died. Their brother who lived at Middlesborough also got a mention in other papers, and was at Whitton House when his brother died there.
I'll attach an image of the most recent telephone listing for Whitton House, sadly no date, but it proves recent existence.
The next thing after finding this house is then to find out where he is buried.
Thanks again
P
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Hi]
There is a piece in the Berwick Advertiser 11 April 1946 concerning the sale of Whitton House Queens Road, Wooler.
Described as "brick built and roughcast with slated roof, goes on to detail rooms which incude(to possibly help with ID) a sitting room with bay two bedrooms and a front and rear garden.
Also a small piece on a theft that happened in 1951 at Whitton House Queens road Wooler.
Resident at the time was D V Turnbull.
Cathy
Added also described as semi detached
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Hi]
There is a piece in the Berwick Advertiser 11 April 1946 concerning the sale of Whitton House Queens Road, Wooler.
Described as "brick built and roughcast with slated roof, goes on to detail rooms which incude(to possibly help with ID) a sitting room with bay two bedrooms and a front and rear garden.
Also a small piece on a theft that happened in 1951 at Whitton House Queens road Wooler.
Resident at the time was D V Turnbull.
Cathy
Added also described as semi detached
That must narrow it down to one of the houses on the south side of Queen's Road
https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/399168/628290/12/100954
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01jun/
Had you considered contacting Glendale Local History Society? http://www.wooler.org.uk/glhs/contact
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That is excellent information, thank you all. This is my next excuse for going to Wooler again! I hope they don't mind cold callers.
Thank you
P
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Both John Duncan and Thomas Kennedy of Whitton House ,were interred in Wooler according to death notices.
"John Duncan of Whitton House Queens Road, Wooler died 18th April 1933. Interrment Wooler Churchyard on Friday pm"
Newcastle Journal 15 May 1941
Thomas Kennedy-At Whitton House, Wooler on May 13th at residence of his sister Mrs Duncan, aged 76 years. Interrment Wooler May 15th.
Cathy
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Thank you so much Cathy!
By Wooler Churchyard, would that be St Mary's?
P
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Sorry, it did nt specify in the article and unfortunately I don t know the area, hope you can find out.
Cathy
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Around 1970 Postal Codes were introduced in Wooler. Prior to that all the houses in Queens Road had names. No.1,3,5,7,9,11 were semi detached houses, brick built and rendered, a bay window in the front lounge; rear living room; kitchen; bathroom and 3 bedrooms (one was very small). I think these are the houses that interest you.
I lived in one of these between 1968 and 1971. No.3 was called Bolam Cottage and No.5 was Craig View. I have a feeling that Witton House was No. 1. I am sure the Council would have details of the change from names to numbers. If you use google earth you can zoom in to view these houses. Info. could also be got from electoral rolls.
knotin
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Cathy, without wanting to cause you a great deal of trouble, is there any mention locally of Mary Kennedy (nee Wilson) who was Thomas Kennedy's wife, my 2 x great grandmother. All I do know is, she died some time before Tom, but I have no idea when. All I have is a picture of them at Fern Cottage roughly 1938/9 or possibly 1940. In one of the pictures I have there is a man in uniform who I think helps date the photo to about that time. I'd love to know if Tom and Mary are buried together at Wooler. I shall making plans to go visit the graveyard soon!
Photo is of Tom and Mary at Fern Cottage, Rothbury, with visiting relative(?) circa ww2
Philip
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Hi,
Sorry I have nt replied , we have been on holiday in Wales and have just got back. I will have a look and see if there is anything about the Kennedys,
Cathy :)
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No worries, thank you.
I only just realised looking at maps that there are three burial grounds at Wooler, I thought there were only two, one at St Mary's and one at the Catholic church. Knowing the Kennedys were Presbyterian I didn't think they'd be buried at the Catholic church, and I already looked at St Mary's twice for them. But now I see there is a Municiple burial ground, so my guess is I will find my relatives in that burial ground. I hope to visit during the week of 24 April. Can't wait to be back 'home' and searching for them.
P ;D
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Finally managed to find the grave of Thomas Kennedy. He is buried with his brother-in-law.
The surname Duncan was visible on the headstone, but not the surname Kennedy, and I also got a glimpse of the words Isabella and Brother. I had to remove some sods of earth to expose the writing on the headstone and sure enough it was the one I was looking for. However I now have new questions. Where is Thomas Kennedy's sister Isabella buried, and of course Thomas's wife Mary? The grave at Wooler looks like it is a family plot, but there is no mention of either Isabella or Mary on the headstone. This has been a bit of a 'yay', 'argh' moment. I had hoped to find Thomas and his wife together. This outcome I had not forseen.
If anyone can help with newspaper items about Mary Kennedys death possibly at Rothbury or Wooler about 1939, and Isabella Duncan (nee Kennedy d 11 Jan 1946) at Wooler that would be wonderful.
P
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Hi in 1939 Thomas was a Widower with Isabella Duncan at Whitton House.
Keyboard86
EDIT What year was Mary born?
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My Grandparents lived at 9 Queens Road, Wooler from the early 1950s until the early 2000s, their surname was Brown.
I remember it had a wooden, painted green gate (which I think has now been replaced) had "Whitton House" painted on it.
Graham
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Hello Graham and welcome to Rootschat.
Thanks for telling me about the gate, that is a wonderful little piece of information to have. I wondered where the house name was, because when I stopped by to have look, there was no evidence of the name or a rectangluar light patch on the walls suggesting a nameplate or such had once been there.
Thank you
P