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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Durham => Topic started by: Elliven on Sunday 26 October 25 14:39 GMT (UK)
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Can anyone please give me any information on John Newton who was a publican in Lanchester from the 1790's to about 1820. He owned The King's Head Inn and The Blue Bell Inn during that time. I have no more information about him other than that he was a member of The Lanchester Association for the Prosecution of Felons.
I am interested in his parents and his wife and children (if he was married) and his dates and places of birth and death. Also in what he did for a living before and after his life as a publican and innkeeper. I have discovered that a man named John Newton lived in a small house near the workhouse in the 1840's - was this the same man?
I have met nothing but brick walls whilst trying to find out about his personal life. Thank you.
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might be a clue,
All Saints Lanchester,
born 22nd April 1803
baptised 8th June 1803
Mary Newton
father John Newton Inn Keeper , Mother Margaret
abode Kings Head Lanchester
1st daughter father native of Medomsley and mother Margaret Boys daughter of William Boys native of this Parish
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Free reg Margaret Boys spouse John Newton
All Saints Lanchester, 26th December 1798
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Thank you Radcliff,
This has to be him! I can't imagine that there were two men named John Newton, both innkeepers in this small village at the time. It is a very big village now but then there were only about 600-800 inhabitants.
So, with his date of marriage, his wife's maiden name and his daughter's name and baptism date - that's a great start! Thanks again.
Neville
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Later children of John Newton and Margaret Boys have father John as a farmer living at Lizards, Lanchester. They can be found there in the 1841 census.
This is, I believe, John Newton's death notice in the Durham Chronicle 12 July 1850
At Hyperion Syke, near Lanchester, 8th inst, aged 78, Mr John Newton, upwards of 40 years, tenant of the Lizards Farm near that village.
William
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Thank you Millmoor,
That information is very interesting and useful. following the newspaper report, he became a farmer at least 40 years before his death in 1850. He still owned the pubs for a few years after that and presumably he put a tenant into The King's Head, The Blue Bell already had a tenant.
Neville
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For the baptism of son William ( 2nd son) in 1805 he is still an innkeeper. For the baptism of daughter Margaret ( 2nd daughter) in 1808 he is a farmer at Lizards. Baptisms are on Freereg.
William
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All Saints, Lanchester
26 Dec 1798 John Newton married Margaret Boys, both of this parish, by banns
Witnesses: Barbara Boys; Mary Boys; William Boys; Surtees Newton
baptisms, all at Lanchester, All Saints
5 Apr 1778 Margaret Boys, of Maiden Law, daughter of William (blacksmith) & Margaret Boys
21 May 1780 John Boys, of Maiden Law, son of William & Margaret Boys
7 Apr 1782 Barbara Boys, of Maiden Law, daughter of William & Mary Boys
20 Jun 1784 Mary Boys, of Maiden Law, daughter of William & Margaret Boys
26 Dec 1786 William Boys, of Maiden Law, son of William & Margaret Boys
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BTs for Lanchester on Family Search
1798 marriage of John Newton & Margaret Boys
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D1ZQ-QZ1?
(see also previous image which confirms the parish and year)
1799 baptism of 1st son, John
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D1Z3-B4R?
1803 baptism of 1st daughter, Mary
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D1Z3-139?
1805 baptism of 2nd son, William
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D1ZQ-9LJ?
1808 baptism of 2nd daughter, Margaret
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D1ZQ-S59?
1811 baptism of 3rd daughter, Jane
28 Aug 1811 Jane Newton, of Lizards, born 17-Jul 1811, 3rd daughter of John Newton (farmer, native of Medomsley) by his wife Margaret Boys (native of this parish, daughter of William & Margaret Boys)
(transcription as images have been scanned as portions of the very large page and would take a lot of stitching together to make sense)
1815 baptism of daughter Elizabeth
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D1ZQ-3YB?
1841 census (transcript)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQBD-G8L?lang=en
1842 likely death registration for wife Margaret
Q4 1842 Durham & Lanchester 24 32, age 64
Boo
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1842 likely death registration for wife Margaret
Q4 1842 Durham & Lanchester 24 32, age 64
Boo
30 Oct 1842 Margaret Newton, of Lizards, age: 64
added: this is a burial record
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possible burial of Margaret Newton
Lanchester ,abode Lizards, 30 th October 1842
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Lizards Farm then and now, just WNW of Lanchester.
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=17.2&lat=54.82788&lon=-1.76062&layers=6&right=osm
In the 1843 tithe record John Newton is the occupier there of 57 acres; owner William Wray.
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This is, I believe, John Newton's death notice in the Durham Chronicle 12 July 1850
At Hyperion Syke, near Lanchester, 8th inst, aged 78, Mr John Newton, upwards of 40 years, tenant of the Lizards Farm near that village.
It is Hyperson Syke, but the only references to this place that I can see at BNA are reports of this death so I am no nearer to finding it.
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This is, I believe, John Newton's death notice in the Durham Chronicle 12 July 1850
At Hyperion Syke, near Lanchester, 8th inst, aged 78, Mr John Newton, upwards of 40 years, tenant of the Lizards Farm near that village.
It is Hyperson Syke, but the only references to this place that I can see at BNA are reports of this death so I am no nearer to finding it.
I couldn't find it either so got the death register entry for clarification - which says he died at 32 Burnhope Colliery Cottages, Holmside (home of his son John who is still at that address in the 1851 census)
Boo
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Durham County Advertiser 11 Jan 1817, page 3
I may be mis-interpreting the use of 'tenant' but it seems to suggest he didn't own either the pub or the 45 acres?
Boo
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Boo
That's put the cat among the pigeons! I have press reports showing him as occupying both the Blue Bell and the Kings Head simultaneously. The only way that could happen is if he owned them. He could not be the tenant of both of them and run the farm at the Lizards which is not far away but definitely not attached to either of the pubs. I suppose he could have sub-let the pubs but, if he did, the press would not refer to them as "the house of John Newton"
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It was not unusual for a rural publican to do some farming as well, the other pub may have been operated by a subtenant, maybe a member of the family, provided the rent was paid and landlord was satisfied it was being well kept. Tenant farmers could be quite substantial people and well respected. Who was Mr. Ormsby? Probably an agent of the landlord. The tithe record is probably the clue.
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It seems unlikely that this will cast any light on John Newton's situation, but by the time of the 1843 tithe records the Blubell Inn was owned by George Walton and occupied by George Walton Junior (with GW senior occupying a house at the south end of Front Street).
The Lodge (Lodge Farm) is to immediately to the east of the Bluebell Inn, owner John Fawcett.
Interestingly however, there is also a relatively important landowner in the area called Margaret Ornsby with two tenants holding 85 and 64 acres plus some tenants with smaller holdings, including George Walton with 5 acres across two plots.
Evidence that the Ornsby family were at Lanchester Lodge around the time of the newspaper item:
baptism
26 Apr 1820 Robert Ornsby, of Lanchester Lodge, son of George (esquire) & Margaret Ornsby
burial
13 Aug 1823 George Ornsby, of Lanchester Lodge, age: 52
Durham County Advertiser 23rd August 1823
At Lanchester Lodge on the 8th inst. suddenly, aged 52, George Ornsby Esq. one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for this county.
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Another Bluebell-linked advert mentioning an ORNSBY
Added, Henry William Ornsby was George and Margaret Ornsby’s son.
baptism: Darlington, St Cuthbert, 10 Sep 1815 Henry William Ornsby, of Darlington, son of George (gentleman) & Margaret Ornsby
20 February 1841: Durham Chronicle
LANCHESTER.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION,
At the house of Mrs Mary Innis, the Blue Bell Inn, at Lanchester, in the county of Durham, on FRIDAY, the 12th day of March, 1841, at two o'clock in the aflernoon, subject to the conditions that shall be then and there produced.
Mr W. WETHERELL, AUCTIONEER,
ALL that old, well-aceustomed and Valuable INN, or PUBLIC HOUSE, known by the sign of “THE BLUE, BELL” situated in Lanchester, aforesaid, comprising an excellent house, well adapted for carrying on an extensive business: together with two good Stables, Cow-byers, Coach-house, and Granary; and an ample space behind, which affords an admirable site for a Brewery, & good Garden, and other conveniences attached.
The Stanhope and Tyne Railway is only three miles distant from the above Premises; which are situate in a populous and rapidly increasing Colliery district, and form a very advantageous investment for capital.
The Tenant, Mrs Mary Innis, will shew the premises: and further particulars may be had of Mr HENRY W. ORNSBY. SOLICITOR, DARLINGTON. Darlington, February 16th, 1841.
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Sorry, by "the tithe record is probably the clue" I meant if owner-occupied in 1843, it was not necessarily so earlier. The advert shows the inn could previously have been combined with a farm but then separated.
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further to reply #17, the earliest newspaper item that I can find possibly linking George Walton to the Bluebell Inn is from an August 1838 issue of the Durham Chronicle advertising for builders to take on the contract for the Workhouse at Lanchester, where plans and specifications can be seen at "MR GEORGE WALTON'S, Lanchester".
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The Lizards in Durham's Halmote court rolls
John Newton, Mary Innes, tenants
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS1L-HNR8?view=fullText&keywords=John%20Newton%2CLizards&lang=en&groupId=
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS1L-HNNH?view=fullText&keywords=John%20Newton%2CLizards&lang=en&groupId=
Also
Rentals, 1802
John Newton at Blue Bell Inn
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-L3VN-947N
You could perhaps search for all full text results for keywords +Lanchester and +Lizards (or maybe +"Blue Bell")
Don't forget the + !
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Sorry, by "the tithe record is probably the clue" I meant if owner-occupied in 1843, it was not necessarily so earlier. The advert shows the inn could previously have been combined with a farm but then separated.
MollyC, my ‘it seems unlikely’ comment was not directed at you as I had not spotted your mention of tithe records, rather it was directed at me for thinking it was worthwhile having a look!
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Rentals, 1802
John Newton at Blue Bell Inn
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-L3VN-947N
In this record John Newton is renting from Captain George Ornsby. I have found no evidence that George Ornsby of Lanchester Lodge in later records was ‘Captain’ but I did find this burial at Lanchester, All Saints:
14 Aug 1809 George Ornsby, of Gateshead, age: 72, Captain in H.M. Royal Marines
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To Tickettyboo, AlanBoyd, johnwarrn and MollyC
From having no information to having boatloads of it is wonderful! Thank you all!
Just a few points to consider:
According to information I received from Percheron Properties (the estate management company for Vaux Breweries) in the 1990's: George Ornsby bought the Blue Bell on 7th December 1821. He sold it to George Walton on 13th February 1841. The new owner and his son (also George Walton) kept it until 13th April 1894 but during that time, there may have been other tenants or managers.
Other sources imply that George Walton was in the pub (tenant or manager) for at least three years before he actually bought it.
The Lizards farm, where John Newton spent his later days, was a short distance out of Lanchester but information from the Halmote Court states that some of its fields and garths actually bounded on the land attached to the Blue Bell. From the farmhouse to the Blue Bell or the Kings Head was an easy walk so he could easily have run the farm whilst supervising either or both of the pubs although I believe the Innis family may well have been sub-let to run it.
John Newton may have been the owner of the pub businesses without owning the premises – in which case he could still be the licence holder. And, in the case of the Innis family, they might have simply been employees or they could have been partners. Mary Innis was mentioned, along with John Newton, in the Halmote records referring to The Lizards farm even after she had left the Blue Bell. The two were named as tenants. Mary Innis’ maiden name was Mary Dodds – I wonder if there was a family connection?
John Newton may well have hung on to the businesses as an extra source of income – as licence holder, he would take the greater part of the profits but the manager would still make a good living. It also needs to be remembered that his time there was 50 or 60 years before the local magistrates began to insist on the licensee living on the premises.
So, even many years after ceasing to live in either pub, he was still very active in the business side of things.
The press cutting supplied by boo is also interesting as it dates the Blue Bell back to at least 1737 and that is the oldest reference I have to any pub in Lanchester.
Neville
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The press cutting supplied by boo is also interesting as it dates the Blue Bell back to at least 1737 and that is the oldest reference I have to any pub in Lanchester.
Neville
Do bear in mind that then, as now, the newspapers 'sometimes' only had a passing acquaintance with veracity :-)
Boo
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According to information I received from Percheron Properties (the estate management company for Vaux Breweries) in the 1990's: George Ornsby bought the Blue Bell on 7th December 1821.
But did they tell you who he bought it from?
Added: also if this is the case why was John Newton paying rent to Capt Ornsby in 1802?
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Ticketyboo
Yes, that is very true but the text was written by the seller not the newspaper!
Neville
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Alan Boyd,
No, they gave me the owners names and dates from the item in 1821 when he was the buyer and then the names and dates of subsequent buyers until it was bought by Vaux themselves
Neville
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Alan Boyd,
No, they gave me the owners names and dates from the item in 1821 when he was the buyer and then the names and dates of subsequent buyers until it was bought by Vaux themselves
Neville
Neville, I’ve just amended my question, but to save you checking: if George Ornsby bought it in 1821 why was John Newton paying rent to his father Capt Ornsby in 1802? Would this be George Ornsby buying it back after his father had sold it to John Newton some time after 1802?
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There have been two George Ornsbys mentioned in connection with these properties
Wills of both men are to be found here:
https://familyrecords.awh.durham.ac.uk/nei/data/simple.php
and though I've only had a quick glance through I think George Ornsby of Lanchester Lodge is very possible to be the nephew of Captain George Ornsby.
I've run out of time but thought I'd post in case someone else has time to look.
Boo
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Boo is correct, Captain George Ornsby was not George Ornsby's father.
According to the genealogy here–
https://archive.org/details/historyantiquiti00long/page/n537/mode/2up?q=ornsby
—if I am interpreting it correctly:
Henry Ornsby of Lanchester (1706-1747) had two sons:
George Ornsby of Lanchester (1736-1809); this is Captain Ornsby, no children.
Henry Ornsby of Darlington (1739-1806) ; this was the father of George Ornsby of Lanchester Lodge.
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Tickettyboo and AlanBoyd,
I stand corrected. I had not realised there were two men named George Ornsby
Neville
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Do have a look at those wills Neville, , from what little I saw of the Captain George one which seemed to confirm he was the uncle of the Lanchester Lodge one, I also got the feeling that Capt George had left property in Lanchester to this nephew of his - but we were due to go out so I couldn't look properly.
Boo
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and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty two
Came the Reverend George Ornsby of Fishlake in the County of York
Clerk the Eldest Son and heir at Law of George Ornsby formerly of Darlington
in the County of Durham and afterwards of Lanchester Lodge in the same County
Esquire deceased, who was the Nephew and heir at Law of George Ornsby formaly
a Lieutenant in one of Her Majesty's Chatham Marine Companies
Here
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS1L-HXC6
And other similar stuff in those rolls.
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Wills of both men are to be found here:
https://familyrecords.awh.durham.ac.uk/nei/data/simple.php
Captain George's will also proved later in the same month in the PCC
Will of George Ornsby, Captain in His Majesty's Royal Marines of Gateshead, Durham
Date: 27 November 1809
Reference: PROB 11/1505/394
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D378709
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Tickettyboo and johnwarrn,
This is all fascinating stuff. It clearly defines the Lizards, where John Newton went to farm. It also shows the status of the Greenwell and Ornsby families within the Lanchester area and beyond. Sadly, it doesn't explain John Newton's continued influence within the two pubs even after he appears to have given his all to the running of the farm.