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I may be able to help you. I live in Belford and am familiar with the records of the Scotch Church (as it was known) in West st and Erskine Pres Church in Nursery Lane. There is no Erskine Street. I transcribed the final baptismal register of the latter. If you can clarify the info you are looking for I may have it in the microfiches which I have, otherwise I will look it up on my weekly visits to Berwick Record Office. Do you have any more info on the parents, birthplaces, marriage, maiden name of mother, etc ?

Do you know if the family was definitely resident in Belford during the time in question? There were several Presbyterian churches in the area if the family were ag labs and moved around. There are still Johnson families in Belford.

There was also a third Pres Church in Belford but no registers have survived. All 3 churches have closed now. I helped with a project on the Erskine Church a few years ago and a booklet was produced. It may still be available so if you are interested let me know.

I hope I can help you. I also have details of irregular border marriages which most Pres. couples had during a certain period.

Best wishes,
Val

My 3xgrt grandfather Thomas Davis born about 1815 in Glamorgan moved to Northumberland before 1833 and worked as a miner in collieries around Cramlington, Seghill, Cowpen area. He died of pneumonia in 1847 At Monkwearmouth Shore in Co.Durham while his wife and children were living in Cramlington/Blyth area.

Was there a likely reason for his move to Northumberland? I’m assuming he was a miner in Glamorgan before his move. I’m interested to know if there particular incidents in Glamorgan collieries around the 1820-30 period which preceded his move. He seems to have moved with his brother David but it’s always possible he came as a child with his parents.

I haven’t attempted to find his baptism with a name like Thomas Davis born in Glamorgan as this seems too daunting but wondered if anyone else has coal miner ancestors from Glamorgan who made a similar move to Northumberland around that time who might be able to make suggestions .

All help gratefully received!

Val

Thank you, Aguella. Good suggestions which I’ll try.

Belfordian

BMFD data should of course read BMD dta!

My mother lived in Beatrice St, Hirst - now Ashington- from about 1920 to 1940 and remembered seeing groups of pit men playing pitch and toss. There was usually 1 man keeping a lookout for the “polis”.