RootsChat.Com

Hi

I have been looking for a very long time for Gr Grandfather  Thomas Graham born Irthington circ1822
married Elizabeth (?)  born circa 1832

they moved to Haltwhistle northumberland

any one got details>? I have hit a brick wall here

Not sure what else to try as I can't get a marriage cert until I can have a rough guess at when and where.

Yes, Freecen is patchy

But on the other hand Elizabeth appears to have been an habitual fibber - none of the info she gives anywhere on census returns etc seems to match up - its  as if she enjoyed  fun confusing authority so I may well be looking for her with out the real info anyway...

I do have a theory that she may have been an underage run-away and therefore did not want to give her real identity

Or perhaps Thomas was still married to someone else and therefore would/could not marry Elizabeth - he is at least 10 years her senior... so who knows. The cold trails at every turn do seem to hint at some intrigue somewhere along the line.

She marks John's birth cert with an X so was seemingly illiterate.

I may never find out who she or Thomas were I suppose.

Twas a long way back :-)  very early internet days.  And I think I was unfortunate to come across one of the 'Missionaries'

When I lived in Horley, in the late 70s, our street sometimes got two or three 'door steppings' every a month -  but lets not get into that one

But yes as I say there is a family history centre about 15/18 miles from here - I may give it a try - especially now that the garden needs less attention.

Hi Both

Yes, as you say, Andrea,  Hexham covers Haltwhistle as part of  Northumberland.

but when I called Hexham about John Graham I was told to contact Carlisle  for Thomas Graham as he is listed in various census records as born in Irthington, Cumberland - except for one where he is listed as being born Brampton (Cumberland).

Mind you, that's not to say that I was not given wrong info by someone who was new on the job, or similar  it happens.


Maybe I will try Hexham again at some point. Or even Carlisle once more

Always worth a go

On IGI, Bob,  personally I only ever use it as a sounding board - they have huge gaps in their records and they are not always that reliable in my experience

There are some huge leaps of faith made by some of the researchers that leave records there . 

Having said the above I agree that they tend to have less info after 1837 but I have found things useful to me right up to the 1930s.

IGI seems to be pretty much a pot luck thing. I have looked at Irthington's IGI and not found much to help - my Thomas Graham was born around 1830/33 and Freebmd does not start untill 1837 so it was worth a look - just didn't help much.

I guess I need to access an Irthington or even Brampton Parish record

But that is down to money - being on long term disability pension means that I can't afford to purchase too many  records on spec - esp when the family tree already has branches and twigs extending into at least 11 counties in England and Wales.

Who ever said people seldom moved far from their roost before 1939 never met my tribe!!

Oh for an easy tree like my husband's!!! All of them Hampshire born and bred...

But many thanks to you both anyway.

Looking for links to Alice Geddes (Gaddes) who married Thomas Graham.

Parents (?) of Frederick William 'Graham' (but born Frederick William 'Geddes')