RootsChat.Com

Spot on Jen.  Thank you.  I've just looked at the Hexham references, just great.  I would bet you're enjoying these references too.

Just seen this post.  John Street was pretty much where the extension to Chain Bridge Road is now.  From Scotswood Bridge, you followed Chain Bridge Road to the railway crossing, that crossed the road and still does.  An immediate left after it took you up Thomas Terrace, where half way up you could turn left again and having walked on past James Street found yourself at John Street, stretching to your right and left OR you could take a sharp left after the level crossing into Railway Street passing the bottom of first James Street then to John Street.

Yes, thank you.  I had already checked the rootschat links that you had given me and have found the deaths of Patrick and Walter STAUNTON 1939 and 1949 respectively.  Patrick's daughter Mary Ellen was present at his death and at Walter's as Walter's niece (He did remain  a bachelor.).  There is also a birth for an Edmund STAUNTON in 1865 but I believe that he died when he is just three years old.  Present at his birth was Michael LEONARD who signs his mark to the certificate and describes himself as an "inmate".  What does "inmate" mean in this context?

I can find nothing conclusive on this same link for John or Mary LEONARD.  I suspect either that they only had one child (Edward) or all of their children were born before 1864.  I need to go back further now so will go back to the original parish registers before 1864.

Re Hannah BURKE-the surname is so common in Galway and in Co. Durham that I will leave that until later.

Thank you, Hallmark. I think I need to continue for a while,on the assumption that I'm on the right track.  I'll check out the helpful links that you have given me and hope that I discover other brothers or sisters of the John LEONARD and the John STAUNTON families;  the deaths of all four parents and if indeed Edward's family remained in Gortroe or whether they came to England looking for work.  My great grandfather, Edward, was a coalminer; he clearly left Home as a teenager.

I much appreciate your time and thought and hope you won't mind if I contact you again, when I get stuck.

Thank you.  I'll do that.  What do you think of the entry?  Am I correct or is my wish for it to be Edward and John that clouds my judgement?