question to any Cumbria experts out there

[RedFox]

Thanks, Geoff.  I also answered you on the Cumberland list.  I was distracted.  I didn't look past the first page and paid no attention to the column on the left-hand side.  I had been on this website several years ago, so I should have known better.  As I said on the C. list, I was distracted.   RedFox

[wodell]

 ;Dgosh how lucky am i , the householder behind me, woke up an his garden had gone, thats cos we live over one of them west cumbria mine shafts, its been there since before the formation of the ncb and before the owners were made to keep records,the village rests on pillars of coal a bit like cleator moor does on iron ore,
i think digging through records is safer than coal,?
but i am off work for a few days, and i have the workington 1700, 1901 cdrom if any one needs any info, wodell

[SarahBristo]

Hello Kena...I have just joined ten minutes ago and I am delighted to reply to your post having been brought up in Aspatria.  (Hope I am not too late)

I think Brayton Gate was a farm on the road to Aspatria.. The Hall was the home of the

Lawson family.  Sir Wilfrid Lawson (1829 to 1906) was the local M.P. and local benefactor. He was best known as President of the United Kingdom Alliance (Temperance Movement.)  He is in Online Encyclopaedia.

As well as the memorial to him in Aspatria (St. George)  there is a very fine life-size statue of Sir Wilfrid on the Embankment in London just in front of the back (riverside) windows of the Savoy Hotel.

Thursby is between Wigton and Carlisle.  Wigton is a small market town  eight miles from Aspatria. Two well known people attended the grammar school there .....Anna Ford (her father was the vicar)  and Melvyn Bragg.            ( And me)

Aspatria was a mining village, it is exactly mid way between Wigton and Maryport.

Allhallows Parish  is the neighbouring one to Aspatria.  It includes Fletchertown, Mealsgate, Baggrow, Bolton Low Houses, Blennerhasset, Red Dial,etc......all tiny villages within a small radius.

By the way there is lots on Google about these places,  I have just checked Images of Cumbria via Google.

The painter Sheila Fell came from Aspatria.  She was one of L.S. Lowry's protegees.

Incidentally my ancestor Barbara Frears had her baby in Cockermouth Workhouse in 1866 and gave her maiden name as Reay but whether it was due to mis-hearing or something like that I don't know yet.

Good luck with everything. 
                                                                                             SarahB
 

[kena]

Hi SarahB, welcome to Rootschat, many thanks for that info, my greatgrandfather David Kennedy was a policeman in Wigton many moons ago, has anybody heard of him out there.

Anna

[SarahBristo]

Hi fellow Cumbrian researchers...there is loads of info on the site www.historicaldirectories.org .
 Also on Graeme Rumney's website (via Google ) on Brayton Domain (Pit) and related links there is a picture of Sir Wilfrid's memorial in Aspatria.
When Sir Wilfrid inherited Brayton Hall he emptied all wine and spirits into the pond  which was henceforward called Whisky Pond.

L.S.Lowry used to visit and stay with Sheila Fell's mother.  Apparently whatever he painted in the surrounding fields always turned out as a view of Manchester streets.

My great grandfather worked at Brayton Domain Pit and was killed there on 27th January 1905.  His name was Henderson.

My main area of research at present is theline of Ritson Frears of Eskdale and Muncaster.         Happy hunting    SarahB

[boroboy135]

My mother's family are descendents from the Lawson's. Sir Alfred Lawson's daughter Sarah married William Cockburn and one of the son's is in our family tree.
Can anyone tell me the best source for information on births, marriages and deaths say from 1700 to 1770 in Cumberland?

Thanks Joe A

[bobgraham]

Which part of cumberland? My grandfather (a scotsman) used to say cumberland was the biggest county in england - they had to pile it up to get it all in.  ;>}
bob

[boroboy135]

I believe it is the Carlisle area. Brayton Hall is where the Lawsons lived and apparently the youngest daughter of Sir Alfred Lawson ran off to Gretna around 1750 with one of my Cockburn relatives and got married, much to the dismay of her family.

I wondered if anyone would have more info on them.

Joe Appleby

[bobgraham]

No Brayton is between wigton and aspatria and comes under aspatria parish. I was hoping the bishops transcripts might be available on line but they are onlt back to 1813. However  in 1832 "Apr 8th No.724 ALFRED Son of Sir Wilfrid & Lady Caroline LAWSON Brayton Baronet" appears so thats 1 generation back and only christenings have been transcribed. Just been back to page and if you "search this page" in edit, you can see when wilfred, gentleman, became sir wilfred, baronet. Will also give you all the family.
bob