Marriage of Parents:
St Alban, Earsdon
Entry 243
Robert Bell & Isabella Smith
Both age 22
Bachelor & Spinster
Miner
Fathers:
Thomas Bell – Miner
Robert Smith – Miner
Witnesses:
Ann Smith – signed with her mark
William Blackett (who seems to have been a regular signer on marriage entries)
Robert signed and Isabella signed with her mark.
By Banns
On setting a search for Robert Bell's born c1835 born Northumberland (In the census he claims consistently to have been born Percy Main) with father: Thomas Bell. I have 3 results:
i. Robert Alexander Bell, chr. 09-06-1835, Monkswearmouth, Durham.
parents: Thomas and Margaret Bell.
ii. Robert Bell, chr. 24-05-1835, St. Peters, Wallsend, Northumberland.
parents: Thomas and Margaret Bell.
iii. Robert Bell, chr. 28-01-1835, Hartburn, Northumberland.
parents: Thomas and Isabella.
I think that I can disregard the first option as the second name Alexander does not appear anywhere, thus, leaving 2 choices, Thomas and Margaret or Thomas and Isabella. The clue may be in the location of birth as our Robert consistently claims to have been born at 'Percy Main' (1861,71 and 81).
All my life I have never been north of Norwich and now live in the lovely town of Zwolle in the Netherlands and my geographical knowledge of Durham/ Northumberland is very limited. I need the advice of local experts to hopefully point me in the right direction.
The whiskey is kicking in now, so I will look at the census for these remaining two options tomorrow.
kind regards
Petey