Thomas Graham

[Rowanjay]

hi

I have John's Marriage cert, and have applied for his birth cert.

It took me several years to get that far because I only had my Grandfather's name as Frederick William Graham - his birth cert which I eventually t6raced was under the name of Geddes  (the fact that my Dad's elder brother had Geddes as his middle name abnd chance remark by my aunt many years back that this was a  'family name' was the only clue I had to that...

Its been s struggle and every tiny spec of info is hard won.

I had also wondered about Elizabeth being Tom's second wife - there is another marriage between a Thomas Graham  with two sons for about the right time - oddly she was also Elizabeth. Again is made me wonder if My Elizabeth was married - if Tom ran off with a young lass and left his foirst wife?
more likely she had the first childfren died in some awful epidemic - but ikts yet another mystery to unravel.

I was told Carlisle was the office to ring by the local library... but will check again - people don't always have the right info at the time

thanks again for all the tips...  one day I 'will' crack the Tom Graham mystery... and pigs will fly!!!

BB
Jan

[sillgen]

Northumberland West area at Hexham register office covers Haltwhistle according to www.genuki.com
Andrea 

[bobgraham]

Andrea,
I did say peter out and I'm not knocking IGI. I was just making the point that after 1837, freebmd might be a better source of info and one can specify search criteria.
As regards the phone book, there are as many of us in our local phone book as there are Smiths or Browns so, although I agree with you in general, rowanjay's final initial comment applies - wish we had a less work-a-day surname.
And why do I love my wife?
Work a day bob
bob

[Rowanjay]

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.

[sillgen]

I thought you were talking about Carlisle for John's birth certificate.  Thomas is pre 1837 so yes, it will be a parish record search as it is pre registration.  Surely there is an LDS centre somewhere near you?   They get the film of any parish in for you - very cheaply.  You can have hours of fun searching it and can get as much info out of the burials, which are not usually on the IGI, as you can from births and marriages.  Years ago I used to drop my kids at school and playgroup and dash off to my nearest centre.  I spent hours there and searched films for parts of the country that I could never have visited.   I have not been recently as I am working and I suspect the advent of the internet has knocked their custom a bit but they still offer a marvellous service.
Andrea

[Rowanjay]

Hmm

not keen - used to live near the crawley temple and only went once - the staff spent all their time trying to convert me... and being non-christian that can get pretty annoying

but will give it some thought - I believe there is a small LDS chapel around 15 miles from where I am now

[sillgen]

Crawley was the one I went to.  They totally ignored me from that point of view!  You need the Family History Centres - not every chapel has them.  They are listed on familysearch though.
Andrea

[Rowanjay]

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.

[Rowanjay]

well I have John's birth cert - I think!!  His mother was  Elizabeth Nicholson.

But there seems not to be a marriage to fit the dates and places - as I suspected Thomas and Elizabeth may not ever have officially wed. I guess that was not unusual

what is odd is that according to Freecen the only Elizbeth Nicholson  in the 1851 census of approx the right age was from Scotland - and not from Renwick as subsequent census records insist

either I have the wrong birth cert if the plot very much thickens...