Hedley Family Search

[BoHedley]

My mother, born 1899, was a Hedley and often told me that an ancestor had built the Puffing Billy (ie William Hedley 1773 or 1779 )

I am now trying to prove the truth of this story and have managed to trace our Hedleys back to Newburn with a William and spouse Jane Hedley born 1812.

However I can only find 1841 Census info. on this family who had children, John, Richard and Alice Hedley by 1841.

Is anyone out there researching the Hedleys and does anyone know if there is a society which includes the Puffing Billy invention etc.

Thanks in anticipation of help.

[Valda]

Welcome to Rootschat

There is a biography of William Hedley here (scroll down).

http://books.google.com/books?id=jeOMfpYMOtYC&pg=PA313&lpg=PA313&dq=biography+%22william+hedley%22&source=web&ots=aAguPY4d2c&sig=HojIsgJMA5ZbS_UQeuuSQy8DHYo#PPA313,M1

It names his parents as William Hedley and Ann Atkinson and his wife as Frances Dodds. They married in 1803 and his 4 sons were Oswald Dodd, Thomas, George and William. It also lists some books written on him.

It appears William left a Prerogative Court of Canterbury will so the family were obviously of some wealth.

Will of William Hedley, Coal Owner of Lanchester , Durham 12 June 1843 PROB 11/1981


How have you managed to prove your Hedley line back to William and Jane if you have only found that particular family on the 1841 census?

Regards

Valda

[BoHedley]

Hi Valda - thanks so much for the reply and the information given.  I've seen a lot on Google re - William and the Puffing Billy, where he was born and when died etc. but not about his wife and parents.
I sent for a birth certificate of last "proved" relative 'Thomas Hedley 1864 and living in Sheffield. On the certificate it showed his father was a John Hedley, a filesmith, married to Caroline Bradley

I belong to Ancestry so did a search for this John and Caroline and found John was born in Newburn, Northumberland.

The next bit is a bit 'iffy' - the only John born in Newburn at the right time (1832 had a father William (1812) and mother Jane ?both born in Newburn - other children were Richard and Alice (1841) Census.  This William is listed as a filesmith too which made me think it may be the right one.

 I am still searching for further records of this family and can't find any as yet.  I don't know which certificate to send for as birth records only start at 1837and I have not enough information to give.
 I am beginning to think that the link with Puffing Billy William may be as a more distant relative??

However you have given me something to go on and I will try to work backwards from the names you gave. So thanks again Valda for taking the time.

[2zpool]

The William Hedley born 14 Feb 1812 in Newburn and baptised 16 Feb 1812 was the 1st son of Richard Hedley, husbandman, native of this parish by his wife Alice late Hudson, native of this parish

Janis

[BoHedley]

Thanks for this information Janis - can I follow this up anywhere - your source sounds as though its local.
Regards
Bo

[Ruskie]

Hi Bo,

The IGI has this marriage:
Richard Hedley = Alice Hudson
5th Aug 1811
Alnwick, Northumberland

The IGI doesn't show any other children, apart from William b 1812, born to this couple (but of course that doesn't mean there aren't more).

(Janice lives in the USA and I believe she has some parish registers for Northumberland (she's been a great help to me in the past  )

Good luck with your search, and I hope you manage to find your connection to Puffing Billy!

[2zpool]

Oh aye--I am in the US.  I do have many parish registers transcripts--both short form and long version.

Janis

[Ruskie]

Hi again Janis! Looks like Bo has signed off. I thought you'd gone too, so I hope you don't mind that I answered Bo's question.

[2zpool]

No problem, we all answer in.  I looked for more children past 1812 but I didn't see any in Newburn either.  Unfortunately I don't have any records for Alnwick to look there.

Janis