Gateshead Fell 1800's, 1900s. Can I help anyone?

[Denise Stell]

I do hope you are still available to do check ups.  I have been researching my family for quite some years but I have come to a complete brick wall with my 5xG Grandparents.  I have their death certificates and according to the one, James Stell died in Whickham in 1802 at the age of 78, he was also born in Whickham, this makes the birth  year 1724.
His wife was Jane Charlton, she died in Whickham in 1800 at the age of 65, making her birth year 1735 .
She was also born in Whickham.
Is Whickham near to Gateshead Fell?
Their church where they married and had their burial was St. Mary the Virgin, Whickham.
Religion:  Anglican.

I do hope you will be able to help me, I live in Holland so it makes it difficult for me to actually research in the area.
Thanking you and I do hope to hear from you,
Best Wishes, Denise

[Preshous]

Hi Denise

Welcome to RootsChat. Whickham is about 4 miles from Gateshead Fell. What information would you like.


Gary

[Denise Stell]

Hello Gary,
Thank you very much for answering my message so quickly, it was a real surprise!

I am trying to find out the actual birth or baptism dates for these ancestors plus the names of their parents.
James Stell and Jane Charlton married on the 1st April, 1760, confirmed via Durham Records Online, this is also
where I found their Death Records.  They went on to have 6 children.


I have also tried on the Bishops Transcripts for Durham but the records for Whickham don´t go back that far.

Is it possible that there are still gravestones for the Stell Family at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Whickham
do you think,

Best wishes, Denise (Stell)

[Preshous]

Hi Denise

I assumed that if you got them back to 1724 that you had checked as much as you could on line. The parish records are held at Durham County Hall. It is possible that the Gravestones are still there but as to what condition they are would be guess work. I checked out the churchyard on google earth and there appears to be quite a few older stones around the main body of the church. I know where the church is but I have never been in the churchyard. As I don't live to far away I can call in and try and find any stones with Stell on them.

Gary

[rhall36]

To Preshous and Denise.

I do know the area well, born in Gateshead Fell, and have visited the church in Whickham a couple of times. So I would like help, and offer a possible aide.

1. I would be interested in the 'other' Mary Hall in St Alban's Windy Nook (I was born on Windy Nook Road), and I have a relative who attends the church in Whickham.

2. The headstones at the church in Whickham are TERRIBLY eroded, so it may be difficult to read them. Actually, if I remember correctly some have worn completely thru. But my contact is T. W. Graham who lives in Whickam, and is a member of the church

Regards,    Rob Hall, Katy, TEXAS

[Preshous]

Hi Rob

I will dig out the photo of Mary Hall's Gravestone for you. St Mary's is on my list to photograph so when I go I will photograph all available stones. I can quite imagine there will be some bad ones among them.

Gary

[rhall36]

Preshous; you said 'St Mary's.' Did you mean St Alban's, Windy Nook? I have an Aunt in Sheriff Hill, but she is too old (89) to do any of this for me.

Regards,   Rob Hall, Katy, TEXAS

[Preshous]

Rob I have photos of all the Gravestones at St Albans ( windy Nook) Its just round the corner, Im on sheriffs highway just down from the Queens Head. I have not as yet got any photos of St Marys ( Whickham ) as yet.

Gary

[Denise Stell]

Hello Gary and Rob,

Many thanks for your replies.  Yes, I have tried everything I can think of to find the records going back to the birth years but perhaps I could try the Durham County Hall although they won't have published anything online otherwise I would have come across them - that is the problem with living here, I can't just go and check through records, sometimes very frustrating!  In my family tree the Stell family were settled in Whickham for several generations.   Anyway, its great to have a new address to try, thank you.

As for the headstones, it was a "shot in the dark" I know as I can imagine, over the years there wouldn't be much left of inscriptions.  Still Rob, I would appreciate it if you could ask your contact, Mr. Graham,  for any information for me.

Best wishes to you both,
Denise

Regards to both of you,
Denise