Beginners help required tracing KELLY family

[Paul41]

Again JTA  your information could well be invaluable-im in the process of getting the marriage certificate for my grandfather John who married my grandmother Bridget- Mar 1/4 1914 but it has been in the back of my mind that perhaps one of the Kellys thru my dads line could have been residing in and around this area as from what i can gather Bottlebank was a predominantly catholic area with Blackhill being known as little Belfast-from other census records i can see the Shannons in various houses in Bottlebank and then Derwent Street so it appears that they may have quite frequently moved within the stree as it were-maybe 2-3 times in a 10year period-all i know of Bottlebank which has long since gone now is that it was a really squalid area-a midden in fact and living conditions were very harsh to say the least-the lack of gravestones for the Shannons in my family has me thinking they must have lived a very harsh almost hand to mouth existence with very little spare cash flying around -much the same as many Irish families of the times i suppose.Once again thankyou for these golden nuggets that you keep unearthing on my behalf-they are very much appreciated as your efforts have helped me no end - i cant thank you enough kind sir-Many many thanks Paul
ps could i please ask if Blackhill was part of the Lanchester parish in those days as my efforts in looking in and around Lanchester itself for members of Kelly family has so far proved fruitless-certainly the Kelly side of my family has proved much much harder to track down than the Shannons

[Mr J T Arthur]

Paul,

Blackhill was in the Registration District of Lanchester and I think that is the reason why many born in North West Durham simply entered their place of birth as Lanchester which in the case of your Shannon family was incorrect seeing the first four children were not even born in the Lanchester District. According to the 1861 census when the family are to be found at Tow Law, the first two children Edward and Isabel were born at Wallsend whilst your great-grandfather Thomas was born at Newcastle and Sarah was born Tow Law, the family then returned to Blackhill where the rest of the children born. By todays standards living conditions no doubt were harsh but people did have their dignity. Anecdotal evidence I have collected suggests that many families kept their houses spotlessly clean and in the case of your Shannon ancestors Bottle Bank, Blackhill appears to have been a worthy place to return to for the rest of their lives after living at Wallsend, Newcastle and Tow Law.
Let us know who John Kelly's father was when the marriage certificate arrives, also, if given, John's age.

Good Luck,
J.T.A.

[Paul41]

At last i have managed to get hold of the marriage certificate for my grandfather John Kelly to my grandmother Bridget Shannon -John was 37 years of age and lived at 3 John Street in Consett at the time of  the marriage which took place on the 19/01/1914 at St Marys church Blackhill-from this information could anyone help me in relation to possible death dates/burial grounds and grave positions etc and any census information which would shed more light on my grandfathers relatives-Any help would be greatly appreciated thankyou

[JenB]

Paul 
If you remember, the vital information required from the marriage certificate was the name of John Kelly's father. Once you have told us this, we may be able to start to find census information for you.
Jennifer

[Paul41]

Cheers Jen B his fathers name was Patrick and his profession was a farmer-cheers Paul

[Mr J T Arthur]

Paul,

The occupation of John's father Patrick as farmer complicates things as that suggests he was still in Ireland and John had emigrated as a single man, possibly as a result of chain migration, given that both a Kelly and a Shannon had lived in the same house a generation earlier.

Who witnessed John's marriage?

J.T.A.

[Paul41]

Afternoon JTA -The witnesses appear to be James Kelly and E or possibly C Kelly who would they be i wonder ?-also a D Thompson who appears to be registrar  and also a Harry Gillour appears on there

[Mr J T Arthur]

Paul,

The last named would have been the priest who acted as clerk to the registrar.
The Kelly witnesses suggest John had other relations nearby. The church marriage register may give the full name of the second witness. Was Patrick Kelly, father of John "deceased" ?

Good luck,
J.T.A.

[Paul41]

no mention of the word deceased-just has fathers name-Patrick Kelly and profession as  a  farmer-no other entry im afraid