Birtley Birth of Brown c1846

[WolfieSmith]

Did a search for Robert Smith (the 13 year old brother of the Joseph H. Smith in 1891 in Wales), born Canterbury, in the 1901 census. Only about 20 Roberts in total, who were down as born in Canterbury, two years either side of 1877. No Robert Smith, however, there is a Robert Brown, and he's living in Chester le Street.

1901 census, North Burns, Chester le St., RG13/4699 page 14.
Robert Brown, head, married 23, Core (?) Hewer, b. Canterbury, Kent
Agnes Ann Brown, wife, 22, b. Pelton Fell
James W. Brown, son 7m, b. Chester le Street.

Looking on FreeBMD for an Agnes Ann, b. Chester le Street (Pelton Fell is in Chester le Street district). Only one around the right time is :
Agnes Ann Bankhead, b.Chester le Street, Jun qtr 1878, vol 10a p. 571.

Looking then for a marriage of Agnes Ann Bankhead. On FreeBMD she married either Peter Hanley or Isaac Robert Smith. Chester le Street, Sep qtr 1898, vol 10a page 825. Durham County Council website confirms she married Isaac R. Smith.

Looking for a birth of Isaac Robert Smith on FreeBMD, only 2 on record. One in 1858, and one Dec qtr 1877 in Canterbury, vol 2a p 272.

Looks like they moved north and gradually all took their stepfathers surname.

Welcome to the Smith family.

Alan.

 

[Hunter1]

Hi Alan

I am absolutely amazed at this - and thank you so very much for all your detective work. I've been trying to figure it out but hadn't got far. My family will all be so surprised - especially my brothers who are not real Browns, but Smiths! What are the chances of that?

I'll try to get a bit further back with the Smiths now - although I think it will be as hard as the Browns. I'd love to track down this Emma as well - an Irish connection was also a big surprise at the time.

And thanks for the family welcome!

Ms V Brown-Smith (hmm I quite like it).

[WolfieSmith]

Hello fellow Smith,

Joseph Henry Browns World War 1 Service Records are on line at Ancestry. 12 pages worth. Did you get these during your subscription? I notice that he named his oldest son Frederick, which ties in with his fathers name.

Alan.

[Heinz 57]

Hello,
I look at Birtley records quite a lot as I've got ancestors there. Would you like me to look for James Brown c. 1846 the next time I'm down at the archives?
Believe it or not Brown is not that common in Birtley. We've got plenty of Irish mind you!

Do you know if they were C of E, or Catholic, or Methodist for that matter? It would save me an awful lot of time.

[Heinz 57]

Hi

I'm just about to go insane as I am having so much difficulty trying to find my paternal grandfather and his ancestors. I've been at it for years!

Sadly his name was Joseph Henry Brown - not the most unusual...

The only reference to him and his family I have found is on the 1901 census:

Living at 1 Hedworth St, Chester le Street
James Brown, Head, M, 55, Labourer, b. Durham, Birtley
Emma, Wife, 57, b Ireland
James Wm, son, 34, Merchant Seaman, b. Newcastle on Tyne
Joseph H, son, 21, Labourer, County Council, b. Kent Thorncliffe

The 'Thorncliffe' might be a mistake by the enumerator - it might be Shorncliffe which was an army barracks, or possibly a prison I believe. I can't find any birth record for Joseph W. I have no idea why the family was in Kent....never heard of them being there before.

I know the Joseph H is the right chap as I have a copy of his marriage cert to my grandmother and he was still at the same address.

Can anyone suggest any other route to find records for any of them?

Just had a quick look on Ancestry and there is a James Brown b. 1844 living in Eighton Banks on the 1871 census, he is married to a Sarah, but he says he was born in Lamesley. Which is literally 1 mile from Birtley, so he worth a look, or at least put on the' back burner' for later.

[Hunter1]

Hi

This is really kind of you - thanks very much. Yes that would be wonderful. They were almost certainly C of E I would think as my father (his 'grandson' - but not by birth I now know) was brought up in the Church way.

I look forward very much to hearing if you can find anything. It might help me to find out who the other son was (James William) or even the elusive Irish (Belfast) Emma.

Best wishes

[Heinz 57]

Well this could be interesting as the parish church of St.John's was consecrated in 1849 according to my notes. A couple of years to late for your James Brown.
I'm not quite sure what was there before hand, by notes say they had to use Chester-le-Street before then, I hope not. Those records are held at Durham. But I might have a look at St.Andrews at Lamesley and check out this James Brown who was born in 1844. Honestly it would take an estate agent to tell you where Lamesley finished and  Birtley began. Ditto Eighten Banks by the way, it's all a very grey area. It might be the same chap!

[Heinz 57]

Sorry me again !
Are you familiar with the Bishops Transcrips available via Family Search ?
Anyway if you go the page http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=3;c=1309819;w=412
If that doesn't work Durham/Lamesley/ on page 771 a James Gilbert Brown was baptised on the 10 March 1844. Parents were James and Mary Brown abode Allerdean, that's very close to Birtley! James snr is a husband man.

HTH

[Hunter1]

Hi

This is a fantastic resource - I've not seen it before.

Thanks