The names of witnesses to the marriage of Ambrose Burnside and Isabella Gordon have now been supplied on a lookup thread. However, they give no clues, one likely to be the parish clerk and the other Robert Forbes has no apparent link.
I wonder if the marriage of John Burnside to Annas Forest 1857 Houghton-le-Spring, Durham, could shed any more light.
Does anyone have details of witnesses or the facility to look up?
I have started to try and track through the census records re Burnsides. I can't find Mary or parents Edward and sarah in 1841. However in the course of looking, I came across an interesting page;
1841, Aycliff, Durham. This is the Edward Burnside married to Elizabeth, next door are Hannebal and John Swales. I note JaneyJ you list travellers called Swales as an interest. Are they connected to Burnsides?
Also John Burnside above has child listed in 1861 as Harmeble - presumably Hannibal.
Then on the same page is a 10 yr old Mary Smith b Durham, in the household of William Coulthard 20 ag lab and wife Elizabeth 20 and baby son John.
Interesting!