ST. Michael Catholic Church Newcastle

[erin31]

Does anyone have access to the baptism records for St Michael's, Newcastle Upon Tyne?
My great grandmother Jane Armstrong was only 16 when she married John Kelly in July 1888. As the first recorded child I have was not born until September 1889 I would like to make sure that she did not have another child before this who may of died at birth or not long after.
I think there is a window of about four (five at the most) months for her to have had a child or even earlier if this child was born out of wed lock.
I know this is a pure guess but it is the only reason I can think for her getting married so young.
She was married at St Michaels church and lived at Benwell at the time which is why I think I may find a baptism there. If indeed there is one to be found.
Her other children were all baptised at St Josephs, Winlaton.
Thank you for reading.

[Michael Dixon]

 erin,

 In recent months an other Chatter on this board was seeking info from the records of St Michael's.

According to the Tyne & Wear Archives, this is the one RC Church within the Tyne&Wear area that has not offered up it's records for filming and thus easy access.

Why this church has not done this ( it was a directive of a previous Bishop of the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle) is unknown.

So is child "out of wedlock" the ONLY reason for her getting married so young ?   What about romance.    "So young" ?? Is that you applying modern custom to an event that happened over 120 yrs ago ?

Michael

[erin31]

Hi Michael.
No not at all, with regards to applying modern custom that is. Even if she was expecting a child before marriage I like to think romance still came into it.
I just felt that 16 was very young to get married.
I think also that I am correct as I have viewed the 1911 census and it shows that she had had 10 children, 3 of whom had died. I truely believe I have found all the children of this couple who were born after 1989 and thus suspect the 3rd child arrived before then.
After 1989 the couple lived in Blaydon and these records I have been able to access with ease.
There are a number of 'possibilities' in the Newcastle area before this time but I need to confirm the mothers name.
Regards Erin

[Mr J T Arthur]

I was involved in correspondence with the diocesan archivist at the time the Bishop's decision was made to transfer the church records to the record offices but it was left to each individual parish priest to make the final decision on condition that if he decided to keep them in local custody he would make the records available within reason to general enquiries. You might be best advised to contact the diocesan archivist if you are not having any luck with the priest.

J.T.A.

[erin31]

Thank you for your information. I think I may have to take your advice as I am not having much luck anywhere else.
Regards Erin

[Sherella]

I am new to Roots Chat and this is my first post. I have viewed the Parish Registers of St Michael RC Church, Newcastle on Tyne for my own family history research, and if I can be of any help in getting the information your looking for Erin let me know.
Sherella

[anthony pearson]

hi all

did you say that they were baptised in st joseph's winlaton
i know of 2 st josephs
one in gateshead and one in blaydon on tyne

[erin31]

Hi Anthony.
Yes, of course I should of stated St. Joseph's, Blaydon.
Thanks for pointing this out.
 

[fred111]

Hi. Am I being cynical? I think in most cases we can shed our modern ideas of romance if our Ancestors were working people.
Women needed a provider.
Men needed a housekeeper.
& each had natural physical needs.
In my tree, women in particular married young.
Widowers were usually remarried within a year. It was practical. There were children to be cared for, and a working man expected food on the table prepared by a woman.
I was amazed when I realised that my Great Grandmother had married at 13!

AGE AT MARRIAGE

In 1837 – when the minimum legal age at marriage was 14 for boys and 12
for girls – it was possible to give one’s age at marriage as ‘of full
age’ or ‘minor’ (aged under 21), as appropriate. (Indeed, in the
illustrative marriage entry included as a schedule to the Registration
Act, a bachelor and spinster were shown with these age descriptions
respectively.) In the early 1850s, the earliest period for which data
are available, only about one half of bridegrooms and brides stated
their exact ages, although the situation improved steadily and by the
end of the century, virtually all ages at marriage were fully recorded.
There have been a number of Acts of Parliament regarding marriage since
1836, although they mostly concern aspects such as validity of marriages
(including those solemnised overseas), void and voidable marriages, and
prohibited degrees of consanguinity and affinity. However, the Acts of
Parliament most relevant to this present Historical Volume are those
concerning the legal minimum age at marriage:

1836-1928 - Minimum age at marriage: 14 for males, 12 for females

1929 Age of Marriage Act - Marriages between persons either of whom is
aged under
16 are void
1949 - consolidated two previous Acts, repealing them.

1969 Family Law - reduced the age of majority from 21 to 18, and the age at
Reform Act which men and women were able to marry without
Parental consent from 21 to 18.

This is from "Historic Marriages and Divorces – 1837 to latest year and
‘Notes to tables’ " from
www.statistics.gov.uk/.../EXPODATA%5Ccommentary%5C*Marriage*_Historical_Notes.doc

Amazing!
Liz