1841 Census help please.....

[Gail-M]

Hi Michael,

Thank you so much for all your effort, it is really appreciated.  You are absolutely spot on with the marriage and also with the children.  I must say, I hadn't realised that Ancroft was in Durham, so many thanks for that.

I shall certainly have a look at the trade directories when I can.  I had learned that she had a connection with the post office, and contacted them. They do have apparently quite good records, but the records are in London and I had hoped one day to go and look at them myself - but haven;t managed so far.

One last thing.  Her last child was born after the death of her husband (by 7 years).  I cannot find her baptism although the family bible says she was born in Wooler...   Could this have any bearing in your experience do you think?  She is, however, named 'Mitchison' in 1841....

Gail 

[Gail-M]

Sorry Michael, didn't make it clear. The child I am referring to is Alice Mitchison, the daughter living in Lucker in 1841.

[Michael Dixon]

 Gail,

 Were the children of Kelso-born Alice baptised in the Anglican Church or in a church of a different denomination ?

Michael

[Gail-M]

Hi Michael,

Yes they were. They were all baptised as Scottish Presbyterians.  The Wooler baptisms were at Cheviot Street Presbyterian Church.

Spent time trawling the census's for 1841, but no luck.  Maybe I should push that to one side now and may concentrate on the facts I do have, like the post office connection.  What do you think?

Gail

[Michael Dixon]

 Gail,

 In the next couple of days I will have a look in Northumberland Trade Directories for the " Queen's Messenger".


I don't understand your strategy of " trawling" censuses for folk. That's what we had to do in the " olden days" ( before we had databases allowing us to search by personal criteria such as name, birth year, birth place etc)

So her husband died c1819, 7 yrs before the birth of her dtr Alice ?

Michael

[WolfieSmith]

Gail, you probably already have the following info,  but for the benefit of Michael and others, to save covering the same ground for background info to aid the search :

Marriage at Eglingham :
1810. June 14.  Richard Mitchinson and Alice Clark. Witnesses James Clark, Thomas Richardson, Ann Scott.

Baptisms at Wooler Presbyterian :
1811. Born 24 Jan, baptised 13 Feb. John Mickison, son of Richard and Ellison.
1813. Born 5 Jan, baptised 26 Jan. Jane Mitcheson, daughter of Richard and Elison.

Baptism at Clayport Presbyterian Alnwick.
1815. Archbold, 2nd son of Richard and Allison Mitchison. Born 5th, baptised 23rd January.

Burial at Embleton Holy Trinity.
1817. 23 Feb, Richard Mitchison, 28, of Stamford.

Baptism at Burgher Secession Chapel, North Sunderland.
1817. Margaret Richard, daughter of Richard Mitcheson, Husbandman in Stamford, and Alice his wife, was born 24th, baptised 27th Feb.

So Margaret was born the day after Richard was buried, hence her middle name.

Oldest son John and youngest daughter Alice (can't find her baptism) are together in Lucker in 1841 as stated, no Alice Snr.

Oldest daughter Jane is with husband Alexander Davidson in Ancroft in 1841, no Alice Snr. HO107/318/1/34/19

2nd son Archbold is with his wife Ann (Bolton) in Ellingham in 1841, no Alice Snr.
HO107/819/1/ /1

2nd daughter Margaret is with her husband William Patrick in Newcastle in 1841, no Alice Snr. HO107/848/2/7/7

So she's not with her children, unless there are any others.

Alan

[Gail-M]

Yes, thank you so much Wolfie, thats all absolutely spot on.  Thats her children in total - the family bible has proved to be pretty reliable.

Richard died at 28 and I notice that the buriel below mentions Alice Clark age 5, who died 14 days later, also from Stamford.  So am wondering if there had been an outbreak of something, and also suspect that she may be related to Alice Snr (maybe a neice) as other young Clarks from Scotland have popped up in the censuses staying with the family.

Must say, if Alice has proved elusive to you experienced guys, she's not about to be found any time soon.  Maybe that period of her extrodiary life will remain unknown (for now at least)

Can I thank everyone that has contributed, its is very much appreciated and your experienced suggestions have been very helpful

Kind regards,
Gail

[Michael Dixon]

Gail,

 I have had a couple of sessions going through trade directories of Northumberland in Newcastle library- without spotting Alice as a post mistress.

 I looked through a range of directories from 1830s to 1855, without success.

 I looked mainly in Ancroft.

Michael

[Gail-M]

Very many thanks Michael.  I think she is described as a Queen's Messager - and Postal Heritage have confirmed this would have been an employee at the Post Office so I think I will employ their  research service to see what turns up rather than wait for an opportunity to visit them in London.

Thanks for all your advice
Gail