Black's in Whittingham

[c-side]

Hi Dorothy

At least if Clattery and Clatteringhouses are the same place I'll know where to look.  I can check which parish it was in before I start just in case it's not in Ellingham.

I wouldn't mind swapping Woodhorn for the Canadian Rockies one Wednesday afternoon 

Christine

[c-side]

Hi Dorothy

As always with this hobby - some good news, some bad.

Firstly Margaret Brown is not listed as being baptised in Ellingham - I checked from 1813 to 1830 in case she lied about her age!  There was a Jane in 1824 and Robert in 1826, children of Thomas and Ann Brown - perhaps they are connected.  I’ll give some thought to which neighbouring parish she might be in.

Good news is that the Whittingham records for the period you were looking at are fine.  Alas there was no Elizabeth Black buried there in 1864 but Robert appears in 1903:  Robert Black, Callaly High Houses, buried June 6th 1903 aged 79.  In the margin by Robert’s record there was a letter O with 13 written underneath - could be a grave reference perhaps?

I also found an Elizabeth Black of Barton buried 11th July 1866 aged 75 - possible relative?

Christine

[Phodgetts]

Let me know if Callaly High Houses is relevant to your family and that they are connected to them. I have a family photo of the houses since I had relatives that lived there in the 1940s and 50s whilst working for the Callaly Estate. Just thought you might like a copy of the image for your family album, but only if you are interested. 

Philip

[dblun]

Firstly Christine
Thank you so much ... The Elizabeth of 1866 was the wife of William Black ( who died 1878) and mother of Robert  ( who died 1903).  The Elizabeth of 1864 ( wife of Robert) is a problem. I found her death noted in the newspaper and the family has a "mourning cup" with her name but as for her ...
 As for Margaret Brown .. ?? 

Philip
Thank you as well . I would love a picture of Callaly high Houses as Robert Black along with daughter and son-in-law Peter Hill appear at these cottage in the 1891 and 1901 census.

This Black family was certainly entrenched in the area !!!

Thanks again
Dorothy

[WolfieSmith]

Searching for Margaret Brown baptism.

As she was married over the border at Lamberton Toll, one or both of them were probably Scotch Presbyterians.

Nearest Presbyterian Church to Clattery/Clatteringhouses was at Warenford, just a couple of miles away.

Familysearch has a baptism of a Margaret Brown at Warenford Presbyterian, 9 Mar 1823, born 22 Feb 1823, daughter of William Brown and Jane Jackson.

In 1861 census, Margaret is down as Married, but Head of the household, no Thomas present. Her two youngest children are Isabella 4 months and Thomas age 2.

Their baptisms at Alnwick on Familysearch :

Thomas John Dixson, baptized 12 Jan 1859, parents Thomas and Margaret Dixson.
Isabella Dixon, baptized 27 Dec 1860, parents Thomas and Margaret Dixon.

Searching for Margaret in census after 1861, she appears to have remarried to a James Beverley, I presume Thomas Dixon had died.

1871 census,  Pelton, Durham.
James Baverley, 35, Coal Miner, b. Shieldbottle, Northumberland.
Margaret Baverley, wife, 45, b. Warenford, Northumberland.
John Baverley, son, 12, b. Alnwick,
Isabella Baverley, dau, 10, b. Alnwick
RG10/4991/86/28

1881 census, Victoria St., Amble,
James Beverley, 45, Coal Miner, b. Shilbottle.
Margaret Beverley, wife, 55, b. Clattery,
Isabella Beverley, dau, 20, b. Alnwick
RG11/5120/92/1

Next door is a John Dixon, 22, b. Alnwick, and family.

1891 census, Radcliffe Terrace, Hauxley, Northumberland,
James Beverley, 54, Coal Miner, b. Shilbottle.
Margaret Beverley, wife, 64, Dressmaker, b. Clattery,
RG12/4262/67/17

FreeBMD has a marriage of a James Beverley, Dec 1874, Morpeth 10b 624. One of the two possible brides is a Margaret Dixon, so probably the right one.

Looking at the other baptisms of siblings of the Margaret Brown baptized at Warenford in 1823, and then looking for them in 1841 census.

Canongate, Alnwick,
William Brown, 45, Joiner, Y,
Jane Brown, 40, Y,
William Brown, 13, Y,
Robert Brown, 10, Y,
John Brown, 8, Y,
Dorothy Brown, 5, Y,
Eleanor Brown, 1, Y,

No Margaret with them, but there is a possible Margaret nearby in Alnwick. 15 year old House Servant with an Allan Family on Bondgate St.

Margaret Dixon is living on Canongate, in 1851, so I think we are on the right track.

William and Jane in 1851 census :

Walkergate St., Alnwick,
William Brown, 59, Joiner, b. Linkhall (?), Northumberland,
Jane Brown, wife, 53, b. Haughters Law (?), Northumberland,
Robert Brown, son, 20, Labourer, b. South Charlton,
Ellen Brown, dau, 12, b. Alnwick.
HO107/2419/281/5

Margaret Dixon is living on Walkergate St., in 1861 census. Widowed Jane Brown, aged 63, b. Hughters Law, is 5 pages away on Bailiffgate St.

All seems to fit, but you need the marriage cert of Margaret Dixon and James Beverley to confirm.

Alan

[dblun]

Hello Alan
I have the marriage cert. Indeed my uncle is named Thomas beverley after both men in Margaret's life!!

Thank you SOOOO much !!

[WolfieSmith]

Hi,

So what does Margaret give for her fathers name and occupation on the cert?

Alan.

[dblun]

Happy St. Paddy's day Alan!!!

  Whoops ...Margaret lists father as John Brown ,(deceased), coal miner
                  James Beverley is coal miner  and they are residing at Radcliffe Colliery
                  Margaret  10 years older than James as shown in the various census

Thomas and Isabella were the youngest children of Thomas and Margaret Dixon .. My Gram gave me names of all of the children and  the fact of Margaret's second marriage to Mr. Beverley.

Dorothy

[WolfieSmith]

Well, my best take on the situation.

In 1861 census in Alnwick, Margaret was down as married, but Head of the Family.

In 1871 census in Pelton Co. Durham, Margaret was down as married to James Beverley, but they didn't actually marry, back in Morpeth Northumberland, until 1874.

There are no deaths of a Thomas Dixon in Alnwick district any time around 1861.

Divorce was not an option in those days, and if a husband left for whatever reason, the wife was left with few options. Bigamy was a serious offence.

I do think that the Margaret baptized in Warenford is the right one, too many coincidences. Families in those days tended to live nearby for support. Robert Brown, brother of the Warenford Margaret is living 4 pages away from Margaret Dixon in Alnwick in 1861 census.

Needs a lot more work to confirm though. Who were the witnesses on the marriage cert?

Alan.