Marriage of John Thompson born Elsdon 1791

[c-side]

Hi Jenny

I hope you really do like a mystery ‘cos this one is getting worse.

Of all the Thompson children you listed the only two to show up in Elsdon baptisms were Catharine and Margaret who I found last week.  Because of the rounding down of adult ages in the 1841 census and the fact that Catharine was baptised two years after her birth  I went through every single page from 1813 to 1850.  There were a couple of other Thompsons mentioned but wrong names and wrong parents.

Although the ’41 doesn’t give relationships I think it is reasonable to assume that, apart from Jane, they are all siblings so why aren’t they all there?  The only solution I have come up with so far is that all the others were privately baptised and either not brought to church to be officially received or that the vicar did not always include the names of children so received in the baptism register.

Certainly there are oddities in the register.  For example at the end of the 1840 baptisms there are entries for 1835 which are immediately followed by 1841 entries.  No explanation is given.

Has anyone got any other ideas?

Christine

[c-side]

Keeping this separate so as not to cause any further confusion!

Margaret’s burial was definitely 1839 - details as provided last week.

I also came across a burial for James Thompson, abode Tofts, 25th February 1844, aged 98

Looking for a baptism of John in or around 1791 nothing was found but I did see one in 1792 for Margaret, daughter of James and Eleanor Thompson of Killhouse and I was wondering whether she could be his sister.

On the off-chance that she was then there is a burial for Eleanor Thompson, abode Otterburn, 26th November 1840, aged 82.  She may not be connected but worth keeping a note of just in case.

Christine

[WolfieSmith]

Three baptisms on Familysearch at Birdhope Craig Presbyterian (in Elsdon Parish) which correspond to three of the older children.

John, 29 Jul 1821
Robert, 7 Feb 1825
William, born 5 Aug, bap 26 Oct 1828

All children of John and Margaret Thompson. Original records may give more info.

Alan.

[c-side]

Interesting.  I have heard of mixed denomination marriages where the boys have been baptised into one denomination and the girls into the other so now I’m wondering whether that is what’s happening here.  Certainly the Scottish connection could account for the Presbyterian element.

If only we could find the rest of the children……

Woodhorn has Birdhopecraig baptisms up to 1850 and there’s Otterburn from 1835 so I can look at those next week to see if there is any further detail.

Christine

[rumneyt]

Hello Christine

Been away for a couple of days, so just picked up the posts from yourself and Alan.  Many thanks, as you say it's becoming a bigger mystery daily!

I have found a 4th cousin living in Norfolk researching the same branch of the Thompsons, who's come across the same problems, she has sent me the same info as Alan today, the baptisms for the Presbyterian Chapel at Birdhope Craig. She says in her message that there are a lot of non-conformists in her Norfolk families who flitted between the Parish Church and local non-conformist chapel, and wondered if this is what our John and Margaret did? Whatever they did it's complicated!

I've made a note of the John/Eleanor connection which seems possibly his sister as you suggest.

Not sure about the buriel for James Thomson age 98 in 1844 as we have a James on the 1851 census age 90?

Thanks for the offer to look up the Birdhopecraig/Otterburn baptisms.

Jenny

[c-side]

I'm not sure where that burial of James fits in either - I mentioned it because it was there.  If nothing else it serves to show that there are other Thompsons in the area and nothing should be taken at face value.  With common names like James, John and Margaret it would be easy to go off on the wrong road.

I'm still not totally satisfied with the 1815 marriage - why no children until 1821?  With the Presbyterian connection have you checked for marriages in Scotland?

Christine - with apologies for throwing more spanners in the works 

[WolfieSmith]

There are also baptisms at Birdhope Craig of a James Thompson, 5 Nov 1816, and Thomas Thompson, 12 Feb 1818. Sons of John and Margaret Thompson.

Alan.

[rumneyt]

Thanks Christine/Alan, don't worry about the spanners, I'm just so grateful you are using your spades for digging out the relevant info.!!

Looking at Scotland marriages today, nothing so far.

Once again many thanks for all your help.

Jenny

[c-side]

Actually, now that Alan has provided two earlier baptisms I am much more confident about the 1815 marriage.

I'm also wondering whether they have been following the traditional naming pattern.  If so it would make John's parents James and Isabella and Margaret's Thomas and Catherine.  Perhaps I should try to find Margaret's baptism - at least look in Elsdon PRs.

Noted - the first James must have died as there is another baptised later on - something else to look for!

Christine