Possible lookups for Morpeth 1761 and 1767

[tomwdcraftr]

I have some information about my Robert Todd and Isabel Anderson who married at Morpeth in 1792, and had my ancestor, Matthew Todd in 1802 at Warkworth.

I can see at familysearch that a Robert Todd and Elizabeth Hunter married at Morpeth 12 Nov 1761, but I can't see the original register, and would be interested to know what other info there might be if anyone has access to that info.

Also, familysearch shows a birth for Robert Todd to a Robert Todd and Elizabeth at Morpeth 26 Jul 1767. Again, I'd be interested to know what other info the original register might show?

I'm hoping to find more evidence whether Robert Todd and Elizabeth Hunter may have been my Robert Todd's parents.

Robert and Isabel named their first Son Alexander Anderson Todd after Isabel's father, and their second son Robert Todd, so I thought there's a good chance that Robert's father was a Robert also?

Thanks, Tom McMillan

[SelDen]

Hi Tom

The 1802 baptism for Matthew Todd in Warkworth reads:

22 August 1802 Matthew 4th son of Robert Todd, higgler, a native of Long Houghton (DNPRS transcript of the Warkworth parish register of baptisms).

In this period (1798-1812), the register should have included the forename and maiden name of the mother, but the curate or vicar in Warkworth appears to have gone his own not so sweet way (a curate, Joseph Hudson signs the Bishop's Transcript). I looked to see if the Bishop's Transcripts had more info & it looks as if he included the mother from 1803, but there seems to be a gap and I can't find 1802. Perhaps you would like to have a look on www.familysearch.org in case I have inadvertently overlooked them - navigate your way to England, then scroll down to the image only/unindexed records & the BTs are first on the list.

Coming a step back, how do you know that the Matthew Todd baptised in 1802 in Warkworth is your ancestor? What other information do you have about your ancestor that leads you to identify this Matthew Todd as your ancestor? The more we know about Matthew, the easier it is to go backwards.

Similarly, what has led you to the Morpeth entries? Do you have some other information or records that suggest these belong to your family?

I looked for a baptism of a Robert Todd in Long Houghton but could not see any options in the Long Houghton parish register. That does not mean he was not born there, just that he may have been baptised elsewhere - perhaps in an adjoining parish, or in a non-conformist church. If the earlier Todds were also higglers they may have been very mobile.

See www.genuki.org.uk (the pages for Warkworth and Long Houghton) for the adjoining parishes and for non-conformist congregations in the area. You can also see http://maps.familysearch.org for adjoining parishes.

Good luck.

[SelDen]

I always forget to check for earlier posts first. These are relevant to Tom's post and provide context, and explain how Matthew  Todd fits into his family:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=118369.msg4783751#msg4783751

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=113934;area=showposts;start=9

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=613826.msg4631893#msg4631893

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=605455.msg4549954#msg4549954

Tom, this website has a handful of entries for travelling families - it is just a collection of a few entries by the site's owner, but you might find something of interest for your various families.

https://sites.google.com/site/soldierssailersandstrangers/home

I regret I not have access to Morpeth parish records. If no one can do a lookup, you can order films of the parish registers through familysearch to view at the nearest LDS family history centre.

Good luck.

[tomwdcraftr]

Thanks so much SelDen!! 

I've spent quite a lot of time on my Traveller families, and they can be a tough group to substantiate information on, so I do the best I can. I should have indicated I do have a copy from the original register I had found some years back by browsing at familysearch for Matthew Todd's birth. My eyes are poor, but I believe it says "Christenings in the Parish of Warkworth: 1802 Aug 22 Matthew Todd is son of Robt Todd and Isabella Anderson born June 14".

Matthew's second marriage in Ontario was to maiden name Margaret Orr. Margaret was previously married to my John McMullan in Ireland, and second to John Hinds in Toronto. Matthew married her when she was widowed in 1865, and they lived at Fergus, Ontario. Margaret's son, (my G Grandfather) William J McMillan married Matthew's daughter Anderson Todd at Fergus in 1867.

Matthew Todd died at Fergus in 1878 shown as a horse dealer, and Margaret reported that he was about 76 years old at death, and the death record showed he was born at Warwick, Northumberland, England (I assume Warkworth is correct). I think the only census showing him born in England was the 1841 Scotland census, and others showed him born in Scotland, so I was a bit surprised.  Also, a marriage record to Margaret showed his parent's as Robert and Isabella.

Matthew's first wife was Helen Drummond of Scotland, and the Drummond family were also Scottish Travellers.

I did find an interesting news article from the 1760s, about an Alexander Anderson who had lived at Rothbury, who was shown as a tinker, who might be Isabella's father.

So, the information I'm still interested in proof for, is Robert Todd's parent's for the time being.

Thanks!!  Tom McMillan

[SelDen]

I can't produce Robert Todd's father for you, and I don't have access to Morpeth records for that early period, but I did dig up a transcript of some later Morpeth burials. I have extracted a few that may or may not be of interest:

Anderson Todd buried 8 March 1829 aged 3 months, Bullers Green
Matthew Todd buried 20 Dec 1832 aged 81 years, Morpeth (older than your chap, but you might like to know there was another one around the place)
Robert Todd buried 1 July 1815 aged 68 years, Morpeth
Robert Todd buried 5 January 1835 aged 57 years, Morpeth

There are many more entries for Todd.

[tomwdcraftr]

Thanks SelDen!!

Very much appreciated!!  My Todd family was found at various places for children's births, so it's been confusing for me as to where I might find them. It does seem possible they may have used Morpeth as a home base. I have the idea that Perthshire may have been my Drummond's and perhaps Matthew's home base in Scotland, and I know they had been at various places in Scotland.

I found it was likely Matthew Todd's brother John married a sister to my Matthew's wife, and they had also immigrated to Ontario. They all immigrated in about 1855, to a Scottish like community Fergus. It seems Matthew's children were educated in Scotland and in Ontario, and were successful in their endeavors.

Thanks!!  Tom

[c-side]

The 1767 baptism of Robert does not give any further information - it simply says 'son of Robert and Elizabeth Todd'

The marriage in 1761 between Robert Todd and Elizabeth Hunter was by banns and they are shown as both of this parish.  Witnesses were Edwd. Sumoden and Thomas Rennison but Thomas seems to have regularly signed marriage entries so is unlikely to be connected.  Interestingly, it looks as though Robert signed rather than made his mark and his signature was well written.

Incidentally, the Warkworth baptism in the parish register does have all the information required by the Bishop - it gives Matthew's mother as Isabella Anderson native of Morpeth.

Christine

[tomwdcraftr]

Thanks Christine!!

Interesting about Robert Todd signing the record. I think one Canada census for Matthew Todd indicated he could not read or write, so may not have had an opportunity for school, but he seemed to be sure some of his children were educated.

Also, interesting about Isabella shown as native of Morpeth. There must have been different journals giving accounts of births/baptisms? There's no mention of being native of any area for the parent's on the handwritten record I obtained. Then, someone else had previously shared what she said read: "Matthew Todd baptised 22 Aug 1802 4th son of Robert Todd, higgler, native of Long Houghton."

I accumulated records for a total of 7 children for Robert and Isabella. On at least one record Matthew's father, Robert showed as native of Scotland, but others show different areas of Northumberland which causes confusion.

Maybe as travellers, they just kept em' guessing?

Thanks again!!  Very much appreciated!!

Tom

[c-side]

Interesting about Robert Todd signing the record. I think one Canada census for Matthew Todd indicated he could not read or write, so may not have had an opportunity for school, but he seemed to be sure some of his children were educated.

It concerned me a bit that this Robert could write as his supposed son, Robert who married Isabella, made a mark on his marriage record which doesn't really make sense.  Maybe I'll have another look next week and get a second opinion from one of my research colleagues.