Mary Ellen JOHNSON nee TUNSTALL

[CUMBERLAND SAUSAGE]

I would be grateful of any help that can be provided with my following search with which I have hit a stone wall:
Mary Ellen Johnson (Nee Tunstall) married to John Johnson; they had a son also called John.
In March 1930 they were living in 9 Charles Avenue Shiremoor, Northumberland.
There is a Mary Ellen Tunstall 1895-1949 who slots in to where I would expect to find her, but it would appear that she married a John Hand in 1918. Mary Ellen's married name is definitely Johnson because a I have letters signed by her.
Mary Ellen was the cousin of my Grandmother Hannah Mary Tunstall born Spen in 1897

[Kay99]

Have you checked the 1939 Register for 9 Charles Avenue Shiremoor .   The family there would appear to fit the family you are looking for but with the surname Hand??

Kay

[CUMBERLAND SAUSAGE]

Can I ask how to do that. I haven't a clue
dt

[Kay99]

The Register is on FindMyPast and you can search by name etc or address. But you have to pay to view unless you have a subscription

Kay

[Tickettyboo]

I looked at free BMD, can't find a marriage (1910 onwards) using the surnames JOHNSON and TUNSTALL (including spelling variations)

Can't find a birth of a John JOHNSON, mother's maiden name TUNSTALL from 1911 onwards (when the mother's maiden name was included in the index)

Q1 1918 Tynemouth District has a marriage for a John HAND and Mary TUNSTALL (no middle name given)

North Tynemouth Registrars site show their local reference as C-5 9, 301 which indicates they were married at St Alban Earsdon

A marriage cert/entry in the parish register would confirm/deny if this is the right Mary Tunstall you are looking for.

Q1 1919  Tynemouth District has a birth for a John HAND, mother's maiden name TUNSTALL

A free search of the 1939 register for the surname Hand specifying Seaton Valley U.D. (which included Shiremoor) shows 2 Johns (b1893 and b 1919) and one Mary E (b 1895) Clicking on each of those entries in turn suggests they were all in the same household but you would need to pay to see the full record.

Can't explain why this lady would sign her name as Johnson on the letters you spoke of , but it would appear that there was no official marriage in England & Wales for Johnson /Tunstall and no birth registered to correspond to the child.

Boo

[Radcliff]

I agree with you entirely Boo
I have picked up the birth of John Hand as you have posted and I can see John Hand senior in Shiremoor in 1911,
and a possible death for John Hand in 1963,and one for Mary E Hand  IN 1954 Northumberland,

[MaureeninNY]

Is there any chance that Mary signed the letters Mary John & son?

Just seems a bit odd to include your surname in a letter to a family member.

Oh well-I'm guessing again.

Maureen

[Kay99]

Is there any chance that Mary signed the letters Mary John & son?

Just seems a bit odd to include your surname in a letter to a family member.

Oh well-I'm guessing again.

Maureen

Sounds a good guess

[Tickettyboo]

Is there any chance that Mary signed the letters Mary John & son?

Just seems a bit odd to include your surname in a letter to a family member.

Oh well-I'm guessing again.

Maureen

a really good guess and a strong possibility.
If Cumberland Sausage could scan the relevant part of the letter and attach it in here we could look and see what the general consensus is? It could well solve the mystery.

Boo