Enquiry about Millers & Campbells of Northumberland

[mulberry-rose]

River Tyne Lass

Yes I think there is an 1841 census in Newgate Street Morpeth where Jane is with Tibby and all of her children. I do think they’re connected too but there’s a lot of gaps.

Ellen Allen as you probably know may have married a John Morrison in 1857. They had a son Robert in 1858 and lived in Byker. I think Ellen died in 1875 as Eleanor Morrison aged 36, Mar Qtr Volume 10b Page 89.

Tibby died as Isabella Allen aged 66, Sep Qtr 1866 at Morpeth, 10b Page 196

Her obituary has “on the 30th ult (30th June), aged 66, Isabella, widow of the late Michael Allan, tinsmith”. She was buried 3 July 1866 at Morpeth and her residence was the Poor House.

No clue for Jane Anderson then Best as of yet.

Tibby also had a daughter Sarah who sadly died as an infant.

Sarah Allan bap 1 Nov 1844 at Morpeth dau of Isabella Allan, spinster
Sarah Allan buried 17 Dec 1844 aged 7 weeks

There is a prison register for both Tibby Allan & Jane Best in 1860 at Newcastle for breaching the bylaws. Underneath Jane Best’s name it mentions the alias Allan in 1858. Under Tibby’s name it mentions she went by the alias Elizabeth (18 July 1859).

[River Tyne Lass]

Thanks so much for this Mulberry Rose, this is great that you have found out a bit more to the continuing story.
Yes, I was aware of the marriage to John Morrison of what may have been this Ellen.  I looked the marriage up and I think I posted the details on here somewhere pre covid. 
I did not know of the death year of Tibby though, I wonder if she was buried at St Mary the Virgin Morpeth as our mutual blood line ancestor Mary Conroy was?  I know son Edward Conroy was buried there as well.  Just as an aside I wonder if Edward’s brother and your ancestor Joseph Conroy was buried there, too?  Or is his burial still unknown?
That is sad to hear that Tibby ended her days in the Poor house.  What a hard life she must have had, seemingly bringing up a family on her own (partner Michael doesn’t seem to have been around much) and losing her son Michael for good when he was sent to Australia.   That is sad too that she lost her daughter Sarah at such a young age.
I didn’t know that Tibby had an alias as an Elizabeth.  I think I recall that she had an older daughter too and I think the daughter may have been called Elizabeth.  I would have to recheck.
I wonder if Jane really did marry a Best or if she just pretended to be a married woman? I wonder if Jane had a sad end too, I wouldn’t be surprised. 
Thanks again, I really appreciate all your help.

Added:  This is what I found re Ellen Anderson’s marriage:
Ellen Allen marriage to John Morrison
22 August 1857, St Nicholas, Newcastle
She was recorded as 'a hawker' but then a line was crossed over these words.
Her father was recorded as Michael Allen - a hawker

Her husband John was a cartman and his Father Robert was also recorded as a cartman.
Their witnesses were William Watson and Isabella Kelly.

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=784673.0
A direct descendant of Michael Allen – ‘Suryniji’ posted on this thread but sadly they have not been back on here since.

[mulberry-rose]

Hi RTL,

I would think Tibby was buried at St Mary’s as it seems to be the ‘main’ burial place in Morpeth.
Sadly I’ve not found Joseph’s burial yet. Given he died at Scotland Gate I’m thinking he was buried either at Choppington, Netherton Lane/Westlea or maybe even Cowpen. I have a theory his wife Mary Ann Allen was buried as “Mary Caney” in Morpeth on 13 April 1886, as Mary Ann died on 10 April 1886. So maybe he was buried under the wrong name like her. Hopefully I should get up to the Woodhorn archives soon to have a proper look.

Tibby did have a very sad life didn’t she.  I noticed she died not long before Michael was conditionally pardoned. She died of heart disease and dropsy, the informant was a Sarah Trotter of Union Workhouse. Have you ever found her in any census after the 1841 one? I’m still trying to find the charge that Tibby apparently got in July 1859 as Elizabeth Allan.

I think that Tibby & Jane must’ve lived in Newcastle in the late 1850s.


Thank you for the information about Ellen’s marriage. I noticed her son was named Robert but his birth was actually registered as the name John in 1858 (unless obviously it was two different sons, but I’ve not found any other Morrison births with Allen/Anderson MN in Newcastle).

[mulberry-rose]

Possibly Isabella & John Campbell in 1901?

Kirk Yetholm, Roxburghshire
John Campbell, 56, b England, general dealer
Isabella Campbell, 56, b England dealers wife

And this in June 1901;

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/da4e0416-7bb7-457e-a736-5b764fe61bfe

Got her!

In 1878;

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/ed07870a-2fdc-4cd1-836f-73dbad2975e1

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/1422404a-941a-4fbd-b67f-9ecc39cf093c

“Isabella Campbell or Anderson, wife of John Campbell…”

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/ddf5d366-1eb8-421c-8543-72130067539a

“She states that he is her second husband..”

So Isabella is nee Anderson, it seems she is the sister of Jane Miller (Anderson).  After Michael died she must’ve ‘married’ to John Campbell.

1882 Census
Broomhill, Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire
John Campbell, 35, b England, horse dealer
Isabella Campbell, 38, b England, horse dealer’s wife

[River Tyne Lass]

Thank you so much for this Mulberry Rose.  Once again, I think you have nailed things. 
I think this clears up the mystery about who she was and that she was both the Isabella Miller wife of Michael and Isabella Campbell as inscribed on the tombstone.

Gosh, I do feel sorry for her - Michael sounds like a sainted husband from his epitaph but it sounds like life was rough living with John (although, perhaps she was difficult too).  Fancy making off with £200 of his/their money!  That must have been a fortune in those days!