Death of Mary Ridley, formerly Fletcher maiden name Baister

[Mainsforth]

I have been unable to find details about the death/burial of my ancestor Mary Baister - her name when she was born about 1816. Any help I can get with this would be much appreciated. Mary was married at least twice so I have searched for her death using Mary Fletcher and Mary Ridley

Some of the info I have found in UK Parish Records, Censuses and Civil Records about Mary is:-


Mary Baister herself

Baptised. Houghton Le Spring, Durham, England 18 Feb 1816.

Place of birth West Herrington, Houghton Le Spring, Durham, England  FHL #1885558 item p 80

Lived Tanfield, Durham, England 30 Mar 1851   

Lived Tanfield, Durham, England 7 Apr 1861   

Mary’s Marriages

Married Edward Jackson Kay  Fletcher. St John’s, Gateshead Fell, Durham, England 1 Nov 1836   

Married Joseph Ridley. Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England 9 Sept 1849   

Joseph was previously married to Sarah Drummond at St Mary’s, Whickham, Durham, England 16 Feb 1829. Sarah died before 29 Jan 1846

Mary’s Children

Jane Baister Fletcher  Daughter  born. Stowell Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England 13 April 1834   

Edward Fletcher Son born   Charles Street, Gateshead, Durham, England 8 Sept 1840   

Robert Baker Fletcher Son born out of wedlock   Clough Dean, Tanfield, Durham, England 15 Nov 1848   

Elizabeth Ridley Daughter Born Clough Dean, Tanfield, Durham, England 12 Oct 1850   

Mary’s Stepchildren

James Ridley Stepson Born Tanfield, Durham, England about 1836
   
Sarah  Ridley Stepdaughter Born Tanfield, Durham, England about 1839   

William Ridley Stepson born Tanfield, Durham, England about 1841   

Joseph Ridley Stepson born  Clow Dean [Clough Dean], Tanfield, Durham, England 23 Feb 1843    

Daniel Ridley Stepson Born Tanfield, Durham, England about 1845
   
Another child connected with Mary   
   
Jane Hardy Born Tanfield, Durham, England about 1849

[JenB]

I see that she was living at Clough Dean in 1861

The free index to Durham Records Online shows the death in 1870 in Lanchester RD (which included Tanfield) of a Mary Ridley, aged 54, residence Clough Dean,. You would have to buy credits to see the full burial entry. https://www.durhamrecordsonline.com/NewSearch.php

The matching death would be 2nd q. 1870, Durham 10a, 167, Mary Ridley aged 53.

[Tickettyboo]

Looking at the Durham Records Online free search it looks likely that Joseph, Mary's husband also died in 1870 and was buried in the same churchyard.

If you are confused by the Registration Districts being different for the burial and the death index reference, bear in mind that Tanfield was in Lanchester RD (as specified by Durham Records Online) from 1837-1838. Then it was in Durham RD (as specified by the GRO death index) from 1838-1875 before the RDs were re-jigged again and Tanfield came under Lanchester RD once more.

These two pages show the movement
https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/durham.html
https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/lanchester.html

Family Search do have digital images of  Tanfield parish registers and include burials 1813-1948,
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/122516?availability=Family%20History%20Library
the key symbol above the camera icon means they can only be viewed if you visit an LDS Family History Centre. Other than that the registers are held by Durham Record Office.

Boo

[McTalbert]

I have transcribed the Parish Records of Tanfield St. Margaret myself so I can give you the following information.

Mary RIDLEY of Clow Dean was buried on 04-Jun-1870, aged 53 years.
Joseph RIDLEY of Clow Dean was buried on 31-Oct-1879, aged 64 years.

The Baptism Register records the following baptism:

Baptised on 24-Nov-1850.  Robert (illegitimate) son of Robert BAKER and Mary FLETCHER of Cleugh Dean.

I hope this is helpful.

Albert McTalbert.

[McTalbert]

Sorry.

Joseph RIDLEY was of Cleugh Dean was buried on 31-Oct-1870, aged 64 years.

McTalbert

[Tickettyboo]

I have transcribed the Parish Records of Tanfield St. Margaret myself so I can give you the following information.

As you have transcribed these registers, would you consider offering the transcript to the FreeReg project? Looking at the database they don't seem to have any records post 1844 and, if you are willing, it would really help other researchers.

Boo

[Mainsforth]

JenB, TickettyBoo and McTalbert
 

Looking into the life of Mary Baister has caused me many more problems than I have had with the lives of my other ancestors and those of my wife. I took a few months break from family history because of the stumbling blocks I met finding info about Mary. Your posts give me the final pieces I need to finish her story.

Being a belt and braces man, it was nice to hear from a transcriber of original parish records.

Thank you all for responding to my cry for help.

Mainsforth

[Mainsforth]

McTalbert

Thank you for the above mentions of Clow Dean and Cleugh Dean. They could be one of the reasons my search for info about Mary’s death ran into difficulties.
 
When anyone is having difficulty finding records for ancestors in Clough Dean, Tanfield, County, Durham might like to try also putting Clow Dean, Clow Dene, Cleugh Dean or Clough Dene - one by one - in as the "location" to be Searched for.

They might also find an outline map of parishes adjacent to Tanfield St Margaret of interest  - http://www.durhamrecordoffice.org.uk/article/11113?SearchType=Param&Variations=N&Parish=Tanfield+St.+Margaret&RegType=Burials&StartDate1870&EndDate1870&Denomination=Church+of+England&OrderBy=NAME&ItemID=598069.

[McTalbert]

Mainsforth,

In addition to the Parish Registers, I also prepared full details of the headstones in Tanfield St. Margaret's Churchyard.

Whilst there are quite a few RIDLEY headstones there is not, unfortunately, a headstone for Joseph and Mary.

If there is anything else you want from the Registers, please let me know.

McTalbert