« Reply #1 on: Thursday 25 August 05 15:36 BST (UK) »
Val
I came across that site some time ago shortly after I had been googling on the name of my great grandfather, Michael Nicholson of Gateshead. I was amazed to find his name as one of the minor injuries of the Great Fire of Gateshead and that set me searching for more information on the event. What really surprises me is how few people in Gateshead today have ever heard of the fire. Every time I get an opportunity, I ask about the fire and only one or two keen local historians have ever heard of it. Your link is a really good place to start finding out about Gateshead however. It also explained why my g g/f's first wife was Irish. There was a large influx of Irish people into the town in the second half of the 19th century. Luckily she is not my direct ancestor - I come from his second wife - hunting Irish ancestors is a real challenge.
E Yorks - Carver, Steels, Cross, Maltby, Whiting, Moor, Laybourn
W Yorks - Wilkinson, Kershaw, Rawnsley, Shaw
Norfolk - Carver, Dowson
Cheshire - Berry, Cooper
Lincs - Berry
London/Ireland/Scotland/Lincs - Sullivan
Northumberland/Durham - Nicholson, Cuthbert, Turner, Robertson
Berks - May
Beds - Brownell
