Birth in Durham, but no connection to the area.

[SimonRoberts]

My great-grandfather, John Henry BARBER, was born in Durham on 19 Oct 1870, son of Abel Barber and Ann nee Rose. His family were all in Kidderminster, Worcestershire and he and his mother were back in Rock Terrace, Kidderminster by the 1871 census. John was from a long line of Kidderminster weavers, who remained in the area for generations before and after his birth. I have found absolutely no family links to the north east, either maternal or paternal.

He appears on later census records as being born in "Durham, Durham" although his Royal Navy Service Record records his place of birth as Kidderminster.

Why would John have been born in Durham for no discernible reason?

[trish1120]

His Parents may have been there for work for a short time.

My 2nd Great/Grandfather was born and bapt Stratford, Essex 1821 but his siblings were all bapt Beccles, Suffolk.

Trish

[WolfieSmith]

Abel Barber doesn't appear to be in Kidderminster in 1871 census. He's back there in 1881, widowed Carpet Weaver, with John Henry living with him.

There is an Abraham Barker (looking at the original it could be Barber), married, age 36, Carpet Weaver, born Kidderminster, lodging with a family of Kidderminster born Carpet Weavers in Framwellgate, Durham.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBZG-HP2

Alan.

[fiddlerslass]

Durham was an important centre for carpet weaving in the 19th century. There are some online local history articles in the Northen Echo but you may have to subscribe to read them

[ColC]

I note that Abel was in Hartlebury in 1861, a Lodger and Worsted Trimmer, he married Ann in Kidderminster in 1865 and they had a daughter there, Mary Ann in 1866, then John Henry in Q2/1870 in Durham.
In 1871 Ann, Mary Ann & John are with Ann’s mother but no Abel.
 
They had a son Charles in Kidderminster Q2/1773 and Honor Edwin in 1876
Anne Barber died in Kidderminster age 34 1n 1878.
In 1881 Abel and the children are in Kidderminster.

The question is where was Abel in 1871. As fa as I can see not Durham or Kidderminster?

I realise some of this has been posted.

Colin

[ColC]

I note that Abel was in Hartlebury in 1861, a Lodger and Worsted Trimmer.

Colin

I think there were two Abel Barbers born in Kidderminster around the same time, the one I posted earlier I think is the other one, in 1871 the one above is in Stourport with his wife Jane and children. So  ignore my 1861 reference.

Colin

[SimonRoberts]

Thanks, all. There are some leads to follow up there. I was aware of the two Abel Barbers born in Kidderminster around the same time and I have found it difficult to separate the two, especially when other people have them in their family trees as the same person!! Never trust someone else's research!

It's interesting to know that Durham was an important centre for carpet weaving in the 19th c. That's exactly the trade Abel was in, so it could be a good lead. However, he's nowhere to be found on the 1871 census.

[candleflame]

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/history/8742829.famous-city-name-woven-history/

This is the article referred to above. If you click on it, then close the subscriber thing and then reclick, it allows you to read it. You’ll see reference to Kidderminster in it ( very apt today seeing as Kidderminster played brilliantly today in the FA cup even though they lost ).
The last version of Durham carpets were Hugh Mckay and their carpets ( began in 1903) were very famous in many hotels etc . They were very hard wearing carpets and provided lots of employment at ‘ the carpet factory’ or at ‘Mackies ‘. Our first lounge carpet was a Mckays Durham carpet.