Burns family

[CaroleW]

You didn't give birthyears  for the 3 children in your opening post nor any maiden name for Sarah.  No details of when they married or their respective birthplaces.

As stated in my earlier reply - James Basil BURNS was b 1921 -  mmn DOTCHIN - same maiden name on Monica's birth reg. 

Yet you now say "yes - Sarah remarried 1916" 

Which "Sarah"  The 1916 marriage shows her as Sarah Hill.  See my earlier reply #10 re second marriage & mmn.

So - where/when is the marriage of Sarah Dotchin to a man called Hill?

Have you bought a copy of the 1916 marriage cert to establish Sarah's marital status at that time  & her fathers name which will show her maiden name

[CaroleW]

Dec 1916 birth Mary O Burns - mmn Dodgson
June 1918 Edna (not Sarah Edna) mmn Dodgson
James B & Monica both mmn Dotchin

All Chester le Street RD

[CaroleW]

1905 marriage Joshua Hill with a Sarah Dodgson on same page - Chester Le Street

[dido]

Sarah went by many names and was quite a frustrating search. She did marry Joshua Hill but went by the name Mason most of her early life. Then Dodgson, then Hill now Burns. I only found out about the 1916 marriage and was not aware of more children or even step children she had. I do not have the marriage cert YET. I will let you know when I get it if you like. I do know there is a backlog of BMD requests due to pandemic, as I waited ages for another request. Meanwhile, as now I have info of the Burns family which I new nothing about or very little of, I thought It would be nice to connect with them if there are any still living? The people who would have known about this addition to the family are all too young or departed or, maybe a sensitive subject and never discussed. As is usually the case, too late.

[AlanBoyd]

Dido,

Did you ever work out who Sarah’s actual parents were? I’ve just spent the morning down the rabbit hole of the Dodgson/Dotchin/Datchin family and can’t seem to answer that question. I get the impression that this family just didn’t bother to register births or baptise their children, but with all of the name variations it’s difficult to be sure.

Even Isabella Mason/Dodgson is a bit of a mystery. She is apparently the aunt of Sarah and William, although I suppose it isn’t out of the question that she is actually their mother. But even she is a mystery. I think I’ve found her in the 1871 census listed as Arabella, but oddly she has an older sister Isabella! I’m pretty sure that I have the right person because of her birthplace (Seaham).

So, I’m about to give up, just thought you might be able to shed some light on this.

[dido]

Thanks for your understanding regarding the frustrating and complications of my searching. The turns and twists were quite an introduction to family research. Your rabbit hole is about as deep as mine?
To answer your question, I am not sure about Sarah's and her Brothers birth. This has been a ? for years. Sure, they are entered as Niece and Nephew, then, in the next census, daug and son. I realise there was a lot of porkies told in those days, down to pure survival I think.
You have the right census. There were 2 Isabella's. One died as a baby in1863 and the 2nd born 1867.
I would gamble she was Arabella. There were loads of mistakes with this name and think a mix up was through the enumerator. Arabella was crossed out. The long and short, Isabella 2nd was actually Arabella. I think even she gave up and stuck with the name Isabella and she was born in Washington. Hmmmm
They have all been a mystery. lol. Thanks for your patience sticking with this and hope you see my dilemma a bit clearer. I was prepared to leave this on the back burner and see where I got with the Burns. Didn't expect my request would go so deep. Some things are quite sensitive and their bones must be rattling. Thanks for your time and help though Allan. Much appreciated. Dido.   

[AlanBoyd]

Thanks for the reply Dido. I don't mean to go on about this but in the 1871 census I see Isabella – born Washington aged 9 – with Arabella – born Seaham aged 4 – in the same family. That's why I thought that Arabella became Isabella Mason, since the latter also has Seaham as her birthplace. This doesn't fit with your mention of Isabella dying as a baby, or of Arabella being born in Washington. Perhaps you were speaking from memory?

By the way, just in case you haven't spotted it, in that same census, next door to the 'Dotchin' family, are Joseph and Margaret Gibson and family.  She is Margaret Dodgson the sister of Arabella's father John 'Dotchin'. In the 1861 census they are all in the same house (of Edward and Elizabeth Dodgson) at Usworth: the Dodgsons, the Gibsons and the 'Dotchins' (also the Dawsons), although John himself isn't there, just Sarah and their 3 children.  Sixteen people in what I imagine was not a large house.

Anyway, I promise I'll leave this to you now.

[dido]

Thanks for this new info. This adds more missing pieces to this ever growing mysterious family.
I will go through the mountain of info with the census again. I can recall Arabella was crossed out. but don't know why? I will let you know anymore when I unravel more. Deserved after all the digging on my behalf. Thanks again.
No I hadn't spotted the the neighbours. Yet another route to go down??? Blimey!
Dido.