James Steele (b. 1827) in Berwick-on-Tweed

[ndhubbard]

My ancestor James Steele emigrated to Ontario, Canada in the late 1850s. A newspaper article lists his place-of-origin as Berwick-on-Tweed. He was a blacksmith working on the railroads.
http://www.glanbrookheritage.ca/deathsjanjune1897.htm

Looking around in census data for that area of England between 1820-1860 (before James emigrated to Canada), the 1851 England Census for the Twizel district has a James Steel listed as an Apprentice at the Smithy. Seems like a possible lead: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SG6K-TBQ?lang=en

Likely this is the same individual born in Norham here -> https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/sources/L42V-XCD

However this other individual looks promising https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/L8WQ-L1G -> his mother, Jessie Martin, could be the namesake for my James Steele's daughter, my 2ndgg Jessie M. Steele (not clear what the M. stands for, could be Martin if Jessie Martin was her grandmother).

His wife was Mary Young, also born ca. 1827 in England/Scotland.
Children (approximate birthdates and accurate marriage dates):
Jane Steele - b. 1853 in England (m. 1873  Benson Chrysler)
Jessie M Steele - b. 1855 in Canada (m. 1871 James Mungo Main)
Mary "Mamie" Steele - b. 1857 (m. 1881 James Delmer Mills)
Eliza Steele - b. 1859 (m. 1882 Frederick Elias MacDonald)
James Steele - b. 1864 (m. 1888 Jane Ellen Patrick)
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Steele - b. 1868 (m. 1889 Walter Dixon Jackson)
Isabella Steele - b. 1872 (m. 1889 to John Hamilton Terryberry)

Would love to find info on James & Mary's marriage, and know at least their parents' names to keep tracing these lines as I've been stuck for awhile. Thank you!

(previous thread with more info on this family once in Canada at this link:
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=783557.msg7631668#msg7631668)

[rosie99]

Do you have his marriage as that should name his father.  Sorry, I see you are looking for that.

How do you know that his wife was Mary Young

[rosie99]

Looking around in census data for that area of England between 1820-1860 (before James emigrated to Canada), the 1851 England Census for the Twizel district has a James Steel listed as an Apprentice at the Smithy. Seems like a possible lead: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SG6K-TBQ?lang=en

He was a 20 year old James Steel occupation Carpenters Apprentice bn Norham.  He was lodging with Alexander Jaffrey occ Carpenter, presumably his employer

The next household was John Tait, a Blacksmith

[trish1120]

With regards to the possible Parents William/Elizabeth.

I can only find these bapts to them;

Golden Square Scotch Church United Secession Presbyterian, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, NBL
ISABELLA Steel 25 Oct 1819, 1st child, Father a Hind
MARGARET Steel 23 Aug 1821, 2nd child & 2nd daughter, Father a Keeper of the Toll Gate in Norham
WILLIAM Steel 25 Jan 1824, 3rd child & 1st son, abode Norham, Father a Miller
RICHARD Steel 19 Mar 1826, 4th child & 2nd son, abode Norham Mill, Father a Farmer

So from 1841 Census bapts missing for  a few children.

Above on FreeREG

Trish

[ndhubbard]

Do you have his marriage as that should name his father.  Sorry, I see you are looking for that.

How do you know that his wife was Mary Young

Gravestone, marriage & death records (for children) give Mary Young as wife’s name.

[ColC]

Not sure about this on freecen but worth consideration?

1841 Norham, Norhamshire Northumberland (NBL)
abode White Burn, all born Co Durham.
STEEL family

William 45 Farmer, Elisabeth 40

Isabella 20 Ag Lab
Margaret 15 Ag Lab
William 15 Ag Lab
Elisabeth 13 Ag Lab
James 11
John 8
Robert 6

Colin

[trish1120]

Yes Colin that is the 1841 Census I was referring to re bapts

[ColC]

Hi Trish, its the born Durham on 1841 census that looks unusual, no place of birth on 1841 normally, must be a freecen error.

Colin

[JenB]

In 1841 Norhamshire was still a detached part of County Durham.