Interested in Others Opinions on my Research

[Torstin]

Hello Everyone,

     I try to be really meticulous with my research and to not "make up scenarios". So here's the deal I have a John Garthwaite and from looking online 1) there are ton of John Garthwaites 2) Ive seen so many people mix up all of these John Garthwaites in their Trees. Let it be known that Ive been trying to put this together since 2018 haha and I THINK I finally have it, so here it is.

     So I think I confirmed Birth years and Death Dates for John Garthwaite and Dorothy (English) Garthwaite.  John Garthwaite ["Native of Wolsingham" - written on his son Thomas' burial Parish Record] married Dorothy English Jan. 1, 1788 in Houghton-Le-Spring by banns. Researching brings up Daughter Barbara Garthwaite b.1788, Son George Garthwaite 1791/1793, Son Thomas b. 1798 d. 1799. Looking at the records there are at least 2 other John Garthwaite's in Houghton at the same time as Our John. A John Garthwaite whom married Agnes Cook and their son John Garthwaite [as told is Agnes Garthwaite's Will plus 2 docs confirming the marriage]. Well the only burial in Houghton-Le-Spring for a John Garthwaite is April 5th, 1832 'of Houghton Age 90. Good information. But when searching for Dorothy Garthwaite there is no Dorothy Garthwaite burial in Houghton-Le-Spring. So open up the search wider to County Durham in general and you find a Dorothy Garthwaite on 2 records, a 1841 census in Yarm and a 1841 burial in Yarm. Our Dorothy Garthwaite? Well the 1841 censes record looks like she is just solo not listed with anyone else but is aged as 94. But the census has each persons house hold attached to a id number so in 1841 Dorothy household Id number is shared with 2 other people Benjamin Ord age 36 and Ann Ord age 40 in Yarm. Who the heck are these people. Originally I thought maybe John died in 1832 when she would have been 85 so maybe she needed taken care of by some people possibly not family. BUT keep looking and well Benjamin Ord is a Ord not a Garthwaite so maybe Ann's maiden name is Garthwaite; so I searched for Ann Garthwaite with a Spouse of Benjamin Ord and well well look at what pops up Ann Garthwaith [obvious misspelling while transcribing] married Benjamin Ord November 8th, 1824 in HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING! So what do we have here? What we have is confirmation that John Garthwaite died in 1832 at the age of 90 putting his birth year at 1742 [information we did not previously have]. After John died Dorothy age 85 goes and moves in with her daughter Ann (Garthwaite) Ord in Yarm. Lucky for us Dorothy decided to live long enough to be written down in the first England census in 1841 where she is age 94 then dies July 13th, 1841 in Yarm; putting Dorothy's birth year at 1747. Not only did Ann's marriage help with the maiden name but the location of her marriage in Houghton-Le-Spring was the big hit and tie in, being that their whole family was of there. Ann in the census was listed as age 40 putting her born 1801. Searching for Ann Garthwaite daughter of John and Dorothy Garthwaite in Houghton-Le-Spring I didnt find anything; and neither has anyone else ever, since a 4th child has never been put down for John and Dorothy. Im not sure why she doesnt have her birth/baptism/christening documented or at least searchable online but it took all the way until 1841 in the first census to find out John and Dorothy had a 4th child/second daughter. So what next? Now with figuring out what happened with John and Dorothy and their dates we go on a witch hunt for John's parents. Quick peak around though and John Garthwaite "native of Wolsingham" born 1742 has not yet provided results. But just as long as it took me to find this all out I will too hopefully find that out.

      p.s. A rumor passed down from the family is that once John and Dorothy's son George died in 1822 [confirmed by records] that grandpa came to help raise George's children a bit since their mom was now on her own until she remarried Joseph Simpson.

Thanks for any feedback. Im worried I might be wrong somewhere with John because ive never had luck finding John's birth and Parents. A few about 1741/1742 and plus or minus a few years John Garthwaite's show up in searching but Im not sure yet. Also Im almost 100% it's not John Douse/Douce Garthwaite born 1741 and died prisoner of war at Valenciennes, France on Feb. 4, 1814.

[LizzieL]

One observation. If Ann's and Dorothy's ages are right in 1841, Dorothy would be 54 when Ann was born - seems a bit old. The enumerator doesn't seem to have rounded ages down.

[LizzieL]

And on ages again: If John was born abt 1742 and Dorothy abt 1747 and married in 1788, they would be quite old when they married.

[jonwarrn]

There is a baptism in Houghton, 30 January 1791, of an Ann Garforth (DRO associate/link this name with Garthwaite)
Parents John and Dorothy, of Houghton

On Free Reg
https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818091ae93790ec8b9cf5d0

From the BT, which is on FS
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62KS-W1V

George was baptised in 1793.
There is a widowed Ann(e) Ord born Houghton around in 1851 and 1861, age 54 and 70, a servant. Is that the widow of Benjamin?

[LizzieL]

John Douce Garthwaite was described as esq on his marriage licence. He was from Surrey and married Fanny Hancock from Salisbury who was the daughter of a physician. So I agree, he is ruled out.

[LizzieL]

There is a baptism in Houghton, 30 January 1791, of an Ann Garforth (DRO associate/link this name with Garthwaite)
Parents John and Dorothy, of Houghton

That's looking good. 1791 fits better with Dorothy's age when Ann was born.
So she should be 50 in 1841. Took 10 years off - maybe because she was much older than Benjamin

[Torstin]

     Hmm ok well here's my first impression. It doesnt fit my meticulousness, but I have always understood their older ages.

     Nothing Ive proved but in Houghton-Le-Spring Agnes (Cook) Garthwaite's will says she married John Garthwaite "The Younger" and marriage record does show they married 1796. So without any research and with just a quick thought including that John and Dorothy are older. That MAYBE John Garthwaite "The Younger" followed his father John Garthwaite whom married Dorothy English to Houghton-Le-Spring and John Garthwaite "The Younger" could be from a first marriage John Garthwaite had before Dorothy. Just a quick assumption, nothing to run away with.

     Also the other 3 children were recorded as Barbara Garthwait, George Garthwaite, and Thomas Garthwaite; why the Garforth in the middle. I got 5 Garforth's to show up on familysearch in Houghton-Le-Spring. So it is a legit family, yes because of Garforths being also of their I guess it could of had been misrecorded, but then like you said you'd have to assume everyone is just "lying" about there age, which Im not saying doesnt happen. But just because you're in your 50s doesnt mean you cant have kids. John and Dorothy being of such age could of been a contribute maybe as to why Thomas died under a year, maybe not though too.

     I mean its also uncommon to get above the age of 90 back then as well and they both did that.