Mary Grey

[danielr]

Hello! Apologies in advance for my inexperience, I've only quite recently got into researching my family history! I've been trying to find/verify christening and parentage details on a Mary Grey, who married Thomas Mole on 4th November 1808 in Ellingham. Their children are listed as born in Eglingham (1809, 1811, 1813, 1815, 1823, 1826, 1829/1830) and Whittingham (1818, 1820)

In the 1851 census, her birth year is given as 1788 (est.) and place as Kyloe, Durham. She is living in "[blank], Northumberland". In the 1841 census, her birth year is given as "1787-1791" and place as "Northumberland". She is living in Edlingham. In the christening records for her daughter Elizabeth, the maternal grandfather's name is given as Thomas Grey.

A "Thomas" is not listed as the father for any Durham baptisms I could find for 1780-1792. The suggested baptism records in FindMyPast do not list Thomas as the father.
'FamilySearch' has linked two different christenings in Northumberland: one for 1780 (father matches, mother "Dorothy Watson"), and 1783 (no mother listed, same as on FreeREG).
Random search pulled up a 1785 christening in Northumberland of an illegitimate child between a Thomas Grey and Grace Londie, but I cannot confirm a connection.
Ancestry suggests her mother as "Jane Bowmaker", but this may be linked to Cheshire records. It also lists Dorothy Watson as a spouse of Thomas Grey.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! 

[danielr]

Cannot seem to edit the main post so am following up: have looked into burial records for 1861-1871 as there does not seem to be an 1871 census for Mary (she is widowed and living alone in 1861). A "Mary Mole", aged 77 (b. est. 1788) was buried 11 June 1865 in Warkworth...

[trish1120]

Have you tried to track 1808 Marriage Witness Ralph Gray?

[AllanUK]

Yesterday, danieir said In the 1851 census, her birth year is given as 1788 (est.) and place as Kyloe, Durham. She is living in "[blank], Northumberland". --- not so, they were living at Lemmington Bank Top --- Lemmington is near to Alnwick.

(snippet image courtesy of Find My Past)

[JenB]

In the 1851 census, her birth year is given as 1788 (est.) and place as Kyloe, Durham.

You probably already know this - but in case you don't, just to explain that although Kyloe is now part of Northumberland, until 1844 it was part of County Durham. It was part of Islandshire, which was one of three outliers of County Durham which were within Northumberland.

The other two were Norhamshire and Bedlingtonshire.

They were integrated into Northumberland under the Counties (Detached Parts) Bill' of 1844.

So, although it seems odd, the 1851 census entry stating Durham, Kyloe, is completely correct.

[AllanUK]

You got there before me again JenB.

[JenB]

Sorry 

Going slightly off tack - if she was indeed born in Kyloe then the 1841 census was incorrect in stating she was born 'in county'. She was living in Northumberland 'proper' in 1841, so the census should have stated 'not born in county'.

It all makes for a lot of confusion.

[danielr]

In the 1851 census, her birth year is given as 1788 (est.) and place as Kyloe, Durham.

You probably already know this - but in case you don't, just to explain that although Kyloe is now part of Northumberland, until 1844 it was part of County Durham.

Oh wow! I didn't actually know this (I'm not from England - nor Europe at all - so half of these place names are new to me ). That makes so much more sense now, thanks!

Thank you for the image, AllanUK! Helpful to know that FindMyPast has image censuses (showing off my currently-limited genealogical knowledge, oops)

Have you tried to track 1808 Marriage Witness Ralph Gray?

I did! The other witness, "Alexr. Mole", is either Thomas's father or brother (unlikely as he was twelve). Going off this, I found a 'Mary Grey' - daughter of Ralph and Jane - christened in Morpeth 13th May 1787. Also found a Mary Grey christened 9 May 1782 and a Ralph Grey christened 6 July 1788 - children of John and Susannah in Houghton-le-Spring.

[JenB]

 

In the christening records for her daughter Elizabeth, the maternal grandfather's name is given as Thomas Grey.

I'm a bit confused by this (not difficult  ) So far I can only find baptisms records where Elizabeth's father's name is given as Thomas. Where have you found a record which states that Mary's father (i.e. Elizabeth's grandfather) was Thomas?