Brick Wall - Henderson, Roxburghshire

[ColC]

Maybe just a little more research is required, when you go back things might fall into place, such as marriages for those below etc.

GEORGE HENDERSON/ANN MITCHELL
children:

George 23 Feb 1807, Sprouston, Roxburghshire.
John 12/09/1808 Melrose, Roxburghshire.
William 29/07/1811 Stow, Midlothian
Mary 20/10/1817 Middlebie, Dumfries

On FS
Ann, Wife Age 70 years
Birth Year (Estimated) 1787
Death Date 27 October 1857
Spouse's Name
Mr George Henderson

Event Type Obituary 24 October 1857
Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland

Colin

[phow]

Ohhhhhhh! I'll take a look at that, thank you!

[ColC]

I hope these are the correct ones, the dates seem about right but no marriage or census yet.

Mr George Henderson Age 78
Birth Year (Estimated)1779
Obituary 28 Feb 1857

Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England
Newspaper Newcastle Journal

HENDERSON, GEORGE    77  
GRO Reference: 1857  M Quarter in NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE  Volume 10B  Page 51

HENDERSON, ANN    70  
GRO Reference: 1857  S Quarter in NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE  Volume 10B  Page 69

Colin

[Forfarian]

From census records, I've worked out that mine was potentially born early April 1808.

The 1851 census was taken on 30 March 1851, and George said he was 43, which, if accurate, would mean he was born between 31 March 1807 and 30 March 1808.

The 1861 census was taken on 7 April 1861, and George said he was 53, which, if accurate, would mean he was born between 8 April 1807 and 7 April 1808.

The 1871 census was taken on 2 April 1871, and George said he was 62, which, if accurate, would mean he was was born between 3 April 1808 and 2 April 1809.

As there's no overlap between his putative dates of birth from the 1851 and 1871 censuses, at least one of them has to be wrong, and your best estimate is that he was born between 1807 and 1809.

This doesn't fit well with the baptisms of the children of George Henderson and Ann Mitchell.

There are 18 months and 20 days between the baptisms of George on 23 February 1807 and John on 12 September 1808, and only 14 months and 19 days between the baptism of John and the end of 1809.

So I think you are right to be wary of the Anc* trees (actually, it is always right to be wary of any online tree!).

One thing you can do, if you have access to Anc*, is to look at all the trees there and see what source they cite for George's birth/baptism. Dismiss every tree that cites another tree or a secondary source (e.g. another web site or a book written long after the event), because you know that their authors have just copied someone else, and then see what you are left with. If they don't cite a primary source they cannot be trusted.

[Forfarian]

HENDERSON, GEORGE    77 
GRO Reference: 1857  M Quarter in NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE  Volume 10B  Page 51
HENDERSON, ANN    70 
GRO Reference: 1857  S Quarter in NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE  Volume 10B  Page 69

Interesting possibility.

Looking at the census transcription at FreeCEN, in 1851 there appear to be two George Hendersons in Northumberland born before 1800 with a wife named Ann or variants.

In Wooler in 1851 is George Henderson, 59, baker, born Wooler with wife Ann, 57, born Ilderton, Northumberland and three children including George, aged 28. This Ann was only about 14 when Ann Mitchell's eldest child was baptised, and her son George is clearly not yours, so I think this couple can safely be discounted.

In Newcastle All Saints is George Henderson, 62, Summoner To The Trinity House, born Gateshead, County Durham with wife Hannah, 53, born Newcastle. This couple were also in Newcastle in 1841, ages recorded as 50 and 40 respectively. Obviously their ages in the census do not tally with the ages in the deaths index. In the same household in 1841 is George Henderson, 14, so again I think they can probably be dismissed.

If the 1857 death certificate is that of this George, he too can be eliminated as a possible candidate to be your George's father.

[fiddlerslass]

From Durham Records Online, could this be one of the marriage witnesses, also relocated to Seaton Sluice with George?

Burials    Tynemouth    1839    David    Henderson    abt 1773    Seaton Sluice    

15th Dec 1839 age 66, unfortunately no occupation given.

BT Earsdon St Alban NBL:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6S9W-ZV7?wc=9K53-DPD%3A13617901%2C19407801%2C19407802%26cc%3D1309819&cc=1309819&lang=en&i=1071

[phow]

From Durham Records Online, could this be one of the marriage witnesses, also relocated to Seaton Sluice with George?

Burials    Tynemouth    1839    David    Henderson    abt 1773    Seaton Sluice    

15th Dec 1839 age 66, unfortunately no occupation given.

BT Earsdon St Alban NBL:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6S9W-ZV7?wc=9K53-DPD%3A13617901%2C19407801%2C19407802%26cc%3D1309819&cc=1309819&lang=en&i=1071

Thank you. 
I've been all the way through the 1841 census, hoping that this David would have left some relatives behind, but the only other Henderson I've found is Jane Henderson (40), so I'll try to find out who she is.

I came to a dead end with George a while ago, so moved on and have only just come back to him. I've found a few other bits in the last few days, but they aren't terribly helpful in terms of birthplace :

• First born son, David was born in Buston near Warkworth, so George and Mary stayed in Warkworth for a few years after their marriage and had two sons before moving to Seaton Sluice sometime between 1835 and 1839 when daughter Margaret was born.
• I've found a few more birth records for George's children. None of them say anything about George beyond his occupation and that he signed his mark rather than a signature.
• And George was in the pub when he suffered a stroke (apoplexy) and died in May 1871.

I also ordered David Henderson's (first son) marriage certificate. I have almost no hope that it will help with father George's birthplace, but miracles do happen.

If I win the lottery I'll consider ordering them for other children!

[phow]

There are 18 months and 20 days between the baptisms of George on 23 February 1807 and John on 12 September 1808, and only 14 months and 19 days between the baptism of John and the end of 1809.

So I think you are right to be wary of the Anc* trees (actually, it is always right to be wary of any online tree!).

One thing you can do, if you have access to Anc*, is to look at all the trees there and see what source they cite for George's birth/baptism. Dismiss every tree that cites another tree or a secondary source (e.g. another web site or a book written long after the event), because you know that their authors have just copied someone else, and then see what you are left with. If they don't cite a primary source they cannot be trusted.

Great advice, thank you!  I do try to ignore other trees and only add things to mine when I've managed to find other sources myself.
Some of the trees I've seen are absolutely mad!