Burial of WILLIAM OLIVER SIMMONDS or SYMONDS, Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1812

[GeoffTurner]

So Hannah Woodmass married Mr Aiken, had May, that marriage ended, Mrs Aiken married the newly widowed George Thompson, they had Gladys in 1919 and Norman in 1920.

I found the grave of Elizabeth (first wife) in the Ropery Lane Cemetery, death Dec 1917. If the second wife was having his children in 1918, that would have to be right.

[GeoffTurner]

Her grandson has a tree, that is probably what you found. I have discovered he is my fifth cousin, both descendants of the family mentioned in the initial question.

Thanks for all your help -- and your patience!

Geoff 

[mckha489]

Birth THOMPSON, GLADYS       WOODMASSEY 
GRO Reference: 1919  D Quarter in CHESTER LE STREET  Volume 10A  Page 1333

Birth THOMPSON, SELBY       WOODMASSEY 
GRO Reference: 1919  D Quarter in CHESTER LE STREET  Volume 10A  Page 1333

Death of Selby.

THOMPSON, SELBY       age 1 
GRO Reference: 1921  J Quarter in CHESTER LE STREET  Volume 10A  Page 528

Birth THOMPSON, NORMAN       WOODMANSEY 
GRO Reference: 1921  J Quarter in CHESTER LE STREET  Volume 10A  Page 1332

Births Jun 1923   (>99%)
Thompson    Russell    Woodmassey    Chester-le-S.    10a   1085

[GeoffTurner]

Just a couple of updates. There was a second son that we didn't have a baptism for, and we concluded that he would have been born between Mary in 1801 and Jane in 1805, and perhaps didn't live long enough to be baptised. In fact he was baptised John and we found his burial:

John Simmons burial 28 Jan 1805 age 6 months son of John Simmons basket maker.

I got the death cert I mentioned, of my cousin's grandmother, from the GRO. A first for me. It was a very smooth operation and much quicker and cheaper than here in Australia, and it showed she died from acute appendicitis, general peronitis and cardiac failure. At age 30, less than two months after giving birth. Which certainly sounds childbirth-related.

I have spoken in detail to a member of the Thompson family who emigrated to Australia in 1951, completely oblivious to the fact that they were following in their ancestor's footsteps, although in very different circumstances.  They were fascinated to hear the story and the woman I spoke to was grateful that I had taken the trouble to contact her, because she always though she had no relatives in Australia. The family had traced their story back as far as Elizabeth Burrell's daughter Elizabeth Symonds/Simmons, but the story had been a complete mystery beyond that.

I am continuing on with the second daughter, Mary, who had at least one daughter. The two boys died young. And the other two girls probably married and got lost under their married names. But I'll keep at it.

Thanks again for all your help.

Geoff