2,939 baptisms at Brancepeth St. Brandon in Durham district, just south of Durham City, spanning 1740-1812. Residences mentioned include Baal Hill, Biggin, Billy Hall, Billy Row, Black Hamilton, Blades House, Bleach Green, Boggle Hole, Brancepeth, Brandon (and West & East Brandon), Burnigill, Butchers Race, Coalpit House, Crook, East Parks, Fell Heads, Goodwell Field, Hare Holme, Helmington Row, Heslet House, Hill House, Holywell, Hole in the Wall, Humble Sledge, Ivesley, Jobs Hill, Langley, Little Burn, Lockgate, Low Barns, Middles, Morley, Mown Meadows, Nackshivan, Nafferton, Oakenshaw, Ox Close, Ox Pasture House, Page Bank, Pitthouse, Primrose Side, Roddy Moor, Scripton, Shades, Skutes House, Sleet Burn House, Standalone, Stanley, Stob House, Stockley, Stonechester, Sunniside, Tudhoe, Unthank, Waterhouses, Weather Hill, West Park, Wheatbottom, White Lee, Willington, Wooley, and York Hill.

412 of these baptisms have 2 or more godparents named, giving you an additional 1,232 names to search in. Godparents were usually relatives or close friends of the child’s parents, so may deliver some clues about family relationships. In most baptisms from Nov 1752 to Dec 1797, only the father of the child is named, except for illegitimate births where the mother is named. In 1792, some mothers are named, and they start appearing occasionally in 1797. This is odd behavior, as mothers were generally named in most baptism registers from about the 1760s onward.

Samples:

• 15 Apr 1740 Alice Dobinson, of Willington, daughter of Henry Dobinson by his wife Eleanor
  Godparents or Sponsors: Richard Friend; Ann Friend; Eleanor Hanson
• 1 Dec 1753 Thomas [Younger/Scorer], illegitimate son of Thomas Scorer by Dorothy Younger
• 19 Aug 1764 Thomas Oyston, of Brancepeth, son of Abraham Oyston
• 3 Feb 1778 Jane Trunwell [Trunnel], of Willington, illegitimate daughter of Jane Trunwell
• 12 Jul 1789 Elizabeth Threadgold, of East Brandon, daughter of John Threadgold
• 31 Mar 1799 George Jurdison, born 24-Feb 1799, 4th son, 5th child of Matthew Jurdison (labourer, native of Monk Hesledon) by his wife Margaret Maddison (of Sunniside, Whickham)
• 12 Apr 1809 Gordon Drummond, born 8-Mar 1809, son of Major-General Gordon Drummond by his wife Margaret Russell, baptised as Protestant at Christs Church, Montreal, Canada. Mother is 2nd daughter of William Russell, esquire, of Brancepeth Castle
  Godparents or Sponsors: Hon. Robert de Pose (French), of Montreal: Frances Lewis O”Berne, of Montreal: Hon. Letitia Susanna de Pose (French), of Montreal; Magdalen McGillioray, of Montreal
• 24 Aug 1812 Robert William Fenwick Mills, born 17-Jan 1812, 2nd son, 3rd child of Robert William Mills (major in 82nd Regiment of Foot, native of Willington(?)) by his wife Jane Robinson (daughter of George, of Hendon Lodge, Bishopwearmouth)

1,190 baptisms at West Rainton St. Mary spanning 1833-39, from the Bishop’s Transcript. Most of the baptisms in 1835-36 and nearly all of the baptisms in 1838-39 have birth dates.

•  2 Jan 1833 George Gilderoy, of West Rainton, son of James Gilderoy (pitman) & Elizabeth
• 3 May 1835 George Valentine Bailey, of East Rainton, born 2 Apr, son of John Bailey (inn keeper) & Jane
• 15 Dec 1839 Michael Smurthwaite Barrass, of Middle Rainton, born 6 Nov, son of Edward Barrass (deputy) & Elizabeth Ann Barrass

We also added witnesses to our existing marriages at this church for the same period and made a few corrections. If you previously purchased a marriage at West Rainton, you can view the witnesses by clicking My Previous Orders and reviewing the marriage.

1,115 baptisms at West Rainton spanning 1825-1832, from the Bishop’s Transcript. We also added witnesses to our existing 153 marriages at this church for the same period and made a few corrections. If you previously purchased a marriage at West Rainton, you can view the witnesses by clicking My Previous Orders and reviewing the marriage.

West Rainton was a chapelry in Houghton-le-Spring parish from 1825 until 1838 when it became the separate parish of West Rainton St. Mary. Residences mentioned include Alexander Pit, Beneridge Bank, Cocken, Easington Lane, East Rainton, Grange, Hetton, High Moorsley, the Knott, Low Moorsley, Middle Rainton, Mitchinson’s Farm House, Moorsley, Nags Head, New Moorsley, North Pit, Pittington, Pit House Lane, Pitfield, Rainton Bridge, Rainton Engine, Rainton Gate, Rainton Meadows, Rainton Stables, Trough Stone, West Rainton, and Wilson’s Row.

Some samples:

• 29 Aug 1825 Samuel John Green, of Pit Houses, son of Ralph Green (sinker) & Dorothy Cook Green
• 7 Oct 1827 Elizabeth Reavley, of Beneridge Bank, daughter of Edward Reavley (manager) & Sarah
• 29 Nov 1829 Stephen Arkley, of Rainton Gate, son of Frances Arkley (spinster)
• 31 Dec 1832 William Neville, of Middle Rainton, son of John Neville (deputy) & Ann

Samples of marriages with witnesses:

• 14 Jun 1829 George Carans [Cairns], of this parish married Ann Acliff [Aycliffe], of this parish, by banns
  Witnesses: William Jones, Margaret Jones
• 22 Jun 1831 James Dannatt, of Sunderland married Jane Harrison, of this parish, by licence
  Witnesses: Ralph Richardson, E.C. Harrison

Baptisms for 1833-39 and marriage witnesses for 1833-37 will follow next week after we check a few things against the parish register.

172 baptisms and 56 burials at Sockburn in Darlington district, spanning 1813-1839, from the Bishop’s Transcript except for 1837-38 which are from the parish register. This little parish, surrounded on 3 sides by the River Tees,  served residents of Girsby (Yorkshire), Over Dinsdale, and Sockburn. Some samples:

• baptized 24 Oct 1813 William Ord, of Sockburn, son of Christopher Ord (farmer) & Elizabeth
• baptized 3 Jan 1836 Matthew Wilkinson Raper, of Girsby, son of William Raper (farmer) & Margaret
• buried 24 Jan 1813 George Burn, of Girsby, age: 91
• buried 13 Mar 1829 Henry Mewburn, of Over Dinsdale, age: 80

332 burials at Grindon St. James the Greater, in Stockton district, spanning 1762-1835. These are from the Bishop’s Transcript except 1762-1769, 1776, 1797, 1799, 1812, 1828, and 1834-35 which are from the parish register.

Samples:

• 25 Dec 1763 Anne Bozeman, daughter of William Bozeman
• 1 Apr 1766 Ann Huson, widow of Samuel Huson (late Vicar of Bishopton)
• 15 Jul 1777 Elizabeth Briggs, of Sheep Dean, wife of George Briggs
• 23 Mar 1797 John Proud, son of Margaret Proud, widow
• 5 Mar 1801 Mary Judson, age: infant, died 3 Mar, daughter of Lancelot Judson (groom)
• 3 May 1811 Jane James Hall, native of Whitton, wife of John Hall (labourer in Whitton)
• 26 Sep 1827 Mary Sedgwick, of Whitton, age: 92

Replaced the index to baptisms at Whickham St. Mary for 1785-1799 with full details, so those 2,108 baptisms are now instantly available.

Samples:

• 22 May 1785 Ann Alport, of Swalwell (Crowley`s factory), daughter of Edward Alport by his wife Ann
• 23 Sep 1787 Isabel Brown, of Fellside, age 20 yrs, illegitimate daughter of William Hedworth by Margery Brown
• 25 Mar 1799 William Ramsey Thynn, of Swalwell, born 17-Dec 1798, 1st son of Samuel Thynn (smith, native of Gateshead) by his wife Mary late Ramsey (native of this parish, daughter of William)

Added witnesses to our existing 200 marriages at Easington St. Mary the Virgin for 1813-1837, giving you 404 new names to search in.

621 baptisms at Grindon St. James the Greater in Stockton district.  Residences mentioned include Blue Stone Mill, Bottle Hill, Briarly, Cuddy’s Castle, Fulthorp, Grindon, Moor House, Sheep Dean, Thorpe, Thorpe Leazes, Whitton, Whitton Tree Gates, Winyard/Wynyard, and Woodside.  These are from the Bishop’s Transcript, except the following, which are from the parish register: 1762-69, 1796, 1799, Apr 1806, 1809, Jan-Jul 1812, 1828-29, and 1834.

Samples:

• 30 Aug 1763 Anne Lax, daughter of John Lax & Rebecca
• 29 Dec 1797 Richard Hewitt, of Sheep-Dean, son of Thomas Hewitt & Dorothy
• 29 Apr 1798 William Unthank, born 24 Apr 1798, 3rd son of William Unthank (farmer, native of Billingham) by his wife Elizabeth Hall (native of the parish of Stockton)
• 13 Jan 1812 Mary Ann Dent, of Whitton, born 10 Jan 1810, 2nd daughter of Robert Dent (gentleman, native of Sedgefield parish) & Margaret Wade (his wife, native of Howden Hill in Manfield parish, Yorkshire)
• 25 Feb 1814 William Stonehouse, of Thorp, son of John Stonehouse (farmer) & Dorothy
• 12 May 1833 Ann Dalziel, of Wynyard, born 16 Apr 1833, daughter of George Dalziel (gardener to the Marquis of Londonderry) & Martha

Burials for the same period will come in about a week, weather permitting!

1,976 baptisms and 1,458 burials at Heworth St. Alban, also knows as Windy Nook St. Alban and sometimes Gateshead St. Alban. This parish was carved out of Heworth St. Mary parish in 1843. The baptism register commences in August 1843 and the burial register in March 1844.  Baptisms & burials are from the Bishop’s Transcript, except the following which are all from the parish register: 1848 burials, baptisms & burials for 1850-57, 1859-63, 1865, 1869, 1873, 1876-78.

Residences mentioned include Alexander’s Buildings, Armstrong’s Buildings, Beacon Lough, Blue Quarries, Bog House, Caldwell or Coldwell Lane, Carr or Carr’s Hill, Crow Hall, Deckham Place, Drummond Row, Durham Place, Felling, Felling Shore, Fenwick Terrace, Gateshead, Greencroft, Heworth Colliery, High Felling, High Heworth, Holly Hill, Low Felling, Mount Pleasant, Newcastle, North Leam, Nurseries or Nursery Cottages, Parkinson Street, Potts’ Buildings, Sheriff Hill, Sisson’s Gate, Split Crow Lane, Springwell, Square Houses, Stuart Place, Victoria Cottages, Wardley, White Hill, Whitehouse Barns, Windy Nook, and Wrekenton.

Sample baptisms:

• 10 Jun 1844 John Hilcote, of Carr Hill, son of William Hilcote (potter) & Jane
• 22 Feb 1865 Katharine Blacklock, of Windy Nook, daughter of James Blacklock (blacksmith) & Mary Anne Blacklock
• 7 Nov 1879 Thomas Barber Couper, of Felling, son of James Couper (joiner) & Jane Anne Couper

Burials:

• 18 May 1844 Michael Hemsley, of Windy Nook, age: 9 months
• 29 Dec 1853 Thomas Ditchburn, of Windy Nook, age: 82
• 15 Oct 1865 Barbara Cooley, of High Felling, age: 96
• 11 Feb 1869 Mary Sarah Tindale Copeland, of Windy Nook, age: 16
• 21 Nov 1879 Simeon Spurgeon, of High Felling, age: 74

1,353 burials at Sunderland Holy Trinity covering 1857 to 31 May 1858. This burial register included relationships and descriptions long after they were no longer required. Some samples:

• 2 Jan 1857 Ann Mugford, of Upper Nile Street, age: 50, died 30 Dec 1856, wife of John Mugford (mariner)
• 30 Jul 1857 William Gripton, age: 20, mariner, native of Staffordshire, his death was caused by a fall from a ships mast in the South Dock
• 29 Oct 1857 Thomas Haley, of Union Lane, age: 12, died 27 Oct 1857, son of Bartholomew Haley (labourer), accidently killed on the railway
• 4 Dec 1857 Jane Linklater, of Nile St, Bishopwearmouth, age: 75, died 2 Dec 1857, widow of James Linklater (mariner)
• 13 Dec 1857 Sarah Eleanor Trenholm, of 8 Adelaide Place, Bishopwearmouth, age: 5 months, died 8 Dec 1857, daughter of William Trenholm (shipwright)
• 31 May 1858 Michael Sweeney, of 18 Union Lane, age: 17, died 29 May 1858, mason’s labourer

After this, all burials were at Sunderland Cemetery and are recorded in that register (which we also have online).