4,713 burials at Darlington’s West Cemetery covering 1880-1889. This cemetery served residents around Darlington and across the border of Yorkshire. Abodes mentioned include many street addresses within Darlington, plus Archdeacon Newton,  Blackwell, Catterick, Cockerton, Croft, Dinsdale,  Fighting Cocks, Four Riggs, Hartlepool, Hermitage Hill, Hope Town, Low Coniscliffe, Middlesbrough, Middleton One Row, Middleton St. George, Mount Pleasant, Peaceful Valley, Polam, Redcar,  Sedgefield, Stockton, and Walworth.

In general, these burials provide the name of the father (or mother, if the child was illegitimate) of a stillborn child. Otherwise, there are no relationships stated, as is typical of burials of this period. Samples:

• 12 Jan 1880 John Tarrant, of Elwin’s Yard, Parkgate, age: 92
• 6 Feb 1880 stillborn child Hogg, of Mechanics Yard, age: stillborn, child of Ellen Hogg
• 9 Apr 1881 Harry Wilson, of [no abode stated], age: 21, died at Leeds Infirmary
• 21 Oct 1884 Alice Wheelands, of [no abode stated], age: 72, died at the Union Workhouse
• 6 Dec 1889 stillborn child Carter, of West Raby Street, age: stillborn, child of Henry Carter
• 25 Dec 1889 Mary McGurl, of Forster Street, age: 68

1,901 baptisms and 514 marriages spanning 1590-1812 and 32 marriage banns for 1755-1812 at Coniscliffe St. Edwin in Auckland district. This is our first offering of Coniscliffe records other than the 1813-37 marriages that we have for every parish in County Durham. Residences mentioned include Badle Beck, Carlbury, Coniscliffe, Hall Moor, High Coniscliffe, Low Carlbury, Low Coniscliffe, Nether Coniscliffe, Piercebridge, Staindrop, Thornton, Ulnaby, and Upper Coniscliffe.

The clerks were pretty blunt back then, using terms like “fornicator” and “harlot” to describe illegitimate births.  No political correctness or prettied-up language for them! Abodes were mentioned only sporadically until about 1695 when they became included in most baptisms. Dissenters & recusants were sometimes noted.  Mothers were not mentioned (except for illegitimate births) until July 1780. The 1798-1812 period includes both parents’ birthplaces, but not the name of the mother’s father. Here are some sample baptisms:

• 28 Jun 1590 William Christer, son of Robert Christer
• 25 Nov 1606 Richard [Addison/Dickinson], son of William Addison (fornicator) & Margaret Dickinson (fornicator)
• 5 Sep 1698 Charles Honywood, of Thornton, son of Robert Honywood (esquire)
• 4 Aug 1770 Mary Stott, daughter of John Stott (dissenter)
• 25 Dec 1780 Mary Douthwaite, of High Coniscliffe, daughter of John & Ursula Douthwaite (his wife)
• 15 Sep 1799 Jane Pace, born 28-Mar, 6th daughter of Jacob Pace (labourer, native of Bradbury in the parish of Sedgefield) by his wife Eleanor Stelling (native of Kelloe parish)
• 12 Mar 1812 Ann Basnett, born 2-Mar, 4th daughter of Thomas Basnett (native of Darlington) by his wife Mary Gray (native of Capheaton, Northumberland)

Sample marriages – witnesses first appear in 1754 – check out the groom’s age in the 1742 marriage:

• 5 May 1594 Christopher Burden married Margaret Ovington, by banns
• 25 May 1619 Anthony Gilpin, of Cockerton in the parish of Darlington married Grace Smith, of this parish, by banns
• 28 Apr 1719 Michael Turpin, of the parish of Eryholm married Mary Smith, of Low Coniscliffe, by banns
• 16 Nov 1742 George Inman (in the 91st year of his age), of Barnard Castle married Dorothy Holt, of this parish, by banns
• 25 May 1778 David Peers, of this parish married Frances Gill, of the parish of Gainford, by banns
  Witnesses: William Burdy, John Mitchell
• 26 Nov 1808 Thomas Gibbon, of this parish married Ann Greenwell, of the parish of Redmarshall, by banns
  Witnesses: John Kell, William Wheatley

These marriage banns are only for marriages that did not subsequently take place at Coniscliffe. In other words, the banns were called at Coniscliffe, but there is either an explicit notation in the register that the couple married in another parish (whose name is provided), or a notation that they were not married at Coniscliffe, or there is no subsequent record of their marriage at Coniscliffe. Why are these banns useful ? Because if the couple married at, say, Darlington, knowing that the banns were called at Coniscliffe tells you that either the bride or groom probably lived there, so it gives you additional information to follow. Secondly, sometimes a marriage never gets recorded and the only record of marriage is that the banns were called. If a couple has children in the years following, chances are good that they actually did marry, either at Coniscliffe or in another parish, but the record was never made, has been lost, or is badly mangled or recorded with so many errors it’s unrecognizable.

Samples:

• 18 May 1755 Cornelius Middleton, of this parish & Jane Corner, of the parish of Heighington, date given is the last publication of Banns
  Witnesses: Michael Dobinson, William Allison
  [Note: married at Heighington 19th May 1755]
• 27 May 1804 John Wade, of this parish & Elizabeth Metcalf, of the parish of Easby [Yorkshire], date given is the last publication of Banns
  Witnesses: Henry Richardson, vicar
  [Note: not married at Coniscliffe]

Replaced the index to marriages at Bywell St. Peter (Hexham district, Northumberland) for 1663-1812 with full details, so those 1,116 marriages are now instantly available. Witnesses start being listed in 1754.

Samples:

• 29 Jul 1664 Cuthbert Selbye married Elizabeth Hopwood, by licence
• 26 Nov 1707 Mr. Walker Surtis, of Stocksfield married Elizabeth Watson, of Hexham
• 23 Oct 1752 Edward Henzell, of All Saints, Newcastle-upon-Tyne married Margaret Henzell, of All Saints, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
• 14 Jul 1803 Gabriel Ridley, of Kirkwhelpington married Hannah Hutchinson
  Witnesses: Joseph Ridley, Matthew Towns
• 16 Aug 1812 Giles Pinckney married Mary March
  Witnesses: John March, William(?) Spencer, Sarah March

Filling in some gaps we had at Staindrop St. Mary the Virgin in Teesdale district - 120 baptisms and 94 burials for the years 1883, 1886, and 1893. We now have continuous coverage at Staindrop baptisms and burials for 1813-1898.

846 baptisms and 572 burials at St. Giles in Durham city, covering 1836-1842. The records for 1838-1840 are from the parish register; the rest are from the Bishop’s Transcript. In addition to St. Giles, residences mentioned include Belmont, Broomside, Carrville, Claypath, Gilesgate, Gilesgate Moor, Kepier, New Durham, and Durham St. Nicholas.

Sample baptisms:

• 10 Jan 1836 Elizabeth Mensforth, of St. Giles, child of John (gardener) & Sarah Mensforth
• 15 Sep 1840 Thomas Walker, child of John (tinner) & Elizabeth Walker, travellers from Liverpool. The child was born in the parish of Bishop Auckland. They are now stopping in the parish of St Nicholas.
• 10 Dec 1842 Ellen Barbara Leyburn Gordon, of Shincliff, child of Douglas (pitman) & Elizabeth Gordon

Sample burials:

• 17 Mar 1836 David Leroy, of Claypath, age: 62
• 10 Jul 1838 Dorothy Woodruff, of Carville, age: 73
• 5 Jan 1841 Theresa Sitoni, of Gilesgate, age: 50
• 20 Oct 1842 Ann Carter, of Gilesgate, age: 90

Replaced the index to baptisms at Bywell St. Peter (Hexham district, Northumberland) for 1663-1812 with full details, so those 3,528 baptisms are now instantly available, including 3 we missed the first time around. Abodes mentioned include Acomb, Apperley, Birches Nook, Bridge End, Broomley, Brough House, Burnt House, Burtree Hall, Bywell, Clickham or Click-em Inn, Cockshot Hill, Common, Cooper House, Cronkley, Eastwood House and Mill, Espershields, Fairley and Fairley May, Fotherley, Grey Mare, Hassocks, Heley and Heley Mill, High Fotherley, Highfield, Hindley, Horse Close, Jockey Hall, Kipperlin, Lightwood Gate, Lingfield House, Low Fotherley, Merryshields, Millshields, Minsteracres, New Ridley, Newfield, Newlands, Newton, Newton Hall, Old Ridley, Panshaw Field, Peep I See Thee, Raw House, Ridley Mill, Rochel Foot, Shaw House, Shildon, Shildon Hill, Stare a Vage, Stelling, Stocksfield, Wallhouse, Wheelbirks, Whinney House, and Whittonstall.

Abodes were mentioned only sporadically before 1703. Mothers were not mentioned until 1709. The 1798-1812 period provides the usual rich details typical of that period, and starting in 1809, the mother’s father was usually also listed. Samples:

• 20 Aug 1663 Margaret Lee, daughter of Bartholemew Lee
• 23 Mar 1709 Ann Newton, of Birches Nook, daughter of William Newton by his wife Mary
• 13 Mar 1757 Susannah Wigham [Wigham/Richardson], of Bywell, illegitimate daughter of Jeremiah Richardson by Barbara Wigham
• 1 Sep 1782 Simon Mackay, of Lingfield House, son of Matthew Mackay by his wife Ann
• 11 Mar 1798 Mary Henderson, born 13-Feb 1798, 1st daughter of Anthony Henderson by his wife Elizabeth Appleby (native of Stamfordham)
• 24 May 1812 Robert Charlton, of Newton, born 7-Sep 1811, 4th son of Christopher Charlton (blacksmith) by his wife Ann Rochester (daughter of Richard)

2,302 baptisms at Heworth St. Mary in Gateshead district from Jan 1884 to March 1901.  Residences mentioned include Bill Quay, Felling, Felling Shore, Friar’s Goose, Heworth (also Heworth Colliery, Grange, High Lane, Lane, and Shore), High Felling, High Heworth, High Lane, Holly Hill, Jingling Gate, Jonadab, Nether Heworth, Newcastle, North Leam, Pelaw Main, Springwell Bank Foot, Wardley, and White Mare Pool.

Samples:

• 16 Jan 1884 Maud Adelaid Nixon, of Heworth Lane, child of George Nixon (master mariner) & Margaret Jane Nixon
• 5 Mar 1893 Alexander Dingwall Morrison, of Heworth, child of Joseph Morrison (miner) & Margaret Hannah Morrison
• 3 Feb 1901 Barbara Jane Mitchell, of Wood Terrace, Bill Quay, child of Robert (plumber) & Ellen Mitchell

439 baptisms covering 1768-1841  and 176 burials covering 1768-1812 at Middleton St. George (St. George) in Darlington district, from a combination of the parish register and the Bishop’s Transcript. Abodes mentioned include Church House, Dinsdale, Forster House, Gingerbread House, Low Middleton, Middleton, Middleton St. George, Middleton One Row, Mill House, Nun Stainton, Oak Tree, Scrogg Farm, White House, and Yarm.

In baptisms here, mothers were not listed until 1777. The clerk continued labeling the child order (e.g. 1st daughter, 2nd son) after 1812, sporadically into the 1830s.

• 11 Jan 1770 Mary Ord, daughter of Christopher Ord (carpenter)
• 28 Sep 1777 James Hull, of Middleton One Row, son of Thomas & Grace Hull
• 6 Jan 1799 Mary Fortune, born 19-Nov 1798, 1st daughter of John Fortune (joiner, native of Yarm, Yorkshire) by his wife Mary Hall (native of Ingleton, Staindrop parish)
  21 Mar 1814 Margaret Teasdale, of Middleton One Row, 2nd daughter of Robert (cordwainer) & Elizabeth Teasdale
• 23 Sep 1827 Joseph Smith Blenkiron, of Middleton One Row, son of William (shopkeeper) & Mary Blenkiron
• 25 Dec 1841 Ann Isabella Toulson, of Middleton One Row, daughter of William (railway engineman) & Dorothy Toulson

In some burials, the clerk also listed the earlier burial of a spouse or parent, allowing researchers to tie together certain couples and their children. For example:

• 7 Feb 1809 Phillis Douglass, age: 86, died 4 Feb, widow of Peter Douglass (labourer, vide [see] Jan 19th 1792)
  which leads us to this burial:  19 Jan 1792 Peter Douglass, labourer
  definitively tying these two people together by marriage.
• 19 Jan 1768 Ann Ware, widow of Matthew Ware (labourer)
• 9 May 1786 Mary Brunton, daughter of Ralph & Mary Brunton
• 14 Jul 1803 Margaret Richardson, of Middleton One Row, age: 88, died 11 July, widow of Christopher Richardson (vide [see] Oct 31st 1775), Margaret Noble was the 2nd wife of Christopher Richardson of Middleton and was descended from the Nobles of Westmoreland, and niece of William Noble, Rector of this parish as well as the parish of Dinsdale
• 6 Sep 1812 Margaret Teasdale, of Middleton St George, age: 3, died 3 Sep, 1st daughter of Robert Teasdale (cordwainer) & Elizabeth Richardson ([native] of Sowerby Row, Cumberland)

We now have continuous burials at Middleton St George from 1768 to 1903.

A package of Methodist baptisms:

• 1,159 baptisms from the Barnard Castle Primitive Methodist Circuit 1851-1872. Most of these include the father’s occupation and the child’s birthplace. Abodes mentioned include Bail Hill, Barnard Castle, Barningham, Battle Hill, Bell, Beverley, Blue Stone Grange, Boldron, Bowlees, Brignal, Cotherstone, Dent Bank, Darlington, Eggleston, Ettersgill, Force Garth, Forest, Friar House, Frog Hall, Grassholme, Hanging Shaw, Harwood, Herdship, High Dyke, Hill Top, Holwick, Hood Gill or Hudgill, Inkerman Cottage, Lartington, Lowhouses, Lunedale, Marchers Gill or Hill, Mickleton, Middleside, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Moor Riggs, Mount Pleasant, Newbiggin, New Town, North Betts, Ox Pasture, Quarry Grange, Reeth, Reveling, Roseberry Cottage, Rough Riggs, Sayer Hill, Stable Edge, Stainton, Startforth, Stoney Hill or Gill, Stotley Lane, Thornberry, Under Hurth, West Pasture, Whey Sike, and Woolpits.
• 59 baptisms at Castleside Watergate Methodist chapel covering 1889-1917 plus one stray from 1885. Most of these include birth dates and residences were primarily Castleside plus a few from Stamfordham.
• 4 baptisms from the Weardale Methodist Circuit 1856-57. These include the father’s occupation.
• 13 baptisms from the Sleekburn [now called Sleetburn] Methodist New Connexion chapel at Sleetburn Colliery near New Brancepeth

Some samples:

• 4 Feb 1892 Edward Harrison Thompson, of Castleside, born 16 Aug 1891, son of William & Priscilla Thompson
• 2 Mar 1852 George [Lee/Tallentire], of Holwick, born 11 Feb 1852, son of Thomas Tallentire (miner) & Mary Lee, born at Romaldkirk
• 11 Jul 1857 William Brown Gibson, of Brotherlee, born 10 Jun 1857, son of William (miner) & Sarah Gibson
• 28 Dec 1876 Arthur Howlett, of Sleekburn [Sleetburn], son of George Richard Howlett & Emma, 14 months

We’ve been having a problem with the server running out of memory on searches that produce a large number of results, so we have temporarily limited all searches to 5,000 results until we can figure out the problem and resolve it. If your search will produce over 5,000 results, the search will not execute and you will instead see a message explaining this and telling you to change your search. Suggestions for reducing the size of the result set include limiting your search to a specific District (and going through the list District by District if you need to search multiple Districts), adding a range of Years to search in, or adding more letters to the name(s) you are searching.

We also added a search restriction that says you can’t have a name start with a wildcard. This rule has actually always been in place, but the code wasn’t enforcing it – now it does.

Some people have been putting the % character by itself in a Name box to get all the names. For example, if they want all the people named Musther, they were entering:

First Name:  %
Last Name:  musther

This is no longer allowed and is unnecessary anyway. If you don’t want to specify a name, just leave it blank. To find all the people named Musther, just enter:

Last Name:  musther

and leave First Name blank.