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]