665 baptisms and 524 burials at St. Giles in Durham City, covering 1843-1847, from the Bishop’s Transcript. In addition to St. Giles, residences mentioned include Belmont, Broomside, Carrville, Claypath, Gilesgate, Gilesgate Moor, Kepier, Leazes Place, Lodge Hill, New Durham, and Durham St. Nicholas.

Sample baptisms:

• 6 Aug 1843 Mary Littlewood, of Gilesgate, child of George Jeremiah Littlewood (blacksmith) & Jane
• 7 Jul 1845 Elizabeth Jameson Teasdale Tongs Thompson, of Gilesgate, child of Elizabeth Thompson (single woman)
• 9 Dec 1847 Mark Clough, of Broomside, child of George (pitman) & Margaret Clough

Sample burials:

• 10 Jan 1843 Anne Christopher, of Gilesgate, age: 19
• 16 Apr 1844 Hannah Akenhead, of Gilesgate, age: 99
• 19 Feb 1845 Isabella Watson, of Broomside, age: 92

1,157 baptisms at Gateshead St. Mary for 1825-1827 from the Bishop’s Transcript. Residences listed include Carrs Hill, Felling, Friars Goose, Gateshead, Gateshead Fell, Heworth, Lamesley, Teams, Wrekenton, and quite a few people from across the river in Newcastle. Some samples:

• 2 Jan 1825 Thomas Battersby Scott, of Gateshead, child of Thomas Halliday Scott (cordwainer) & Margaret
• 18 Nov 1827 William Wilkinson, of St Nicholas, Newcastle, child of John (labourer) & Esther Wilkinson
• 4 Jun 1826 Isabella Stott Brooks, of Gateshead, child of Charles (smith) & Elizabeth Brooks

Replaced the index to marriage bonds 1670-1679 with full details, so those 1,048 records are now instantly available.

Marriage bonds often provide ages, occupations, and place of residence for the bride and groom during a period when marriage registers did not provide that information. Please read the Marriages Bonds section of the Transcription Samples page for a description of what information is found in bonds, allegations, and associated documents, and how we present that information. For example:

• 11 Apr 1670 John Covell (barber), of High Castle Garth, St.Nicholas, Newcastle-upon-Tyne obtained a licence to marry Ann Pescod, of [St.John, Newcastle-upon-Tyne]
  Surety: Robert Borrow, cordwainer
  [Note: married 25 Apr at St.Nicholas]
• 26 Sep 1678 John Twentyman (yeoman), of Middle Herrington, [Houghton-le-Spring] obtained a licence to marry Elizabeth Sharpe, of [Washington], directed to Houghton-le-Spring
  Surety: Cuthbert Lampson, dyer
  [Note: married 28 Sep at Houghton-le-Spring]

Marriage bonds cover the entire Diocese of Durham i.e. Durham, Northumberland, North Yorkshire. There are a few licences in our collection that were issued by York. Because bonds cover the whole diocese, there is no way to limit your search of bonds to a single district. If you select a district from the District menu, your selection will be ignored when the marriage bonds database is searched.

Added this explanation of ages in the 1841 census to the Census Info page, under Understanding Your Results:

In the 1841 census, the age of persons over 15 was supposed to be rounded down to the nearest multiple of 5. For example, a person aged 19 would be listed as 15, a person aged 22 would be listed as age 20, and a person age 59 would be listed as 55. In practice, many census officials either did not round down at all or only rounded down for higher ages, such as over 20, or (less frequently) rounded down ages below 15. In general, the age of a person under 15 is probably accurate to within a year or two. For persons over 15, any age that is not a multiple of 5 is likely also to be accurate – for example, if a person is listed as 27, he or she probably really is 27 or thereabouts, rather than 25. The area you have to be careful of is persons over age 15 whose age is a multiple of 5 – they may be up to 4 years younger than their census listing shows – so if your ancestor is listed as 50, remember that he or she is likely actually between the ages of 50 and 54. This, of course, does not even take into account the errors made by census officials and family members reporting the ages of others ! Finally, if the age of a person was unknown, children were supposed to be recorded as “under 20″ and adults as “over 20″.

For professional trades, the following abbreviations are used in the census: ‘J’ is for journeyman, ‘AP’ for apprentice, and ‘SH’ for shop man.

615 baptisms at Jarrow St. Paul and the Chapelry of Heworth, from the Bishop’s Transcript with some checking against the parish register. Until May 1809, Heworth was a chapelry in the parish of Jarrow, and baptisms at Heworth were recorded in the Jarrow register with each baptism stating whether the person was baptized at Jarrow or Heworth, so although later Heworth was in Gateshead district and Jarrow was in South Shields district, before May 1809 both appear in South Shields district in our search results.

Samples:

• 14 Apr 1805 Elizabeth Collingwood, of Bill Quay, born 10 Apr 1804, 11th child of John Collingwood (cartwright, native of Lamesley) by his wife Elizabeth late Jennings (native of Hunsingwood), baptized at Heworth
• 31 Aug 1806 Margaret Turnbull, of Felling Shore, born 4 Jul, 12th child of Isaac Turnbull (pitman, native of Aydon Byers [Edmundbyers]) by his wife Elizabeth late Dodds (native of Corbridge, Northumberland), baptized at Heworth
• 12 Oct 1806 Barbara Naisbitt, of Jarrow Lodge, born 7 Jul, 3rd child of Robert Naisbitt (husbandman, native of Hexham) by his wife Barbara late Middleton (native of Hexham), baptized at Jarrow
• 11 Oct 1807 Mary [Watson/Hepplewite], born 16 May, illegitimate daughter of Robert Hepplewite (collier) & Mary Watson (singlewoman), baptized at Jarrow

794 baptisms at Wolviston St. Peter in Stockton district, covering 1794-1839, from the Bishop’s Transcript. We are missing the baptisms for Jan-July 1805 (we will get those in Oct). Wolviston was a chapelry in the parish of Billingham at this time. People who baptized their children at Wolviston lived primarily at Newton Bewley and Wolviston and the surrounding farms.

The Wolviston clerk did not see fit to obey the Bishop of Durham’s orders in the 1798-1812 period, so he only recorded parental nativity for 1811-1812. For some reason, most of the baptisms in 1823 and 1827 showed only the child’s birth date, not the baptism date. Here are some samples from various periods:

• 4 Apr 1794 Mary Middleton, daughter of Michael & Mary Middleton
• 21 Apr 1799 Robert Mitchinson, of Wolviston, born 17-Apr 1799, 7th child of Robert & Ann Mitchinson
• 17 Jan 1802 Sarah & Mary Vickerson, of Wolviston, born 16-Jan 1802, twins, Sarah 8th & Mary 9th child of John & Grace Vickerson
• 21 Jun 1812 Jonathan Hugill, born 9-Feb 1812, 2nd son of Jonathan Hugill (miller, native of Swainsby, Yorkshire) by his wife Elizabeth Fidler (daughter of John Fidler, native of Kirby, Yorkshire)
• 7 May 1815 Henry Septimus Wilson, of Wolviston, son of Avery Robinson Wilson (carpenter) & Ann
• Lydia Fothergill, of Wolviston, born 17-Jul 1823, daughter of William (sadler) & Ann Fothergill
  [Note: Baptism date not shown, just birth date.]
• 29 Sep 1834 Thomas Smith, of Hannagate [Annigate] House, son of Edward Layton Smith (farmer) & Mary
• 4 Jul 1839 Elizabeth Chrisp, of Viewly Hill, daughter of Thomas (farmer) & Anne Chrisp

Wolviston is not indexed in the IGI (more accurately, some females are indexed in what looks like a non-official extraction, but no males), so these baptisms should uncover some answers for Wolviston-area researchers.

At Barnard Castle St. Mary in Teesdale district, from the Bishop’s Transcript:

• 1,221 baptisms covering 1798-1810
• 728 burials covering 1798-1806
• 169 marriages covering 1800-1806

Many baptisms from 1798 to 1802 name one or more grandparents of the baptized child:

• 21 Jan 1798 Mary Stobbart, born 16 Sep, 1st daughter of John Stobbart (woolcomber, native of Barnard Castle, son of William Stobbart) by his wife Martha English (native of Barnard Castle, daughter of John English, farmer)
• 10 May 1801 Catherine Winskill, of Barnard Castle, born 2 Feb, 2nd daughter of John Winskill (weaver, native of Barnard Castle, son of James & Ann) by his wife Dorothy Dent (native of Barnard Castle, daughter of Thomas & Jane Dent)
• 20 Jun 1803 George Chapman, of Barnard Castle, born 31 Jan 1794, 4th son of Ambrose Chapman (weaver, native of Brough, Westmoreland) by his late wife Sarah Elwick (deceased, native of Skeeby near Richmond)
• 25 Nov 1810 George Beacroft, of Barnard Castle, born 3 Nov, 1st son of Thomas Beacroft (gardner, native of Richmond, Yorkshire) by his wife Jane Wharton (native of Barnard Castle)

Burial samples – note the discrepancies in Sarah Chapman’s maiden name compared to the Chapman baptism above:

• 26 Mar 1798 Archibald Curry, of Stainton, age: 44, died 25 Mar, cordwainer
• 20 Jun 1803 Sarah Chapman late Elwood [Elwick], of Barnard Castle, age: 47, died 19 Jun, wife of Ambrose Chapman (weaver)
• 4 Jul 1803 Thomas Chapman, of Barnard Castle, age: 4 months, died 3 Jul, son of Ambrose Chapman (weaver) & Sarah his wife late Elwood [Elwick]
• 16 Nov 1806 Ann Terry late Breaks, of Barnard Castle, age: 77, died 14 Nov, wife of George Terry (staymaker)

This burial documents 3 marriages for Sarah White:

• 13 Oct 1805 Sarah Ewbank late Bainbridge late Weatherilt formerly White, of Barnard Castle, age: 70, died 11 Oct, wife of William Ewbank (innkeeper)

Because the marriages came from the Bishop’s Transcript, they do not include witnesses, but at least they show place of residence and widow/widower when that information is present. Here is the last marriage of Sarah Ewbank from the burial above, plus a few others:

• 16 Sep 1800 William Ewbank (widower) married Sarah Bainbridge (widow), by licence
• 29 Aug 1803 Adam Bird, of Kendall, Westmoreland married Catherine Armstrong, of this Chapelry
• 15 Feb 1806 Thomas Newcomb (widower), of this chapelry married Mary Perkin, of the parish of Startforth, by licence

We will add the witnesses when we get some spare time at the Record Office.

8,034 burials at Darlington West Cemetery spanning 1890-1904. Most stillborn births name the father (or mother if the child is illegitimate). A few burials have the cause of death listed if it was unusual.

• 1 Jan 1890 Ann Edith Grayson, of King Street, age: 11
• 7 Mar 1890 stillborn child Walton, of Green Street, age: stillborn, child of Mary Walton
• 14 Jul 1891 Thomas Henry Bickerton, age: 19, drowned in the River Tees.
• 28 Mar 1893 Patrick Berry, age: 94, died at the Union Workhouse
• 29 Jan 1895 stillborn child Smithson, of Waverley Terrace, age: stillborn, child of William Hugh Smithson
• 27 Jan 1901 Ann Salmon, of Woodlands Road, age: 96
• 14 Apr 1903 William Alphonso Wright, age: 12, died at the Fever Hospital

Abodes mentioned include many street addresses and neighbourhoods within Darlington, plus Archdeacon Newton,  Blackwell, Cockerton, Four Riggs, Hummersknott, Hurworth, Low Coniscliffe, Middlesbrough, Middleton One Row, Middleton St. George, Mount Pleasant, Newcastle, Northallerton, Peaceful Valley, Piercebridge, Redcar,  Richmond, and Sedgefield.

We now have continuous coverage of the burials at Darlington West Cemetery from its opening in 1858 to the end of 1904 – over 23,600 burials of Darlington-area residents.

1, 437 burials at Coniscliffe St. Edwin in Auckland district spanning 1591-1812. Residences mentioned include Badle Beck, Barnard Castle, Blackwell, Bolam, Carlbury & Carlbury Mill, Cockerton, Coniscliffe, Darlington, Hall Moor, High Coniscliffe, Low Carlbury, Low Coniscliffe, Manfield Lane, Nether Coniscliffe, Piercebridge, Richmond, Staindrop, Summerhouse, Thornton, Ulnaby, and Upper Coniscliffe.

Samples:

• 24 Nov 1591 Ralph Tailboys, son of Robert Tailboys (gentleman)
• 22 Oct 1605 Leonard Robinson, of Piercebridge in the parish of Gainford, was buried among many of his kinfolk in Cunsley Churchyard (being his desire) on Tuesday
• 23 Mar 1709 Mary Edgerton, of High Coniscliffe, ye relict and widow of John Edgerton (papist)
• 17 May 1784 William Dunn, apprentice, drowned while bathing
• 1 Sep 1800 Hannah Walker late Gibson, of Carlbury, age: 91, died Aug 31st, widow of John Walker (butcher)
• 22 Dec 1812 Ann Elizabeth Smart, of Low Coniscliffe, age: 1, died Dec 20th, daughter of Edward Smart (weaver) & Isabella his wife late West

540 baptisms and 251 burials at Washington Holy Trinity in Chester-le-Street district, spanning 1823-1827, from the Bishop’s Transcript. Residences mentioned include Barmston, Biddick Burn, Botany Bay, F Pit, Great & Little Usworth, Lane Pit, Mount, New Washington, New York, North Biddick, Old Washington, Oxclose, Red Row, Sea Row, Usworth, Waggon Row, Washington, Washington Row, and Washington Staiths.

Sample baptisms:

• 18 Jan 1823 Charlotte Elizabeth Shaw, of Usworth House, daughter of Robert (gentleman) & Jane Shaw
• 13 Dec 1824 Benjamin [Hartley/Menhim], of Usworth, illegitimate son of Peter Menhim (blacksmith – reputed father) & Anne Hartley (spinster)
• 8 Jun 1826 Dorothy Crofton Fatherly, of Washington, daughter of John (farmer) & Ann Fatherly, received into the congregation Sept 28th 1826
• 30 Sep 1827 James Rutherford, of Barmston, son of Archibald (stone mason) & Elizabeth Rutherford

Sample burials:

• 14 May 1823 Thomas Craig, of Washington Old Stables, age: 25, by coroners inquest. Accidentally drowned and suffocated
• 10 Aug 1823 Joseph Davison, of Oxclose, age: 96
• 18 Nov 1826 Barbara Shaw, of Newcastle, formerly of Usworth Place, age: 86

Since we were in the register, we also updated the 159 existing marriages for 1813-1835 with witnesses, giving you an additional 323 names to search in. We will finish adding witnesses for 1836-37 next time we are at the record office.

The parish church at Washington was closed for rebuilding between June 1832 and Feb 1833, resulting in marriages like this one:

• 28 Oct 1832 Thomas Oswald (bachelor), of this parish married Elizabeth Hutchinson (spinster), of this parish, by banns in the Chapel of Usworth during the rebuilding of the church at Washington
  Witnesses: Edward Sedgwick, William Pearson