656 baptisms and 262 burials at Denton St. Mary, a chapelry of Gainford parish, in Darlington district, covering 1765-1812, from the Bishop’s Transcript with lots of checking against the original register. Residences mentioned besides Denton include Ballo or Bella House, Bolam, Burtree Gate, Cuckoo House, Houghton Bank, Houghton-le-Side, Killerby, Langton, Leggs Cross, Lime Kiln Banks, Low Coniscliffe, Morton, Summerhouse, Thornton Hall, Walworth, and White Cross.
Sample baptisms:
- 6 Jan 1765 George Cape, of Denton, son of George & Hannah Cape
- 7 Feb 1780 Mary Bell, of Denton, daughter of Henry & Rose Bell
- 14 May 1797 Hugh Charles Hodgson, of Denton, son of Joseph & Ann Hodgson
- 16 May 1798 Hannah Mary Anne Peacock, of [blank abode], born 12 Feb, 3rd daughter of The Revd. Thomas Peacock (curate) by his wife Jane Thompson
- 16 Apr 1808 Joseph Thompson Brass, of Denton, born 24 Mar, 9th child of Thomas Brass (farmer) by his wife Ann Cummins
- 6 Dec 1812 Joseph Teasdale, of Summerhouse, born 06 Aug, 8th child of Robert Teasdale (farmer) by his wife Elizabeth Swan
Sample burials, with an interesting cause of death in the last one:
- 20 Mar 1769 Thomas Cape, of Denton, son of George Cape
- 25 Mar 1779 Mary Gillery, the wife of John Gillery
- 15 Feb 1797 Dolly Turnbull, of Summerhouse, daughter of Thomas & Dolly Turnbull
- 7 Dec 1800 Dinah Smith late Terry, of Denton, age: 67, widow, died 5 Dec, decay
- 7 Jun 1806 Mary [Walker/Worthy], age: 3, died 5 Jun, daughter of Richard Walker & Frances Worthy, [died of] evil
Here is a description of the chapel at Denton, from History, Topography and Directory of Durham, Whellan , London, 1894:
“Denton, it is believed, has had no less than four chapels at various periods, each one having to be replaced on account of the ruinous state it was allowed to fall into. The first chapel is supposed to have been of Norman Foundation, which gave place to an Early English edifice, this being entirely rebuilt in 1810, and of no particular style. During the rebuilding, an ancient stone coffin was discovered, supposed to be that of a Knight Templar, and later a cover of Frosterley marble of the same shape, and about the same size, with a sculptured figure of a female carved upon it, was also found. The following inscription in Lombardian French runs round the cover, Hic gist Aubrey de Coynners sa compayn – Here lies the wife of Aubrey de Conyers. The present chapel is a neat stone building in the Earky English style, consisting of nave and chancel, with a south porsh at the west end. The chancel fittings and pulpit are of oak and of good design. The chapel is built almost on the site of its predecessor, and will seat 100, having been built at a cost of £1400.”
The chapel has now been deconsecrated and is a private dwelling. You can see a picture of it here: