Amanuensis Monday - the will of John Powell 1784

John Newmark, who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog, has a weekly theme each Monday called Amanuensis Monday to encourage the posting of transcriptions of documents to preserve and publish their contents.

John Powell was the father of John Powell whose will I published last week. He died in 1784, and his will is now in the collection at the National Library of Wales. Their collection of Welsh wills from pre 1859 can be viewed online.



In the Name of God Amen. I John Powell of the Parish of Nantmel in the County of Radnor calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed unto all Men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will & Testament, touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life, in the following Manner & Form.


First, I give and bequeath to Mary, my dearly beloved Wife and unto John Powell my well-beloved Son, all my Household Goods, Debts, & moveable Effects, the same to be divided between them in equal Shares and Proportions; & I do also bind my Wife Mary Powell and Son John Powell by these Presents, jointly, and severally, to provide for & find my beloved Daughter Mary Powell with all Things necessary for a comfortable Subsistence during her natural life.


Also I give & bequeath unto my beloved Son in Law, Edward Arthur, the sum of ten shillings & sixpence, to be paid to him by my Executors.


Also I give & bequeath unto my beloved Daughter Gwenn, the Wife of the said Edward Arthur the sum of ten shillings & sixpence, to be paid by my Executors.


Also I constitute, make & ordain, my Wife Mary Powell & Son John Powell, my sole Executors of this my last Will & Testament ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this twenty forth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four.


Signed, sealed, published, pronounced & declared, by the said John Powell as his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us the Subscribers Evan Jones, Rees Jones.


X the mark of John Powell


Probate granted 6 December 1784

On This Day ... 18 April

1810     Thomas Usher was born in Washington, Co Durham, England. He was the son of William Usher and Jane Cummings.

1964     Charles Silvester Darby died in Chester, Cheshire, England at the age of 82. Charles was born in Birmingham, but emigrated to Canada as a young man. He was resident in Nanaimo, British Columbia but died during a visit to England.

1978     James Hudson died in Bristol, Avon, England. He was 68 years old. James was born in West Hartlepool, and spent a substantial part of his life working in Tanganyika/Tanzania.

On This Day ... 17 April

1799     Mary Yarrow was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of John Yarrow and Jane Horsley.

1886     Evangeline Bagshaw nee Pugh died in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. She was 30 years old and died in childbirth.

1897     Myrtle Annis Irene Pugh was born in Uxbridge Township, Ontario, Canada. She was the daughter of John Wesley Pugh and Athlinda Louisa Blackburn.

On This Day ... 16 April

1804     Isabella Johnson was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of James Johnson and Ann Coulson.

1805     Margaret Young was born in Bishopwearmouth, Co Durham. She was the daughter of William Young and Margaret Hudson.

1831     Ralph Hudson was born in Sunderland, Co Durham. He was the son of Ralph Hudson and Hannah Glenwright.

Henry Darby 1816-1893 and Ellen Haywood 1822-1908

Henry Darby was born on 5 Oct 1816 at Meriden St, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, and christened at St Martin's in the Bull Ring, Birmingham on 5 May 1817. He was the son of locksmith Edward Darby and Ann Hobday.

Ellen Haywood was born on 7 July 1822 at Masshouse Lane, Birmingham, and christened on 3 September at St Philip's Church, Birmingham. Her parents were William Haywood and Ellen Perry.

On 9 June 1840 Henry and Ellen married at Handsworth Parish Church near Birmingham.  By this time Henry was working as a master saw maker, a trade he continued throughout his life, and the newly-weds settled at premises in Freeman Street, Birmingham.  Their first four children were all born at Freeman Street, an address the family would return to later.

They moved to Aston, where in 1851, the census shows Henry with one son, his mother-in-law and a servant.  Ellen was visiting family in Walsall. By now, Henry was employing an apprentice.  Further children were born in Aston, including the last, William James, in 1857.  In 1861, the family were living in Adelaide Street.  Henry's business was growing – he employed “1 man and 2 boys”, at premises in Freeman Street.  In 1871 they were still in Aston, but by 1881 Henry and Ellen, now with only one son living with them, had returned to Freeman Street.  In 1891 Henry and Ellen are listed on the census with William James, his wife, and 7 children living with them (possibly as William had only recently returned to Birmingham).

Henry died on 18 March 1893 aged 76. Ellen outlived him by 15 years, and also outlived all of her children, eventually dying on 11 September 1908 in Birmingham.

Henry and Ellen's children were:

Charles 1842-1866
Henry 1844-1873
Emma 1846-1864
Elizabeth 1848-1849
Edward 1850-1900
Mary Ann 1852-1876
William James 1857-1903

On This Day ... 15 April

1638     John Sewell married his first wife Alis Jefferson at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. John was my 9x great-grandfather.

1798     James Yeal was born in Hartlepool. He was the son of Robert Yeal and Dinah Hood.

1914     Charles Alexander Grant married Ella Mae Evans at 19 Edgewood Crescent, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

On This Day ... 14 April

1880     John Chapman married Harriet Linton in Uxbridge Township, Ontario, Canada. On the same day, John's first cousin, Josiah Evans, married Alice Sebeck in Uxbridge Township, Ontario, Canada.

1908     Herbert Cooper married Cora Alice Evans in Pickering Township, Ontario, Canada. Cora was the daughter of Josiah and Alice Evans.

1918     William Henry Makepeace died in Belgium, fighting in World War One. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.

Wordless Wednesday - Peggy Hudson 1930

Peggy Hudson, probably September 1930, on voyage from London to Hong Kong.

On This Day ... 13 April

1771     James Johnson married Elizabeth Coulson in St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.

1854     Amy Beatrice Hudson was born in East Boldon, Co Durham. She was the daughter of Ralph Milbank Hudson and Elizabeth Robson.

1966     John William Hudson died in Ashington General Hospital, Northumberland, England. He was 71 years old, and was my grandfather.

On This Day ... 12 April

1840     George Todner married Jane Richey at St Michael's Church, Houghton-le-Spring, Co Durham, England.

1906     Byron Franklin Madill married Sadie E Oatman at Tilsonburg, Oxford Co, Ontario, Canada.

Amanuensis Monday - the will of John Powell 1837

John Newmark, who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog, has a weekly theme each Monday called Amanuensis Monday to encourage the posting of transcriptions of documents to preserve and publish their contents.


John Powell was the grandfather of Jane Eliza Powell. He died in 1837, and his will is now in the collection at the National Library of Wales. Their collection of Welsh wills from pre 1859 can be viewed online.



Let this Will be Registered the same having been duly proved by Meredith Powell one of the Executors saving the right of the other executors therein named.  Effects sworn under Four Hundred and Fifty Pounds before me.


15 September 1837


I John Powell of Gilvach in the parish of Nantmel in the County of Radnor farmer being of sound mind and understanding praised by God for the same do make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following, first I give and devise to my dear Wife Jane Powell the sum of Ten pounds per Annum to be paid half yearly on the 29th of Sept and the 25th of March in cash and every year also my best bed and bed cloths also my best chest and drawers and six of my best chairs and I charge my farm of Henrhiew situate in the parish of St Harmon in the County of Radnor with the payment of the said annuity for and during the term of the natural life and in case my executors hereinafter named shall refuse or neglect to pay to my said wife the said annuity as the same […] due namely five pounds on the 29th of Sepr and the like sum on the 25th day of March in cash and every year, it is my Will that she will [...] the usual forms of landlord and distrain from the said premises for her annuity. to my eldest son John Powell I give and bequeath the sum of twenty pounds to be paid twelve months after my decease, to my daughter Elizabeth I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid in like manner, also I give and bequeath to my daughter Gwennifried now married to John Evans of Berthably the remainder of the farm Pengoyed should be her fortune, in case any part of the said sum should remain paid at the time of my decease.  To my three sons now living with me (namely) Meredith, Edward and David Powell, I give devise and bequeath to them and their heirs [...], the whole of my property real and personal share and share alike, after due payment of the same named legacies likewise the payment of all my last debts which I charge my entire property with and funeral and testamentary expenses and lastly I nominate and appoint my two sons Meredith and Edward Powell joint executors of this my will published and declared this 3 day of March 1836 as my last will and testament who at my request and in my presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed their names as witnesses.

On This Day ... 11 April

1807     Henry Hudson was born in Bishopwearmouth, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Thomas Hudson and Mary Todner.

1816     Thomas Hudson and Eleanor Nevison married in Christ Church, Tynemouth, Northumberland, England.

1905     Margaret Anne Lamb was born in Bloemfontein, Orange River Colony, South Africa. She was the daughter of Alexander Lamb and Martha Ann Pattison, and was my grandmother.

On This Day ... 10 April

1798     Thomas Handson married Mary Wren at St Stephen's Church, Wolsingham, Co Durham, England.

1803     Esther Hudson was born in Bishopwearmouth, Co Durham. She was the daughter of William Hudson and Ann Bell.

1839     Hugh Pugh married Hannah Smith in Pickering Township, Upper Ontario, Canada.

1849     Thomas Williams married Elizabeth Hood at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham.

On This Day ... 9 April

1809     John Leeming was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham. He was the son of John Leeming and Mary Huntridge.

1827     Dent Wallace was born in Sunderland, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Dent Wallace and Margaret Hudson.

1879     Charles Pugh married Mary Elizabeth Linton at Stouffville, Ontario, Canada.

1912     Norman James Darby was born in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA. He was the son of William Henry Darby and Jessie Pugh, and was my grandfather.

Ralph Brown 1806-1855 and Mary Hall 1810-1866

Ralph Brown was born at Howden Dock in the parish of Wallsend, Northumberland, England on 13 March 1806, the son of John and Martha Brown. His family moved south into County Durham during his childhood.

Mary Hall was born in Ouseburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, on 29 June 1810. She was the daughter of George Hall and Mary Haswell.

Ralph married Mary on Christmas Eve, 1830 at St Michael's Church, Houghton-le-Spring, Co Durham. The couple settled in Easington Lane, close to Ralph's parents.

On the 1841 census they are shown living at Brick Garth, Easington Lane, with four children:

Anne born 1831
Martha born 1833
John born 1839
William born 1840

Ralph was working as a coal miner.

By 1851 the family had moved to Coxhoe, Co Durham. There was another child, George, born 15 January 1842 at Brick Garth. Daughter Martha had died in 1850, and son William isn't on the census with them, but I haven't yet been able to trace what happened to him. Ralph was recorded on the census as an overman (supervisor) at the local colliery.

Ralph died on 20 February 1855, a few weeks short of his 49th birthday. Mary continued to live in Coxhoe, and was shown on the 1861 census with sons George (a coal miner) and Ralph (a 9 year old scholar) and also William Hall - listed as a boarder but possibly a relative. Mary died on 24 August 1866 at only 56, and was buried with her husband in St Helen's Churchyard, Kelloe.

I need to do more work to fill in the gaps in this family. Looking at the dates of birth, there must have been more children born in the 1830s, and probably in the 1840s, but I haven't been able to find any birth or baptism records for the children I know about. I need to follow up on the disappearance of William Brown. I'd also like to find out who William Hall is.

On This Day ... 8 April

1792     Eleanor Yeal was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of William Yeal and Mary Horsley.

1875     Anne Pugh nee Ingram died in Montgomeryshire, Wales and was buried at Bwlch-y-sarnau Baptist Chapel, Radnorshire, Wales. She was the widow of Stephen Pugh, the first minister of the chapel.

1903     Morgan Thomas Evans married Elizabeth Linton in Claremont, Ontario, Canada.

On This Day ... 7 April

1804     Margaret Hood was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of William Hood and Alice Shepherd.

1851     Catherine Edith Hudson was born in East Boldon, Co Durham. She was the daughter of Ralph Milbank Hudson and Elizabeth Robson.

1925     George Winlow Lindars Hudson died in London at the aged of 80.

Wordless Wednesday - Bill Hudson

Bill Hudson, probably September 1930, on the voyage from England to Hong Kong.

On This Day ... 6 April

1828     Jacob Hood marrieid Ann Pounder at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.

1846     George Robson was born in Hartlepool. He was the son of Mills Robson and Elizabeth Leeming.

1865     Thomas James Denton was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. He was the son of Henry and Eliza Denton.

On This Day ... 5 April

1761     William Horsley married Margaret Lackenby at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.

1832     Joseph Edwin Frost was born in Clerkenwell, London, England. He was the son of Isaac and Sarah Frost.

1843     Ralph Hudson was born in Vine Street, Sunderland, Co Durham. Ralph was the son of Robert Heightley Hudson and Susanna Morrow. Susanna was not married to Robert, but was the widow of Robert's uncle Richard.

1924     Elizabeth Charlotte Pugh, nee Hamer, died in Llanbadarnfynydd, Radnorshire, Wales. She was the widow of Henry Pugh and lived at Tynddol farm.

Amanuensis Monday - the will of Thomas Hughes 1893

John Newmark, who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog, has a weekly theme each Monday called Amanuensis Monday to encourage the posting of transcriptions of documents to preserve and publish their contents.

Thomas Hughes was the father of Morgan Hughes. He spent most of his adult life living at Upper Dolelfe farm in Saint Harmon (on the road from Rhayader to Llangurig), and died there in 1893.

BE IT KNOWN that at the date hereunder written the last Will and Testament of Thomas Hughes late of Upper Dolelfan in the parish of St Harmon in the county of Radnor, farmer, deceased, who died on the 19th day of August 1893 at Upper Dolelfan aforesaid within the District of the Counties of Radnor, Brecknock and Hereford, was proved and registered in the District Probate Registry of Her Majesty's High Court of Justice at Hereford and that Administration of the personal estate of the said deceased was granted by the aforesaid Court to John Hughes of Upper Dolelfan aforesaid, farmer, the son of the deceased, one of the Executors named in the said Will He having been first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same.  Power being reserved of making the like grant to Anne Hughes, Widow, the relict of the said deceased, the other Executor.


Dated the 18th day of October 1893


Gross value of Personal Estate  £1,040.9.6
Net value of Personal Estate      £920.19.9
No leaseholds
Extracted by H V Vaughan, solicitor, Builth




This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Hughes of Upper Dolelfan in the parish of Saint Harmon Radnorshire Farmer.  Subject to the payment of all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses and the legacies hereinafter bequeathed I give devise and bequeath to my wife Anne Hughes one moiety of my real and personal estate and effects wheresoever situate and of whatsoever kind for the term of her natural life and after her decease I give devise and bequeath the same to my son John Hughes and as to the remaining moiety of my real and personal estate I give devised and bequeath the same absolutely to the said John Hughes I direct that my said wife and said son John shall continue to carry on the farming business now carried on by me during the term of the life of my said wife the profits arising from such farming business to be equally divided between them.  In the event however of my said son John Hughes desiring to discontinue the said partnership then I direct that he shall pay to her one half of the value of my farming stock and farming effects to and for her own use during the term of her natural life and after her death such sums to revert to my said son John Hughes in accordance with the previous provisions of this my Will such value to be ascertained at the time of my decease by a valuation to be made as soon as convenient after my decease.  I give and bequeath to my Daughters Anne wife of Edward Jones of Aber in the parish of Llangurig, Elizabeth wife of John Pugh of Brithdir also in the parish of Llangurig, Catherine wife of John Lewis of Cwmyrychen in the parish of Saint Harmon and Harriet wife of Richard Ingram Ten pounds each also to my Sons Morgan Hughes of Vedw and Evan Hughes of Penrhiw both in the parish of Saint Harmon aforesaid and Richard Hughes of London House West Street Rhayader in the County of Radnor the sum of Ten Pounds each in all Seventy pounds the same to be paid to them (or in case of their decease to their respective representatives) within twelve calendar months after my decease hereby revoking all former Wills heretofore made by me I hereby declare this to be my last Will and Testament and appoint my said wife Anne Hughes and my said son John Hughes to be joint Executors.  Dated this fifth day of June 1890.  Thomas Hughes.






Signed, published and declared by the said Testator Thomas Hughes as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.
Edw. Wood  Solicitor Rhayader
Jno. Jones, Clerk to Mr Wood




Proved at Hereford on the 18th day of October 1893 by the oath of John Hughes, the son, one of the Executors to whom administration was granted.  Power being reserved of making the like grant to Anne Hughes, Widow, the Relict, the other Executor.
The Testator Thomas Hughes was late of Upper Dolelfan in the parish of Saint Harmon in the County of Radnor Farmer and died on the 19th day of August 1893 at Upper Dolelfan aforesaid.
Gross  £1,040.9.6


HV Vaughan, Solicitor, Builth

On This Day ... 4 April

1846     Michael Usher married Elizabeth Scott at St Mary's Church, Gateshead, Co Durham, England.

1900     Henry Wideman married Elizabeth Jane Pugh in Ontario Co, Ontario, Canada.

On This Day ... 3 April

1851     Eliza Alice Hudson died in Sunderland, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of George Winlow Hudson and Elizabeth Hughes, and was only 3 years old.

1852     Jane Powell, nee Owens, died in Nantmel, Radnorshire, Wales. She was 80 years old. Jane was my g-g-g-g-grandmother.

1870     David Lewis married Nancy Cowan at Uxbridge Township, Ontario Co, Ontario, Canada.

Review of March goals; some April goals

Review of March


Research plans 

• write at least 2 research plans, one on John Heighington. Wrote a plan for John Heighington, and spent some time working on the Heighingtons. I need to get to Durham Record Office to follow up, and this will require a day off work. Didn't manage to write a second plan.
• follow up on the Frances Hunter research plan. Didn't make any progress here.

Blog

• write at least 12 blog postings, aside from "On This Day" posts. Done
• add blog page for Margaret Lamb's ancestors. Done

Indexing

• index 350 names - did more, despite Family Search Indexing's problems during the month.

Organisation

• focus on tagging files with ID numbers - try to get through 500 this month. Did a lot more than 500. Will still take me several more months to do this.
• continue scanning my grandmother's photographs. Got through a fair amount of these. Still have a couple more albums to do.

Goals for April
More of the same I think...


Research plans 

• Make some progress on Frances Hunter - at least to the point of having some targets for my next trip to DRO (which will probably be May as I can't see me having time off in April).
• Finish writing research plans for John Pugh and Charlotte Harrison - I drafted these over Christmas but never completed them or did any actual research.

Blog

• write at least 12 blog postings, aside from "On This Day" posts
• add blog page for Norman Darby's ancestors

Indexing

• index 350 names

Organisation

• Continue tagging files with ID numbers - get at least 500 done this month
• Continue scanning my grandmother's photographs.

On This Day ... 2 April

1793     Lancelot Hudson was born in Sunderland, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Thomas Hudson and Mary Todner.

1795     Thomas Hudson was born in Sunderland on his brother Lancelot's second birthday.

1803     Christiana Whitehouse was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. She was the daughter of Joseph Whitehouse and Ann Hobdey.

Thomas Pattison 1795-1866 and Ann Moor 1799-1883

Thomas Pattison was born in Ravensworth, Lamesley, Co Durham, England in 1795, the son of Thomas Pattison and Elizabeth Burrell. He was baptised in St Andrew's Church in Lamesley on 27 September 1795.
On 31 May 1819 he married Ann Moor at Holy Trinity Church, Washington, Co Durham. She was born on 2 June 1799 at Whickham, Co Durham to parents John Moor and Hannah Wren.

The newly married couple settled in the pit village of Newbottle, in the parish of Houghton-le-Spring, Co Durham, where Thomas worked as a coal miner. All their children were born in Newbottle:

Elizabeth Moor Pattison 1820-1887
Hannah Pattison 1823-1853
Barbara Pattison 1825-1830
William Pattison 1827-1905
Thomas Pattison 1830-1902
Barbara Pattison 1832-1832
John Pattison 1833-1893
James Pattison 1836-1836
James Pattison 1837-1838

A couple of years after the death of their youngest son, the Pattisons moved to a new coal mine at Oxclose, Coxhoe, Co Durham. By 1851 the family had moved to West Hetton Houses on the other side of the village of Coxhoe. By now all the surviving sons were working in the mine. The family were still at West Hetton Houses in 1861, but William and Thomas Jr had moved out. Thomas Sr was still working in the mine at 66 years old. Thomas died at West Hetton Houses on 10 April 1866.

Ann lived out the rest of her life with her son John in Coxhoe. By 1871 they were living in Sandgate, and in 1881 at Prospect Place. She died on 1 June 1883 at West Hetton, Coxhoe, and was buried beside her husband at St Mary's Church, Coxhoe.

On This Day ... 1 April

1823     Thomas Jones married Elizabeth Williams at St Peter's Church, Llanbedr Painscastle. Elizabeth was my g-g-g-g grandmother.

1827     Mary Anne Furnas was born in Monkwearmouth Shore, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of Joseph Furnas and Isabella Wealand.

1864     John Wilkinson married Catherine Graham in Buckworth, Victoria, Australia. John was born in Houghton-le-Spring in Co Durham, England in 1826 and emigrated to Australia around 1859.

On This Day ... 31 March

1755     John Wren married Ann Vipond at St Augustine's Church, Alston, Cumberland, England.

1833     Joseph Dinniss married Eleanor Leeming at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.  

1833     William Henry Todner married Mary Caldcleugh at St Margaret's Church, Durham, Co Durham.

1911     John Joseph Coulson died in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Wordless Wednesday - John Lamb

This picture of John Lamb was kindly provided by Ron Lamb. If anyone has any information or pictures of John or his family, or would like to know more about the family, we'd both love to get in touch. Please contact Ron at ron-lamb@comcast.net or me at rahudson.sunderland@gmail.com

On This Day ... 30 March

1817     Robert Hunter married Jane Pounder at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.

1828     Henry Hudson married Margaret Sims at St Paul's Church, Jarrow-on-Tyne, Co Durham.

On This Day ... 29 March

1801     Cuthbert Thompson aged 3, his brother Stormy aged 5, and John Horsley aged 5 all died in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. John was the son of James Horsley and Jane Hood. Cuthbert and Stormy were sons of John Thompson and Dinah Coulson. All three boys died of smallpox.

1875     Mary Elizabeth Lamb was born in Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, England. She was the daughter of John Lamb, and emigrated with him to Vancouver, Canada.

1888     Laidler Peart married Annie Wren at St Stephen's Church, Wolsingham, Co Durham, England.

1914     John Lamb, my g-g grandfather, died in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada at the age of 74. He had emigrated from England in his late 60s.

Amanuensis Monday - the will of David Pugh 1877

John Newmark, who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog, has a weekly theme each Monday called Amanuensis Monday to encourage the posting of transcriptions of documents to preserve and publish their contents.


David Pugh was the father of Mary Ann Pugh who is one of the beneficiaries of the will.


In the name of God Amen. I David Pugh of Tin-y-dole in the parish of Llanbadarnfynydd in the county of Radnor Farmer, Do make this my last will and testament as follows, that is to say, I do give and bequeath to my wife Mary Pugh the sum of Ten pounds yearly and every year, so long as she remains a widow and unmarried. I do give and bequeath to my son Alfred Pugh the sum of nineteen pounds and nineteen shillings. I do give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Ann Pugh the sum of Three hundred pounds, also a case and drawers one pier looking glass and three chairs, and the aforementioned sum of Three hundred pounds is to be deposited in Mr Bank's Bank at Kington until she attains the age of Twenty one and the interest is to be paid to her, but if she dies before she attains the age of twenty one that sum of three hundred pounds is to go to my Executors, to be equally divided share and share alike between them. I do give and bequeath all the residue and remainer of my property whatsoever or wheresoever unto my two sons namely James David Pugh and Henry Pugh, whom I do nominate and appoint my sole Executors, jointly and they are to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses and the aforesaid legacies, and in closing up of my estate my son Henry Pugh is to have Forty pounds more than my son James David Pugh. And I do wish them to go on together with Tin-y-dole Farm. I do disallow all former wills made by me confirming this to be my last Will and Testament, whereunto I do set my hand this Twenty second day of June One thousand eight hundred and seventy six.


Signed published and declared by the testator David Pugh to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence at the same time do subscribe our names as witnesses:


[Signed] The mark X of David Pugh
[Witnesses] David Stephens, Abraham Hamer


Proved at Hereford on the 18th day of December 1877 by the oaths of James David Pugh and Henry Pugh the sons the Executors to whom Administration was granted.
The Testator David Pugh was late of Tinydole in the parish of Llanbadarnfynydd in the County of Radnor Farmer and died on the 25th day of July.

On This Day ... 28 March

1801     Elizabeth Lakinby was born in Hartlepool,  Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of Thomas Lakinby and Martha Robson.

1848     Gwen Powell was born in Saint Harmon, Radnorshire, Wales. She was the daughter of Edward Powell and Ann Price.

1898     Matthew Summers Hammond married Jane Hannah Burlinson at St Michael's Church, Bishopwearmouth Parish, in Sunderland, Co Durham.

On This Day ... 27 March

1802     Mary Ann Young was born in Bishopwearmouth, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of William Young and Margaret Hudson.

1822     Mary Kerss was born in Monkwearmouth Shore, Co Durham. She was the daughter of Robert Kerss and Frances Hunter.

1912     Trevor James Pugh was born in Rhayader, Radnorshire, Wales. He was the son of David James Pugh and Delilah Hughes.

On This Day ... 26 March

1788     Eleanor Hunter was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. Her parents were Thomas Hunter and Eleanor Horsley.

1808     Catherine Kerss was born in Gateshead, Co Durham. She was the daughter of Alexander Kerss and Catherine Errington.

1883     William Henry Levitt married Ellen Massum Horsley in St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool. Ellen was the daughter of Wilson Mossom and Margaret Horsley.

And a happy birthday to my brother Ben!

James Gerrard 1803 - 1863 and Isabella Marshall 1801 - 1872

This is a summary of what (I think) I know about James and Isabella.
James Gerrard was born on 30 June 1803 in the parish of Barry, Angus County, Scotland. He was the son of miller George Gerrard and Jannet Fyffe. James was, as far as I know, the fourth of seven children.

At some point he came south to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England. I can't find him on the 1841 census in England or Scotland, but in 1845 he was named as the father of Margaret Gerrard on her birth certificate. Margaret's mother was named as Isabella Gerrard formerly Marshall.

By 1851, the family, consisting of James, Isabella, Margaret and Mary Ann and John Stewart were living in Whickham, Co Durham, England. Mary Ann and John are listed as daughter and son of James, but I suspect that they are actually Isabella's children from a previous relationship.

In 1861 the family were back in Newcastle, living in the Elswick area. James and Isabella were enumerated on the census with their daughter Margaret, and a visitor, Mary A Moffatt - I think this is Mary Ann Stewart, now married, visiting her mother.

James died on 18 July 1863 of phthisis (probably tuberculosis). He had worked as a miller all his life and the flour dust may have contributed to his relatively early death.

Isabella was born around 1801, according to the 1871 census in West Silverton, Northumberland. As with James, I haven't yet found her in 1841. In 1871 following James' death she was living with her now-married daughter Margaret and her family. Isabella died on 23 August 1872.

The problem with this story is that there are so many gaps. I can't find a marriage record for James and Isabella, can't find either of them in 1841, can't find an earlier marriage for Isabella, and can't find a birth/baptism record for Isabella Marshall anywhere. And I can't find a place called West Silverton in Northumberland. The whole thing is further complicated by the spelling of the surname - I think it's different on nearly every document I have. So far I've spotted Gerrard, Gerard, Girard, and Jerrard. I've clearly got a lot of work to do here.

On This Day ... 25 March

1797     Ann Hunter was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of Thomas Hunter and Eleanor Horsley.

1848     William Colling married Jane Turner at St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth, Co Durham. Jane was the daughter of Francis Turner and Sarah Hudson.

1920     Ralph Palliser Milbanke Hudson died in Sunderland, Co Durham, of injuries sustained in 1917 during World War One.

On This Day ... 24 March

1870     Henry Wideman was born in Ontario, Canada.

1901     Silvester Read was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. He was the son of William Read and Annie Beatrice Deakin.

1958     Catherine Gray nee Hudson died at Shotley Bridge Hospital, Consett, Co Durham, England. She was my great-aunt.

Wordless Wednesday - New Car

Peter Hudson, aged about 4, on balcony of the family's flat in Stanley, Hong Kong.

On This Day ... 23 March

1806     Benjamin Robson was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Mills Robson and Martha Allison.

1810     Robert Haddock was born in Bishopwearmouth, Co Durham. He was the son of William Haddock and Mary Hudson.

1855     Margaret Horsley (nee Herring) died in Hartlepool at the age of 79.

1855     Pryce Pugh married Martha Jones at All Saints Church, Mochdre, Montgomery, Wales. The couple lived most of their lives at Cwmderw farm in Llananno, Radnorshire.

On This Day ... 22 March

1805     Ninian Steel married Mary Kerss in Coldstream, Berwickshire, Scotland.

1812     John Child married Susanna Shore in St Mary's Church Handsworth, Staffordshire, England.

1869     Judson Adamrun Pugh was born in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. He was the son of Thomas Pugh and Ann Evans.

Amanuensis Monday - the will of Margaret Horsley

John Newmark, who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog, has a weekly theme each Monday called Amanuensis Monday to encourage the posting of transcriptions of documents to preserve and publish their contents.


Margaret Horsley was the widow of George Horsley, and she died in 1855 in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. The couple were my g-g-g-g grandparents.



This is the last Will and Testament of me Margaret Horsley of Hartlepool in the County of Durham, Widow. I give and devise all those my freehold messuages or Dwelling houses hereditaments and premises situate in Northgate Street in Hartlepool aforesaid now in the occupation of myself and my Tenants Jacob Robson and others with their and evrey of their appurtenances unto and to the use of Richard White of Hartlepool aforesaid Gentleman and Thomas Watt the Elder of the same place, Pilot, their heirs and assigns for ever upon the trusts following, that is to say upon trust that they the said Richard White and Thomas Watt or the Survivor of them or the Heirs or assigns of such survivor do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease absolutely, sell and dispose of all the said messuages or Dwelling houses and premises either by public auction or private contract to any person or persons whomsoever and altogether or in parcels for the best price or prices that can be had or gotten for the same and make and execute all necessary conveyances and assurances to the purchaser or purchasers thereof respectively. And I declare and direct that my said trustees and the survivor of them and the heirs and assigns of such survivor shall stand possessed of and in the money to arise and be produced by such sale or sales or rents previous thereto, in trust to pay thereout all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses and all costs and charges incident to such sale or sales and also the legacy hereinafter mentioned and subject thereto. In trust for all and every of my children share and share alike and I direct that all and every the lawful child and children of my sons and daughters respectively who are now dead or who may die before me (including Robert Horsley Natural Child of my son William Horsley deceased) shall have and take and be entitled to the same share or shares of and in the trust monies as their deceased parents respectively would have been entitled to if living under this my will such share or shares to be paid to the child if only one and to be equally divided amongst them if more than one. And I hereby direct that the Receipt or Receipts of my said Trustees or Trustee shall exonerate the parties taking the same from the payment of all monies therein expressed to be received or from seeing to the application thereof. I give and Bequeath all and every my household goods and furniture and all other my personal estate and effects (save and except a double chest of drawers and an eight days clock which I Bequeath to my son Robert Horsley) unto my daughter Elizabeth Horsley. And I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Horsley the widow of my late son John Horsley the sum of five pounds which I direct shall be deducted from the shares of the trust monies to which my grandchildren George Horsley and Margaret Lister shall be entitled under this my will and I constitute and appoint the said Richard White and Thomas Watt the Elder Trustees and executors of this my will. And I declare and direct that they shall not be answerable for the acts receipts neglects or defaults of the other of them and by no means for involuntary losses happening in the execution of the trusts of this my will. In witness whereof I the said testator Margaret Horsley have to this my last will and testament set my hand, this ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty four.


Margaret X Horsley her mark.


Signed by the said Testatrix Margaret Horsley Widow as and for her last will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time, in her presence at her request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.


Edward Chapman, chemist and druggist Hartlepool
Thos Hutchinson, solicitor, Hartlepool.


On the 7th day of April in the year of our Lord 1855 Richard White of Hartlepool in the County of Durham Gentleman and Thomas Watt the elder of the same place, Pilot, the Executors names in the within written will were duly sworn as usual - effects sworn under £20. And that the Testator died on the 23rd day of March 1855.

On This Day ... 21 March

21 Mar 1813     Mary Halliday was born in Sunderland, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of John Halliday and Jane Hudson.

21 Mar 1915     Robert Pugh was born in Chicago, Cook Co, Illinois, USA. He was the son of Christopher Thomas Pugh Jr and Olga Servas

21 Mar 1919     William Hudson was born in West Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Robert Hudson and Daisy Clarke and a first cousin to my father. William fought in World War Two and died near Florence, Italy in 1944.

And finally, happy birthday to my brother Duncan!

On This Day ... 20 March

1866     Andrew Thomas died in Rhayader, Radnorshire, Wales. According to his death certificate he was 97 years old, a master grocer and he died of bronchitis. He was a 4 x g grandfather of mine.

1904     Ann Hughes nee Morgan died at Upper Dolelfe farm, Saint Harmon, Radnorshire. She was 88 years old.

On This Day ... 19 March

1800     William Haddock was born in Penshaw, Co Durham, England. His baptism record described him as: second son of Thomas Haddock, keelman, native of this chapelry by his wife Ann Todner, native of Washington parish.

1801     Elizabeth Robson was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham. Her baptism record described her as the fourth child of Mills Robson, by his wife Martha late Allinson of Sunderland.

1930     John William Hudson married Margaret Ann Lamb, at St Mary the Virgin Church, Longframlington, Northumberland, England. They were my grandparents.

Alexander Lamb and Mary Rathie

Alexander Lamb was born on 26 February 1815 in Kelso, Roxburgh, Scotland, the son of John Lamb and Elizabeth Munro.

I know very little about Mary Rathie other than she was born around 1814, probably in Roxburgh county.

The couple married, probably in about 1836 (as their first known child was born in 1837) and probably in Roxburgh county. I haven't been able to find a record of this yet.

They had four children that I know of:

Mary 1837-??
John 1839-1914
Clement 1840-??
Alexander 1842-??

The couple appeared with the first three children on the 1841 census, living in Ladyrig, Roxburgh. By 1851 Alexander was living with all four children at Crookedshaws Farm, Moorbattle, Roxburgh. He is listed as married but Mary isn't with him, and I can't find her anywhere else.

Alexander died on 4 March 1857 of pneumonia. He was buried in Roxburgh Church Yard.

When Mary married in 1859 her parents were named in the marriage certificate - both of them were listed as deceased. I suspect that Mary Rathie had died before 1851 but haven't found a record - burial records for Roxburgh are probably a good place to start, but I'm not sure what records were kept and what has survived.

On This Day ... 18 March

1824     John Onions married Hannah Cooper in St Philips Church, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.

1856     Richard Leighton married Margaret Hudson in St Thomas Church, Stepney, Middlesex, England.

1893     Henry Darby died in Birmingham. He was 76 years old and died of old age.

On This Day ... 17 March

1796     Joseph Bowater was born in Dudley, Worcestershire, England. He was the son of Benjamin Bowater and Phebe Bennett.

1811     Jane Todner was born in Chester-le-Street, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of Richard Todner and Eleanor Rutherford.

1809     Lancelot Hudson died in Sunderland, Co Durham. He was 6 months old, the son of William Hudson and Ann Bell, and died of the measles.

Wordless Wednesday - Bill and Peggy's wedding

L-R (probably) Robert Curtis, Margaret Bell, Bill Hudson, Peggy Lamb, William Wick.

The marriage certificate records Robert Curtis and Margaret Bell as the witnesses (best man and maid of honour?) and William Wick as the Vicar.

On This Day ... 16 March

1778     Ralph Hudson was born in Sunderland, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Lancelot Hudson and Elizabeth Wardell.

1789     Elizabeth Horsley was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham. She was the daughter of James Horsley and Jane Hood.

1799     James Barclay Coulson was born in Hartlepool. He was the son of Thomas Coulson and Isabella Bulmer.

1846     Hugh Powell was born in Saint Harmon, Radnorshire, Wales. He was the son of Edward Powell and Ann Price.

On This Day ... 15 March

1777     Hugh Pugh was born in St Harmon, Radnorshire, Wales. He was the son of Hugh Pugh and Elizabeth Richards, and emigrated with his family to Ontario, Canada in the 1840s.

1830     Ann Todner Blench was born at Sheep Hill, Tanfield, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of Wheatley Blench and Anne Todner.

1858     Emily Constance Hudson was born in Sunderland, Co Durham. She was the daughter of Ralph Milbank Hudson and Elizabeth Robson.

Amanuensis Monday - the will of Lancelot Hudson 1856

John Newmark, who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog, has a weekly theme each Monday called Amanuensis Monday to encourage the posting of transcriptions of documents to preserve and publish their contents.

Lancelot Hudson was a first cousin of my g-g-grandfather George Hudson. He married Isabella Wilkinson, and they had two children, Henry and Isabella, neither of whom are mentioned in the will. Henry died in July 1855 (after the will was written), and so far, I've found no sign of Isabella after her baptism.

This is the last Will and Testament of me Launcelot Hudson of the Borough of Sunderland in the County of Durham Shipowner and Master Mariner made this third day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty five.

I give devise and bequeath All my real and personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind so ever which I may be seized or possessed of at the time of my decease unto Martin Lowe of Sunderland aforesaid Shipbroker and Martin Lowe the Younger of the same place Shipbroker their heirs sequels in right executors administrators and assigns of the Survivor of them, Upon trust as soon as conveniently my be after my decease to convert the same into money and out of the proceeds thereof in the first place to pay and discharge all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses and all costs and charges to be incurred in and about the carrying out of the trusts of this my Will and in the next place to invest so much of the surplus of the proceeds of my said real and personal estate as will secure a clear annual sum of twenty six pounds to be paid and applied to the use of my dear Wife Isabella for and during the term of her natural life such Annuity to be paid by four equal quarterly payments on the thirteenth day of May, the thirteenth day of August, the thirteenth day of November and the thirteenth day of February in every year during the term aforesaid.

Provided always and I hereby empower my said Trustees or the survivors of them if they or he shall so think fit to purchase a Government Annuity for the said sum of twenty six pounds to be paid and applied to the use of my Wife in manner aforesaid

and as to the residue of my said Real and personal estate and effects I do hereby declare the same shall as to one fourth part or share thereof be in trust for my sister Margaret Wallace, the wife of Dent Wallace to and for her own separate use and benefit and free from the debts control and engagements of her present or any future husband with whom she may intermarry.

As to one other fourth part or share thereof the same shall be In trust for my sister Sarah Turner, the widow of Francis Turner to and for her own separate use and benefit free from the debts and control of any future husband with whom she may intermarry.

As to one other fourth part or share thereof the same shall be In trust for my dear sister Elizabeth Elliott the wife of John Elliott to and for her own use and benefit and free from the debts control and engagements of her present or any future husband with whom she may intermarry.

And as to the remaining one fourth part or share thereof the same shall be In trust for all and every the Child and Children of my sister Jane Halliday deceased who shall be living at the time of my decease in equal shares and proportions as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants.

I hereby declare that the receipts of the said Margaret Wallace, Sarah Turner, Elizabeth Elliott and the Children of the said Jane Halliday deceased respectively shall be sufficient discharges to my said Trustees and Executors for their respective portions of such residue.

I appoint the said Martin Lowe and Martin Lowe the Younger Executors of this my Will and declare that their receipts shall be good and valid discharges to purchasers of any portion of my real and personal estate and that such purchasers shall not be obliged to see to the application of the purchase moneys acknowledged by such receipts to be received and I hereby declare that my trustees and executors shall not be answerable for involuntary losses.

I hereby revoke all former wills by me made.  In witness whereof I have thereunto set my hand the day and year first above written.

L Hudson

Signed by the said testator Launcelot Hudson as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses the word “Widow” in the fifth line from the top of the second page and the words “her present or” in the seventh line from the top of the second page having been first made and erased.

Jno Hucarper Sol Sunderland

Ames Eglington his clerk

On the 29^th day of August in the year of our Lord 1856 Martin Lowe of Murton Street in the Borough of Sunderland in the County of Durham, shipbroker and Martin Lowe the younger of Murton Street in the Borough of Sunderland in the County of Durham Shipbroker, the Executors named in the within written will were duly sworn as usual.  Effects sworn under £4000.  And that the Testator died as is supposed at Sea after the second day of January 1856.

Before me John B Dykes, Surr.

On This Day ... 14 March

1795  Joseph Hood was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Thomas Hood and Mary Robson.

1799     John Wren was born in Simonburn, Northumberland, England.  He was the son of William Wren and Ann Sisterson.

1819     Richard Hudson married Maria Ann Butterfint in St Dunstan's Church, Stepney, London. The couple subsequently set up home in Richard's home town of Sunderland, Co Durham.

On This Day ... 13 March

1788     Richard Johnson was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. He was the son of James Johnson and Ann Coulson.

1900     Dora Coulson was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England. She was the only daughter of John Joseph Coulson and Isabella Lamb.

1915     Henry Owen Dabridgecourt Becher died - he was killed in action at Bois Grenier, Armentières, France, serving in the British Army.

1960     James Lamb died in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was born in Newcastle, England and emigrated to Canada as a young man.

On This Day ... 12 March

1830     Ann Isabella Dixon was born in Sunderland, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of William Dixon and Jane Hudson.

1855     William Pattison married Anne Brown at St Helen's Church, Kelloe, Co Durham.

1877     Thomas Bulmer married Mary Ann Chattoe at St Mary's Church, Easington, Co Durham.

1908     Alfred George Milbanke Hudson died in Sunderland, Co Durham. He was 52 years old.

George Horsley 1797-1868

George Horsley was born on 8 December 1797, the son of George Horsley and Margaret Herring. George was the second of ten children born to George and Margaret in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.
At this time Hartlepool was still a small fishing village, and both the Horsleys and the Herrings had lived there for many generations.

On 5 November 1820, George married Sarah Watt at St Hilda's Church in Hartlepool. Sarah was born on 1 September 1798, in Hartlepool, the daughter of Thomas Watt and Mary Proud. By this time, George had become a fisherman, following his father's trade. The couple had three children together:

Sarah 1822-1881
George Jan 1823 - Feb 1823
Mary 1824-1835

Sarah Watt died in December 1826, leaving George to bring up his two small daughters.

He remarried on 15 November 1829, again at St Hilda's Church. Margaret Hood was born into an old Hartlepool family on 21 April 1808. George and Margaret had nine children together:

George 1830-??
Margaret 1832-1887
Thomas 1834-??
Mary 1837-?? (before 1841
Elizabeth 1838-1841
John 1840-1841
Mary 1842-1846
Elizabeth 1845-??
Mary 1847-1880

George was recorded on the censuses in 1841, 1851 and 1861 living at Wells Garth, Wells Yard and Wells Passage respectively. It's highly probably that this was the same place, a jumble of houses around a small yard running between the Town Wall and Southgate. See this site for pictures.

George died at Wells Yard on 6 July 1868. His wife Margaret survived him for a few years, dying on 12 August 1873, also at Wells Yard.

On This Day ... 11 March

1816     John Sterling died in Simonburn, Northumberland,  England. The 8 year old son of George Sterling and Isabel Makepeace drowned in a local stream.

On This Day ... 10 March

1770     Richard Hudson was born in Numbers Garth, Sunderland, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Lancelot Hudson and Elizabeth Wardell, and is my g-g-g grandfather.

1803     Samuel Kerss was born in Gateshead, Co Durham, the son of Alexander Kerss and Catherine Errington.

1805     Ann Whitehouse was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. She was the daughter of Joseph Whitehouse and Ann Hobdey.

1834     Josiah Pugh married Sarah George at St Anno's Church, Llananno, Radnorshire, Wales.

Wordless Wednesday - Anyone for Tennis?

On This Day ... 9 March

1798     John Wren died in Wolsingham, Co Durham, England. He was only 10 years old.

1802     William Haddock married Mary Hudson at St Michael's Church, Bishopwearmouth, Co Durham.

1910     James Hudson was born in West Hartlepool, Co Durham. He was the son of Robert Hunter Hudson and Margaret Mossom.

On This Day ... 8 March

1854     Ellen Colling was born in Sunderland, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of William Colling and Jane Turner, and was born on her father's 30th birthday.

1891     Margaret Johnston was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England. She was the daughter of Peter Johnston and Isabella Lamb.

1921     Jane Weir nee Pugh died in Port Perry, Scugog Township, Ontario, Canada.

Amanuensis Monday - the will of Thomas Hudson 1827

John Newmark, who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog, has a weekly theme each Monday called Amanuensis Monday to encourage the posting of transcriptions of documents to preserve and publish their contents.

Thomas Hudson was the brother of Richard Hudson, his wife Mary was the sister of Richard's wife Patience. The witnesses were Thomas and Mary's two eldest children, Ralph and Mary.

This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Hudson of Bishopwearmouth in the County of Durham, Agent, made this twenty sixth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty seven.

First I charge my effects with the payment of all my just Debts Funeral Expences [sic] and the Charges of proving this my Will. 

I give and bequeath unto my dear Wife Mary Hudson all my Household Furniture Plate Pictures Linen China Wearing Apparel parts of Shares of Steam Boats and all my Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of whatever Nature or Description the same my be to hold the same unto my dear Wife Mary Hudson her Executors Administrators and Assigns forever.  I Hereby revoke all my former Wills, declare this to be my last Will and Testament and hereby appoint my said Wife Mary Hudson sole Executrix thereof.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above Written.

Thos Hudson

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses

Ralph Hudson

Mary Haddock.

On This Day ... 7 March

1801     Ann Coulson died in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was only 8 months old, and was the daughter of Thomas Coulson and Isabella Bulmer.

1827     Lancelot Haddock was born in Sunderland, Co Durham. He was the son of William Haddock and Mary Hudson .

1836     Gabriel Makepeace married Ann Ions in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, England.

Research plan for John Heighington

Objective:   Find birth/baptism record for John Heighington, father of Wilson Mossom, and thereby identify his parents.

Known facts:

1.            John Heighington was listed as the father of several children of Ellen Mossom, in the baptism records of St Cuthbert’s Church, Darlington, Co Durham:

a)            Eleanor Mossom, baptised 13 August 1826, daughter of John Heighington and Eleanor Mossom.

b)            John Heighington, baptised 20 September 1829, son of John and Eleanor Heighington.

c)            Wilson Mossom, baptised 10 June 1832, son of John Heighington and Eleanor Mossom, an unmarried woman.

d)            George Mossom, baptised 30 June 1837, illegitimate son of Eleanor Mossom, widow.

2.            The 1841 census shows John Heighington living in a household on Church Row, Darlington with “Ellen Heighington”, two of Ellen’s children from her marriage to Thomas Mossom, and the four children listed above, all listed with surname Heighington. John’s age was stated to be 50, which suggests a year of birth in the range 1786-1791 (ages on the 1841 census were rounded down to the nearest 5 years).

3.            In 1851, Ellen Mossom is head of her household in Church Row, with several of her children living with her. She has reverted to her original married name, and is listed as a widow. Her sons John and Wilson are now listed as Mossom rather than Heighington.

4.            There is a death registered, for a John Heighington of Church Row, but his age is listed as 83, and the cause of death is given as old age. This age is repeated on the burial record. This suggests a birth around 1765.

The death record contradicts the census– it seems unlikely that the same man could be described as 50 in 1841, then 83 in 1849.

Issues to resolve:

1.            Does the death certificate relate to the man shown on the census?

2.            If so, which age is closer to his actual age?

3.            Exactly when and where was he born?

Further questions:

1.            Why didn’t he marry Eleanor Mossom – she was free to marry, so was it that he was already married? If so, to whom.

Research strategy:

I need to answer the first question before I can do any further work, but I think the only way is to do a detailed study on any (John) Heighingtons I can find in census or parish records in the area. Heighington isn’t a common name, even in the Darlington area. For now, the search should be limited to people born in Co Durham, as the census stated that John was born in Co Durham – it correctly stated that Ellen and her first daughter weren’t, so it should be safe to assume, as a starting point at least, that John was born in Durham.

I’ve already done some preliminary work on this, using indexes at Durham Record Office, so I need to pull together my notes on this, and map the areas which have been investigated. Once I've done this I can determine some more exact steps to take - does anyone have any ideas for other places I could look?

On This Day ... 6 March

1802     Mary Ann Jackson was born in Wolsingham, Co Durham, England.  She was the daughter of John Wren Jackson and Margaret Emerson.

1804     Ralph Coulson was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham. He was the daughter of Thomas Coulson and Isabella Bulmer.

1898     Margaret Jane Powell was born in Saint Harmon, Radnorshire, Wales. She was the daughter of Thomas Pryce Powell and Sarah Ann Meredith.

On This Day ... 5 March

1833       John Pugh was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. He was the son of John Pugh and Charlotte Harrison and the brother of Christopher Thomas Pugh.

1895       Gladys Hughes was born in St Harmon, Radnorshire, Wales. She was the youngest daughter of Morgan Hughes and Jane Eliza Powell.

1938       Ralph Milbank Hudson died aged 73 in Yarm, North Yorkshire, England. He was the Member of  Parliament for Sunderland from 1918 to 1922.

Ellen Wilson 1794-1874

Ellen Wilson was born in Richmond, North Yorkshire, England in 1794, the daughter of labourer Matthew Wilson and his wife Jane Richardson. She was baptised Eleanor Wilson in St Mary's Church, Richmond on 25 May 1795.

On 25 November 1816 she married Thomas Mossom at St Mary's Church. At the time of his marriage, Thomas was living in Patrick Brompton parish, but by the birth of their first child, William, the couple were living in the parish of Easby. The second, Thomas, was born in Middleton Tyas, and by the time Mary Jane was born in 1824 the couple had moved into Co Durham and were living in Darlington.

Thomas Mossom senior died in April of 1824 and was buried at St Cuthbert's Church, Darlington.

Within a couple of years of Thomas' death, Ellen had formed a relationship with John Heighington. The couple didn't marry (I assume he was already married, and divorce was virtually impossible at this time in England) but they had several children together and lived together at Church Row in Darlington (opposite St Cuthbert's Church).

The 1841 census shows the family living at Church Row, with Ellen and the younger children using the surname Heighington, while her two older surviving children use Mossom. The girls (in their late teens) are working as wool spinners, while the younger boys are also working in the wool industry (I can't read/figure out the abbreviation).

John Heighington isn't present on the 1851 census. Ellen is the head of the household, still living on Church Row. The remaining children are all using the name Mossom now. It's not clear if John died or left - there is a death registered for a John Heighington of Church Row, but the age on the death certificate and burial record doesn't tie in with the census by about 30 years.

During the 1850s several of Ellen's children moved to the nearby boom-town of Hartlepool. Ellen also moved there and appears to have spent the rest of her life living with her daughter Mary Jane, who had married William Ashcroft.

Ellen died on 5 October 1874 in Hartlepool, and was buried in the town's Spion Kop Cemetery.

Ellen's children from her marriage to Thomas Mossom:
William Mossom 1819-1846
Thomas Mossom 1822-??
Mary Jane Mossom 1824-??

Ellen's children from her relationship with John Heighington:
Eleanor Mossom 1826-1876
John Heighington Mossom 1829-1866
Wilson Mossom 1832-1896
George Mossom 1837-??

On This Day ... 4 March

1782       Benjamin Bowater married Phebe Bennett in Dudley, Worcestershire, England.

1798       John Leeming married Mary Huntridge at St Hilda’s Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.

1853       Morgan Hughes was born at the Severn Arms (also known as Upper Dolelfe), St Harmon, Radnorshire, Wales.

1857       Alexander Lamb died at Eckford, Roxburgh, Scotland. He was just 41 years old. Alexander was the father of John Lamb.

On This Day ... 3 March

1788       Mary Horsley was born in Hartlepool, the daughter of Richard Horsley and Elizabeth Reevely. She married Mills Robson.

1801       Samuel Kerss was born in Gateshead, Co Durham. He was the son of Alexander Kerss and Catherine Errington.

1816       Robert Hunter married Mary Hood at St Hilda’s Church, Hartlepool. Mary died only a month later.

1825       Isabella Wallace was born in Sunderland, Co Durham. She was the daughter of Dent Wallace and Margaret Hudson.

1844       Henry Weatherall married Jane Hood at St Hilda’s Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.

Wordless Wednesday - Shek O Beach, Hong Kong, 1936

On This Day ... 2 March

1801       Ann Coulson was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of Robert Coulson and Barbara Smelt.

1883       Margaret Powell nee Jones died in St Harmon, Radnorshire, Wales. She was the wife of David Powell.

1887       William Meek married Mary Alice White in Pickering, Ontario, Canada.

1898       James Moyes married Mary Haddock Dalrymple in Sunderland, Co Durham, England.

Review of February goals - and some goals for March

There's no point in setting goals if you don't see how you did, and at least hold yourself responsible, so here goes:

Review of February

My original February goals are set out here.

Blog postings: I aimed for 12, apart from the "on this day" posts and got there - 45 in total for February so 17 written. I also added a blog page as intended, listing the ahnentafel for my grandfather Bill Hudson.

Research: I aimed for 2 full-fledged research plans. These were both written, but only one was published. The other one succeeded so quickly that I didn't get to blog it, and instead blogged the results. I also aimed for 1 research trip, and managed 2 - I had a long weekend off work and made it to Northumberland Archives and Durham Record Office.

Indexing: I aimed to index 300 names on Family Search. Thanks to Super Indexing Sunday, I made a total of 479.

Organisation: I stopped counting the files I renamed, but I think overall I met my target. I also had a partial change of heart about the source citations - there have been a few blog postings discussing source citations, and on reflection I think that my citations aren't that bad - they may not be perfect but they do the job. So I don't think I hit this target, but I've still tidied up a few. I did scan a lot of photographs, helped by the discovery that my new scanner can scan several images at once!

Overall, I made some progress in February, and it feels like I haven't done that for some time.

Goals for March

More of the same I think...

Research plans 

• write at least 2 research plans, one on John Heighington
• follow up on the Frances Hunter research plan

Blog

• write at least 12 blog postings, aside from "On This Day" posts
• add blog page for Margaret Lamb's ancestors

Indexing

• index 350 names

Organisation

• focus on tagging files with ID numbers - try to get through 500 this month
• continue scanning my grandmother's photographs.

On This Day ... 1 March

1714       William Mason married Jane Timons at St Thomas’ Church, Dudley, Worcestershire, England.

1785       James Horsley married Jane Hood at St Hilda’s Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.

1835       Robert Hull was born in Sunderland, the son of Robert Hull and Jane Hudson.

1883       Jane Hudson Burlinson, nee Rackley died in Sunderland, Co Durham.

1908       Ralph Milbank Hudson died in Sunderland at 94 years old.