Hello All, Happy New Year to all, and a chance to post my North East interests and ask a question; My wife's family is Aitchison, & her gt-gt-grandfather was John Aitchison, born Belford 1819. He married Eleanor Hamilton, and they had children (from census); Thomas 1842 John 1847 James 1849 George 1851 Eleanor 1853 Margaret Ann 1855 William 1857 *gt-grandfather Mary Isabella 1860 Frederick 1862 My problem is I can't find a marriage for John & Eleanor. There appears to be no BMD reference from 1837 to 1849, and the Joiner Marriage Index only reports one Aitchison in Northumberland between 1830-1840, and that for a William in 1837 in Hartburn. So; firstly if there are descendants of John & Eleanor on the list I would love to hear from you, and secondly can anyone identify this marriage? Grateful for any assistance. Thankyou all. Other interests; Robert Luke, b Tanfield 1806 m Jane Smith at Tanfield 13 May 1837 Jane Charlton, b Tanfield 1843 m George Luke at Lanchester 1866 Elizabeth McGregor b Burnopfield 1880 m George Luke 1896 If you've made it this far thanks for your indulgence. Paul Hardy Wakefield, Yorks UK
> My wife's family is Aitchison, & her gt-gt-grandfather was John Aitchison, > born Belford 1819. He married Eleanor Hamilton< Hi Paul, In that part of Northumberland I have come to expect irregular Border marriages, which were valid in law though the Church of Scotland the various non-conformist Ministers in Northumberland disapproved. Only a few records of these survive. You seem to have a great deal more luck than I, however, as volume II of Irregular Border Marriages published by the Northumberland County Archives Service and the Northumberland & Durham Family History Society has the following: "6 Feb 1841 (date of notice in newspaper) Lamberton Toll, 31st ult (date of marriage) Mr John Aitchison to Miss Ellen Hamilton, both of Belford". For more information about Border marriages see www.genuki.org.uk Vols I & II of Irregular Border Marriages can be obtained (and purchased on-line) from the Northumberland & Durham Family History Society http://www.ndfhs.org.uk Good luck, Ingrid, NZ