Does anyone who has access to Gateshead records know of an Elkin family in the area in the early 1900s? I am interested in a Phyllis Elkin who was born around 1915. I wonder if she came from that area or moved there and married there in the 1930s. Alex

Hello All Would somebody while checking the above Parish Registers please look for any children that have either been baptised or died to Parents John Robson & Eleanor Urwin 1836-40, as I live in Liverpool I dont have ready Access to the Parish records. Hope someone can help. Many Thanks Allan Robson

Hello List Can anyone help with this query, I am looking for the names of Boxing clubs in Darlington, the Whesso Road and Ricecarr area, around the time of the 1940s. Father-in-law James Raymond Allan (known as Jimmy) was an active club member. winning several trophies. trying to find copies of old photographs. Thank you Richard

Hello All Would somebody while checking the above Parish Registers please look for any children that have either been baptised or died to Parents John Robson & Eleanor Urwin 1836-40, as I live in Liverpool I dont have ready Access to the Parish records. Hope someone can help. Many Thanks Allan Robson

Hi I am trying to work out information on the 1871 census for a WILKINSON WESTGARTH D.O.B. ABT 1834 born in STANHOPE Married to a HANNAH D.O.B. ABT 1837 On the census it says that a JANE D.O.B. ABT 1814 is also his wife and it says that a ANNIE D.O.B. ABT 1850 is his daughter by my records WILKINSON did not get married till 1856 so I do not think it is his daughter but I cannot see her being JANE'S daughter either. WILKINSON'S parents were JOHN WESTGARTH & MARY WILKINSON Can help me solve this problem.Thank you for any help you give me. Jan

Hi I am trying to find the 1871 census for a JOHN WESTGARTH D.O.B. ABT 1829 born in STANHOPE Married to a DOROTHY D.O.B. ABT 1829 Children JOHN THOMAS 1856 MARY JANE 1857 ANNIE 1863 ELLEN 1863 Have found the 1861-1881-1891-and the 1901 have tried every way but I cannot find them any help much appreciated. Jan

Archive CD Books are closing down about 30th September. Everything is half price. . ! http://www.rod-neep.co.uk/acatalog/sitemap.html Rod Neep is retiring and I wish him all the best for the future. Linda

In a message dated 21/09/2007 12:50:59 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Hi Geoff, I don't understand his objection to you referring to Hexamshire as a Peculiar. Stan: I once did hear it referred to as "a most peculiar Peculiar"! Incidentally the academic concerned was female, not male. Just to further muddy the waters, you may well be familiar with the pleasant, but fiercely strong, ale "Old Peculiar". As you may know, it is brewed at Theakstone's brewery in Masham in North Yorkshire. The design on the pumps, bottles etc, is based on that of "The Seal of the Official of Masham", he being the person in charge of that Peculiar. Geoff

In a message dated 21/09/2007 10:04:51 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: I was once taken very much to task by a local academic historian for referring to Hexhamshire as a "Peculiar". ____________________________________________________________________________ Hi Geoff, I don't understand his objection to you referring to Hexamshire as a Peculiar. The Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the parishes of Hexham, Allendale and St. John Lee was the Peculiar Court of the Archbishop of York in Hexhamshire in the diocese of Durham 1588-1849. A "Peculiar" was a church, or parish (or group of parishes) which was exempt from the jurisdiction of the bishop in whose diocese it is situated, and the Court of Peculiars exercised jurisdiction peculiar to themselves. The judicial role was exercised either by the Crown, another diocesan bishop, a prebend, Chapters of a cathedral or collegiate, individual Chapter members, the incumbent of a parish, a corporate body such as a university, or the lord of a manor. Hexhamshire was united 'quod civilia' to the county of Northumberland by the Act 14, Elizabeth, cap. 13. >From "A practical treatise of the laws relating to the clergy" 1848; "Exempt jurisdictions are so called, not because they are under no ordinary, but because they are not under the ordinary of the diocese, but have one of their own. These are therefore called peculiars, and there are several sorts." The term 'testamentary peculiar' refers to probate jurisdiction when exercised by a peculiar. Stan

In a message dated 20/09/2007 19:08:35 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: The manuscript calendars are available on microfilm at the NDFHS Library at Bolbec Hall, Newcastle. The Calendars available in Bolbec Hall are the National Probate Calendars, covering 1858 to recently, and are listings of each Will proved with "official" details such as the name, address and date of death of the testator, the regional Probate Court that handled it, the value of the estate and the names of the executors. They do not give details of "who got what". Origins Network has indexed all the records of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of York in Hexham and Hexhamshire 1593-1602, and the Peculiar of the Prebend of Tockerington 1741-1744 in it's York Peculiars Probate Index That should be "Thockrington", a small parish in Northumberland, and not Tockerington, as you have put. The status of Thockrington has never been adequately explained, but it has been regarded as a Peculair for centuries now, whatever the official position should have been. Fortunately it is a tiny parish, with very few Wills relating to property there. I was once taken very much to task by a local academic historian for referring to Hexhamshire as a "Peculiar". Officially it is not: it is a "Special Jurisdiction" of the Archbishop of York. Don't ask me what the difference is between a Peculiar and a Special Jurisdiction! I would guess that it probably has something to do with the Archbishop being at the top of the tree anyway: Peculiars usually come under some person one would not normally expect to have been concerned with administering them - an Archdeacon, not necessarily the local one, for instance, or some other church official. In the case of Hexham, one would have expected it to have come under the Bishop of Durham and, failing him (ie during interregna), the Archbishop of York, so making it the Archbishop anyway is not all that "peculiar" and a different name had to be found. But that's just my guess! It is probably also worth mentioning that the term "Hexhamshire" has had two different meanings. In the context of the present topic, it is the whole of the parishes of Hexham, Allendale and St John Lee, with their various dependent Parochial Chapelries (ie the district given to the Archbishop during the days of Northumbrian independence by the Queen of King Edwin, its first Christian King). In modern parlance Hexhamshire (what Hexham people often refer to just as "the shire") is effectively that part of the old Hexham parish which lies outside the town, or township, of Hexham itself, in particular, Hexham High Quarter and Hexham Low Quarter, districts which for church purposes came under Whitley Chapel. Geoff Nicholson

In a message dated 20/09/2007 19:46:00 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: what is odd is the there was a marriage in 1819 of John Robson and Jane Clavert, but would they have had a child 19 years later and called him John somehow I doubt it . Yes, I realise you will expect that it would have been one of their first children who would have been named after the father. However, perhaps that is what happened - but then he died, possibly when in his teens, and the next boy to be born was regarded as a "replacement" for the first one. Nineteen years is not too long for the span of a family. Geoff Nicholson

Him Janet, The Palatine and Consistory Court of Durham covered almost all of these two counties, and a database and images of the calendars together covering 1540-1858 is available online, but only within the University of Durham. The North East Inheritance project is underway to re-index and scan all wills and make them available to download. The manuscript calendars are available on microfilm at the NDFHS Library at Bolbec Hall, Newcastle. Origins Network has indexed all the records of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of York in Hexham and Hexhamshire 1593-1602, and the Peculiar of the Prebend of Tockerington 1741-1744 in it's York Peculiars Probate Index 1383-1883. These were the only peculiars in Northumberland, and there were none in Durham. http://www.dur.ac.uk/a.r.millard/genealogy/probate.php See also http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=168 Stan

In a message dated 20/09/2007 17:18:32 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Can someone provide me with what website can tell me about where to obtain wills for genealogical research. Researching Cain in County Durham, England, Janet Janet: There are very few dates that a family historian must remember - "1837" covers just about all of them. However, another very important one is 1858, the year when the Probate system changed all over England. The old system was based on what had gown up since mediaeval days and was essentially one of proving Wills in Church Courts, though the precise details varied a lot in different places. After 1858 the modern system of district Probate Courts, having no connection with any church courts, was set up. You therefore must be asked - are you thinking about a period before or after 1858? Geoff Nicholson

In a message dated 20/09/2007 10:48:00 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: I cant find any sign of this family on the 1841/51 Census, Allan: Did you look under Robeson and Robison as well as Robson? You could also have kept an eye open for any suitable entry under Robinson or Robertson. What means did you use to search the census? The only way to be sure you have covered everyone properly is to search the (microfilms of the) enumerators' notebooks yourself. Commercial transcripts have usually been made by people with no local knowledge and little experience of transcribing difficult handwriting, and even FHS transcripts usually contain some errors, so there is NO substitute for looking for yourself. Did your census searches encompass the whole of the three parishes which effectively make up "Sunderland" - Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland and Monkwearmouth? Movement "within the town" was quite common. Movement to some place outside the town is also possible, though the world, literally, is your oyster there. Geoff Nicholson

Hi Listers! Can someone provide me with what website can tell me about where to obtain wills for genealogical research. Researching Cain in County Durham, England, Janet

Hello All I wonder if someone can help with the following. My Gt GT, Grandfather was Douglas Robson born Dec 1860 in Sunderland, his parents John Robson and Eleanor Ann Hall who were married in Jan 1860 in Sunderland, I am trying to trace the Robson side of the family further back and have a problem. I checked the 1861 Census and found the family living in Sussex St, Sunderland as follows 20 Sussex St John Robson aged 23 Seaman Merchant Service born Bishopwearmouth Eleanor wife aged 26 born Sunderland Douglas aged 4 Months born Sunderland. I then checked the marriage cert for John & Eleanor 15 Jan 1860 John Robson aged 22 his father was John Robson a Joiner. I then looked for John's Birth in 1838 ish and found only one birth Registered, John Robson born 15th April 1838 parents John Robson, A Bottlemaker, & Jane Robson (nee Calvert) they were living in Johnson St Sunderland. I cant find any sign of this family on the 1841/51 Census, I did find a Marriage of a John Robson and Jane Calvert in Sunderland in 1819. Maybe someone can help. Regards Allan Robson

Hi Janet I just had to reply to you.......you brought a smile to my face. My father ( long since gone) was meticulous about writing on names, dates and even tidbits on the backs on his photos. Many taken from 1900 to 1940 while farming on the prairies of Alberta. Priceless photos My Mother was also meticulous about glueing the photos into the albums (those little tri corners weren'tt good enough and the photos kept coming loose) So Father wrote on the back and Mother glued them into the albums ......those Albums with the black felt type paper. The last few weeks I have been scanning these pictures into my computer, but really needed the information off the back. So in order to get this information, I have had to very carefully remove the pictures and of course the black backing stuck like glue, then I put the pictures, one at a time, into the top of my double boiler (picture up) and steamed them until the glue softens and then I can slide off the black paper and read whats on the back. Many thanks to Dad for taking the time to write on the pictures, and many thanks to Mom for glueing in the pictures, if not, I'm sure that over time we would have had albums with lots of little tri corners and no pictures. Where there's a will, there's a way! Vicki Victoria, B.C.

In a message dated 19/09/2007 18:00:07 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Can any listers recommend the best way to label photos for posterity? Janet Hopkins, Janet: The family to whom the photos you mention belonged were very lucky indeed! The better Family History Societies - ie those that operate a Library, as does the NDFHS, often accept pedigrees etc from members, on the basis that after the "family genealogist" dies and all his or her papers are consigned to a bonfire (as happens all too often) anything deposited with the FHS will still survive. Perhaps you should ask whether they would be willing to accept a labelled and well written-up "family photo archive" as well. Alternatively why not scan them all into your computer then print them out onto a CD or a set of CDs, of which copies could be deposited with the FHS, and with other relatives/interested people/interested bodies - indeed with anyone willing to take them. CDs are much less bulky than a box of photos and so would be that much more acceptable. In this, as in so many other ways, regional FHSs can be of enormous help to their members. I strongly recommend everyone with any interest in their family history to become a member of the FHS that covers the district where the family originated. In particular, the NE of England is very well served by the Northumberland and Durham Family History Society (NDFHS). It was founded in 1975 and currently has a world-wide membership of over 4,000 keen family historians, all researching families from the north-east of England. Since its foundation some 16,000 people have been members at one time or another. That represents a tremendous amount of knowledge! See _www.ndfhs.org.uk_ (http://www.ndfhs.org.uk) or e-mail me personally for more details. The Cleveland, North Yorkshire and South Durham Family History Society also covers the extreme southern part of Co Durham, but unlike the NDFHS it does not have permanent premises, nor does it operate a reference library. Geoff Nicholson

Can any listers recommend the best way to label photos for posterity? Janet Hopkins, Canada Hi Janet, If you have a scrapbooking type craft shop near you buy an acid free photo pen (Zig is one of the brand names I can think of that is def. sold over there.) Acid free pens are safe to use on the back of photo's. I know of a couple of Uk websites if anyone over here wants an acid free pen, and I'm not associated with any of them, I just shop there lol. ________________________________________________________________________ Get a FREE AOL Email account with unlimited storage. Plus, share and store photos and experience exclusively recorded live music Sessions from your favourite artists. Find out more at http://info.aol.co.uk/joinnow/?ncid=548.

Hi Listers! I was in an antique shop last weekend, and there were packs of old family photos in there. I bought one, as the photograph had the person's name on it. I was able to identify the man on the internet, because he had a rare name. I put out a posting on the board for that surname, so I can return it to the family. Please make sure the people in your family photos are identified! If you are the genealogist in the family, your family may not know who the folks are after you are gone. I know we aren't supposed to write on the backs of photographs, but maybe a postit note on the back side of it. Can any listers recommend the best way to label photos for posterity? Janet Hopkins, Canada