Posted by Keith House
on 9/15/2008, 10:09 pm, in reply to "A West Auckland Family"
195.137.75.79
Elaine
I looked at your family a while ago because I thought there may be a connection with my wife's family but so far have not established a connection. Her mother was a Morley from West Auckland. I have traced her family back into 1700's. They originated in Newcastle/Chester le Street/Heworth. Christopher is much used first name in the Morley families. Quite often the surname is shown as Marley in IGI and some census returns or transcripts and I don't know which was the original but Morley was the name for more recent generation.
The marriage record for your Christopher and Hannah Alderson is shown as Morley in FreeBMD and in the Durham CC records. Have you seen a copy of the marriage certificate?
There is a Christopher Marley/Morley of correct age (15 years) in 1841 census living in Engine House, West Auckland, (near Spring Gardens?). He is in the household of Sopwith Marley/Morley aged about 75 and Ann Marley/Morley age 15. (Note in 1841 ages over 15 were rounded down to the nearest 5 years so someone shown as 15 could be between 15 and 19yeras old). This Sopwith is I believe my wife’s gggg grandfather born in Chester le Street in 1764, son of Christopher Morley b 1730 and Hannah Sopwith b1731. Unfortunately 1841 census gives no info on POB so can’t identify if this Christopher could be yours or his relationship to Sopwith although I think he, and Ann, are his grandchildren. One of Sopwith’s sons was also called Christopher b 1784 but I have not been able to trace him. He could have come down to West with his other siblings, who I do know lived and married in West. Christopher could easily have strayed to Coundon.
Another interesting bit of info is a baptism in Auckland St. Andrew 20/12/1823 which is recorded as Hannah Turnbull illegitimate daughter of Christopher Morley. I have a copy of this from the Bishops Transcript which I will email to you along with a copy of 1841 census. It also comes up in IGI but no mention of illegitimate bit. If you can find any more out on this you might find where the Turnbull come in and why your ancestors changed their name from Marley to Turnbull.
Unfortunately I can’t verify any links between your Christopher and my wife’s family but it’s quite a good possibility. I will keep trying and if I come up with anything I will let you know.
Keith
--Previous Message--
: Hi,
: I am researching my family history
: and many were from West Auckland. I
: wondered if anyone could help with
: two people I am having problems
: with.
: My gt gt Grandfather was Christopher
: Marley or Turnbull. He was born
: about 1823 ish apparently in
: Coundon. On 6 Nov 1849 he married
: Hannah Alderson at Auckland St.
: Helens and they lived around West
: Auckland and Etherley. In 1851 they
: were at Gaugers Arms, in 1881 in
: Spring Gardens Road and in 1891 in
: Etherly. He died in 1900. The
: problem is his name. Up to the 1891
: Census they were called Marley but
: in 1901 all changed their name to
: Turnbull!! I know his father was
: also called Christopher but I
: haven't been able to find him or his
: father before 1851. Does anyone have
: any ideas or does this sound
: familiar??
: My Grandfather was John Thomas Bruce
: and he had a brother called Alfred
: Joseph Bruce who I had never heard
: of. Alfred was born in West Auckland
: in 1889 in Johnson Terrace. I know
: that he was still in Johnson Terrace
: in 1919 when he registered his
: mother's death - but then I can find
: no further trace of him. Can anyone
: help solve this mystery??
: Thanks for any help and also thanks
: to those who gave me information re.
: Gaugers Arms - it was very useful.
: Elaine
:
Message Thread:
« Back to thread
