3 Oct 2026

We’ve managed to connect more than thirty DNA matches from New Mexico, Canada and other north american places to a couple from Northumberland which is suggestive of a link to my maternal grandmother’s roots (Halls, Peak, Carr etc)

The couple are:

• John Watson Bell, b. 28 May 1805 in West Whelpington, Northumberland; d. 1877 in Juab, Utah, USA
• Ann Fish, b. 21 Jan 1812 in Cambo, Northumberland; d. 1872 in Juab, Utah, USA The book, Conquerors of the West: Stalwart Mormon Pioneers, Vols. 1-2, states that they married in Oct 1834 in England but I haven’t found a record of that yet. Some online trees suggest they married in Elsdon and had their first daughter there in 1836. By 1842 they were in New York.

Tracing the lines back, tentatively, using other people’s trees we found the following possible links:

• John Watson Bell’s maternal grandmother might be Jane Hall of Black Heddon (1737-1800), parents Christopher Hall (1689-1740) and Ann Robson (1693-1737) (Robson is another possible name connection)
• Ann Fish’s maternal grandmother might be Dorothy Richardson of Morpeth (1747-1811), daughter of Edward Richardson (1727-1776) and Isabella Riddle (1724-1751)

We have Richardsons in the Morpeth area but I haven’t been able to trace them back past John Richardson who died in 1806 age 33 (fell into a quarry). He married Ann Learmouth in 1798 in Earsdon, not far from Morpeth. He would have been born around 1773. It’s possible that Dorothy Richardson might be his aunt.

I looked up some records on Durham Records Online and found a John Richardson’s baptism in 1774:

• Hartburn, Northumberland, 25 Jul 1774 John Richardson, of Rothley, son of George & Sarah Richardson - Record Number: 1369830.0

Rothley is a village in the parish of Hartburn which is a few miles west of Morpeth (whereas Earsdon is to the East). Hartburn is adjacent to Cambo where Ann Fish was supposedly baptised.

I found some other baptisms in Hartburn/Rothley, none of which were of George and Sarah:

• Hartburn, Northumberland, 27 Nov 1775 Mary Richardson, of Rothley, daughter of Thomas & Ann Richardson - Record Number: 1369876.0
• Hartburn, Northumberland, 26 Jun 1777 Thomas Richardson, of Rothley, son of Thomas & Jane Richardson - Record Number: 1369925.0
• Hartburn, Northumberland, 17 Apr 1779 Frances Richardson, of Rothley, daughter of Thomas & Jane Richardson- Record Number: 1370001.0

In Netherwitton I found what looks like George and Sarah’s marriage:

• Netherwitton, Northumberland, 3 May 1769 George Richardson (of the parish of Brinkburn) married Sarah Potter (of this chapelry), by banns. Witnesses: Nicholas Watson; John Crighton - Record Number: 719830.1

Netherwitton is just a couple of miles north of Hartburn

I also found the marriage of the Thomas and Anne seen earlier, also in Netherwitton:

• Netherwitton, Northumberland, 8 Jun 1774 Thomas Richardson (of the chapelry of Brinkburn) married Anne Hutchinson (of this chapelry), by banns Witnesses: James Hucheson; William Burn - Record Number: 719855.1

Brinkburn is about six miles north of Netherwitton and eight miles northwest of Morpeth.

I found the banns of another marriage which might be another member of the family:

• Hartburn, Northumberland, 26 Sep 1762 George Ions (of Rothley, this parish) & Isabel Richardson (of [the] parish of Rothbury), married at Rothbury 27 Sep 1762 - Record Number: 753096.16

Rothbury (not to be confused with Rothley!) is just a few miles west of Brinkburn.

Finally, I found what looks to be the burial of George’s wife Sarah, a year after their son John was baptised:

• Bothal, Northumberland, 5 May 1775 Sarah Richardson, of Longhirst - Record Number: 1786050.2

I think that the John baptised in 1774 could my my ancestor. George and Sarah would be his parents, and it’s possible Thomas is his uncle.

I couldn’t find any earlier records for these people. I was also unable to find any connection with Dorothy Richardson.

There is a fairly well sourced record for Dorothy on FamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/LCR9-FV8 and according to that she had siblings Michael (1741), James (1743), John (1744), Michael (1749-1753), Isabel (1750-1776) and Elizabeth (1752). The Isabel could not have been the Isabel who married George Ions since she would only have been 12 at the time.

There’s no obvious link even though it looks like these people are in the right area. More work is needed.

2 Sep 2026

I’ve been working on the history of our branch of the Tew family.

I found this rootsweb page on Shalstone Genealogy. It lists four people who are interested in the Tew family on the Surnames page.

It also lists names from the graveyard, along with a reference on a map held by the website author Heather Olson. I extracted some that could be of interest:

• Martha Fletcher 1864, map ref 165 - probably Martha Harrup
• Benjamin Fletcher 1850, ref 165 - probably Benjamin Fetters/Fletcher
• Benjamin Fletcher 1899, ref 168 - probably Benjamin Senior’s son
• Martha Fletcher 1882, ref 167 - Benjamin the younger’s wife
• William Fletcher 1900, ref 240 - Benjamin Senior’s son
• Elizabeth Fletcher 1882, ref 199 - possibly William’s wife Elizabeth Feasey
• Joseph Fletcher 1862, ref 163 - possibly Benjamin the younger’s son
• John Fletcher 1863, ref 164 - possibly Benjamin the younger’s son
• Ann Tew 1871, ref 143
• Anne Tew 1892, ref 141
• Ellen Tew, ref 237
• Frederick Tew 1935, ref 326
• George Tew 1852, ref 142
• Jemima Tew 1901, ref 122 - wife of John Tew (son of George Tew and Ann Keene)
• John Tew 1859, ref 138
• John Tew 1883, ref 121
• Mary Tew, ref 137
• Mary Ann Tew 1939, ref 242
• Mayo Tew 1929, ref 242
• Thomas Tew 1880, ref 136
• William Tew 1897, ref 238

13 Jul 2026

I received the death certificate for John Hall (1846–?) that I ordered last week¹.

Unfortunately it doesn’t seem like it fits my ancestor:

Death in the Registration District of Tynemouth, Sub-district of Whitley, Northumberland, 1909, no. 331. Died 21 Sep 1909 at Low Steads, Backworth; John Hall; Male; age 62; Deputy Overman. Cause of death: Senile Decay certified. Informant was Charles Hall (signed name); relation: Son; residing at Low Steads, Backworth; present at death. The death was registered 22 Sep 1909.

My John Hall didn’t have a son named Charles and the Backworth residence doesn’t seem familiar.

My ancestry contact “US” mentioned they might have seen my John Hall in the 1911 census in the Morpeth Union Workhouse.

I looked the record up and found a John Hall, age 64, inmate, widower, formerly a coalminer hewer, born Northumberland East Hollywell². This age puts him as being born c.1847 which fits with my ancestor who was born in 1846 in East Holywell.

So, now I need to find his death. There are a couple of candidates to try:

• John Hall, age 70, Q1 1916, Tynemouth, vol 10B, page 277
• John Hall, age 73, Q3 1920, Morpeth, vol 10B, page 401

Luckily the second one was available as an immediate digital image so I ordered it and I’m pretty sure it’s my ancestor:

Death in the Registration District of Morpeth, Northumberland, 1920, no. 17. Died 2 Sep 1920 at Railway Station, Morpeth Castle, Morpeth; John Hall; Male; age 73; of 33 Third Row, Ashington U.D. Coal Miner (Timber drawer). Cause of death: Probably arteio schlerosis and syncope. Informant was George W. Hall (signed name); relation: Son; residing at 33 Third Row, Ashington. The death was registered 11 Sep 1920.

The informant here was George W. Hall which is certainly his son George Wilson Hall. George and John are living at 33 Third Row which is where George was to be found in the 1911 census.

I’ve updated my records, Ancestry and FamilySearch to reflect this new information.

7 Jul 2026

I was recently contacted on Ancestry by a user “US” who queried the death I have recorded of my 2x great grandfather John Hall (1846–1902)

I noticed you have a death certificate for John Hall who died in 1902 as being that of the husband of Elizabeth Emma Carr and you gave information about an inquest. However, I thought that certificate applied to a different John Hall who was born around 1839. There is a gravestone in Ashington which records the death of that man, who also had a wife named Elizabeth, but contains the additional information “late of Rothbury”. There was a John Hall born in Rothbury about 1839 who was a coal miner and who made his way to the Ashington area and lived in the 6th Row. He appears on the 1901 census as a retired miner at that address while the other John Hall, who lived in the 4th Row, was recorded as an invalid miner.

The death certificate in question records the death of John Hall on 5 Apr 1902 age 63. He was a Stone Man.

The cause of death was Capillary Bronchitis subsequent on accidental injuries received in Ashington Colliery. The informant was Chas Percy, coroner for Northumberland. An inquest held 9th April 1902

The place of death is a little confusing. It appears to read 9-6th Row, Ashington U.D. but the leading 9 is possibly a run-on from the entry number 479.

One interpretation is that the entry number is 4799 and the place of death is 6th Row. An alternate reading is the entry number is 479 the place of death is number 9 on 6th Row.

The rows are a series of terraced streets built to house the miners of Ashington Colliery.

The question is whether this death certificate belongs to my ancestor John Hall or not.

There are a couple of problematic areas:

1. There is no connection to the rest of the family. Often the informant is a relative which makes it easier to match the document to the right person. In this case the coroner was the informant.
2. The age at death doesn’t correspond with the date of birth I have for John Hall, 11 Aug 1846 in East Holywell. The John on this death certificate would have been born around 1839, as pointed out by “US”

The inquest into John Hall’s death was reported by the Morpeth Herald on 12 Apr 1902:

The report gives details of the injury sustained by John Hall on the 15 Dec 1898 (although the final sentence changes this date to Dec 1902, which can’t be accurate since the article was published in Apr 1902). He died as a result of this injury three and a half years later.

Unfortunately the report gives almost no biographical details, except to mention a living brother who gave evidence.

Turning to the census of 1901, there is a John Hall living at 231 Fourth Row, Ashington¹. He is aged 54, born in Earsdon and under occupation is recorded “Invalid Coal Miner”. He is living with his wife Elizabeth E. Hall age 57, born in Horton and three children: George, Margaret and James W.

I’ve always ascribed this entry to John and his wife Elizabeth Emma Carr. The youngest child James W. is my great grandfather James William Hall.

The fact this census entry records him as being disabled supports the idea that he is the John Hall from the death certificate and inquest.

I looked up the other John Hall mentioned by “US”. It turns out there are three other John Halls living in Ashington in 1901 plus Joseph John Hall, the colliery manager mentioned in the inquest report earlier.

I found him living at number 9, 6th Row². He was aged 62, a retired coal miner/hewer, born in Lemmington, Northumberland.

He was living with his wife, Elizabeth, age 60, born in Rothbury, two grand children John Wm and Mary Lizzie, his married daughter Catherine Dixon and her husband Wm. Henry, his widowed daughter Elizabeth Sinclair and her two children and an unmarried daughter Isabella.

This John hall fits the death certificate. He is the right age and is living at the exact address recorded on the certificate. He is not recorded as an invalid on the census but he is retired.

So it looks like “US” was probably right, the death certificate I have is for a different John Hall. Now I need to find his death.

I checked Elizabeth Emma Carr’s death certificate. She died 22 Dec 1907 in Blyth (Tynemouth district). Crucially I note that her occupation is given as “wife of John Hall Coal Miner” which implies he is still alive. If he were dead then normally she would be described as widow of John Hall.

The informant was her son George Wilson Hall who had been living with her and John in the 1901 census. By 1911 George was back in Ashington, living at 33 Third Row with his wife, daughter and his father in law. There is no sign of his father John.

This is suggestive of John dying between 1907 and 1911.

I found one possibility:

• John Hall, age 62, Q3 1909, Tynemouth, vol 10B, page 153

I have ordered a copy of this. Sadly it’s not available as a digital image so I need to wait for a PDF copy.

If John was still alive in 1911, then this would also be a possibility:

• John Hall, age 70, Q1 1916, Tynemouth, vol 10B, page 277

In conclusion, it’s always important to keep an open mind and to look again at the evidence. It’s also important to not get precious or protective of “facts” that you know to be true. We all have mistakes in our research or have reached conclusions based on limited evidence. Thank you to “US” for bringing this discrepancy to my attention.

19 Apr 2026

I’m looking at DNA matches near James Jennings Smith and Elizabeth Cummings.

I managed to trace and connect 18 matches to James and Elizabeth, seven via their daughter Rebecca (married George Norvell) and the rest via their daughter Susannah (married Ralph Rodgerson).

I’m now taking a look higher up in the tree on the Cummings side. There are suggestions that Elizabeth’s parents were John Cummings and Margaret Carter.

In the 1851 census Elizabeth Cummings stated she had been born c.1811 in New Painshaw, which is a mining community in the parish of Penshaw, between Houghton le Spring and Washington.

Previously (25 Sep 2024) I found a baptism of an Elizabeth Cummings in 1811 in Penshaw but also found her burial in 1812. She was the daughter of Robert Cummings and Elizabeth Hunter. Robert, a pitman, also died in 1812 aged 32.

I have several DNA matches with a suggest through John Cummings and Margaret Carter. Two seem to via a daughter named Jane who married a Milburn.

I also have three matches who seem to descend from Margaret’s supposed parents John Carter and Margaret Robinson via a sister Jane Carter who married a James Reed, via sister Elizabeth who married George Oats and via a brother John.

I found the marriage of John Cummings and Margaret Carter in Penshaw:

John Cummings and Margaret Carter both of this Chapelry were married in this Chapel by Banns this 1st Day of May 1802.¹

I then read forward in the register to see if I could see any children:

Mary Ann Cummings, born 8 Nov, bap 8 Apr 1804, 1 dau of John Cummings Pitman na. of Houghton Par. by his wife Margaret Carter na. of this Chapelry²

then:

Elizabeth Cummings, born 24 Apr, bap 24 Aug 1806, 2 dau of John Cummings. Pitman, na. of Houghton Par. by his wife Margt. Carter na. of this Chapelry³

This could well, be my ancestor Elizabeth, though she is born five years earlier than I was expecting.

Margt. Cummings, born 25 Jul, bap 25 Sep 1808, 3 dau of John Cummings. Pitman, na. of Houghton Par. by his wife Margt. Carter na. of this Chapelry⁴

I checked baptisms and burials up to the end of 1814.

I then had another look for James Jennings Smith and Elizabeth Cummings marriage. Their first child was Susannah, baptised 1832 in Hetton le Hole, a chapelry created from Houghton le Spring in 1832. On the census she seems to have been born in about 1830.

I checked the Houghton le Spring marriages from 1827-1832 but there was no trace. I did the same for Penshaw from 1827-32 and for the neighbouring parish of Easington 1827-1832.

I gave up on that and returned to the Carters. I found a tree by Anthony Jennings⁵ that looked well sourced and set about looking up the baptisms of the Carter family in the Bishops Transcripts.

2 Aug 1778, marriage of John Carter of this chapelry and Margaret Robinson of the parish of Herring, by banns

7 Feb 1779, baptism of Cuthbert Robinson Carter, son of John and Margaret Carter of West Herrington Water Side

22 Sep 1779, burial of Cuthbert Robinson the son of John Carter of West Herrington Water Side

1 Oct 1780, baptism of Mary, dau of John and Margaret Carter of West Herrington Water Side

7 Jul 1782, baptism of Ann, dau of John and Margaret Carter of West Herrington Water Side

25 Jul 1784, baptism of Margaret, dau of John and Margaret Carter of West Herrington Water Side⁶

10 Sep 1786, baptism of Elizabeth, dau of John and Margaret Carter of West Herrington Water Side

9 Dec 1792, baptism of John, son of John and Margaret Carter of West Herrington Water Side

3 Nov 1793, burial of John the son of John Carter of West Herrington Water Side

30 Nov 1794, baptism of Robinson, son of John and Margaret Carter of Coxgreen

7 Jan 1798, baptism of John Carter 4th son of John Carter, Keelman, Coxgreen by his wife Margt Robinson, native of the Parish of Mornington, born 3 Nov 1797

9 Jan 1803, baptism of Jane Carter, 6th dau of John Carter, Keelman, na of this Chapelry by his wife Margaret Robinson, na. of Church Mounington Par

16 Apr 2026

Today I’m trying to connect some more DNA matches to George Carr and Jane Robson.

I already have three (“DECH”, “SUWI” and “JAHA) connect to George’s daughter Hannah Carr, b. 1773 at Dotland Park. She married John Anderson in 1804 in Hartburn.

I had a clue from another tree that they may have had a son, George, in 1805 (named after her father?).

I looked in the Bishops Transcripts for Durham Diocese and found it quickly¹.

George Anderson, 1st son of John Anderson of Close House, Slater, & Hannah his wife late Carr, native of Dotland Park, Parish of Hexham. Baptised 14 Apr 1805, born 5 Mar 1805

Close House is a farmhouse just south of the village of Cambo (nls map).

On the same page was their marriage, 10 May 1804,

But, as I was looking I noticed another baptism:

George Laws 1st son of Robert Laws of Low angerton, Labourer & Margaret his wife daughter of George Carr of Oxen Wood, Labourer. Baptised 8 May 1805, born 24 Apr 1805

And their marriage was on the page too:

Robert Laws of the Parish of Kirkhall & Margaret Carr were married by banns, 19 May 1804.

I wonder if Oxen Wood is local to Hartburn or has a connection to Oxen Rood, in Hexham where some Carrs were living in 1789.

Interestingly another two DNA matches (“LYBA” and “ROLA”) seemed to be connected via the Laws family. Possibly through a Margaret Carr, and her children Isabella Laws and George Laws. But it did not look plausible since the Margaret Laws (Carr) I found in the 1851 census was born in Ovingham. I’ll need to reconsider those connections.

I wonder if George Carr and Jane Robson moved the entire family to Hartburn? I’ll need to browse the register and look for traces.

I found this, not sure if they are related or not:

25 Dec 1806 Jane Carr, 1st dau of Thomas Carr of High Angerton, Labourer and Mary his wife, daughter of William Tonmouth, Shoemaker

I then found two entries that prove Hannah and Margaret are daughters of George:

Edwd Anderson 2nd son of John Anderson of Close House, Slater & Hannah his wife, daughter of Geo Carr of Dotland Park, farmer. Baptised 9 Aug 1807, born 8 Aug 1807

Jane Laws 1st daughter of Robert Laws of [—–]. Labourer & Margaret his wife, daughter of Geo Carr of Dotland Park, farmer. Baptised 5 Sep 1807, born 24 Aug 1807

Some more as I find them

• Burial of George Carr of North Middleton, son of Mary Carr, widow. Died 20 Apr 1808, buried 23 Apr 1808, age 11
• Burial of Margaret Carr of High Laws, widow of the late George Carr, died 1 Mar 1810, buried 3 Mar 1810, age 65
• Baptism of Margaret Laws, 2nd daughter of Robert Laws, Husbandman & Margaret his wife daughter of George Carr of Dotlin Park in the parish of Hexham. Baptised 31 Jan 1810, born 13 Jan 1810
• Baptism of John Anderson, 3rd son of John Anderson of Close House, Slater and Hannah his wife daughter of George Carr of Dotlin Park in the parish of Hexham. Baptised 31 Jan 1810, born 24 Jan 1810
• Baptism of Sarah Charlton, daughter of Robert Charlton of Meldon North Farm, mole-catcher & Margaret his second wife daughter of [blank] Carr of Milburn Parish of Ponteland. Baptised 10 Jun 1810, born 20 Jan 1810
• Baptism of Edward Carr of Milburn, Parish of Ponteland, son of the late Geo Carr late of Highlaws, Died 12 Oct 1810, buried 15 Oct 1810, age 22

In 1811 the register switches to the less informative but standard form, losing all the extra information about descent.

• Marriage of George Carr of the Parish of Corbridge and Isabella Green of this Parish, by Licence, 18 May 1803
• Marriage of Ralph Carr and Elizabeth Potts, by banns. 15 Feb 1802

15 Apr 2026

I’ve identified many of the places mentioned in the Hexham and Whitley parish registers, and in the various wills

Hexhamshire Low Quarter

• Dotland, hamlet (54.931453,-2.123674) (nls map)
• Dotland Park, farmhouse (54.936373,-2.108941) (nls map)
• Shield Green, farmhouse (54.943108, -2.119515) (nls map)
• Oxenrods, house (54.943185,-2.129640) (nls map)
• Fell House (maybe Dotland Fell), farmhouse (54.935600,-2.150636) (nls map) (actually Dotland Fell-house was absorbed into Dotland by c.1890)

Hexhamshire Middle Quarter

• Whitley Chapel, church (54.914182,-2.113844) (nls map)
• Ordley, hamlet (54.928991,-2.082972) (nls map)
• Finechambers, house (54.924095,-2.091269) (nls map)
• Finechambers mill, mill (54.923200,-2.090137) (nls map)
• Blackhall, farmhouse (54.923011,-2.103302) (nls map)
• Peth Head (54.923228,-2.098708) (nls map)
• Salmon Field, farmhouse (54.904388,-2.136087) (nls map)
• Woodside (not found)
• Dalton, hamlet (54.917683,-2.128991) (nls map)

Hexhamshire, High Quarter

• High Park House, farmhouse, (54.876448,-2.129530) (nls map)
• Broadwell House, farmhouse (54.876862,-2.139199) (nls map)
• Peacock House, farmhouse (54.889938,-2.124878) (nls map)
• Long Lee, farmhouse, (54.862969,-2.127852) (nls map)
• Hill House, farmhouse, (54.865925,-2.127307) (nls map)
• Stobbylee (Stobbilee), (54.862695,-2.138829) farmhouse (nls map)
• New House, farmhouse (54.867586,-2.127390) (nls map)
• Hackford, farmhouse (54.883235,-2.113291) (nls map)
• Greenways, farmhouse (54.879271,-2.126411) (nls map)

Shotley (adjacent parish)

• Embley, farmhouse (54.885937,-2.112018) (nls map)

Slaley (adjacent parish)

• Strothers, farmhouse (54.908818,-2.041599) (nls map)

Blanchland (adjacent parish)

• Birkside, farmhouse (54.851032,-2.081243) (nls map)

13 Apr 2026

I’m going to try and reconstruct the Carr families of Dotland Park, Dotland and the surrounding area based on the evidence I have been gathering over the past week and last year.

George Carr (of Dotland Park)

• died 1769
• buried 9 Aug 1769, of Dotland Park (parish register)
• farmer 1769 (will)
• will proved 13 Sep 1769 (will)

wife Mary (will)

daughter Elizabeth (will)

• husband Thomas Hinsonn of Cowgate, Newcastle (father’s will)

daughter Sarah

• baptised 8 Mar 1740 (parish register)
• husband Ord (will)
• of Dalton (will)

daughter Mary

• husband John Forster or Hartington Hale (father’s will)

son George -> George Carr (of Dotland Park)

son John -> John Carr (of Dotland Park)

John Carr (of Dotland Park)

Son of George Carr (-1769) of Dotland Park

• born c.1744 (inscription and parish register burial)
• died 9 Jul 1831 age 87 (inscription)
• buried 12 Jul 1831, of Dotland Park (parish register)
• will proved 2 Sep 1831 (will)

wife Thomasine

• born c.1757 (inscription)
• died 15 Jan 1793 age 36 or 37 (inscription)
• buried 18 Jun 1793, of Dotland Park (parish register)

son George

• buried 26 Jan 1783, of Dotland Park (parish register)

son George

• born c.1784 (inscription)
• baptised 7 Mar 1784, of Dotland Park (parish register)
• died 20 Jun 1868, aged 84 (inscription)
• executor 1831, from farm at Dotland Park (father’s will)
• residence Dotland Park 1841 (census)

son John

• born c.1786 (inscription) or 1784 (death registration)
• baptised 16 Jul 1786, of Dotland Park (parish register)
• died 20 Oct 1844, age 58 (inscription), age 60 (death registration)
• executor 1831, from farm at Dotland Park (father’s will)
• residence Dotland Park 1841 (census)

daughter Mary

• born 1787-1791 (1841 census)
• baptised 1 Feb 1789, of Dotland Park (parish register)
• husband Dixon (father’s will)
• residence Dotland Park 1841 (census)
• daughter Jane b. 1816-1820 (1841 census)

daughter Thomasina

• baptised 25 Dec 1791, Dotland Park (parish register)
• husband Samuel Johnson (father’s will)
  • married 20 Apr 1818, Hexham (inscription)
  • died before 1841? (1841 census)
• died before 1841? (1841 census)
• daughter Thomasin b. 1821-1825 (1841 census)
• son John b. 1821-1825 (1841 census)

son Thomas

• baptised 7 Apr 1793, of Dotland Park (parish register)
• buried 3 Nov 1794, of Dotland Park (parish register)

George Carr (of Dotland Park)

Son of George Carr (-1769) of Dotland Park

daughter Mary

• baptised 2 Apr 1773, of Dotland Park (parish register)

daughter Jane

• baptised 4 Sep 1774, of Dotland Park (parish register)

daughter Deborah

• baptised 20 Apr 1778, of Dotland Park (parish register)
• buried 20 Mar 1791, of Dotland Park (parish register)

daughter Margaret

• baptised 24 Sep 1780, of Dotland Park (parish register)

daughter Hannah

• baptised 21 Apr 1783, of Dotland Park (parish register)

daughter Sarah

• baptised 12 Feb 1786, of Dotland Park (parish register)

son George

• baptised 10 May 1789, of Dotland Park (parish register)

son John

• baptised 26 Aug 1792, of Dotland Park (parish register)

John Carr (of Dotland)

• born c.1732 (inscription)
• died 2 Jan 1789, age 57 (inscription)
• buried 27 Jan 1789, of Dotland (parish register)

wife Mary

• born c.1732 (inscription)
• died 25 Jan 1809, age 77 (inscription)

son Thomas -> Thomas Carr of Dotland

• baptised 13 Jul 1759, of Dotland (parish register)

son George

• baptised 1 Jan 1762, of Dotland (parish register)
• buried 8 Mar 1763, of Dotland (parish register)

daughter Margaret

• baptised 15 Jul 1764, of Dotland (parish register)

son Joseph

• baptised 23 Jul 1767, of Dotland (parish register)
• buried 26 Dec 1770, of Dotland (parish register)

son George -> George Carr of Dotland

• baptised 3 Sep 1769, of Dotland (parish register)

son Joseph

• buried 26 Dec 1770, of Dotland (parish register)

daughter Hannah

• baptised 28 Jun 1772, of Dotland (parish register)

daughter Elizabeth

• baptised 9 Apr 1775, of Dotland (parish register)

Thomas Carr (of Dotland)

Son of John Carr of Dotland

• buried Whitley Chapel (inscription)
• farmer 1813 (parish register)

wife Ann

• surname: Rollen (parish register)
• surname Rowland (parish register)
• buried Whitley Chapel (inscription)
• residence Dotland 1841 (1841 census)
• born c.1767-1771 (1841 census)
• farmer 1841 (census)

son John

• baptised 5 Jul 1795, of Dotland (parish register)
• residence Dotland 1841 (1841 census)
• farmer 1841 (census)

son Thomas

• baptised 12 Nov 1797, of Dotland (parish register)
• residence Dotland 1841 (1841 census)
• farmer 1841 (census)

son George

• born c.1800 (inscription)
• baptised 6 Apr 1800, of Dotland (parish register)
• died 26 May 1805, age 5 (inscription)
• buried 26 May 1805, of Dotland (parish register)

daughter Mary

• baptised 19 Aug 1804, of Dotland (parish register)
• residence Dotland 1841 (census)

daughter Hannah

• born c.1804 (inscription)
• died 15 Jun 1806, age 2 (inscription)
• buried 20 Jun 1806, of Dotland (parish register)

daughter Hannah

• born c.1808 (inscription)
• baptised 5 Nov 1808, [–ford] (parish register)
• died 8 May 1829, age 21 (inscription)
• buried 11 May 1829, of Dotland (parish register)

son Joseph

• baptised 16 May 1813, of Dotland (parish register)
• residence Dotland 1841 (1841 census)
• farmer 1841 (census)

son George

• baptised 31 Oct 1819, of Dotland (parish register)
• residence Dotland 1841 (1841 census)
• farmer 1841 (census)

George Carr (of Dotland)

Son of John Carr of Dotland

daughter Mary

• baptised 9 Jan 1803, of Dotland (parish register)

daughter Hannah

• baptised 20 Oct 1805, of Dotland (parish register)

daughter Elizabeth

• baptised 6 Nov 1808, of Dotland (parish register)

George Carr (of Peacock House)

• buried 22 Jan 1776, of Peacock House

son Henry -> Henry of Hill House

• baptised 1 Jan 1766, of Peacock House (parish register)

daughter Hannah

• baptised 4 Aug 1768, of Peacock House (parish register)

daughter Elizabeth

• baptised 21 Apr 1771, of Peacock House (parish register)

daughter Jane

• baptised 4 Sep 1774, of Peacock House (parish register)

Henry Carr (of Hill House)

Son of George Carr of Peacock House

• born c.1762-1766 (1841 census)
• baptised 1 Jan 1766, of Peacock House (parish register)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)
• labourer 1841 (census)

son George Carr

• baptised 9 Jan 1790, of Hill House (parish register)

daughter Mary Carr

• baptised 9 May 1792, of Hill House (parish register)

son Henry Carr

• baptised 4 Jan 1795, of Hill House (parish register)

son John Carr -> John Carr of High Park House

• baptised 25 Dec 1798, of Hill House (parish register)

John Carr (of High Park House)

Son of Henry Carr of Hill House

• born c.1797-1801 (1841 census)
• baptised 25 Dec 1798, of Hill House (parish register)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)
• labourer 1841 (census)

wife Elizabeth

• surname Dargue? (son John’s birth reg)
• born c.1802-1806 (1841 census)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)

son Henry

• born c.1832 (1841 census)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)

son Joseph

• born c.1833 (1841 census)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)

son George

• born c.1834 (1841 census)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)

daughter Hannah

• born c.1835 (1841 census)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)

daughter Mary

• born c.1837 (1841 census)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)

son John

• born c.1840 (1841 census)
• born 1839 Stotsford (birth reg.)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)

George Carr (of Fine Chambers)

(Fine Chambers is a house near Finechambers Mill)

This is possibly the George who married Elizabeth Liddell on 22 May 1779 at Whitley Chapel.

daughter Elisabeth

• baptised 16 Jul 1780, of Fine Chambers (parish register)

son George

• baptised 25 Aug 1782, of Fine Chambers (parish register)

daughter Jane

• baptised 14 Aug 1785, of Fine Chambers (parish register)

John Carr (of Peth Head House)

• born c.1792-1796 (1841 census)
• residence Peth Head Cottage 1841 (census)
• ore smelter 1841 (census)

wife Mary

• born c.1797-1801 (1841 census)
• residence Peth Head Cottage 1841 (census)

daughter Mary

• born c.1822-1826 (1841 census)
• residence Peth Head Cottage 1841 (census)

Jane Carr (of Greenways?)

• born c.1767-1771 (1841 census)
• residence Greenways? 1841 (census)
• independent 1841 (census)

Mary Carr (of Greenways?)

• born c.1782-1786 (1841 census)
• residence Greenways?n 1841 (census)
• independent 1841 (census)

John Carr (of Greenways?)

• born c.1787-1791 (1841 census)
• residence Greenways? 1841 (census)
• ag lab 1841 (census)

Jesse? Carr (of Greenways?)

• born c.1812-1816 (1841 census)
• residence Greenways? 1841 (census)
• ag lab 1841 (census)

12 Apr 2026

I just discovered today that Ancestry have added copies of Yorkshire Bishops Transcripts and these include images of the Whitley Chapel transcripts from 1765-1842!¹ Usefully these also show the abode of the people mentioned which will make it much easier to build family groups.

While studying these I noticed a reference to a place called Dalton, which reminded me of the memorial notice I found yesterday.

Baptisms

• 15 Jul 1764 Margaret dau of John Carr, Dotland
• 1 Jan 1766 Henry son of George Carr, Peacock House
• 30 Apr 1767 James illegitimate son of George Carr, Black Hall and Jane Martin, Ponteland
• 23 Jul 1767 Joseph son of John Carr, Dotland
• 11 Jun 1768 Sarah dau of James Carr, Embly in the parish of [Strotbell?]
• 14 Aug 1768 Hannah dau of George Carr, Peacock House
• 3 Sep 1769 George son of John Carr, Dotland
• 23 Dec 1770 Frances dau of James Carr, Embly, Shotley Parish
• 21 Apr 1771 Elizabeth dau of George Carr, Peacock House
• 28 Jun 1772 Hannah dau of John Carr, Dotland
• 12 Apr 1773 Mary dau of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 21 Aug 1774 William illegitimate son of Jane Carr by a person unknown, Fine Chambers
• 4 Sep 1774 Jane dau of George Carr, Peacock Houses
• 9 Apr 1775 Elizabeth dau of John Carr, Dotland
• 1 Jan 1776 Jane dau of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 5 Feb 1777 Frances illegitimate dau of Mary Carr, widow and Joseph Graham, Peacock House
• 27 Feb 1777 Ruth illegitimate dau of Mary Carr junr, Peacock House, and William Bell, Parish of Strotley
• 20 Apr 1778 Deborah dau of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 16 Jul 1780 Elisabeth dau of George Carr, Fine Chambers
• 24 Sep 1780 Margaret dau of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 25 Aug 1782 George son of George Carr, Fine Chambers
• 21 Apr 1783 Hannah dau of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 7 Mar 1784 George son of John Carr, Dotland Park
• 14 Aug 1785 Jane dau of George Carr, Fine Chambers
• 3 Dec 1785 John son of Samuel Carr, Longlee
• 12 Feb 1786 Sarah dau of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 16 Jul 1786 John son of John Carr, Dotland Park
• 14 Oct 1787 Elizabeth dau of Henry Carr, Salmonfield
• 1 Feb 1789 Mary dau of John Carr, Dotland Park
• 2 Feb 1789 George son of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 10 May 1789 Joseph son of Joseph Carr, Oxen Roods
• 9 Jan 1790 George son of Henry Carr, Hill House
• 25 Dec 1791 Thomasina dau of John Carr, Dotland Park
• 9 May 1792 Mary dau of Henry Carr, Hill house
• 26 Aug 1792 John son of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 10 Mar 1793 Mary dau of George Carr, Ordley
• 7 Apr 1793 Thomas son of John Carr, Dotland Park
• 4 Jan 1795 Henry son of Henry Carr, Hill-house
• 5 Jul 1795 John son of Thomas Carr, Dotland
• 13 Nov 1796 Barbara dau of George Carr, Ordley
• 12 Nov 1797 Thomas son of Thomas Carr, Dotland
• 25 Dec 1798 John son of Henry Carr, Hill House
• 6 Apr 1800 George son of Thomas Carr, Dotland
• 20 Oct 1800 John son of George Carr, Dotland Fell
• 9 Jan 1803 Mary dau of George Carr, Dotland
• 19 Aug 1804 Mary dau of Thomas Carr, Dotland
• 20 Oct 1805 Hannah dau of George Carr, Dotland
• 3 Jul 1808 Ann dau of James Carr, Emley parish of Shotley
• 5 Nov 1808 Hannah dau of Thomas Carr, [–ford]
• 6 Nov 1808 Elizabeth dau of George Carr, Dotland
• 2 Jul 1809 John son of William Carr, Rennys barn
• 16 May 1813 Joseph son of Thomas and Ann Carr, Dotland, Farmer
• 30 May 1813 Susanna dau of Henry & Jane Carr, Long-lee, Farmer
• 30 May 1813 John son of Henry & Jane Carr, Long-lee, Farmer
• 13 Feb 1814 Thomas son of Thomas Armstrong and Sarah Carr, Holins, Husbandman
• 5 May 1815 Ann dau of Robert Curry and Ann Carr, Stobbilee, Husbandman
• 12 May 1815 Ann dau of Thomas Armstrong and Sarah Carr, Holnis, Husbandman
• 7 Apr 1816 Joseph son of Robert Graham and Mary Carr, Low Nicholos, Gamekeeper
• 27 Oct 1816 Thomas son of Thomas Dixon and Mary Carr, Dukesfield Hall, Agent
• 23 Aug 1818 Thomasina illegitimate dau of Joseph Carr and Hannah Carlton, Highshield, Labourer
• 27 Sep 1818 Ann dau of Henry Stobbs and Jane Carr, Hackford, Labourer
• 31 Oct 1819 George son of Thomas Carr and Ann Rollen, Dotland, Farmer
• 7 Feb 1820 Jane dau of Thomas Dixon and Mary Carr, Dukesfield Hall, Agent
• 9 Apr 1820 Mary dau of John Carr and Ann Charlton, Dukesfield Hall, Smelter
• 1 Oct 1820 Mary dau of Robert Graham and Mary Carr, Wooodside, Innkeeper
• 29 Oct 1820 Thomas son of Samuel Carr and Mary Hall, Hillhouse, Labourer
• 8 Apr 1821 Mary dau of Thomas Dixon and Mary Carr, Dukesfield Hall, Agent
• 17 May 1823 Mary dau of Christopher Nevin and Mary Carr, Gaishields, Labourer
• 17 May 1823 Elizabeth dau of Christopher Nevin and Mary Carr, Gaishields, Labourer
• 17 May 1823 George son of Christopher Nevin and Mary Carr, Gaishields, Labourer
• 13 Jul 1823 George Errington dau of Robert Graham and Mary Carr, Wooodside, Innkeeper
• 31 Aug 1823 Jane dau of Samuel Carr and Mary Hall, New House, Labourer
• 20 Jan 1823 Henry son of Samuel Carr and Mary Hall, New House, Labourer
• 30 Apr 1825 John son of Christopher Nevin and Mary Carr, Gaishields, Labourer
• 7 May 1825 Thomas illegitimate son of Elizabeth Carr, Lillswood, spinster
• 5 Jun 1825 Robert son of Robert Graham and Mary Carr, Woodside, Gamekeeper
• 10 Dec 1826 Samuel son of Samuel Carr and Mary Hall, Gindlehaugh, parish of Shotley, Miner
• 27 Jul 1828 Elizabeth dau of Robert Graham and Mary Carr, Wooodside, Gamekeeper
• 23 Nov 1828 Henry son of Christopher Nevin and Mary Carr, Apperley, Miner
• 8 May 1830 Henry son of Christopher Nevin and Mary Carr, Stotsford, Miner
• 29 May 1831 Thomas son of Robert Graham and Mary Carr, Woodside, Farmer
• 14 Oct 1831 Henry son of John Carr and Elizabeth Dargue, Lonning house, Farmer
• 27 Nov 1831 Henry son of Thomas Carr and Elizabeth Charlton, Broadwell House, Miner
• 23 Sep 1832 Elizabeth dau of Thomas Carr and Elizabeth Charlton, Broadwell House, Miner
• 4 Nov 1832 Mary dau of Samuel Carr and Mary Hall, Highrow Green, Labourer
• 13 Jan 1833 Barbara dau of Robert Graham and Mary Carr, Woodside, Innkeeper
• 9 Oct 1833 Joseph son of John Carr and Elizabeth Dargne, Loaning house, Farmer
• 16 Nov 1834 Thomas son of Thomas and Elizabeth Carr, Broadwell House, Husbandman

Note: After 1830 I stopped recording baptisms where the mother’s maiden name was Carr unless it was a family I had already recorded.

Marriages

• 4 Jun 1772, George Carr and Jane Robson, both of this Chapelry, by banns
• 22 Sep 1778 Robert Rowland of this Chapelry and Margaret Carr of the parish of Shotley, by banns
• 22 May 1779 George Carr and Elizabeth Liddell, both of this Chapelry, by banns

Burials

• 9 Aug 1769 George Carr senior, Dotland Park
• 26 Dec 1770 Joseph son of John Carr, Dotland
• 6 Dec 1773 Thomas Carr, Fine Chambers
• 22 Jan 1776 George Carr, Peacock House
• 20 Jun 1778 Ann dau of Matthew Carr, Longlee
• 5 Jun 1781 Mary Carr, widow, [Surfhouse?]
• 24 Jan 1783 Mary dau of Matthew Carr, Longlee
• 26 Jan 1783 George son of John Carr, Dotland Park
• 17 Feb 1784 Mary wife of Matthew Carr, Longlee
• 30 Apr 1785 Matthew son of Matthew Carr, Longlee
• 24 Jan 1787 Samuel Carr, Long Lee
• 27 Jan 1789 John Carr, Dotland
• 13 Apr 1789 Mary Carr, widow, Oxen Roods
• 20 Mar 1791 Deborah dau of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 18 Jun 1793 Thomasina, wife of John Carr, Dotland Park
• 4 Oct 1794 Hannah Carr, Newbiggin Parish of Blanchland
• 3 Nov 1794, Thomas son of John Carr, Dotland Park
• 30 Apr 1797 Mary dau of George Carr, Ordley
• 26 May 1805 George son of Thomas Carr, Dotland
• 20 Jun 1806 Hannah dau of Thomas Carr, Dotland
• 24 Feb 1813 Ann, illegitimate dau of George Carr and Ann Moses, Dotland Park, age 6 mos
• 15 Feb 1817 Thomas illegitimate son off John Carr and Elizabeth Curry, Long-lee, age 2
• 25 Jun 1820 Ann Carr, Dukesfield Mill, age 26
• 27 Jun 1824 George Carr, Dukesfield Mill, age 79
• 7 Mar 1826 George Carr, Woodside, age 86
• 11 May 1829 Hannah Carr, Dotland, age 21
• 12 Jul 1831 John Carr, Dotland Park, age 87
• 14 Oct 1831 Hannah Carr, Lanning House, age 72
• 24 Mar 1833 John Carr, Longlee, age 80

There was no mention of Dotland Park at all between 1812 and 1831

There were no marriages after about 1779. They’re probably in another register that I haven’t found.

I thought there was a gap in the register between 1790 and 1798 but the pages are just in reverse order. So are the entries between 1812 and 1801.

George Carr was a church warden in 1786 Thomas Carr was a chapel warden in 1811, 1812 John Carr was a chapel warden in 1813

I also looked in the Hexham transcripts²:

Baptisms

• 23 Apr 1740 Eliz. dau of John Carr, Halph Moon
• 8 Mar 1740 Sarah dau of John Carr of Dotland Park
• 19 Apr 1742 George son of Tho Carr of the Shire
• Jul 1742 Margt dau of George Carr, Mason
• 1 May 1743 Tho son of John Carr [or Garr] of the Shire
• 11 Sep 1743 Ann day of Matt Carr, Carpenter
• 22 Sep 1745 Eliz dau of Matthew Carr
• 29 Dec 1745 George son of George Carr
• 6 Nov 1747 Robt son of George Carr, Mason
• 10 Apr 1748 John son of George Carr of the Shire
• 10 Jul 1748 Jane dau of Matthew Carr, Joiner
• 26 Fen 1749 Joseph son of Joseph Carr, Blacksmith
• 7 Oct 1750 Jane dau of Joseph Carr, Blacksmith
• 29 Sep 1754 Thos son of Joseph Carr, B. Smith
• 18 Jun 1758 John son of Edward Brown of Dotland Park
• Feb 1759 Elizabeth dau of Matthew Carr of Long Lee
• 13 Jul 1759 Thos son of John Carr of Dotland
• 19 Nov 1759 Thos son of Joseph Carr, B Smith
• 17 Oct 1760 Mary dau of George Carr
• 23? Nov 1760 Mary dau of Wm Carr, Mason
• 1 Jan 1762 George son of John Carr of Dotland
• 12 Sep 1762 Ann dau of Joseph Carr, B Smith
• 25 Feb 1763 George son of Wm Carr, Mason

Marriages

• 27 Oct 1744 Christopher Bell and Dorothy Carr, both of this parish, by licence
• 25 Nov 1745 Thos Simpson and Jane Carr, both of this parish, by licence
• 27 Dec 1746 Joseph Carr and Jane Wales, both of this parish, by banns
• 23 Apr 1749 Edward Brown and Eliz Carr, both of this parish, by banns
• 3 Dec 1751 Thos Green and Mary Carr, both of this parish, by banns
• 28 Nov 1752 John Carr and Mary Johnson, both of this parish, by banns
• 24 Dec 1752 Robt Oxley and Margt Carr, both of this parish, by banns
• 9 Jun 1753 James Carr of the parish of Shotley and Margt Johnson of this parish, by banns
• 8 Dec 1756 John Dent and Jane Carr, both of this parish, by banns
• 27 May 1758 George Carr and Mary Armstrong, by banns
• 4 Apr 1759 William Carr and Ann Charlton, by banns
• 18 Sep 1764 Lancelot Robinson and Frances Carr, both of this parish

Burials

• 19 Nov 1740 Eliz Carr
• 18 Dec 1740 Isabel wife of John Carr
• 3 Feb 1743 John Carr [Turner?]
• 9 Mar 1744 George Carr of the Lee
• 23 Mar 1744 Mary dau of Matthew Carr, Cordwainer
• 31 Dec 1745 John Carr of Dotland Park
• 11 Oct 1746 John Carr [Collier?]
• 15 Feb 1747 Jane Carr, Widdow
• 18 Sep 1747 Dorothy wife of Matthew Carr, Cordwainer
• 18 Dec 1747 Joseph son of Henry Carr, Cordwainer
• 4 Jan 1748 Robt son of George Carr, Mason
• 25 Jan 1748 Edward Carr, batchelor
• 8 Jul 1747 Mr James Carr
• 4 Jun 1750 John Carr, Currier
• 22 Jan 1753 Margt dau of George Carr of the Shire
• 16 Mar 1755 Thos son of Joseph Carr
• 14 Aug 1757 Barbara dau of Joseph Carr, Blacksmith
• 3 Jul 1760 Ann dau of George Carr, Labourer
• 24 Nov 1762 Antho son of Matthew Carr
• 8 Mar 1763 George son of John Carr of Dotland
• 27 Nov 1763 Henry Carr of Stotsfield

I think “of the shire” refers to wider Hexhamshire, rather than the town of Hexham, i.e. the farms to the south of Hexham.

I read through the Hexham transcripts up to 1764 when the Whitley Chapelry began service.

11 Apr 2026

I just found something that might suggest that I’m on the wrong track with George Carr being born at Dotland Park. It’s a memorial notice in the Morpeth Herald, 3 Feb 1866:

At Walrye Fell, 13th ult. aged 76, Mr. George Carr, farmer, formerly of Dalton Park

This is undoubtedly my ancestor George Carr who died 13 Jan 1866 at Walridge.

But it suggests the census entries that recorded his birthplace as “Dotling Park” and “Dottlen Park” were not referring to Dotland Park near Hexham, but Dalton Park.

There is no sign of a Dalton Park in the Northumberland Farm Index. There is a modern shopping centre called Dalton Park near Murton and Dalton-le-Dale in Durham, about 10 miles southeast of Walridge.

Could this be a place near Morpeth? It would make a lot of sense since George spent much of his life in the Morpeth area.

Or is it yet another mis-spelling of Dotland Park. I think Walrye Fell is a mis-hearing of Walridge Fell which is the area where George was farming in 1861.

On balance I think the details for memorial entry in the newspaper were given verbally and Walridge Fell was mistaken for Walrye Fell and Dotland Park was mis-heard as Dalton Park.