It looks like my 3rd Great Grandfather (Robert FERGUSON) lived, worked and died in Long Newton, County Durham in the early part of the 19th centuary.
He married Mary PEARSON in 1802 in St Mary's church in Long Newton and they had many children according to the parish records. They start off reasonably straighforward.
1803 - Mary (Christened at St. Marys 1st daughter of Robert Ferguson & Mary his wife late Pearson ([native] of this parish))
1805 - Robert (Christened at St Mary's 1st son of Robert Ferguson & Mary his wife late Pearson ([native] of this parish))
But then I get:
1806 - Margaret (Christened at St Marys 1st daughter of Robert Ferguson & Mary his wife late Pearson))
Question 1 : Does this mean that Mary had passed away prior to Margaret being Christened or is it just a clerical error?
Then we get back on track with:
1808 - George (Christened at St Mary's 2nd son of Robert Ferguson & Mary his wife late Pearson ( [native] of this parish))
Then it goes weird again!
1809 - William (Christened at St Andrew's, Sadberge! 3rd son of Robert Ferguson (native of Darlington) by his wife Mary Pearson (native of Longnewton))
Question 2: I know Sadberge is 'just up the road from' Long Newton, but why the move of church?
Question 3 : My research Robert was born in Stockton not Darlington, but does this mean he is now living in Darlington rather than he was born there?
Then we start again back in Long Newton!
1811 - Clarinda (Christened St Mary's, 3rd daughter of Robert Ferguson & Mary his wife late Pearson)
1813 - Ann (Christened St Mary's, daughter of Robert (day labourer) & Mary Ferguson) (I guess they gave up counting!)
1814 - Isabella (Christened St Mary's, daughter of Robert (labourer) & Mary Ferguson)
1816 - Jane (Christened St Mary's, daughter of Robert (labourer) & Mary Ferguson)
1819 - Elizabeth (Christened St Mary's, daugther of Robert (labourer) & Mary Ferguson)
Now it gets really squirrely...
1820 - Jane (Christened St Mary's, daughter of Robert (labourer) & Mary Ferguson))
Question 4 : Did the first Jane die or is this a totally different family? (Long Newton even today is little more than a tiny village) *** Solved *** Jane FERGUSON #1 Death entry in 1817 in Long Newton
1822 - Maria (Christened St Mary's, daughter of Robert (labourer) & Mary Ferguson)
1824 - John (Christened St Mary's, son of Robert (labourer) & Mary Ferguson)
1827 - Dorothy (Christened St Mary's, daughter of Robert (labourer) & Mary Ferguson)
Then I think they discovered the cause of all these births and called it a day. I do know that there was a Robert Ferguson who was Christened in Darlington in 1781 but I don't believe this is my Robert.
Any answers/thoughts/ideas/comments on my questions or any other bits of my logic would be welcomed.
Best regards
Kevin