Roger and Geordie:
My apologies to you both for not replying to your posts more promptly. And thank you, Geordie - I am pleased to know about the Romaldkirk records on the IGI, though they do not cover the period I am interested in.
And thanks again, Roger, it is kind of you to share your information with me. I checked on Peggy Dent's age: the 1841 census (never 100% reliable for ages) shows her as 55, and the 1851 census as 70 (much more likely, I feel), matching more or less with the baptism in the Romaldkirk records. I found her death in the BMDs for Auckland in Q1 of 1856.
The family of her husband James Dunn seem to have been well to do farmers; they are described in the Hamsterley parish records variously as "farmer", "gentleman" and "yeoman". From 1768 onwards, and possibly before that (I have not been able to access records earlier than those published on the IGI), until at least 1826 they lived at Diddridge, which lies between Hamsterley and Witton-le-Wear. From what I can glean from the Bishop's Transcripts the Dunns seem to have been the only family living there, so it seems probable that the family worked the farm themselves; James was the eldest son and he had several brothers who would have been able to help him.
I just wonder how it came about that James went to Romaldkirk and met Peggy. I did find a family of Dents living in Hamsterley parish, though not until 1821, but perhaps there was there was some kinship between the Dent families living in the two parishes.
I am still digging in the Hamsterley BTs and will post a message if I find anything of interest.
Thanks again to you both.
Hazel.