Hi all,
Looking to find a marriage between Jemima Hetherington and John Stokoe.
The first child that I have so far is Mary Ann, born Tanfield Dec 1856
The name Stokoe has also been recorded as Stoker.
History:
After 1826, but before 1841, John's father Robert Stokoe/Stoker moved his family from Whitley by Hexham, NBL to farm on land owned by his wife's family in Tanfield, Co. Durham. She was a ROBINSON, but her paternal grandmother was a MIDDLETON. They have 3 boys, Robert (c 1815), William (c 1817) and John, 1826.
Brother Robert marries Ann HETHERINGTON (c. 1820) from Haltwhistle, NBL on 31 May 1845.
In 1851, Robert Sr, wife Mary, their 3 sons, Robert Jr's wife Ann HETHERINGTON, and 2 bairns (one with Middleton as a middle name) are on the Tanfield farm. Jemima HETHERINGTON, (now 20 or 21) is living in Blenkinsopp NBL, with her parents Robert and Margaret and siblings.
By 1861, Jemima is on the farm with 3 children, husband John, Robert and Ann. Robert senior is dead, but his wife Mary is there. The original census form is badly damaged.
I can NOT find a record anywhere of John and Jemima marrying. I know it is possible that they didn't, but the family is a church-going family and this would be a surprise. I only have access to online records, and have checked every permutation I can think of on Freebmd, including searching by one name with all manner of variant spellings, wildcards. I have checked for Jemima marrying someone else and having a different surname when she married John. I have checked Gretna marriages. I am stumped.
The closest I come is on Freebmd, Sep 1854, vol 10a p 225. There is a John STOKOE, and the page is short one female.
Can anyone think of a way to solve this short of ordering that certificate from the GRO?
Interestingly, Durham Records Online does not have this marriage, but they do have one from Lanchester 1851 with the groom's place of birth as Hexham. I think that marriage is the Mar 1851 (vol 24 p 81) of john STOKOE and Mary Ann PHILLIPSON.
I have also tried Bishop's Transcripts from FamilySearch. Tanfield doesn't go to 1851, neither does Collierley. I know that some of the Tanfield records were destroyed, but I don't know which ones, and can't help but wonder if I am just wasting my time. I am currently slogging through FamilySearch BTS for Lanchester.
But that Sep 1854 with the missing bride is so interesting ....
Thanks is advance,
Holly