Author Topic: William Ditchburn  (Read 818 times)

Offline Elliven

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William Ditchburn
« on: Monday 25 September 17 15:35 BST (UK) »
This gentleman died on 11th May 1807 at Shield Row "in the cock pit during the fighting" according to the Newcastle Courant of 16th May 1807.  No further information except that he was 49 years old and from Durham.  Shield Row is a small village on the outskirts of Stanley (known then as West Stanley) and about 10 miles from Durham.  Does anyone have any further information on him?

Online JenB

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Re: William Ditchburn
« Reply #1 on: Monday 25 September 17 16:27 BST (UK) »
freeReg can be an excellent source of information. https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_queries/new

This must be him: William Ditchburn, buried 13th May 1807, age 49, abode Tanfield*. Bachelor, late a woolcomber of St Andrew Auckland .Parish.Died 11 May

Bishops transcripts: http://www.rootschat.com/links/01kry/ which actually states that he was a native of  St Andrew Auckland.

* I think that in this case you could probably assume that Tanfield was the parish within which he died, rather than his abode, as it seems pretty clear that he lived in Durham
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Online JenB

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Re: William Ditchburn
« Reply #2 on: Monday 25 September 17 17:15 BST (UK) »
According to his Probate Bond http://www.rootschat.com/links/01krz/ he was 'late of the parish of St Nicholas, Durham'. He had a brother George and a sister, Jane.

The report in the Tyne Mercury, Northumberland and Durham and Cumberland Gazette, 19th May 1807, states that he was a 'wool and worsted' dealer. He had set off from Durham in the morning, reached Shield Row where he was seized by a fit and expired within the hour.
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Offline Elliven

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Re: William Ditchburn
« Reply #3 on: Monday 25 September 17 19:34 BST (UK) »
I have searched for William Ditchburn and the earliest press report to appear is 1819.  Am I doing something wrong?


Online JenB

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Re: William Ditchburn
« Reply #4 on: Monday 25 September 17 20:09 BST (UK) »
If you are using the newspaper search on Findmypast, just enter Shield Row in the 'what else' panel and limit the search to 1807. That brings up the Newcastle Courant and Tyne Mercury reports for that year.
The reason you are getting no result when searching William Ditchburn is that the results are based on optical scanning of the original: this has resulted in Ditchburn becoming Oitchhurn and Ditcisburn . This is why you have to be so flexible in the search terms you use.
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Offline Elliven

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Re: William Ditchburn
« Reply #5 on: Monday 25 September 17 21:33 BST (UK) »
Thank you for the benefit of your experience.  I have now found the article