Trying to kill off 4xgt grandfather

[Ayashi]

I've been trying for a number of years to work out the death of my 4xgt grandfather Thomas URWIN b.c1785 Gilesgate, Durham.

I know he is alive in 1841 and 1851 but after that I've found no census and nothing seems to match up death-wise and I think, revisiting it, that my brain is starting to whimper a bit.

1841 record (New York, Washington) Durham dob c1791, widower, Edward 20 (1821), Phillis 20 (1821), William 15 (1826), Nicholas 13 (1826), George 10 (1831), David 8 (1833)- reg district Chester le Street, Washington, Durham
1851 (Urpeth, Chester le Street) for same- dob c.1786, widower, born Gilesgate, Durham, with George 23 (1828) Washington Durham, both miners

So, provided he stayed put, the registration district would be Chester-le-Street.

Looking up deaths for that reg, we have:

Deaths 1851-61 Chester le Street

Thomas URWIN Jul 1851 [aged 38 – my Thomas's nephew]
Thomas URWIN Jul 1851 [aged 36]
Thomas IRWIN Apr 1855 [Thomas dob 1799- corresponding burial]
Thomas URWIN Oct 1856 [belongs to Thomas son of David aged 5]
Thomas URWIN Oct 1860 [aged 56]

(Non-Infant/child) Burials in County Durham (DRO)

Chester-le-Street b 1799 – bd 1855 Thomas IRWIN abode The Workhouse
Gateshead b 1791 - bd 1856 Thomas URWIN abode Stella
Easington b 1791 – bd 1857 Thomas URWIN abode New Town/Newton near Durham
Chester-le-Street b 1799 - bd 1860 Thomas URWIN abode Pelton

The only two Chester-le-Street burials coming up on DRO are the one for Pelton, which is geographically fitting except for the age and the Workhouse IRWIN in 1855, where the age is also out. The Workhouse Irwin has a corresponding death that matches with age but the Pelton Urwin does not- 56 on GRO, 61 on DRO.

This being the case, provided no mistranscriptions or complete inaccuracy, there's also the possibility that he didn't die here at all. I looked up the 1861 locations for his surviving children-

Mary 1806 (NK)
Isabella 1808 (NK)
Ann 1811 (NK)
Thomas 1816 → 1861 Chapel Row, Haswell, Durham
Edward 1818 → 1861 Longbenton, Northumberland
Phillis 1821 → 1861 Wrekenton, Gateshead, Durham
William 1823 → 1861 Longbenton, Northumberland
Nicholas 1825 (NK but apparently alive in 1861?)
George 1828 → 1861 Usworth, Durham reg Chester le Street
David 1830 → 1861 Harraton, Durham
Margaret 1834 (poss died?)

Unfortunately that gives a whole host of other possibilities, his name actually being not that uncommon.

Any thoughts? 

Ayashi

[Milliepede]

Not awfully accurate but if any of his children married after Thomas "disappears" it might narrow things down if the marriage(s) said father deceased. 

I was going to suggest the spelling IRWIN but you have already thought of that 

[Ayashi]

The kids are no help unfortunately. As far as marriages go-

Thomas 1816 → not found but pre 1840
Edward 1818 → 1841
Phillis 1821 → 1849
William 1823 → 1844
George 1828 → suggested marriage 1852
David 1830 → 1849

As for spelling... Turning Urwin into Irwin is very tame- I once found a burial that was somehow under URRY but the one that took the biscuit was "ORRON". I've also found mistranscriptions for things like NUVIN. 

[philipsearching]

Deaths 1851-61 Chester le Street
Thomas IRWIN Apr 1855 [Thomas dob 1799- corresponding burial]

Although the age at death is rather too young for your Thomas, it could be worth checking to see if there is a Thomas born around 1799 on the 1851 census before eliminating this death.

All the best
Philip

[Rosinish]

May also be worth checking 'Irvine'?

Annie

[Ayashi]

Deaths 1851-61 Chester le Street
Thomas IRWIN Apr 1855 [Thomas dob 1799- corresponding burial]

Although the age at death is rather too young for your Thomas, it could be worth checking to see if there is a Thomas born around 1799 on the 1851 census before eliminating this death.

All the best
Philip

Well, there is a Thomas URWIN 1795 in Birtley that I'd be suspicious of.

[amondg]

Could he have died in a hospital and not at home?
The death would then be registered where he died not his home address.

Where are the nearest hospitals?

[Ayashi]

Technically he could have died practically anywhere in Durham and Northumberland.

I've been looking at other deaths elsewhere in Durham and nothing is leaping out at me at the moment. 

[Davidross1]

Hi Ayashi,

I am a direct descendant of your Thomas vis his youngest son David. I to have had the same problem trying to find out more about Thomas 1785. I know there are other descendants also stuck on this date.
I revisited my records and have two dates neither confirmed 1852 and 1854. I have seen these dates in various family trees but never backed up by any verifiable record. I have renewed my research to try and solve his date of death.
Looking at the info you have printed I would discard the  Thomas 1791 dob. based on the birthdays of his first two daughters 1806 and 1808, that would have made him a father at 15 and again at 17.
I have records of his marriage to Anne Lawson and as 1806 and records of the daughters' births as recorded in the Washington Holy Trinity parish records so would say the birth date of Thomas was would be most likely to be 1785.
 This is backed up with records the 1851 census states he was born in Gilesgate, a location on the eastern side of the city of Durham. And the birth record for Thomas born 1785 in the Gilesgate Parish records for 1785.

I will keep you informed of my research.

David