Burns & Tallentire Family - Help Please

[EeyoreBlue]

Can anyone help me please?  I have been tracing various lines of my family tree for some time, and have got on ok on the whole, but my paternal side frustrates me somewhat!  My g/grandfather was called Robert James Burns, born approx 1873 (going from his marriage certificate, although his death certificate varies this by a couple of years).  He married Mary Ann Tallentire (Tallentyre) in Middleton in Teesdale on 1 Aug 1896 at the parish church, and from this I found his father is called George.  This is all I know about him.  I don't know where Robert was born, but during his life, he did move around a fair bit.  He had one daughter, Annie born at Middleton in Teesdale, and then the rest of his children in various areas including Dalbeattie, Aberdeen, 2 in Ireland (exact location unknown), Gourock and then Haltwhistle, Northumberland.  I know he was a set maker in hardrock quarries, and judging by the areas the children were born, these are all hardrock quarry areas.  I would be grateful for any help.  I was originally told he was from Scotland, but I cannot verify this, and I have looked at Births in Scotland without success.

Thanks in advance for any help!

EeyoreBlue

[jorose]

Did he give his father's occupation on the marriage certificate?
Who were the witnesses at the marriage?

Make a timeline for what you know of him; where are they most likely to be found around 1901 and 1911 censuses?
If you know the names/approximate dates of the children born in Ireland, you may be able to find them on the registration indexes:
http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=home
Which would at least give you a general area.

[garstonite]

Hiya Eeyoreblue and welcome to Rootschat...
Mary Ann Tallentire / Robert James Burns married sep qtr 1896   ..the last child being born 1916 in Halfwhistle...when he was about 43...so...do you have him on the 1911 census ?....or the 1901 census ?...this may give us his place of birth at least...strange that on his death certificate it doesn`t give his P.O.B......allan

[EeyoreBlue]

Hi all, thanks for your help so far!

I have looked again at Robert James Burns marriage certificate, it states his father’s occupation as Sett Maker, so they both had the same occupation.  I have been unable to locate George on any census.

I looked for Robert on the 1891 census around Middleton in Teesdale, bearing in mind he was married there only four years later, but was unable to find him.  I also looked for the witnesses to the marriage, but was unable to locate them either, they were Evan or Euan Thomas and Adeline Bishop.  I have also been unable to locate him on 1901 census.

His place of birth is not mentioned on his death certificate, (there is nowhere for it to go and it doesn’t appear to be asked).  He died 15 March 1956, aged 81 years (which would mean his birth was 1875, but marriage gives as 1873).

The timeline is fairly simple:

Robert James Burns married Mary Ann Tallentire 1 Aug 1896 in Middleton in Teesdale.

Children were as follows:

Robert born Jun Qtr 1897 Teesdale, died Jun Qtr 1897 Teesdale
Agnes Annie born Sep Qtr 1898 Teesdale, died 1919 Haltwhislte (Flu epidemic)
George Watson born Sep Qtr 1899 Weardale, died Dec Qtr 1899 Weardale
Cannot locate any more children until:
William born 14 Jan 1903 Dalbeattie, died 1993 Haltwhistle
Ethel born 5 Apr 1906 Aberdeen, died 21 Dec 2004
Hugh born 1906, possibly Ireland, died 1999
Dora born 1910, possibly Ireland, died 1988 (suffered from Rickets as a child)
Thomas (my grandfather) born 12 Jun 1911 Gourock, Scotland, died 31 May 1992 Haltwhistle
Earl Kitchener (Kit) born Sep Qtr 1914 Haltwhistle, died 5 May 1943 (accident at Haltwhistle)
James Gordon (Gordon) born Jun Qtr 1916 Haltwhistle, died 12 Dec 1948 Haltwhistle (pneumonia)

I have chatted to my fathers cousins (all older than him) but unfortunately, none of them can ever remember hearing their grandfather talk about his family. 

Any more suggestions?

Thanks – EeyoreBlue

[jorose]

Unfortunately the 1911 Scottish census is not available as yet, that may be where they're hiding.
Do you know if the name "Watson" has any connection to Mary Ann's family, or might that be something to look for on Robert's side of the family?

[EeyoreBlue]

Hi Jorose

Watson is from the Tallentire side, Mary Ann's father is Thomas Watson Tallentire, his mother's maiden name being Watson.

Thanks for the advice!

EeyoreBlue