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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: c-side on Sunday 01 March 09 00:25 GMT (UK)
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I have a transcript of a letter written by an Alnmouth man to an ex-resident named HARBOTTLE living in America. It’s a wonderful glimpse into the past - too long to include here - but it contains snippets of information on some of the residents. Surnames mentioned are:
ALLAN
BAIN
CAIRNS
GIBB
HEATLEY
HEDLEY
HINDMARSH
SIMPSON
WEALLEANS
WELSH
YEARNSHIRE
If you think one of these could be your ancestor I’d be happy to let you know what it says about them though some are more informative than others and occasional bits have been omitted because they were illegible.
Christine
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Hi,
I have Bain and Yearnshire families in my tree. These families lived in Alnmouth and I would appreciate you giving me any information you have about them. Many thanks.
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Hello there and welcome to Rootschat,
Here's what it says about your family
"John Yearnshire has long been dead, as also his father and sister Jane. The others, Adam, George and Henry live here with their mother. William and the two sisters living are married. William and Dorothy are in the village. Mary was married lately to Edward Bain and lives at the Link End. Cairns’ late place, the old farm house was pulled down and two cottages built where it stood and Edward Bain lives there now. The other one being occupied by strangers."
I hope this adds a bit of colour to your family tree
Christine
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I'm interested in the Hedley comments..Thanks muchly :-*
Dorothy
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Hi Dorothy,
The Hedleys are in one of the sections which has been damaged over time but here is what it says.
"PAPER EDGE UNREADABLE then continues . . . few years ago . . . George is a
ship . . . his wife . . . here. Their only sister is married and living ???ateshead. I was telling Edward a few days since about your letter and he remembers you all quite well. His uncles Robert and Edward Hedley are both dead."
I'm not even sure whether George and his sister are part of the Hedley family but this man seems to collect all those of one name in the same paragraph so they could be. Obviously his sister is living in Gateshead but this was transcribed by an American with no knowledge of the north east of England.
Christine
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I thought you both might enjoy this extract. It doesn't mention any names but gives a glimpse of how your ancestors were living.
"Many changes have been made in the village itself of late years. We have now a very neat little Church in the centre of the village. It stands next the old Post Office. The front railing stands on the site of the blank wall, where the ‘muggers’, old Harry Augus, Harry Wilson and others, used to plant them. The School Board (of which, I am a second time a member) has built a nice school and house for the master, in the ‘Bakers’field, as we used to call it, opposite the night fold. We have a nice stone bridge over the river. The road to it being through the ‘Well’ field about half way
between the head of the village and the new school house. By this route we are only about a mile from Bilton Station and there is considerable passenger traffic upon it in the summer season. A great many people coming to us every season for the sea bathing. We have also Gas works, situated near the ferry and hot and cold sea water baths connected with them. A rate of 2-1/2 or so keeps the village lighted during the dark nights. You will remember the ‘Howe Kiln’ where we used to sail our ships, and slide, it has long been drained off and that part is now the best piece of pasture on the common. By the way, only a few weeks since during a temporary stoppage in the drain, the water rose considerably there and the present generation of boys took to sailing their ships on it just as we used to do and the sight of them thus engaged
called up in my mind many a pleasant memory of thirty years ago. The old Bond-yard and the ‘woods’ as we used to call the logs and deals, have all been removed."
Christine
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Bilton Railway Station ... snippet
When the railways were progressing northwards from Newcastle in 1830/40s, the Duke of Northumberland refused permission for a line through Alnwick.
The line was built between Alnwick and Alnmouth, at Bilton where a station was built c1845.
Alnwick realised it's mistake and in 1848 a branch line Bilton to Alnwick was built.
At it's peak 45 trains per day did the Bilton-Alnwick-Bilton "shuttle"
Bilton Station changed it's name to Alnmouth in 1892 and is still on the mainline to Edinburgh etc.
Today travelling north through Newcastle on the train, there is a great view of Alnmouth and the river estuary. ( But I would not like to walk from station to town with a heavy bag !)
Michael Dixon
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Thanks Christine and Michael
The best parts of genealogy are the tidbits which put the flesh on the skeletons!! ;D
By the way Michael ..I got a little bit from the Newcastle Courant March 28, 1851 about the sentencing of William Kitchen to one month in gaol for 'allowing his wife and children to live off the parish of Sunderland" Would you know of a paper which might provide a few more details ???
Dorothy
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Perhaps the NORTHERN ECHO, which pre-dates the Sunderland Echo. Tough penalties for been work-shy in those days.
MD
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I have just been told of this letter and I am interested in the Wealands. I wonder if you could forward that information to me Thanks
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Hi there and welcome to Rootschat,
Not much on this name, I'm afraid, just a snippet of social history and an occupation.
"Since the railway to Alnwick was made we have seldom had any shipping traffic. Occasionally a small vessel with artificial manure or slates comes in but there is no work now for the carters like what you and I can call to mind. When Jack and Tom Welsh, Charley Allan, Vit Wealleans (all dead) and a lot more used to load goods on the sans for Alnwick."
I'm not sure what Vit. is short for (it could be a transcription error) but if this is your family then you may know or be able to figure it out.
Christine
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Dear Christine,
I was very excited to read your description of a letter from Alnmouth in 1878. My great-grandfather was George Bain, born in Alnmouth and the Edward Bain to which you refer was his brother. I have more details of what happened to Edward and Mary (nee Yearnshire) Bain if anyone is interested. Edward and George's mother was Jane Hedley, sister to the Robert and Edward Hedley in your letter. The illegible bit that you mentioned in a reply to anothe lister almost certainly refers to my great-grandfather, George Bain, who was a master mariner, and to his sister Mary Jane, who married a Nicholson from Almouth and moved to Gateshead. I am happy to share my information on BAIN and HEDLEY in Alnmouth with other interested in these families.
I would be very interested to hear any more details in your letter about BAIN, HEDLEY or YEARNSHIRE families and also any more local details of Alnmouth. It is wonderful to be able to flesh out a picture of life in those days. It would also be really interersting to know the identity of the letter writer....?
Thanks so much for posting this information and I hope there may be more to come.
Wendy
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Hi Wendy and welcome to rootschat,
Pleased to hear that you recognise so many names. I love this letter - just a shame I have no relatives on it.
It was written by a man called H Simpson - no christian name mentioned but his father's name was Joseph. He and his wife kept the village shop.
If you post a couple more times on the public boards I will be able to send you a personal message and can let you have a copy of the entire letter if you would like it.
Christine
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Hi there,
I have Simpsons in my family. My mother was a Simpson and it would be great to see the letter or the information in it.
These little gems from the past can tell us so much and really give an insight into the lives of folk who have long gone.
Regards
Jac
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Hi Jac
Here is an excerpt re Simpsons. If you think they are yours I will gladly pm you with more
Matthew Simpson, my cousin has always lived here. His wife has the shop where the Post Office was in your time and he is manager of the steam saw mills on the opposite side of the river near ?? Egdells farm house, which you will recollect.
Robert is living here, single, having made enough in London to keep him comfortably. James, you know about. George is also in Alnwick, married. He is a chemist. Their sister is my wife. Their father is dead. Robert lives with their mother. Edward Simpson, you perhaps remember. He is a grocer and baker here.
Christine
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Hi Christine,
Thanks for your rapid response. I would love to get a copy of the whole letter from you. Thanks so much for making this available to other folks interested in Alnmouth and its families. Unfortunately I do not have a direct connection to the writer of your letter, but much appreciate their letter writing habit.
I will make another separate post, which will be my third and hopefully will make it possible to get the information from you. A great entry to RootsChat.
Best wishes
Wendy
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Hi Christine, can you tell me about the HEATLEYS mentioned in your letter, my forebears were Henry and Mary Heatley. One daughter also called Mary married a Henry Barlow, and they lived in Alnmouth after their marriage in 1869. Another, Ellen, married her cousin Andrew Heatley.
Also any mention of the GIBB family? Thanks, Figgy
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Hi Figgy, welcome to rootschat.
Only a sentence each on your family I'm afraid.
"Henry Gibb is a ship captain and lives in Newcastle"
"Henry Heatley is a draper in Alnwick"
Hope this is not too disappointing
Christine
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Thanks Christine, every litle helps bring the past alive. Henry H the draper was a son of the Henry and Mary I mentioned. He died fairly young and is buried in Alnwick. Cheers, Figgy
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what a great letter to have :)
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Christine, forgot to ask, does the letter mention the Schooner Inn? Figgy
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Sorry, Figgy, no Inns. Just church, school, shops and gas works - not a pub mentioned though I am sure there would be some ;D
Christine
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OK, thanks for checking, Figgy
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What a lovely find c-side and thanks for sharing it with us. I don't have any names you mentioned but it is amazing that some of the names are actually relevant to some rootschatters!
sallysmum
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I've been really pleased that it has turned out to be useful. It would have been such a shame to leave it lurking on my computer - alone and unread!
Christine
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Hi Christine
What a great letter to have.
I'm interested in any mention of the name Cairns.
Many thanks
Maggiemae
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Hi there,
Just a holding message for now as I am visiting my daughter and several hundred miles from my computer so can't access the letter. There is a reference to Cairns in reply no 2 and this may be all there is. I will look it up for you on my return home on Sunday/Monday.
Christine
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Hi Maggiemae,
Apart from the little bit mentioned above here's what the letter includes about Cairns
"Old Ralph Cairns and family have been in Denwick a long time, except the son Ralph, who is living in Newcastle-on-Tyne, where he has a very good business, I believe. He deals greatly in foreign hay and straw. he is also married. The rest of them are single. "
Hope this is useful.
Christine
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If you are in Alnmouth you should pop into the Red Lion and say hello toMac & Jame McHugh. Very good friends of mine from my military and a cracking pint and food to boot
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Hi Christine
Many thanks, a very interesting snippet to have.
Cheers
Maggiemae
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Hello Christine
I have ancestors from the Gibb's (master mariners) from Alnmouth and would be interested to know content of your letter.
Sincerely.
Kev.
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Hi Kev and welcome to rootschat.
All I have on Gibb is mentioned in reply number 17 - "Henry Gibb is a ship captain and lives in Newcastle"
Christine